organizing my most useful kitchen tools
I love healthy food, but I love it more when it doesn’t taste like healthy food. Best of both worlds! Click around to find some of my tried and true staples - and new recipes too, whether my own ideas, inspired by other blogs, torn from the pages of a magazine, or passed through friends or family. Learn more about me and My Utensil Crock HERE.
Spinach dip is always a fan favorite. And when I found Trader Joe's Reduced-Guilt Spinach and Kale Greek Yogurt Dip, I thought I had found a little plastic bucket of heaven. The ingredient list is actually pretty natural on that product - you know how I dislike extra "filler" ingredients. I could sit down and eat this dip with crackers and veggies … [Read more...]
The cold will end soon. I think. I mean, it has to, right? But the silver lining to the cold is, of course, the excuse to make and eat comfort food, whenever the mood strikes. The downside to THAT is picking up groceries at the store. Is anything worse than a grocery store line before a storm or cold snap? This Cheesy Beer Bread is so … [Read more...]
We are in the holiday home stretch! Buffets and cookie exchanges will soon be in the rearview mirror - after one last gasp this week. This Middle-Eastern Kale & Brussels Sprout Salad is a great one to help get back on track - so pin, bookmark, and print away to get a head-start on healthy eating for the new year. I had never tried raw … [Read more...]
While we are all still in Thanksgiving mode, and in between trips to the fridge for one more bite of cold stuffing, let's briefly discuss this little two-in-one gem. Twice-Baked Potatoes are a great accompaniment to any meal, and are a classy and composed way to serve (and eat) both mashed potatoes and potato skins at the same time. In the … [Read more...]
Uh, yeah. Homemade Garlic - Parmesan Soft Pretzel Knots. There are few herbs I like better than garlic, and I still can't believe I can make pretzels in my kitchen. This recipe, combining these two favorites, takes a little hands-on time, but each step is easy, and soooo worth it. I just took the pretzel dough part of the Mini Pretzel … [Read more...]
Broiled. As if you needed another way to enjoy avocados. This recipe has made the rounds on blogs and Pinterest, and if you haven't tried it yet, now is your big chance. All you need is an avocado or two, some shredded cheddar cheese, and one chipotle pepper with a bit of adobo sauce (the deep red liquid that chipotles in adobo come in). If you … [Read more...]
Potato Skins are my favorite stand-by bar food. What are my other options? Nachos: Done right, YES, but why is it so hard for bars to get nachos right? Chicken wings: I can't get past the thought (and feel) of chewing off the bone. Fried calamari: Too fried. Potato Skins it is, then. And they are so easy to make at home, and add or limit … [Read more...]
As I looked through my refrigerator for inspiration last night, I knew I wanted breakfast-for-dinner, but hoped I had something on hand that would jazz up my go-to eggs, potatoes, and turkey bacon. That I could make in about half an hour. That was really healthy. That I could eat during Passover. A tall order, but this hash … [Read more...]
Time for a confession. As much as I love to cook, I usually have to follow a recipe. I can alter a bit here and there, adding a spice I like - oregano or cumin - or omitting something obvious like walnuts or chick peas, but generally, I need a set of ingredients and instructions in front of me to get started. Luckily, making a dish out of … [Read more...]
I grew up in the Midwest, where all I knew about grits was "That's something they eat in the South." Really? How was this corn derivative not a staple in the Corn Belt? I first became acquainted with grits when I attended law school in the South - Shrimp and Grits made a believer out of me. But it wasn't until the last year or two that I have … [Read more...]
