In the morning, while the coffee drips and darkens and I pour rich cream into the bottom of a mug, Riley stands on a chair, riffling the contents of a cabinet in search of a flower vase. Yesterday, she walked in after school with armfuls of Valentine’s Day love–flowers and balloons and chocolates, fresh with […]

I sit down at the table next to Adam, and he smiles, silently tender. Love, that’s the recognition I see softening his features. It flickers, this light that shatters darkness: You love me, and I adore you, and here we are, together. You wonder maybe how Adam’s heart could be so plain to me, but […]

We sit at breakfast, light falling easy through the curtains, isolated in a moment that feels slower. She pauses, putting her toast on her plate, chewing on her bottom lip.  “Mom, I’m not sure about the words on some of those Valentines.” I knew we would come back to this conversation.  Last year, when I […]

These cheesecake bars cut no corners when it comes to indulgence: rich raspberry-white chocolate swirl cheesecake–so creamy and decadent—blanketing a buttery, shortbread crust.  I read the recipe twice—real butter, cream cheese, sour cream, white chocolate.  But these sweet treats won’t break your calorie budget with their completely-worth-it 172 calories each (15g carbs, if you’re interested). […]