This salad is fresh and healthy- made with quinoa and topped with charred asparagus, blistered popped corn and a tangy lemon parsley dressing. Technically it is still summer- the last day is September 22nd, and it sure feels like summer here still with hot temps and high humidity. So let’s celebrate summer while we still can- with wonderful summer flavors. These flavors ...
Appetizers, Salads & Sides
Spicy & Creamy Sonora Dip {Gluten Free-Vegan-Healthy}
This creamy and spicy dip is so flavorful and pairs perfectly with tortilla chips, fresh veggies, and crackers. Not only does it taste amazing, but it is healthy, vegan, dairy free and gluten free! I love dips! There is something so fun and rewarding about dipping your favorite dip receptacles into a giant bowl of something really devine! Some of my favorite dips include ...
Caramelized Kimchi Fries {Lightened-up, Gluten Free, Vegan}
Confession- I am a food truck junky! Having lived in Austin, which very well may be the food truck mecca of the world, I have dabbled in all sorts of adventurous cuisine. The stranger the dish sounds, the better. For some reason I really trust food trucks, and expect that even though the dish may sound weird, it must be good, because after all, it’s a food truck, right!? It’s ...
Tuscan White Bean and Quinoa Salad {Healthy, Gluten-Free, Vegan}
This fresh and summery salad is bursting with Italian flavor. Do you grow tomatoes in the summer? Or do you buy local tomatoes from the farmers market or veggie stand? If so, than you know how amazing a fresh, juicy and sweet a tomato can be! There is nothing that compares to the taste of summer tomatoes, sprinkled with a dash of salt, some fresh basil and a drizzle of ...
Charred Shishito Peppers with Creamy Sriracha Sauce
These little green peppers make the perfect light, low cal, and healthy snack or appetizer and take 10 minutes to make. They are a fun to eat finger food, and eating them is like a game of Russian Roulette! About 1 in 10 are spicy, all the others being very mild, and you never know when you are going to get that spicy surprise! If you like spice, don't fret, ...
SKINNY Spinach & KALE Artichoke Dip
Creamy and bubbling hot spinach artichoke dip is a very popular appetizer! Have you ever looked up the nutrition facts? Ugh! Its terrifying! I just can’t comprehend how they can pack so many calories and so many grams of fat into a “serving size” that fits onto one, maybe two, chips (if you’re a serious over-dipper, like me!). It’s crazy!! So I thought a ...
Grilled Steak & Veggie Pasta Salad {Gluten-Free}
Every other Tuesday we get a very special delivery. I often look forward to this delivery because every single time it’s full of surprises! Can you guess what it is? No? It’s my CSA delivery (short for Community Supported Agriculture)! So basically it’s just a box jam-packed with whatever fresh produce was harvested that particular week from a local organic farm. I love ...
Rainbow Roasted Beet Salad {Grain-Free}
This dramatic salad is my go-to dish when I need to bring something to a pot luck or BBQ! It’s different, oh-so colorful, and everyone LOVES it! The soft, buttery, earthy beets are the heart of this magnificent salad. I love using different colors/varieties of beets (golden, red, red and white strip)to make this salad look like a work of art! You can arrange this salad on a ...
Cheddar & Bacon Stuffed Sliders {Gluten-Free, Grain-Free Option}
I’m not a big meat eater usually. Throughout my life I’ve been some form of a vegetarian, or “cute-itarian” (more on that later), for periods of time starting when I was 14. This is because I adore animals! I’ve had many animals in my life including, but not limited to, hermit crabs, gerbils, hamsters, cats, dogs (including my love Cricket, of course!), and horses. There may ...
Mashed Potato Bacon Cheese Bombs {Gluten-Free, Grain-Free/Paleo Option}
Looking for a COMFORT FOOD APPETIZER but you don't want to compromise your healthy eating kick? Well this recipe is for you! I've managed to successfully lighten up the glutenous "Mashed Potato Bacon Cheese Bomb" by using nutritious ingredients (including BLUE potatoes!) and baking them instead of deep frying...and they taste sooooo good! As I was rolling these mashed ...
