recipe

Chinese Chicken Salad with Sesame Dressing

August 7, 2018

This Chinese Chicken Salad takes the healthier high road than the heavier versions I always see at those popular food chains that everyone loves. But this one with crunchy romaine, wontons, and an almond crunch, topped with protein-packed chicken breast, pasta noodles, and a flavor-flav sesame dressing.

Lighter fare that totally satisfies is what I’m craving now. And as summer’s flowy skirts and loose-fitting shift dresses morph into fall’s jeans and thigh hugging pants, it seems lighter food is part of my weekly anthem.

Goodbye my fave potato salad and chocolate drizzled ice cream cones dripping down my chin. Hello meal planning, gym going, and my fave weight loss plan.

And that’s where my all-time favorite—and healthier—Chinese Chicken Salad comes in.

I’ve updated this recipe post because I refer to it all the time and it needed some updated love.

I CRAVE this salad, and it’s one I love to make for ladies lunches or for a simple, and lighter meal for a crowd. Because who doesn’t love a good Chinese Chicken Salad anyway?

continue to the recipe… about Chinese Chicken Salad with Sesame Dressing

Caprese Pasta Salad with Garlic Marinated Tomatoes

July 24, 2018

This easy caprese pasta salad recipe steeps cherry tomatoes in a garlic-infused oil that becomes the dressing over any type of pasta with sliced mozzarella, capers, lemon, and basil making it a healthy potluck recipe that’s perfectly ripe for brunch, lunch, or a dinner everyone will love.

This is a re-do of one of my favorite tomato pasta salad recipes I published my first year of blogging. I’ve been making this caprese pasta salad on repeat ever since the clock struck summer, but it’s very likely that many of you haven’t ever even seen it, and that’s a darn shame because it’s just too good to miss.

So after looking at it so many times already this summer, I thought it could use a refresh. And so here it is once again, with a spit shine, some new photos, and a video to show you easy it will be for you to make it too.

I’m a huge fan of summer’s fresh tomatoes, especially when my garden starts producing my beloved cherry tomatoes I pop straight into my mouth like candy. So back in August of 2011 when I spied this recipe on the Martha Stewart Living cover peeking over the others on the grocery store rack, there wasn’t a question whether the issue would be coming home with me.

And that’s why this salad has been in my summer recipe-making-repertoire ever since.continue to the recipe… about Caprese Pasta Salad with Garlic Marinated Tomatoes

Blueberry Oatmeal Quick Bread

June 6, 2018

This incredibly easy blueberry bread (it takes just 10 minutes to mix!) gets an added dose of healthy with the addition of Greek yogurt and oats, making it an even better option than banana bread or blueberry muffins, too.

This quick bread recipe is a favorite I originally shared back in 2013. Lately I’ve been making it over and over again—it’s that perfect food gift for welcoming the new baby (hello baby Max!) or saying hello to new neighbors. So while I was at it, I took new photos to share again here.

This recipe came about after standing at the kitchen counter one day with a half dozen super ripe bananas, swatting my husband’s headed-to-the-garbage-can-hands in an attempt to quell their discarded fate.

I knew by the super sweet smell and the mooshy touch—not to mention Smudge’s squinched up expression each time she passed them by thanks to their rather unattractive state—that I’d be lucky to squeeze even one more day in before my opportunity to make banana bread would be gone. And just like that, it was.

That’s when blueberries came to my quick bread rescue, for a quick bread worthy of any breakfast, brunch, or treat.continue to the recipe… about Blueberry Oatmeal Quick Bread

Mediterranean Grilled Balsamic Chicken with Olive Tapenade

May 29, 2018

A simple marinade with two kinds of balsamic vinegar, fresh herbs, and grainy mustard gives this grilled balsamic chicken topped with an easy olive and sun dried tomato tapenade a classic Mediterranean flavor zing.

This recipe is brought to you by Kroger

It’s no secret that I have a love affair with Mediterranean flavored food, and there’s no better season than summer to really get into exploring all the flavors as a cook and relishing every bite as an eager eater.

From Italian-style Burrata and Heirloom Tomato Caprese Salads to classic Greek Pork Souvlaki and The Best Lebanese Fattoush Salad, summer is the season to take advantage of Mediterranean vegetables in their prime, fresh herbs at their peak, and outdoor grilling techniques that naturally become the dinnertime norm.

This grilled balsamic chicken served with a super-simple-to-make olive and sun dried tomato tapenade is one of my favorite, and easiest gateways to making healthy Mediterranean eating a weekly ritual.

continue to the recipe… about Mediterranean Grilled Balsamic Chicken with Olive Tapenade

21 Easy Recipes for Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey

November 21, 2017

This roundup of 21 easy but creative leftover turkey recipes will help you make the most of the lingering bites of Thanksgiving.

Ahhh, it’s the most wonderful time of year. Thanksgiving is upon us, which means we’ll soon be eating our weight in turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. And even though next day leftover turkey sandwiches with all the fixins’ are a gift from the gods, there’s only so many of them we can manage to shovel down our gullets. That’s why we’re determined to leverage our leftovers as best we can, in as many different ways as we can.

From soups and curries, to pot pies and casseroles, and even pop tarts (yes, pop tarts), we’ve got 21 delicious ways to enjoy your leftover T-Day bird. It’s the stuff tryptophan dreams are made of. Gobble, gobble.

continue to the recipe… about 21 Easy Recipes for Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey

Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Stuffed Bell Peppers

October 9, 2017

Fresh green bell peppers become their own all-in-one serving vessel when stuffed with chicken, rice, mushrooms, and a creamy mushroom-infused sauce to create a weeknight dinner that puts the all the essential nutrients in one easy-to-make and totally delicious dinner.

You know how you have staples in your culinary repertoire? Those dishes that no matter how gourmet you try to fool your family and friends into thinking you are—and more often trying to convince yourself? The recipes that are the staple for Sunday night comfort food cravings and oh so easy to make on a weeknight, too?

This here recipe is one of them. Crave-a-licious.

I first shared this stuffed bell pepper recipe nearly 5-years-to-the-day-ago and after referring back to it so many times over the years, I felt it needed an update. Five years ago it was one of our go-to, favorite dinners then, and it absolutely still is today.

My mom used to make stuffed peppers with hamburger and tomato sauce, but as I kid I was so. not. into. peppers. Ew. But true to form, I began to like them the more I had them. I keep telling myself my little girl AliSmudge would be making the turn too. And she has. Oh yes, she’s a fan too.

My man and and I came up with this stuffed bell peppers recipe that will forever be in our top 5 favorite meals to make at home: Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Stuffed Bell Peppers for the all-in-one-dinner-for-the-stuffed-bell-pepper-win.

continue to the recipe… about Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Stuffed Bell Peppers

31 Instant Pot Dinner Recipes to Make in October

October 1, 2017

These 31 recipe ideas for the Instant Pot are perfect for whipping up homemade dinners on the fly this month!

Happy October!

For our tenth installment of our 31 Days Series, we’re simplifying with the all-in-one magical unicorn workhorse Instant Pot. If you’re a little late to the party, the Instant Pot is the newfangled version of the pressure cooker, and if you don’t have one yet, you likely have major appliance envy, because this baby is the Beyoncé of kitchen appliances.

I’m telling you now…there isn’t a single appliance I’ve loved more since I got my Instant Pot last year than this and my friends and family can all vouch for this because I think they’re sick of hearing me talk about its virtues. And if you don’t believe me, believe Amazon, where it was the #3 best-selling product on 2017’s Amazon Prime Day.

But really, it does it all. The thing I love about it most is you can actually sear meats, chicken, vegetables in it before using the slow cooker or pressure cooker function so you get all that good flavor and don’t have to dirty any extra pots! It’s the true one and done.

It’s user-friendly, often cuts our average cooking duration in half, makes perfectly peelable hard boiled eggs!!!!, and it is a powerful force when it comes to weekly meal planning. What’s not to be totally smitten with? Things are getting pretty serious and all of our other appliances are getting jealous, but we #cantstopwontstop now.

If you don’t have yours yet, here’s an affiliate link, but seriously…this isn’t a sponsored post, I just love this machine and I don’t know anyone else who’s bought it who doesn’t love it too.

**UPDATED: I JUST received an e-mail that tomorrow, Oct. 2, 2017, you can get the Instant Pot for $30 off — that’s just $69!!!! — at the one day sale on Amazon!

Click here to buy the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, 6 Quart (limit of 5 for the sale price on Oct. 2, 2017)

Instant Pot, we love you. Thank you for making our lives eternally easier and our kitchen sink considerably emptier.

continue to the recipe… about 31 Instant Pot Dinner Recipes to Make in October

Easy Homemade Pesto Pasta Recipe

September 18, 2017

Busy weeknights call for simple recipes that can be pulled together in a flash, and nothing’s simpler than a basic, homemade basil pesto pasta recipe that even a kid can make and clean up after too.

There are definite skills one should pass along to the younger generation, the secrets to succeed in life. At our house, one of those skills is keeping up with the daily family chores (I LOVE what the former Dean of Freshman at Stanford has to say about why!!!) and whether Smudge likes it or not, she’s getting a good education in this area. She used to think “getting” to do the dishes was fun — she got to wear an apron and play with bubbles as she twirled about to whichever song is on replay over and over in her head — but these days, that shine has certainly worn off.

With summer’s laziness giving way to back-to-school’s busier nights of homework, two soccer teams to practice with, basketball practice and her other basic daily chores, Smudge’s dish washing time has gotten the squeeze right along with the time I have in my schedule to create time-intensive dinners, if I remember to get anything ready for dinner at all!

That’s why keeping super simple, basic recipes like this one in my back pocket are always weeknight saviors, for days when the basics are really all that’s needed. And craved. Like my basic pesto pasta just yearning for a twirl around the silver twines.

continue to the recipe… about Easy Homemade Pesto Pasta Recipe

How to Make Easy Homemade Basil Pesto

September 4, 2017

Homemade pesto is one of the quickest ways to brighten any dish from caprese chicken to pizza and even to macaroni and cheese. This is my tried and true method to make the perfect basil pesto recipe every single time.

I’ve made homemade pesto many times and totally loved it. And just as many times I’ve totally screwed it up. Why? There are likely several reasons but mainly because I veered away from my perfected proportions and added too much garlic or not enough olive oil or didn’t season nearly enough.

I’m a big fan of the fact that pesto is one of those recipes you can sub in different ingredients for and get a distinct but familiar flavor, but where the secret sauce comes in is the proportions of those ingredients. Otherwise, things can quickly go afoul. Trust me on this.

Here’s what I’ve learned to make the best, easy, homemade pesto sauce you’ll be loving all year long.

continue to the recipe… about How to Make Easy Homemade Basil Pesto

Pan-Seared Citrus Shrimp Recipe

July 12, 2017

This simple, bright, and fresh shrimp dish is ready in under 30 minutes, making it an easy dinner for anyone on the go or the perfect appetizer to take to a party, and it’s lush orange and lemon citrus sauce leaves out the butter and cream but will still have you dipping your bread in for more.

I’d have to say one of the most common complaints I hear about cooking at home is when you suddenly realize it’s one of those days when dinner slips up in front of you and you have absolutely nothing planned to cook. Typically, that’s when some would throw their hands up in the air, concede defeat, and then reach for a bowl, some cereal and milk—or the closest take-out menu, whichever is easiest to get to first.

I know. I’ve been there.

That all-too-common predicament is one reason why this recipe spoke to me, because:

The ingredient list is short and simple.
It’s healthy, low-cal, high in protein, and frigging delicious.
99% of the time I have the ingredients in my freezer, fridge, and in my pantry.
It’s ready in under 30 minutes.
And it’s amazingly adaptable to be served with a variety of sides or re-invented in other dishes for just about every one of the picky eaters.

Sorry cereal, you’ll have to wait for your time to come.continue to the recipe… about Pan-Seared Citrus Shrimp Recipe

Chunky Citrus Guacamole

June 5, 2017

Chunky with a citrus-ey accent or both lime and orange juice plus a hit of spice and just enough girth to make any chip happy, it’s the perfect combo to welcome some spring weather with a few salty corn chips and a nice cold beverage.

If it weren’t for guacamole serving as my avocado gateway, the jury is out on whether I would ever have become an avocado fan. Now, they’re one of my favorite things to eat, so how could it be there was a time I didn’t like them?

Just like artichokes, it wasn’t until I was in my late teens that I finally gave in to even trying avocados. I have no idea where my aversion stemmed from. Maybe I just had an aversion to fruits and veggies that started with the letter A?

There are as many guacamole recipes out there in the world as there are stars in the sky and we all have our favorite, and this chunky homemade version is mine.

My husband came up with this guacamole recipe years ago and it was one of the first recipes I published here on the blog when I announced the first issue of FoodieCrush magazine along with some of my favorite things. But after making this guacamole time and time again, my photos and this post were in need of an update.continue to the recipe… about Chunky Citrus Guacamole

The Best Chewy Caramel Corn Plus 5 More to Crunch On

October 21, 2015

Chewy bites of homemade caramel make this easy five ingredient caramel corn recipe a favorite snack or sweet treat for every age.

I think you’re going to find two camps on this one.

First camp: Chewy. Second camp: Crunchy. Count me on ~~Team Gwen~~ Team #1. Chewy all the way.

Just like my favorite granola bars, I favor a chewy, buttery bite to my caramel corn instead of a crack-the-crown-off-your-tooth type of caramel corn.

Call me crazy but my mom and dad didn’t spend all that money on these pearly whites for nothing. I need all my teeth!

continue to the recipe… about The Best Chewy Caramel Corn Plus 5 More to Crunch On

Bacon Wrapped Grilled Peaches with Balsamic Glaze

September 2, 2014

The first bite of recipe creating inspiration for me often starts with—you got it—the first bite.

Case in point, my dinner last Friday night. Even though it was Labor Day weekend, the mountains delivered a chilly preview of what’s soon to be in store. I love fall. I can’t wait.

My husband and I were invited to mark the end of summer at the Wasatch Mountain Table at nearby Solitude Resort. It was a very, very long table set at the bottom of a ski hill among forests of trees and a wandering river.

We met some incredibly fun tablemates and laughed the night away, because that what food and drink does to a crowd. But the real focus of the night was the delicious food accented with beer pairings from one of my husband’s favorite local brewers, Epic Brewery.

Peaches are a staple fruit in Utah with orchards dotting the freeways that run north all the way to the border of Idaho. One of the appetizers at our Friday night dinner was a grill full of these Bacon Wrapped Grilled Peaches. Chef Neville cooked down Epic Brewery’s Brainless on Peaches Belgian Ale into the balsamic glaze.

continue to the recipe… about Bacon Wrapped Grilled Peaches with Balsamic Glaze

Sautéed Chicken with Olives, Capers and Lemons

April 22, 2014

Just like how I like my desserts both salty and sweet, I really dig a dinner that combines bright and briny flavors with each and every savory, Mediterranean flavored bite.

My taste buds have a mind of their own. And lemon is usually part of their brainwash. And olives, and capers and anything pickle-ish. We can save the “get pickled” jokes for the weekend.

Making another appearance here on the blog, skinless and boneless chicken thighs are the centerpiece of this dish.

Honey mustard flavored, kicked up Tabasco braised and slow cooker balsamic thighs of the fowl have all found their way to my dinner table. And I’m pretty sure this dish of Sautéed Chicken with Olives, Capers and Lemons won’t be the last thigh I’ll be sharing with you anytime soon.

Let’s save the Angelina Jolie thigh jokes for the next awards show red carpet, okay?

continue to the recipe… about Sautéed Chicken with Olives, Capers and Lemons

Chipotle Honey Baked Chicken Wings

January 26, 2014

Maybe it’s because I live a relatively drama-free life that I’m so obscenely attracted to spicy food.

I’m just not one to drum up a whole lot of drama. I don’t create illnesses to obsess over. I don’t overthink the obvious. I pretty much just let things go. Just get over it. I mean, why wouldn’t you?

So when it comes to spicing up my life, I leave it to the happenings going on in the kitchen.

Thai. Cajun. Mexican. Line ‘em up, knock ‘em out and let’s get busy.

Last weekend, I had a surprise guest in my kitchen and did. just. that. and we. got. busy.

continue to the recipe… about Chipotle Honey Baked Chicken Wings

Tortellini Soup with Artichokes

January 20, 2014

There are plenty of different places I find inspiration for tasty vittles that float my boat. A bite of a dish from a favorite restaurant, a mention from a cooking show I see on T.V and then there are these things on the internets called food blogs. Have you ever heard of ’em?

So when I’m searching for a specific recipe to fix for the fam, it’s usually my fingers that do the walking on my computer’s keyboard.

And while pundits have been plotting the demise of print ever since the internet wiggled it’s way into our information seeking hearts, I say au contraire mo-frair!

I’m still a die hard fan of the printed recipe—whether it’s listed in a favorite cookbook or magazine. And when I’m skimming their pages, that’s usually when inspiration strikes.

continue to the recipe… about Tortellini Soup with Artichokes

Easy Parmesan Buttered Noodles

January 9, 2014

We’re not yet two weeks into 2014, so I think that technically I can squeeze in one more ode to 2013, right?

2013 was a great year, a fabulous year in fact. It was filled with amazing opportunities and new relationships that came my way thanks to this sweet lil’ blog o’ mine. Sing that 3 times fast to the Axl’s Sweet Child O’ Mine and you’ll feel my vibe.

While I’ve already declared my word for 2014, with 365 days to cover there’s certainly room for one more. And most likely a few others too. That’s why I’m adding this one to the hat: Simplify.

One thing I heard over and over from friends and family in 2013 was this: “I was going to call you, but you’re SO BUSY,” or “I was going to ask you to go/stay/play but you’re SO BUSY.”

Was I really THAT busy? TOO busy for my family and friends?

continue to the recipe… about Easy Parmesan Buttered Noodles

Smoked Salmon Spread

November 6, 2013

Celebrations call for bites of all sizes, big, small and every other. Luckily, my Smoked Salmon Spread fits the bill no matter how big you’re craving is or the size of your eagerly awaiting mouth.

There’s a beautiful reason to add to today’s celebration, because the lovely food blogger Stefanie of Sarcastic Cooking is soon to deliver a bouncing baby boy.

Babies are not only good for nuzzling and snuggling and the reason to max out the credit card buying an exorbitant amount of needless baby gear for, but also because soon enough they turn into expert taste testers. Which comes in handy when mama is a food blogger.

Stephanie has been a kindred spirit of mine for a long time. Not just because she is a consistent supporter of other food blogs, takes mouth watering photos and develops terrific recipes for my kind of food, but also because she makes food I love to eat.

Like…

continue to the recipe… about Smoked Salmon Spread

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burritos

October 24, 2013

Today’s post started out as an assignment for my intern Courtney and turned into a tasty lunch for me. See, I’m smart that way.

While Courtney generally helps me with design and layout duties, this week she wanted to play in the kitchen and I said, “Go for it girlie! Let’s check out your chops!” She chose her favorite ingredient combo, created the recipe and after we played around taking pics in the kitchen she wrote this post. My stomach says she came up with a winner and I know you’ll agree after you make her vegetarian Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burritos.

Take it away Courtney…

There are a few things in life that make me really happy. A well designed book cover, a beautiful fall day, the sound of my kids playing nicely with each other – without me.

When it comes to food, nothing compares to the smell of diced onion and minced garlic over an open flame. I don’t know why but it makes me feel like I know what I’m doing in the kitchen. I feel legit. I feel happy. And once your onions are nice and translucent, the possibilities are endless.

While most of us associate the aroma of onions and garlic with the start of favorite comfort foods like chicken pot pie, meatloaf or just about any Italian or Mexican meal, today we’re going full-on vegetarian.

continue to the recipe… about Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burritos

Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing and Spicy Roasted Chickpeas

October 22, 2013

This post is sponsored by Tabasco as part of its 10-Ingredient Challenge. Thanks for supporting companies I believe in, which allows me to create more unique content and recipes for you.

Adults love it, kids loathe it. For better or for worse, spinach is a mainstay super food that just cannot be ignored in today’s diet and my Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing and Spicy Roasted Chickpeas is yet another reason to add it to your lunch or dinner menu plans.

This recipe combo is the final installment of my Tabasco 10-Ingredient Challenge, following up my Tabasco Brined Spicy Drumsticks, Tabasco Chicken Meatballs in a Spicy Tomato and Apricot Sauce and Tabasco Braised Chicken with Chickpeas and Kale.

Spicy and we love it.

continue to the recipe… about Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing and Spicy Roasted Chickpeas

Tabasco Chicken Meatballs in a Spicy Tomato and Apricot Sauce

October 17, 2013

This post is sponsored by Tabasco. Thanks for supporting companies I believe in, which allows me to create more unique content and recipes for you.

Spicy? Yes. Tasty? For sure. Trendy? Absolutely, since 2013 is the year of the meatball. So let’s talk about Tabasco Chicken Meatballs in a Spicy Tomato and Apricot Sauce.

We’re on recipe number two of the Tabasco 10 Ingredient Challenge, where I’ve been tasked with making 5 recipes using just 10 ingredients. Obviously Tabasco is at the top of the list, with the rest of the challenge ingredients listed here.

My first recipe was Tabasco Brined Chicken Drumsticks. An appetizer, a main meal, kind of whatever you want to make of it.

My second and third recipes are for eating in little bites, with a taste here and a taste there. And that makes kicked up meatballs with a spicy sauce the perfect meal for a nosher like me.

Creating a recipe for meatballs using simple and basic ingredients as the girth of this recipe was my starting point. Quality ingredients are always my secret to a great dish so the best Parmesan cheese you can buy acts as the binder, with green onion and Tabasco lending the flavor building blocks.continue to the recipe… about Tabasco Chicken Meatballs in a Spicy Tomato and Apricot Sauce

Monte Cristo Waffle Sandwich and a Virtual Babyshower

September 4, 2013

The best part of breakfast is when it can be eaten anytime of day and for just about any occasion. Like for a virtual baby shower for a waffle making queen who will soon bequeath us a mini waffle eating princess.

I bet that’s exactly the occasion you were planning for making Monte Cristo Waffle Sandwiches.

It’s really been 9 months already? Really? It truly seems like maybe a month ago when I drove to the airport to pick up Melissa, the exceptionally talented recipe creator/food blogger/designer behind the lens and in front of the oven at The Faux Martha.

She and a few moree food blogging friends were making their way to SLC for the blogging conference Alt Summit and we were setting up camp at my house. Sure we’d be hitting the conference, but we were all looking most forward to some quality after-conference time of dinners, cocktailing and the usual friendly merriment.

But Melissa had a secret to share, and she needed a confidante to help with her cover.

On the drive to my house from the airport she spilled the beans to me that she was pregnant.

continue to the recipe… about Monte Cristo Waffle Sandwich and a Virtual Babyshower

Burr Trail Grill Pickled Beets

September 3, 2013

It’s about time I got on the pickling train, and there’s no better recipe to start than with these Pickled Beets from The Burr Trail Grill in Boulder, UT.

Two years ago we made a trip down south to Torrey, UT for a music festival some of my husband’s old band buddies were in. After the gigging was done, we went exploring and landed about an hour east of Torrey in Boulder, UT, the gateway to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (look at this landscape!), Capital Reef National Park and the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area including Lake Powell.

While the stunning red rocks contrasting the bright blue sky and wooded canyon lend to amazing outdoor adventure that brings world wide travelers to the area, in my opinion the real deal here is the the local eateries including the renowned Hell’s Backbone Grill.

We tried to grab some lunch at Hell’s Backbone while we were there, but since they were open only for dinner that weekend, we skipped next store to the Burr Trail Grill for tasty burgers and the most amazing polenta with caramelized onions, grilled red peppers and goat cheese appetizer. Seriously, I still think about that thing.

But what really rocked my socks was the sides of pickled veggies and pickled beets they served with their sandwiches and burgers.

continue to the recipe… about Burr Trail Grill Pickled Beets

Mediterranean Strata and Friday Faves

August 16, 2013

Breakfast or dinner, this Mediterranean Strata goes both ways. It’s open minded that way.

When nights turn into days and the list of weekend to-dos include brunch or make ahead lunch or just planning ahead for a different take on dinner for Monday night, I go for egg soaked bread, cheese and some extra additions that create a heavenly meld with aforementioned egg, bread and cheese.

Which pretty much leaves the playing field wide open.

Some people that know me probably think I live on this stuff. Stratas are my standard bring along when I’m asked to bring a breakfast for a baby shower brunch or when I’m on breakfast duty during our yearly girl’s get away weekend. I’m fine by that.

I’ll leave the jello shots to my college roomies who end up with the more technical part of the bargain.

continue to the recipe… about Mediterranean Strata and Friday Faves

Heirloom Tomato Caprese Frico Cups

August 15, 2013

Simple, summery and a great little appetizer with a salty parmesan bowl of its own, these Heirloom Tomato Caprese Frico Cups make singing the swan song to summer a little easier.

With the long days turning shorter and my summer escapes coming to a quick end, I’ve been weaning my cravings for simple summer recipes and tank top wearing tan lines and replacing them with thoughts of long oven braises and pulling an ear hugging beanie over my chilly head as I search through my closet for those knit gloves I bought last year that have the touchy things on the tips of the fingers so I can still use my iPhone once the weather turns cold. Those things are genius.

Fall flavors are giving summer bounty a bit of a shove off and I’m not sure how sad I am about it.

Maybe that’s because my garden SUCKS this summer. With a capital S.U.C.K.S.

My stringy and nearly leafless heirloom tomato plants—the ones I was so excited to cultivate so I could pluck juicy mater orbs straight from the vine and take a big old bite out of their still warm flesh—are as lifeless and lilting as a 6 foot, 95-pound fashion model prepping for her fall debut on the catwalk.

Straight up sad I tell you.

And what’s worse is no matter how hard I try, my tomato loving cravings for recipes like Heirloom Tomato BLTs, Pasta with Marinated Tomatoes and my fave weeknight freshie of Avocado, Onion and Tomato Salad have not ebbed the tide. And last year’s post of 55 Fresh and Tasty Tomato Recipes? This year, it’s been a question if I would make it to 56.

Until now.

The thing I love about heirloom tomatoes is how imperfect they are. Let’s just say I can relate. Some are on the pudgy side with a too-tight-in-the-jeans muffin top, some are are cracked and crooked. And for most the color is never quite the same so slicing them to see the rainbow of color inside is always a fun surprise.

continue to the recipe… about Heirloom Tomato Caprese Frico Cups

Whole Cherry Syrup

August 7, 2013

Dollar size chocolate chip pancakes demand a syrup with a statement. This Whole Cherry Syrup stands up waves it’s arms in the air like it just doesn’t care. Word.

This summer has made my Smudge of a daughter extremely sparse at home thanks to a 4-week cousin-cation that included nearly 3 weeks at my mom’s house. But before we knew it, the cousins caught their plane ride home and left us (her) in a puddle of full-blown tears and grieving for 2 entire days with the lament of, “Now I only have Instagram so I know what they’re doing.” Only Instagram. How ironic, since it’s INSTANT!

Now that she’s home, she’s quickly adapted right back into the life of a 9 year old, which translates to, “Mom, can I hang out with a friend today?”, “Mom, can we go swimming?”, “Mom, can xx or yy sleep over tonight?”, “Mom, can I get a doughnut at the store and a shake on the way home?”

A girl after my own heart.

So when she had a friend sleep over after ‘hanging out’—they don’t call them play dates at this age anymore thank you very much, that’s so third grade—it was time to whip up their request for breakfast request for dinner. It’s summer. It’s necessary. It’s chocolate chip pancakes with raspberry syrup.

But with one very big caveat. Smudge’s favorite raspberry syrup didn’t find it’s way back into the refrigerator the last time it was used and had developed a very plump, golden skid of goo on top of the syrup. Buh-bye raspberry syrup.

On the upside, we had before us the perfect excuse to make a quick homemade Cherry Syrup thanks to a gorgeously boxed delivery of Washington State’s Stemilt dark sweet cherries courtesy of Whole Foods.continue to the recipe… about Whole Cherry Syrup

Thai Chicken Larb Lettuce Wraps

July 25, 2013

With the release of her latest cookbook, Steamy Kitchen’s Healthy Asian Favorites, Jaden Hair once again shows us why she’s one of the top dogs in the world of food blogging with her recipe for Thai Lettuce Wraps.

Food blog author Jaden Hair of Steamy Kitchen is like Wonder Woman. She’s a food columnist, television chef (ABC’s Recipe Rehab, Daytime Show), cookbook author (The Steamy Kitchen Cookbook, Steamy Kitchen’s Healthy Asian Favorites), and a wife and mom to two little boys, Andrew and Nathan.

If all that weren’t enough, she helps run “the homestead,”—a five-acre plot she and her family occupy. It’s fully equipped with a small fruit orchard, a pond with tilapia and blue gill, and a chicken coop with ten plucky residents. Their latest endeavor? A homemade aquaponic herb and vegetable garden (growing vegetables and plants over water).

It’s a juggling act but one that Hair seems to have managed with ease. She’s driven, but her priority is her family and she puts their health and happiness at the forefront.

I first discovered Jaden thanks to my husband. While trolloping among the www for Asian inspired recipes, he discovered Steamy Kitchen. In fact, he was a follower of her blog well before I even had a nugget of a thought of creating a food blog myself. Or a magazine that features food bloggers. You could say his discovery pretty much set us on this tract of foodie crushes.

In fact, my very first recipe on the blog? One of Jaden’s.

You could say I have a soft spot for this oh so very talented lady.continue to the recipe… about Thai Chicken Larb Lettuce Wraps

Grilled Salmon Fillet with Cucumber Dill Sauce

July 9, 2013

There are several staples in our arsenal of grilling recipes but when the salmon are running, Grilled Salmon Fillet with Cucumber Dill Sauce goes to the top of the list every time.

While I’m as guilty as the next Twitter fan when it comes to guffawing about celeb stars new baby names or following the hashtag thread when events are happening around us that will have a much wider affect than my daily instagram of what I had for breakfast, one of the best parts about Twitter is keeping up with my favorite food producers and distributors.

So when I saw a tweet from my local Whole Foods about wild, freshly caught Alaska Sockeye Salmon being sold for one day only for just $12 a pound—half the price I normally see it—I took note. Then I retweeted it to share the good news and promptly cleaned out my freezer so I could stock up.

And that’s when I started daydreaming about my favorite grilled salmon fillet recipes and sauces to go with it.

continue to the recipe… about Grilled Salmon Fillet with Cucumber Dill Sauce

Baked Potato Salad and a Canyon Cookout

June 25, 2013

This restaurant favorite gets a home-style makeover for a crowd in my Baked Potato Salad with bacon and cheese.

Sometimes you just have to break out of the norm. Make a break from Groundhog day and do something a little different, change things up and give them a little twist.

Like 99.95% of every single person I know, I can get into a rut. A funk. A little too much of doing things the same way just because that’s the way I do it.

Last week I was totally uninspired. I had just returned home after a week of visiting my sister where I had dutifully assigned deadlines to my calendar and outlined my to-do list with tasks at hand. And yet I could not for the life of me not get up the gumption or enthusiasm to tackle them and cross those pesky running agenda items that kept racing through my mind off of the quickly becoming redundant list. I moved from one task to the next, never fully realizing my goals. I needed a change up in the old routine, and with several out of town trips looming on the horizon, I had to get a new ‘tude quick.

continue to the recipe… about Baked Potato Salad and a Canyon Cookout

Mushroom and Kale Grilled Cheese and Friday Faves

June 21, 2013

Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. Oh, and can I get a side of cheese with that please?

My day yesterday was a cheese lover’s-cheesehead-dream sandwiched between slices of pretzel bread, sourdough and even a shout out to challah (hollah!) all to be consumed in less than two hours.

Over the last few months, I’ve shared the details of this contest with you and it’s finally all come down to this. The day had arrived. A grilled cheese reckoning. Homage to the great grilled cheese. The medal of honor to all things gooey and melty. The day I became an official judge for the Grilled Cheese Academy’s Grilled Cheese Recipe Showdown.

Following a selection process that had been narrowed down to the final seven recipe contestants, I went to Madison, WI to meet with my fellow judges from Wisconsin Cheese to determine which of these recipes would become the grand prize winner of a $5,000 prize package. (photos thanks to Mike)

continue to the recipe… about Mushroom and Kale Grilled Cheese and Friday Faves