Hold on to summer a little while longer and fire up the grill for my tasty Strawberry Teriyaki Salmon Kebabs. 

In a recent post, I shared my Strawberry Jalapeño Salsarecipe and promised that it would make another appearance soon in a second recipe to pair with it.  Well, here it is- my Strawberry Teriyaki Salmon Kebabs. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

• 0 comments »

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! 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

• 0 comments »

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.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

• 0 comments »

These tasty vegetarian patties are nutritious and satisfying- the perfect addition to your dinner table!
  

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.


One of the most common requests that I get for the blog is easy, filling, vegetarian dinner ideas.  Perhaps it’s partially because of the Meatless Mondays movement, which encourages people to give up meat once a week to help reduce our risk of chronic preventable diseases and reduce our carbon footprint.  People are starting to shift from the traditional way of thinking that meat should take center stage at each meal with vegetables, fruits and grains relegated to the role of supporting players.  I try to incorporate as much plant-based whole foods as possible into my diet, so I’m always happy to oblige with new tasty and hearty vegetarian recipes.  In fact, the most popular recipe on my blog to date is a veggie burger recipe.  Who would’ve thought?

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

• 0 comments »

There’s no doubt that Korean food has become a big food trend in recent years.  A wide range of Korean dining establishments have been popping up all over the map, from gourmet 5-star restaurants to more casual Korean fusion eateries, to trendy food trucks.  It’s become so popular, that gochujang, which is a Korean red chili paste, has even been called the new Sriracha.  I personally didn’t really experience good, authentic Korean food until I went to college.  One of my best friends from college is Korean and I went home with her for a visit my freshman year.  I still remember that meal at Anne's house.  I sampled bulgogi- tender pieces of grilled, marinated beef, japchae- thin glass noodles stir fried with flavorful meat and vegetables, and my favorite dish- bibimbap.  All of this was served family style with a wide assortment of tasty and colorful banchan, or side dishes.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

• 0 comments »

This Wild Greens & Quinoa Grain Bowl is easy, healthy and delicious- you can't beat that!

Did you know that March is National Nutrition Month?  I decided to celebrate this occasion by making one of my favorite dishes- a grain bowl.  If you’ve never made a grain bowl before, it’s the perfect vehicle for combining a variety of healthy grains, vegetables, protein and other ingredients, all in one convenient bowl.  It’s an excellent weeknight meal- quick, easy and nutritious.  And it’s also a great way to empty out the contents of your fridge!

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

• 0 comments »

No more boring tuna dishes!  My Spaghetti with Tuna is an elegant dish that will make you look at albacore in a whole new way. 

I love pasta.  I often turn to pasta dishes when I’m looking for dinner ideas for my family or even when I’m entertaining guests.  I try to keep things interesting by adding a variety of ingredients to my pasta dishes like colorful, nutritious vegetables and hearty, lean proteins.  You may not think of adding seafood to your pasta dishes but fish, shrimp, scallops, crab, lobster, clams and mussels are all excellent additions to your usual dinner dishes.  In fact, the US Dietary Guidelines recommend eating at least 8 ounces of a variety of seafood per week for those following a 2,000 calorie-per-day diet.  Among other things, seafood is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have numerous health benefits.  

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

• 0 comments »

Hearty and delicious, my Smoky Beet Burgers are the perfect weeknight meal for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. 

Thank you to Love Beets for sponsoring this post!  I was selected for this opportunity as a member of the Mambro Sprouts blogger program.  As always, the opinions expressed are my own.   

I am really excited to share this recipe with you!  The all time most popular recipe on my blog is actually a vegetarian burger- my Black Bean and Quinoa Veggie Burgers.  I was initially surprised that a vegetarian recipe would be so popular but time and time again, people have expressed to me that they want hearty, nutritious and tasty vegetarian recipes.  I worked on that recipe for a while before I got it just right because I wanted to make sure that it was full of flavor and wouldn’t fall apart when you bite into it (a problem I’ve found with other veggie burgers).  I haven’t posted another veggie burger until now.  And I think this one is just as good!

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

• 0 comments »

Colorful, vibrant and delicious, this nutritious, vegetarian flatbread is a feast for the senses.

Thank you to organicgirl for sponsoring this post!

You’ve probably heard the old adage that “you eat with your eyes first.”  How a food looks visually is one of the first sensory impressions we get before we dive in.  So it makes sense that if a dish looks visually appealing, it will be more appetizing to us.  People often ask me how they can get their families to eat healthier foods.  Ultimately, how a dish tastes is the most important thing so my tips usually revolve around how to maximize flavor without maximizing the calories and fat.  But almost equally as important is how a dish looks.  Perhaps it comes from all of my years doing food styling for the blog and my cookbooks, but the truth is that I love to make my food look pretty.  So here’s another tip- get creative and dress it up!  It doesn’t have to be complicated- something as simple as a garnish of colorful herbs, chopped nuts or a sprinkle of freshly grated cheese can dress up a healthy dish and make your family more likely to want to eat it.   

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

• 0 comments »

Crispy chicken cutlets are topped with a fresh, vibrant salad.  Dinner is served!

Thank you to organicgirl for sponsoring this post!

Many people start the New Year off with resolutions to eat healthier, and this often includes eating more greens.  But it can be easy to get stuck in a salad rut.  I’m here to tell you that salad doesn’t have to be boring or bland!  There are lots of fun ways to make your salads more interesting.  I personally love adding a variety of ingredients with contrasting flavors and textures like chopped nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and crumbled cheese.  

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

• 0 comments »

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!

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

• 0 comments »

Smoky and sweet, with a bit of heat, this spice-rubbed salmon is the perfect light dish for the New Year.

Once the New Year comes around, I’m like most people- ready to move on from all of the holiday indulgences and start focusing on some lighter, healthier dishes.  Spice-Rubbed Salmon is one of my go-to recipes on busy weeknights.  When people ask me how it’s possible to cook healthy meals when you’re pressed for time, I point to recipes like this one.  Not only is it healthy and delicious, it can be prepared in about 15 minutes!   

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

• 0 comments »