Spring Pasta Salad With Basil Vinaigrette

By Paige Rhodes

This pasta salad is perfect for taking on the go. Pack up a bottle of Prosecco, a few types of meats and cheeses, and a crusty baguette to go along with it, and you’ll set the scene for a special spring picnic.

Green Goddess Chicken Salad Sliders

Story and Photos by Paige Rhodes
If you’re avoiding the crazy bar crawls and parades this St. Patrick’s Day, an at-home green feast could be just what the doctor ordered. What should be on the menu? Forget the green eggs and ham, these green goddess chicken sliders are a delicious way to represent the color of the Irish while still being somewhat healthy. If the weather allows, you can even break out the grill for its first adventure of the spring. Now, grab a Guinness and enjoy your peaceful and quiet St. Patty’s Day at home.

YUM! Sugar Cookie Bars

By Paige Rhodes
There are two types of people on Valentine’s Day — those who embrace every aspect of the holiday, and those who refuse to log in to Facebook for fear of seeing too many flower bouquets and teddy bears. If you’re a part of the first category, these festive small-batch cookies are for you. Whether you’re preparing a romantic dinner for your significant other or you’re having a Netflix Galentine’s party with your besties, this easy dessert will be the star.

Low-Carb Instant Pot Taco Spaghetti Squash

By Paige Rhodes

Now that the holidays have come and gone, there’s probably only one thing on your mind — New Year's resolutions. If one of your goals is cleaning up your diet and incorporating more low-carb meals into your day, then this recipe is for you.

No-Knead Artisan Rolls

By Paige Rhodes


Hosting Thanksgiving is stressful enough without having to worry about making everything the day of. Save yourself a ton of trouble by prepping and cooking foods such as vegetables, desserts, and baked goods ahead of time. These recipes can be started even a couple of days before Thanksgiving to give yourself ample time to deal with that turkey and dressing.

Apple Layer Cake With Bourbon Butterscotch Buttercream

By Paige Rhodes

Hosting Thanksgiving is stressful enough without having to worry about making everything the day of. Save yourself a ton of trouble by prepping and cooking foods such as vegetables, desserts, and baked goods ahead of time. These recipes can be started even a couple of days before Thanksgiving to give yourself ample time to deal with that turkey and dressing.

Brussels Sprout Salad With Pomegranates and Candied Pecans

By Paige Rhodes


Hosting Thanksgiving is stressful enough without having to worry about making everything the day of. Save yourself a ton of trouble by prepping and cooking foods such as vegetables, desserts, and baked goods ahead of time. These recipes can be started even a couple of days before Thanksgiving to give yourself ample time to deal with that turkey and dressing.

Best Bodies: Debra Lynn Lively (and one of her treats)

“I strength train, ride a bicycle, do yoga and dance. They all bring wonderful gifts to our bodies, but strength training is essential to building and retaining muscle as we age. Strength training gives me the confidence to meet the demands of work and family.”

Throw A Modern and Moody Halloween Party

By Lauren Dahl and Paige Rhodes

A crisp evening Halloween party is the perfect occasion for a dark and moody color palette. Playful ghoulish details like spiders, webs, and fog will set the Halloween tone. Modern white dishes and an un-cluttered table helps bring the glam. Tonight is the night to embrace the black lipstick, eccentric attire, and indulge in all things Halloween.

Make these White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies Before School Starts

By Paige Rhodes

As the summer comes to a close, the kids are getting ready to head back to school. Whether you’re ready to get them out of the house or you’re bummed that they won’t be around anymore, this time of year brings orientations, teacher conferences, and PTA meet-and-greets to keep you busy. If you want to make a good impression at these events, homemade cookies are always a good idea. Chocolate chip cookies are perfect for the kiddos, but if you’re treating the adults, white chocolate macadamia nut is the way to go. These are soft, chewy, and slightly crisp to make sure that no cookie goes uneaten.

Sweet and Spicy Quick Pickled Veggies

By Paige Rhodes

By now, your gardens are probably starting to fill with the fruits (and veggies) of your labor. Giant zucchini, juicy watermelon, and sweet heirloom tomatoes make all of your TLC worth the time and effort. But, what do you do with it all when it starts taking over your counters? Pickling is a great way to preserve your produce while completely transforming its flavor. Whether used to dress up a Bloody Mary or served on the side of a burger, these sweet and spicy pickled veggies will add a zesty bite to any summer meal and use up your garden bounty.

Try this Delicious Summer Salad

By Paige Rhodes

If you’re a true Southerner, your summers were probably spent snacking on vegetables from the garden. This surely included cucumbers that were soaked in white vinegar, sugar, and water. Maybe it’s because cucumbers are a bountiful summer crop, but that dish seemed to be a commonality in a lot of families. This Cucumber, Radish, and Fennel Salad with Mandarin Dressing is a modern homage to that beloved snack. Every time you enjoy it, you will be taken back to those sticky days filled with deceptive Cool Whip containers packed with sour soaked cucumbers. This salad is even better on day two after the vinaigrette has time to soak into the veggies, but they still retain their addicting crunch. This dish may become your new favorite go-to BBQ addition.

The Perfect Pitch-In Dish for the Summer

By Paige Rhodes

While we certainly can’t take credit for their invention, deviled eggs are a Southern tradition that go way back in our history. Classic deviled eggs are made with mayonnaise, mustard, a dash of Worcestershire sauce, and a sprinkle of paprika. The recipe below still has a mayonnaise base but with a hint of mustard powder and a bit of Old Bay seasoning to complement the main ingredient — deliciously sweet and salty crab. Lump crabmeat is always best, but a blend would work just fine. (Just promise you won’t go the imitation route for this recipe.) If you have a brunch, BBQ, or church potluck coming up, this seaside twist on deviled eggs will be a huge hit on the buffet table.

Mint Julep Granita: A Twist on the Traditional

By Paige Rhodes

Everyone expects to see Mint Juleps on your Derby Day spread, but instead of doing the same thing as last year and the year before that, try this twist on the traditional cocktail. Instead of diluting your drink with unnecessary water from the crushed or shaved ice, substitute granita for even more flavor. In this Mint Julep version, you’ll infuse the granita — an Italian semi-frozen dessert made from sugar, water, and various flavorings — with fresh mint and a splash of crème de menthe. Pour over your desired amount of bourbon to finish for an original take on the official cocktail of The Kentucky Derby.

Taste the Derby

By Melissa Donald

The Trifecta Mint Julep at The Village Anchor. Photo courtesy The Village Anchor.

Since the Derby officially kicks off with Thunder next weekend, it’s time to plan how to immerse yourself into the savory world of traditional flavors that put you in the spirit of Derby.

Triple Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cookies

By Paige Rhodes

Nothing says Valentine’s Day quite like chocolate covered strawberries. But, these Triple Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cookies are a great homemade alternative to give to a loved one. If you’ve never used freeze-dried fruit in baked goods, this is the perfect opportunity to try it. They add intense flavor and color without adding any extra moisture, which is key when baking. While these are perfect for a Valentine’s Day treat, you can easily make them all year long!

Stuffed Blueberry Brie Monkey Bread

By Paige Rhodes

If there’s one thing that we can’t get enough of this time of year, it’s appetizer recipes. Holiday entertaining is at its peak, and there’s always room on the menu for more starters. When you think of monkey bread, you probably envision a sticky, caramel-loaded treat that’s best served for dessert. This is not that kind of monkey bread. It’s savory pull-apart bread that’s stuffed with brie cheese and blueberry jam. It’s warm, buttery, sweet, and salty. Basically, it’s the perfect appetizer for your next holiday party.

Thankful for a Minute to Sip

To survive the insanity of Black Friday, coffee is a must. Local coffee shop Quill’s Coffee has the perfect drink with an extra kick to keep you awake. “The Alchemist” is a latte that combines agave nectar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and a dash of cayenne pepper. Created by one of Quill’s vegan baristas, this beverage caters to those with special dietary needs. Substituting soy milk will only add to the variety of flavor. Joanna Miller, a Quill’s barista, says this drink has become an employee favorite. “Even on a warm fall day, it’s delicious over ice,” she says.

Go Out and Warm Up With The Winter Dishes

By Lindsey McClave

Given the fertile nature of the Bluegrass, it’s no wonder that Louisville chefs cook seasonally, changing up their menu offerings as the weather turns and the temperature shifts. As we roll into the chill of winter, we can find comfort in the soul-warming dishes we’ll begin to see on local restaurant menus. Here we highlight four dishes that put a cozy spin on an otherwise frosty season.

Dirty Chai Cheesecake

By Paige Rhodes

In autumn, even the pumpkin-fixated tend to grow tired of it by the time Thanksgiving actually rolls around. This pumpkin-free Dirty Chai Cheesecake has all the autumnal flavors associated with the season and then some. The not-so-secret ingredient is espresso, giving this cheesecake the “dirty” part of its name. If you go to a coffee shop and order a dirty chai, you’ll get a regular chai tea latte with a shot of espresso. This cheesecake is that beverage in delicious dessert form. Make it as your Thanksgiving dessert and watch it disappear before the pumpkin pies are even touched.