I love Greek salad, it is one of my favorite dishes on a warm evening but it can be kind of awkward to eat, especially in restaurants when they leave huge cuts of vegetables to be fancy… although I think it is secret laziness at the root of that trend. I needed some snacky food for a girls evening and I wanted something that would be easy to eat but was still healthy and fresh. When you skewer a salad it turns into easily controllable finger food, Continue Reading →
Pesto Smashed Potatoes
Potatoes are a particularly great source of potassium, I’m not sure if their names start the same way for that reason or if it is just a coincidence. Potassium is an electrolyte and it is crucial for maintaining hydration and a proper pH, or acid alkaline balance in the blood and other tissues. It is also integral for nervous and cardiovascular systems, and increasing it can be potentially as effective as lowering sodium for people with high blood pressure. Continue Reading →
Creamy Lemon Salad
My lovely father generally does not eat salads unless they are so drenched in salad dressing that you cannot see the vegetables. Either he was starving or he wasn’t wearing his glasses, but he tried this and to my delight he really enjoyed it. My secret to making creamy dressing that goes a long way is plain Greek yogurt, it lets the other flavors shine through while adding some protein and a slight tanginess. Continue Reading →
White Wine Mussels
Mussels are part of the mineral rich mollusk family. They are high in protein and are a great source of vitamin B12- an important nutrient that many people can easily become deficient in. Vitamin B12 is crucial for maintaining a healthy nervous system and deficiencies can potentially lead to fatigue and depression. Continue Reading →
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are generally one of those healthy but yucky foods for most people. Yet, with the right ingredients their unusual flavor can be enjoyable. Brussels sprouts are part of the cruciferous vegetable family, and they are high in sulfur, several vitamins and minerals, and surprisingly for a vegetable, protein. Continue Reading →
Quinoa Pepperoni Pizza Bites
These pizza flavor inspired bites are just as unlimited as actual pizza pies when it comes to ingredients you can add in, but they offer much more fiber, protein and nutrients than a regular pizza. Plus they are free from the preservatives and fillers that normally lurk in pre-made frozen pizza bites. Continue Reading →
Twice Baked Yams
Besides yams, the main ingredient in this dish is ground turkey. This festive bird is known best nutritionally for being a good source of the amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan is classified as essential because our bodies cannot make it, but not many foods contain it in high levels, so it can be hard to get. Continue Reading →
Yam Wedges with Chipotle Dip
Baked yam wedges are a much healthier alternative to regular fries. While potatoes and yams are not too different nutritionally, each with their own advantages in certain areas (like yam’s higher vitamin A content or potato’s higher potassium levels), their coatings and the way they are cooked makes all the difference. Continue Reading →
Butternut Squash Socca with Olive Tapenade
Socca is a flatbread made from chickpea flour, aka besan or garbanzo bean flour, and is cooked in stone ovens throughout Southern France, primarily in and around Nice. It is one of my favorite snacks and brunch side dishes. It can replace Continue Reading →
German Basil Quinoa Salad
Technically there is nothing German about this salad besides the mustard, but my friend and I invented and lived off of it when we were there together. It was basically designed around creating a nutritious and palatable way to eat large amounts of basil. Unfortunately basil plants never last long around me Continue Reading →