This Corn Tomato Avocado Salsa Salad is perfect for warm weather entertaining. Serve it as a dip for an appetizer, salsa on top of grilled chicken or fish, or as a salad. Casual summer dinners, barbecues and get togethers call for easy recipes that can be thrown together quickly with fresh in-season ingredients. I love…
Healthy Vegetarian Recipes
Watermelon Tomato Gazpacho Recipe
Watermelon Tomato Gazpacho is a refreshing, healthy cold summer soup that features summer produce at their peak. My mom used to make gazpacho in the summertime. It was perfect for the sweltering heat as no cooking was involved and the soup was served cold – that’s a win win in my book. Most people either…
Georgian Tarragon Soda (Tarkhun) Recipe
Georgian Tarragon Soda (Tarkhun) is a refreshing drink with a touch of anise flavor, perfect for a hot summer day. Recently, I hosted a birthday party for our Georgian friend, and made this Georgian tarragon soda as a special treat. I learned of tarragon soda a number of years ago, but didn’t realize how easy it…
Georgian Lobio Kidney Bean Salad Recipe
Georgian Lobio Kidney Bean Salad is a popular Georgian dish that makes a delicious and colorful side dish. Recently, I hosted a birthday dinner for our Georgian friend and served this lobia kidney bean salad, and several other traditional Georgian dishes for a surprise. Georgian cuisine is unique and nothing like I’ve tasted before. Fragrant…
Georgian Beet Green Pkhali Recipe
Georgian Beet Green Pkhali are a traditional dish made with finely chopped beet greens, walnuts, garlic and herbs. Spinach Pkhali was one of the first Georgian dishes I tried when our Georgian friend invited us out for Georgian New Year a number of years ago. That evening remains fixed in my memory as everything we…
Kale Basil Pistachio Garlic Scape Pesto Recipe
Kale Basil Pistachio Garlic Scape Pesto is a great way to enjoy in-season farmer’s market produce. I remember the first time I tasted pesto many years ago. Just a spoonful of pesto packs a flavorful aromatic punch to any dish. Traditional pesto is made with basil and pine nuts, but I love adding leafy green…
Mexican Corn Tomato Feta Salad Recipe
Mexican Corn Tomato Feta Salad combines the flavors of Mexican street corn into a delicious summer salad, perfect for entertaining and picnics. Fresh corn and tomatoes are two of my favorite summer vegetables that are plentiful at the farmer’s market and supermarkets this time of year. While I love corn on the cob and caprese salad,…
Cilantro Lime Brown Rice Recipe
Cilantro Lime Brown Rice is a versatile whole grain side dish. Enjoy it with beans, with chili ladled on top, chicken carnitas, in burritos, or stirred into black bean soup. My boys love Chipotle Mexican Grill. It’s a restaurant chain that serves semi-fast Mexican food made largely with sustainable ingredients. They try to source antibiotic…
Caribbean Black Beans Recipe
Caribbean Black Beans is a quick and easy dish. Serve with grilled fish or chicken carnitas and steamed rice. I first made these black beans about twenty years ago, and still have the original recipe cut out from a magazine. Before the internet days, I used to clip out recipes and put my favorites in…
Quinoa Kale Tomato Corn Salad Recipe {Video}
Quinoa Kale Tomato Corn Salad is light, healthy, and delicious. I love salads that can be enjoyed as main course salads when I’m looking for a satisfying, but light lunch or dinner. Quinoa is a versatile grain (it’s actually a seed) that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It can be eaten in…
Kale Basil Hazelnut Pesto Recipe
Kale Basil Hazelnut Pesto is a healthy and delicious condiment that doubles as a way to get extra leafy green vegetables into everyday meals. Growing up in a Chinese American family, I did not get my first taste of pesto until I was an adult. But, once I tasted it, I was hooked. Although traditional…
Fresh Tomato Mozzarella Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe
Fresh Tomato Mozzarella Pesto Pasta Salad is easy to make, healthy and perfect for barbecues and picnics. I love casual entertaining, especially when fresh local produce is in season. Our local farmer’s market has expanded over the years, and fresh tomatoes, basil and mozzarella are readily available. There’s also a stand that sells excellent fresh…
Chipotle Black Bean Tomato Corn Avocado Salad
This Chipotle Black Bean Tomato Corn Avocado Salad can be enjoyed as a dip or salad. It’s perfect for entertaining during warmer months. We’re hosting a celebration in a few weeks, and this salad is going to be on the menu. It’s great for a crowd, and fits right in during grilling season. This post is…
Grilled Asparagus with Mint Feta Pesto Recipe
Grilled Asparagus with Mint Feta Pesto is a delicious way to dress up fresh asparagus. The pesto is bright and vibrant from the mint, and salty and tangy from the feta and Parmesan cheese. I’m a lover of condiments. If you could only see all the little jars of sauces and bottles of hot sauces…
Red Chimichurri Sauce Recipe
Red Chimichurri Sauce is smoky and slightly spicy compared to the more common green chimichurri sauce. It’s delicious served with grilled proteins (chicken, fish, beef, tofu) or grilled vegetables. I love Latin American food and recently discovered red chimichurri sauce as I was planning the menu for my husband’s birthday dinner. I’ve been making green…
Poblano Ranch Sauce Recipe
Poblano Ranch Sauce gets a little heat from roasted poblano pepper. Fresh parsley, chives and dill add fresh flavor to this sauce which can be used as a spread, dip or dressing. I’ve been obsessed with tacos lately, including all the different sauces that Torchy’s Tacos in Texas serves with its tacos. Tacos are one…
Oven Fried Avocado Tacos Recipe
Oven Fried Avocado Tacos are a healthy and delicious, vegetarian meal that are full of texture and flavor. Last weekend, our family visited San Antonio and Austin, Texas, and had some of the best tacos we’ve ever eaten at Torchy’s Tacos. The original Torchy’s Tacos is in Austin, but we enjoyed breakfast tacos at the…
Roasted Broccoli Red Bell Pepper Pancetta Breakfast Casserole Recipe
This Roasted Broccoli Red Bell Pepper Pancetta Breakfast Casserole is easy to prepare for breakfast or brunch. Breakfast casseroles are wonderful for holidays or entertaining, or simply when you’re looking for a one-dish breakfast or brunch idea. They are similar to quiche except there is no crust. This past weekend, our church had a farewell party…
Baked Zucchini Tomato Summer Squash Goat Cheese Gratin Recipe
This Baked Zucchini Tomato Summer Squash Goat Cheese Gratin is so elegant, it’s perfect for potlucks and entertaining. I’ve always wanted to travel to Paris, but haven’t made it there yet. It’s definitely on my bucket list, but in the meanwhile, I will resort to cooking French inspired food in my kitchen. This beautiful Zucchini Tomato…
The Best Stir Fry Sauce Recipe
Make a batch of the Best Stir Fry Sauce and you can make a stir fry meal any day of the week easily. Although you can buy stir-fry sauces off the supermarket shelf, many include ingredients that would never be used in stir-fry if you made it from scratch. Homemade stir fry sauce is easy…
Cauliflower Garlic Mashed Potatoes (Instant Pot)
Cauliflower Garlic Mashed Potatoes are a healthy, delicious and easy side dish to make, especially in an Instant Pot. I’ve been making cauliflower mashed potatoes for the past five years, and still love them. Recently, I made them in an Instant Pot and it took just 4 minutes to cook the potatoes and cauliflower together….