Middle Eastern Vegetable Salad I have been making this Ina Garten recipe on a weekly basis. My husband is a big fan, and it receives rave reviews anytime it hits the road, potluck style. This Middle Eastern Vegetable Salad is a great end-of-summer recipe because it highlights vegetables that are coming out of the garden at the end of the summer: tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, parsley, and basil. However, I'll often mix and match vegetables based on what I have on hand; zucchini, green beans, olives, artichoke hearts, or avocado all complement or substitute for the tomatoes and cucumbers. Or whatever you can find at the store. I've only made slight Keep Reading
Vegetarian frittata (seasonal vegetable recipe)
Vegetarian Frittata Recipe I had never made a frittata until I met my friend Elizabeth seven years ago. It seemed like every time I stopped by her house, she was pulling a skillet loaded with eggs and vegetables out of the oven. We'd stand around her kitchen talking, taking piping hot bites of whatever the special was that day, while our children ran wild around the house. She was onto something good. Frittatas are Italian-style omelets, a healthy, filling crustless quiche that's perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. I find myself going back to this kind of cooking quite a bit lately. Just good honest food, created from a combination Keep Reading
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes (recipe)
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes with Creamy Coleslaw When I was a kid, I was a super picky eater; my forbidden food list was a mile long. It included, but was not limited to: onions, peppers, tuna fish, kidney beans, vegetable soup, lemon bars, and... Sloppy Joes. I don't think there was much rhyme or reason to 99% of my food aversions, but I know exactly why Sloppy Joes were banned from my mouth. Even as a kid, I was pretty sure that meat is not supposed to be sickeningly sweet. Barbecue sauce sweet, no problem. But typical Sloppy Joe recipes add 1/4-1/2 cup of sugar for this amount of meat. No thanks. My friend Debbie introduced us to this Sloppy Joe Keep Reading
Greek Cherry Tomato Salad
Greek Cherry Tomato Salad In many ways, it feels like summer arrived just a few short weeks ago. But also feels like it's been "summer" for one hundred years. What even is time anymore? Or seasons? Until we figure it out, let's soak up the last summertime has to offer. Looking for something to serve alongside some delicious barbecue chicken or grilled steak? Try this delicious summer salad. This recipe caught my eye because it calls for things that are actually growing in my garden right now -- cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, onions, and garlic. The dressing is light and flavorful, giving the vegetables a great kick. For a new spin on the Keep Reading
Loaded baked potato salad with bacon (recipe + the best way to cook potatoes)
Loaded Potato Salad with Bacon I swear, camping trips with friends is the only way to go. You split meal making and fire starting and kid wrangling. Someone remembers all the things you forgot. Someone else is ready with a pot of coffee when you haven't slept. Kids keep each other busy, and adults keep each other laughing. Conclusion: camping solo is for the birds. We eat meals in a wandering sort of way. Breakfast at one site, dinner at another. Snacks tossed out whenever kids are hungry (which is always). One of my favorite little memories of a recent trip is sitting around eating this potato salad with the adults while our kids rode bikes in Keep Reading
Caprese Skillet Eggs (one-pan, gluten-free recipe)
Caprese Skillet Eggs (gluten-free recipe) Most of my summer afternoons are spent around our half-deflated kiddie pool. Four little bodies splash and shriek, while I watch behind my sunglasses and hold a magazine (I never actually read it, I just look at the same sentence over and over). Their life is pretty much the kid version of an all-inclusive resort. I am the nurse-lifeguard-chef-concierge. I'm not sure why 5 o'clock surprises me every single day, but it does. We're out by the pool, doing our thing, and suddenly all these little people think they are starving. I am out of snacks. It's time for dinner. Fast. This dish is one of those summer Keep Reading
Maple Bacon Baked Beans
Maple Bacon Baked Beans The forecast is looking bright and sunny for this weekend. Perfect weather to kick back, hang out, get outside. BBQ. Just in time for summer, these baked beans go perfectly with anything you pull off the grill. This recipe came from my grandma's cookbook, which is a great place to start. She originally used 1 pound of hamburger as a base. You could do that and create a sort of main dish. I cut it back and used bacon for flavor instead. You could also omit the meat altogether for a vegetarian option. You may be thinking, Why would I go to the hassle of making baked beans when popping open a can is way easier? Good Keep Reading