Robust Recipes

Healthy, Flavorful Food

Easy Gazpacho

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I know, I know. It's the beginning of September and instead of posting a recipe about pumpkin or chili I am posting a recipe for Easy Gazpacho, a cold, refreshing soup that is generally made and enjoyed during blazing hot summer days! I promise the pumpkin recipes, baking recipes, and chilis are all coming your way before you know it. But for now, let's cherish this soup that's made with all the fresh, late summer veggies (yes, it's still technically summer) while our afternoons are still warm … [Read more...]

Easy Caesar Salad (GF)

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Well hello, there, how about a tasty Caesar salad that's gluten free and still consists of those crunchy, tasty croutons we just have to have on top of our Caesar salad? How about a dressing that's made with Greek yogurt instead of raw egg yolks? I bet you can't tell the difference. This dressing is still as creamy, rich, salty, and as delicious as the traditional dressing! Are you ready to make this Easy Caesar Salad? Good, let me show you how! First, we make some skillet croutons … [Read more...]

Smoky Sun Dried Tomato Hummus

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Smoky Sun Dried Tomato Hummus is the perfect summertime snack, side dish, or appetizer. It's easy to make, creamy, and bursting with that sun dried tomato sweetness with a rich smoky flavor that will keep your taste buds dancing! It's even vegan and gluten free. Hi, welcome to August! We've made it! August is meant for devouring all the fresh summer produce we can, sipping refreshing drinks, and savoring the heat. Let's get to it! Smoky Sun Dried Tomato Hummus was inspired by my … [Read more...]

Beet Basil Hummus

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Beet Basil Hummus is a refreshing, slightly sweet and earthy variation of traditional hummus. It is loaded with fresh basil leaves to give it that summertime flavor! Hi, Friends. I hope you have been enjoying a wonderful summer so far. How is it July already? This week we returned from our second out of three family vacations of the summer. We spent a few short days in Minnesota on a lake with Paul's side of the family. We swam in the pool, waterskied, tubed, and jet-skied. We enjoyed … [Read more...]

Ranch Hummus

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Hummus is my go-to way to eat raw veggies. It's rare that a week goes by that I haven't whipped up a batch of hummus at home. But ever since making my Skinny Ranch Dip a few weeks ago I have been craving more ranch flavors - plus sometimes it's good to switch it up - so I thought, why not combine the two flavors? Ranch dip + hummus = the ultimate veggie dip! Remember how, when we made our Skinny Ranch Dip, we also made our own ranch seasoning mixture? Because it's so, so easy to do and saves … [Read more...]

Skinny Ranch Dip

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With Memorial Day coming up at the end of the month - you know, that three day weekend when everyone thinks they are going to have a party in their backyard or a picnic, but then it always rains (okay, at least here in the Midwest it does) - I thought it was the perfect time to share my take on Skinny Ranch Dip. Because, let's be honest, is it ever any kind of spring/summer party without a veggie platter served with creamy, dreamy ranch dip? About a year ago I shared my Cashew Ranch Dip which … [Read more...]

Pea Soup (V + GF)

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Happy spring, friends! I know that I keep mentioning spring, but it truly excites me - like little girl giddy excited. Besides doesn't the post of this title, Pea Soup, just sound like spring? And that gorgeous bright green color! I can barely handle it. As you know, I cannot survive cold weather without some warm soup. Even though it is officially spring and the sun is shining, the grass is green, the birds are chirping, we can still have some chilly days. Seriously, Mother Nature, … [Read more...]

Sriracha Honey Roasted Cashews

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Happy Monday, Friends! I have a little something for you to help kick-start your Monday: Sriracha Honey Roasted Cashews. I hope you're as excited as I am! The idea for Sriracha Honey Roasted Cashews came from an advertisement for one of those order-a-box-of-fresh-healthy-food-and-it-comes-straight-to-your-door companies. Their example of a snack item was sriracha roasted cashews. I heard that and just had to find out what that would taste like, because I love sriracha on everything - even in … [Read more...]

Roasted Sweet Potato Fig Soup with Crunchy Chickpeas

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As a food blogger I get inspiration and ideas for recipes from all sorts of places, but eating out at restaurants is a huge one. If I order something I really enjoy I immediately begin to think of how I can re-create it at home. It’s a blessing and a curse, because I have to resist the work-mode-trance when it’s a Saturday and we’re supposed to be relaxing. This is when my trusty phone comes in handy. I make a note of my ideas and then it’s out of my head, but the recipe idea is there on my … [Read more...]

Corn and Zucchini Chowder

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With Iowa’s bountiful supply of corn I have been wanting to make a corn chowder all summer long. There was one tiny problem. With the heat in my no-central-air-heat-trap of a kitchen my desire to make or eat soup was pretty much non-existent. As the temperatures have dropped slightly and the humidity isn’t as thick as butter, I knew it was the perfect time to make my Corn Zucchini Chowder. We are nearing the end of our sweet corn season here in Iowa. The time for soup making is now! Corn … [Read more...]