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The only reason we still have cable is for the sake of The Food Network (I DVR Pioneer Woman and Barefoot Contessa) and ESPN (we all know that’s for Ben). Between running this website and my love of reading cookbooks like novels (if you do it too, check out The Well Plated Cookbook), I absorb a lot of recipe content. Thus, it is something special when one stops me in my tracks, sticks in my brain, and cannot be shaken until I’ve brought it to life (see also: Beef Bourguignon)....

Once the trendiest vegetable on the menu, cauliflower has proved itself to be an enduring classic. Raw or steamed cauliflower is ultra-mild (dare we say bland). That kind of neutrality is not ideal for a stand-alone side (and why I prefer Roasted Cauliflower to raw), BUT it does give cauliflower a special power. Cauliflower is a stellar low-carb swap for carby, creamy potatoes in many dishes. In addition to bulking up creamy soups like Broccoli Cheddar Soup and Cauliflower Chowder, cauliflower makes a surprisingly tasty stand-in for spuds in mashed form....

Go for it! In my family, half of our text chain is pictures of food we’ve cooked and of which we are proud. We celebrate our kitchen wins and encourage each other to try the recipes we really loved. You best bet I sent out a proud picture of my first cedar plank salmon. You’ll feel empowered to do the same! This cedar plank salmon recipe is a way of cooking salmon by placing it directly on soaked cedar planks on a hot grill....

While they might not appear especially riveting sitting in their simple plastic bag, lentils will surprise you. I like to compare them to the YouTube videos of celebrity musicians playing in subway stations in disguise. Judge them by their appearance only, and you’ll miss a star opportunity. Humble as it seems, the lentil is a total diva when it comes to nutritional prowess and culinary possibility. Lentils are loaded with vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, protein, and fiber....

Colorful orange, green, and red bell peppers stuffed with rice, seasoned ground meat, feta, and chickpeas, this Mediterranean twist on my master Stuffed Peppers recipe offers every food group in a single forkful. Vegetables. Tender baked bell peppers are the vehicle, and tomatoes help make the filling juicy. Lean Protein. Ground meat (use lean ground beef, bison, or lamb for a traditional flavor) and chickpeas make these peppers filling.Whole Grains....

When the leaves start to turn an array of beautiful colors, and there’s the first chill in the air, turn to the welcoming arms of these healthy pumpkin recipes. Pumpkin on its own is mild, meaning its flavor can blend beautifully with a myriad of other ingredients. Pumpkin is healthy and versatile. This list includes everything from a milkshake to soup! If you want a healthy pumpkin recipe for breakfast, it’s here!...

If you ask me to define what a tartine is, I would tell you that it’s simply a fancy way of saying “toasted bread with all sorts of yumminess on top.” If you want me to get technical, I’d go further to say that tartines: Are versatile open-faced sandwiches from France that can be topped with a variety of toppings.Always start with a base of lightly toasted bread, preferably a high-quality sourdough....

This recipe is an adaptation of my Crock Pot Beef Stew. Beef stew is one of my absolute favorite recipes to make on a chilly, cloudy day (same with this Crockpot Vegetable Beef Soup). I love it when I can prep the beef stew early in the day, then take pleasure in allowing the meat to cook low and slow for hours until it is so fall-apart tender, it slices with a spoon....

This easy Instant Pot chicken noodle soup is a recipe to revitalize your spirits. If you’re feeling run down, it will give you comfort and respite.If you are feeling optimistic, it will keep your momentum strong.And if you’re somewhere in between, it will tip the scale in your favor. Its breezy 15-minute prep time means we can spend less time cooking and more time doing the things we love (like eating chicken noodle soup with a side of No Knead Focaccia)....

Mexican street corn, also called elote, is a traditional Mexican street food that consists of grilled corn slathered liberally with chile powder, salt, butter, cotija cheese, lime, and mayo. It’s rich, smoky, creamy, and not the sort of thing you forget about once you’ve tasted a bite. Mexican street corn can be sold on the cob, but my favorite way to eat it is with the kernels cut from the cob and stirred together with the butter, cheese, mayo, and spices in a little cup (that I wish were not so little)....

This recipe originally came from my friend Steph at Girl vs. Dough. She knows her way around a pretzel, and these cheeky pretzel dogs are the proof! About This Delicious Pretzel Dog Recipe These pretzel dogs are mini, salty, carby, cheese-and-hot-dog-stuffed goodness. It’s no surprise that these things, when combined, are delicious. I mean, how can you go wrong with melted American cheese oozing out of a hot dog wrapped in soft pretzel dough?...

Okay, hear me out, I guarantee that if I whip out this golden-crusted, green goddess of a quiche on my next flight and offer my neighbors a slice, I will make more than a few new lifelong friends in the process. They will also be decidedly less miffed when I climb over them for no fewer than three bathroom breaks. Admittedly, quiche (not even this Crustless Quiche) will probably never replace trail mix or granola bars as the go-to B....

Ben spent six months in India during college, and when he found out he’d be living with a vegetarian host family…he panicked. NO MEAT? Then he tried Indian cooking. Thanks to the aromatic flavors, richly simmered sauces, and hearty ingredients, to this day he still insists that, if the menu is Indian food, he could go years without craving meat again. I also spent a summer traveling in India, I have to say—and this is no light statement for a partner to make— my husband was 100% right!...

Inspired by a platter of crispy, fried potato fritters I devoured at a local diner while visiting Portland, Oregon several years ago. While I like to treat myself once in a while when dining out, at home I like to try and keep things on the healthy side. This potato fritter recipe with zucchini is no exception: Like the diner potato fritters, they are delightfully crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and just the right amount of salt to make it hard to eat just one....

Tender flakes of salmon tossed in a creamy lemon sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and whole wheat noodles, this elegant recipe will leave you feeling like a 5-star chef, with the distinct benefit that, unlike the chef in a restaurant, you get to sit down and be the diner too! A certain red-hearted holiday is around the corner. In years past, Ben and I intentionally chose to stay in for Valentine’s Day, which used to feel romantic, especially whenever Ben made me this Balsamic Glazed Salmon....

Salmon—a nutrient-dense source of protein—goes well with many spices and herbs: parsley, dill, basil, tarragon, thyme, oregano, chili powder, cumin, citrus…it’s hard to choose. You can make it spicy (like Spicy Baked Salmon), give it an Asian twist (Teriyaki Salmon and Soy Ginger Salmon), or do a combo of sweet and zippy like the 5-Ingredient Maple Dijon Salmon in The Well Plated Cookbook. This magic salmon seasoning is an ideal all-around blend that gives you a nice balance....

The health benefits of fish, especially fish like salmon that are high in omega-3 fatty acids which are important to heart and brain health, are widely touted, with recommended servings to eat fish twice per week. Yet for many of us, fish isn’t the first protein our families rally around (unless it’s in the form of Fish and Chips anyway). Salmon tacos are here to change all that! These salmon tacos with slaw are simple to make even if you aren’t familiar with cooking fish....

To date, I’ve used this same fresh strawberry cake recipe to make cakes for all kinds of special life events, ranging from bachelorette parties to my niece’s birthday party to my own wedding anniversary. It’s also an ideal recipe to make on any given day when you feel like celebrating life. Homemade cakes from scratch (like my other favorite Lemon Layer Cake) has a way of turning even the most routine evening into a joyful mini-event....

When one is lying immobile on one’s couch surrounded by an avalanche of used tissues, researching top cold-fighting foods (and eating Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup) feels like a worthy use of the limited energy that arrives between naps. According to my friends Google and WebMD, vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc are essential to beating a cold. Therefore, from my sickbed, I went on a digital scavenger hunt for foods that were: The result?...

My first “official” job was working in a local smoothie shop. My hourly wage was abysmal, but I almost made up for my losses by whipping myself up a “free” smoothie whenever I had a craving (or my latest crush popped by to visit). I have tried every blended combination of fruit over the years. Mango and strawberry go well with a number of tropical fruits like bananas and pineapple, but I think they are at their best when paired together....