Parmesan Crusted Zucchini Bites

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So I think my family has fully recovered from the zucchini overload that transpired a few weeks ago.  I’ve learned that putting them through the hells of zucchini recipe testing for a couple of weeks actually isn’t too bad of a tactic to get them to completely appreciate all of the other veggies out there.  Lately I’ve been hearing things like We aren’t having zucchini?  We’re having broccoli?  YESSSS!!!  So really, we are all sort of winning here.

But this Parmesan Crusted Zucchini Rounds recipe shouldn’t even technically count as zucchini.  Fried cheese? Now that’s more like it. Continue reading

Crispy Roasted Potatoes with Bleu Cheese Dip

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Do you guys have that urge to cook a solid meal on Sundays?  Like, a stick to your ribs, starchy, midwestern type meal?  I can’t get over it.  I don’t know what it is.  But chances are you’ll never see me serving a main course salad or light dish on that savored last-day-of-the-weekend.  It just doesn’t feel right.  Continue reading

Butter, Lime + Parmesan Corn

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Happy official summer, friends! It’s a much anticipated time here in Minnesota and man can we embrace it. Lakes for days. Warmth. Homegrown produce. BBQs. Patios. Late bedtimes. Smores over a bonfire. Sandy shoes. And CORN.

Let’s just get something straight, for starters.  I love Minnesota.  Living here is perfect for myself and my family.  But I am a gosh darn Iowa girl..and proud of it.  18 wonderful years of my life were spent in Iowa and aside from Hawkeye football…and pork…and so many other fabulous things….that place reigns supreme for homegrown corn.  There’s just nothing like it.  We ate it so often in the summers…and there were always farmers selling it out of the back of their trucks along the sides of the roads.  Hows that for fresh? Continue reading

Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Garlic Lime Sour Cream

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It’s funny.  Sunday, in my brain, is supposed to be for ‘Sunday Meals’.  You know, the fancy, time-consuming meals you can’t get accomplished during the week.  But rarely does it end up being that way around here.  Sunday is typically the day I go out during nap time and get my meal plan/shopping done for the week.  It sounds silly, but that little mission takes time,  so I am always rushing back home to get dinner on the table before it’s too late.  Sunday dinners usually need to be low maintenance and ultra quick for me.  And often times that means firing up the grill to throw steak or fish on and often times it’s paired with these Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges.  Insanely quick.   Continue reading

Greens, Bleu + Peach Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

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Peaches are popping up all over the place these days, guys.  And man are they tasting amazing.  We can’t get enough.

This has sort of been the ‘house salad’ going on in our home lately.  It pairs with everything as an amazing side dish.  But really…I prefer it alone, all by it’s pretty little self, as the perfect meal.   Continue reading

Roasted Potatoes with Mustard Vinaigrette + Bleu Cheese

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I hope you’re reading this feeling refreshed after a long weekend!  We had a great one that involved so much yummy food and this Roasted Potato Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette +Bleu Cheese was up there on the list.

It’s a fantastic way to doll up potatoes without much work at all.  We paired it with grilled steaks and a green salad and it fit in just perfectly.  It’s wonderful both warm and at room temperature which makes it great for entertaining and it couldn’t be more simple to do. Continue reading

Kale with Lemon Cream Sauce

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Good old kale.  It’s wonderful.  It’s versatile.  It’s full of so many fantastic nutrients.  The total package.  I’ve always adored it; for salads, wilting into soups and stews and so much more.  But I have got to say this Kale with Lemon Cream Sauce is up there high on my list of very favorite side dishes. Continue reading

Cucumber, Apple and Bacon Salad

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This is a fun switch to a classic summer side dish.   Theres so much you can do with this recipe…adding bleu cheese or celery to the mix is wonderful, dried cranberries or cherries instead of apple is pretty delish, too.  But this right here is my favorite variation; crunchy, fresh cucumber, sweet, crisp apple, and smokey bacon make an awesome team paired with the creamy, tangy dressing.   Continue reading