Posts

Published 8/18/2024 This 20-minute Tomato Bisque Soup is the perfect comfort food that comes together quickly! This recipe cuts out a lot of leg work by using canned tomato products. That way, you can pretty much make this recipe at any moment if your kitchen is stocked with canned goods. With a rich tomato flavor and a creamy texture, this recipe is a consistent family favorite. It’s perfect for serving by itself or alongside a grilled cheese sandwich or other dishes....

Hello and happy new year! I hope you had a wonderful, low-key week and are feeling rested, recharged, and inspired to live your best life in 2018. Yesterday, after ordering an entire carafe of iced coffee from his favorite coffee shop to last him throughout the day, Ben declared, “new year, same me!” Either works, I guess! Anyway, we are officially home and settled after visiting my in-laws out east for a week after Christmas....

I came back from that summer abroad with many memories, new experiences and stories to share…as well as 8 extra pounds on my body! 8 pounds on a 5’2 person is…a lot. I looked like a little marshmallow! Several things contributed to my weight gain that summer. The worst offenders, not surprisingly, being the most delicious. ;) Yoshinoya Beef Bowls, Chu-Hi, Tokyo Style Ramen Noodles… And Gyoza. Tons and TONS of chewy, savory, incredible Gyoza!...

I’ve run into no less than 3 readers in the past month who’ve said, I just love your salads! I do too, as evidenced by the bursting salad recipe selection here on IGE, though I think I’ve found a new favorite. Apple Bacon Brussels Sprouts Salad with warm bacon dressing is fresh yet decadent and packed full of flavor and crunch. Yes, warm bacon dressing. This is no boring salad recipe, people!...

Prep the candy, costumes, and pumpkin buckets – Halloween’s a-comin’! I still remember the giddiness my brothers and I felt every beggar’s night (we actually don’t trick-or-treat on Halloween around here. Right.) I mean, dressing up like little bats, mad scientists, and wrinkly witches? Running around the neighborhood after dark? Limitless candy? Yes, yes, and heck yes! This year, plan on “saving” (aka confiscating #noshame) some of your kids’ candy to make these epic Apple Snicker Nachos the day after Halloween – if you can wait that long!...

My family and I love seafood all year round, but the holidays are when we really indulge – especially on shrimp. For as long as I can remember my Mom has made Cajun Shrimp for Christmas Eve dinner, which is shrimp baked with butter and Cajun seasoning, the latter half of which is sopped up with warm sourdough bread. This dish is as sinful and delicious as it sounds, and we look forward to eating it all year long…especially while sitting in Christmas Eve church service....

My husband and I have been looking for ways to healthify our daily lives and one of the easiest ways to do that is to sneak more vegetables into our meals (shocker!) We’re not talking about serving dinner with a sidecar of steamed broccoli or plain mashed potatoes through — BORING! There are definitely more exciting ways to go about it, like low carb Beef Taco Bowls which are crushing it in the healthy AND delicious department!...

Looking for a hot and hearty, meatless, and make-ahead breakfast to kick your day off with? Black Bean, Sweet Corn, and Tomato Quinoa Burritos are all that and more (meaning they’re freezer-friendly too!) Quinoa cooked in chicken broth for maximum flavor is scooped into warmed tortillas with a mixture of sauted black beans, sweet corn, chopped tomatoes, herbs, and spices. After a sprinkling of freshly shredded cheese the burritos are rolled then ready to devour immediately, refrigerate for a few days, or send off to the freezer for another morning....

Published 8/11/2022 • Updated 3/17/2024 Easy Couscous Salad with Black Beans Looking for an easy salad to make for a party or meal prep for the week? You’ve come to the right place because this black bean couscous salad is so tasty and packed with tons of veggies. It’s loaded with tons of fiber from the beans and nutrients from the veggies. This simple couscous salad truly is perfect for so many occasions....

Published 8/4/2020 Prep all of your breakfasts on Sunday so come Monday morning, you can sip your coffee with ease. Breakfast meal prep is a great way to start your morning off with a nutritious meal and a little less stress. Two of my favorite things are breakfast and meal prep, so you can imagine how much fun I had rounding up recipes for this breakfast meal prep recipes post....

Cancel your dinner plans (I know, I wanted take out from that new sushi spot in town for you tonight too, BUT—) we’ve got Cheesy Bacon Butternut Squash Gnocchi Skillet to make for dinner! We’re moving steadily into fall and my soul and taste buds are craving warmth, comfort, and, well, bacon. This hearty yet vegetable packed gnocchi with cheesy bacon and butternut squash is checking all the boxes!...

I’ve got an elegant yet easy dish that will warm you from the inside out – Chicken Piccata Risotto with Crispy Capers! I’m not usually one to shy away from cooking with full-fat olive oil and butter, but if there’s an easy way to lighten up an indulgent classic, I’ll always take on the challenge. So, when I saw an opportunity to slash some calories and fat from one of my husband’s and my favorite dishes — Chicken Piccata — I jumped at the chance, and this light yet luscious Chicken Piccata Risotto was born!...

Published 6/1/2021 • Updated 7/5/2023 This Green Goddess Dressing truly is the perfect dressing or dip for any day of the week. Green goddess dressing –> put that stuff on everything! This salad dressing is a fan favorite because you can literally put on any salad, bowl, meat, etc. What is Green Goddess Dressing? Green goddess dressing is a creamy dressing made with a variety of different fresh herbs and other anti-inflammatory add-ins such as lemon juice and apple cider vinegar....

Published 12/28/2023 Whether you need a new recipe for busy weeknights or special occasions or are just plain hungry, this orzo pasta is sure to satisfy. What makes this orzo pasta recipe unique? It’s a veggie-forward pasta recipe made with bursting cherry tomatoes and zucchini. Oh, and we creamed it with whipped cottage cheese for extra protein! The entire team seriously loved this pasta so much. We had fun filming the video too and all went back for seconds it’s so delicious....

Today I’m sharing a project I promised on Instagram a few weeks ago: how to make a DIY magnetic board for a stainless steel fridge to use as a play area for your little one, a menu planner, organization center – really whatever you want! Lincoln’s at an age (19 mo) where he wants to be with either Ben or me pretty much all the time, so it can be challenging to get dinner made, for example, when he’s tugging on my pant leg every minute....

Published 9/20/2022 Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancakes Gluten free? No problem. These gluten free pumpkin pancakes are chewy, packed with fall flavors and easy to. make. We like to make a double batch and freeze some for later, too. Featured Ingredients Eggs- eggs are important in this recipe. They bind the pancakes and give them body. Pumpkin puree– make sure to use unsweetened pumpkin puree. Almond meal– when you are buying almond meal for this gluten free pumpkin pancake recipe be sure you are buying the fine almond flour and not almond meal....

I always enjoy eating Focaccia bread during the holiday season. The best thing about it is that you can change its flavor as per your taste. Sometimes I make it with Jalapeno, sometimes I like Garlic & Herbs, and sometimes I prefer Lemon & Sage ones. Focaccia Bread is so amazingly flavorful that I love eating it with soup or stew. It also goes great with some seasoned Olive Oil....

I took the kids to a U-pick vegetable farm last week thinking we’d come home with a few zucchini and tomatoes, maybe some peaches too. Somehow, though, we ended up hauling home a trunk full the aforementioned peaches and tomatoes, plus sweet corn, eggplant, cantaloupe, watermelon, and more yellow beans than you can shake a stick at. I literally had to drag Gwen away from the bean poles screaming! Our little adventure got me very excited for apple picking season which is just around the corner....

Honey, I baked! BTW, if you ever hear me complaining about my job please remind me of the time I made and ate so many Chocolate Peanut Butter Blondies that my face broke out. I mean the side effects stink, but baking batch after batch of ooey gooey gluten free blondies this past past week has been a total dream. Chocolate Peanut Butter Blondies are like under-baked cookies in bar form which, if you’re into cookies for the dough and not the tedious scooping (hi, me), this recipe will totally work for you!...

Honey, I baked! Did I ever tell you that my Dad came home every Friday night from work with a special treat for my brothers and me? For years and years and years. Sometimes it was a pack of Mambas (remember those? #yum) other times in was a new VHS tape (HA!), or heck even a pack of gum. Just something to remind us how much he loved and thought about us....