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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Nutritious sweet potatoes and a classic summer salad come together in this elegant appetizer.

This month’s Recipe Redux theme is “Get your fruits and veggies in shape… Show us how you’re serving the bounty of gardens and orchards in shapes like ribbons, noodles, cut-outs, or other creative cuts.”  When I read this, my first thought was- perfect!  Finally, I had an excuse to pull my spiralizer out of the closet!  My husband Pete actually got it for me as a gift about a year ago and I think he’s (not so) secretly been a little disappointed that I haven’t been cranking out spiralized dishes every night for dinner.  It’s not that I don’t love my spiralizer- on the contrary, the first time I used it to make zucchini noodles (aka zoodles), they came out great!  The sad truth is that as a food blogger, I tend to get so bogged down with my blog schedule, that it’s hard to find time to just play around in the kitchen and experiment with new tools and recipes.  I know my fellow food bloggers can relate!

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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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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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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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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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Millet forms the base of these crispy, gluten-free cakes that are packed with nutritious veggies.

For me, the New Year is all about starting fresh, making healthy choices and trying new things.  And that’s exactly what the Recipe Reduxchallenged us to do for the first month of 2016- pick a new ingredient that we’ve been wanting to try and cook up a new recipe with it. 

I make a lot of recipes with whole grains.  After all, the dietary guidelines recommend that half of all the grains we eat be whole grains.  But most of the time, I end up making either brown rice or quinoa for dinner.  Sometimes I’ll make barley or farro.  I've been wanting to try some new whole grains so this week when I was at the grocery store, I ended up buying a bag of millet.  Although millet is a new grain for me, it’s actually quite ancient.  According to the Whole Grains Council website, “Before rice was widely consumed in Asia, it’s thought that different forms of millet were the staple grain in this region, as long ago as 8300 B.C.E.”      

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An explosion of flavors and textures- these dumplings are pure bliss in a bite!

I received free samples of Progresso Cooking Stock mentioned in this post at no cost. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by Progresso Cooking Stock and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

Did you know that bone broth is one of the hottest recent culinary trends?  High quality cooking stock is made by simmering real bones, flavorful vegetables and aromatic herbs for hours.  It’s this process that gives it rich depth of flavor.  That’s how Progresso’s new line of premium Cooking Stocks are made.  All of that flavor is packed into a carton that you can open up and use immediately with none of the work.  It's a great addition to soups, stews, sauces, chili- the possibilities are endless!  And at just 15-45 calories and 0-1 gram of fat per serving, it's a quick and clean way to boost the flavor of any dish.     

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These bite-sized meatballs are packed with the flavors of fall and are the perfect addition to your holiday table. 

By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by siggi’s yogurt and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest.  I received coupons for free samples of siggi's yogurt.

When I think about holiday recipes, pumpkin immediately comes to mind.  Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin spice lattes, you name it- I’m a fan of them all.  If you read my last post, then you know that I’m especially excited about Thanksgiving this year because my family is coming to Florida and I’m doing the cooking.  Because the main course is going to be a big meal, I plan to make just a couple of small but delicious appetizers to whet everyone’s appetites.  My Pumpkin Spice Meatballs with Orange & Ginger Cranberry Sauce are the perfect holiday appetizer.  They’re light, nutritious, and packed with the flavors of fall.  Plus, these adorable morsels are bite-sized, so they won’t fill your guests up too much before the main course. 

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Cookies that are healthy?  Yes, it’s possible.  These delightful morsels are packed with nutritious ingredients and are perfect for the holidays. 

By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by siggi’s yogurt and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest.  I received coupons for free samples of siggi's yogurt.


I get nostalgic around the holidays, especially since I moved to Fort Lauderdale, leaving most of my family in the Northeast.  The holidays are a time to gather with loved ones, spend quality time together and enjoy good food.  Although we won’t be going up north for Christmas this year, I’m excited that my family will be coming to Florida for Thanksgiving and I’m cooking dinner!  I’ve already started bookmarking dozens of recipes for my holiday menu.  I'm trying to narrow it down, but I’m sure I’ll end up cooking way too much.  The focus of our holiday meal is usually on the appetizers and main course and by the time dessert comes around, everyone is too full to have much more than a thin slice of pie.  Specifically, apple pie was always a staple at the holidays when I was growing up.  Although my mom is a great cook, she's not a baker so it was usually store-bought.  When I heard about a recipe contest sponsored by siggi’s yogurt through the Recipe Redux, I immediately knew what kind of dish I wanted to make.  I decided to create a lighter dessert recipe that has all of the warm flavors and spices of the holiday season but won't leave you feeling over stuffed.  My Spiced Apple Skyr Quinoa Cookies with Vanilla Maple Drizzle are small and light and bake up soft and fluffy.  These delightful morsels are perfect for a little nibble after a heavy meal and they pack all of the flavors of yummy apple pie into one nutritious cookie.

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These nutty, no-bake granola bars are packed with nutrition and flavor!

Happy Nut Day!  No, I’m not nuts- today is actually National Nut Day!  And it just happens to coincide with this month’s Recipe Redux post day so we were all challenged to share a healthy nut-filled recipe. 

   

I love using nuts in all forms in my recipes- whole, sliced, chopped, nut butter, you name it!  They are actually one of the most nutritious snacks you can eat and are packed with many beneficial nutrients including heart-healthy unsaturated fats, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals.

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Turn up the flavor at your next tailgating party with this Mediterranean-inspired pizza dish made with hummus and a simple chickpea crust.

By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by Sabra Dipping Co. LLC, and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

Now that football season is underway, Sabra hummus is the perfect ingredient to use in your tailgating recipes.  It’s delicious, versatile and can be used to make your game day grubs more nutritious.  When I heard about the Sabra #TwoSpoons Tailgating Recipe Challenge through The Recipe Redux, I knew I had to enter.  After all, I’ve never been one to turn down a recipe challenge.  Plus, we eat Sabra hummus all the time in my house.  It comes in so many different flavors and pairs well with so many ingredients.  Hummus is made with chickpeas, tahini (sesame paste), oil, garlic and spices.  It’s commonly used as a dip but I also use it in sandwiches, wraps, salads, dressings, chili, you name it!  It’s also really good for you!  It’s filled with protein, fiber, healthy fats, and plenty of important vitamins and minerals like folate and iron.  Just two tablespoons of hummus will fulfill your bean recommendation for the week!

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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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These aren’t your usual kebabs!  My Beef Kofta Kebabs with Tzatziki Sauce are bursting with flavor and protein.   

By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by The Beef Checkoff and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.


This is a dish that the whole family will love!  Kofta kebabs are common in many parts of the Mediterranean, Middle East and Persia. They’re made with ground meat instead of cubed meat and are packed with flavor.  Think ground beef mixed with fresh parsley, garlic and warm spices like coriander and cumin.  Yum!  Serve them with my creamy tzatziki sauce and some flat bread and you’ve got a delicious and easy meal that’s perfect for casual summer dining.

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An incredibly refreshing dessert, my Cherry Lime Granita just sings summer!

This month, the Recipe Redux challenged us to share how we showcase lovely July fruits and veggies, whether it comes from the farmers’ market, a CSA share or a plot of dirt in our backyard.  Unfortunately, I don’t have my own garden but this time of year, the local farmers’ markets are just brimming with beautiful, vibrant produce. 

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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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Crunchy, refreshing and delightfully tangy- who doesn’t love a good pickle?  Plus, they’re a cinch to make at home! 

This month, the Recipe Redux challenged us to write about our favorite DIY kitchen essentials.  Specifically, they wanted to know what healthy kitchen staples do we now make from scratch that we used to purchase in the past?  When I read the challenge, a few ideas popped into my head right away like homemade frozen pancakes, fish sticks, salad dressings, and popsicles.  But then I thought about it some more and found the perfect recipe- my Super Easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles.  Once you make these, you’ll never buy pickles at the store again!

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Dried plums boost the flavor and nutrition of this delicious flatbread that's sure to be a hit with your family. 

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

Did you know that May is National Osteoporosis Month?  To kick off the month and raise awareness for this worthy cause, the California Dried Plum Board decided to challenge us Recipe Redux members to create delicious recipes highlighting this nutritious and versatile dried fruit. 

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