Robust Recipes

Healthy, Flavorful Food

Gluten-free Banana Bread

By

Banana bread was one of my all-time favorite treats growing up. My mom would squirrel away over-ripe bananas in the freezer until blackened bananas covered in frost would fall out of the freezer every time we opened it. Then my mom would get to work baking up a loaf or two of banana bread. I remember standing by the oven sniffing the sweet smell of bananas baking. Finally, after what seemed like a year the oven timer would ding and my mom would pull the bread out of the oven. I would bug … [Read more...]

Creamy Mushroom Soup (GF)

By

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)

By

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

By

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...]

Easy Crystallized Ginger

By

Recently, I have been obsessed with ginger. I have been drinking ginger tea, adding ginger to my smoothies, and eating crystallized/candied ginger. Ginger possesses some wonderful health benefits. Not only is it high in antioxidants, it is also an anti-inflammatory, and helps to stimulate the metabolism and digestion. Plus, it can help fight off the common cold and sooth an upset stomach. (source) I have found that eating crystallized ginger or drinking a cup of ginger tea … [Read more...]

Coconut Bellini

By

  Happy Monday, Friends! This particular Monday Robust Recipes has reached a milestone. A reason to celebrate. Today, Robust Recipes officially has 100 recipes!!!   Can you believe it? I sure can’t! All of that time spent cooking, sometimes re-cooking recipes, photographing, writing, and editing pictures has somehow turned into 100 recipes. Okay, I have a confession to make.   This recipe is actually my 99th recipe. Apparently I can’t count. Math was … [Read more...]

Almond Coconut Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

By

Granola bars. The ultimate on-the-go breakfast or snack, right? Only one issue. Most store-bought granola bars are filled with preservatives and outrageous amounts of artificial sweeteners, even the “healthy” ones.   Granola bars were never really my thing. It was only when I began making my own from scratch that I decided I must always keep a batch on hand. The difference between store-bought granola bars and homemade ones is crazy. Store bought are too chewy for my liking, often … [Read more...]

Gluten-Free Eggplant Parmesan

By

Eggplant Parmesan used to be one of those meals that I would order at an Italian restaurant and savor each crispy, meaty, saucy bite because I always figured it would be way too complicated for me to make at home. I have news, my friends; making a satisfying eggplant Parmesan at home isn’t all that scary. Yes, it’s slightly more time consuming and labor intensive than most recipes I make here on Robust Recipes, but it isn’t as hard to make as you might think. It is well worth the effort, trust … [Read more...]

Ginger Hot Toddy

By

  If you are in need of a warming, relaxing, cozy drink to heat you up in the winter, as I am, and if you are obsessed with anything ginger, as I am, then this drink is for you. In the beginning of January Paul and I took a road trip to central Wisconsin to visit his brother. Of course we picked one of the coldest weekends to travel further north than we already live. The wind chills were negative 13 in Iowa! It was even worse up in Wisconsin, or at least it seemed that way to … [Read more...]

Dairy-Free Chai Tea Latte

By

I may have mentioned before that I am not a coffee drinker unless it is filled with sugar and flavorings and made by a fancy barista at a fancy coffee shop. Tea is my drink of choice; it’s my jam. I enjoy a cup of hot tea in varying flavors of green tea, herbal tea, white tea, red tea, and good ol’ black tea. I guess you could say that I drink every color of the tea rainbow. I never mess with my teas. No sweeteners or milk, just plain, simple tea. However, there is one type of tea that I do … [Read more...]