Welcome!
I’m Eva Marie, a cook, traveler, and an integrative nutrition and brain health coach. This is my little nook where I share my recipes, travel experiences, and stories. I’m so glad you stopped by to have a look around.

Latest Blog Posts
JalapαΊ½no Cheddar Cornbread
Not Your Grandmother's Cornbread Recipe, But Close JalapeΓ±o cornbread has been a favorite in my kitchen for as long as I can remember. My love for it began as a child during visits to my Mexican grandmother in San Antonio, where she taught me to make sweet cornbread...
Macho Salad With Cornbread Croutons
Cherry Creek Grill is one of my favorite restaurants in Denver. I make a point of eating there whenever Iβm in town. I always order the smoked salmon appetizerβprobably the best smoked salmon Iβve ever hadβand the Macho Salad, minus the chicken, since I eat a...
Southern Honey Cornbread
Cornbread: A Taste of Tradition My cornbread memories take me back to camping trips and barbecues. This southern staple, however, has its roots in Native American cuisine, where cornmeal was a dietary essential. Over time, cornbread evolved into the moist, hearty,...
Anna’s Apple Pie and Our November Gift
Discover the story and tradition behind the delicious Anna’s Apple Pie. Learn how to make the tasty butter pie crust and sweet and tart apple pie that has become a family favorite.
Chipotle Cowboy Coleslaw
Iβve been away for so long that I almost forgot it was Labor Day weekend back in the States. Even though the long weekend is almost over, I thought Iβd share this Chipotle Cowboy Coleslaw recipeβperfect for a holiday cookout or barbecue. Our European Road Trip...
Fig and Wine Focaccia Bread
Recently, I decided to incorporate figs into my wine focaccia bread recipe, and it turned out to be a delicious success. In this recipe, figs are placed on top of the focaccia and lightly sprinkled with a pinch of sugar before baking. The result is a savory bread with sweet, slightly caramelized figsβa luscious mix of flavors that delights the palate.
Healthy Choices

Spring Recipes
Summer Salads

Macho Salad With Cornbread Croutons
Cherry Creek Grill is one of my favorite restaurants in Denver. I make a point of eating there whenever Iβm in town. I always order the smoked salmon appetizerβprobably the best smoked salmon Iβve ever hadβand the Macho Salad, minus the chicken, since I eat a...
Chipotle Cowboy Coleslaw
Iβve been away for so long that I almost forgot it was Labor Day weekend back in the States. Even though the long weekend is almost over, I thought Iβd share this Chipotle Cowboy Coleslaw recipeβperfect for a holiday cookout or barbecue. Our European Road Trip...
Zucchini and Edamame Salad
Some dishes are so fresh and bright that they taste like summer, and this Zucchini and Edamame Salad is one of those. And just like summer, the beauty is in the ease and simplicity – it can be thrown together in minutes!
This time of year, gardens and markets are overflowing with zucchini, and everyone is trying to figure out what to do with them. You can stuff them, slice them, sautΓ© them, and grill them, but why not keep things cool, healthy, and delicious? Most of us don’t think of eating zucchini raw, but fresh, uncooked zucchini shaved into thin ribbons has a delicate and crisp taste.
Healthy and Delicious Southwest Taco Salad
Discover the health benefits of our Southwest Taco Salad! Packed with nutritious ingredients, this easy-to-make salad is perfect for maintaining peak brain and body performance.
Nectarine and Orange Salad: A Refreshing Summer Recipe
The vibrant colors and flavors of the season are everything I want on my plate on these hot summer days, and this Nectarine and Orange Salad delivers those healthy and tasty vibes in spades. It’s a beautiful salad with sliced nectarines, oranges, red onion, goat cheese, and pumpkin seeds.
Fresh and Easy French Potato and Peapod Salad
This French-style potato salad is delicious on its own, served on a bed of greens, or used as a side dish with a protein. The crisp pea pods give it a fresh flavor, and the dressing is filled with bright-tasting herbs and mustard.
Roasted Tomato and Fresh Arugula Spaghetti
Word has it that we are getting a snow storm on Tuesday and weβll have a high temperature of 35 degrees. Colorado usually gets a rogue hit of snow in the fall, but this is particularly early. Some lovely friends of mine left town to spend time out of state and were...
Crisp Asian Salad with Tofu and a Peanut Dressing
This crunchy and cool salad that is made up of two kinds of cabbage, celery, carrots, and topped off with precooked tofu or chicken is a wonderful main course dish. Itβs easy to make ahead of time and the peanut dressing is so divine.
Peach, Berry and Radicchio Panzanella Salad
I'm definitely guilty of making pretty much the same salad day after day. What science tells us though is that we need to cycle in different types of ingredients to introduce important micro-nutrients and enzymes into our bodies that are so good for us. Β Here in...
While watching White Lotus last night, I had one of those βHey, Iβve been there!β moments as the yacht cruised through Ao Phang-Nga National Park in Thailand.
That trip all started with an unexpected wedding invitation. My husband and I looked at each other and asked, βIs there any reason we couldnβt go?β When neither of us could think of a single legitimate excuse, we just said, Letβs go!
That was the beginning of our βsay-yesβ phase. We embarked on a spectacular journey through Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Phuketβeach destination leaving its mark on us. We were captivated by the warmth of the people we met and their vibrant cultures, and the food at every stop was nothing short of extraordinary.
But it was that White Lotus momentβfeet dangling off the bow of the boat, Ric sitting behind me, and a lively, joyous crowd gathered on deck from all corners of the world to celebrateβwhen I leaned in and whispered, I canβt believe Iβm here.
Surrounded by such ethereal beauty, so far from home, it felt like a dream.
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#WhiteLotusVibes #TravelMemories #Wanderlust #TravelDiaries #ThailandTravel #PhuketAdventures #AoPhangNga #TravelInStyle #TravelGram #TravelAddict #seetheworldπβοΈβ€οΈοΈ

While watching White Lotus last night, I had one of those βHey, Iβve been there!β moments as the yacht cruised through Ao Phang-Nga National Park in Thailand.
That trip all started with an unexpected wedding invitation. My husband and I looked at each other and asked, βIs there any reason we couldnβt go?β When neither of us could think of a single legitimate excuse, we just said, Letβs go!
That was the beginning of our βsay-yesβ phase. We embarked on a spectacular journey through Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Phuketβeach destination leaving its mark on us. We were captivated by the warmth of the people we met and their vibrant cultures, and the food at every stop was nothing short of extraordinary.
But it was that White Lotus momentβfeet dangling off the bow of the boat, Ric sitting behind me, and a lively, joyous crowd gathered on deck from all corners of the world to celebrateβwhen I leaned in and whispered, I canβt believe Iβm here.
Surrounded by such ethereal beauty, so far from home, it felt like a dream.
π΄π
#WhiteLotusVibes #TravelMemories #Wanderlust #TravelDiaries #ThailandTravel #PhuketAdventures #AoPhangNga #TravelInStyle #TravelGram #TravelAddict #seetheworldπβοΈβ€οΈοΈ
Here is a recipe my family has enjoyed for years. Weβve had a couple of bake-offs between nieces, with my grand-nieces adding their special touch, and they are a treat I love to bake around the holidays. The bonus is as they bake, they will fill your house with the cozy aroma of cinnamon and sugar!
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Recipe in profile
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#cinnamonbuns #cinnamonrolls #homebaked #homebaker #breakfastbuns #breakfastrecipes

Here is a recipe my family has enjoyed for years. Weβve had a couple of bake-offs between nieces, with my grand-nieces adding their special touch, and they are a treat I love to bake around the holidays. The bonus is as they bake, they will fill your house with the cozy aroma of cinnamon and sugar!
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Recipe in profile
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#cinnamonbuns #cinnamonrolls #homebaked #homebaker #breakfastbuns #breakfastrecipes
JalapeΓ±o cornbread has been a favorite in my kitchen for as long as I can remember. My love for it began as a child during visits to my Mexican grandmother in San Antonio. Itβs a versatile side dish or yummy eaten as is. Try it with anything BBQ, a bowl of hot soup, beans or spicy chili.
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Recipe in profile
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#easyrecipes #cornbread #jalapenocornbread #honeycornbread #breadmaking #mexicanfood

JalapeΓ±o cornbread has been a favorite in my kitchen for as long as I can remember. My love for it began as a child during visits to my Mexican grandmother in San Antonio. Itβs a versatile side dish or yummy eaten as is. Try it with anything BBQ, a bowl of hot soup, beans or spicy chili.
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Recipe in profile
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#easyrecipes #cornbread #jalapenocornbread #honeycornbread #breadmaking #mexicanfood
My take on the Macho Salad made famous by the Cherry Creek Grill in Denver.
Itβs the perfect dish to add leftover turkey or chicken to for a healthy and delicious meal, and itβs a great way to use up leftover cornbread, too. The cornbread croutons are everything.
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Recipe in profile
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#easyrecipes #healthyrecipes #plantbased #leftovers #leftoverrecipes #sexysalads #saladrecipes #cornbreadcroutons

My take on the Macho Salad made famous by the Cherry Creek Grill in Denver.
Itβs the perfect dish to add leftover turkey or chicken to for a healthy and delicious meal, and itβs a great way to use up leftover cornbread, too. The cornbread croutons are everything.
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Recipe in profile
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#easyrecipes #healthyrecipes #plantbased #leftovers #leftoverrecipes #sexysalads #saladrecipes #cornbreadcroutons
Birth, life, and death are everyday occurrences, yet they are mysterious and miraculous. I was born in the first week of November. Twenty-three years later, my son was born on my birthday. And this year, on that same day, my first grandchildβa baby girlβwas born.
The day of her birth, I was on pins and needlesβan emotional wreck, really. I worried about my daughter-in-law and the baby, hoping for their safety. I thought about the soon-to-be parents who would begin their next adventure in life with all the joy and challenges that come with it.
This holiday season has indeed been ushered in with the gift of life.
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Many years ago, my mother-in-law, Anna, taught me how to make apple pie, and it quickly became my sonβs favorite dessert.
We will spend Thanksgiving with the new family of three, and I plan to make this for our celebration. Over the years, Iβve made little changes to the recipe, creating a lighter and brighter version that suits my taste, but Annaβs inspiration is still at the heart of the recipe.
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Recipe in bio
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#family #birth #givingthanks #thanksgiving #thankgivingrecipes #applepie #applepierecipe #holidaydesserts #thanksgivingdinner #thanksgivingdesserts

Birth, life, and death are everyday occurrences, yet they are mysterious and miraculous. I was born in the first week of November. Twenty-three years later, my son was born on my birthday. And this year, on that same day, my first grandchildβa baby girlβwas born.
The day of her birth, I was on pins and needlesβan emotional wreck, really. I worried about my daughter-in-law and the baby, hoping for their safety. I thought about the soon-to-be parents who would begin their next adventure in life with all the joy and challenges that come with it.
This holiday season has indeed been ushered in with the gift of life.
πππ πππππππ
Many years ago, my mother-in-law, Anna, taught me how to make apple pie, and it quickly became my sonβs favorite dessert.
We will spend Thanksgiving with the new family of three, and I plan to make this for our celebration. Over the years, Iβve made little changes to the recipe, creating a lighter and brighter version that suits my taste, but Annaβs inspiration is still at the heart of the recipe.
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Recipe in bio
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#family #birth #givingthanks #thanksgiving #thankgivingrecipes #applepie #applepierecipe #holidaydesserts #thanksgivingdinner #thanksgivingdesserts
This is one of my favorite appetizers to serve around the holidays. Itβs easy to make, pretty and so delicious.
Need to make it in a hurry? Use a store bought puff pastry or ready made pie crust.
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Recipe link in profile.
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#applefenneltart #appletart #appetizerrecipes #applerecipes #fallrecipes #holidayrecipes #fennel #vegetarian #vegetarianrecipes

This is one of my favorite appetizers to serve around the holidays. Itβs easy to make, pretty and so delicious.
Need to make it in a hurry? Use a store bought puff pastry or ready made pie crust.
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Recipe link in profile.
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#applefenneltart #appletart #appetizerrecipes #applerecipes #fallrecipes #holidayrecipes #fennel #vegetarian #vegetarianrecipes
Another road trip, another recipe. This one is from years ago, but the sentiments are the same, and the Peach and Berry Crisp recipe is a yummy one.
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Recipe in profile.
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#PeachBerryCrisp #SummerDesserts #FruitCrisp #HomemadeDessert #SeasonalBaking #EasyRecipes #BakingFromScratch #FarmToTable #DessertLovers #FreshFruitDessert #cascais #estoril #lisboa #lisbon #expatineurope

Another road trip, another recipe. This one is from years ago, but the sentiments are the same, and the Peach and Berry Crisp recipe is a yummy one.
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Recipe in profile.
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#PeachBerryCrisp #SummerDesserts #FruitCrisp #HomemadeDessert #SeasonalBaking #EasyRecipes #BakingFromScratch #FarmToTable #DessertLovers #FreshFruitDessert #cascais #estoril #lisboa #lisbon #expatineurope
This August, we embraced the European tradition of going on a road trip. Our journey took us up the Portuguese coast to Porto, then to Bilbao, Bordeaux, and finally Madrid before returning to Lisbon.
This weekend weβre enjoying this Cowboy Coleslaw. It is loaded with nutrient-dense ingredients like cabbage, carrots, edamame, black beans, corn, and onions, all tossed in a spicy chipotle dressing. Itβs fantastic layered on a sandwich for added flavor and crunch or served as a crisp side dish at barbecues and picnics. I also like it as a light vegetarian lunch.
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Recipe in profile.
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#chipotlecoleslaw #coleslawrecipe #bbq #sidedish #plantbased #healthylifestyle #healthymeals #vegetarian #bordeaux #madrid #bilbao

This August, we embraced the European tradition of going on a road trip. Our journey took us up the Portuguese coast to Porto, then to Bilbao, Bordeaux, and finally Madrid before returning to Lisbon.
This weekend weβre enjoying this Cowboy Coleslaw. It is loaded with nutrient-dense ingredients like cabbage, carrots, edamame, black beans, corn, and onions, all tossed in a spicy chipotle dressing. Itβs fantastic layered on a sandwich for added flavor and crunch or served as a crisp side dish at barbecues and picnics. I also like it as a light vegetarian lunch.
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Recipe in profile.
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#chipotlecoleslaw #coleslawrecipe #bbq #sidedish #plantbased #healthylifestyle #healthymeals #vegetarian #bordeaux #madrid #bilbao