If there is one side dish I always remember having at family gatherings growing up, it’s this potato salad. The flavor is a wonderful combination of smoky bacon and sweet onion. The original recipe calls for the potatoes to be peeled, but I figured I would add some nutritional value to it by leaving the … Hot German Potato Salad
My family truly knows the best way to my heart is garden-grown vegetables. This weekend we arrived at my mother-in-law’s house to find a huge basket of fresh tomatillos and tomatoes from his Aunt Pat (she’s has an amazing garden!). Ever since I tried green chile pork in Denver when I was visiting my sister, … Green Chile Pork
The past few days I haven’t been feeling the greatest. Whenever I’m under the weather, all I really want is soup, crackers and orange juice (plus massive amounts of sleeeeep). This morning one my friends dropped off some fresh vegetables and herbs from her garden and I couldn’t help but make a huge pot of … Fresh Garden Vegetable and Herb Soup
Nothing beats a quick, fresh meal that’s ready in no time after a busy day at work. Today I was walking through the produce section and noticed a display of beautiful locally grown green peppers as well as some sweet pineapple and knew exactly what I wanted for dinner. This dish is the perfect combination … Sweet and Spicy Pineapple Pork Stir-Fry
My summer harvest (from the Hy-Vee produce department…) continues! This weekend my sister was visiting from out of town so I wanted to make something fresh that truly highlights all the delicious produce that is available right now. These lasagna rolls are healthy comfort food at it’s finest. They are perfectly portioned and easier to … Garden Lasagna Rolls with Italian Turkey Sausage
Lately I’ve had lots of customers ask me about ways to use zucchini. While some people find it a boring vegetable, I beg to differ. It’s wonderful grilled or sautéed in garlic, but where it really shines is in baked goods. It adds a wonderful moisture to muffins and cakes, and while I’m not a … Double Chocolate Zucchini Mini Muffins
After a hectic few weeks, I was excited to finally get back into the kitchen today! Normally when I make pizza I’ll use flatbread, but today I decided to make the crust from scratch (and it’s still so simple). This delicious combination of fresh dough, salty cheese, sweet pineapple and hot pickled vegetables is so … BBQ Chicken Pizza
If I had to choose one ingredient that I absolutely love, it would be lemons. They work perfectly in salad dressings, marinades, sauces, desserts…the list goes on. This weekend I was fortunate enough to be asked to judge a BBQ competition and the mystery category was salmon (woo!). We were served a wide variety of … Cedar Plank Lemon Pepper Salmon with Dill Yogurt and Crispy Capers
This is the perfect time of year to find good deals on fresh berries. Or, you could be lucky enough to be growing some yourself (one lady in my cooking class tonight said she picked 5 cups of raspberries in her garden today!). These muffins are a celebration of freshness. The fresh lemon zest … Lemon-Berry Chia Seed Mini Muffins
While some people look at tofu and scoff, I think it’s a great protein source and can be absolutely delicious if prepared correctly. At my previous job where all the meals were vegetarian, we were constantly thinking of ways to this soybean wonder (and the tofu we got in Chicago from Phoenix Bean was fabulous, … Marinated Tofu and Fresh Green Bean Coconut Curry
