Making a simple vinaigrette only adds an additional five minutes of prep time and yields many benefits. Just think about it. You’ll know all the ingredients your dressing contains. You can control the amount of sugar or leave it out all together. Have you ever …

I love going to a produce store and seeing bins of fresh vegetables like snow peas, snap peas, mushrooms, and green beans up for grabs. You can buy as many or as little as you need, and you can hand-pick them to be uniform. It’s …

Vegetables are such an important part of our diet and most people don’t eat nearly enough. Vegetables are loaded with important vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, phytochemicals, and fiber. Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable and it is especially beneficial—like medicine. Making cruciferous vegetables a regular part of …

I’m not sure where I’ve been that I have not heard of delicata squash until this year. A couple months ago a dear friend had a small birthday party for me. It was a delightful party for eight. We enjoyed appetizers and conversation outside while …

The first time I had blistered shishito peppers was at a speak-easy in Ft. Collins, Colorado called The Social. My husband and I celebrated many special occasions there: birthdays, anniversaries, and out-of-town guests. They had the best atmosphere (in the basement of a building like …

I love getting the wonton soup that comes with my dinner at Chinese restaurants. It qualifies as comfort food. If we are honest with ourselves, some wonton soups are better than others. Who knows what’s in the soup from restaurant to restaurant. Does it have …

We shouldn’t automatically brine a turkey. It depends on the turkey. If we buy a self-basting turkey then we ought not to brine because it will be too salty. Essentially, it’s already brined. This year I bought a heritage turkey from a small family operated …

Leaving behind processed foods and embracing a more whole and real food diet can sometimes be a shock to the wallet. Why is it that food not good for us costs less? Why does eating healthy cost more? Hmm. I’ll have to save that for …

There is nothing like crispy chicken skin. It’s to chicken what bacon is to pork. I remember fighting to get “one more bite” of chicken skin as a kid. Then sadly during the low-fat craze of the 80’s and 90’s the family threw it away …

I have been making this recipe for years, roughly since the early 2000’s when one night I contemplated and savored what I loved about Boston Market’s green beans (which now appears only on the catering menu). So, now you can make them at home. I’ve …

These potatoes  remind me of my childhood. Mom’s fried potatoes were one of my favorite side dishes growing up. I remember when I was old enough, Mom put me in charge of flipping the potato slices. One of the many ways she introduced me to …

When I first made this salad dressing ten years ago, my husband wasn’t fond of it. For those who are trying to transition their families to healthier recipes, I’d like to offer some hope and insight. I can now fast forward 10 years later from …

There are many variations of vegetables you can grill on the barbecue. Here is a combo of vegetables that are readily available through, spring, summer, and fall. All you need is sliced vegetables, olive oil, salt, and pepper to grill a delicious side dish. Eating …

Can you make pesto without cheese? Yes! The last time I went to the store they had large tubs of basil and I couldn’t resist. The weather is good enough to grill now and basil screams summer to me. I love pesto with pasta, of …

I love my original Zucchini Frittata recipe. However, many people can’t have cheese or choose not to have cheese if they are doing a 30-day elimination diet. So, I altered my original recipe to create this dairy free version. The main difference is this frittata …

We all know that broccoli is good for us. Why exactly? It provides vitamin K, vitamin C, a variety of B vitamins, calcium, potassium, loads of amino acids, and fiber. Not to mention broccoli contains cancer-fighting antioxidants and feeds your gut microbiome.  Until recently, I’ve …

If you are carb conscious one of the very first things you learn is skip the bun on a burger and swap it for a lettuce wrap, or have the burger with a side salad. That’s why I love Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar. They have …

Doing a Whole30 challenge brought sweet potatoes back into my life. I shunned all potatoes, fruit, and starchy vegetables for far too long. I put them in a “bad food” category. I’m recovered from that thinking. I now know that they are good for me …

I periodically get nostalgic for my Mom’s Juicy Ginger-Beer Ham. She served it to our family both at Christmas and Easter. As a child I remember grumbling to my mom about having ham and potato salad twice a year while only having turkey and stuffing …

Hamburger gravy is something that my Mom made often when I was growing up. It was one of my favorites. I decided it was time to give mom’s recipe a make over in order to replace that beloved can of cream of mushroom soup with …

I have been making homemade chicken stock for years. I started making stock from scratch because I wanted to know exactly what I was eating, and I thought it would taste better. It does taste better! A lot better as a matter of fact. Years …

When my husband and I lived in Michigan there was an Outback Steakhouse right down the street. We often would “belly-up” to the bar and order wings for an appetizer. If we didn’t get steak for our entrees we would order salmon or pork. The …

I originally posted this recipe in 2009. Since then it’s received over 30,000 views. I would love to think that I’ve helped families embrace cauliflower and not be so dependent on potatoes for every meal. Don’t get me wrong. I love potatoes and believe they …

I have been aware of the term Whole30 for awhile. Someone I knew did a Whole30 challenge about a year ago and I could tell she lost weight. Recently, another friend on Facebook posted a picture after completing the challenge so I visited Whole30.com to …

Brussels sprouts weren’t on my radar. I don’t remember the first time I had them. I don’t remember my mom making them. My best guess is that I was at a restaurant that served them roasted. I was probably at a steak place with friends …

Flat iron steak is my new favorite steak for two main reasons. One, it tends to be a bit less expensive than flank steak. Two, it’s easy to cut into even portions which is perfect for entertaining. The other day I bought a 1.5 pound …

Chimichurri is a sauce or marinade for grilled meats and vegetables. The main ingredients are parsley, olive oil and a little acid. The sauce can very greatly from recipe to recipe. Personally, I don’t like too much vinegar or acid. Also, I don’t like it …

When you don’t have time (or a smoker) you can make brisket in half the time using a gas grill and finish it in the oven. For the last three years my husband and I have bought a half side of beef. It’s an amazing …

If you’ve been to a picnic or a church potluck then chances are you’ve seen Broccoli Salad. I often see Broccoli Salad for sale at stores in the deli section. What makes this recipe unique is bacon, dried cherries, and shelled pumpkin seeds. To the …

Whether you are enjoying the bountiful abundance of vegetables from the produce section of your grocery store, your local farmer’s market, or your own garden this is a delicious way to infuse more veggies in an otherwise traditional pasta sauce. Pasta used to be a …

I love to grill chicken as long as the temperature is warm enough. I plan on doing as much outdoor grilling as possible. Two of my favorite things about grilling: That open-flame flavor (especially if I add wood chips on the grill). A clean kitchen …

Raise your hand if you’ve had at least one box of “Hamburger Helper” in your lifetime. We all love those one pan meals! Now we can enjoy some nostalgia with a simple low-carb version and stay in ketosis. I’ve made this once a week for …

I thought I bought three packs of chicken breasts. But, no, turns out I bought boneless skinless chicken thighs. I must say that thighs are not my favorite. As a matter of fact, it’s only in the last couple of years that I’ve started liking …

If you want to put your summer dinner guests into a state of bliss, this dessert-type cocktail is the answer. I was introduced to “The Hummer” by the mixologist himself at the Bayview Yacht Club.  Back in the day, when my husband was working red-capet …

Recently, friends invited my husband and I to a dinner party where the theme was “burgers.”  Everyone was supposed to bring a burger condiment as well as a side dish or dessert.  I decided to bring a bacon and onion relish. It was a huge …

If you are one of the many people making low-carb recipes a part of their lifestyle then this recipe might come in handy. I was able to transition from “needing” a bun to just putting the burger on a salad.  This is one of my …

I love the convenience of bottled salad dressings, but equally important is knowing exactly what all the ingredients are in those type of convenience foods. If I buy salad dressing from a store I prefer to buy the kind that needs to be refrigerated. The …

Thick bone-in pork chops start in the oven, sear in a pan to finish so they don’t get dried out, and are topped with a quick pan sauce.

This is one of my favorite tried and true recipes. I’ve been making this recipe for over 10 years and I’ve made it dozens and dozens of times. I make them just for my husband and me. I make them for guests and they love …

There are a boat load of recipes for tzatziki, I know.  I have been on a quest for the recipe that I remember from my youth. I grew up in the Metro-Detroit area and I enjoyed many dinners in Greek Town. Oh, the memories—fresh warm …

I have been on a major frittata kick lately. It seems that between leftovers and the staples I have in my my refrigerator I can make a frittata out of just about anything. The flavor combination of spinach, tomato, and feta makes for an especially …

I don’t know why I have waited so long to blog about this salad. My husband and I have enjoyed this salad for years. We serve it to company. You can serve it family-style, split between six bowls, or split between two bowls. Add some …