Tonight I taught a class on how to cook with summer fruits and vegetables. Sweet tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, bright green lettuce…the list of garden-fresh options goes on. I designed this salad to highlight those favorites. The creamy hummus vinaigrette offers a lemony bite and crispy pita acts as the perfect crunchy “crouton”. This salad is … Double Tomato Greek Salad with Hummus Vinaigrette
My Memorial Day weekend was full of excitement and fun with old friends. It also was loaded with comfort foods! I’m starting the week off right with these overnight oats. Not only are they extremely simple to make, but they provide you with a quick and yummy breakfast for the whole week. This version is … Red, White and Blue Overnight Oats
I know it’s still April, but when I saw sweet corn for sale in the produce department that actually looked decent, I had to pick some up for my sweet corn salsa. Instead of having the salsa with tortilla chips, I decided to scoop it into a quesadilla with pepper jack cheese. And because I … Chicken Quesadillas with Fresh Corn Salsa and Chipotle Crema
Have a weak spot for anything sweet and salty, and this sandwich is the perfect balance of both. With April (aka national grilled cheese month) right around the corner, I figured I would experiment with different flavors. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a good ol’ fashioned American cheese sandwich with a side of hot … Toasty Ham and Fontina Sandwich with Caramelized Onion and Apricot Jam
Lately I have had several customers ask me what a vegan eats. Quite simply, I tell them that it’s a plant-based diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes. At my previous job I was helping to develop a lot of amazing vegan recipes, so from time-to-time I crave them again. This … Chipotle, Black Bean and Kale Burritos
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
Today, all I could think about is WARMTH. I stuck close to the space heater in my office for even the slightest bit of comfort. These negative temperatures are rough on an outdoors person like myself. When we head to the Rose Bowl on Wednesday (woo!) I will be soaking up the sun as much … (Veggie Loaded) Broccoli Cheddar Soup
I woke up today and there was snow on ground and this weekend we are heading to Chicago to tailgate in 20 degree weather. Soup season is here (and will probably stay here for quite awhile…boo). This rich and comforting soup comes from the new issue of Hy-Vee Seasons. I made it a couple days … Hearty Beef and Vegetable Soup
