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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Lettuce leaves make a great vehicle for low carb meals and snacks. Recently, I was craving an egg salad sandwich, but I didn’t want to have the added carbs with this particular meal. I thought why not put it in a lettuce leaf. This seems …

I’ve made “Pulled Pork” for sandwiches a few times. The spices that I use in that recipe are great for roasts and sandwiches, but not so much for Tex-Mex applications.  I love the pork served at Chipotle and wondered if I could even come close. …

In full disclosure this is a semi-homemade salsa because this recipe uses canned tomatoes. Someday if I run across amazing tomatoes from a farmer’s market, or if I grow my own then I’ll make a 100% homemade version. That said, this salsa tastes so fresh …

Have you ever gone to the store and seen chicken on sale because the “sell by” date is in the next day or two? Or, maybe chicken is on sale “just because.” A few days ago I saw boneless, skinless chicken breasts on sale for …

I am a Buffalo Wing snob and this recipe is inspired by Outback’s Kookaburra Wings. I won’t go as far to call these a copycat. However, my husband and I agree they are so much better than wings we’ve had at many restaurants. We have …

Recently someone asked my husband who makes his favorite barbecued ribs. I was so proud when he said, “my mother-in-law.” My mom does make the best ribs. The ribs she makes are the bar by which I judge all other ribs. I grew up on …

What is the deal with not being able to get Open Pit west of the Mississippi? I’m not sure where the real shipping line stops, but I’m not the only one lamenting this foodie issue. For the last 7 years I’ve lived west of the …

My husband and I had the privilege to vacation in Costa Rica a couple of months ago. One of many activities that we enjoyed was going to Rainforest Spices. Of all the things people can do on vacation you probably wouldn’t think that going to …

I have to confess that I’ve made this guacamole recipe a few times. The problem is that I’m usually whipping it up so fast I forget to take pictures of all the steps. Now, I think I have enough pictures to piece together for a …

Soup is still on the menu at our house since the weather has been running hot and cold for the past few weeks.  I’ve made plenty of chicken stock based soups but I was craving something hearty with beef. The first time I attempted homemade …

This Oven-Roasted Peel-and-Eat Shrimp can be prepped in advance and broiled in minutes. The garlic-butter zip sauce from this recipe exists in my refrigerator as a staple, so I’m always looking for creative ways to use it. The inspiration for this recipe is from a …

When recently volunteering to prepare fresh fruit for 50 people, at first I thought I would create  a couple of  extra large fruit salad bowls similar to my “Strawberry, Orange, and Grape Salad with Basil” post.  After doing some shopping and seeing what looked fresh, …

It was the day before Easter and I still didn’t know what to make for our Easter dinner.  This year it was going to be dinner for two, my husband and me. This was good news since “life” had been busy lately. I had already …

One of my favorite appetizers is a classic shrimp cocktail. If shrimp cocktail is on our menu, it’s probably a special occasion.To be honest, I’ve always bought frozen or thawed precooked shrimp; I have yet to buy raw shrimp and boil it myself for shrimp …

Homemade Turkey Gravy is the “Thanksgiving Sauce” that brings everything together on the plate. It’s notorious for helping to hide overcooked and dry turkey breast meat. But, made with quality ingredients can be intensely infused with the best savory Thanksgiving flavor—the turkey neck, defatted drippings, …

I remember being surprised the first time I ordered chicken in a restaurant and there was 1/2 of a chicken on my plate. I’m calling this Greek Lemon Chicken with Potatoes “restaurant style” because I’ve left the chicken cut in half like you get at …

Salmon was an acquired taste for me. I finally started liking it in my twenties. Up to that point the only salmon I ate was my Mom’s salmon patties with ketchup. One night when I was out to dinner with a few coworkers on a …

Writing about this recipe is a little surreal because I didn’t know this Grandma. I never met her. I think she died before I was even born. You see, my dad is the youngest of ten kids and he loved this meal so much that …

Recently, my husband and I entertained another family for dinner. Our guests were unexpectedly surprised with a menu that was Thanksgiving part II. We did the whole thing all over again: roaster turkey, crock pot mashed potatoes, classic turkey stuffing, etc. We were all happily …

Chicken Shish Kebab is a classic example of Mediterranean food which I love. I might go as far as saying that it is my favorite type of food. However, I would like to travel extensively all over the Mediterranean just to make sure! Mediterranean food …

Now I know what the fuss is all about. I think everyone knew about kale chips except for me. Several months ago I saw an episode of Down Home with the Neely’s on Food Network. When I finally got around to making these and tasting …

Everyone loves my Mom’s potato salad—even when I make it! I have been making my mom’s potato salad for several years, mostly for large gatherings. I’ve made  it for 4th of July parties, potlucks, and even a wedding with hundreds of people. This is one …

When invited to someone’s house for dinner, or a party, my Mom taught me to always ask if there was anything I could bring.  So, when my husband and I were invited to an impromptu barbeque at a friend’s house, and asked what we could bring, …

When my husband and I have a busy in our lives we have a tendency to not think about what we eat.  We derail from a health lifestyle – and throw all dietary guidelines out the window, eating whatever we want whenever we want.  When …

I used to be intimidated to make a whole side of salmon. Not anymore! Making seafood has been a learning curve and it takes practice. This is a salmon preparation that I now serve to guests! Broiled Wild Salmon1 large fillet (about 2 pounds)3 tablespoons …

These Easy Oven-Roasted Asparagus are crispy yet tender from end to end because part of the stalk is peeled. They are quick and easy enough to make for a week night dinner, and elegant enough to serve to guests. Sometimes you can find tender thin …