09 Wednesday Jan 2013
Posted in appetizers, gluten free, love to cook, low-carb, side dishes, snacks, vegetarian
This past winter we began roasting almost all our veggies. We started out with potatoes and onions tossed in olive oil. Then we added zucchini, which led to cherry tomatoes and eventually we got brave enough to add Brussels sprouts, a formerly avoided at all cost vegetable. Had no idea these could be so amazing…. we actually ate Brussels 2-3 times a week for months.
Continue reading »03 Monday Sep 2012
Posted in gluten free, love to cook, side dishes, vegetarian
I’ve been visiting the local farmers’ market most weeks since it opened back in June. It has made quite an evolution over these very short 8+ weeks. What a treat to find these babies nestled in a basket at this week’s market. Could it be fall is just around the corner? I will be sad to see the summer produce go, but my fall recipe folder is exploding with ideas!!
Continue reading »28 Tuesday Aug 2012
Posted in gluten free, healthy choices, love to cook, lunch bowls, salads, Share the Love, side dishes, vegetarian
Tags
Basil, blueberries, lemon, lemony thyme, mango, quinoa, vegetarian
Today I had the pleasure of cooking for my work family. I believe if you’re going to call a mandatory meeting during the lunch hour, at minimum provide them a lunch made with love. And so we did. We had an Antipasto tray, Mexican Chicken Soup, Tomato Bread Salad, Caprese Salad, Melon Carpaccio, and Blueberry & Mango Quinoa Salad with Lemony Basil Vinaigrette. We had planned to have fresh baked cookies for dessert. Leftover lunch turned into 3 o’clock break snacks and cookies were declared ‘tomorrow’s’ treat.
Continue reading »18 Saturday Aug 2012
Posted in appetizers, gluten free, love to cook, Mediterranean, tips & techniques, vegetarian
While the recipe is delicious, I have since discovered a much easier and equally tasty version. Check out my Easy Baba Ghanoush recipe here.
Eggplant was the abundant ‘on sale’ item in the fridge today. I had bought two varieties at the Farmers’ Market but had yet to come up with a plan.
While fresh picked eggplant is one of the most beautiful fruits of the garden, once cooked….is not always as good looking. I did a quick Internet search for ‘pretty images’ of eggplant recipes and came across several for Baba Ghanoush. I’d heard of it, maybe even enjoyed it in a restaurant, but certainly had not made it from scratch. I decided to try the recipe by The Pioneer Woman and only adjusted it slightly to taste as she suggested.
Continue reading »16 Thursday Aug 2012
Posted in gluten free, love to cook, side dishes, vegetarian
Tags
Basil, caramelized onions, lemony thyme, parmesan cheese, summer squash, tomatoes, vegetarian, zucchini
Every booth at the Farmers’ Market yesterday was bursting with tomatoes and squash, and I just can’t say no. I even tried to buy just 3 ears of corn and the lady next to me said who does that….get a dozen, I did. So after visiting with 10 or so farmers, I had more than I could carry or possibly eat this week. No worries, with an office full of veggie eaters we’ll just share the love.
Continue reading »16 Thursday Aug 2012
Posted in love to cook, salads, vegetarian
Day old bread, heirloom tomatoes, red onion, shaved Parmesan cheese, fresh herbs, oil & vinegar, salt & pepper. Ta-done!! Layers of flavor. Thank you summer sun.
Continue reading »07 Tuesday Aug 2012
Posted in love to cook, low-carb, vegetarian
Eggplant Parmesan is one of my most favorite Italian dishes, what’s not to love about something breaded, fried, and topped with melted cheese. It’s also super simple to make.
Continue reading »03 Friday Aug 2012
Posted in gluten free, love to cook, Share the Love, soups, stews, chili, vegetarian
Tags
Passion. Someone once said to me “I’ve been trying to put my finger on it when people ask me to describe you. And the word that comes to mind is passion.” And so we will credit that very ‘passion’ with turning the discovery of National Watermelon Day into a full out watermelon event at work today.
29 Sunday Jul 2012
Posted in healthy choices, love to cook, salads, Sundays with Shelby, vegetarian
Tags
almonds, cilantro, green beans, key limes, maple syrup, quinoa, strawberries, toasted coconut, vegetarian
A family tradition seems to be forming here. Sunday’s with Shelby. I like it. It’s a chance for me to dabble with recipes that will entice my kid to get out of bed and head my way. She is becoming a wonderful cook herself and now brings us samples of her latest culinary creations. Today we exchanged Quinoa Salad recipes. Continue reading »
28 Saturday Jul 2012
Posted in appetizers, eat out of the fridge/pantry, love to cook, low-carb, vegetarian
Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Tomatoes.
Using ingredients we have on-hand and turning them in to savory goodness makes me happy. Cut tops off tomatoes and using a melon baller gently remove seeds. Fill with prepared spinach artichoke dip. Top with grated Parmesan cheese, sea salt & cracked pepper. Continue reading »