Showing posts with label Barbecue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Barbecue. Show all posts

(Vegan) Two-Tomato Pasta Salad

August 3, 2022

Two-Tomato Pasta Salad

I’ve been on a serious pasta salad kick this summer, and this Two-Tomato Pasta Salad just hit the spot.
Sun-dried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, and tender pasta come together in this simple but oh-so-flavor-filled dish.
Inspired by some gorgeous cherry tomatoes that I found at the farmers’ market and by my fave sun-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil, this pasta salad comes together in 15 minutes.
A light yet filling meal that can be the perfect dish for a hot summer dinner or to bring to your next potluck or barbecue.

Crock-Pot Barbecue Pulled Chicken

February 15, 2022

Crock-Pot Barbecue Pulled Chicken


The start of the new year has been overshadowed by the Corona pandemic and frankly far from ideal.
However, as my yoga teacher constantly says: “There’s always something to be thankful for".
And looking back at the past five weeks, there have been some cool things that have happened such as: Wordle, some sick NFL games, a brand new smartwatch, a delectable Poppy Seed Tea Cake, and — last but not least — this awesome Crock-Pot Barbecue Pulled Chicken.

Tandoori-Spiced Grilled Chicken

July 8, 2021

Tandoori-Spiced Grilled Chicken


I don’t choose the recipes I post on this blog based on whether they photograph well or not.
I always aim to take good pictures of the food I make because it might be an incentive for the reader to try that particular recipe. However, sometimes ugly food is the tastiest food.
And just because it doesn’t photograph well, it shouldn't matter, how it tastes is what is really important, right?

(Vegan) Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes

January 29, 2021

(Vegan) Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes
Life is definitely too short to eat second-class mashed potatoes.
I like mine with a shameless amount of butter and milk (or cream) and it’s been hard to make them any other way. That was until I tried these uh-mazing Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes.

Mediterranean Potato Salad

February 26, 2020

Mediterranean Potato Salad


I don’t consider myself a mayo-phone (it is eggs and oil after all) but I’ve never been a fan of the standard potato salad drenched in mayonnaise, also known as salads that make you forget you are even eating a potato.
That’s why I love a potato salad recipe that doesn’t call for mayo.

Turkey and Avocado Sliders

July 18, 2019

Turkey and Avocado Sliders


Sliders are an awesome easy food idea for any party, game day, or really any other gathering.
I like to serve sliders at parties because I believe they are a great way to make sure I can give guests a full food experience without filling them with a big burger.
They make killer nibbles to pass around and — last but not least — they’re also great for little hands.

Easy Crispy Chicken

June 17, 2019

Easy Crispy Chicken


Crispy baked chicken with a juicy meat and a crisp flavorful skin. What’s not to love?
Especially when it’s made in the oven with no breading at all and the only ingredients you need are chicken, spices, and herbs (all pantry staples that you likely already have at home.)
Enters this incredible Easy Crispy Chicken also known as the most amazing oven baked chicken thighs.

Italian Farro Salad

July 26, 2018

Italian Farro Salad


If you’re not familiar with it, farro is a grain similar to pearl barley, but it’s dried in such a way that instead of being fluffy and spongy, it becomes a bit chewy and has an incredible nutty flavor.
Farro is a pure form of wheat with the husk intact.
It’s been a staple in the Mediterranean diet for centuries, in fact it was a major food for the ancient Romans, who used it to make bread and soups before shifting to wheat.
It’s incredibly versatile and pretty healthy too. It contains a lot of fiber which proves to be very good when it comes to digestion and cardiovascular health. It’s also exceptionally high in protein for a grain and supplies more than 10 different vitamins and minerals.
It used to be pretty hard to find, but nowadays almost all grocery stores carry it. From Trader Joe’s to Whole Foods to Walmart, look for it in the natural-food or special selection sections.

Greek Pasta Salad

July 18, 2018

Greek Pasta Salad

Pasta salads tend to get a bad rap, but I find that the more I think of them as cold and fresh summer dishes and the less as mayo-laden bowls of suspicious ingredients offered in delis around the country, the more inviting they become, not only for picnics and potlucks but for an awesome Friday night.
I actually made this Greek Pasta Salad for a BBQ this past weekend, everyone raved about it, and wanted to know how to make it.
In my book, I always know that something works when people ask for the recipe. Then again, I’m not sure if they are ever going to make it but sure enough, they’ve enjoyed it.
I love when people get so excited about something that is so simple to make and so fresh.

Apple-Mint Iced Tea

July 3, 2018

Apple-Mint Iced Tea


It’s been scorchy hot these past few days, so I’ve been drinking a lot of refreshing drinks.
Together with my Mint and Ginger Iced Green Tea this Apple-Mint Iced Tea has been at the top of my list.
Green tea tartness goes really well with the pungent and refreshing mint aroma and is perfectly counterbalanced by the apple juice sweetness.
Super simple to make, all-natural, good-for-you, and oh-so-yummy.

"Blow Your Mind" Grilled Chicken Marinade

May 28, 2018

"Blow Your Mind" Grilled Chicken Marinade


Sometimes simplicity is the best. Like the easy breezy grilled chicken marinade I invented the other day.
As a person who loves chicken dishes and couldn’t get tired of them, ever, I’m constantly looking for different and original methods to cook chicken so I can serve it more often without the risk of getting bored. My goal is always the same, juicy, tender, succulent chicken that packs a flavor punch.

Classic Souvlaki Kebabs

April 19, 2018

Classic Souvlaki Kebabs


Why is it that, no matter what, we always crave the back-to-basics, simple food that has been around for ages?
Probably because no one wants to fuss and also because we like food that doesn’t make demands on our time, our kitchen skills or our wallets.
As far as I’m concerned there are recipes — such as these Classic Souvlaki Kebabs — that I make a lot around here.
Simple food that speaks for itself. What is there not love about it?

Easy Baked Chipotle Chicken

March 23, 2018

Easy Baked Chipotle Chicken


Can I be totally honest with you guys?
I am in love with this Easy Baked Chipotle Chicken. So much so that I made a second batch of it the day after devouring the first — which was like two days ago. Speaking of which, I think the time has come to whip up another one because seriously, this is smoky spicy awesomeness.

Black Bean Veggie Burgers

March 9, 2018

Black Bean Veggie Burgers


Can we please discuss for a moment the price of supermarket veggie burgers? Why are they so expensive?
One can argue that this happens because veggie burgers are made with a lot of ingredients.
Or maybe it’s because vegetarians are willing to pay more to avoid beef/pork, the manufacturers know this and thus charge more.
More likely is it because the production of veggie burgers is on a much smaller scale if compared to the beef counterpart and in addition vegetables and grains — though generally quite cheap pound to pound — are seasonal and can greatly fluctuate in price.
Whatever might be the reason: veggie burgers are expensive!

Moroccan-Spiced Burgers with Harissa Mayo

October 25, 2017

Moroccan-Spiced Burgers with Harissa Mayo


It’s well known that I’m a harissa fiend.
I have a love affair with the North African fiery paste and I love putting it on…well, everything.
Spaghetti, chicken, potato salad, you name it.
So it was only a matter of time before I would put it inside a burger to create a — in my humble opinion — memorable meal.

Honey Glazed Chicken and Veggie Kabobs

June 16, 2017

Honey Glazed Chicken and Veggie Kabobs


Kabobs or skewers? I call them kabobs but I’ve noticed a lot of people say skewers.
It really doesn’t matter, but these Honey Glazed Chicken and Veggie Kabobs do matter.
Actually they’re the only thing that matters to me right now.
Chicken, zucchini, bell peppers, and onions marinated in zesty bath of oil, honey, soy sauce, and garlic.
Should I stop or do you want me to go on?

Mom's Parsley Potato Salad

May 19, 2017

Mom's Parsley Potato Salad


If you grew up in a household where mayonnaise was almost forbidden — though she never admitted it, I’m fairly certain that Mom hates mayo — you can understand why I don’t have a family recipe for a classic (mayo-drenched) potato salad.
It was just not part of Mom’s cooking repertoire.
She did have her own version of potato salad though.
One that involved parsley, lemon, olive oil, capers, but — not surprisingly — zero mayo.

Classic Black Bean Veggie Burger

March 29, 2017

Classic Black Bean Veggie Burger


Today I have a little awesome recipe for you that I love very much.
I always had a place in my heart for black beans burgers. I can’t really explain it. I often sneak one off my vegetarian friend during barbecues. If a restaurant claims to have a great black bean burger (such as the New York Burger Co. or Smashburger), I’d order one.
For me the true test of a burger joint is whether they can make a solid black bean burger.
I mean, anyone can make a good beef burger, but a black bean burger? That’s a whole different story.

Spinach-Mozzarella Stuffed Burgers

March 7, 2017

Spinach-Mozzarella Stuffed Burgers


I know I'm not reinventing the wheel here. Stuffed hamburgers have been around since at least 1954 but it seems like they have been a bit of a trend the past few years.
Sometimes called inside-out burgers — because cheese and other traditional topping ingredients are folded inside the burger — stuffed burgers offer a surprising burst of flavor and some believe that the stuffing also helps keep the meat itself more moist and juicy.
The most notorious stuffed burger is, of course,  the Juicy Lucy: a cheeseburger that has the cheese inside the meat patty instead of on top, resulting in a melted core of cheese within the patty.

Lemony Harissa Potato Salad

September 14, 2016

Lemony Harissa Potato Salad


Have you made your own harissa yet?
Hopefully with the Sticky Harissa Chicken or the Harissa Spaghetti I was able to convince you that homemade harissa is the THING and something you really want (and need) to have in your refrigerator at all times.
If that wasn’t enough, then maybe this Lemony Harissa Potato Salad will do the trick.