The Naptime Chef

This spring I started a fantastic partnership with Arla Dofino because I love their cheeses. They are naturally delicious and align perfectly with my mission of incorporating good food into my family’s life every single day. The great thing about Arla is that they want you to get the BBQ spirit and are giving away a three month supply of cheese to one lucky winner. Yes! Naturally delicious cheese for your family for the whole summer!! How great is that?! Their cheeses are perfect for topping your summer burgers, melting onto grilled pizzas, or even pairing with fruit and crackers to make an easy entertaining cheese plate. Here is how you can enter to win:

Since we are talking about awesome frozen desserts this week I had to include this post for making ice cream cake in a loaf pan. Seriously, you guys, this is soooo easy. Plus, it is super fun for kids. Here is how you make it!

I was never really into flavored cheeses until I started working with Arla Dofino. There cheeses are the first ones I’ve ever tried with actual natural flavors like real peppers or dill incorporated into the cheese. There is nothing artificial about them! The cool thing about naturally flavored cheeses is that can give new life to tried-and-true dishes. For example, a regular grilled cheese can be transformed if you use Pesto Gouda instead of cheddar. Quesadillas take on a whole new life with Chipotle Gouda, and salads taste amazing with a sprinkle of shredded Dill Havarti. Last week my in-laws were visiting so I used the Jalapeno Havarti to make an easy summer entertaining dip.

The best and worst think about the food writing world is staring at amazing recipes and food all day. My friends and favorite writers are constantly thinking up new and amazing dishes. I try to Pin them all with the hopes of making them someday but there is never enough time! Last week I finally tasked myself with making Phoebe’s amazing peanut sauce. It has always been high on my to-do list and I was totally craving an Asian-inspired noodle dish so it was finally the perfect time to give it a whirl.

This is my best friend of summer salads. The one I pull out time and time again when I want a light dinner, or a heavier side dish, or I generally just have a craving for a BLT. (I know that sounds silly, but those cravings happen fairly often!) I first found it on Food52 practically the day after it was published. I made it the week after publication and have done so steadily ever since.

Even though school is almost over you still need easy recipes for dinners that can be in the oven then on the table in under half an hour. Not to mention, you need recipes that don’t require excessive heat or stewing since it is simply too hot to do so! One of our latest easy favorites is a quick baked cod. Any white fish will do, really, it is all about the seasonings in the end.

With summer coming up it is time to transition to no-cook food. Or, at least food that requires minimal heat when it is simply too hot to crank up the burners for hours on end. On these occasions I rely on icebox desserts. Anything that doesn’t require baking is instantly more convenient to make. In this case I whip up a quick lemon curd and assemble the cake before slipping it into the fridge. It really is that easy!