Bright red tomatoes, green bell peppers, yellow corn, green and yellow zucchinis all come together to make a colorful and flavor packed summer side dish that is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner. With some cooked chicken thrown into the mix, this could easily be a complete meal by itself. If you have ever had a vegetable garden you likely understand just how prolific squash plants can be when they are flourishing. (Good grief, I posted over...
These potatoes were inspired by the Vanilla Bean Mashed Sweet Potatoes that I have raved about in the past, as well as by the Sweet Potatoes with Spinach that I’ve made repeatedly over the past year. I wanted mashed sweet potatoes, but I had about 3 minutes to get them on the table by the time they had cooled enough to peel and mash. I made them again today because I liked them so much. Simply mash the sweet potatoes; then...
This was a meal completely inspired by this morning’s trip to the produce market. I saw the snow peas, my middle son begged for a mushroom dish (strange six year old, right?) and I found myself wondering if bean sprouts would translate to a bit of crunch in a stir fry. I really enjoyed this combination of flavors and my son was beside himself with joy over the mushrooms. Just about any variation on Jap Chae is likely to me smile,...
Creamy, slightly sweet, cauliflower and leek soup is a soup that tastes much richer than it actually is. This soup is creamy even before you swirl in a bit of real cream, the swirl of cream just adds to the flavor. This works well as an appetizer or as the main dish of a meal, along with a salad and some crusty bread if you have it. My middle son surprised me by loving this soup. My husband and I enjoyed it as well. The other boys...
Despite the fact that it is mid-January, I was craving potato salad late last night. Luckily, I had roasted breakfast potatoes sitting in the refrigerator next to some hard-boiled eggs waiting for snacking. I also had some fresh leeks and herbs from the farmer’s market and a jar of garlic infused vinegar that I’d been wanting to try in a salad dressing. With everything right there at my fingertips, this salad took...
About a month ago, my sister called me and wanted help recreating a salad that she and her girls had absolutely loved at a restaurant earlier this year. Tart and tangy with a slight Asian twist, the crunch of the radishes, along with the tender beans and peas; the salad is a unique combination of flavors that are fantastically fresh tasting. She was so happy with the salad that we came up with, she texted twice later that week to say...
Smoky, caramelized, rich and hearty mushrooms are the center of this unique dish. Served as an appetizer or a side dish, these Chipotle Mushrooms are the first time I can recall a mushroom dish that truly deserved that title “meaty.” The bites of mushroom are so flavorful and the smoke from the chiles balances them so well, this is one of the most memorable dishes I’ve made in a while. This recipe is another huge hit from The...
Fresh mushrooms, bell peppers and sweet onions are sprinkled throughout this buttery, garlicky, rice pilaf. I served this rice with Honey Spice Chicken Bites and Roasted Green Beans. The kids loved this meal so much they begged for the leftovers and asked the very next day if we could make it again. I’m not a big fan of rice most of the time, but this was one of my favorite recipes things I ate over the weekend. The rice...
This potato salad is loaded with great flavor from fresh parsley and a tart crunch from dill pickles. We had company with us for dinner the first time I made this salad and everyone raved about it. Our guests declared this the best potato salad ever, and I promised to share the recipe very soon. I don’t think I could ever have too many salad recipes. Pasta Salads, Taco Salads, Potato Salads, Garden Salads,...
Fresh zucchini, grilled corn, and sausage are quickly sautéed and tossed with a handful of spices to create this super easy one-skillet meal. This easy dinner is also known as, “What to do with the BBQ leftovers?” I made this for the first time last year using a bunch of leftovers from a summer barbecue with friends. Ever since then, I intentionally throw some extra brats on the grill and I remember to save a few ears of corn...
