I don't know about all of you, but after nearly a month of holidays and delicious food, I am *so* ready for some healthy eating! My best diet tip is to fill up on lots of delicious veggies - it makes you totally not miss the fattening and unhealthy stuff! I figured some of you could probably use some great veggie ideas, right? Well, here are my top 10 favorite vegetable ideas! Click around, enjoy, and stay healthy! Spicy Baked Zucchini Sticks: These spicy baked zucchini sticks are the among the most popular recipes on my blog (second only to my Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes) and for a very good reason. Sure, these zucchini sticks are delicious. And yeah, they're easy to make. And of … [Read more...]
Italian Grilled Zucchini
Discover the most flavorful way to grill your zucchini this summer. Read on! I know. I know. Grilled zucchini. Yawn. Next. Right? Well that's what I thought. I never saw myself as the type of blogger who would post a recipe as simple as grilled zucchini. But that changed one day when I was at the takeout counter of my local grocery store buying supper. (Yes, "even" I buy supper sometimes. What did you think?!) I was looking for a vegetable to choose, and my eyes stopped at the grilled zucchini. It looked fine. Good even. I was about to order it, but then I stopped and realized that I just couldn't bring myself to pay someone else to grill my zucchini. Plus, mine is just so good. … [Read more...]
Citrus Shallot Salad Dressing
When it comes to eating food repetitively, I think there are two types of people. Those who are totally fine with it, and those who can't face the same food too often. My parents fall into the first category. They both have a habit of finding a food, cuisine, style of cooking, spice, or some other food they enjoy. Then they cook it. And cook it. And cook it again. And so many more times that people like me want to scream at the sight of the repetition. Personally, I need to vary my food. (I can't imagine you're shocked right now.) And while I definitely have old standby foods that I'll fall back on, I'll almost never eat the same food day after day after day. And when I do, you know that … [Read more...]
Sauteed Snow Peas and Mushrooms with Shallots and Red Wine
Well hello there friends. It's been a while. I missed you all, and I missed my kitchen. But after weeks of cooking non-stop for passover, I could barely face my kitchen. Take out and freezer food became my best friends, especially as I worked overtime at work, trying to catch up. And yesterday, I was finally ready to get back to my kitchen and cook. I started chopping shallots to prepare this old favorite of mine, and fell back into a rhythm of relaxed cooking that I haven't felt in a while. And as I finished off the dish, I suddenly remembered that this is one of the reasons I started my blog. I first made these snow peas about two years ago. Maybe two and a half. I don't remember. What … [Read more...]
Garlic Spaghetti Squash with Tomatoes and Basil and a Review and Giveaway of The No Potato Passover
With Passover coming, everyone I know is scrambling for recipes and ideas. I don't know about you, but when I think Passover, I think potatoes. And when I think of the day after Passover, I think about being intensely sick and tired of potatoes. And that's why I think everyone celebrating passover can appreciate The No Potato Passover by Aviva Kanoff. Read what I thought of it, then enter below for one of two chances to win a copy! At a First Glance: First I was all, "no way I want to go through an entire Passover without a potato." But as I read through the cookbook, I was impressed with the idea. Sure I'm going to eat potatoes. But this book has some refreshing ideas of recipes that … [Read more...]
Asian Chicken Salad with Peanut Vinaigrette
So who's planning to start the year with some healthy eating? You too? Well I guess we're all in the same boat here. Good news, I've got the most delicious salad I've ever made to share with you today. Y'know how some people say that diet food doesn't taste good? Well. That isn't true. And I'm going to prove it to you as soon as you taste this salad. Let's first step back so I can tell you what it's like to live in my head. It was about 2 in the morning and I was finally drifting off to sleep. Sadly for me, this is the time of day when I often have my best ideas. (Does this happen to anyone else?!) So there I am in bed, and I have this super cool idea. What would happen, I wonder, … [Read more...]
Fruity Salad with Raspberry Zinger Vinaigrette
There are lots of things I love about food blogging. I've mentioned some of my favorites before. But there are other, quieter and more private perks that I love too. Take today. It was a real quiet day today. I woke up late, took my time getting ready, then went to the grocery store and wondered the aisles somewhat aimlessly as I tried to decide what I'd cook today. I know, I know, that's the kind of luxury that comes with being somewhat unattached. It's also the kind of luxury that I get to validate as work. Blog work, ya know. It's all in the name of sharing great recipes with my imaginary friends at the other end of the computer. Ahem. Back to this salad. So when I finally settled … [Read more...]
Savory Sauteed Sweet-Peas
I first made this dish about a year ago. I know that, because it was right around the start of this blog. It was supposed to make it onto the blog, but somehow that didn't happen. I even photographed it. It's a shame that I deleted those pictures, because it would be fun to show you how my photography has changed over the years. Anyway, let's talk peas. Whenever I see that cliqued up picture of a dinner plate with the heap of super boring peas on the side, I get kind of sad. Peas have such a negative, or at very least boring reputation. But they don't have to be either of those! I've come up with a number of fun ways to cook peas, but this one is by far my favorite. It's super easy to whip … [Read more...]
Honey Mustard Chicken, a Review of Fresh and Easy Kosher Cooking, and a Giveaway!
Giveaway Closed I know, I know, another cookbook review, so soon after my last one! Considering my great love of cookbooks, you can imagine how thrilled I was to be given the chance to review another cookbook. Fresh and Easy Kosher Cooking is extra special to me, because it was written by the very talented Leah Schapira of Cook Kosher fame, someone I have gotten to know well since starting this blog. Her knowledge of flavors and foods never ceases to amaze me, and it definitely comes through in her cookbook. At a first glance: This book is not your mother's old-fashioned kosher cookbook. This cookbook has eye catching recipes, international influences, and innovative recipes that … [Read more...]
Spinach and Chickpea Veggie Burgers
If you have been reading this blog for a while, you will know that I adore making desserts of every kind. Cakes? Cookies? Cupcakes? Check, check and check. Want to make candy? We've got you covered there too. (Teaser: stay tuned for another candy recipe coming up soon!) And of course, my chocolate category is kinda overloaded. And I know that people love my dessert treats, so I keep baking them. But I get such overwhelmingly positive feedback on real food recipes, that I can't neglect that aspect of this blog either. Remember how I made these awesome veggie burgers a while ago? Well so many people told me how they loved them, so I knew I had to make some more veggie burgers. Ever had … [Read more...]