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Parmesan Caesar Tortellini Salad

Another week and another weekend has passed here in the French Riviera and it certainly is starting to feel more like home here. The weather is still warm enough to enjoy an afternoon at the beach but elements of fall are starting to set in during the morning and evening hours. I’ve spent my years since college in the hustle and bustle of adult life learning and growing and working hard to get to where I’m at in life. I never really imagined that I’d be taking a little life-break so early in my life but it certainly has been… Read More

Mandarin Pomegranate Chopped Kale Salad

One of the things that I find exciting about living in a foreign country are my visits to the grocery store. Don’t get me wrong, there are also frustrations. It took me over a month to figure out where they kept the breadcrumbs at my grocery store. On the flip side I really find it fun to see all of the different food items and try to understand what the labels say. One of the other items that I have not seen in France is kale. Seriously! They love their mesclun greens here and their arugula but I have not… Read More

Braised Chicken with Kale and White Beans

Fall comfort food season is in full effect and with everyone posting about making chili I’ve really been in the mood to cozy up with a bowl myself! Chili doesn’t seem to be a popular thing here in France, especially in the south where the temperatures are still in the 70s but that doesn’t mean I’m not craving a hearty bowl. My in-laws were here to visit last week and I had them bring along a couple of boxes of my favorite chili mix so that we could get in on the fall chili action! But if you need a… Read More

Inland French Riviera Driving Tour

I’m sitting here wondering how an entire month has already past since I arrived in France! The past month was all about learning to live in a foreign country and also some adventure outside of our little town. We rented a car for a few days and drove to a few locations inland here in the Riviera and I just wanted to point out a few spots to check out if you ever visit. This inland Riviera driving tour is perfect to do in an afternoon and will allow for an entirely new perspective of this region. First things first,… Read More

Classic Olive Tapenade

I finally got to the point this week where I felt like we were settled enough in our new apartment that I could actually try my hand at some recipes. I picked up a few colorful towels at a store I discovered in Nice and discovered that I have fairly decent lighting for food photography coming into my windows. It certainly is a very different situation than I have at home where I have shelves of props and all of the ‘right’ tools to cook anything. This is something that I’m starting to miss. The trade-off is that I’m living… Read More

Avocado Ranch BLT Sandwiches

Just typing this title has me totally craving a BLT! Living abroad, even if just for a week, has me missing a few things from home, including the cuisine. I definitely miss my grill and my fully stocked kitchen. This is almost embarrassing to admit but I begged my husband to get things to make ground beef tacos over the weekend because I was totally craving something familiar! It didn’t help that earlier in the morning he was listing out a menu of things that he’d want to order from a BBQ restaurant if there was one nearby! It’s not… Read More

Beyond the Kitchen: My First Week in France

Bonjour! I know that it has been a little quiet on the blog as I get settled into my new life but you can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram to get more of the latest details of what’s going on in my life! It certainly has been a bit hectic as I’ve adjusted to the time change, cultural changes and living without a fully stocked kitchen. But so far I’m loving it here and there isn’t much to complain about so let’s dive in to what I’ve learned and experienced in the past week! Just a little background…our… Read More

Greek Salad Flatbreads

I have to tell you, I’ve been on a roll with flatbreads lately! It’s such an easy dinner to prepare during the summer when you don’t really want to focus on anything other than soaking up the sun. You can easily find actual flatbreads in your local grocery store or I love to use naan bread which is pretty readily accessible too. Today’s recipe features a Greek Salad Flatbread which basically combines two delicious things! I’m sure I’ll be whipping up a batch of these over the weekend as I wrap up some last minute things before flying off next… Read More

Taking The Leap To Follow My Dream

Recently I have found myself thinking back on the 7 years since Food n’ Focus began, and how amazing this time has been, but also reflecting on how much hard work and effort has gone into getting to the point where I find myself today. Now that I’m less than 2 weeks away from the beautiful country of France becoming my intermediate home, all of the lessons I have learned and the experiences I have been able to take part in, are working together to see me off to my biggest adventure yet. It’s difficult to think back to a… Read More

Raspberry Walnut Goat Cheese Appetizer

I have very few summery nights to spend on my patio this year, and next year for that matter. In between all of the projects I’ve been trying to get done for Food n’ Focus before I leave for my trip I have been trying to spend as much time as possible with friends and family, even if just for a small gathering. I know it’s only going to be a year but I’m sure there will come a point in my trip where it no longer feels like vacation and I start to miss some of the comforts from… Read More

Pros & Cons of Moving to a New Country

Since I made my big announcement a couple of weeks ago regarding my upcoming move to France, I have gotten a lot of excitement from friends and followers and a lot of questions. I’ve heard everything from ‘what made you decide to do it’ to people saying I’m crazy and they could never see themselves doing it. Now, I have yet to have the actual experience of living abroad so check back in a few months and see if I’m hating it, but for now I could not be more excited about the opportunity. I thought that this might be… Read More

Quatro Fromaggio Flatbread

This post is sponsored by Dietz & Watson. All opinions expressed are my own. A couple of weeks ago I was invited to attend a fun happy hour that was a collaboration between Dietz & Watson and Metro Market, which is a local grocery store in Milwaukee. There were some fun cooking demos, delicious meats and cheese appetizers and even a station to design your own cutting board! I paired some delicious local beers with tasty Dietz & Watson cheeses and meats and even helped to create a Quatro Fromaggio Flatbread for attendees. Do you ever make flatbreads at home?… Read More

Smoky Chipotle Chicken Sandwiches

Since I’m leaving my home for a new land in about 6 weeks, I’ve been doing everything that I can to enjoy my American summer before I jet off to France. I have been attending all of the local festivals, grilling every chance that I can get, relaxing (when I can) on my patio and next week will be hosting some friends from California and showing them a really good Milwaukee time! Also important right now are quick and delicious meals because I don’t have much time for anything else! I whipped up these delicious Smoky Chipotle Chicken Sandwiches recently… Read More

Ranch Lovers Hot Dogs

Wow! I just wanted to start by saying thank you to everyone for the outpouring of love and support following my big news from yesterday! I could not be more excited about the adventure I’m about to embark on and look forward to sharing it more with you throughout the next year! I still have plans to share delicious recipes weekly but also plan to share more about the culture and adventures that I’ll be taking each and every day. One of the things that I’m most excited about is shopping at their markets and eating more fresh foods. If… Read More

Big Announcement….

Hey friends! I am SUPER excited that I can finally share some big news with all of you! This has been something in the works since earlier this year and I’m super excited to announce that… I’m moving to France for one year! Yes, you read that correctly. My husband and I began this year asking ourselves what we really wanted to do with our lives and it has been a dream and conversation for quite some time to live abroad for a length of time. With our love of travel and culture, being able to experience some time in… Read More

Join the Good Mooed Tour for FREE Ice Cream Samples

This post is sponsored by Turkey Hill Dairy. All opinions expressed are my own. Hi, my name is April and I’m an ice cream addict. It’s true! If there is one dessert that I can’t get enough of, it would be ice cream. I enjoy a good soft-serve, but my favorite is from a carton straight from my freezer, slightly thawed so it’s extra smooth and creamy. This is a stark contract from my husband’s preference of having ice cream so cold that you practically have to chew through each bite! You can imagine my excitement when Turkey Hill asked… Read More

Spicy Grilled Shrimp Tacos

If you follow me on Instagram then you probably saw me post some pretty tasty looking tacos a couple of weeks back. Since today is officially Taco Tuesday I thought I would finally share the recipe in case you wanted to try them out for dinner tonight! My Spicy Grilled Shrimp Tacos offer the perfect balance of spice and flavor and will have you wishing you made a double batch! I actually whipped these up for my friends over at Litehouse using their Coleslaw dressing. Have you ever realized how many different things that you can do with coleslaw? In… Read More

Zesty Grilled Steak and Panzanella Salad

Oh hey July! I think that mother nature flipped a switch this weekend and decided that it was time to turn up the thermostat because we had 90 degree temperatures in my neck of the woods! I am NOT complaining because I spent most of the year in cool or darn right cold temperatures. I decided that even though it was HOT HOT HOT this weekend that I would stand over a hot flame and grill because seriously, why not. I decided on a Zesty Grilled Steak and Panzanella Salad that used up some of the delicious heirloom tomatoes that… Read More

Sesame Ginger Chicken Kebobs and Ginger Cucumber Salad

I promise that I have not forgotten about you guys. Blogging gets really hard in the summer months because all I want to do is soak up every ounce of nice weather that I can and spend endless weekend time on my patio enjoying the warmth of the sun. I have been working on some recipes that I will be sharing throughout the weeks ahead and have some other exciting things coming your way very soon. In the mean time, please feel free to search through all of the other delicious recipes on Food n’ Focus and add these Sesame… Read More

Sweet and Spicy Barbecue Bacon Burgers

Father’s Day is coming up this weekend and I’m sure many of you are planning a cookout with your dad so I thought that this would be a good time to present one of the most delicious burgers that I’ve ever made! Seriously…I’m traditionally a ketchup and mustard kind of gal but this burger really takes the cake. Imagine piling creamy gouda, crispy bacon and spicy onions on top of your burger and topping it off with a deliciously sweet BBQ sauce. I give you the Sweet and Spicy Barbecue Bacon Burger. I was really toying around with burger combinations… Read More