Robust Recipes

Healthy, Flavorful Food

Cashew Ranch Dip (V + GF)

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  Who doesn’t love dipping a sweet orange carrot into some creamy, garlic-y, herby ranch dressing?  Ranch is the ultimate way to enjoy your fresh cut veggies. Ranch and raw veggies go together like peanut butter and jelly, like strawberries and chocolate. As a kid I wouldn’t touch raw veggies without dipping them into some ranch dressing. I used to drown my salads in the stuff. My poor mom, she wasn’t a fan of the stuff. She knew ranch was packed full of preservatives, a ton of sodium, … [Read more...]

Caribbean Shrimp Pineapple Kabobs

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Hey, friends, it’s officially the beginning of grilling season here in Iowa. Well, it is when we have a nice, sunny, 70 degree day. We are still having quite a few rainy, chilly days. Luckily I happened to plan this Caribbean shrimp pineapple kabobs recipe for a gorgeous, sunny day (actually it rained later in the day, but I found my rain-free window). Really, I can’t complain one bit about our rain; we are lucky enough to be enjoying really green leafy trees, flowers, and bright green grass. … [Read more...]

Strawberry Rhubarb and Honey Drink (2 Ways)

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Guess what, guess what! I have a little vegetable/fruit/herb garden growing in my backyard. Aside from growing a few potted herbs on the small porch of our old apartment, I have never grown a single thing in my life.  I cheated and purchased the already half-grown plants instead of starting them from seed. But hey, if I can keep them alive, that’s all that counts. Actually, we already lost one strawberry plant (yup, we got two of them). Some little critter dug it out of the ground only a … [Read more...]

Warm Lentil and Sweet Potato Kale Salad (V +GF)

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You guys, I have a new obsession: Lentils! Aside from having lentils in a stew or soup I haven’t experienced them very much until I recently began playing around with them.  Let me tell you, there is so much more to lentils than just soup.   One of the reasons I am really enjoying lentils is because they are the perfect way to incorporate a vegetarian or a vegan meal into your diet. Just 1 cup of cooked lentils contains 18 grams of protein, 16 grams of dietary fiber, along … [Read more...]

Chocolate Coffee Avocado Pudding (V + GF)

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There are no words to describe how wonderful this dessert is. Seriously, for once I am speechless. I mean, this is food we’re talking about; I always have something to say about food. But not this time. I ask you, what do I say about a dessert that is made from something savory, such as avocados, and is turned into something indulgent, dreamy, and that looks or tastes nothing like its original form?   You have to, HAVE TO promise me that you will try this dessert! That is truly the … [Read more...]

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...]