Robust Recipes

Healthy, Flavorful Food

Creamy Sundried Tomato and Chipotle Dip

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You know those moments in life when things don’t go as you’d planned them, not even a little? This recipe was exactly one of those moments. During Christmas I was in Texas visiting family and we went out to eat at this amazing Mexican restaurant. It was a huge treat for us to enjoy a really good Tex-Mex restaurant. Remember, I discuss how Midwestern Mexican food doesn’t even compare to Mexican/Tex-Mex in Texas? This wonderful restaurant in Texas served us chips and salsa of course, but it … [Read more...]

Zucchini and Portobello Steak Fajitas

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Hey friends, are you ready for Cinco de Mayo in a few days? I am! I am! With my margarita in hand I will be enjoying a big helping of these incredibly delicious Zucchini and Portobello Steak Fajitas! Yum! Confession time: I have never been a big fan of fajitas. I couldn’t put my finger on why I never wanted to order them at Mexican restaurants. I always chose tacos or enchiladas, or my favorite, quesadillas, over fajitas. The reason that I am so tripped up on why I am not a … [Read more...]

Refried Black Beans

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With Cinco de Mayo just around the corner I have Mexican food on the brain. I love, love, love Mexican food. Really what we get up here in Iowa is more like Americanized Mexican food. Actually it’s Midwestern-ized Mexican food. I have enjoyed my fair share of Mexican food in Texas and it is a whole new world compared to our Mexican food here. Yes, maybe some of it is considered to be more Tex-Mex, but it is probably way closer to the real deal than our food is here. Let’s just say, Texas is … [Read more...]

Goat Cheese Scrambled Eggs with Swiss Chard

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Breakfast is a necessity for me, specifically one that consists of high protein and a few veggies. I have mentioned this before, here, and here. My go-to breakfast is 2 eggs, either hardboiled the previous night, or sunny side up or scrambled the morning of. Although eggs are packed with healthy fats such as Omega 3s and loaded with high quality protein, they tend to lack the fiber, vitamins, and anti-oxidants that fruit and veggies offer. Usually after eating a hardboiled egg for breakfast I … [Read more...]

Italian Turkey Meatloaf Muffins (GF)

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  Meatloaf; you either love it or you hate it. Am I right? I have never been particularly fond of it. The recipes I always have tried seemed to turn out either too dry or bland. To be honest meatloaf makes me think of a hamburger gone wrong. I recently changed my tune about meatloaf when I watched a video that Dani Spies at Clean and Delicious made—btw I love her site, you must check it out. The video was about turkey meatloaf muffins. Don’t give me that disgusted, confused … [Read more...]

Grain-Free Chocolate Cupcakes + 1 Year Blogiversary

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Hey, hey Robust Recipes! Happy Birthday! I can’t believe you’re one year old today! One year ago I launched Robust Recipes. I can’t believe how fast my baby is growing up. Phew, I made it to one year of posting blogs, at least two times a week. It has been my dream to be a food blogger for several years. I have always had a love affair with food, especially healthy, homemade food. My need to share my recipes with others has always been strong. You may not know this about me: I had been … [Read more...]

Quinoa & Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms with Caramelized Shallots (GF)

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Have you ever eaten a stuffed mushroom cap and found the mushroom to be watery and almost mushy? I am obsessed with mushrooms in just about every form. They are amazing when raw in salads, and I love them sautéed in some butter until brown, as well as pureed into a creamy mushroom soup . There was always one particular way of eating mushrooms that I did not enjoy: stuffed mushroom caps. I have ordered them at restaurants as an appetizer, excited to try their mushroom caps stuffed with crab, … [Read more...]

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...]

Gluten-free Banana Bread

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Banana bread was one of my all-time favorite treats growing up. My mom would squirrel away over-ripe bananas in the freezer until blackened bananas covered in frost would fall out of the freezer every time we opened it. Then my mom would get to work baking up a loaf or two of banana bread. I remember standing by the oven sniffing the sweet smell of bananas baking. Finally, after what seemed like a year the oven timer would ding and my mom would pull the bread out of the oven. I would bug … [Read more...]