One Pan Lebanese Chicken + Lentil Pilaf

SONY DSCI have been hardcore craving Lebanese food.  And I’m not talking just a yummy shawarma I can get from a local food truck.  I want the real deal…mamas cooking, preferably.  The authentic flavors, the comfort, all of it.  So I did a little playing around in my kitchen this past week and man have I seen the light!

This One Pan Lebanese Chicken and Lentil Pilaf is not a traditional Lebanese dish.  It is a lazy-cooks version of a couple of dishes combined and can I just say that it’s the best lazy-move I may have ever made in the kitchen?  The most tender, flavorful chicken paired with a savory lentil pilaf is a match made in heaven.  Continue reading

Smokey Pork and Citrus Kale Salad

SONY DSCCan you believe it’s February already?  How is this happening, you guys?  It seems like just yesterday we were in the midst of Thanksgiving preparation, and now, we are full blown into winter and darn near our decent into Spring.  Spring!  I mean I know I’m jumping the gun a bit here…but it will be here before we know it, no?

And that pretty much makes me feel all sorts of crazy emotions.  Because spring equals baby’s arrival…eek!  I can’t even begin to tell you how insanely fast this pregnancy has gone..wow.  I mean we have two trimesters under our belt and one to go; I swear I blinked and here we are.   And while I have seen so incredibly many changes in myself/my body during these last several months, there is positively one thing that has remained constant throughout this entire journey….CITRUS FRUIT.     Continue reading

One-Pot Salmon Pasta with Cream Sauce

SONY DSCFriends!  Hello!  How are we?  We’ve nearly made it through January, the most grey month of the year, in my opinion…so the rest is all downhill from here, right?  We just returned home from a vacation with my entire side of the family you guys….what a way to break up the month.  We had such a great time and enjoyed the warm weather of the Bahamas so incredibly much.  And now…back to good old reality.  But gosh I have to admit, a solid routine and well rested kids feels pretty dang good.

So to go with this grey month, how about a rich, gooey, comforting pasta dish that you can get on the table in 20 minutes?  Yes?  Yes.  Let’s do it!  Continue reading

Weeknight Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup

SONY DSCHappy New Year!  It’s  been a while, friends, and while I have thought about you so very often, I have just been way too busy eating to check in with you.  I mean this pregnancy thing really couldn’t have come at a better time.  Christmas.  New Years.  Holiday gatherings galore.  It all amounted to more yummy food than I can explain.  And then there’s the fact my oven was broken for nearly  a month.  You guys, ONE MONTH.  Do you know how long that is?  I mean I get it, be grateful for what you have, I try so hard.  But my oven?!  Take my hot water.  My coffee.  My contact lenses.  But for the love, don’t take my oven! I’m happy to report we are back up and running around here..and we were so very happy to have this Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup at home for dinner last night.   Continue reading

Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Meatballs

SONY DSCFriends, it’s all beginning!  Snow.  Elastic pants.  Food overload.  Family time.  The holidays….yay!

Are you all set for Thanksgiving?  Turkeys brining?  Recipes ready to rock and roll?  We will be hosting my in laws again this year so it will be cozy and quiet…looking forward to a wonderful day with lots of food.  When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner I’m a bit of a traditionalist….aside from throwing in a fun, new salad here and there I like to stick to the basics.  Classic roasted turkey.  Mashed potatoes and gravy.  Stuffing. Those are the basics….delicious, dependable, crowd pleasing basics.  And then…in my house, there is no such thing as a Thanksgiving meal without Ina’s Spinach Gratin-I die.  And a good old fashioned cranberry sauce-can never ever ever get enough.   Continue reading

Pan Roasted Salmon Mediterranean Bowls with Tahini Sauce

SONY DSCOh for all things yum.  If you’re looking for a warm, yet light, fresh weeknight meal idea look no further, friends.  These bowls right here are the whole shebang.

Let’s start with the tahini sauce.  If you have even the slightest relationship with hummus this stuff will knock your socks off.  I eat it on everything.  I mean everything.  From green salad dressing to veggie dip to burger topping to sweet potato fry dunking.  Tart and garlicky and creamy and oh my golly I just can’t get enough.   Continue reading

Quick-Chili Loaded Baked Potatoes

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You guys, this weather we are having around here!  It’s COLD!  Gorgeous, but man does that change in temp feel like a chill or what?  It’s pretty much the best kind of weather.  You know, the kind of weather where it’s not too cold to sleep with your windows open…but them when you wake up in the morning you can’t possibly seem to peel yourself out of those perfectly warm, cozy covers because your room has an insane chill going through it.

We have been comfort-fooding around here like crazy people lately.  It must be the weather.  And these Quick-Chili Loaded Baked Potatoes made the roster.  I feel like I say this a lot, mostly because I only tend to share the recipes that get my family’s stamp of approval, but these are definitely a favorite among the kiddos. Continue reading

Sweet and Sticky Salmon + Coconut Rice Bowls

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Guys, you know I love a good Asian dish.  And you know that my husband is a bit meh about that whole deal-he’s an Italian food junkie.  But these salmon and rice bowls?  His fave.   Totally worthy of your meal rotation, promise!

The coconut rice is a total winner around our home.. .my kids adore it and it pairs wonderfully with basically any protein.  So I started these bowls with a base of that sweet, perfectly cooked rice.   Continue reading

Spinach and Pancetta Salad with Fried Egg

SONY DSCThis salad has been happening since my husband and I were dating.  It very well could be the reason he asked me to marry him.  And if it is, I am totally okay with that.  I will keep feeding him this for better or worse, as long as we both shall live.  Of course, as long as he shares with me.   Continue reading