I’m so excited to be offering you an AWESOME giveaway today. Kamikoto knives are designed for chefs and serious home cooks, and I used one when chopping up a large eggplant for my new Cheesy Eggplant Bake recipe (which I am also sharing below).
Dinner
Green Goddess Chicken Salad
This Green Goddess Chicken Salad recipe is from my new cookbook, Kitchen Matters, and is a delicious, more nutritious twist on a classic chicken salad. I start with poached chicken, which is super easy to make and a very healthful way to cook chicken.
Easy Thai Chicken and Rice
I’m a big fan of Thai food and all the flavorful sauces, but I often forget how easy it is to make at home. So I am excited to share the outcome of this Easy Thai Chicken and Rice recipe with you!
Smashed Potato Cakes with Kale
I’ve always been a potato cake fan but never tried making them with mashed potatoes (as opposed to shredded potatoes) until now. What I love about this Smashed Potato Cakes with Kale recipe, aside from the taste, is how it can easily pass for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Creamy Shrimp Pasta with Lemon
One thing I love about shrimp is how quick and easy it is to make. This light Creamy Shrimp Pasta with Lemon is a perfect way to kick off summer.
Semi-Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
I think we can all agree homemade spaghetti sauce is best, but not always possible. This recipes gives you that yummy flavor without all the simmering time!
Pesto Chicken Grill Packets
One of my favorite dinners to cook in the summer is grill packets! They are super easy to make, can be prepared in advance, and give you a great excuse to sit around the fire pit at the end of the night. You don’t even have to get any plates dirty if you don’t want to. These Pesto Chicken Grill Packets are great to take along on a picnic or camping or even just to have in your own back yard. They can also be cooked on a regular gas grill or in the oven. My 9-year-old loved these and has already asked me to make them again. Enjoy! Pesto Chicken Grill Packets Course: Main Course Cuisine: American Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Servings: 4 Print Ingredients 1 1/2 pounds chicken thighs boneless and skinless, cut into 1 1/2 or 2 inch dice (or use chicken breasts) 2 zucchini cut into 1 inch dice 1 pint cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes 8 ounces mushrooms baby bella or shiitake 1 cup basil just the leaves, fresh 1 cup spinach just the leaves, fresh 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated 1/2 cup pine nuts raw 2 cloves garlic crushed 1/2 cup olive oil salt to taste pepper to taste Instructions Cut foil into eight large pieces (about 14 – 16 inches long) and start four grill packets by laying them out double stacked in a plus sign shape. At this point, you can line them with parchment paper, if desired, by simply putting a single layer just on top of the foil. Evenly distribute the chunks of chicken, zucchini, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Set aside. To make the pesto, combine the basil, spinach, Parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, and olive oil in a small food processor and process until […]
Swedish Meatballs (like IKEA’s!)
All it took was a couple of recent trips to Ikea and reading the book A Man Called Ove (pronounced Oovay) for me to crave some good ol’ Swedish meatballs! Now, I don’t think I’ve ever met a meatball I didn’t like, and this recipe below is absolutely no exception. My family devoured this one-dish dinner, and it even had my 9-year-old asking for thirds. And luckily, this is another easy one that can be thrown together in no time at all on any busy weeknight. But if you’re really smart, you’ll double it and enjoy the leftovers for lunch! :) Swedish Meatballs Servings: 4 Print Ingredients 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil 1/2 cup onion minced 1/2 pound ground beef 1/2 pound ground pork 1/4 cup whole-wheat breadcrumbs 1/4 cup heavy cream 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 pinch allspice 5 large carrots peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks 2 tablespoons whole-wheat flour 1 1/2 cups broth beef, chicken, or veggie 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce salt to taste pepper to taste Instructions In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Cook the onions while stirring occasionally until they begin to soften, 2 or 3 minutes. Dump the cooked onions into a large bowl along with the beef, pork, breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup heavy cream, and spices. Mix well by hand and form into 1 1/2 inch meatballs. Turn the skillet to medium high and add the meatballs and carrots. Cook until the meatballs are brown and almost crispy on all sides, about 5 to 6 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over top and cook while stirring for another minute to allow it to absorb. Pour in the broth, 1/2 cup cream, and soy sauce and bring to a boil while scraping the brown bits off the […]
Chickpea and Farro Stew (+ how a new blogger finds her way into the real food world!)
This is a guest post by one of my closest friends (for almost two decades now!), Erin, who recently started her very own food blog – The Open Road Kitchen. Be sure to check it out and also follow her on Facebook and/or Instagram for updates! I consider myself an open-minded friend. But when my dear comrade, Lisa Leake, first introduced me to her 100 Days of Real Food idea (back in 2010), I have to admit I had a difficult time not judging her decision to eliminate processed foods. The Lisa and Jason I’d known for years were just like me and my husband: total foodies open to trying anything, at least once. However, that night as we dined at one of our favorite restaurants here in Charlotte, I could tell something had suddenly and drastically changed my friends’ approach to food. Rather than enjoying how artistically the menu was curated, they instead dissected it for its exclusion of things like organic vegetables and locally raised, grass-fed beef. And, to my dismay, they actually demanded the attention of the head chef to discuss the menu and what items would be appropriate to order based on their 100 Days “purity” pledge. I can’t even remember what they ordered. But as the night concluded, I realized that their commitment to cutting out processed foods was not only about changing their approach to eating. It was about pushing a movement forward for the education of all. To educate is to become an expert on your subject and to understand the obstacles that the weary present you. This is the beauty of 100 Days of Real Food. It starts as a challenge to try to cut out processed foods by teaching you what qualifies as real food and what foods to avoid. It then enables you to evolve […]
Why I Don’t Like the Instant Pot (+ Curried Lentil & Sweet Potato Stew)
I have to say, I might be the minority here, but I don’t like the Instant Pot! I honestly went into this with an open mind and have used it several times for all different types of recipes to really get a good feel for what it can do.
Sprouted Wheat Cheddar and Chive Scones
Today I’m excited to tell you all about King Arthur’s new whole-grain Sprouted Wheat Flour and how it turned out in the yummy savory scone recipe I’m sharing!
