Falafel – Street Food of the Levant

There are as many recipes for Falafel as there are ways to eat it. If you are unfamiliar with this Middle Eastern delicacy, think of it as hummus meets hush puppy. The base is usually fava beans or chickpeas (garbonzo beans) or a combination of both. Where I live fava beans are hard to come by, so I use a chickpea only version similar to … Continue reading Falafel – Street Food of the Levant

Beer Battered Fish Tacos with Salsa Fresco and Honey Lemon Slaw

These are, hands down, the best fish tacos on the planet. The fish is crispy and light, the white sauce is creamy with a little heat, and the slaw and salsa just complete the experience. They are inspired by the Baja style fish tacos in southern California. This is my go to menu for having friends over on a Friday night. You can make most … Continue reading Beer Battered Fish Tacos with Salsa Fresco and Honey Lemon Slaw

Veggie and Mushroom Bourguignon

This is a meat free version of Beef Bourguignon, a.k.a. Beef Burgundy, which is a French beef stew. Even without the meat this is a savory and hearty meal. Don’t let the fancy French name fool you, this is actually an easy dish to make and even beginning cooks can master this on the first try. In France this is commonly served with noodles or … Continue reading Veggie and Mushroom Bourguignon

Instant Pot Creamy Chicken with Sun Dried Tomatoes

I have really enjoyed adapting recipes to my new pressure cooker. (If you don’t have one you can order the Pampered Chef quick cooker here) When you can go from frozen chicken to serving dinner in about 30 minutes it’s hard not to like. This recipe uses minimal ingredients that you hopefully already have around the house. A great option when you don’t have a lot of time, and it tastes like you spent hours making it.

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Stress Free Italian Inspired Dinner Party

I am not Martha Stewart, and if you are reading this I’m guessing neither are you (Martha, if it is you, I love what you do but I don’t have the time, energy or budget to be you). For those of us lesser humans, the thought of throwing a dinner party can be stressful. I want a casual evening surrounded by great friends, good food … Continue reading Stress Free Italian Inspired Dinner Party

Slow Cooker Manicotti

If you are looking for a “set it and forget it” meal that will deliver serious flavor with minimal effort, look no further. I created this recipe as part of the Italian dinner party collection of recipes, but it certainly can stand on its own. If you want to try some pasta that is a little more complex than spaghetti this is your recipe. The … Continue reading Slow Cooker Manicotti