Whole milk is gently simmered with cinnamon sticks and rich Mexican chocolate until thick and fragrant, then ladled into mugs and topped with mini marshmallows. This warming, spiced hot chocolate brings the cozy feeling of a campfire indoors without ever stepping outside.

This one is a keeper: Ginger Miso Pasta Salad. Grab your ingredients and cook along with her.

Thick bologna rounds are pan-fried in butter until caramelized, then served on toast rounds with mustard and tangy quick-pickled squash in a vinegar-dill brine. These crispy, nostalgic bites elevate a Midwestern childhood favorite into a fun party appetizer.

Sugar and corn syrup are cooked to hard-crack stage, then mixed with butter, baking soda, vanilla paste, fennel, and pistachios, spread thin, and finished with orange zest and flaky sea salt. This elegant, shattering brittle balances sweet caramel crunch with savory salt and aromatic fennel for a sophisticated after-dinner confection.

A silky queso dip made with white American cheese and sharp white cheddar, swirled with canned green chiles and fresh Fresno pepper. An addictive, crowd-pleasing appetizer that comes together in minutes.

Pinto beans simmered with cumin, coriander, and chipotle, mashed to a thick paste with some texture left for body, and finished with fresh lime. A flavorful, from-scratch staple that outshines any canned version and anchors the whole So-Cal menu.

Thinly shaved fennel tossed in a red wine vinaigrette and topped with crumbled goat cheese and toasted pine nuts. A light, elegant salad for a Valentine's dinner.

Yeasted dough filled with cinnamon-brown sugar and optional pecans and raisins, prepped the night before and iced warm from the oven. A make-ahead holiday morning tradition that fills the house with the magic of Christmas Day.

A fresh green salad topped with crispy pan-fried polenta croutons and dressed in balsamic vinaigrette. A clever twist on a classic salad with satisfying crunch.

Thick, rustic pici noodles are hand-rolled from a blend of all-purpose and semolina flours, then tossed with crispy pancetta and a silky egg-Parmesan-pecorino carbonara sauce. This artisan pasta showcases the joy of making noodles from scratch, rewarding the effort with an authentically Italian, soul-satisfying dish.