The millennial bible for everything baking and cooking
This is a classic Butternut Squash soup. No frills all flavor. Its hard to imagine that this is actually just a autumn vegetable soup. No added cream or butter required. This is pure veggies!! The key to this soup is to get it as silky as possible. to do so, I used an immersion blender …
The hardest part of this recipe is lifting the cast iron skillet to be placed on the stove. Cause WOW those things are heavy! But the arm workout is worth the exercise cause there is no way to get quite the same flavor without the seasoning that comes with a cast iron skillet. I will …
Sheet Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Chicken
A twist on a classic that’s definitely worth a try
Kutya is a rather polarizing appetizer and most traditional Ukrainian food. The flavors and textures are quite perplexing. The poppy seeds are sweet yet gritty, while the wheat (barley) is chewy and fibrous, the walnuts provide a crunch, and the raisins provide a subtle tartness to offset the sweet poppyseeds. Each of the four ingredient …
Snickerdoodles are always a classic Christmas throwback. Something about it reminds me of my childhood. I’m not sure if its the simple and uncomplicated flavors of vanilla and the edginess of cinnamon as a child. Or if its the name that always makes me crack a smile. But Either way its one of the most …
Orange Cranberry Sauce is one of my favorite Thanksgiving sides to make, because its soo easy to make and only has a handful of ingredients. Plus this is one of the few recipes that are a lot of fun to make. The cinnamon and allspice makes it fragrant. The cranberry and orange zest makes it …
I had some apple cider left over from my over zealous fall farm purchases and thought Id incorporate it into another fall favorite, Wings!! This is a festive take on traditional tailgating favorite! The glaze is flavorful but not overpowering. So if you choose to spice it up, the flavors won’t clash like the teams …
When I think of Greek cuisine, one of the first things I think of is spanakopita. The flaky layers of philo and cheesy spinach filling make it seem quite challenging to make. However, using frozen philo do and ensuring moisture is removed from your filling will ensure crispy, flaky layers every time! Check out our …
These brownies are equal parts fudge brownie and a fluffy light mousse. The combination doesn’t seem obvious at first, in fact they are quite opposite. But the secret here is in the balance of not only texture and density but also in richness of flavor. The cocoa powder on top also adds in some much …
This summer we had a bountiful harvest of Jalapenos so much so that we didn’t know what to do with them and they were starting to turn. So I decided to can the jalapenos using mason jars so we can preserve them and use them for toppings all year long. The basics are that you …
Ginger Ale Carrots is probably one of the simplest recipes, ever. All you need are carrots and a can of ginger ale. MAYBE top is parsley if you want to be fancy. But that is all there is to it! The ginger ale is a great way to cook and also season the carrots, the …
We had some Doritos left over from a recent event and I wasn’t sure what to do with them. Sure I could eat them, but then I have the guilt of eating all of these chips when I’m suppose to be dieting. So instead I turned it into a flaky crunchy baked chicken cutlet crust. …
Buttermilk Broccoli Salad is such a refreshing summer salad. It has a great combination of fresh, raw broccoli and sinful bacon and cheese. This salad is relatively easy to make. We start off like any typical salad gathering or making the ingredients, then putting it all together. We start off with some crumbled bacon using …
I was craving a summer burger but it was a rainy day and I didn’t have the time to form patties nor did I have the gusto to go out in the rain and fire up the grill. So instead I thought I would take the ground beef and make a cheeseburger burrito instead. It’s …
Blue Cheese and Date Stuffed Apricots is the perfect refreshing summer appetizer or snack. And its pretty simple to make. No Baking or cooking involved. Just chopping and assembling. Perfect treat to bring with you to the potluck BBQ. Everyone will be amazed at how sophisticated your dish is. The saltiness of the blue cheese …
Who doesn’t love baked Mac and Cheese? This dish is a classic Americana, and what is even better is that they are formed into individual serving sizes. Which makes it beautiful to display and also Covid friendly since there is no communal pot. Plus you don’t need to worry about getting your dish back since …
Carrots are not an exciting vegetable. There I said it. Its not that people dislike carrots, its just that no one looks forward to cooked carrots. I think it may be because no matter what cooked carrots always taste like carrots. Even when it’s slathered with butter and cinnamon. I wanted to break out from …
As I’ve mentioned many times before, I’m a big fan of spinach and artichoke anything. So, when my mom wanted to make stuffed mushrooms recently, I had the brilliant idea of doing spinach artichoke stuffed mushrooms. They’re gluten free, cheesy, vegetarian and full of veggies. A perfect appetizer, side dish or entree for a light …
This recipe is so simple, I’m shocked it’s not in my regular rotation. Cacio e Pepe literally means cheese and pepper. And that is basically the recipe in itself. I opted for gluten free pasta, but regular pasta works just fine if that’s not something you need to look out for. Then its just pasta …
I always loved prosciutto. So when I passed a package of prosciutto in the grocery store I knew I had to make a recipe with it or else I would just the entire package by myself . I also decided to buy some mozzarella because of course it was right next to the prosciutto and …
A staple of Ukrainian Cuisine is Sauerkraut and Kielbasa. But what is Sauerkraut exactly? What makes it so Sour? Sauerkraut is cabbage that is pickled and fermented. The fermentation process removes the sugars in the cabbage leaves to make the distinctive “sour” taste. Kielbasa is often paired with sauerkraut as the saltiness of the kielbasa …
Coming from a big Italian family, we love to cook and I love exploring Italian recipes, sharing them with my family and making them my own. That’s how this recipe came about. My uncle and cousins decided to give this recipe a try and after hearing their success and rave reviews, I knew I needed …
I’m always looking out for a good chicken recipe to add to my repertoire. Something that its a combination of chicken and vegetables. This Spinach Stuffed Chicken is a best of both worlds. The chicken breast is kept moist from being cooked in the oven. And is also aided by the moisiure in the spinach …
Want an easy, but fun weeknight dinner that also stores and saves easily in individual servings? We got you, look no further than spaghetti nests. With only 4 ingredients and the muffin pan of your choice (I used double sized) this comes together in a snap and looks super fun and cute.
Deviled eggs are a great appetizer for any party, but when you have guests that aren’t a big fan of mayo or mustard you have to brainstorm for some alternatives. Swapping the mayo for greek yogurt and changing the flavor profile to give it more of a mediteranead flare solves this issue. In this recipe …
I was looking for side side recipes when I came across stuffed mushrooms. These are surprisingly simple to make. I’m almost embarrassed to admit that these had flown under the radar for so long. BUT NOT ANYMORE! These are sooo simple to make and everyone loves them. I decided to adapt the recipe a little …
I love making easy renditions of mexican dishes for dinner and my absolute favorite thing to serve on the side is salsa rice. I love salsa rice because its super easy, customizable and is a good combination of starches and veggies. Simply cook your added veggies while the rice is in the microwave, combine and …
There is no better taste of homemade basil pesto. This was so fragrant, it was better than any spring candle I have at home. It was super easy to make too I can’t believe I haven’t made this before. The recipe is basically putting all the ingredients in the food processor then serving over pasta. …
Mexican Lentil Burgers Looking for some ways to switch up the protein sources in your life, or trying more vegetarian or vegan recipes? Well if so you should definitely give these mexican lentil burgers a try. Packed with protein and fiber from delicious legumes and full of flavor, you won’t even miss the meat. I …
This is a recipe refresh, taking old recipes, mash it up with new recipes to create new flavors and simplifying for busy people. What makes this recipe different from the usual taco? We are taking elements from Fajita recipes and elements from classic Tacos recipes to make a flavor explosion. We are preparing the veggies …
Although eggplant parmesan gets a lot of the attention when it comes to fried eggplant dishes, this version using thai eggplants is sure to broaden your horizons. Crispy, crunchy and filled with flavors of ginger, sesame and a touch of spice, it’s a perfect appetizer, side or vegetarian star. The small size is especially nice …
Potato skins can be a bit labor intensive if you do them all in one go, but I’ve learned that you can cut your prep time in half and kill two birds with one stone if you bake your potatoes ahead of time. Bake your potatoes a few days ahead and use the insides to …
I used to love my mother’s meatloaf growing up. This meatloaf recipe has a fine consistency, so its almost like eating a tasty meatball. I was never a fan of chunks in my meat whether it be onion, pepper or anything else. To me, the chunks of veggies disrupted the consistency and were never cooked …
When I lived in the UK, eating out came in one of two styles. The first style was British, which was essentially pub food: meat pies, bangers and mash, pork pies, deep-fried fish and chips, Sunday Roast, gammon steak, and ploughman’s platter. While British cuisine doesn’t usually top the list of culinary experiences. It was …
Let’s ease into this whole New Years Resolution diet thing slowly. No need to jump mouth first into the lettuce just to relapse back to burgers two days later. Successful diets usually have a slow transition and consistency. Which is why the Big Mac Salad is the perfect transition from junk food to healthy foods! …
Crazy for coconut? I am! This is the ultimate coconut cake, from the coconut cream cheese frosting topped with shredded coconut all the way down to the coconut flour used in the cake. You could serve this cake any season, but it feels especially festive in the winter because it’s reminiscent of a snowball. So …
I’ve always loved fresh toast, but baguette french toast only became a thing when my husband started picking up a fresh loaf on our weekly grocery trip. Baguettes are awesome, but they can go stale overnight. One of the best ways to re-purpose an extra crusty baguette is by turning it into french toast. Crusty …
Who doesn’t love pigs in a blanket? Those were always my favorite appetizers at family parties as a kid. So I figured why not go full-size and festive for halloween! Just as easy as the bite sized version, you really only need three ingredients and a few helping hands and these come together in just …
After making your own apple sauce you’ll never want to buy store-bought again, especially when the instant pot makes it so easy! I never liked store-bought applesauce to begin with, I was spoiled as a kid and lucky enough to make homemade apple sauce with my grandma every year. Her apple sauce is still my …
I was one of those weird kids growing up that actually enjoyed vegetables. Broccoli? Yes. Spinach? Yes. Cauliflower? Yes. Brussels sprouts? Yes. And I still enjoy them to this day. Im always on the look out to figure out new recipes to keep the veggie side dishes interesting.  Since this recipe has cauliflower, broccoli, potatoes, cheese, …
So what do you do when you have too much basil leftover from your farmers market haul? You make pesto! What do you do when you have lots of pesto? You whip up pesto chicken meatballs of course! An easy and tasty way to both use up your extra pesto and liven up your meatball …
Broccoli Rabe also known as Rapini is one of my favorite Italian dishes. Its buttery, garlic-y, delicious and has a great source of iron, folate, calcium, and vitamin A, C K. Its a great option for those of you looking for a healthy leafy green to add to a meal. And you can usually find …
I’ve developed some of my best recipes when I decided to combine mish-mashed and leftover ingredients in my fridge. That’s where this delectable, and oddly fancy seeming dinner came from. I’d ordered some chicken thighs on instacart, made some italian recipes earlier in the week, a small portion of spinach that wasn’t enough for a …
Admittedly this recipe was born from a different recipe that left me with a few extra sweet potatoes. I had to find another recipe to use up the other sweet potatoes. I ended up choosing sweet potato fries because it is simple, fast and didn’t require a lot of ingredients. This is one of those …
I love quiche in all forms, big small, appetizer, entree, veggie or meat. It’s also an excellent way to use up some extra eggs, veggies or protein leftover in your fridge, or just another excuse to enjoy some flaky pie crust. This spinach and onion quiche is simple, satisfying and super simple to put together, …
Huevos Rancheros translates to ranch eggs, its a common dish that is made famous by its simplicity and quickness to make. Its simply a tortilla, black beans, eggs and some flavorful topping of your choice. The base it simple and you can make it as complex as you want.  What I love about Huevos Rachero …
Honey and Garlic is a classic combination. We see it everywhere and its especially popular on chicken wings. So why not apply the same taste to chicken thigh to get the same great taste without the bones. Searing chicken is a technique rarely used but it creates a delicious result. Similar to cooking steak, we …
Don’t let the sweet apricot coating fool you! These thighs have some kick! I had bought some chicken thighs and wanted to make something new and different then my regular go to. While searched the fridge for what other ingredients to pair it with. I came across a jar of apricot preserves that has likely …
I was making eggplant parmesan and had a bunch of leftover ‘reject’ eggplant from the discarded ends and sides. I hate seeing food go to waste and so I devised this ‘crispy’ eggplant recipe to use up my leftovers and liven up your generic roasted version.
Like most Italian American families mine was close. Not just emotionally but physically. No grandparent lived more than 10 minutes away at any time. And this ensured that a large percentage of my childhood was spent in their homes. It also meant that a large percentage of my childhood was spent stuffed: the claims of …
Chicken wings are a staple in my house, especially on football Sundays. However, I never really thought of them as a ‘main dish’ or ‘main protein’ when preparing a dinner. This all changed when I was preparing a family dinner and my husband requested a protein to go with eggplant parmesan. I thought the eggplant …
Growing up we used to go to church where they often time had a lunch afterwards in the community hall. There would be a tray of creamy dill potatoes. Potatoes, dill and sour cream are common ingredients in Ukrainian cuisine. So its no wonder that this is the base of this recipe. The recipe is …
I was on vacation in the Hamptons for the 4th of July. While stocking up for the weekend I stopped at a local farm stand to pick up some produce and treats. While there a friend I was staying with picked up this cilantro avocado dip to share with our snacks. I enjoy cilantro and …
Mustard isn’t just for hotdogs, mustard is now being used to flavor ALL the meats. And of course, why wouldn’t it! Mustard is very low calorie and yet packs so much flavor. Its a great addition to “spice” up a meal. It also has selenium and magnesium which is known to be good for low …
Greek has always been one of my favorite cuisines, but I have to admit I didn’t appreciate the flavor profile of lamb until I got a bit older. Over the past few years I’ve really grown to love lamb burgers, especially in the summer when paired with refreshing tzatziki, a crisp bit of lettuce and …
Its Zucchini Season! And these Chicken Parmesan Zucchini boats are super simple to make. It’s a light twist to the classic chicken parmesan that leave you feeling full and satisfied. I also like that it pairs meat and a veggie which also answers the question of what vegetable should I make for dinner?. We start …
I love tuna salad, its low is fat, high in protein and can be made ahead of time. Which makes lunch preparation a breeze. I decided to pair this tuna salad with romaine as a leaf boat instead of bread to cut down on calories and add some additional healthy greens to the mix. Also, …
In the summer all I want to do is lounge by the pool with a cool drink and relax. Even if you don’t have a pool or a beach handy this refreshing smoothie will make you feel like you’re relaxing by the water. Simple and filled with fresh fruit it will quench any parched palette. …
I had some leftover wonton wrappers so I decided to turn them into the crust for mini breakfast quiche cups. I took a muffin/ cupcake pan, greased the inside and folded the wonton wrapper into it. Then added some egg, broccoli, seasoning and topped it off with some cheddar cheese. If you have other veggies …
Normally wonton soup is made with pork which makes it super rich, fatty, and delicious. To make this lower calorie, I used ground chicken instead, which makes it less rich but healthier. This recipe is super simple to make. The hard part is mustering up the patience to fill and fold all of the wontons. …
Growing up with Italian heritage eggplant was always a staple. I’m sure we had it at least once a week as a side dish, appetizer, entree. Our kitchen was never short on this deep purple veggie. Although eggplant parmesan is considered a quintessential Italian American dish it was usually reserved for special occasions at our …
Let’s not call it a Casserole. Is there any word less sexy than Casserole? Instead lets call this a flavor party. When Broccoli, Chicken, Penne, Mushrooms and the life of the party cheddar cheese part’s together you get this one bowl flavor party. What I like about this dish is that you have your protein, …
I’ve always loved my mom’s pasta salad. It was different from everyone elses pasta salad and reminded me of my Italian heritage. Loaded with artichokes, olive, pimentos, three bean salad, italian dressing and parmesan cheese, this was not the mayo-laden stuff served by the tub at your lunchroom cafeteria. I had a hankering for my …
It’s quarantine, groceries are limited and you’ve got to get creative with what your instacart order delivers. Feeling like I wanted something sort of south of the border and with a few extra bell peppers and a pound of ground beef in the fridge I figured I could whip up some stuffed peppers. Typically for …
This is a healthier version of the take out orange chicken we know and love. Without the fried breading. Although it seems like a lot of ingredients and thus complicated to make, this can really be separated into 3 simple steps. Browning the chicken, mixing sauce ingredients and then putting it all together. Its a …
If you want to get on the keto trend or simply want to achieve crispy chicken this recipe is for you. Pork rinds often get a bad wrap for being unhealthy, weird, gross or a low class snack, but with the keto diet on the rise and plenty of boutique pork rind brands hitting the …
Add ‘crispy’ to just about anything and it immediately sounds more appetizing. So adding crispy plus garlic and parmesan to brussels sprouts and you’ve immediately piqued my interest. With just a little extra seasoning this is an easy way to liven up regular roasted brussels sprouts and make a side dish the star of your …
This Creamy Snap Peas and Pancetta dish is a “snap” to make. Its easy as 1,2,3. 1. prep the pancetta, 2 cook the peas, 3 add in the sauce. Its that easy! If your local grocery store doesn’t have pancetta or its too expensive for your liking, you can swap for bacon. Pancetta is a …
Eggplant is an Italian staple. Although eggplant parmesan is the popular recipe, my favorite is a slightly lighter option that my grandmother used to make, eggplant boats. With the option to be vegetarian and loaded with peppers, onions and mushrooms, this recipe lets the vegetable rainbow take center stage rather than covering them up with …
Shepard’s pie is a classic Irish comfort food that is essentially a layer of cooked meat/veggies and a layer of mashed potatoes. This “pie” is crust-less which means this recipe also happens to be gluten-free without any substitutions. This recipe became popular in the 1700’s because it was a frugal way to combine leftovers into …
I love breakfast food, especially pancakes and waffles. I recently took a trip to Kentucky and at one of the inns where I stayed I had the most amazing cornmeal pancakes. They were buttery, thin and crispy but delicate and tender as well. After returning home I wanted to try and recreate that amazing breakfast …
Using a slow cooker (crockpot) is my new favorite way to cook because it does most of the work for you. Maximum taste, minimal work. This recipe calls for chicken thighs to be seared prior to adding them to the slow cooker. Searing Chicken? Yes. This helps to brown the meat a little and retain …
Lobster is the ultimate celebration food. Birthday’s, anniversaries, promotions, valentines day, lobster makes any occasion feel extra special. It can also be very intimidating to cook, especially when the lobsters are still live! That’s why I love this recipe, its simple, quick, and doesn’t involve live lobsters.  Lobster tails are easily accessible at your …
Biscotti has always been the classic pairing for coffee and tea. The toasted crisp cookie biscuit that soaks up the flavor and creates some substance with your morning coffee. The secret to getting this crisp biscuit is to toast it a little longer in the oven on each side. Its the twice baked pastry. The …
Shishito peppers have become a dinner staple for my husband and I. Since moving to New York nearly 10 years ago they’ve popped up as an appetizer on nearly every restaurant’s menu and I couldn’t be happier. They’re flavorful, zesy and very healthy.Fortunately, they’re also super simple to make at home. All you need to …
Chili is one of those foods that are impossible to mess up. It’s a large pot of meat (unless vegetarian), veggies and spices. that sits until the spices infuse into the meat and veggies. I love chili because it’s hearty, filling, full of protein, no carbs. This version uses ground turkey for lower calories, but …
These cookies are made with a cookie press. I never used a cookie press before but now that I have, I can’t wait to make this recipe for any and every occasion. The reason why it’s called spritz cookies is because it’s the German word for squirt as the dough “squirts” from the cookie press. …
This might be one of the easiest recipes I’ve ever posted. So easy in fact it doesn’t even seem like a recipe, but it was just so tasty I felt the need to share! I love everything bagels, so I had to try Trader Joes ‘Everything But the Bagel’ seasoning, but didn’t plan what I’d …
I think I’ve expressed my love of spinach artichoke dip before. It’s tasty, flavorful, and want to think it’s healthy because it has vegetables but also a bit fancy because it has artichokes. This recipe aims to combine my love of spinach artichoke dip with my need for a decently healthy lunch or dinner option …
Its almost Super Bowl Sunday, the day where we yell at all star athletes that we could do better then them. All while stuffing our faces with the impressive spread of pizza, wings, chips and dip. There is also a low key competition of who brings the best dip. No matter how your team does …
I grew up in the land of buffalo wings, so naturally buffalo flavored food has been in my life since day one. Football has also been a big part of my life. Not that I played or am an expert in the sport, but I have a lot of memories of weekends spent at the …
I was searching for ways to make my meal prep more interesting when I came across this concept of an eggroll, unwrapped. This recipe switches the pork to ground turkey and removes the oil soaked wrapper. All while leaving the taste and flavor of one of my favorite Chinese foods. When we break it down, …
Roast duck – now doesn’t that sound fancy! I won’t lie, this was a labor of love, roasting a whole duck isn’t your run of the mill dinner, it’s like prepping for thanksgiving. However, by how tasty this recipe is and the fact that it’s really not that many ingredients, it’s worth the effort, and …
As I was searching for low calorie meals for meal prep I came across this variation to spice up some ground turkey. Ground turkey is an incredibly lean protein, meaning less calories for the amount of protein. Which is why its popular for calorie counting and for low calorie meal prep. However, it is also …
Winter is officially here and that means warm, cozy & nostalgic home cooked meals are on the menu. When I’m looking to get cozy on the couch for dinner there’s nothing like a nice plate of lasagna. I love the warm cheesy goodness and the memories it brings back of cooking in the kitchen with …
Asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables. My inspiration for this recipe came about when I got a bit over excited during asparagus season and bought several bunches from my corner produce stand. Searching for something that wasn’t just a side dish or an accompaniment to other veggies I decided to make an asparagus strata. …
I came across ratatouille when I was searching for healthy veggie sides for my weekly meal prep. This dish is full of healthy veggies and most importantly looks beautiful. Perfect side dish if you want to show off your artistic side and bring the wow factor to your local friendsgiving. Ratatouille is a multiple part …
Tacos and lasagna, both amazing on their own, now combining them, what could be better! The baked gooey layered goodness of lasagna, but with all the flavors of delicious tacos. This recipe uses corn tortillas rather than pasta sheets layered with ground beef, veggies, salsa and cheese sauce. The corn tortillas give a delicious texture …
Dijon Mustard chicken is a one pan wonder and meal prep friendly. This recipe came about as I was searching for meal prep ideas. The whole point of doing a healthy meal prep is to make something simple yet fast and healthy. Its the impossible trifecta. But I think I have cracked the code with …
My family is Italian and I love pasta. While I didn’t grow up eating pasta every day or even every week it’s definitely a comfort food. There’s just something about a bowl of pasta, of any variety that can just warm your heart. Looking for a healthier twist on the Italian American classic ‘Baked Ziti’ …
My grandmother would always make this recipe, winter, summer, Borscht knows no season. Its a way of life. You can enjoy this hot soup in the winter and as a cold soup in the summer. I’d argue the real reason we have it all year round is because it pairs perfectly with sour cream and …
My inspiration for this recipe also came about when I got over zealous during asparagus season and bought several bunches from my corner produce stand. It really is one of my favorite veggie! Organic ground turkey was also on sale that week and I’d been considering different stuffed meat recipes as basic baked and grilled …
I think this is one of my best ‘so I’ve got this random stuff in my fridge, what can I make’ recipes. I’d gone a bit produce crazy at my corner veggie stand and needed to make lunches for the week. I had a bunch of peppers, a huge eggplant, some leftover rosemary from a …
Salad. Wow. Exciting. Groundbreaking. These were my exact thoughts as I attempted to make this salad. People tend to dismiss salads as boring or too simple. But this recipe is anything but boring. However it is simpler than it looks! What I love about this salad is that you can make a lot of it …
This classic Italian dish looks complicated because of the number of ingredients. But when you get down to it, the basics of this recipe is a breaded chicken. EASY! And the sauce which is made of spices hidden in the back of your spice rack and of course the sweet Marsala wine. Which surprisingly can …
It’s the end of summer and watermelon is in season. I love watermelon, but usually don’t buy them because I hate carrying them home from the grocery store. One of those peculiar inconveniences of living in New York City. Well this week I just really wanted some watermelon so I made the extra effort and …
This week Im celebrating the last official weekend of summer with these fantastic fresh crab cakes. Although in my opinion these crab cakes can be enjoyed year round! Canned crab meat is readily available in most supermarkets year round. And could also be a refreshing change from the typical meat and potatoes winter foods. Although …
I’ve been dying to get creative with my waffle maker. I love waffles in almost any form and there have been numerous posts on social media showing people cooking crazy things in their waffle makers. Now I didn’t want to get too crazy, but I figured why not give it a shot and try cooking …
Hollandaise Sauce is famous for complimenting and topping eggs benedict, salmon or, in this recipe, asparagus. The challenge and technique of making it the right consistency with the right balance of lemon, butter and egg yolk. For this recipe we place the ingredients in a metal bowl over a boiling pot of water as a …
So often can potato recipes feel greasy, unfulfilling and just all around bleh. This recipe is colorful, healthy, and fresh. The garlic is good for lowering cholesterol and gives it a hearty kick. The lemon adds a refreshing twist and cuts the heaviness of the potatoes. All while the parsley bonds the two flavors. Just …
This is a one pan recipe which means more flavor and less dishes. Who could argue with that? I always find that there is a subtle complexity to Asian cuisine. Which makes it so fun to make once you learn all the tricks. For this recipe the key is to crisp the edges of the steak. …
Its BBQ season and nothing is more refreshing that a summer pasta salad. This recipe does not use any dairy or mayonnaise so its safe to keep out without worrying if its still safe to eat after an hour in the sun. This salad is light, refreshing and has a balanced taste. The secret to …
This week was one of those weeks where I tried something new and hoped for the best. And to my surprise was the most flavorful and complex chicken dish I have ever made. A sweet, spicy, refreshing pineapple chicken had just enough kick to make you say whoa! This recipe is my new slow cooker …
This recipe is very simple and originated from a church cookbook contributed to by all the Italian families from my grandparent’s old neighborhood in Buffalo. That recipe book and this recipe in particular, hold a very special place in my heart. Baked Macaroni was a staple at my grandma Jo’s house when I was growing …
Around here, Fourth of July is not only celebrating USA independence day. But also marks the ancient tradition of having male folk gather around the grill, pound their chest, beer in hand and debate the best way to cook a burger. Joking aside, the true test of how good a burger is starts with the …
This recipe was born out of my husbands latest round of the ‘keto’ diet.  It’s surprisingly simple, just steak, peppers, onions and some seasoning. But it’s flavorful, fun to eat and easy to pull together.  Every time the keto diet comes out I struggle to find ways to keep recipes fresh tasting with enough vegetables. …
This recipe was per the request of my husband while he was on another keto diet kick. He requested meatballs with blue cheese and bacon, so I got my creative juices flowing and devised this fun skewered version! Blue cheese meatballs alternated on skewers with baby bella portobello mushrooms all wrapped in bacon. Â My mouth …
I love chicken parmesan, but it’s not the easiest to make well and usually best the day it’s made.  To satisfy my craving for chicken parm and to make it into a lunch, dinner or snack friendly version I figured why not turn it into meatballs. Besides, I could lighten up the recipe and cut …
We had some left over Kielbasa from Ukrainian Easter so I thought I’d make a recipe that incorporates it. After all there is only so much kielbasa charcuterie you can eat. I’ve always wanted to make a paella, after all at it’s root is a simple dish. Protein + Veggies + Rice = Paella. But …
It’s warm outside and I am here for it. So it’s only right that I get in the swing of summer by making some festive blackened fish tacos. With this recipe, the light fish compliments the crunchy cabbage for a dynamic flavor combination. I’ve never been a fan of any kind of uncooked cabbage. But …
I recently went to San Francisco to visit a cousin whom recently moved to the west coast for a new job. While exploring San Francisco we decided to take a spontaneous road trip to Sonoma. After a fair amount of wine tastin, we stumbled across an olive oil and balsamic tasting. It wasn’t until that …
Homemade Ukrainian Varenyky also known as Pierogies. This is a classic Ukrainian recipe that my grandmother taught me. In my family this was a holiday staple. Somehow it went with every occasion. Easter? Pierogies. Christmas? Pierogies. Thanksgiving? Pierogies. I’m not sure if it’s the pierogies or the excuse to eat a massive amount of sour …
Appetizers, they’re fun, bite sized, packed with flavor and usually fan favorites aren’t super healthy.  Some of my favorite appetizers or snack foods include tater tots, mozzarella sticks, fried mac n cheese balls. You know, all those super nutritious things.  I typically don’t devise as many appetizer recipes, but this one just came to me. …
Did you know when you eat pineapple, pineapple eats you back? That’s right, Pineapples are flesh eating monsters. Frankly I’m surprised that there aren’t more horror movies about rouge pineapples. Okay, that might be a little dramatic. But have you ever eaten a pineapple and wondered why your tongue felt funny? It’s not that you …
With Cinco de Mayo coming up I wanted to make something that is fresh, fun and festive! Like most Americans I plan to overlook the fact that this “Holiday”, although important to Mexican history, is not even celebrated in Mexico (Because no, it’s not Mexican independence day). But instead use it as an excuse to …
When the weather finally gets warm I’m always craving light and refreshing side dishes.  The veggie that really epitomizes refreshing to me is cucumbers, crisp, juicy, mild and they can pair with just about any flavor.  Strawberries were in season when I devised this recipe and I went a bit crazy purchasing more containers …
I love Greek food.  It all started when a Greek Resty opened up in my hometown when I was in grade school.  I’m from a pretty small town, so at that point Greek food was new to me, but after trying it out with my mom it quickly became my favorite restaurant in town!  Years …
Who likes bagels? Better question is who doesn’t love bagels.  As a New York City resident they are definitely a staple, but I always end up with a few stale leftovers.  What to do with the stale bagels then? Make bagel chips! They are the perfect way to repurpose your leftovers and are great for …
Chili is one of those staple comfort foods.  It always reminds me of cold fall and winter days as a kid.  My mom always used to make chili in a crock pot on the weekends. I’d have a bowl after coming in from playing out in the snow or on the couch watching football with …
MANGO. COCONUT. SUMMER. Do I have your attention yet?  There is nothing better than some fresh mango salsa and coconut on a warm breezy beach day….. Or maybe just when you are just dreaming of a warm beach day when it’s actually mid winter and you feel like you haven’t seen the sun in months. Today …
As a kid I didn’t like Brussels sprouts. It’s not that I didn’t like the taste. I really just didn’t like them because they were smelly.  Every time my mom made them, she’d heat them in the microwave and the whole house would get that funky cabbage smell. As the mature child I was this …
Bacon, Cheese, Pie….. What could be better? This was my exactly thought as I finally stumbled upon the perfect recipe to use up the last of the eggs in the carton. In the past, I always found quiches to be too dry and had that bland healthy taste. And really what could be better than …
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  St. Patrick’s Day has become a quintessential American holiday and something I look forward to each year.  I also love it for all the fun holiday decor, food and festivities. While I do appreciate corned beef and cabbage, it’s not the most exciting meal and if I’m going to eat corned …
Bacon, who doesn’t love bacon?  Bacon adds so much flavor to cooking and is just delicious on its own too.  Yes, I realize everyone doesn’t love bacon. But for those of us that do let’s get down to business and strategize how to make those perfect crispy slices! Tools of the Trade: The key to …
I love spinach artichoke dip. It’s tasty, flavorful, and feels sort of healthy because it has vegetables and classy because it has that fancy vegetable, artichokes.  However, I know that realistically a dinner of tortilla chips and spinach artichoke dip, which traditionally has a lot of cheese in it (shhhh don’t tell anyone), is extremely …
Sometimes you just want MEAT and by meat I mean steak.  Don’t get me wrong I love chicken, but sometimes, I really just want something a bit richer, more flavorful and dare I say satisfying?  We’ve all had a great steak at a steakhouse, but it’s pretty intimidating to make at home. I also used …
I always wondered why the steaks I had at steakhouses were so amazing, but I could never recreate them at home.  My steaks never got that crispy seared outside and juicy center. So what’s the secret? Butter, a really hot pan & finishing your steak in the oven.  Now I can’t promise you’ll be making …
This Non-Mac ‘Mac n Cheese’ actually is the best thing since since sliced bread. And it can even be gluten-free too!  It’s cheesy and satisfying and even has veggies in it so you feel less guilty. I’ve always been a huge Mac n Cheese fan, ever since I was a kid. But as an adult, …
Looking to jazz up the regular old canned soup and classic grilled cheese with a gourmet twist? Â Adding a different kind of cheese and fruit to a panini is one way to do it. Roasting your own veggies and making homemade butter croutons to garnish soup is the perfect compliment to this sweet and savory …
So you got an Instant-pot . . . . Maybe it was a gift from your mother-in-law to be at your wedding shower (a hint that you need to improve your cooking skills), or you felt it was a good ‘adult’ purchase, because its a ‘multi-use’ appliance and apparently cooking is cheaper than ordering …