Scrumptiously Skinny

Today’s high is in the twenties. I’d say that’s definitely soup weather. We had one good week where the highs were all in the upper fifties, but now the cold has really set in. I’m hoping warmer weather is on its way, but until then, I’m going to eat soup and try to stay warm! (more…)

Dinner and a Story: Saucy Honey Apple Pork Tenderloin

You’ve heard of dinner and a movie. Here’s my version: dinner and a story. I gave you the recipe for my creamy roasted garlic mashed potatoes earlier this week. Serve those with this saucy honey apple pork tenderloin and a side of green beans sautéed with a little soy sauce until they’re bright green, but still crisp. Then, follow that up with the dark chocolate cake with cream cheese frostingth…

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

I don’t know about you guys, but I am ready for spring. That said, spring doesn’t seem quite ready for me! Even the groundhogs agree that I have to suffer through a little more winter. With that in mind, I’ve been craving comfort food. Delicious pastas, chilis, curries – whatever warm dish I can eat to substitute for the warm weather I wish I was feeling! This mashed potato recipe certainly fits…

One of my dearest loves in life is garlic. As far as I’m concerned, there are two types of people in this world: garlic lovers and garlic haters. I belong in the former, as does any chef, cook, or self-respecting foodie that I’d ever trust to make me dinner! It is a miraculous ingredient that deserves our attention and can be used subtly or can go all out! (more…)

Gambas Al Ajillo (Spanish Garlic Shrimp)

Two years ago this month I had one of the most amazing experiences – I went to Spain for the first time. The school where I worked needed chaperones for the annual Upper School exchange program with a school in Spain. They already had two men going on the trip and really needed a woman, so even though I taught middle school Spanish, I was asked to chaperone. We went for ten days and had the most…

Spicy Sweet Potato White Bean Burgers

  These vegan burgers will satisfy your hunger, but also leave you craving more! They are the perfect blend of spicy and sweet, with a little tangy avocado mash that makes each flavor stand out! In this recipe, you will use baked sweet potatoes to bring out the natural sweetness of the dish as well as Italian seasoned breadcrumbs to give the outside of your burger a nice crispy texture. The…

Tutorial: Italian Seasoned Breadcrumbs

This is a versatile little recipe – Italian Seasoned Breadcrumbs. You can use these in pretty much any recipe that calls for breadcrumbs. You can also choose between white or whole wheat breadcrumbs, or combine the two for a little whole wheat boost, while still maintaining a lightly colored breadcrumb. If you will be putting these on top of anything and allowing them to brown, I recommend white…

Tutorial: Baked Sweet Potato

Time for tutorial number two! You can check out my first tutorial here to read what these tutorials are all about and to get an awesome recipe for delicious creole seasoning!

I don’t know if you have noticed, but I love sweet potatoes. Yea. Who knew?! They are an amazing complex carbohydrate that is full of fiber and lots of delicious sweetness all on their own. The best way to bring that sweet…

30 Minute Red Beans & Rice

So by now, hopefully you’ve all had a chance to read my first tutorial post: Creole Seasoning. Mixing up your own creole seasoning means you get to have your flavorful New Orleans cuisine just the way you like it – spicier, saltier, or the opposite. A great way to experiment with your homemade creole seasoning is to whip up a batch of this 30 minute red beans and rice. It’s a fast way to make a…

Recently, John and I were reflecting on our first cooking experiences. It’s amazing how difficult it can all seem when you’re first getting started. There are also plenty of moments when you feel you have it all under control, but then you make one bone-headed mistake and your dish turns to bleh…or in my case, dough. Seriously, the second time I ever made my mom’s creamed spinach, I put a cup of…

Coconut Curry Shrimp Stuffed Squash

For the first time in what feels like a billion years it is sunny today! I am going to spend some much needed time outside and I can’t wait! Maybe I’ll pull a chair up in front of my largest window, curl up, and do some reading if it proves too cold to stay outside too long. Or maybe I can power through the cold by finally addressing some of the yard issues at the new house. (I’ve needed to rake…

Tuscan Tortellini & White Bean Soup

Last week, like most of the nation, we had a ridiculous cold snap. When it’s 10ºF outside, but feels like 0ºF, all you want to do is cuddle up under a blanket with every member of your family for the body heat and sleep until the cold is gone. You know, go into hibernation mode. Well, that, and eat soup. (more…)

Super Powered Green Protein Stir Fry

It’s official. I’m a newly converted North Carolinian. I have a license and everything! I even had a super fun trip to the DMV. About two hours in, we were told that the DMV computer system for the ENTIRE STATE had crashed and that no one could do anything until it was back up. Luckily, it wasn’t down as long as I thought it would be and we were able to get in and out of the DMV in just three…

Easy Rosemary Sweet Potatoes

I love sweet potatoes. They’re great in all kinds of dishes and at all sorts of meals. I’ve even eaten them at breakfast (in South Korea) and they were great! One of my friends used to tease me all the time about my “obsession” with sweet potatoes – she’d seen me eat them in sushi, chili, soup, Mexican, and so many other dishes. (more…)

Crunchy Herbed Lemon Cod

Happy New Year!!!

I hope you are all having your best year so far in 2015 – John and I have really started our year off with a bang! We did so many fun things to ring in the new year. On Wednesday, we went out to a delicious sushi dinner before returning home to watch the ball drop and toast in the new year at midnight. 

Yesterday, we continued our celebration with a day full of fun. We took…

Mom’s Creamed Spinach

As I shared with you in my Kid-Friendly Spinach Quiche post, I was a horribly picky eater growing up. When I say horribly picky…I mean it. You know how most babies like fruit purees when they finally start trying some real food? Yea, well, not this one! I hated them. Almost all of them. If she gave me cereal, I gobbled it up. If she gave me fruit puree, even as an infant, I turned my nose up,…

Last December, I shared my Maple Spiced Pancake recipe with you all. Then, a couple weeks ago, I shared my Holiday Gift Guide for Kitchen Lovers. In that post, I HIGHLY recommended getting a stove-top waffle iron. I LOVE LOVE LOVE mine! That said, I don’t have any waffle recipes on the blog to show you just how easy it is to use a stove-top waffle iron. (more…)