Almond Soft Gingersnaps

January 8, 2020

Almond Soft GingerSnaps


It’s undeniable that there’s no winter season without gingerbread cookies. Most people use a recipe that’s been in their family for generations, while others prefer to scout the internet to try out a new ones.
If you fall in the latter category, then this recipe might be for you.

Oven Roasted Greek Chicken Thighs

December 12, 2019

Oven Roasted Greek Chicken Thighs


Before I begin, a confession. Although a navigated cook, I suffer the shame of the occasional pre-dinner party debacle.
I, naively, put my complete faith in a recipe I have never made before, praying it will work. I follow the directions to the letter, only to discover ten minutes before the guests are scheduled to arrive that the food is inedible and I have nothing to serve.
Some recipes are posted/printed without ever being tested and the rule of thumb is to
never try a recipe for the first time when preparing food to a dinner party. Subject your friends/family first to work out kinks.

Zucchini Olive Oil Bundt Cake with Orange Glaze

December 3, 2019

Zucchini Olive Oil Bundt Cake with Orange Glaze


The holiday season is in full swing. Some people love it; some people want to hide under the couch until January 2nd. Whichever group you fall into, we can all agree that this is the best time of the year to fire up the oven and start baking, sharing, and of course, eating.

(Easy) Crock-Pot Marinara Sauce

November 11, 2019

(Easy) Crock-Pot Marinara Sauce


Let me introduce you to the marinara sauce recipe of my dreams. It’s everything that is good in this world: tomatoes, herbs, and garlic.
The flavors together are like Italy in a jar, the perfect combination of sweet and savory.
It can be a great base sauce for pizza or really anything that goes in the oven such as chicken parm or eggplant parm. But — needless to say it — it’s also great on pasta and you can even make it into a meat sauce with ground beef (not authentic Bolognese sauce but still pretty damn good.) I also use it to make poached eggs with marinara sauce for a simple brunch recipe.
Last but not least, it’s great as a dip for vegetables and mozzarella sticks. Actually mozza sticks with marinara is one of the best things in the whole world.

(Vegan) Easy Crock-Pot Curry Lentils

November 5, 2019

(Vegan) Easy Crock-Pot Curry Lentils


I honestly believe that the best way to cook lentils is in the slow-cooker.
I’m well aware that the most common method is to cook (or boil) lentils on the stovetop and that the fastest one involves a pressure cooker — but the slow-cooker method delivers the best results not to mention it is also the easiest way to cook ‘em.
Take these Easy Curry Lentils for instance, super easy to make and pack quite the punch in the flavor department. All the ingredients are placed in the Crock-pot for 7 hours and that’s it. You can forget about it.
What you’re left with are healthy and uber delicious lentils that are sure to satisfy even the most- die-hard meat lovers.

Whole Wheat Maple Apple Bundt Cake

October 25, 2019

Whole Wheat Maple Apple Bundt Cake


I’m not sure if it’s the anticipation of holiday celebration to come, or the nostalgia of helping out in the kitchen when I was a kid, or just the weather changing, but something about autumn makes me want to bake.
This is the time when I want to start filling my kitchen with the smell of pies and warm spices after a hot summer — when turning on the oven was the very last thing I wanted to do.
And when baking is involved around here, apples must also be involved. To me there’s nothing quite like the aroma of apple baking in the oven.
I mean, fall, baking, and apples just go together. That’s a fact and there’s no point in pretending otherwise.

(Vegan) Mushroom and Eggplant Sloppy Joes

October 14, 2019

(Vegan) Mushroom and Eggplant Sloppy Joes


Did your mom ever make you sloppy joes growing up?
If so, welcome to the club.
If not, I’m sorry, you poor thing. Sloppy joes are awesome.
When I was in high school I would return home from sports practice starving and I’d eat two open-faced sloppy joes with a side of lettuce. Yum.
My diet has changed since then and nowadays I rarely make sloppy joes — although, wouldn't you know, I have a pretty solid healthier recipe for it.

Cinnamon Pecan Crunch Banana Bread

October 7, 2019

Cinnamon Pecan Crunch Banana Bread


I don’t know if this happens to you as well, but I have this tendency of buying way more bananas than I ever would be willing to eat.
I believe it’s always great to have a bunch of bananas on the counter for a healthy grab-and-go snack or light breakfast. I often buy them in varying colors of green and yellow to assure I have plenty of time to eat them all. Still, bananas tend to ripen quickly, sometimes a lot faster than I have time to eat them. There’s other stuff to eat, you know how it goes. Life just doesn’t revolve around eating bananas.

Bacon, Spinach, Avocado and Tomato Sandwich with Goat Cheese

September 16, 2019

Bacon, Spinach, Avocado and Tomato Sandwich with Goat Cheese


I believe there is something really satisfying about a good sandwich. Any time of year, any time of day or night, there are times when a sandwich is just the thing.
I have heard people say they don’t like sandwiches and I wonder if their school lunches consisted of bad sandwiches: dubious bread with three slices of baloney stacked over questionable mayo.
I tell them that they really need to try a good sandwich — such as a Rueben on whole wheat bread with sauerkraut and melted Swiss cheese or chicken salad with curry, a Sloppy Joe or a French dip sandwich.

Chicken Salad with Almonds Apple and Apricots

August 16, 2019

Chicken Salad with Almonds Apple and Apricots


I do love me a good chicken salad and I am always working on new and different versions.
Fact is, there are probably as many recipes for chicken salad as there are cooks in the world. It’s one of those great dishes that you can basically whip up from anything. As long as there’s chicken in the equation of course.