Have you ever tried spaghetti squash? There was a time that I completely avoided this section of the grocery store specifically because I didn’t know what in the world to do with a squash, no matter the variety. What would it look like when I cut into it? It seemed too laborious to cut and…
Category: Side Dishes
Creamy Corn Chowder with Potatoes and Jalapeno
Hi friends! I don’t know about where you live, but in Indiana, it’s not often that you get a Hurricane Alert on your phone! Late last week I saw an alert pop up for Tropical Storm Gordon and the weather soon changed to gloomy with loads of rain and the chill of Fall was in…
Fast and Fresh Vegetable Quinoa Bowl
Bowls are kind of a thing right now. Ever had a grain bowl or a broth bowl? Some have funny names like Buddha bowls and poke bowls and people are even eating their smoothies from bowls. I am not one of these people. It’s my opinion that you should only need a spoon if you’re…
Leek, Artichoke, and Gruyere Bread Pudding
Hi! I hope you’re having a great week so far! I was inspired recently by the beautiful leeks at the grocery and decided to bring them home and figure out later what I would whip them into. In looking for inspiration I turned to my old friend Ina. Ina Garten (who doesn’t know we’re friends,…
Avocado Cilantro Lime Sauce
Hi friends! I wanted to send a note to share a quick, bold sauce for Taco Tuesday! This avocado, cilantro and lime sauce is so full of flavor, you don’t need a bunch of other fussy stuff on the plate. It’s perfect! I got this recipe from Amber over at Simply Made Recipes. She calls…
Ultimate Fried Rice with Eggs
Hey friends! I’m updating this post because today is Mya’s birthday and fried rice is her current favorite dinner! She asks for it at least twice a week and I don’t mind making it because it’s sooo delicious! We love you and are beyond proud of you, Mya! 🙂 — Fried rice is a favorite…
Orzo Pasta Salad Loaded with Vegetables
There’s pasta salad and then there’s *this* orzo pasta salad loaded with vegetables and feta. This is the real deal! It’s been so nice outside and I’ve noticed the smells wafting from nearby grills in the evenings. It’s a heavenly smell! We have cut back on the meat we’re cooking at home, so the grill…
Watermelon Arugula Feta Salad with Honey Garlic Vinaigrette
It’s been hot and feeling like summer, which means it’s watermelon season around here! I don’t know about you, but I tend to eat a little less in the summer when it’s really hot. While I love the warmer weather and wouldn’t trade it for anything, I like to remain cool! Sometimes food can be…
Thai-Inspired Cool Cucumber Mint Salad
Do you ever *not* plan your meals and then have to search around the kitchen longing for some delicious , healthy food to appear in the oven like magic? No?! Me either. I needed a side dish last night and wasn’t in the mood for any of our usual staples. I’ve been craving Thai…
5-Ingredient Fresh Pineapple Mint Salsa
Hello friends! I’m so excited about the sunshine, warm days and the vegetables growing on my little patio garden that will be used to create sauces, salsas and more! Now that the kids are on summer break, they’re excited about spending time with friends at the pool! We’re headed there today so I’m thinking about what…
Roasted Tomatillo Salsa - Salsa Verde
I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing Memorial Day weekend! We were super busy and loving every moment of spending time with friends and family! We’re back at it now with just three days left for the kids at school and then we’re officially on Summer Break in our house! The long weekend flew…
Garlicky White Bean Puree
This recipe is something I made Tuesday this week but am just getting around to posting…life happens! It didn’t fit the usual Taco Tuesday theme, but my husband was out of town for work and the kids weren’t in the mood for tacos. I checked and it wasn’t a full moon…so it was weird…but I…
Fresh and Light Grilled Corn Salsa
It’s once again everyone’s favorite day for dinner in our house…Taco Tuesday! Today, I’m making a fresh salsa using sweet corn on the cob that I’m grilling to add that smoky, slightly charred flavor of Summer. Which I’m craving. Summer, that is. It’s beautiful, warm and sunny today, so I thought this salsa using fresh…
Garlic and Thyme Roasted Butternut Squash
I love butternut squash and think that roasting brings out its best flavor. Truth is, I’ll eat it any old way it’s prepared, but this is my favorite. I’ve cooked with it a lot over the past several months (here’s my butternut squash chile quesadilla recipe!) and I’m hanging on to it well into Spring…
Friday Night Pizza: Two Kinds of Flatbread
Friday night is almost always pizza night in our house and last week was no exception. We had only one kid home for dinner and I had a fresh flatbread dough in the fridge, so I was ready to go. On our half of the pizza I went with my obsession, sun dried tomato…
Cast Iron Gruyere Scalloped Potatoes
I’m always on a quest for new ways to cook potatoes and make them flavorful and interesting. What better way than in a cast iron skillet so they have the perfectly cooked center with crispy edges?! AH! SO GOOD! My favorite part of a lot of dishes is the crispy edges (especially involving cheese), how…
Spicy Thai Noodles with Vegetables
I *LOVE* Thai food! Well, I love all food, but I really love lots of spice, big heat and bold flavors created with simple ingredients. I believe this is the definition of Thai food. If you’ve never tried Thai food, it’s time to change that! It’s super delicious and you can control the level…
Sun-Dried Tomato Spinach Rigatoni
I’m in the mood for pasta tonight, how does that sound?! You can do literally anything with it and pair it with endless flavor combinations. Is that as exciting to you as it is to me?! My kids like the usual pasta dishes like spaghetti, ravioli and fettuccine alfredo. They’re are all delicious of…
Sun-Dried Tomato Spinach Potatoes
This recipe happened one night because I was bored with the usual roasted potatoes I’d been making lately. We really likes potatoes and how great are they with some simple salt, pepper and thyme?! While they can be amazing simply prepared, I *try* to keep things flavorful and mix up the way I cook with…
Roasted Parmesan Carrots
This may be one of the easiest side dishes ever and the best part is that you can visually make the carrots rustic or elevated. You’ve heard the saying you eat with your eyes first, right? Sometimes it’s a detail as simple as how you slice a vegetable that makes a big difference! I…