Once a month or so, I make a trip to Trader Joe's to stock up on my "special" groceries. My list has changed over the years along with our tastes and Trader Joe's offerings, but the Harvest Grains Blend—a mixture of Israeli-style couscous, orzo, baby garbanzo beans, and quinoa—remains a standby.

For years, Mike and I have had to drive to a neighboring suburb or northeast Minneapolis to get our craft beer fix. That changed a couple of weeks ago when Elm Creek Brewing Co. opened in our Champlin neighborhood. We decided to check them out on June 26, 2020, a week after they opened. Here's what we learned about the beer and the atmosphere, as well as what a taproom experience is like in the COVID era.

One of the best gifts that I've ever received is a popover pan. I've always loved popovers, but over the past several years they've become a dinnertime staple. Since we're a family of two we each get three popovers (And sometimes, Mike even gives me one of his—undeniable proof that he is the perfect husband.)

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit my life in mid-March, I really wanted to be the kind of person who copes by baking elaborate desserts and writing meaningful articles for big-name publications. Instead...

As I've mentioned in previous posts, the pandemic has left me underemployed since mid-March. I write about restaurants and travel for publications that depend on those sectors for ad revenue, so my...

Since Minnesota summers are so short, you need to start celebrating them early—and that's where my recipe for Icelandic Hjónabandssæla, or happy marriage cake, comes in. The rhubarb filling makes it a perfect early summer dessert for cool climates, when sturdy rhubarb is the only produce you can rely on.