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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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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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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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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Brussels sprouts are definitely a polarizing food- people either love ‘em or hate ‘em.  Personally, they weren’t my favorite vegetable growing up.  This is probably because my mom never cooked them at home so my only experience was at restaurants where they were usually boiled to death and served with absolutely no seasoning.  But, in recent years, the humble Brussels sprout has definitely had a huge growth in popularity.  You can find them on any restaurant menu from casual to gourmet.  Shaved, deep-fried, roasted, braised and of course everyone’s favorite- cooked with bacon.  There’s something about the salty, smoky flavor of bacon that pairs really well with the slight bitterness of the sprouts.     

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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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Chase away the last days of winter with this comforting soup dish.  My Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup is a quick and easy one pot dish that the whole family will love. Paired with a salad or toasted whole grain bread, it’s perfect for a light supper.  

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Unfortunately it’s been an especially brutal winter for a lot of the country.  I’m so grateful to now be living in Florida, but I still remember how rough the winters can get up north. When you’re stuck indoors on a cold day, there’s nothing more comforting than curling up with a hot bowl of soup.  I decided I wanted to make a soup that would fill me up but not leave me feeling heavy afterwards.  So I looked in my pantry and found a packet of soba noodles- perfect!  Soba noodles are Japanese noodles made of buckwheat. They’re often served at room temperature or chilled with a dipping sauce but they can also be served hot in soups.  They cook very quickly so they’re perfect for a delicious, fast weeknight meal.

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With Super Bowl Sunday just around the corner, you may be looking for some recipes that can feed a crowd.  Instead of ordering pizza, try making a few of my dishes that are not only delicious but won't leave you feeling guilty after the party is over.  Enjoy the game!
  

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