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In a great coming-of-age moment, I have finally owned my full-on love of sweet potato fries and order my own full serving when we are out, instead of pestering my husband Ben to split his (or pilfering them directly from his plate). While demolishing an entire basket of fries is fine on occasion, it’s not the sort of move I feel good about making a regular event. As my fellow fry lovers can attest, life/reality would be much more fun if we could all eat sweet potato fries as often as we pleased and have it be good for our health…....

Strips of tender marinated steak, blistered peppers, and caramelized onions piled high into tortillas with all of your favorite Tex-Mex fixin’s, fajitas are a total show-off and super simple to make at home. Growing up, my family went out for Mexican food every Sunday. Our love runs so deep, we make the Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas for Christmas dinner (For real! And I have an even better version of that recipe in my cookbook)....

No matter how many times a week you eat it, Italian food pretty much always sounds good. Whether you go pasta (try any of these healthy pasta recipes), pizza (preferably using Whole Wheat Pizza Dough), or simple protein (like Baked Chicken Parmesan), there’s an Italian answer to any dinner situation. When you’re looking for something fast (aren’t we all?), chicken piccata is it. As is the way with many Italian recipes, chicken piccata will also make your dinner feel a little extra special, something we all could use more often, even if we don’t realize it until we are taking a bite....

Forget the Michelin stars. The endorsement of a toddler is all the culinary accolades I need to know that this easy chicken tortilla casserole is a keeper. My friend’s 20-month-old little girl awarded this easy and healthy casserole second-helping status when I brought it to her house for dinner. (This Mexican Corn Dip was also a big hit). I know this is a rare occurrence for parents with toddlers, which is probably why my friend immediately asked for the recipe....

I’ve long been attracted to homestead-y activities like bread baking (thanks to Rosemary Olive Oil Bread for beginners). Others on the list: Gardening. Canning. Raising chickens. Other industrious, crafty things. The canning and the chickens have never come to pass. I blame city regulations and a general lack of motivation. Thanks to Crock Pot Bread, however, a homemade loaf of fluffy, honey whole wheat bread is never more than a few cups of flour away....

A less-work, more-wholesome twist on regular risotto, farro risotto is 100% whole grainPacked with fiber, iron, protein, and magnesiumUltra-creamy thanks to a nutty, salty Parmesan cheeseAnd tastes fabulous when served warm and at room temperature (we enjoyed round one for a cozy dinner on our porch, then I packed up the leftovers to take with us to an outdoor picnic with friends) To anyone who has been intimidated by risotto: this farro risotto is for you....

Traditional Greek salad consists of veggies like juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumber, bell pepper, and red onions tossed in an herby vinaigrette with feta cheese and olives. The pieces are left large and no other ingredients are added; traditional Greek salad does not contain lettuce. Of course, if you’ve ever seen it on a restaurant menu (haven’t we all?), you know there are many types of Greek salads and the definition is subject to interpretation....

Since you are reading this post, I suspect that you, like myself, spend at least a portion of your day in the kitchen. Instead of staying stuck inside to cook Sauteed Brussels Sprouts, or Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, try cooking them on the grill! You’ll give yourself more time outdoors to relish the mild, long evenings AND cook up a healthy, delish side dish in the process. The grill imparts a signature smoky flavor that satisfies in a primal way that only food cooked over a fire can....

Not only is it delicious, but this Israeli couscous salad with feta cheese, fresh mint, and smoked paprika-lemon dressing is also an easy meal to make. It’s simple, nutritious, and perfect for a light meal or summer-vibes side dish. (Pair with Salmon Cakes for an extra boost of protein.) This couscous salad blends fresh ingredients and bright flavors, backed by a subtly smoky dressing and nutty whole grains. What is Israeli Couscous?...

I was introduced to these thick, chewy monster cookies by my first ever “work friend,” which is another way of referring to a real friend who happens to have a cubical in the vicinity, Lindsey. Lindsey brought a batch of the most perfect monster cookies in creation to the office and, as soon as I could come up for air after devouring what I told myself was three cookies but what was mathematically closer to five, I asked her for the recipe....

Poaching is a method of cooking in which food is submerged in a liquid (water, stock, milk, and wine are all popular) then cooked through gently. Unlike Pan Seared Salmon or Baked Salmon in Foil, poaching uses a lower temperature.Poaching is ideal for foods that are prone to drying out, like eggs and poultry (I use poaching in my post for How to Cook Shredded Chicken). Poaching sounds pinkies-up fancy, a description I now find amusing since I discovered how simple it is to make....

While our main Fourth of July menu (ribs with Barbecue Sauce, Easy Baked Beans, Grilled Corn) always remained untouched, dessert alternated. Most years, Grammy made her classic Peach Shortcake but topped with blueberries, strawberries, and fluffy white whipped cream for a festive touch. On special years, she made the illustrious Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie, a dessert of such magnificence, it could save the world—or at least make a table filled with dessert aficionados very, very happy....

I’m not sure when you last cooked a hash recipe, but for us the answer is usually too long. Magnificently flexible, incredibly filling, and loaded with ingredients from every food group, hash can be so many things we need at any given moment: a healthy, all-in-one meala protein-packed breakfast, impressive brunch, or easy weeknight dinnerstellar leftovers that are easy to reheata clean-out-the-fridge situationa great excuse to add a runny egg to something (I am always happy to have this)...

Thanks to advice from my mom and Grammy, I have found a foolproof way to make both busy weeknights and party prep feel like a breeze: make it ahead. By choosing recipes that can be almost (if not entirely) prepped in advance, I ensure that I don’t have to run around at the last minute trying to get everything ready. Sweet potato quiche, like my Easy Quiche Recipe, is an ideal make-ahead dish, because it can be prepped days or even weeks ahead, freezes like a dream, and most importantly, tastes off-the-wall deee-lish....

Since my friends are coming over at six, and I have exactly ZERO prep work done, my plan is to make a double batch of the teriyaki burger patties, cook half tonight, then keep the rest in the refrigerator for tomorrow. Work once, eat twice. I like this strategy. For the rest of the menu, we’ll be having this Grilled Corn Salad (FAVE), sliced watermelon, and my favorite blackberry crisp for dessert....

I don’t know about you, but due to a combination of special holiday indulgences and spending an unprecedented amount of time at home while craving comfort food (and being near my snack cabinet), I am finding that a) my pants are a little less comfortable and b) I’m getting tired of cooking. In this new year, I’m looking forward to inspiring, healthy recipes that still comfort and sustain me. Even better if they are easy to make and yield great leftovers so that I don’t have to cook more often than necessary....

Asparagus was the first green vegetable I liked as a kid, thanks to my grammy letting me be the one to shake the pan of Roasted Asparagus when she cooked it for family dinners. The fact that she served it with a creamy sauce (Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip anyone?) probably helped too. As an adult, I’ve expanded to enjoy every variety of Oven Roasted Vegetables. We eat them daily, either with dinner or reheated at lunch, so I assumed veggies and my relationship would stay steady....

This recipe is sponsored by DeLallo. Antipasto is the traditional first course of an Italian meal. It usually includes a mix of assorted cured meats like prosciutto and salami, cheeses, and marinated vegetables like artichokes and red peppers. What is the difference between antipasto and antipasto salad? Essentially, the lettuce is the only difference. This is why it is called antipasto salad, because all these common first course ingredients are mixed into one delicious salad....

Asparagus season is preciously short. Every year, I spend the last several weeks of winter impatiently awaiting its arrival. As soon as it’s here, I fill our menu with this easy Asparagus Tart, Baked Lemon Chicken with asparagus, this asparagus Vegan Risotto, any of these asparagus recipes, and of course today’s easy asparagus soup. Not only does this creamy asparagus soup celebrate one of the best, most precious vegetables of the season, it does so in a way that manages to be healthy and comforting at the same time, which suits my March mood....

While I can’t say I’ve progressed in every area since high school, in the breakfast department, I’ve made serious life improvements. Back then, most of my mornings began with a two-pack of frosted Pop-Tarts, eaten cold right out of the foil packet on the way to school. It’s little surprise that I was ravenous by lunch. I want to reach back in time and hand that girl a bag of Protein Balls....