My slow cooker has gotten some love lately…one could say I’m a bit obsessed. But who can blame me? The smell in my house as I walked in tonight from work was heavenly – the combination of Italian spices, fresh rosemary and tomatoes. Mmmmmm. The Gazette and KCRG (our local news station) have started a … Turkey Ragu with Spaghetti Squash
Because my life is normally pretty fast-paced, I enjoy the days where I can come home to something slow-cooked. The flavor profile of meats (particularly beef and pork) that have been cooked this way always seem to have better flavor and texture. Beef brisket is a leaner cut of beef so it needs to braise … Beef Brisket Tacos with Cilantro Lime Crema
Marion is starting their process to become a “Blue Zone”. This means we have been chosen as a site where we will strive to live longer, better lives by making improvements in schools, grocery stores, restaurants and other areas in the community. This is very exciting for me as I often work with all of … Kale Artichoke Dip
Right now we’re having our annual citrus sale at work and I just had to take advantage. The variety of fresh citrus fruits were so abundant today, I wasn’t sure where to start! I settled on making a recipe using tangelos. These super juicy fruits are a hybrid of tangerines and pumelos (which taste like … Sweet and Spicy Citrus Salmon
Raw sauces (such as pesto) are super simple and bring huge flavor to dishes. A few years ago, I developed a recipe using Romesco sauce and it became one of my absolute favorites. This classic Spanish sauce consists of garlic, roasted red pepper, bread, vinegar and roasted almonds. Note that it doesn’t contain any dairy, … Rigatoni with Romesco Sauce & Garlic Shrimp
Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite go-to vegetables. Their sweet flavor and creamy texture make you feel like you’re eating something bad for you, when really sweet potatoes are a very nutritious food. In fact, one medium sweet potato contains over 1200% of your daily vitamin A and 50% of your daily vitamin C … Moroccan-Spiced Sweet Potato Salad
One of my favorite quick-fix meals are BLTs. They always seem to satisfy because of their perfect combination of protein, carbohydrate and fat. I love bacon (in moderation!) and although it’s not the best time of year to find tomatoes, you can always find a perfect avocado and crisp lettuce. I decided to boost the … BFY (Better For You) BLT
I definitely did not grow up eating Thai food, but I’m so happy to have discovered it when I moved to Chicago. The components of Thai cooking, such as lemongrass, curry, coconut and fish sauce, are so versatile! For example, add red curry paste to your breakfast frittata and top with toasted coconut (trust me, … Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup
I’ve always been a huge fan of Mediterranean food. It’s good-for-you comfort food that leaves you satisfied without feeling weighed down. Garlic and lemon are prominent ingredients in my version of Chicken Shawarma. The soft pita paired with the creamy tahini and cucumber dressing and warm chicken was the perfect meal after a long day. … Chicken Shawarma with Lemony Tahini Yogurt Sauce
This time of year, you may find yourself wandering around the produce department and noticing that there is a lot of citrus fruit. Shopping for seasonal produce is not only cheaper, but you’re guaranteed a fresher, more flavorful product. For example, I am normally not a huge fan of grapefruit, but the ones I bought … Fish Tacos with Spicy Grapefruit & Avocado Salsa
