Meals for Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day
Slow Roasted Cherry or Grape Tomatoes
With their concentrated savory-sweet flavor, these little bites will transform many a meal, and I’ve included a list of ways we enjoy them. A great way to make use of a bounty of cherry and grape tomatoes, the roasted tomatoes can even be frozen for later use. If you told me that someone secretly…
Grilled Caesar Salads… with easy options for a complete meal and a bonus recipe for watercress
Grilled Caesar salads are a summertime classic and can be a quick, well-rounded meal. This bright-tasting dressing is easy to prepare—no need for a blender or food processor—and is egg and anchovy free. Anchovy fans may absolutely serve them alongside, of course, and I’ve included my favorite ways to turn the salad into a complete…
Baked Oatmeal Breakfast Bowls
Inspired by a menu item at a local cafe, these satisfying breakfast bowls can be prepped in advance and assembled when ready to eat with seasonal fruit of choice. Move over granola (if only briefly)… we’re replacing crunchy with chewy. Traditional breakfast parfaits involve layers of fresh fruit, creamy yogurt, and crisp granola–and what’s…
Zucchini Noodles in Rustic Tomato Sauce
This easy, one-pan meal is plant-based but will satisfy meat eaters too. Use prepared zucchini noodles or spiralize them yourself, and feel free to enjoy the simple sauce with regular pasta as well. Kitchen cabinets are like closets. One never seems to have enough of them. Since space is at a premium, I…
Greek Pasta Salad
Bursting with flavor and easy to transform into a complete meal, this versatile pasta salad is equally perfect for busy weeknights and casual entertaining. When I was pondering what to say about this light-but-satisfying, Mediterranean-style salad, four simple words came to mind: low effort, high reward. It’s a bowlful of flavor that everyone seems…
Black Bean Dip (or Salsa or Salad)
Enjoy this easy, endlessly versatile recipe as a dip with chips, a salsa for fish or chicken, a super simple salad, or the foundation of a healthy, plant-based meal. Perfect for a potluck and can be prepared in advance! Amidst all my experimenting with new recipes, this simple combination of ingredients never grows old in…
Easy Blueberry Lemon (or Lime) Sauce
It’s easy to pass over “component” recipes like sauces, dressings, and other condiments in favor of recipes that produce the whole meal. Time is always at a premium, and it can be hard enough to get dinner on the table without worrying about…blueberry sauce? Well this easy, versatile recipe might just be reason to rethink.…
William’s Habanero Hot Sauce… and a hot sauce taste test
Though we often cheat and hope for no frost (or April snow, as was the case this year), the safe time for backyard planting where I live is always said to begin on Mother’s Day. Ever since my husband and I bought our first house, we’ve planted a garden. There is something so satisfying about…
Beer Margaritas
This unconventional recipe makes a large pitcherful and tastes like the best version of the classic drink. Leftovers freeze well and become slushy-like! Cinco de Mayo is the perfect reason to enjoy a favorite Mexican meal, but what exactly is the holiday all about? Cinco de Mayo—the fifth of May—commemorates the Mexican army’s 1862…
Pineapple Serrano Hummus
I grew up watching the Parade of Roses every New Year’s Day. Flowers have always been a hobby for my mom. She had a greenhouse, an undisputed green thumb, and a knack for arranging flowers in the most beautiful way. I remember being utterly amazed when she told me that all of the parade floats…
Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies (low sugar and really easy)
These small bites satisfy a sweet tooth with minimal sugar and the added benefit of wholesome fats and protein from the almonds. What’s more, the dough can be quickly mixed by hand with minimal ingredients. There’s something special about shortbread. I’ve always had a soft spot for its buttery goodness, mild sweetness, and subtle…
Greek-Style Grilled Chicken Dinner Salad
Last year, I shared a story about a friend of mine, Sarah Lanphier, whose successful college fundraiser led to a thriving granola company. Nuts About Granola produces a variety of uniquely delicious flavors–think carrot cake and PB&J–as well as a grain-free Forager line. Recently, Sarah launched a line of savory granolas, fittingly named Sarah’s Savory…
