Robust Recipes

Healthy, Flavorful Food

Anything You Have Homemade Pesto

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Basil pesto is like gold, am I right? I mean it's one of the best sauces or condiments for a number of things. Homemade pesto is super easy to make, the only problem I find is that basil can be kind of pricey, especially when you need 2 to 3 cups of it. Also those pine nuts that are traditionally in a basil pesto will empty your wallet. Don't get me wrong, pesto made with basil is still THE BEST. But sometimes you want that pesto taste and feel for a recipe and you can't get your hands on enough … [Read more...]

Shaved Asparagus Salad with Spiced Almonds

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Salads salads salads! We are enjoying ALL of the salads over here! Are you ready for this shaved asparagus salad with spiced almonds?!?! Before we talk salads I have to tell you some fun news! We adopted a kitten over the long holiday! A six-week-old feisty and cuddly little girl. As I am typing this she is sleeping in a bed in my office - finally! I have grown up around cats but this is the youngest kitten I have adopted and she wants constant attention - literally as I wrote that sentence she … [Read more...]

Mayo Free Pasta Salad (V + GF)

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Hi my friends, today is a glorious day because we are making pasta salad! Not just any pasta salad, it's vegan, gluten free, and MAYO FREE!!!! You know those pasta salads that are served cold, are super creamy, and have crunchy veggies in them? You know, the pasta salads that are brought to ALL the summer parties, picnics, pool parties, and pot lucks! Maybe they are just a Midwest staple? Either way, I'm sure you've had some kind of creamy cold pasta salad at some point in your life. It's … [Read more...]

Spring Strawberry Basil Quinoa Salad

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  Beautiful sunny spring days are here, graduation parties are here, Memorial Day is just around the corner, picnics, pot lucks, backyard BBQ's, pool parties, all the fun filled outdoor parties are to be had - friends, you need an easy salad to bring to those parties. This Strawberry Basil Quinoa Salad is just the one! Also, can I just mention how much I LOVE spring and summer and all of those parties, it's THE BEST! Besides I am always looking for easy dishes to bring to these kinds of … [Read more...]

Brown Rice Spring Risotto

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Hey everyone, did you miss me?! Paul and I returned from our Arizona trip last Wednesday - we had a blast. I was able to post a few Instagram stories but not as many as I would have liked because the West never gives me good service. Come on U.S. Cellular get it together! Don't you worry, I will be sharing our adventure here on the blog shortly. Before we talk about Brown Rice Spring Risotto can I be honest with you for a second?! I want to share with you the reason this post is published on … [Read more...]

Tropical Fruit Salsa

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Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!!! I hope you find some way to celebrate, even if it's by drinking some margaritas! That's exactly why I am sharing Tropical Fruit Salsa today. It's easy to make, pretty darn tasty, and can be served with just about anything - tortilla chips for dipping, on fish, on chicken, on pork! It's the perfect quick little recipe to celebrate Cinco de Mayo without a whole lot of effort. Okay, fruit salsa probably isn't authentic Mexican food, but hey it's served with tortilla … [Read more...]

Simple Spring Salad with Sugar Snap Peas and Burrata

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Hi and welcome to the first official day of SPRING!!!!!!! AKA the BEST SEASON OF THE YEAR!!! Even if it doesn't quite feel like spring just yet I know it's on it's way! Don't you just LOVE everything about spring?! The transformation, from blah brown winter to beautiful bright green little buds popping up on the trees. Yes, okay, it's a bit muddy at times and rainy but for me there is something so magical about the transformation from the hibernation to re-birth that gets me as excited as a … [Read more...]

Brussels Sprouts Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing

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Brussels Sprouts Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing....you know, like spinach salad with warm bacon dressing?! Like that salad only with crunchy shredded Brussels Sprouts!!!! YES PLEASE!!! I have always loved spinach salad with warm bacon dressing - the warm salty, smoky dressing, the creamy hard boiled eggs, the zesty red onions, the raw mushrooms sliced paper thin, and of course the crunchy bacon crumbled on top! BUT I never really enjoyed the slightly wilted spinach. I mean, I like spinach BUT … [Read more...]

Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Arugula Pesto

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Hi friends, I am having a moment with soup! First I shared my Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup, then my Dairy Free Zuppa Toscana Soup. Last Wednesday I shared a bonus post of 16 Gluten Free Soups for When You're Sick - a round up of simple, nourishing, comforting soups from food bloggers to help you feel better when you're under the weather. AND NOW my Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Arugula Pesto!!!! To be honest, I LOVE all of these soup recipes but it's a little hard to think about hot … [Read more...]

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup

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Hi, would you like some Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup that's super creamy, slightly sweet, and that highly resembles Panera's autumn squash soup that I am obsessed with? YES PLEASE! I have problem. I LOVE buying all of the winter squash - well okay, I love EATING it even more - BUT I tend to buy a bunch of it because it lasts FOREVER and oh the possibilities. Then I wind up with piles of squash on my counter and I don't get to eating it for a long time because LIFE happens. And because … [Read more...]