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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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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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.  

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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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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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I'm all about summer salads that take advantage of fresh, seasonal ingredients. I love going to the farmers markets in the summertime when they’re brimming with beautiful produce and then coming home and figuring out how to use them in new and delicious dishes.  To me, variety is key when it comes to salads.  The ideal salad has to have lots of different ingredients, flavors and textures to keep it interesting.  My latest favorite summer salad is my Summer Spinach Salad with Grilled Chicken and Creamy Berry Balsamic Dressing. 

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Put a spring in your step with this energizing green smoothie.

This post was created in partnership with Stonyfield.  All opinions expressed are my own.

I’m a big fan of smoothies.  They’re quick and easy to make and they’re such a great way to get lots of fruits and veggies into your diet.  Plus, my toddler loves them, which is awesome for me because I can add in a whole variety of nutritious ingredients that she normally might not try on their own.  Now that I live in sunny South Florida, I love making smoothies all year round.  It's great being able to take advantage of the abundant fresh produce, but if you live in a cooler climate, you can always use frozen fruit.  In the freezer section of the grocery store, you’ll find plenty of fruits and vegetables that are frozen at their nutritional peak, just waiting to be popped into the blender to make a healthy, refreshing smoothie.  

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This recipe was inspired by my mom and is one of the recipes included in my upcoming book, The Natural Pregnancy Cookbook, which will be released in 2015 (so stay tuned!).  Having grown up in a vegetarian household, my mom has always made the most delicious, vegetarian Indian dishes.  This is definitely one of those dishes that I turn to when I want something comforting that will deliver a taste of home.  

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My Spinach, Mushroom & Gruyere Strata is a perfect dish for Sunday brunch.  A strata is a layered casserole made with cubed bread, eggs, cheese and other ingredients like vegetables or meat.  It’s similar to a savory bread pudding and it’s definitely a comfort food.  The beauty of making a strata is that you can toss in whatever ingredients you have on hand and you can prepare it all the night before.  In the morning, simply bake it and serve it straight out of the oven while it’s hot and puffed up. 

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In my last post, I shared the recipe for my Greek Chicken Meatballs and told you I'd be back with another recipe using those same meatballs.  It's part of my Cook Once, Eat Twice philosophy of cooking.  I like making a large batch of these delicious meatballs and then using them in lots of other dishes.  These meatballs are very versatile and they freeze well so they're prefect when you need to get a quick meal on the table.  My Greek Meatball Pita Sandwiches are great for a light lunch or dinner.  Simply tuck a couple of meatballs into a pita pocket, add some fresh spinach, tomato and a dollop of homemade tzatziki, and you're ready to go!  You may want to make extra tzatziki- it's great with grilled meat, sandwiches, as a dip for vegetables and much more.  

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Here's the latest installment of my "Cook Once, Eat Twice" series.  Because of my busy schedule, when I cook dinner, I often like to double the recipe and then transform the leftovers into an entirely different meal on another day.  It's a real timesaver and I also find it to be a fun challenge.  My Greek Chicken Meatballs are full of Greek flavor and easy to make, perfect for a quick weeknight meal.  I use ground chicken breast (which I like to grind myself in my stand mixer) mixed with feta cheese, spices and spinach, which is one of the most nutritious foods you can eat.  Spinach is packed with a wide variety of compounds that are beneficial for your health including several vitamins, minerals and disease-fighting antioxidants. It’s a rich source of fiber and protein as well as Vitamins A, C, K, and folate.  It’s also rich in several minerals like calcium, iron and manganese.  Serve these meatballs alone or over spaghetti with tomato sauce.  They’re also great in soups and sandwiches.  Freeze any leftovers and keep them for busy weeknights.  Your whole family will love them and they won’t even know how good they are for you!  Stay tuned for my next post, where I’ll feature these delicious meatballs in a new recipe- my Greek Meatball Pita Sandwiches.

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Are you looking for a salad recipe that tastes great, is easy to make and will help keep you looking and feeling great?  This salad is packed with superfoods like avocadoes, spinach and pomegranates, which are nutritionally dense foods that are beneficial for your health. Superfoods are chock full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that have a wide range of positive effects on your health. Why are antioxidants important?  Because they help fight damage from disease-causing molecules called free radicals. Increasing the amount of antioxidants in your diet can help counteract your risk of developing chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. 

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Are you looking for a crowd-pleasing recipe to serve on Super Bowl Sunday?  If so, try my Lightened Up Spinach Artichoke Dip. This dish is the perfect appetizer that everyone will love to dig into. And it's packed with nutritious ingredients.  Classic Spinach Artichoke Dip has a good amount of mayonnaise, cream cheese, parmesan and shredded cheese, which all add up to a high calorie count. To make my lightened up version, I swap in nonfat Greek yogurt for the mayonnaise. This cuts a large amount of saturated fat. Greek yogurt is naturally thick and creamy and adds a nice tangy flavor. Plus, it's packed with protein and calcium and it's low in carbohydrates.

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