Harvest Salsa

Well, we're heading into our third week of homeschooling already!  I love spending the extra time with my little sous chef and also the freedom that we have in our schedule.  Fall is my favorite season for so many reasons, but I have a feeling that homeschooling is going to top my list this year!  Speaking of fall, it's not quite here yet, but it sure has felt like it for some time now.  This has got to be the mildest (and wettest) summer that I can remember!  I've only had to water my garden three or four times this year because of how much rain we've had!  Not that I'm complaining.  My garden is bursting at the seams, and I've been trying my best to not waste anything and use the things that I have in excess in creative ways.  Last week, I made some Cinnamon White Chocolate and Zucchini Cookies, and they were ahhhmazing!  Unfortunately, they didn't last long enough for me to blog about them.

This week, I found myself with a lot of extra corn and tomatoes, so I decided to make a salsa to go along with blackened chicken and rice for dinner.  This salsa is bright, refreshing, and uses ingredients straight from the garden.  While the avocado is optional, it really adds a lovely creamy contrast to the crunchy texture of the salsa.  Serve it with tortilla chips, chicken, beef, or seafood!

Pan-Fried Cod with Farro Salad in Champagne Vinaigrette

My husband and I celebrated 11 years of marriage this past Valentine's Day!  We look forward to a romantic getaway every year, but once the celebrating is over, we come to the grim realization that we have to endure the long, bitter winter that just seems to go on and on... and on and on... like a bad run-on sentence.  You know it's brutal out when the school districts are closed because of the low temperatures.  The frigid weather sends me into complete hibernation mode, and all I want to do is bundle up all day with a hot cup of tea.  I'm happy to report that I've already gained my usual 5-pound winter weight, and I justify it by telling myself that the only practical thing to do is embrace the extra layer of insulation.  It takes everything in me to muster up motivation for exercise this time of year.  My daydreams have ever increasingly consisted of playing tennis under the hot son, or running on the trail next to my little sous chef.  

Speaking of running, I enrolled my daughter in Girls on the Run!  It's a program that "inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running."  Once it's completed, she and I will run our first 5K together!  More about that another time.

Because my exercise routine is rather unstable this time of year, eating healthy is a must.  Once a week, I incorporate fish into our meal rotation, and I'm always looking for different ways to present it to my family.  I've been experimenting with farro recently, and I decided to pair the two for dinner.  Farro is a wonderfully chewy and hearty grain that has a delicious nutty flavor.  It holds up well in soups and stews, and is a great substitute for pasta.  Farro is high in fiber, a rich source of vitamins B and E, and can stimulate your immune system and lower cholesterol.

This farro salad is dressed in a delicious champagne vinaigrette and seasoned with thyme, parsley, and rosemary.  A touch of freshly squeezed orange juice is added to brighten up the flavor.  Fresh tomato and artichoke are tossed in along with some minced onion for a little crunch factor.  This is a delicious salad that's hearty, healthy, and full of flavor.  It can can be enjoyed warm or cold.  I can't wait to use farro in my Tuscan Soup next time!    

Peach Poppy Seed Vinaigrette over Strawberry, Feta & Walnut Salad

We've been doing some spring cleaning of our diets recently, especially since I've gained my usual 5-pound winter weight.  I'm very anxious to get back on the tennis courts and bike trail again!  I had a beautiful package of mixed baby greens in the fridge and was in the mood for a light and refreshing salad.  I decided to use up my remaining strawberries, toss in some feta, and add some toasted walnuts.  But it needed something to bring it all together.  I found about 3 tablespoons of peach preserves that I had to use up, so I decided to make a peach vinaigrette with poppy seeds.  This dressing is seriously bangin!

Tuscan Three Bean & Bacon Soup with Kale

We woke up to another four inches of snow this morning.  Uncle!  Who's moving to Florida with me?  I'll start packing.  While the snowstorms have interfered with a lot of our precious plans this past month, they didn't stop us from celebrating our 10-year wedding anniversary.  Life is so amazing when you're married to your best friend!  We had a lovely time away.  However, the morning before we left to come back home, I came down with a nasty cold.  I never get sick.  I'm always the one who nurtures everyone else and manages to never catch a thing.  Well, I found myself laid out in bed for 36 hours straight - I've never slept so much in my life!  Yesterday afternoon, I finally started to feel well enough to get back on my feet.  The first thing I did?  Homemade soup.  Ah!  What better way to warm your bones and soothe your soul than with a hot bowl of homemade soup?  I made this Tuscan soup with three types of beans (because I'm obsessed with beans), with bacon (because I'm obsessed with bacon), and with kale from the garden.  Though my 9-year-old sous chef initially turned her nose up at the sight of it, she ended up loving it and even asked for seconds.

Baked Ranch Macaroni & Cheese

We've been hammered with snowstorm after snowstorm this winter and, once again, we found ourselves snowed in.  I decided to make some comforting, warming macaroni and cheese for my family with a fun little twist.  The ranch flavor deliciously shines in this dish, but it isn't overpowering.  Definitely give this one a try!  

Celeste's Chili

Every stinking week we have another snowstorm!  10 inches of snow today and another 4-to-6 inches in the forecast for tomorrow.  Please, make it stop!  While I wasn't keen on shoveling the heavy, wet snow from my car, it was rather lovely to have a lazy snow day home with family.  While we out in the snow shoveling, sledding, and sculpting Olaf to life (Disney's Frozen), I had a large pot of chili simmering on the stove.  There's really nothing better than indulging in a hot bowl of chili after an excursion in the icy snow.  I have tinkered with different variations of chili over the years, and my family has determined that this is, by far, our all-time favorite.  

Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Pecans

Twice-baked sweet potatoes would make a fantastic addition to your holiday meal.  They are easy to prepare and so delicious!  Unlike a casserole, you can easily adjust the toppings to accommodate the preferences of whomever you're serving.  You can also make these ahead of time.  Just place them in the oven 20 minutes before you're ready to serve them.     

Note:  If you're short on time, you can microwave the potatoes for 15 minutes instead of baking for 1 hour.

Roasted Carrot Soup

My lovely mother was raving over some carrot soup that she and my dad love, so I asked her to forward the recipe to me one day.  I finally got around to trying it and I'm so glad that I did!  It's rich, creamy, and perfect for a chilly autumn day.  The fennel and cloves add a nice depth of flavor. Instead of sauteing the vegetables, I decided to roast them.  I also added another clove of garlic, a little heavy cream and a hint of ginger.  Other than that, I pretty much stuck to the ingredients.  Bravo, mom!  

Homemade Chunky Chicken Noodle Soup

Soup weather is upon us!  The stuff from a can doesn't compare to homemade.  All you need is a little time and love and you can enjoy a healthy and hearty soup that is satisfying to the soul.  

Grilled Corn on the Cob with Cilantro-Lime Butter

While corn on the cob is delicious with a little butter, I enjoy enhancing it from time to time with herb butters.  Cilantro-lime butter is easy to make and it gives grilled corn on the cob a pleasantly fresh and zesty kick.  

Garlic "Mashed" Cauliflower with Cheddar

Cauliflower is packed with many essential vitamins and minerals and it is also low in calories, low in saturated fat, and high in fiber.  It's definitely something that I have been trying to incorporate more frequently into my dinner rotation.  Though not technically "mashed" as the recipe name suggests, the cauliflower is first steamed or boiled and then pureed along with other ingredients into a creamy consistency.  You'll love this delicious, healthier alternative to mashed potatoes!  

Note:  Depending on the actual size of your cauliflower head, you may want to use more or less milk as indicated in the recipe.  Always start with less milk than you think because you can always add more later.

Low-Carb Diet:  You can easily substitute the milk for heavy cream for a low-carb version.  

Twice-Baked Potatoes

We had cod with chipotle aioli sauce (recipe to come) for dinner tonight and I decided that twice-baked potatoes would make a perfect side.  Twice-baked potatoes are comforting, delicious and very forgiving.  If you prefer them creamier, add more milk.  If you prefer them cheesier, add more cheese.  Try adding sauteed onions or bacon.  Steamed vegetables make a wonderful addition, too.  They are basically a boatload of goodness that you can easily adjust to your taste.  My family loves these and I serve them pretty regularly as a side dish.

Crab Macaroni & Cheese with Ritz Cracker Topping

We finally have our first vacation planned out this year and are anxiously counting down the days until it's go time.  I can't wait to smell the salty ocean air, feel the hot sand between my toes, listen to the waves crashing, and indulge in some freshly caught seafood.  My longing for the ocean was the inspiration for this meal.  The succulent crab comes through beautifully but isn't overpowering and it adds a lovely texture.  You know you want to sink your fork into this decadent dish!  

Skinny Macaroni & Cheese

Cutting down the calories and fat definitely does not compromise the flavor in this Skinny Mac n' Cheese!  Yes, it is possible to enjoy a delicious, cheesy macaroni and cheese with a lot less guilt!  Pureed potato is used as a thickening agent in place of butter and flour, and fat free milk along with reduced fat cheeses are also used.        

Note:  As always, the actual calorie total depends on the quality/brand of ingredients you use, so I included that information as well in the ingredient list.  

Quinoa Salad with Asparagus & Almonds in Balsamic Vinaigrette

My back door was sending me conflicting information a few days ago - snow in spring?  It can't be!  Even though spring hasn't quite started out as I had hoped, I am still in the spirit.  We have already started on our spring cleaning and I have been admiring the pretty little robins pecking away at the suet from my back door.  How lovely it will be to open my windows and let the sweet spring air pour through to freshen my house.  How happy I will be when I can harvest and cook with fresh ingredients from the garden again.  As I found myself daydreaming, I decided to make a light, healthy and fresh salad for lunch today to help quench my thirst for the spring weather.  

Mexican Rice & Black Beans

This is one of my favorite Mexican side dishes!  It is spicy, garlicy and very flavorful.  I made Chipotle Shrimp Tacos for my family the other night and it was the perfect complement to them.  If you're a vegetarian, you can serve this as a main dish.  A word of caution:  A little bit goes a long way - it is very filling!  

How to Make Stuffing (Dressing)

I recently had the privilege of working with Food.com on how-to's for their website.  It was a bit odd making stuffing and roasting a turkey in the middle of August, but it was a lot of fun!  

For step-by-step instructions with photos and tips/tricks on how to make stuffing, visit the following link!

How To Make Stuffing

Also, check out some of my other how-to's at Food.com:
How to brine a turkey
How to roast a turkey
How to carve a turkey
How to make gravy
How to make turkey stock
How to make pie crust
How to make pumpkin pie
How to make apple pie

Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Crushed Doritos

Dorito-crusted macaroni and cheese - need I say more?  Sometimes it's good to live a little!  Happy first day of autumn!

Tips:  If you would prefer a slightly healthier version of this recipe, you can substitute the crushed Doritos for Panko breadcrumbs.  You can also use skim milk in place of the whole milk.

Pork Wonton Soup with Shiitake Mushrooms

My favorite time of year is upon us.  Yesterday was the first day that my air conditioners were silenced to allow the fresh, cool air dance around inside my home.  A lot of people try to hold on to summer as long as they possibly can but I always find myself anxious to embrace autumn.  In the spirit of fall, I decided to make one of my family's favorite soups last night.  The word wonton literally means "swallowing clouds", which is very fitting as they resemble little puffs of clouds floating in the soup.  This savory soup is fun to assemble and delicious!

Note:  Both the wonton wrappers and pork mixture freeze very well.  You can freeze them separately or you can assemble the wontons ahead of time and then freeze them.  In either case, they will keep for up to four months in the freezer. 

Spicy Zucchini Boats with Tomato & Pepper Jack

The garden has been coming along very well.  We are harvesting lots of vegetables -- tomatoes, zucchini, squash, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.  I had some fresh zucchini, squash and tomato that needed to be used up in my fridge.  Zucchini boats have been making their rounds on food blogs everywhere recently, so I decided to make my own version.  This is a healthy and delicious side dish that is a perfect complement nearly any main dish.  I served these with baked haddock.