Leafy greens really flourish in North Carolina during the fall. On my last trip to the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market, I was awed by the abundance of lettuce and kale varieties, chard and other greens like collards and bok choy. I brought home a beautiful bunch of lacinto kale and immediately got to work prepping [...]
Meatless/Vegetarian
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Broccoli Cheddar Cottage Cheese Quiche
June 7, 2021 { 16 comments }This Broccoli Cheddar Cottage Cheese Quiche brings together two of my favorite foods…cottage cheese and quiche! It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of whisking cottage cheese into my scrambled eggs and at some point last fall I thought to myself…why not try cottage cheese in a quiche? The idea was successful yielded a [...]
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Jack O’ Lantern Macaroni and Cheese Stuffed Peppers
October 26, 2020 { 1 comment }I’m kicking off Halloween week with a recipe for Macaroni and Cheese Stuffed Peppers that offers a very festive twist! While carving your peppers like Jack O’ Lanterns is optional, trying this recipe shouldn’t be! In the past I’ve always thought rice or grain mixture when stuffing peppers but I am here to tell you [...]
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Stuffed Acorn Squash with Brown Rice, Kale, Cranberries and Pecans
October 1, 2020 { 196 comments }This recipe for stuffed acorn squash with brown rice, kale, cranberries and pecans is a delicious and creative use for acorn squash that can be prepared ahead of time and easily reheated for lunches and dinners throughout the week. It’s a perfect fall meal that can be prepared meatless or with chopped or shredded chicken [...]
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Cheesy Roasted Cauliflower Soup
March 5, 2020 { 4 comments }It’s no secret that this winter has been the season of soup for me! There was a long stretch of life where I turned to salad for lunch nine times out of ten. Then I moved on to turkey sandwiches for a couple of years. I am now fully in soup land, and it’s a [...]
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Lentil, Cauliflower and Kale Vegan Power Soup
January 26, 2020 { 16 comments }I hope this post finds you enjoying the weekend. It’s rainy, cool and overcast here in Florida so it seems like the perfect time to share this recipe for Lentil, Cauliflower and Kale Vegan Power Soup. I posted a photo of this soup in last week’s “Day in the Life at 20 Months” post and [...]
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Warming Lentil + Sweet Potato Soup
November 5, 2019 { 11 comments }I wasn’t sure if this day would ever come but I can confidently say that my nearly two year turkey sandwich lunch obsession has ended. My favorite combination was Nature’s Own Honey Wheat Bread, Duke’s Mayo, sliced avocado, Applegate turkey, a slice of cheese and bread and butter pickles. I ate hundreds of them. I [...]
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Balsamic Glazed Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Shallots
November 14, 2018 { 6 comments }Just in time for Thanksgiving, I have an easy, healthy and delicious vegetable side dish for you! These Balsamic Glazed Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Shallots are sure to be a hit at your Thanksgiving table with the brussels sprout loving crowd. BALSAMIC GLAZED ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND SHALLOTS Fun story, about 8 years ago I [...]
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Cheesy Summer Squash Casserole
August 14, 2018 { 7 comments }Many were intrigued by the squash casserole that my dad made a couple of weeks ago while I was in Florida and I received requests for a recipe. I was happy to create my own version of squash casserole to share with you guys today! I served this recipe to some friends who came over [...]
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Kale and Quinoa Salad with Roasted Chickpeas and Pepitas
June 16, 2017 { 10 comments }When we moved a few months ago some friends of ours delivered dinner to us on moving night. They brought us a vegan veggie soup and a kale and quinoa salad that we are now obsessed with. These friends of ours are kale salad connoisseurs and after years of eating kale salads from restaurants all [...]
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Brussles Sprout and Kale Salad with Butternut Squash, Pears, Goat Cheese and a Balsamic Date Vinaigrette
November 22, 2016 { 5 comments }This shredded brussels sprout and kale salad features roasted butternut squash, sliced pears, toasted pecans and honey goat cheese and is topped with a chopped date and balsamic vinaigrette. I was challenged to create a healthy holiday recipe by Bon Appetit and ALDI for an Instagram project (head on over to Instagram to check it [...]
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Grilled Plantains with Brown Sugar Butter Glaze
July 26, 2016 { 13 comments }These grilled plantains with brown sugar butter glaze are a delicious way to enjoy ripe plantains and make an easy summer side dish or dessert! I know I’ve bragged on my dad’s cooking many times on my blog before but I have to do it again today. Whether it’s baking bread, making homemade yogurt, serving up [...]
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The Most Addictive Avocado Toast Ever
June 9, 2016 { 35 comments }I have been so obsessed with this avocado, sauerkraut and scrambled egg toast combination that I couldn’t wait one more day to share it with you. It’s been on heavy rotation for breakfast, brunch, lunch and late night dinners. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is, it’s always the right time for this [...]
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Homemade Almond Milk {Video Tutorial}
February 4, 2016 { 26 comments }When I was in the initial planning stages of my Whole30, making my own almond milk was honestly not something that really interested me. I assumed it would be a cumbersome process that wasn’t really worth the time or effort. Was I ever wrong! I did a lot of research and reading online about making [...]
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Spinach, Mushroom and Black Bean Enchiladas
September 17, 2015 { 16 comments }September brings the arrival of so many fall things…apples, pumpkin, crisp mornings, changing leaves and FOOTBALL! I am a Georgia girl and one thing we don’t mess around with is our football! I spent every Friday night cheering on the field at home and away with my high school team. When I went off to [...]
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Southern-Style Tomato Pie
September 14, 2015 { 24 comments }One of the saddest things about the end of summer is the end of tomatoes that are bursting with flavor. I can hardly bring myself to buy grocery store tomatoes during the off-season because they are so far removed from the real thing. We have enjoyed a great tomato season here in Charlotte and my [...]
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Tuscan Kale Salad with Golden Beets, Figs and Feta
August 21, 2015 { 9 comments }For a long time I was not on the kale salad bandwagon. I didn’t understand what people found so appealing about eating raw, chewy, bitter, hard to digest kale. I much preferred it the way my Mema has been making it for as long as I can remember, cooked in a flavorful broth (that usually [...]
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Boost Your Brainpower Spinach, Quinoa and Berry Salad
March 16, 2015 { 72 comments }This post is sponsored by Dole Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. Dole provided me with compensation for my time and recipe development. As always, all opinions expressed in this post are mine. March 16-22 is Brain Awareness Week. This annual event is a global celebration of the brain that brings attention to brain science advances and promotes brain [...]
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Armenian Lentil Soup with Eggplant and Apricots
January 21, 2015 { 24 comments }This recipe for Armenian Lentil Soup is vegan and gluten-free. It’s full of tomatoes, eggplant, apricots, peppers, onions and lentils along with some really fantastic spices like cayenne pepper, cinnamon and cumin. For the last few weeks I have been making soups to have on hand to eat throughout the week. It’s such a treat [...]
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Roasted Okra with Sriracha Aioli {Recipe}
September 25, 2014 { 10 comments }Growing up in the south has given me quite an appreciation for some of our regional specialties including grits, greens, cornbread (my favorite recipe here), banana pudding, pimento cheese, pulled pork and okra just to name a few. Today we’re going to talk about okra. What exactly is okra? Well, it’s edible green seed pods that grow [...]
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Lemon Feta Potato Salad {Recipe}
September 12, 2014 { 12 comments }This lemon feta potato salad is light, bright, simple and packs a punch of flavor. Potato salad is one of those foods that tends to put people in opposing camps. You’re either a fan or it’s not your thing. One of the things that can turn people off of potato salad is the mayonnaise, as [...]
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Mediterranean Lentil & Couscous Salad
April 24, 2014 { 12 comments }I have a recipe to share with you today for a Mediterranean Lentil and Couscous Salad that can be prepared ahead of time to serve as a side dish or to have on hand for lunches for the week. I have been making this recipe since 2011 so I can assure you it’s tried and [...]
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Easy Baked Tofu Tutorial
February 18, 2014 { 32 comments }I always keep a package of firm tofu in the fridge for an easy, meatless protein. One serving of tofu averages 10 grams of protein. Let me give you a little comparison here… – 1/2 cup serving of raw firm tofu contains 94 calories – 4 oz ground beef contains 331 calories – 1/2 cup of [...]
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Butternut and Bean Chili {Recipe}
November 7, 2013 { 31 comments }The first pot of chili of the season is always a noteworthy occasion. I’m one of those people who has a required low temperature before I’ll start making things like soup, stews and chili. With temperatures dipping down into the 30s in Charlotte recently, it was definitely time for a pot of my favorite chili. [...]
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Baked Lemon-Thyme Risotto
July 14, 2013 { 8 comments }Risotto is one of my favorite “let’s make dinner feel fancy” foods. It always seems like more of a treat to me than a typical rice/quinoa/cous cous side dish. Now, call me crazy but I love to make risotto the traditional way where you commit to constant stirring for 30 minutes. Give me a glass [...]
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Building the Lunch Bowl (+ Friday Wine Lunch!)
March 22, 2013 { 21 comments }Happy Friday! I missed y’all yesterday but I was too busy with work to blog. By the time I got home, showered, ate dinner and made it to the couch it was after 10 p.m. and all I had energy for was sitting and staring at the screen. I did watch the finale of The [...]
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Carrot Butternut Ginger Soup
February 4, 2013 { 33 comments }This recipe for Carrot Butternut Ginger Soup has been a favorite of mine for nearly 10 years! It’s packed with nutrients thanks to the carrots and butternut squash and a healthy dose of fresh ginger gives it a comforting hit of spice to warm you up during the winter months. It’s a simple soup with [...]
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Mexican Quinoa V2 + Strong & Confident
August 29, 2012 { 38 comments }I really loved all of the pet discussion today about food and training. I try to keep the blog mostly focused on food/fitness/lifestyle and try to not go overboard with the pet pictures/posts. I do consider owning a pet to be part of my lifestyle so I’m happy that the food post was well received. [...]
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Golden Bowl
July 11, 2012 { 30 comments }I went to college at the University of Georgia in Athens. It’s pretty much the best college town ever. The downtown is walking distance from campus and full of bars, shops and great restaurants. I was first introduced to true vegetarian cuisine in Athens at The Grit. I enjoyed many delicious dinners and hungover brunches [...]
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Mexican Quinoa
October 20, 2010 { 22 comments }You request, I listen! Here is the recipe for the Mexican Quinoa. I think it’s apparent that quinoa is one of my new favorites. I discovered it during my 68 Days of Gourmet project on Bakin’ and Eggs. This recipe is responsible for the start of my obsession. I touched on the health benefits in [...]