Let’s be serious–quesadillas are a Mexican version of grilled cheese. Carbs glued together by melty cheese can never be wrong.Ā I’ve certainly eaten more than a few quesadillas but never made them for dinner before. I don’t know why these aren’t in my regular rotation but I will be adding them. Skirt steak was an…
Category: Side Dish
Italian Clams Casino
Coming up with a new and fun party app rather than reverting to the favorite classics is always difficult and risky. I never thought to make clams casino before, but I enjoy them at restaurants all the time, so why not try it? They are not too heavy or filling and are a great appetizer….
Steak Tostadas
We’re trying to eat healthy at this particular moment in time–it comes and goes. My sister’s shower, bachelorette and wedding are fast approaching so indulging with some greasy Mexican just because it’s National Margarita Day wasn’t in the cards. When I told my sister I badly wanted a Steak Tostada, she said a healthy version…
Twisted Italian Wedding Soup
So the thought of meatballs in soup š² never sat well with me and as you know from my “don’t knock em til you try em” recipe, turkey meatballs weren’t something I ever wanted to eat. But if cooking has taught me anything it’s that once you start using ingredients you previously thought were gross,…
Chicken Dumplings & Wontons
So who doesn’t love Chinese food? Dumplings, won tons, fried rice, general tsos chicken… all of it. Recently I’ve tried making some of my favorite take out items and these dumplings/won tons were a winner! I used the same recipe to make each and then pan fried some and boiled the rest for soup. It’s…
Italian Zucchini Bowl
My mom had a brief stint as a vegetarian (before she met my father) and this recipe was something she often made for herself. She introduced it to us growing up mostly as a side dish but now as an adult I make it for the main event! If you’re craving a bowl of pasta…
Broccoli and Spinach Pesto
Pasta with broccoli is one of my favorite dinners. My mom always made it growing up with bowtie pasta as a side to flank steak or some other protein. It’s garlicky, cheesy, uses fresh veggies and is one the most comforting dinners any time of year. One night I had the idea to make the…
Peanut Sesame Noodles
You know what sucks? When you make the decision to calorie splurge because you’re craving (fill in the blank) and you open up that delivery to-go container, take your first bite, and then get immediately disappointed. This happens to me a lot. When I’m craving something that’s not too good for me, I want it…
Blistered Shishito Peppers
It’s always good to have easy appetizers in your back pocket. This recipe can be thrown together in 10 minutes and will please any crowd. Pair it with a creamy dip: Ā it’s healthy and not too spicy–just full of flavor. Ingredients Shishito peppers Kosher or Sea Salt – don’t be shy, they need salt! Garlic…
Homemade Salsa
Homemade salsa is one of the easiest appetizers to make. You can do it in advance and pull it out in seconds. I recommend making it the day before you want to eat it for best results. It also will stay in your fridge for a while in an air tight jar. So many people…
Don’t knock ’em til you try ’em “Turkey Meatballs”
I’m not going to lie, the thought of turkey meatballs was not appetizing to me. As an Italian especially, I made some assumptions that they couldn’t possibly be good…I was wrong. I made these on a weeknight in a half hour and not only was it a healthy option but it was truly delicious. They…
Grilled Mexican Street Corn
Mexican street corn has recently gained popularity and when it started popping up on food shows and then local restaurants I was hooked. It’s a quick and easy recipe to make. When one of our legislators brought bags of fresh corn into the office from his farm, I immediately knew what I was doing with…
Prosciutto Wrapped Arugula with Pear and Blue Cheese
It’s nice to have easy go-to recipes in your back pocket that taste delicious. This particular recipe also happens to be pretty healthy for you as far as summertime BBQ dishes go. It can be used as an appetizer or side dish, it’s easy to serve and eat with your fingers. The one downside to…
Baked Chorizo Chiles Rellenos
It’s the New Year and it’s time to try and reign in all the indulgent eating we did during the holidays. So now my focus is on making healthy meals that are still fun and delicious (otherwise I’d go crazy). I was craving some cheesy Mexican food so I found a way to satisfy my…
Real Deal String Bean Casserole with Home-Fried Crispy Onions
We have all eaten some version of string bean casserole. Campbell’s advertises their cream of mushroom soup around the holidays just for that purpose. You’ll even find a recipe on the back of the can. I happen to find canned creamy soup unappetizing so I set out last Thanksgiving to make string bean casserole from…
Nanny’s Homemade Manicotti
Growing up, Nanny often made manicotti for the holidays and special occasions. Soft crepe like tubes, stuffed with ricotta cheese, topped with sauce and more cheese; it’s quite heavenly. Don’t confuse it with cannelloni which is more of a pasta type dough that is stuffed typically with meats and baked in a bechamel sauce. Each…
Mom’s Amazing Latkes
Latkes. Fried potato goodness dipped in sour cream and/or apple sauce. We eat them once a year on Hanukkah. They are worth every single calorie and every minute of frying. Of course if you are only cooking for a small family, it’s not that labor intensive. But if you are like us, and want to…
Homemade Ricotta Gnocchi with Pesto
Homemade gnocchi has been on my food bucket list for some time now and the potato version remains on the list, but I can now cross off the ricotta thanks to my Mom’s birthday dinner wish! We didn’t follow the recipe exactly because well I hate directions, and who has hours to wait for their…
Enchiladas Roja
Who doesn’t love some enchiladas? Shredded meat in a tortilla smothered with sauce and cheese? I’m in! I’ve previously posted a recipe for enchiladas verdeĀ and also a very healthy version of enchiladas. And this time I share with you my spicy roja sauce! And for the record, these aren’t terrible for you if you pay…
Grilled JalapeƱo Poppers
Finding delicious new appetizers to bring to a summer BBQ is always a fun challenge for me. It’s a risk trying something new, especially when bringing it to a large group of people but if you just have confidence in your ingredients it will turn out great! I’ve seen a lot of Jalapeno Popper recipes…
Baked Eggplant, Tomato and Mozzarella Stack
I was somewhat complaining earlier today because all I had in my fridge for dinner was an eggplant and I didn’t feel like going to the store. I ended my night however with a meal that Kyle said was in my top 5 of all time. (Woo hoo!) I was able to pick some tomatoes…
Portabella Pizza
Want to eat pizza without all the carbs? Instead of using dough, buy some large portabella mushroom caps. They can hold a lot of toppings, they cook well in the toaster oven (or on the grill) and they pair wonderfully with all the traditional pizza ingredients. Tonight’s mushroom pizza was one of my favorites so…
Spicy Italian Baked Zucchini Chips
I often am looking for a salty and crunchy snack in the afternoon or after dinner late night. Sweets don’t do it for me: I need the salt. Given that zucchini is a vegetable and you are baking them (rather than frying) this recipe is a smart alternative to the typical fried potato chip or…
Black Bean Soup
Black bean soup has been on my food bucket list for a while now. (Yes, I have a food bucket list– which includes foods that I have never attempted to make. i.e. crab cakes, sushi, homemade ravioli, etc). Black beans are good for you and I happen to love them. And loving black beans is…
Spaghetti Squash with Broccoli and Cheese
I fell in love with spaghetti squash a few winters ago and made it almost weekly coming up with different recipes. There are so many ways you can use it–essentially you can substitute almost any spaghetti recipe. When you are watching your carb intake it’s a filling and warm winter meal! No, it’s not the…
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