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
Nicoise Salad
The Nicoise Salad is one of the great French culinary concoctions. It is simple, fresh tasting, and a nutritiously power-packed dish. It is a wonderful salad to make for a buffet table or pot-luck, as it allows people to take the ingredients that suite their particular diets and preferences.
Cranberry – Apple Chutney
Cranberry–Apple Chutney with its sweet, tart and slightly savory flavors, is delicious as a Thanksgiving side dish, heavenly in a cranberry-apple baked brie, tasty as a condiment served with any poultry dish, and a great addition to a turkey, chicken, or grilled cheese sandwich.
Lemon Jewel Couscous
Looking for a side dish with bright and fresh flavors? This Lemon Jewel Couscous is great hot, cold, and at room temperature. It can be served as a side dish or as a wonderful vegetarian or vegan entrée, when plated on a bed of greens, such as arugula. In the warmer...
Cranberry – Apple Baked Brie
Whether you are entertaining at home or bringing a dish to share at a get-together, this Cranberry-Apple Baked Brie is a beautiful, delicious, and impressive appetizer on any table. Using a store-bought puff pastry makes this a fairly simple dish to assemble. Often...
Nazaré, Portugal – why you should visit the land of big waves and long sandy beaches
Nazaré A two-and-a-half-hour cork and eucalyptus tree-lined drive north of Lisbon lies the seaside town of Nazaré. Nestled along the Costa da Prata (Silver Coast) sits this vibrant and lively oceanside fishing village turned resort. Nazaré consists of three...
Goat Cheese and Honey Salad
On a recent trip to the wonderful seaside town of Nazaré, Portugal, we enjoyed a fabulous dinner at a restaurant called Tosca Gastrobar. It had a cozy vibe and absolutely scrumptious food. I was served one of the most delicious and pretty salads there which became the...
Healthy Choices
Winter Soups + Stews
Holiday Bakery + Sweets
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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 grandchild—a baby girl—was born.
The day of her birth, I was on pins and needles—an 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.
🍎🍎🍎 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎
Many years ago, my mother-in-law, Anna, taught me how to make apple pie, and it quickly became my son’s favorite dessert.
We will spend Thanksgiving with the new family of three, and I plan to make this for our celebration. Over the years, I’ve made little changes to the recipe, creating a lighter and brighter version that suits my taste, but Anna’s inspiration is still at the heart of the recipe.
🍎🍎🍎
Recipe in bio
🍎🍎🍎
#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 grandchild—a baby girl—was born.
The day of her birth, I was on pins and needles—an 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.
🍎🍎🍎 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎
Many years ago, my mother-in-law, Anna, taught me how to make apple pie, and it quickly became my son’s favorite dessert.
We will spend Thanksgiving with the new family of three, and I plan to make this for our celebration. Over the years, I’ve made little changes to the recipe, creating a lighter and brighter version that suits my taste, but Anna’s inspiration is still at the heart of the recipe.
🍎🍎🍎
Recipe in bio
🍎🍎🍎
#family #birth #givingthanks #thanksgiving #thankgivingrecipes #applepie #applepierecipe #holidaydesserts #thanksgivingdinner #thanksgivingdesserts
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
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
🍁🍃🍂
#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.
🍑🍑🍑
Recipe in profile.
🫐🫐🫐
#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.
🥕🥕🥕
Recipe in profile.
🌽🌽🌽
#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
🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
#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.
🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸
#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.
🥕🥕🥕
Recipe link in profile.
🫛🫛🫛
#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.
🫛🫛🫛
#PeanutNoodles #VeganRecipes #HealthyEating #EasyRecipes #QuickMeals #PlantBased #AsianCuisine #NoodleLovers #MealPrepIdeas