comment icon 25 more comments I don’t normally consider myself a beef person – I love a good burger, a beautiful steak, or a slow-cooked roast, but at home I tend to cook more chicken, veggies, and tofu. And yet, here I am, standing over my stove and licking my fingers while just eating these with my hands. Very demure, very mindful. I think I love these because of two things: You can skewer them or not....

The orzo is perfectly al dente, the veggies are crisp-tender, and even though this is a naturally vegan dish, my daughter said everything tastes ‘so buttery’. That’s because I am not shy when drizzling in olive oil. The lemon zest, lemon juice, and basil all complement each other as well as the orzo and vegetables, and they help the recipe feel lighter and more spring-summery. This veggie orzo recipe feeds a crowd and also holds well at room temp, making it perfect for parties, potlucks, or get-togethers....

I went to the grocery store today and saw this Vanilla Extract. An 8 oz bottle of real vanilla extract, a “boutique” gourment brand no less, for $12.99. Wasn’t ticked off for long, because in the mail, I hit the Hemp Jackpot! Thanks so much to Living Harvest Foods and Tempt Brand for sending me a stash of hemp. In honor of all that hemp, here’s a recent Hemp-Based Recipe I created: “Spicy Doritos” Cheezy Dip And if you’d like to read a little more about Hemp which has had quite a place lately on my blog I am now realizing: 1....

About the beans: Dried beans (NO CANS!): The key to authentic refried beans is using dry beans. Canned beans will not result in the same texture or flavor and it’s just not the way Mexican refried beans are made! You can find dry beans in the Mexican food isle at the grocery store. Pinto beans: refried beans are usually made with pinto beans but black beans can also be used....

Skillet Chicken, Green Beans, and Potatoes This easy, one-skillet recipe is ready in 20 minutes and perfect for busy weeknight dinners but tastes fancy enough to make for date-night-in. The honey dijon chicken is wonderfully juicy with great depth of flavor because it’s coasted with a sauce made from Dijon mustard, honey, golden balsamic vinegar, and olive oil. There’s nothing like the crispy edges and tender centers of pan-seared potatoes and they remind me of my childhood....

comment icon 92 more comments The short ribs are the most tender, the most fall-apart, the most worthy of tears because how are they so gooood?! Just peeking out on top of your noodle-y pile, next to some bright sautéed spinach, sprinkled with sesame seeds and swizzled with a little toasted sesame oil. Oh my. Oh my, oh my. What Is Gochujang Sauce? This little noodle-y wonder gets its deep and interesting spice from the gochujang sauce....

Don’t miss my other simple instant pot recipes, like Instant Pot Corn on the Cob, Instant Pot Meatloaf, and Instant Pot Ribs. What I love about this recipe: Inexpensive: For the quantity of yogurt this recipe makes you’d spend around $15 dollars at the store. The ingredients here cost closer to $5! Easy, and healthier than store-bought. I love knowing exactly what is going in our food. This yogurt is creamy and delicious!...

comment icon 66 more comments Let’s just state the obvious right now: I’m cooking from the basement. It’s weird. Last night I made pasta in a rice cooker that tasted like medium-icky mush with jarred pesto (hoorah!) and cherry tomatoes on top. And there are spiderwebs. I just ignore them and then put a nice little lamp on the table, because covering up problems with accessories is one of my awesome ways of doing things....

Hi again! It’s June! Almost July. In other words, it’s peony and lemonade and not-sad-salads-for-lunch-everyday season. June is my happy place. What are you guys drinking today for the coffee date? I boldly enjoyed a half-caf coffee this morning because we were all out of decaf, and I’m not going to lie: I am feeling it. As in, I AM ALL OVER THE PLACE. My brain feels like a ping-pong ball....

I am too busy for anything other than the KISS principle, i.e. Keep It Simple, Sweetie I use the KISS principle with everything in life. Which is why food lately, and most times, has been fresh, raw, and crunchy. I like to sprinkle edamame into my salads or just eat it alone. Some people reach for protein shakes, I reach for edamame. I also like to “drown” the edamame in a jar of Vegan Slaw Dressing and then use a spoon and fish them out....

These potatoes did the trick for him. [print_this] Lemon & Dill Roasted Potato Sticks 1 large potato, chopped into sticks 2 tbsp lemon juice 2 to 3 tbsp EVOO 1 tbsp dill 1 tbsp all-purpose savory seasoning blend (i.e. Trader Joe’s 21 Salute, Mrs. Dash blends, etc.) Salt & pepper to taste Directions: Place potatoes in a bowl and add oil and seasonings. Toss with a spoon to coat. Place potato sticks on foil-lined baking sheet (to save on clean-up time)....

Two whole weeks! Lucky us. Every year for the last ten (whoa!), my family has been going up to a cabin in Wisconsin for a few weeks in the summer. It’s a VRBO rental property so technically it’s not “ours”, but when you go to the same place every year for ten years, it sort of becomes yours in a weird cabin-heart-and-soul kind of way. This year’s activity highlights included the predictable favorites: long runs, long naps, long long loooong books (I’m looking at you, Goldfinch), coffee sipping, dock sitting, tubing, wake boarding, wet hair ponytails, no makeup, Catch Phrase, baby holding, bonfires, sunset cruises, and fishing....

Easy Chicken Corn Chowder Recipe If you love rich, cheesy, hearty soups you’re in the right spot. This cheesy chicken corn chowder soup was an automatic hit with my family. Ready in about half an hour, this recipe is packed with a variety of tastes and textures. It’s thick, creamy, rich, and wonderfully cheesy. We couldn’t get enough! The savory, cheesy broth is my ultimate weakness. Just sauté the onions, carrots, and celery....

Print Shopping List Looking for more meal plans? View our entire collection here! Tuesday: Broccoli Cheese Soup $13.48 Wednesday: Kung Pao Chicken $13.86 Thursday: Avocado Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps $13.42 Friday: Mexican Pizza $17.51 Frequently Asked Meal Plan Questions: This post contains affiliate links. Each 5-day meal plan includes a printable grocery shopping list with budget information, to help save time and money!

Check out all my Mexican inspired recipes for more comida deliciosa, from crispy bean and cheese burritos to authentic homemade tamales! What I love about this recipe: You wont miss the meat: I know it sounds crazy but the juicy, meaty portobello mushrooms make these Mushroom Tacos a meatless meal that’s so flavorful and filling even die-hard carnivores will be delighted! Taco Tuesday: the perfect meatless addition to our taco night (we love these lentil tacos too!...

I want to sincerely thank each and every one of you who commented with the most supportive, warm, kind-hearted well-wishes and congratulations on my Fitness Competition placings and awards post from yesterday. 150 of you took the time to comment plus I got other emails and Facebook messages, and I cherished every word! Thank you!!! I knew I had great readers and friends out there, but I was beyond moved when every few minutes, I’d have a dozen, new, amazing, congratulatory emails and comments in my inbox, all day Sunday....

I’m all about take-out style recipes you can make from home. Orange chicken is one of my all-time favorites, but I also love: General Tso’s Chicken Kung Pao Chicken Ham Fried Rice P.F. Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps The flavors in this recipe are perfect–sweet and tangy, with a little bit of spice. And you honestly can’t beat how EASY this dish is. Made in one pan, no deep-frying or special methods....

If you love custard and pudding recipes, try our Tapioca Pudding, Banana Pudding, or Arroz con Leche! Why I love this dessert: Make Ahead – Panna Cotta is my go-to dessert when I’m entertaining and want something simple, but elegant and something I can make ahead of time, so it’s ready to serve. 5 Ingredients: all you need is whipping cream, unflavored gelatin, sugar, Greek yogurt (or sour cream), and vanilla....

Want more Italian recipes? Try Chicken Cacciatore, Tomato and Basil Bruschetta, or Classic Italian Risotto! Why we love this recipe: Flavor – A Mediterranean recipe with intense, distinctly Italian flavors: tomato, eggplant, basil, and lots of flavor from the salted ricotta. The final taste is unique due to the sweetish flavor of the ripe tomatoes with the contrast of salt from the cheese that will melt in your mouth with every forkful....

Part muffin, part cupcake, and part cream puff – in other words, a match made in heaven. Pumpkin Muffins with Maple Cream Cheese Filling Take Me To The Pumpkin Muffin Recipe Lindsay’s Notes How To Make These Pumpkin Muffins Video Reviews Lindsay’s Notes These pumpkin muffins are exactly what I’ve needed these last few weeks: fluffy, joyful, distracting, unnecessary (but necessary), and comforting. (see also: this monkey bread) I ate a cream cheese-filled pumpkin muffin from Caribou Coffee a few weeks ago, and that was the beginning of the end of this pumpkin muffin journey....