Robust Recipes

Healthy, Flavorful Food

Creamy Asparagus Soup

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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...]

Shrimp Lettuce Wraps with Coconut Curry Sauce

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Almost a month ago I made some amazing Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps. As I was eating them I was already dreaming up another lettuce wrap recipe. I remember describing it out loud to Paul as we ate. “Ooh I should make some shrimp lettuce wraps! Maybe with a coconut curry sauce.” He nodded in approval as he chewed on the current lettuce wraps. My mind is always swirling with recipe ideas.  It must be interesting being married to a food blogger. These shrimp lettuce wraps are simple. The … [Read more...]

Creamy Mushroom Soup (GF)

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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...]

Coconut Quinoa Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Cilantro Lime Sauce (GF)

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As a food blogger I post 2 recipes a week, or about 8 recipes a month. Most of the time I don’t have much of an issue with coming up with enough recipe ideas. I get my inspiration for recipes from family, friends, cookbooks, restaurants, and other bloggers. The change of seasons calls for the use of a seasonal ingredient. Holidays beg for certain types of dishes to be made. I keep my phone on me at all times to write down any visions of recipes that may come to me. Yet, with all of my insight … [Read more...]

Leek, Potato, and Blue Cheese Soup (GF)

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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...]

Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

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Paul and I absolutely love Asian food. We love Chinese, Indian, and Thai. I especially love Thai foods; exhibits A, B, and C. Most of my filling up on Thai food has been on the occasions that we treat ourselves to eating out. Although this is an enjoyable approach to satisfying my Thai food cravings, we might be on the streets if we ate at a Thai restaurant every time a craving for Thai food struck. Solution: I am cooking more Thai foods at home! Among my favorite items to enjoy at a Thai … [Read more...]

Deconstructed Honey Roasted Beet Salad with Whipped Goat Cheese

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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...]

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...]

Beet and Raspberry Smoothie

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Hello 2015! How did you sneak up on me like that? Last I knew it was still Christmas. Did everyone have a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s?  I sure hope so. We had a fun time visiting with family and playing with kids, and we overindulged in lots of food and yummy sweets. I come from a long line of exceptionally great cooks; it’s kind of our thing. Naturally people who love to cook delicious food love to eat delicious food, and we sure did eat. A lot. Which is what the holidays are for, am … [Read more...]