Welcome to Kelly’s Monthly Edit!
Join me every month as I round up the little joys that sparked inspiration, from must-make recipes and Mom-approved grocery finds to favorite products in kitchenware, skincare, fashion and beyond. Consider this your behind-the-scenes bite of life at Just a Taste—no gatekeeping, just good taste.
If July had us saddling up at the dude ranch and blowing out birthday candles for Julian and Mia, August arrived in a glorious whirlwind of back-to-school anticipation, surprisingly scorching heat and plenty of reasons to celebrate. We’re officially standing on that seasonal tightrope where lunchboxes and school planners meet the season’s hottest temps and baseball bleachers, and I’m leaning into every single minute. Here’s everything that made the cut this month.
Celebrating Noni at JOEY & The Katsu Salad Obsession
August is the month of the matriarch! We gathered to celebrate the one and only Noni for her birthday, and per tradition, good food and great wine were non-negotiable. We headed over to JOEY at University Town Center in La Jolla for a festive family night out.
If you’ve visited JOEY, you know the menu is stacked, but their famous Chicken Katsu Salad stole the spotlight. Between the shatteringly crisp Panko crust, the mound of colorful, crunchy slaw and that addictive dressing, I couldn’t stop talking about it. Naturally, as soon as we got home, my chef brain kicked into overdrive in the test kitchen.
The result? My official copycat Chicken Katsu with Asian Cabbage Salad! I took my tried-and-true cutlet technique, gave it a Japanese-inspired twist with extra-airy Panko flakes, and topped it with purple cabbage, edamame, cucumbers and a zippy 10-minute homemade carrot-ginger dressing. It’s light, super crunchy, and deeply satisfying for the best restaurant-quality dinner at home.
Date Night Escapes & The Ultimate Little Black Dress
Between packing four backpacks, balancing sports schedules, and getting dinner on the table before 6pm, finding time for a date night with my husband is pure survival. This month, we made a point to sneak away for an evening out just the two of us. There’s something magical about sitting at a quiet corner table, ordering a crisp martini or glass of Champagne, and finishing an entire adult conversation without someone spilling milk or asking where their shin guards are.
Of course, a rare night out calls for an outfit that requires zero overthinking. Enter: my holy grail Little Black Dress. When you’re a busy mom, you don’t have time for complicated zippers or uncomfortable fabric. I fell in love with a classic, flattering ribbed midi LBD that dresses up with a strappy sandal and statement gold hoops in two seconds flat (and stretches enough to make room for dessert). It’s chic, effortless, and officially on heavy rotation for every date night on the calendar. Bonus: It won’t wrinkle!
Back-to-School Weeknight Dinners (Fast, Easy & Sanity-Saving!)
The transition from languid summer afternoons to 6am alarm clocks is always an adjustment, and the 5pm “What’s for dinner?” panic is real. When evening homework, baths and bedtime routines start colliding, complicated recipes are strictly off the table.
This month has been all about high-reward, minimal-cleanup dinners (think 20-minute sheet pan meals, 15-minute stir-fries and ground beef big wins, like my go-to Cuban Picadillo, pictured above). When the evenings are chaotic, having three or four reliable, 30-minute meals in your back pocket makes all the difference between a frantic night and a peaceful one.
And speaking of keeping your sanity intact this season: if you haven’t grabbed your copy of our Back to School Lunch Survival Guide, this is your official reminder! With four kids headed out the door, I’ve packed thousands of lunches over the years. I consolidated all my go-to systems, time-saving prep hacks, gear recommendations and kid-approved lunchbox recipes into one handy (and free!) 24-page guide to take the dread out of early-morning packing.
Sneak Peek: Spooky Season is Coming!
While my heart is still soaking in the summer sunshine, my home is already starting to smell (and look!) a little bit like fall. Halloween is hands-down one of my favorite holidays to bake for. The creativity and sheer fun of it brings out the kid in all of us!
We have some insanely fun treats (and surprises!) heading your way in September and October. I’m talking brand-new festive cookie cakes, whimsical kid-friendly desserts, and spooky party boards that will steal the show at any classroom party or neighborhood get-together. Keep your piping bags and candy eyes ready…spooky season at Just a Taste is going to be our biggest and most delicious one yet!
What was the best bite, highlight or back-to-school win from your August? Let me know in the comments below!
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