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
My pumpkin love continues…except this time I incorporated it into one of my favorite tailgate dishes – chili! With apples being so abundant right now I decided to try my luck at making a chili that combined the taste of apple and pumpkin without being too sweet. The end result was super rich and flavorful. … Apple Pumpkin Chili
The summer heat is back in full force! When it’s this warm outside, I crave anything chilled. Gazpacho is one of those foods I don’t make that often, but is perfect this time of year. It’s so refreshing and takes literally 5 minutes to make. This soup is traditionally made only with tomatoes and fresh … Watermelon Gazpacho
Have you ever tried hatch chiles? Located right in the middle of the Rio Grande agricultural territory, Hatch, New Mexico declared itself to be the chile capital of the world. “Hatch Chiles” refer to the five or six main cultivated varieties of New Mexico chiles. Hatch chile’s peak season begins mid-to-late August, so right now is the … Hatch Chile Chili
I recently found out that April is grilled cheese month so I had to figure out a way to highlight one of my favorite quick meals. Although the traditional grilled cheese with tomato soup is a-maz-ing, here is a recipe that combines the two and makes for a delicious sweet and salty bite. … Grilled Cheese with Tomato Onion Jam
