CookingwithRiccis

September..... its the start of soup season + garden cleanup! 🍲 Creamy Butternut Squash Soup! It's the fresh thyme and ginger zing that get's me! Have a great weekend friends!

Recipe link in bio!

Soaking up every last minute of summer! 🍋 End of Summer pasta with shrimp and clams! 🍋 Loaded with lemon, garlic, in a spinach white wine sauce and served with a crusty loaf of bread to soak up all that pan sauce + garlic bits. Cheers!
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'Rock the Block' - Ricci Family trip 2022! The last hurrah of summer spent beach side, island hiking, boozy suppers + many memories with the Ricci family, party of #18 ❤️.

The Kitchen. So much action happens here and it's the heart of our home for sure! It's also the space where trash and cleaning products filter through the most. I'm always mindful of cleaner ingredients to feed my family and keep this space running sustainability. From composting food waste to less plastic use where I can. I'm not perfect, but I try my best. Recently I discovered that has helped me swap a few things I use daily for better, like compostable trash bags and on-the-go snack bags for the kids to take. I connected with the company and I'm happy to say they have given me a code to share with this community so we can be a little more mindful together. Using the code: SARAH15 you will receive 15% off your order 🌎

Macadamia Oatmeal Chocolate Cookies! 🍪
I picked up some delightful chocolate last week during a work trip in NYC, and I knew something special had to be made with it when I returned to Connecticut. So, ground oatmeal, and Macadamia nuts in my mini food processor helped to make a beautiful nest for these dark chocolate morsels to bake in. I shaved some extra chocolate into the dough for good measure. Organic butter, sugar, all the yum, and a sprinkle of sea salt flakes that sit on top of a little chocolate pool from a warm cookie. What's not to love here!!?? 💫 Making these again soon! Happy Friday!

Home. 🖤

Chocolate dipped Almond Biscotti. 💫 This is what I woke up thinking about! I have a few more days of traveling for work, but a container of these stored at home waiting for me, unless the kids got to them first! 😉

Morning light and hot coffee! 💫☕️ This is one of my favorite moments of the day!!! The kids are off to a fun camp this week here in Connecticut and I'm off on another worktrip this afternoon. Right now, I just need a coffee moment before kicking into full working mom mode!

It will take about 3-4 weeks for these pickeling cucumbers to ferment. 🥒 Made brine with white vinegar + pickeling salt + filtered water. Added in fresh dill + garlic + whole peppercorns + mustard seeds.
***Some jars also have a few of my cherry hot peppers🌶 **** Can't wait to open these back up next month!!!

Happy 40th Birthday to this guy! We love you! Cheers to 40 years! ❤️

Wilmington, North Carolina holds a special place in my heart for many reasons. Jon and I lived here for six years. We got married here. We have some of the most amazing friends from here.... and a little over a year ago my mom decided to retire here from my hometown in Maryland and now I get to bring the kids for summer visits. It's truly amazing how things work out in life sometimes. 💫 If you're a Connecticut local now has good rates on flights directly from New Haven into ILM here. My top picks if your looking to plan a weekend trip. Beach: public access 39 walk to end of beach to see birds. Food: Kid fun: Lillian Surf school: Darren Marine Camp: Beer: and if you want some pool time with the best home-cooked crab cakes and game nights... DM me for my moms number 😘.

Who's ready for a long weekend of grillin' and chillin'? I'm still here in North Carolina visiting my Mom with the kids and one of my sisters in route from Maryland!!! Yay!!! 🍻 Cheers to the weekend, spending time with family, and all the good food to come!!

Lemon Butter Chicken! 🍋 A summer supper I will be making on repeat!

This one pan dish is best served with a crusty loaf of bread to soak up all the lemon butter pan sauce!!! Recipe Link in Bio for YOU!!! 💛
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Prepping meals for the week and this Italian Chickpea Skillet is one of my favorites. 🔥

1/4 cup olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 15-ounce cans chickpeas, drained
1 24-ounce jar marinara/garden sauce
1/4 cup water
1 8-ounce block mozzarella, shredded
Salt + Pepper (S&P)
Fresh basil + bread to garnish/serve

In a 10 inch oven safe skillet heat oil. Saute onions and garlic. Add drained chickpeas, marinara, water, S&P to taste. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Set oven to broil. Add shredded cheese on top and transfer the oven safe skillet to middle rack in oven. Melt the cheese until bubbly and golden on top.

Season with S&P, add some crushed red peppers, fresh basil, and serve warm bread on the side. 🥖

Dinner in under 30 minutes!

I just love peony season, a clean kitchen, and weekend's ... who's with me?? 🍻 Cheers to Friday, good cooking, and family time!

My happy place after a long day at work....

✔️ comfortable sandals
✔️ in the flower gardens
✔️ making peony arrangements

Also just realizing my toes are covered in wet yellow pollen after today's light rain. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Memorial Day Weekend. 🇺🇲 Smoked a 17 pound brisket and chilled lakeside with family.

Favorite weekend side dish? For me a good pasta salad always makes the list. Loaded with fresh chopped veggies like bell peppers, zucchini, cukes, fresh herbs, pickeled pepperoncinis for a little zing, and a quick homemade vinaigrette topped with fresh grated parmigiano. This pasta salad takes about 15 minutes to throw together and cleans out the fridge! 🌱

All smiles because LAKE SEASON has officially started! 💫

Garden Asparagus is on!! It took over a year to really get this crop going in our garden and the wait was worth it! I wanted to keep the flavors fresh tonight so I just steamed these beauties and finished them with a squeeze of Lemon + drizzle of Olive Oil + S&P. 🌱💛

However you taco this week, make it a good one! 🔥 Shout-out to some of my favorite sauce, salsa and spice friends with this post!

April showers = May Flowers. 🌸 Happily picking all the different varieties of daffidol's popping up in our flower beds!! Summer will be just around the corner, but I'm not in a rush and welcome all signs of spring .... next weekend will be vegetable garden prep! 🌱

Yup, it's a family business and my husband has the best clean up crew around! 😜 Custom build or remodel with the best! 💫

Favorite Taco Topping and board game???!!!...

One of my sisters is in town for a quick visit. We made a big batch of pulled pork for this rainy day and are spending time laughing over family board games + tacos! 🌮

What's your favorite board game or taco topping!?!

I'm team Blokus or Ticket to Ride for games and fresh avocado and pickled red onions for tacos!! 💫

The mountains we're calling us for ONE MORE RUN this season!!! 🎿 We don't have the full crew this trip, but what a fun ski season we had together!!!! I'm grateful for the memories made! Thankful for this CRAZY ski family I have and for all the ridiculous FUN we have!! 🙏🏼 We see you comimg spring and will be counting down the days until these mountains call again and the wolf pack is together again! 💫

All good mornings start in the kitchen with a hot coffee + cream! ☕️ Who's with me!!??

Family Sunday Supper: Make your own pizza Edition!!! Which combo would you choose?

Ricci Family Favorites in the :

1.) Buratta + Prosciutto w/Arugula & balsamic drizzle.
2.) Spicy Buffalo Chicken.
3.) Extra cheese + Broccoli.

P.S. - No wrong answers here! 🔥

First time hiking Ragged Mountain and this trail is a gem! I can't believe these views!! Yes, this is central Connecticut! 🙏🏼 Crunching in the snow for 3.5 miles and soaking up a family day of fun is just what we needed. Yippee!

White Chicken Chili (slow cooker style).... because it's Friday and we needed somthing cozy + easy heading into the weekend as I finish watching .... soooo good! If you haven't watched it yet 🙏🏼 get onboard with me. So beautiful + powerful. Loving every moment. 💫 As for the Chicken Chili ... step by step saved up in highlights. HAPPY Friday! -Sarah

Winter family hiking in Connecticut never felt so cozy....
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Thank you for the winter clothes! Go check out the link in my bio for the essentials.