Robust Recipes

Healthy, Flavorful Food

Chocolate Raspberry Swirl Ice Cream Sandwiches (V + GF)

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If you still have some Raspberry Swirl Chocolate Chip Ice Cream left after an entire week, you’re pretty amazing and I’m proud of you! I literally had to hide mine in the back of the freezer behind the uncooked chicken and the frozen fruit in order to deter myself and to make Paul forget that it exists. Since we exercised so much restraint I think we deserve a little treat as a reward, don’t you? Chocolate Raspberry Swirl Ice Cream Sandwiches. They combine the ice cream recipe from last week … [Read more...]

Mexican Millet Power Bowls with Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette (V + GF)

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Friends, I am pleased to introduce to you: Mexican Millet Power Bowls with Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette! As I may have mentioned a few times before, Paul and I own a small, charming house that was built in 1910! We fell in love with its beautiful original oak woodwork that adorns the archways, base boards, and crown molding. What does our oak woodwork have to do with Mexican Millet Power Bowls with Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette? I’m getting there. As our house is 105 years old, it is not … [Read more...]

Spinach Berry Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

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There are times when a girl needs a huge honkin' salad for dinner. Tons of leafy greens, some crunchy nuts, and a good homemade dressing can make the perfect side salad in a pinch. There are also times when a girl needs more; she needs a salad that is going to make her feel amazing for eating so many leafy-good-for-you greens and one that has all sorts of textures and flavors that will keep her satisfied for hours. When I am creating an entree salad I usually opt for kale or spinach because … [Read more...]

Warm Lentil and Sweet Potato Kale Salad (V +GF)

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You guys, I have a new obsession: Lentils! Aside from having lentils in a stew or soup I haven’t experienced them very much until I recently began playing around with them.  Let me tell you, there is so much more to lentils than just soup.   One of the reasons I am really enjoying lentils is because they are the perfect way to incorporate a vegetarian or a vegan meal into your diet. Just 1 cup of cooked lentils contains 18 grams of protein, 16 grams of dietary fiber, along … [Read more...]

Easy Crystallized Ginger

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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...]

Roasted Butternut Squash and Fennel Soup

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Hi friends, how has winter been treating you?  Good, I hope. Last week we had temperatures at a high of negative 13 with wind chills of negative 20 degrees! That’s right; I said N-E-G-A-T-V-E 20 degrees! I am pretty sure that my ears got frost bite just from sticking my head out the door to grab the mail. Not fun! So, I hunkered down underneath blankets and sweatshirts for at least 3 days. I drank a cup of hot tea at least once an hour and refused to eat any food that was at room … [Read more...]

Eggplant Pizzas (GF)

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  Paul and I both love pizza, Paul especially. He worked at a local pizza place for 8 years and received free or discounted pizza almost every day that he worked. As you can imagine, Paul requests pizza quite often and most of the time I am happy to join him in enjoying a good quality Take-N-Bake pizza. It is a treat for me to not cook that evening. When I am trying to eat healthy, such as right after the holidays, I have to deny Paul his pizza requests. I know, I am such a mean … [Read more...]

Orange Hot Chocolate

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Have you ever had one of those chocolate oranges ? We used to get them in our stocking every year for several year when I was a kid. I remember the excitement of opening the box and whacking the orange-sized ball of chocolate as hard as I could on the floor. WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! Three good whacks usually did it. Then I would peel off the orange tinted wrapper to reveal these luscious, shiny, chocolaty pieces of orange segments. The chocolate was even textured to look like the skin of … [Read more...]

Cheesy Mexican Egg Casserole (GF)

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    So, you have family coming to stay at your house during the holiday season? You couldn’t be more excited to have them, right? Except that you are just a little stressed out about what to serve them for breakfast. I mean you spend so much time planning the big holiday meal, as you should, that you almost forgot about the next morning. Of course, you don’t want to run around the kitchen cooking again. You just made a huge feast the evening before, and the last thing you want to … [Read more...]

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate

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Back in the day Brussels sprouts were loathed by all. I myself thought they were absolutely grotesque and refused to touch them with a ten foot pole. Whenever I had them in the past they were bitter and mushy. No thank you! Within the past few years Brussels sprouts have become all the rage. The secret to making Brussels sprouts actually taste good: Roasting! That’s right, roasting Brussels sprouts helps to bring out their natural sugars and allow their outer leaves to crisp up and turn … [Read more...]