Category: Mediterranean

Mom’s Easy Weeknight Lasagna

Mom’s Easy Weeknight Lasagna

Mom’s Easy Weeknight Lasagna is something I remember having often as a kid. Mom’s version is different from most other lasagnas because it does not have a layer of ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, or bechemel. Meaning, it’s a very simple three-layer lasagna consisting of noodles, 

Fresh Herbed Salt Master Recipe

Fresh Herbed Salt Master Recipe

I learned a master recipe for making Fresh Herbed Salt during my culinary school days. This technique is handy because fresh herbs can spoil quickly. I hate to admit how many fresh herbs  I have thrown away because I didn’t use them fast enough. With 

How to Make the Best Dinner Salads

How to Make the Best Dinner Salads

You can make the Best Dinner Salads by following this customizable template. I learned about making salads in my Holistic Chef Program and how to compose them with balanced nutrition. When it comes to salads, if you are stuck in a rut (making the same 

Mini Beef Meatballs for Soup

Mini Beef Meatballs for Soup

These Mini Beef Meatballs are a perfect addition to soup. And, they are so simple to pull together with just 5 ingredients.

Easy Homemade Ghee

Easy Homemade Ghee

Homemade ghee is easy to make and less expensive than store bought. When you see butter on sale, it’s the perfect time to buy extra to make this easy homemade ghee. Ghee has a high smoke-point. Therefore, it’s perfect for frying, sauteing, and roasting meat, 

French Chicken in a Pot with Garlic and Herbs

French Chicken in a Pot with Garlic and Herbs

I’ve been making French Chicken in a Pot with Garlic and Herbs for years. It’s a lovely fall and winter dish because it slow braises in a Dutch oven for 1 hour and 45 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Besides searing the garlic cloves, 

How to Roast a Whole Spaghetti Squash

How to Roast a Whole Spaghetti Squash

Yes, it is possible to roast a whole spaghetti squash without cutting it in half first! Most posts I see on the internet call for cutting a spaghetti squash in half. I have a large sharp knife but I still don’t like cutting it in 

Wild Cod Cakes

Wild Cod Cakes

Not too long ago, a friend invited us over for some crab cakes. She received a tub of fresh crab cake mix from G & M Restaurant via Fed Ex for her birthday. They were amazing. So, I started to wonder if I could make 

Simple Homemade Remoulade

Simple Homemade Remoulade

What is Remoulade A simple homemade remoulade is a mayonnaise based condiment and you likely have the herbs and spices on hand. You don’t have to use ingredients like capers, cornishones, but you can add them if you want. Remoulade is a delicious dipping sauce 

Easy Chicken Marsala

Easy Chicken Marsala

I’ve had a bottle of Marsala wine in my pantry longer than I care to admit. And, I’ve been meaning to use it to make Chicken Marsala. Finally, I got around to it. I have no idea why I waited so long. It’s not a 

Broiled Flank or Skirt Steak

Broiled Flank or Skirt Steak

Guess what? You don’t need a barbecue to make delicious flank steak or skirt steak. All you need is a clean oven heated to the broiler setting. The clean oven tip is from a cautionary tale. Since, an oven on broil gets to 500 degrees, 

Easy-To-Peel Hard Boiled Eggs

Easy-To-Peel Hard Boiled Eggs

Why hard boiled eggs can be challenging for home cooks Something that seems so simple, boiling an egg, can be a challenge. On the one hand, there are two ingredients eggs and water. Yet, I’ve had under cooked, over cooked eggs with a green ring, 

Perfect Sauteed Zucchini

Perfect Sauteed Zucchini

I’ve been making sauteed zucchini for years but only recently (and by accident) did I discover the ultimate secret to perfectly sauteed zucchini. Here are a few important tips for making Perfect Sauteed Zucchini: Whether keeping the zucchini sliced in half or quartered the seeds 

Arugula Walnut Pesto

Arugula Walnut Pesto

Sometimes you just need a sauce to take an ordinary dish to an extraordinary dish. Arugula walnut pesto is a universal sauce that can be used on roasted vegetables, grilled chicken, sauteed fish, scrambled eggs, and pasta. Not only does it taste delicious but it’s 

Steak Nicoise Salad with Blanched Green Beans & Cashew-Lime Vinaigrette

Steak Nicoise Salad with Blanched Green Beans & Cashew-Lime Vinaigrette

This is one of our favorite meals to serve to guests.  I’ve served this hearty salad after-church for a Sunday lunch as well as a weeknight dinner for guests. Actually, this is more than a mere salad. It’s a meat-and-potato salad. This is a meal 

Cashew-Lime Vinaigrette

Cashew-Lime Vinaigrette

This vinaigrette is delicious and satiating. It’s wonderful with steak or chicken entree salads. One guest said, “Wow, this dressing really makes the salad.” You can also use this vinaigrette as a dip for spring rolls. Cashew-Lime Vinaigrette1/2 cup lime juice (about 5 limes)1/4 cup 

5-Ingredient Balsamic Vinaigrette

5-Ingredient Balsamic Vinaigrette

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 

Blanched Green Beans

Blanched Green Beans

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 

Greek Turkey Meatballs (Keftedes)

Greek Turkey Meatballs (Keftedes)

Yes, you can make Greek meatballs using ground turkey. My husband and I love my all-beef Greek Meatballs. We often serve them to guests with rave reviews. I wondered if they would taste just as good with extra-lean ground turkey. The answer is yes! The 

Delicious and Detoxifying Broccoli Soup

Delicious and Detoxifying Broccoli Soup

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 

Roasted Delicata Squash

Roasted Delicata Squash

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 

Super Crispy-Baked Chicken Thighs

Super Crispy-Baked Chicken Thighs

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 

Simple Sauteed Green Beans Inspired by Boston Market

Simple Sauteed Green Beans Inspired by Boston Market

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 

Mom’s Fried Potatoes

Mom’s Fried Potatoes

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 

Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Eggplant, and Onions on the Barbeque

Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Eggplant, and Onions on the Barbeque

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 

Basil Pesto (Dairy Free)

Basil Pesto (Dairy Free)

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 

Tomato and Zucchini Frittata (Dairy Free)

Tomato and Zucchini Frittata (Dairy Free)

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 

Roasted Broccoli with Lemon-Garlic Gremolata

Roasted Broccoli with Lemon-Garlic Gremolata

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 

Homemade Chicken Stock (Stove Top, Pressure Cooker, and Slow Cooker Methods)

Homemade Chicken Stock (Stove Top, Pressure Cooker, and Slow Cooker Methods)

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 

Summer Garden Vegetable Bolognese in a Slow Cooker

Summer Garden Vegetable Bolognese in a Slow Cooker

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 

Tuscan Lemon and Rosemary Spatchcock Chicken on a Gas Grill

Tuscan Lemon and Rosemary Spatchcock Chicken on a Gas Grill

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 

Pan Pizza—Restaurant Style (Made at Home)

Pan Pizza—Restaurant Style (Made at Home)

The first time I had Pan Pizza—Restaurant Style at a friend’s house I begged shamelessly for the recipe. When I make this for guests they tell me it’s better than what they get at restaurants. You see, the “pizza lady’s” husband actually managed Pizza Huts 

Keftedes (Greek Meatballs)

Keftedes (Greek Meatballs)

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 

Tzatziki

Tzatziki

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 

Spinach, Tomato, and Feta Frittata

Spinach, Tomato, and Feta Frittata

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 

Greek-Inspired Salad with Cannellini Beans, Red Onions, and Feta

Greek-Inspired Salad with Cannellini Beans, Red Onions, and Feta

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 

Lentil and Vegetable Chili

Lentil and Vegetable Chili

I love making a big pot of chili for dinner. I have made chili with ground beef, chili with ground turkey, and chili with leftover roasted turkey. All of these variations are delicious. I crave them all from time to time. I couldn’t help but 

Deconstructed Gas-Grilled Chicken and Romain Caesar Salad

Deconstructed Gas-Grilled Chicken and Romain Caesar Salad

We love Caesar salad in our house. We make it often. So when we got our new Weber gas grill this summer the very first thing I made was a grilled chicken Caesar salad. By “grilled” I mean grilled chicken, grilled Romaine, grilled baguette slices, 

Cinnamon Ice Cream

Cinnamon Ice Cream

Now here is a flavor ice cream that you don’t see in the store, “Cinnamon Ice Cream.” Well, I never have seen it. My husband and Father-in-Law like—no love—ice cream, and during my Father-in-Law’s recent stay I made ice cream not once but twice. I 

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

“I scream. You scream. We all scream for ice cream.” I don’t know how or where this chant started, but I can resonate with it even though I’m not a huge dessert person. I like them once in a while. I’m one of those people 

Grated Zucchini Pancakes – 3 Ways

Grated Zucchini Pancakes – 3 Ways

When I find myself in an abundance of zucchini I turn to this Zucchini Frittata recipe or this dairy free Tomato and Zucchini Frittata. But, one day I wanted to do something different and I did have plenty of zucchini in the fridge. After a 

Baked Eggs (Individual Servings)

Baked Eggs (Individual Servings)

You know how when you are shopping for a new or used car, and you’ve got it narrowed down to a couple of makes and models, and then you start seeing those cars on the road everywhere? Have you ever had that experience with recipes? 


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