Robust Recipes

Healthy, Flavorful Food

Bacon-Wrapped Dates

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This weekend is our one year wedding anniversary! Paul and I seriously don’t know where this first year has gone! It feels like we got married just yesterday; I suppose that’s a good thing. Paul and I got married at a gorgeous little winery in Iowa set among rolling hills. The ceremony and reception were both outside on a sunny 75 degree day. It really was perfect! To celebrate our anniversary I wanted to make one of our favorite foods we served at our wedding:  bacon-wrapped dates. They … [Read more...]

Artichoke and Fennel Caponata

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Have you ever been asked by a friend to bring an appetizer to a party and didn’t want the challenge of keeping a hot dish warm while transporting it? This is a huge challenge for me, especially since a lot of times we are traveling an hour away for family gatherings or friends’ get-togethers. In these situations my go-to-recipe is usually hummus. It’s simple to make, easy to transport and is delicious at room temperature. As much as I love hummus and can eat it every day, I like to mix things … [Read more...]

Marbled Tea Eggs

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Marbled tea eggs (aka China tea eggs) are something I discovered several months ago and I’ve been obsessed with them ever since. What are marbled tea eggs?  They are hard boiled eggs that have been steeped or simmered in black tea, soy sauce, sugar, and spices such as cinnamon, star anise, fennel, cloves, and peppercorns.  The result is a beautiful marbled-looking egg that tastes salty, sweet, and spiced all at once. Marbled tea eggs are a favorite food in Asian countries. In China they are … [Read more...]

Gluten-Free Stuffed Mushroom Caps with Fennel and Sage

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Stuffed mushroom caps are the perfect appetizer. They are cute, bite-sized and versatile.  You can stuff them with crab, breadcrumbs, cheese; there are so many combinations. Generally when I have eaten stuffed mushrooms it has been a scrumptious breadcrumb mixture. Although the breadcrumb mixture is a classic option, why not make stuffed mushroom caps a little healthier? Why not make them gluten-free? The solution: save the stems of the mushrooms and throw them all in a food processor to chop … [Read more...]