Everyday Eats & Special Treats
Everyday Eats & Special Treats
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For busy weeknights, skip the take out and have a healthier chicken teriyaki bowl at home! It’s a quick, easy, and delicious dinner that’s sure to please everyone, including your waistline. If you have a little time, see my recipe below to make your own teriyaki sauce from scratch. It’s easier than you might think, …
Today’s forecast: cloudy with a chance of turkey spinach and feta meatballs! Use these meatballs any way you like: over your favorite pasta / noodle, over grilled zucchini or eggplant, in a sandwich, or with your favorite sauce. My favorite sauce to use is with a diablo marinara sauce (recipe coming soon) over some delicious …
When you want abs, but you NEED tacos, enter the low carb taco solution! Swapping a tortilla for a lettuce wrap is a quick and easy way to feed your craving when you want to try and stay on your health goals. Still just as delicious (well, it gets pretty dang close), but it won’t …
When you’re in a hurry… how about curry? Ok, excuse my lame pun. In all seriousness this is one of my favorite easy meals to make during the week. Its fast and flavorful, and all done in one pot in under 30 minutes. If the idea of dinner on the table in under 30 minutes …
I’m going to admit something, and I hope you won’t think less of me. Up until about a year ago, I had never had stuffed peppers. That’s right, I went 23 years of my life without knowing how amazing these are for delicious weeknight dinners. You can stuff a pepper with almost anything, but my …
Turn up the heat with Shrimp Fra Diavolo! Aka, shrimp and linguini in a spicy marinara sauce. The marinara sauce is a little spicy thanks to red pepper flakes, but still filled with great herb-y notes that you’d find in traditional marinara. It sounds fancy but it’s a surprisingly easy dish to make, and so …
Fresh pesto and mozzarella balls… need i say more? Ok, how about seasoned chicken and roasted vegetables with whole wheat pasta. Do I have your attention now? I hope so! This pasta salad is equal parts healthy and delicious. It’s around 450 calories a serving, meaning you really can have your cake pasta and eat it …
Another quick, easy, and HEALTHY dinner coming at cha. Taco salad is super yummy and quick to make for busy nights. Also, if you make tacos pretty frequently (read: me) this is a versatile recipe that you can use basically whatever you need to get rid of in your fridge / pantry. Tonight I used …
Little saucy balls, aka my street name. Just kidding (maybe). These are some yummy teriyaki meatballs I made using ground turkey, ginger paste, garlic, and teriyaki sauce. You can make this into an easy dinner (under 30 minutes, woohoo) by making teriyaki bowls and pairing them with veggies of your choice and rice. Or double …
The ultimate meat lover’s lasagna! Made with sweet Italian sausage, ground beef, herby marinara sauce, fresh mozzarella and ricotta. Yes there is a LOT of cheese in this recipe, but you know what, that’s what makes it so delicious. Also, I recently discovered the magic of no-boil noodles. I always saw them at the store …
Both healthy and delicious, loaded sweet potatoes are sure to please everyone at your table. I was inspired by one of my favorite lunch places in Fresno, Farm Fresh Bowls. They do an awesome sweet potato bowl that’s one of my favorite go to lunches. One of the best things about this recipe is how …
Risotto: creamy, cheesy, and carb-0-licious. How can you possibly say no? Also, surprisingly easy to make. I’ll show you how to make risotto in less than 30 minutes and you can have a gourmet meal on your table sooner than the Italian place across the street can deliver. Serve it as a main dish, or …
This is hands down one of my most famous, top requested recipes. This is the first meal I made for my boyfriend Zach and he claims it’s one of the reasons he knew he wanted to spend his life with me. It’s magic Alfredo people! This recipe is creamy and oh so cheesy. Make it …
What makes this burger a Cali burger? Well, it’s made out of turkey instead of beef for starters. Also, there’s avocado on it too. So yeah dude, it’s a Cali burger. The turkey is extra juicy and tender, with a gooey blanket of pepper jack cheese. If you want to go extra California style and …
Steak fajitas. Need I say more? Ok, I’ll say a few more words. Fajitas are a staple weekday dinner in our house. Ready in under 30 minutes with minimal dishes and clean up afterwards. When it’s a busy night, I use a pre-seasoned carne asada from the grocery store. Trader Joe’s has a great one …
Juicy chicken, bell peppers and onions in a spicy tomato sauce topped with goat cheese and fresh basil. Serve with rice or pasta to make it extra-filling, or eat on it’s own for a low carb option that tastes like a treat! For my friends who don’t love the spice, omit the red pepper flakes …
The first time my mom made me shrimp and grits, I honestly had no idea what it even was. Yes, growing up in California isn’t all it’s cracked up to be sometimes. But oh my goodness. I can still remember that first bite and floating to heaven! The savory grits are creamy, and topped with …
Simple doesn’t have to mean boring or plain. This midnight pasta is only 5 ingredients, and takes around 10 minutes to make, but it is so delicious. My mom introduced me to this recipe; apparently a lot of chefs make this when they get home from the restaurant late at night and need to whip …
Cheesy, delicious enchiladas. I could eat these for breakfast, lunch, dinner, midnight snack, second breakfast, elevensies, you name it. The queso fresco adds a creamy touch, and any excuse to add another kind of cheese seems like a good idea to me.
I absolutely love my local farmer’s market. Yes, I know, it’s basic but you know what I’m not ashamed! Living in California’s central valley, I’m so lucky that I have access to such amazing fresh produce. There’s something so fun to me about wandering and letting the food speak to you. “What am I having …
Parmesan and lemon make for a delicious and tangy combo on these chicken cutlets! Serve with your favorite veggie (my favorites are asparagus, broccoli, or cauliflower with this recipe). If you’re keto, swap the flour for more parmesan! Or hey just add more parmesan if you’re like me and always want the most cheese.
I’ve been trying to get back on the healthy meal game but it’s also still way too hot to turn on my oven (thanks, Fresno in August). This is a quick and easy salad that will leave you full and happy (as happy as a salad can make anyone… I mean it’s not a cookie …
Work has been really crazy lately, and it’s making me feel extra drained when I get home. Add the 105 degree heat to my already dwindled energy (I will complain about Fresno Summers until the day I die) and it’s really hard for me to muster up the energy to cook. For days like this …
Homemade bolognese sauce is seriously oh-so good and worth the wait. The flavors in this sauce are deep and complex, and will take your favorite pasta to the next level. For some reason whenever a pasta sauce calls for wine or alcohol, I’ve always skipped it for whatever reason (I don’t have a bottle that …
This recipe has only 5 ingredients for 1 delicious dinner! All done on one sheet pan, the teriyaki sauce goes so well with the sweet and filling sweet potatoes and zucchini. Minimal ingredients and minimal clean up make for maximum delicious.
For the first time, I decided to take on Julia Child’s classic Boeuf Bourguignon recipe. I started making this recipe tonight full of hope; browning the beef, prepping the veggies, and as soon as I was ready to put it in the oven … it refused to turn on. I felt like I was having …
My parents have been eating a mostly Mediterranean diet, which inspired me to make some delicious grilled chicken tzatziki bowls! Tzatziki is a delicious creamy dill and cucumber yogurt sauce that adds a delicious tang to anything you put it on. I get mine pre-made from Trader Joe’s and it’s one of my favorite dips …
I was feeling a little adventurous after a long creative block. I hardly ever do lamb chops and forgot how much I enjoy them! If you’re not fond of lamb, this glaze / dipping sauce is AMAZING and would pair well with chicken thighs, pork chops, or even tofu. It’s savory, spicy, slightly sweet and …
Here’s my latest result in my adventures of trying out ingredients I’ve never used before. Harissa is a Tunisian (located in the northwest region of Africa) hot chili pepper paste, but it’s got a deeper flavor than your regular chili paste. It’s got earthy notes from the spice blend and roasted red pepper flavor, with …
Let’s all take a moment to thank Gigi Hadid for inventing pasta! Ok I’m obviously kidding, but she did share her recipe a while back for a vodka pasta sauce that casually went viral. With everyone under the sun taking a stab at the recipe, I wanted to share my version with you all. Honestly, …
Well, it’s that annual time of year where it’s generally unacceptable to be so excited about fall / Halloween, yet here I am longing for pumpkins, chilly afternoons, sweet potatoes, and all things cozy. This harvest bowl is a super healthy way to partake in a little fall nostalgia no matter the time of year.
Making fresh pesto is so easy and SO worth it! Yes, this pesto will be… the best-o. I’m sorry, please don’t go I promise it’s a good recipe. The way I make my pesto uses less oil than traditional pesto recipes which makes it slightly healthier without sacrificing any of the flavor. Use it on …
This Greek inspired salad is a little different than your traditional Greek salad, but just as delicious (maybe even more so?). A greek yogurt lemon tahini dressing is the star of this salad, making it creamy, bright, and tangy. Paired with lemon grilled chicken breast, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and feta cheese to make for a …
Another pasta recipe? Groundbreaking. But seriously, this is my favorite way to make pesto pasta. It’s creamy, spicy, bright, and suuuper easy. Add this to your weeknight pasta recipe rotation! This pasta is pretty filling on its own, but you can add some lemon herb chicken or salmon to make it a bigger meal, or …
To me, nothing says summer like deliciously flavorful ripe tomatoes, corn, and seafood. This recipe pairs pan seared scallops with a roasted tomato white bean sauce that’s tangy, spicy, and slightly sweet. Add some roasted corn, some buttery toasted bread, and of course some good white wine, and you have a perfect summer dinner.
This recipe is a crazy combination of flavors. There’s a LOT going on in the best way: bitter shishito peppers, sweet corn, spicy jalapeños, salty pistachios and parmesan, and brightness from fresh lemon, basil, and mint. But this is a symphony of textures and flavors that’s surprisingly subtle. It sneaks up on you and leaves …
Basically a version of bacon, onion, and cheese pasta that feels fancy but is still super easy to whip together! Leeks are mild onion varieties, almost like something in between a green onion, a yellow onion, and a shallot. Pancetta is kind of like an Italian bacon, but I really like it because I buy …
A superb side dish or appetizer to serve for a crowd! These mini peppers are charred to perfection on the grill and topped with a delicious vinaigrette. Serve with a side of crusty toasty bread and your favorite mild cheese like fresh mozzarella, burrata, or even ricotta.
My mom is infamous for her potato salad. It’s made me a potato salad purist because I will not eat any recipe other than hers. But I needed a dairy-free recipe to make for some friends who don’t like mayo (I know, as a mayo lover myself I grasp my pearls at the thought). Wasn’t …
Meat eaters and plant based friends unite! This lentil bolognese is hearty, layered with flavor, and an easy one pot meal. Serve it with your favorite pasta. To make this recipe vegan – omit the parmesan for your favorite plant based cheese or nutritional yeast.
Gochujang is a spicy paste that’s a staple in Korean cooking. It’s a savory, slightly sweet, spicy fermented condiment. You can pick it up at your local Asian grocery store, in the Asian food section of your grocery store, or Trader Joe’s seasonally carries it. Today I’m using it to make a sticky sauce for …
I’m calling this pasta dish the drunken pumpkin! Spicy sausage stuffed pasta shells covered in a pumpkin vodka sauce. It is spicy, cheesy, subtle pumpkin goodness. Even better, this dish is easy to prep ahead of time and then pop in the oven to broil once you’re ready to eat it.
Another savory pumpkin dish comin atchu! This pumpkin risotto is topped with crispy pancetta and savory sage brown butter mushrooms. Can it get more fall than that?
These appetizers are such a hit, they’ll be the only thanksgiving recipe you’ll make that has no leftovers. Seriously, the tray of these was demolished in about 20 minutes. Savory mushrooms, caramelized shallots, fresh thyme, and melted gruyere cheese make these little toasts absolute heaven. If you want to prep these ahead, make the mushroom …
