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A filling, hearty vegetarian dinner or lunch, these sassy southwest sweets are an all-in-one meatless meal that will leave everyone at the table feeling satisfied (this Mexican Quinoa is another tasty choice). Baked stuffed sweet potato recipes like this one are an ideal strategy for knocking out every food group in a single dish. If you’d like another savory stuffed sweet potato option in a similar flavor realm, try these Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes....

Thanksgiving leftovers are such A Big Deal in our family, on Thanksgiving we cook two turkeys, one for the dinner and one for the leftovers (see How to Cook a Turkey for the best-ever roast turkey recipe). This is rather over the top of us—if you want a more reasonable amount of leftovers, use this easy guide to How Much Turkey Per Person to plan for them in advance (or make Air Fryer Turkey Breast on the side)....

Is cookout crashing a thing? It seems decidedly less stressful (and less rude) than wedding crashing, and you’re more likely to end up with new friends at the end instead of being taken out back by the bride’s older brother. Plus, it seems reasonably acceptable to show up at a cookout and barter food for entry, especially if that food happens to be a slow cooker filled with a delicious, summer-inspired wild rice pilaf....

This crockpot wild rice stuffing is especially helpful at Thanksgiving and Christmas, or really anytime you need a stellar dinner party side but don’t have space in your oven. Further, this stuffing can be cooked in advance, making it a busy host(ess)’s BFF. Unlike a bread and wild rice stuffing, this one is naturally gluten free (be sure to check your rice blend, as oddly not all of them are)....

Sliced zucchini (or a combination of zucchini and squash) stir fried in a quick garlic ginger soy sauce with onions and a pinch of red pepper flakes, it’s quick to make and obsessively good to eat. We added chicken (I have pro-tips below for making the meat super tender), though you can just as easily cook this zucchini stir fry with shrimp, pork, or beef. Need a quick side for dinner tonight?...

This festive cocktail is made with Apple Cider, bourbon, a squeeze of lemon, and ginger beer. It’s wonderfully spiced, not too sweet, and perfect for the holiday season (like its morning cousin, Apple Cider Mimosa). A garnish of apple slices, cinnamon, and thyme makes it beautiful enough for an intimate special occasion, while its fast and easy preparation makes it the perfect apple cider cocktail for a crowd. Any evening would feel immediately cheerful with one of these drinks in your hand....

This healthy asparagus casserole is a springtime riff on my popular Healthy Green Bean Casserole. Like the green bean casserole recipe that inspired it, as well as the majority of these healthy casserole recipes, this is a from-scratch casserole that ditches the cream of mushroom soup and uses simple ingredients you likely already have around. It is equally as scrumptious as the green bean original, but since (unlike green beans), you don’t need to blanch the asparagus before adding it to the sauce, it is quicker and easier to make....

Fresh peach halves that are split, then spooned full of a heaven-sent mix of maple syrup (or honey), brown sugar, cinnamon, and—if you are feeling dangerous—a touch of brandy, bourbon, or rum, this simple but spectacular summer dessert is destined to be a go-to. Whether you want an easy dessert to wow your guests, an excuse to buy another box of fresh peaches before summer ends (15 pounds later, and I might not be done yet!...

A sip! Just a sip. Pretend we are in the kitchen together, and I’m offering it to you. You’ll be a Beet Smoothie believer too, I can feel it. Since I don’t have this luxury, I’m going to call on our virtual circle of trust and assure you that this Beet Smoothie is creamy, sweet, and scrumptious. Like their cousins sweet potatoes and carrots, beets have a natural sweetness that makes them a good choice for dessert and breakfast endeavors (in addition to the classic Beet Salad)....

Another name for this recipe (in addition to “that one side dish no one could stop eating”) would be “Brussels Sprouts Gratin.” Gratins or au gratin or, if we are being REALLY fancy, gratinée are catch-all terms for something (usually vegetables) baked in a shallow dish (often called a gratin dish) with a lid of cheesy, crispy something (usually breadcrumbs and Gruyère cheese) baked on top. Sound familiar? Gratins are a casserole!...

If you’re feeling down and stuck in a recipe rut (pasta again?), this healthy, creamy pasta is going to give you a new way to enjoy ingredients that you’ve likely become intimately acquainted with over the last week—I’m looking at you, dry pasta and canned beans. The big difference with this cavatelli and broccoli recipe is how it uses the ingredients. Think of it as an attitude adjustment, turned delicious, comforting dinner....

I’ve been holding out on you. Remember when I told you all the different ways you can use this easy Cherry Pie Filling? I left out the best one of all: cherry bars. Can you blame me for wanting to keep these easy cherry bars to myself? Just look at that drippy glaze (similar to the one used on these Strawberry Oatmeal Bars), crunchy almonds, and juicy homemade cherry pie filling!...

I don’t have plans to write a scientific paper any time soon, but these chewy, chocolate-studded cookies would be a worthy subject of study. (I think I’ll also need to study these Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies.) Plus, then I’d be required to test multiple “samples” and repeat my “experiment” a few dozen times, just to be certain my theories were correct. All in the name of science, of course....

The slow cooker chicken recipe for when the decision between turning on your oven to make dinner or keeping it off and dipping raw broccoli and cashews in soy sauce instead is closer to a tie than you imagined possible. I adapted this Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken with vegetables from my recipe for Thai Cashew Chicken, one of my favorite quick-fix meals. Like that easy cashew chicken recipe (and my Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken), this Crock Pot Cashew Chicken is super simple to prep, offers every food group in a single meal, and the addictive, sticky sauce will make it a fast fave, even among picky eaters....

Easy, no-fuss crockpot chicken recipes like this white chicken chili leave you with more time in your day and allow you to eat a delicious, healthy meal in the process. White chili is also a refreshing change of pace from tomato-based chilis, like the Blue Ribbon Chili in my cookbook and this top-rated Healthy Turkey Chili. This a beautiful dump-and-go crockpot chili recipe (like this Crock Pot Chicken and Rice)....

This naan pizza is perfect for summer meals, whether the occasion is a spur-of-the-moment cookout with friends or a simple weeknight dinner at home. Although I love making pizza dough from scratch (this Whole Wheat Pizza Dough is my go-to), it does require some advance planning. A few weeks ago, a pizza craving hit, as pizza cravings are inclined to do. It was already late, and I honestly wasn’t in the mood to pull out the flour and measuring cups....

First, it’s important to know what to look for in a healthy snack and to think about how snacks typically fit into your daily routine. For example, if your snack may sit in a hot car for hours, then you likely don’t want anything perishable. Have a hard workout planned? You might want something more substantial. If you typically eat your snacks on-the-go, then you’ll want to find something quick, easy, and portable....

I’m quite unabashed in my love of beans, especially black beans. They’re ultra affordable, high in protein and fiber, and work well in recipes that range from Crock Pot Mexican Casserole to my favorite Instant Pot Chili to even brownies (I haven’t tried my own recipe yet—anyone interested?—but this Black Bean Brownies recipe has my eye). For maximum weeknight ease, I usually reach for canned black beans, but I know from personal experience that when you cook the beans yourself from dried instead of using canned beans, their texture is far superior....

It’s creamy. It’s ultra cheesy. It requires only four minutes of pressure cook time. By the time you finish reading this blog post, you could have an Instant Pot of healthy, cheesy goodness bubbling away. This Instant Pot mac and cheese recipe also packs a hefty serving of secret cauliflower in every forkful, but I promise you (and any picky toddlers on the premises) won’t be able to detect it....

This lemon poppy seed bundt cake is one of those wonderful recipes that you can find justification to munch at any time of day. Like my Grandma’s Bundt Coffee Cake, makes a delightful pairing with a cup of coffee in the morning.Like Lemon Blueberry Cake, it also is a lovely way to end a meal.And like Lemon Cake, it hits the spot when you are craving a dessert that’s bubbly and bright....