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
Chipotle Cowboy Coleslaw
I’ve 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 I’d share this Chipotle Cowboy Coleslaw recipe—perfect 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 figs—a luscious mix of flavors that delights the palate.
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, sauté 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.
Tomato Shallot Confit with Whipped Ricotta
Our Saturday ritual consists of a walk to our local farmers’ market, and coffee and breakfast at a favorite restaurant. I often find that the farmers’ market dictates our menu for the week, with the lush fruits and veggies in season inspiring me. This Tomato Shallot Confit with Whipped Ricotta is no exception.
Small Batch Garlic and Dill Refrigerator Pickle Recipe
A quick and easy recipe for small batch garlic and dill refrigerator pickles. Perfect for adding a burst of flavor to your favorite dishes!
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.
Healthy Choices
Winter Soups + Stews
Holiday Bakery + Sweets
Lemon Ginger Scone Recipe: A British Tea-Time Treat
Discover the perfect Lemon Ginger Scone recipe inspired by my London days. Enjoy the burst of lemon and ginger flavors wrapped in a buttery, cloud-like scone.
Gluten-Free Spice Cake
Many of us have a sweet tooth, but we’re also aware that excessive sugar isn’t healthy. I believe in a balanced approach to life where desserts are occasional indulgences, not daily sustenance. Lately, I’ve been craving a sweet treat with fall flavors. One of my favorite autumn desserts is my Norwegian Apple Cake, but I also wanted a gluten-free, low-glycemic option in my repertoire. After some experimentation, I came up with this delicious Gluten-Free Spice Cake.
My Favorite Cinnamon Buns
We are in Norway for the holidays, my mother's homeland. While you rarely see them with frosting as you do in the States, Norwegians take cinnamon buns seriously. They are everywhere, with their deliciously hard-to-resist aroma wafting out of coffee shops and...
The Land of Trolls and Apple Cake
A delicious traditional Norwegian Apple Cake recipe from my mother’s homeland. The land of trolls, fjords, and apple cake.
Cinnamon Apple Crisp
Sitting on our deck, I’m watching a gaggle of wild turkeys in front of me scratching the dirt and pecking at dried-out grass fronds. They are a nervous bunch. Four of the twenty birds are caught in our fenced yard, and in a panic. Ric goes to open the gate and shoo...
Apple-Cherry Pie
There is something comforting about the smell of an apple pie baking. The butter, cinnamon, apples, and sugar create a delicious blend of aromas that can make any space feel like home. Adding sweet cherries to make an Apple-Cherry Pie happened by chance, but it is now a delicious family favorite.
Delicious Buttermilk English Muffin Recipe
Learn how to make the best homemade buttermilk English muffins with a subtle tang and perfect texture, and explore the history of English muffins, from Jane Austen’s Persuasion to the “Muffin Man” nursery rhyme.
Purple Sweet Potato Pie
There is a bit of excitement surrounding the forecast when a big storm is arriving. It begins as it usually does, with soft, fluffy flakes of snow gently drifting down through the sky. It's cozy inside with the fireplaces warming us, and then we wake up with four feet...
Butterscotch Pudding with Chocolate Ganache
Butterscotch is for many a nostalgic flavor harkening back to our childhoods and small boxes of packaged puddings our parents would make. It's a flavor that has had a recent comeback, and for good reason – it's delicious! Super rich and creamy, this is not the...
This is one of my favorite appetizers to serve around the holidays. It’s 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. It’s 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.
🍎🍎🍎
Recipe link in profile.
🍎🍎🍎
#applefenneltart #appletart #appetizerrecipes #applerecipes #fallrecipes #holidayrecipes #fennel #vegetarian #vegetarianrecipes
Who else is excited for autumn flavors? Cinnamon, nutmeg, warming spices and chilies…I’m so ready for it.
Guitar and hand model @ricsguitar
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#fallrecipes #fallfood #fall #autumn #cinnamon #nutmeg #vegetarian #vegetarianrecipes #lisbon #lisboa #cascais #easyrecipes #estoril #seasonalbaking #farmtotable #plantbased
Who else is excited for autumn flavors? Cinnamon, nutmeg, warming spices and chilies…I’m so ready for it.
Guitar and hand model @ricsguitar
🍁🍃🍂
#fallrecipes #fallfood #fall #autumn #cinnamon #nutmeg #vegetarian #vegetarianrecipes #lisbon #lisboa #cascais #easyrecipes #estoril #seasonalbaking #farmtotable #plantbased
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.
🍑🍑🍑
Recipe in profile.
🫐🫐🫐
#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 we’re 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. It’s 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 we’re 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. It’s 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.
🥕🥕🥕
Recipe in profile.
🌽🌽🌽
#chipotlecoleslaw #coleslawrecipe #bbq #sidedish #plantbased #healthylifestyle #healthymeals #vegetarian #bordeaux #madrid #bilbao
Beautiful Bordeaux
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#bourdeaux #europeanroadtrip #france
By chance, we ended up in. Bilbao, Spain, during the Aste Nagusia or “The Great Week” (Basque: Bilboko Aste Nagusia, Spanish: Semana Grande de Bilbao). It is the main festival of Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. It is celebrated annually over 9 days beginning on the first Saturday following 15 August, the festivity of the Assumption of Our Lady.
These people know how to celebrate! Parties ended in the wee morning hours, and then they’d do it all the next night. Streets were filled to the brim with dancing, singing, dining and drinking party goers. It was a blast.
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#bilao #spain #thegreatestweek #AsteNagusia #SemanaGrande #SemanaGrandedeBilbao
#travel
By chance, we ended up in. Bilbao, Spain, during the Aste Nagusia or “The Great Week” (Basque: Bilboko Aste Nagusia, Spanish: Semana Grande de Bilbao). It is the main festival of Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. It is celebrated annually over 9 days beginning on the first Saturday following 15 August, the festivity of the Assumption of Our Lady.
These people know how to celebrate! Parties ended in the wee morning hours, and then they’d do it all the next night. Streets were filled to the brim with dancing, singing, dining and drinking party goers. It was a blast.
🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸
#bilao #spain #thegreatestweek #AsteNagusia #SemanaGrande #SemanaGrandedeBilbao
#travel
If you’re looking for a quick, healthy, and incredibly versatile dish, this Peanut Noodles Primavera is the answer. I like to think of it as a delicious “veggie dump” dish—you can add almost any vegetable you have on hand, and it will work wonderfully. Best of all, this recipe is vegan and can easily be made with gluten-free noodles.
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Recipe link in profile.
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#PeanutNoodles #VeganRecipes #HealthyEating #EasyRecipes #QuickMeals #PlantBased #AsianCuisine #NoodleLovers #MealPrepIdeas
If you’re looking for a quick, healthy, and incredibly versatile dish, this Peanut Noodles Primavera is the answer. I like to think of it as a delicious “veggie dump” dish—you can add almost any vegetable you have on hand, and it will work wonderfully. Best of all, this recipe is vegan and can easily be made with gluten-free noodles.
🥕🥕🥕
Recipe link in profile.
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#PeanutNoodles #VeganRecipes #HealthyEating #EasyRecipes #QuickMeals #PlantBased #AsianCuisine #NoodleLovers #MealPrepIdeas
I don’t eat sweets often, so I’m picky about what I indulge in. This peach tea cake is one of my favorites, and it’s as stunning as it is delicious. It’s a perfect treat to serve at a brunch or party, and it makes a lovely house gift.
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Recipe in my profile.
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#PeachCake #SummerBaking #ColoradoPeaches #TeaCake #HomeBaking #SeasonalBaking #BakingWithPeaches #BundtCake #FruitDesserts #MountainLifeCooking #cascais #estoril #boulder
I don’t eat sweets often, so I’m picky about what I indulge in. This peach tea cake is one of my favorites, and it’s as stunning as it is delicious. It’s a perfect treat to serve at a brunch or party, and it makes a lovely house gift.
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Recipe in my profile.
🍑🍑🍑
#PeachCake #SummerBaking #ColoradoPeaches #TeaCake #HomeBaking #SeasonalBaking #BakingWithPeaches #BundtCake #FruitDesserts #MountainLifeCooking #cascais #estoril #boulder