Robust Recipes

Healthy, Flavorful Food

One Pan Lemon Chicken

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It's officially spring! I am so happy I could do a dance! Okay, okay, as I type this post it is a gloomy, chilly day that is threatening rain, so today doesn't exactly feel like spring. BUT the grass is green, the birds are chirping, little green buds are popping up on trees and bushes. I have even seen a few flowers that have bloomed here and there. In a week or two everything will kind of go POOF and it will be a brilliantly bright green. THAT right there, that magical transformation of dead, … [Read more...]

Peanut Butter and Jelly Chocolate Mug Cake (GF)

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  Do you ever have one of those moments when all you want is some homemade chocolate cake fresh from the oven? Yet, the idea of making one big cake just for yourself seems silly, and way too tempting to have the leftovers of that cake lying around. If this is you, then you have come to the right place! If you aren't familiar with the concept of a mug cake, it's a single serving cake that's mixed up in a mug and then baked in the microwave for a minute or two. It's seriously the … [Read more...]

Sweet Potato Salmon Melts

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Hi, friends, these Sweet Potato Salmon Melts have become one of my new favorite meals! I owe Paul for this recipe. Picture it: Sunday evening, the fridge was empty. The pantry staples required more creativity than I was willing to nurture. Paul and I were both starving, we were contemplating walking to the Chinese restaurant down the street, almost out of options. Then Paul, who rarely has food ideas - except for frozen pizza - asked if we had any canned tuna on hand. Even better, we had … [Read more...]

Blueberry Almond Energy Balls

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Happy Friday, friends! I don't know about you, but I am ready for spring. Our weather in Iowa has been teasing us a little. We've had several gorgeous 60 degree days with bright sunshine. On those days Paul and I have busted out the grill! Not only do I love grilling and the smell of food cooking outside, but it also gives me an excuse to relax. Paul doesn't do much cooking, but he does enjoy grilling! This makes me very happy! This week, we are supposed to have a lot of rain and possibly a … [Read more...]

Coconut White Russian

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  But why would you want coconut in your White Russian? Why, oh WHY would you ever mess with anything as simple and perfect as a White Russian? The answers: 1) Because it's delicious 2) Because that's what I do here. I play with recipes, I add my own twist to a classic recipe, and I create my own recipes. It's fun; you should try it! Really, my true reason for trying out a Coconut White Russian is because I really hate dairy milk. It grosses me out, it always has. Growing up in … [Read more...]

Thai Sweet Potato Soup with Shrimp

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Lately I have been into making some ethnic dishes. First, Butter Chicken, and now this Thai Sweet Potato Soup with Shrimp. In addition to these two exotic dishes, I have been into whipping up some curried soups and stir fries in my everyday cooking. Maybe it's that I am trying to summon the warm tropical weathers to our part of the cold world. Whatever the reason, Paul's not complaining, and neither am I.   You guys, spring isn't too far off; I see the light at the end of the … [Read more...]

Healthier Loaded Baked Potato Soup

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Hi, Friends. On this happy Friday I give to you my Healthier Loaded Baked Potato Soup! Don't you just love ordering a piping hot bowl of loaded baked potato soup at your favorite restaurant? It's like a baked potato that has been made into soup form, two wonderful things have been combined to create one magical dish! You scarf down the creamy, cheesy, starchy magical loaded baked potato soup enjoying every single bite. And then you sit there feeling too full, too bloated, and like you need to … [Read more...]

Sriracha Honey Roasted Cashews

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Happy Monday, Friends! I have a little something for you to help kick-start your Monday: Sriracha Honey Roasted Cashews. I hope you're as excited as I am! The idea for Sriracha Honey Roasted Cashews came from an advertisement for one of those order-a-box-of-fresh-healthy-food-and-it-comes-straight-to-your-door companies. Their example of a snack item was sriracha roasted cashews. I heard that and just had to find out what that would taste like, because I love sriracha on everything - even in … [Read more...]

No Bake Nutella Cheesecake

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Did you do it?!?!?! Did you make a batch of that Homemade Nutella from Monday's post?!? If you did then you are prepared to start making some Nutella cheesecake! And if you didn't make a batch of Homemade Nutella, then you should probably leave right now. KIDDING! Please don't leave, go make some Nutella so that you can make some No Bake Nutella Cheesecake with us. Sound like a plan? As you know by now I love my chocolate. What you don't know about me yet is my love for cheesecake, because I … [Read more...]

Homemade Nutella

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Friends, are you ready for today's recipe? Just by reading the name of the title, half of you are drooling and are excitedly running to your kitchen to get started! The other half of you are thinking, "But I can just buy a jar of Nutella from the store and call it a day." That's true, you can buy a jar of Nutella. It's convenient, it's decadent and delicious. OR you could make your own jar of Nutella and feel like a rockstar! Guess what, the homemade version is, of course, better than the … [Read more...]