They’re flirty, fresh, and a little bit sassy. (You will be all of these things too once you polish off your glass!) Margaritas are my favorite cocktail, and I have standards. A few basic rules must be followed: No mixes. Period.Fresh lime juice only.Don’t skip the rim. From there, you can have fun with your margarita flavors! My classic Skinny Margarita started it all and has lead to many a sipping spinoff....
I have a recipe for the most juicy, splendidly spiced shrimp tacos, complete with a killer shrimp taco slaw recipe and a creamy, dreamy shrimp taco sauce. Not only is this healthy shrimp recipe worth making for dinner tonight, but it’s also worth putting up with my bad jokes! Every time I make a recipe with shrimp, I ask myself why I don’t cook with shrimp at least once a week....
Ever since I impulse bought my first bottle of St. Germain, I have been on a quest for the ultimate collection of St. Germain cocktail recipes. This sparkling one is my fave! It’s super easy—we’re talking FOUR ingredients, with nothing you need to prep in advance.It makes any occasion feel extra special and classy.Even when I’m at my most disorganized in the kitchen, as long as I’m holding a glass filled with this St....
Although this chili is meatless, don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s wimpy or weak. Filled with plant-based protein and fiber, alive with smoky spices, and so thick your spoon can practically stand up straight in your bowl, this award-worthy chili will please even the staunchest of carnivores. One of my favorite things about chili is how many different, delicious personalities it can take. But what about when you need a go-to chili that appeals to different dietary needs (gluten free, vegetarian, vegan), tastes great leftover, feeds a crowd, AND doesn’t require any special appliances?...
If you’re wondering if apple cider is worth it to make from scratch, the answer is YES. I had never tried making apple cider myself prior to this year (after all, isn’t that what the jugs are for??), and I was delighted. Not only is apple cider easy to make from scratch (truly!), but its fresh, pure taste is one to savor. Sure, I expected homemade cider to taste better than the grocery store stuff (just like homemade Slow Cooker Apple Butter and Crockpot Applesauce), but WOW....
Fall always places me in a state of emotional turmoil. The restless girl within me anticipates the change. She wants to wear cute scarves and cozy slippers and bake every single apple and pumpkin recipe that crosses her path (Healthy Pumpkin Muffins and Apple Bread anyone?). On the other hand, the contented girl within me protests. She watches the sun set earlier with sadness in her heart and mourns the loss of peak-season berries (particularly where this Blueberry Buckle is involved)....
Perfectly cooked salmon is a thing of beauty. It’s moist, tender, flaky, and almost melts in your mouth. Overcooked salmon is a chore. It’s dry, chewy, and will make you want to swear off fish. Follow these tips to determine the correct salmon internal temperature, as well as approximate bake times at various oven temperatures for both a whole side of salmon and individual portions (fillets) of salmon. What Is the Proper Temperature for Salmon?...
Thanks to nutrient-dense cauliflower and protein-packed chickpeas, this hearty, healthy recipe is filling and will leave you satisfied (one of my vegetarian recipe rules is that a plant-based dinner should never leave you missing the meat). Confession time: when cauliflower skyrocketed to popularity a few years ago, I was skeptical. And by “skeptical,” I mean I refused to eat it, unless it was doused in Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip (and ok, it’s pretty good in Cauliflower Pasta, because, carbs)....
Chicken thighs are one of the simplest, most satisfying proteins to cook. They are forgiving and relatively foolproof. Since they have a slightly higher fat content, it is harder to overcook chicken thighs than it is Baked Chicken Breast or Grilled Chicken Breast.Chicken thighs are healthy. They do not deserve the negative reputation as being “less healthy” than chicken breasts. Chicken thighs are an excellent source of lean protein and iron....
A personal, private Panera bakery. Now, that’s what dreams are made of (especially if a vat of Panera-style Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheese Soup is included). I have fond memories of these cinnamon sugar-coated orbs of heaven. Back in high school, I worked for my school’s newspaper. Every Saturday before we went to print, the staff gathered in our classroom “office” and worked until the pages were ready for press. Our fuel: adolescent energy, bad 1990s pop, and an endless supply of Panera cinnamon crunch bagels (mine topped with a solid inch of obligatory hazelnut cream cheese)....
Grown-ups and kids alike can rejoice over this easy grilled chicken recipe! Along with Grilled Chicken Breast and Grilled Chicken Thighs, I unlocked the trick to grilling chicken tenders that boast golden, grill-marked outsides and moist, juicy insides. They’re also well-seasoned. The flavor, while mild and kid-friendly, still permeates all the way to their centers. No bland chicken for us! You’ll find helpful tips and suggestions for how to serve these easy grilled chicken tenders too....
These easy chocolate muffins are healthy enough to feel good eating for breakfast before 8 a.m. (same with Chocolate Oatmeal!), yet taste indulgent enough to satisfy your sweet tooth at 8 p.m. I’ve been sneaking bites while I warm up my lunch (does that make them an appetizer too?), followed by more bites with my afternoon coffee (clearly, they are snack worthy as well). Even Ben who (and this is one of the great mysteries of our time) usually passes on muffins with chocolate chips has been snitching these healthy muffins....
It’s ultra creamy, packs big chunks of sweet, juicy crab, and the kick of spice at the end will have you reaching back into the dish on repeat. Like my scrumptious Salmon Dip and Feta Dip, this recipe is lightened up with Greek yogurt. The swap is imperceptible, but it makes me feel better about piling a hearty scoop (or two) onto my plate. When it comes to dipping choices, this hot crab dip is versatile and eager to please a myriad of taste buds....
Yes, I shared my blog recipe leftovers with our plumber. He ate his serving on the spot, then asked me to print the recipe for his wife. Also, did you know that plumbers install new gaslines? It’s one of the many fun facts I’ve learned since becoming a new-ish homeowner. I can’t say for certain that every home service provider will be as smitten with this Italian breakfast bowl as our guy was, but he did give us an extremely reasonable price....
Lentil soup starts with aromatic vegetables and herbs at its base, slowly sautéed to build up complex flavor. Broth and lentils marry in creating a pot of hug-you-from-the-inside bliss. While it perhaps sounds simple and is not the most photogenic, this traditional lentil soup recipe tastes phenomenal AND it’s good for you. I have cooked and served lentil soup to many friends who all raved, and it’s one of my go-to weeknight dinners....
A mix of protein-packed ingredients like peanut butter, protein powder, flaxseeds, and chia seeds, along with a touch of honey for natural sweetness and chocolate chips for good measure, these easy protein balls take fewer than 15 minutes to pull together and don’t require any special equipment. No food processor, no mixer. Just you, a bowl, and all the peanut butter you care to lick off your fingers! This high protein ball recipe is lightly adapted from my go-to Energy Balls, with the addition of protein powder....
Get pumped: there’s a new mac and cheese recipe in town, and it’s everything you want (and more) in this famous comfort food classic. It’s outrageously decadent, creamy, and delicious.Fits right in alongside a holiday spread of Sweet Potato Pie, Roasted Carrots, and Crockpot Wild Rice Stuffing.AND you can take a second (or third) helping because this luscious pasta happens to be made with healthier ingredients too. This is pumpkin mac and cheese, and it’s going to be the star at your next holiday gathering or dinner party....
Trust me I’ve been there. You have a lovely gourmet dinner planned (ahem, Red Wine Braised Short Ribs), the ingredients are purchased, and you’re looking forward to a fun night in the kitchen, but then life happens. When you get home and the dog got into the garbage, your kids need help with their homework, the laundry didn’t run, and your partner calls to say they’re stuck at work. You need a plan B or else it’s takeout for the third time this week....
Making food for others is my way of saying “I care about you,” “I’m glad you are in my life,” and, most importantly, “Thanks for putting up with me.” While many foods can convey those sentiments, pizza is the universal food whose message needs no translation. With gooey, soul-comforting cheese, an array of flavorful toppings, and a crust that’s soft, crisp, and chewy all at the same time, pan pizza is a food for every occasion, every person, and, importantly, every appetite....
Although “croquette” might sound refined and complicated (because doesn’t every French word?), salmon croquettes are straightforward to make. To make them more budget-friendly and quicker to prep, I use canned salmon. Keep a few cans of salmon and tuna stashed in your pantry, and you can pull together a fast, healthy, and legitimately tasty dinner on the fly (these Avocado Tuna Cakes and the Salmon Cakes in my cookbook are perfect examples)....
