Lovely to look at and fun to eat, this smoothie bowl is packed with flavor and nutrition. 

Thanks to the National Processed Raspberry Council for sponsoring this post!  All opinions expressed are my own. 

I’m fascinated with smoothie bowls.  Thicker than a smoothie and eaten with a spoon rather than being sipped through a straw, a smoothie bowl is a heartier, kicked up version of a traditional smoothie.  And in case you haven’t noticed, they’re all the rage right now in the food world.  Just check out Instagram and you’ll find tons of amazing photos of smoothie bowls.  It seems like people love to use smoothie bowls as a canvas to express their creativity.  With their bright, vibrant colors and elaborate garnishes, many of these bowls look like more like works of art than actual food.

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These tuna tostadas are perfect for a family friendly weeknight meal!


As a chef and food blogger, I love spending time in the kitchen.  I could spend an entire day braising a stew in the oven, making fresh pasta from scratch or even baking a homemade cake.  I’ve always found cooking to be relaxing and a nice change of pace from my day job in the Emergency Room where I’m usually running around for 12 hours at a time.  But I also have plenty of days when I want to get a nutritious meal on the table as quickly as possible.  This is especially true now that it’s back to school season!  

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All of the flavors of a leisurely Sunday brunch baked into a muffin that’s perfect to take on the go. 

Now that my daughter Sienna has started preschool, our mornings have become quite a whirlwind as we get her ready for school and ourselves ready for work.  And like her mommy, Sienna definitely likes to sleep until the last possible minute!  So although I hope to be able to sit down to a nutritious, homemade breakfast as often as possible, the reality is that there will be plenty of days when I’ll need a faster breakfast option. Enter these delicious savory breakfast muffins!   

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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. 

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Pure, unadulterated crab cake goodness topped with a colorful salsa that’s bursting with flavor- it’s the perfect summer entertaining dish!

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

For the most recent Recipe Reduxcontest, we were challenged to “surprise and delight” with a recipe featuring Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit.  I was really excited to start experimenting in the kitchen because I’d never tried SunGold kiwifruit before.  This new variety of fruit is a natural cross between other gold varieties of kiwifruit (non-GMO) and is one of the fastest growing new fruits globally.  With their sweet flavor, pop of color, excellent nutritional profile and culinary versatility, these beauties are a must try! 

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Crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, these avocado fries are baked to golden perfection. 

As a Stonyfield blogger, I received samples of Stonyfield yogurt and Kitchen IQ products. All opinions expressed are my own.

Move over French fries, there’s a new fry on the block!  Just when I thought avocados couldn’t get any better, I discovered these beauties.  Coated in panko breadcrumbs and baked to golden, crispy perfection, these crispy avocado fries are not only nutritious- they’re downright addictive!  

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Take your chicken salad up a notch with this easy and nutritious summer dish.

Thank you to Chosen Foods 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 love classic dishes but sometimes I like to break from tradition and spice them up a little.  My Chicken Salad with a Twist is one of those dishes.  I created this dish when I was looking for something to jazz up my basic chicken salad recipe.  I loved it so much, that I actually put the recipe in my Natural Pregnancy Cookbook.  And no, of course you don’t have to be pregnant to enjoy this dish or any of the dishes in the book!  It actually has over 125 of my best nutritious and wholesome recipes for anyone trying to lead a healthy lifestyle.

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This post was sponsored by Olive Oils from Spain.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

People are always asking me for healthy eating tips.  What’s one of the best ways to make sure that you’re eating the right types of foods?  Cook at home!  When you cook at home, there’s no mystery involved.  You are the one controlling the ingredients and the cooking methods.  Healthy eating is not about following a restrictive diet and denying yourself the foods you love. It’s about eating a well-balanced diet filled with a wide variety of delicious and nutritious whole foods and leading an active, fulfilling lifestyle.

One of the most basic changes you can make to your every day cooking routine that can significantly improve your health is to cook with olive oil.

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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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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?

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Looking for some fun, nutritious snack ideas for your kids? Try these quick and easy snack hacks!

I’m always looking for fun and easy ways to incorporate healthy foods like fruits and vegetables into my daughter’s diet.  Most parents of young children struggle with this issue at one point or another.  My daughter Sienna is almost three now and at times it can be hard getting her to slow down long enough to eat anything at all, let alone a full meal!  Providing healthy snacks for your little one is a great way to balance out an uneven diet.  Young children need nutritious snacks throughout the day to fuel their bodies, boost their nutrient intake, and give them long-lasting energy.

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This delicious smoothie will not only satisfy any chocolate cravings, it will also give you a boost of nutrients to fuel your body.

As a Stonyfield blogger, I received free samples of Stonyfield yogurt and Barlean's products to develop this recipe. All opinions expressed are my own.

I make a lot of smoothies- not only do I love them but my daughter loves them too.  Smoothies are great as a post workout snack or an on the go breakfast.  They’re also one of the few things I know my daughter will always try.  And I can add in all sorts of healthy ingredients! 

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A fun take on a classic kid favorite, these tater tots are packed with nutritious zucchini instead of potatoes.

Now that my daughter Sienna is in school, I have to pack her lunch three times a week.   Even with all of the cooking I do, I must admit that I still sometimes find myself in a lunch rut.  I have my usual standbys that I turn to when I’m short on time or creativity like cashew butter and jelly sandwiches (one of her classmates has a peanut butter allergy), yogurt and fresh fruit.  But when time permits, I love coming up with fun and healthy new ideas to pack in her lunchbox. 

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These wholesome, nutritious corn fritters are the perfect snack any time of the day!

By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by Real California Milk products and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

We’re always on the go in my house so I usually like to keep healthy snacks around.  If a snack is nutritious, tasty and my toddler likes it too, then it’s a winner in my book.  During a recent trip to the grocery store, I saw fresh corn for the first time this year, reminding me that summer is just around the corner!  As I loaded up my cart with several ears, I started thinking about how I was going to use them.  One of my favorite dishes is Mexican street corn.  It's a simple dish that features grilled corn on the cob slathered with a chili-spiked mayonnaise and rolled in crumbly cheese.  It’s absolutely delicious but can be a bit messy to eat.  So I decided to make an easier, portable, family-friendly version of this delicious street food.     

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Take your next brunch from ordinary to extraordinary with these delicious and easy chilaquiles. 

Every year around this time, my entire family gets together and goes on a family vacation.  For the past several years, we’ve traveled to Mexico.  What’s not to love about Mexico?  Beautiful beaches, friendly people, and of course, amazing food!  It was on one of these trips several years ago that I first discovered chilaquiles.  Tucked away at the breakfast buffet next to the pancakes, eggs and waffles, I found what looked at first to be a very unassuming dish but ended up being quite a hidden gem. 

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5-Minute Pineapple Frozen Yogurt

Disclosure: As a Stonyfield blogger, I received free samples of Stonyfield organic yogurt to develop this post.  All opinions expressed are my own.  


My daughter Sienna has very interesting eating habits.  Like many kids her age, one day she’ll love something and the next day she’ll refuse to eat it.  But there’s one food that’s remained a constant in her diet from the beginning- yogurt.  She’s loved yogurt since she was a baby and we first introduced her to solids.  If it were up to her, she would probably eat yogurt for breakfast, lunch and dinner!  

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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!

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