A healthier take on a classic summer dessert, these shortcakes are sure to please.

Can you believe it’s almost August already?  I feel like summer just started!  The other day I was at my local grocery store and the back to school stuff out was already out!  The end of summer tends to creep up on me even faster now that we live in Florida since schools start early here.  Growing up in New York, we had a little more time to enjoy the lazy days of summer since Labor Day traditionally signaled the start of school.

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These healthy chicken tenders and tomato poppers are the perfect addition to your summer picnic basket.

Don’t you just love summer?  Everything is just more casual and relaxed when the summer season is underway- including entertaining.  All you need is some good friends, good food, and some cold drinks.  Simple is best when it comes to summer entertaining.  No slaving over a hot stove for hours. I’d rather spend the time outdoors! 

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This rich and savory dish is perfect for entertaining- and you can assemble it all the night before!

This blog post was sponsored by Stonefire Naan, but all opinions expressed are my own.

When most people hear bread pudding, they think of dessert.  But there’s a whole other world of savory bread puddings and it’s pretty amazing.  Savory bread pudding, also sometimes known as strata, is a casserole made with cubed bread, cheese and other ingredients like vegetables or meat, baked in an egg-based custard.  This rich and elegant dish is equally suitable for the brunch or dinner table.  It also makes an excellent side dish or vegetarian entrée for the holidays.

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Oats, walnuts, blueberries, and apples are baked together in this hearty breakfast dish that's so good it almost tastes like dessert!

I received free samples of California walnuts mentioned in this post. By posting this recipe I am entering 
a recipe contest sponsored by the California Walnut Commission and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

If you have never experienced the wonders of baked oatmeal, then you must try this dish!  Oats, walnuts, blueberries and apples are baked together in a hearty and comforting breakfast dish that tastes so good it almost feels like dessert.  And the best part is, it tastes even better the next day. 

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Sweet raspberries, tangy lemon curd and creamy yogurt come together in this craveable summer dish!

Stonyfield and prAna have partnered in the #SummerCravings campaign!  I received samples to develop this post.  All opinions expressed are my own.  

What are you craving this summer?

For me, summer means taking a little break and slowing down a bit.  What I crave is time off with my family to enjoy the simple things- lazy days at the beach or pool, grilling outdoors, outdoor music festivals, food truck events, etc.  I crave cute summer dresses, colorful salads with vibrant summer vegetables, fresh berries, locally caught seafood, and plenty of sweet treats.

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Break out of your breakfast boredom with my Strawberry Stuffed French Toast. 

I’m always looking for healthy and delicious breakfast ideas.  On workdays, I’m usually rushing out the door in the morning and prefer portable breakfasts to take on the go.  But on my days off, I love having a relaxing breakfast at home with my family.  When I have a good, hearty breakfast in the morning, it puts me in a good mood and gives me the energy to get my day going.

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Skip the boxed macaroni and cheese and make this dish for your family instead!  My mac and cheese is easy to make and a lot healthier. 

As some of you know, my cookbook, Natural Pregnancy Cookbook, was recently released.  The follow up book, which is due to be released next month, is called Natural Baby Food.  I’m really excited about this project because it features over 125 nutritious recipes for babies and toddlers.  And the last section in the book includes easy dishes that the whole family can enjoy together.  While I was writing the book, I got to test many of the recipes on my own daughter Sienna!

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My healthy makeover of a classic stick-to-your-ribs comfort food is the perfect dish for the holidays.  

Back by popular demand, this month’s Recipe Redux theme is Grab a Book & Cook.  Since the Recipe Redux has been around for 54 months, we were challenged to grab a cookbook and make a healthy version of the recipe on page 54 or 154.  What a fun concept!  I have a ton of cookbooks so I started going through them and soon found the perfect recipe to Redux- Chicken and Dumpling Soup from Michael Symon’s Live to Cook: Recipes and Techniques to Rock Your Kitchen.      

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Kids and adults alike will love this delicious and satisfying vegetarian dish.

This time of year I tend to gravitate towards cooking lighter dishes, often vegetarian, to take a little break from all of the holiday eating.  My Sweet Potato and Kale Quesadillasare light yet satisfying and they’re positively packed with important nutrients.  Plus, it’s also an economical dish as sweet potatoes are usually on sale at the market this time of year (and canned beans are always inexpensive).  In fact, this dish is a great way to use up any leftover sweet potatoes you may have from the holidays.

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Packed with fresh ingredients, my Sunshine State Cioppino is the perfect light post-holiday meal.

This post was sponsored by Natalie's Orchid Island Juice Company.  As always all opinions expressed are my own.


I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  But now that the holiday is over, you may be looking for some lighter dishes.  My Sunshine State Cioppino definitely fits the bill.  Packed with flavor and fresh, nutritious ingredients, it’s the perfect post-holiday clean eating dish.

This dish is a twist on cioppino, a classic seafood stew that originated in San Francisco.  Cioppino was originally developed by Italian fisherman who used whatever fresh seafood they had caught that day including crab, fish, shrimp, clams, mussels, and squid.  It’s typically made with a tomato-based broth that’s infused with wine and served with plenty of crusty bread for dipping.  I decided to make a version of cioppino using fresh Florida seafood.  After all, I’m a Floridian now so why not take advantage of the bounty of fresh, local seafood? 

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A healthier version of creamed spinach, this Creamy Spinach Gratin is the perfect holiday side dish.

Disclosure: As a Stonyfield Blogger, I received samples of Stonyfield products for use in this post.  As always, all opinions expressed are my own.


Are you still looking for last-minute side dish ideas for Thanksgiving?  My Creamy Spinach Gratin is nutritious, easy to make and packed with flavor.  It’s sure to be hit with your guests!

This dish is a healthy makeover of one of my favorite Thanksgiving sides- creamed spinach.  Instead of heavy cream, my version uses Stonyfield nonfat Greek yogurt to thicken the sauce and make it nice and creamy.  Greek yogurt also adds a boost of protein.  Instead of adding a lot of shredded cheese, I stir in just the right amount of Parmesan cheese to give the spinach plenty of flavor.  I like to top the dish off with a breadcrumb mixture and finish it off in the oven to get it crispy and golden brown. 

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With the holidays right around the corner, here are two festive rice dishes that would be the perfect addition to your family table.  Both dishes celebrate fall flavors and ingredients.  My Stuffed Acorn Squash pairs Tasty Bite brown rice with aromatic vegetables, crunchy pecans, sweet dried cranberries and salty Parmesan cheese.  The earthy flavor and chewy texture of brown rice works well in this hearty baked dish that would make a lovely side dish for the holidays.  My Pumpkin Spice Rice Pudding uses fragrant Tasty Bite jasmine rice, and is the perfect holiday dessert.  Flavored with delicate pumpkin and warm fall spices, it has a rich, creamy consistency that your guests will love. 

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My Banana Flax Bread is packed with nutritious whole grains, flaxseed and Greek yogurt.  When it’s baking in the oven, it will make your whole house smell absolutely delicious! 

Banana bread is the ultimate fall comfort food.  When the weather starts to get cooler, I often crave warm, comforting foods, and banana bread definitely fits the bill.  

We buy a lot of bananas in my house.  When they get a little past their prime and start to turn brown, I either freeze them for smoothies or make banana bread. And when it comes to making banana bread, the browner the better.  Brown bananas will be softer and sweeter- perfect for a delicious and moist final product.  

When I heard that this month’s Recipe Redux theme was Fantastic Freezer Meals, I knew I had to make my Banana Flax Bread.  Quick breads like banana bread are perfect for freezing.  When I get in a baking mood, I often bake large batches of cakes, cookies, muffins, etc. and then freeze them.  This way you always have a convenient, heat-and-eat breakfast or snack when you want one.

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For a tasty finale to any meal, try this delicious cobbler that’s brimming with summer fruit.

This month’s Recipe Redux theme is “Pie Love” and we were challenged to create a healthy makeover of our favorite pie recipe.  I love pie- apple, pumpkin, cherry, blueberry, you name it.  But that flaky, buttery pie crust that’s oh so good, is usually made with flour and lots of butter or in some cases, lard.  So for my healthy makeover, rather than go the traditional route, I decided to do a twist on a pie and make a fruit cobbler.  With a cobbler, you have a higher fruit to topping ratio so it’s a lot healthier.     

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Featuring eggs in two different ways, this pasta dish is the ultimate comfort food.

By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by Davidson’s Safest Choice Eggs and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time. 


I love a good recipe contest.  So when I heard about the new “Light and Lean Recipes” contest through the Recipe Redux, I got really excited.  Sponsored by Davidson’s Safest Choice eggs, this contest challenged us to come up with delicious recipes showcasing these pasteurized eggs. 

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Your family will swoon over this lovely breakfast dish that puffs up high in the oven.  Light and airy yet satisfying and filling, serve it straight from the oven with a dusting of powdered sugar.      

A Dutch baby, also called a German pancake, is a baked breakfast dish that’s like a cross between a popover and a pancake.  It’s traditionally baked in the oven in a cast iron skillet and has a delightfully light, tender and eggy interior with crispy edges.

The batter is extremely easy to make- simply throw all of the ingredients into a blender and blend away.  My version has sautéed apple slices that are baked into the batter for an extra boost of flavor and nutrients. 

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I'm still away soaking up the sun in Mexico, so as promised, here's Part II of my comfort food recipe round-up.  I hope you're all having a wonderful week.  Now sit back and enjoy these scrumptious dishes!

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Greetings from Mexico! My family and I are spending the week in Riviera Maya and honestly it's a small miracle that we made it here.  Getting Sienna's passport was a bit of a struggle to say the least.  But after rejected photo submissions, forgotten checkbooks and meltdowns at the CVS photo lab, it all worked out and here we are!

Since I'll be unplugged most of this week, I thought I would take the opportunity to share some delicious recipes from my blogger friends.  Many of you are still struggling through the winter weather (my heart goes out to you), so here are some fabulous comforting bowls of soup to help warm you up.  Enjoy!

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Curl up with a bowl of my hearty Sunday Beef Stew, the perfect comfort food to warm you up during a cold winter's day.  This one-pot meal is packed with rich flavor as well as protein, fiber, iron, Vitamin B12 and zinc.

I received free samples of wine from Francis Ford Coppola Winery but I was not financially compensated in any way.  All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Chase away the winter blues with this comforting stick-to-your-ribs dish.  My Sunday Beef Stew is the perfect antidote to the blustery cold days of winter.  It’s perfect for those lazy Sunday afternoons when you just don’t feel like leaving the house.  Once all of the ingredients are seared in the pot, simply throw it in the oven and in a few hours, you’ll have a delicious and hearty meal that the whole family will love. 

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Who doesn’t love a hearty bowl of slowly simmered meat sauce tossed with pasta and freshly grated cheese?  This version, which uses turkey, is lighter in calories without sacrificing any of the rich flavor. 

I received free samples of wine from Francis Ford Coppola Winery to create this post but I was not financially compensated in any way.  All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

A few weeks ago I mentioned my love for Instagram.  Well that love grew a little bit deeper when the wonderful people from Francis Ford Coppola Winery reached out to me after seeing my Instagram account to ask if I would like to sample some bottles of wine.  After thinking long and hard for a nanosecond, my answer was "Yes, Yes, Yes"!  Right before Thanksgiving, I received these four beautiful bottles in the mail:

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