Whoohoo it’s summertime! There are two things I love most about summertime food: 1) Grilling food and eating outside 2) all the fresh fruit in the world. I could probably go on and on for a year about how much I love the abundance of summertime fruit. It’s really difficult for me to pick a favorite fruit. I am pretty sure it changes every time I go to the grocery store during the summer depending on what catches my eye. I suppose you could say this week it is pineapple. Funny story: last … [Read more...]
Coconut Mojito Fruit Dip (V + GF)
My friends, ever since I discovered the goodness of coconut whipped cream, I have not been able to stop making it! My mind keeps coming up with ways to make use of it. First I used it as a topping to my Chocolate Coffee Avocado Pudding, second it was the filling to my Chocolate Coconut Cream Cups, now it’s this beautiful Coconut Mojito Fruit Dip. Can’t stop! Won’t Stop! What’s great about making coconut whipped cream is that it so easy, so simple, and yields a creamy, rich texture with a … [Read more...]
Cashew Ranch Dip (V + GF)
Who doesn’t love dipping a sweet orange carrot into some creamy, garlic-y, herby ranch dressing? Ranch is the ultimate way to enjoy your fresh cut veggies. Ranch and raw veggies go together like peanut butter and jelly, like strawberries and chocolate. As a kid I wouldn’t touch raw veggies without dipping them into some ranch dressing. I used to drown my salads in the stuff. My poor mom, she wasn’t a fan of the stuff. She knew ranch was packed full of preservatives, a ton of sodium, … [Read more...]
Creamy Sundried Tomato and Chipotle Dip
You know those moments in life when things don’t go as you’d planned them, not even a little? This recipe was exactly one of those moments. During Christmas I was in Texas visiting family and we went out to eat at this amazing Mexican restaurant. It was a huge treat for us to enjoy a really good Tex-Mex restaurant. Remember, I discuss how Midwestern Mexican food doesn’t even compare to Mexican/Tex-Mex in Texas? This wonderful restaurant in Texas served us chips and salsa of course, but it … [Read more...]
Refried Black Beans
With Cinco de Mayo just around the corner I have Mexican food on the brain. I love, love, love Mexican food. Really what we get up here in Iowa is more like Americanized Mexican food. Actually it’s Midwestern-ized Mexican food. I have enjoyed my fair share of Mexican food in Texas and it is a whole new world compared to our Mexican food here. Yes, maybe some of it is considered to be more Tex-Mex, but it is probably way closer to the real deal than our food is here. Let’s just say, Texas is … [Read more...]
Quinoa & Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms with Caramelized Shallots (GF)
Have you ever eaten a stuffed mushroom cap and found the mushroom to be watery and almost mushy? I am obsessed with mushrooms in just about every form. They are amazing when raw in salads, and I love them sautéed in some butter until brown, as well as pureed into a creamy mushroom soup . There was always one particular way of eating mushrooms that I did not enjoy: stuffed mushroom caps. I have ordered them at restaurants as an appetizer, excited to try their mushroom caps stuffed with crab, … [Read more...]
Creamy Asparagus Soup
Hey, friends, hopefully by this point in April you are starting to enjoy some warmer weather where you live. Trees are starting to bud; grass is getting greener. And the produce in your stores is beginning to expand with colors and flavors. Fresh fruit is returning! One of my favorite vegetables that I look forward to in the spring is asparagus. My mom is going to flip bananas when she reads that statement. The thing is, until a few years ago I absolutely hated asparagus. I loathed the … [Read more...]
Creamy Mushroom Soup (GF)
As I am writing this blog two weeks ahead of its post date (because, I am a blog writing machine) our weather is abnormally warm for this time of year in Iowa. This past weekend we had highs of 8 degrees, and then the temperature leaped into highs in the 50s and 60s. Mother Nature is being extra generous this week. The snow is melting, the sun is shining, and the promise of spring has arrived. I am absolutely loving the spring-like weather! My mind has turned to spring-time recipes bursting … [Read more...]
Leek, Potato, and Blue Cheese Soup (GF)
Happy Friday, Friends! On Monday I shared a recipe for Irish Brown Bread. Yum! I also shared with you a little piece of my adventures from when I studied abroad in Ireland during college. Since St. Paddy’s day is on Tuesday I am keeping the Irish theme going. We are not talking about leprechauns and four-leaf clovers here. We are talking about some good ol’ traditional hearty food, and maybe a little bit about my time in Ireland. Because I am obsessed, okay! As I mentioned in Monday’s … [Read more...]
Deconstructed Honey Roasted Beet Salad with Whipped Goat Cheese
Welcome to March! I am so excited that it is March! Spring is on its way! Maybe, kind of soon. I hope. Remember how last week I made my Kale Thai Salad with Peanut Dressing? I discussed how I needed to make more cohesive salad recipes. I kept true to that vow by making another salad! I first ate this salad at a local Italian restaurant last summer and I haven’t been able to get it out of my head since then. It was served to me on a small platter in a deconstructed manner. Instead of all of … [Read more...]
