Ya’ll, the heat is ON. Minneapolis is under a “heat dome” right now and with heat indices over 100 degrees, the last thing I want to be doing is cooking: enter the smoothie. A 3 minute meal that satisfies toddlers, hungry husbands, and pregnant women in one fell swoop. This Simple Summer Green Smoothie is exactly what is sounds like: Easy, green, and full of summery flavor. …
We’re having a little heat wave here in Minneapolis and needless to say, slaving over an oven doesn’t really seem all that fun when it’s 100 degrees and humid. So, instead of cooking, I’m sipping some passion fruit iced tea and ogling gorgeous foodie blogs for inspiration and saving these recipes for when it cools down a bit! It’s Good (Food) Reads for your (hot!) Wednesday afternoon…
When I first started dating my husband (and right up until we got married!), I was a vegetarian. The poor guy had to put up with many an (unusual for him) dish while eating out and eggplant parmesan was one we could both agree on. While I eat meat now, I can’t wait to try this Eggplant Parmesan Pasta Skillet from Cook Nourish Bliss.
Peanut Butter Banana Bon Bons (Joy the Baker). Lane and I have a ladies night out coming up in August and we’re in charge of desserts. I’m thinking these might be fun alongside some other fun sweet bites. What do you think, Lane?!?!?
Confession: I’m totally posting this Summer Fruit Plate (Half Baked Harvest) simply because it’s so darn beautiful and I can’t stop eating fresh fruit right now. Can someone make it for me? Pretty please?
Toasted S’More Truffle Pops (Ashlee Marie). I love that there’s a foolproof video for making these classic summer recipe inspired pops. Can’t wait to make them!
I’ve rarely met a fish taco I didn’t like. I’m thinking these might be a great weeknight dinner for our whole family: Chili Lime Fish Tacos (Pinch of Yum)
As my pregnancy progresses, I just want to eat ALL THE VEGGIES. This Kale Salad with Bacon and Blue Cheese (Gimme Some Oven) looks right up my alley. And yes, I plan to eat the blue cheese (don’t worry – I’ve found a great pasteurized version!).
Sweet Corn Risotto with Cajun Shrimp (Spoon Fork Bacon). In addition to wanting all the veggies, I am also still loving all the carbs. Risotto is a winter favorite – so comforting! – but this version with fresh sweet corn and tender spicy shrimp seems like the perfect excuse to try it in the summer.
I have been thinking about these Lemon Basil Shortbread Cookies (A Beautiful Plate) since I first saw them on Laura’s blog. My basil plants are exploding and this will be a fun way to use some in a sweet, rather than savory, dish.
140 Calorie Blueberry Banana Oat Flour Muffins (Broma Bakery), because life is all about balance, right?!?!
Rose Fruit Pops (Table For Two). These are happening as soon as I am no longer growing a child. Emily, Lane, you in?!!
Friends, that’s it for this week’s Good Food Reads. I hope you found some kitchen inspiration. See you next week!
I tried to come up with a catchier name than Cabin Burgers, I really did. But the truth of the matter is, this is the meal that the kids beg for when we head to the cabin, and thus they have always been called “Cabin Burgers”. The name just stuck, boring or not. And although the name may be boring, this burger is anything but……
Lighter Lasagna Soup. Yup, lasagna soup. In the summer. Have I lost my mind? I know that some people out there view soup as a cold weather food. For the record, I am not one of those people. I have an unabashed love for soup and would happily eat it every day, all year long. Hot, cold, thick, thin, full of exotic flavors or a simple classic – I’ll take them all. One of my go to soup recipes for any time of the year is an adaptation of Bobby Dean’s Lighter Tastes Like Lasagna Soup. His recipe (which is a lightened up version of his mom’s Lasagna Soup – so yes, technically this is an adaptation of an adaptation) is full of flavor but requires little time to throw together, making it an ideal weeknight meal….
The heart of summer is such a fantastic time to be a cook. Despite some days where the heat definitely makes the idea of standing over a stove less than appealing, the abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables makes up for it and this week’s Good (Food) Reads is filled with recipes that take advantage of all of that summer produce! Do you have a go-to summer recipe? Send it our way and we’ll feature it on Good (Food) Reads!…
Are you looking for a good summer salad? Roasted Beet and Orange Salad is the salad for you! As many of you know, I am a huge lover of beets. I often find myself with leftover roasted beets in my refrigerator, and this salad is a fabulous use for them. Not only is this salad colorful, it is also packed with nutrition! …
Now that it is almost the middle of summer (can you believe it?), I am turning to recipes with less ingredients, less fuss and more vegetables. This Zucchini Hummus Dip fits the bill in all categories. In fact, you won’t believe how easy it is! Just a few simple ingredients and you will have a party worthy appetizer. Have some extra time? Make the hummus and pesto from scratch (hummus recipe here). In a hurry? Buy your favorite hummus and pesto from the store, and this dip will take you no more than 10 minutes to throw together!…
Hello, friends! Welcome back to Good (Food) Reads. It’s hard to believe another week has passed and after a gorgeous, long, holiday weekend I’m actually finding it a little hard to be excited about food – I’m still SO FULL. But, for those of you who are ready to dive back into your kitchens, here’s this week’s collection of web inspiration that we call Good (Food) Reads.
For cooling off on those hot summer afternoons (and a perfect non-alcoholic option for parties!), I am really excited to try the Pineapple Mint Cooler from Honestly Yum.
Similarly, this Summer Bliss Juice from The First Mess sounds perfect for happy hour. I’ve been on a real watermelon kick lately so this one is right up my alley.
In a slightly less “healthy” direction, I’m planning on whipping up a batch of these Magic 5 Cookies later this week. We’re having some work done on our house and I think it will be a great treat for all the workers, or as my son loves to call them, “construction guys.” (Recipe via Sally’s Baking Addiction)
And since I am on the subject of sweets, has anyone tried these Peach Creamsicles from Meaningful Eats? They are vegan and dairy free, which basically negates the calories, right?!?!
As we really head into the heat of summer (yes!), I’m always looking for lighter dinner options. I am thinking these Turkey Thai Peanut Lettuce Wraps (The Creative Bite) or Grilled Monterey Chicken (A Kitchen Addiction) would be fantastic weeknight options. What are your favorite light(er) summer dishes? The Fed Up Foodie also posted a recipe for Mediterranean Tuna Salad that is calling my name…
Because of our construction project, grilling will be a little challenging the next few weeks. This One Pan Lemon Parmesan Chicken and Asparagus (Chelsea’s Messy Apron) could be a great and easy oven friendly option. Plus, limited clean up! Total winner already in my book.
And because I can’t pass up a good quinoa salad, I’m itching to try Cookie + Kate’s Sundried Tomato, Spinach, and Quinoa Salad.
Finally, I’m putting this out here really so that I can find it later! I’m always looking for new meals to bring to new parents and here’s a great compilation of ideas from The New York Times: Almost As Good As A Full Night’s Sleep – 26 Dishes to Cook for New Parents.
Friends, that’s it’s for this week’s Good (Food) Reads. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week and we’ll see you on Friday with a new post! Until then, send us your new favorite or must make recipes and we would love to feature them on the blog!!
***Happy 4th of July***Happy 4th of July***Happy 4th of July***Happy 4th of July***Happy 4th of July***
Happy 4th of July all of you loyal readers! We had actually decided not to do a 4th of July post since both of us had family events to host. However, that was before stumbling across an amazing post by Lady Behind the Curtain! Who is that you ask? Well, a fellow blogger that I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with through social media. She creates unbelievable food and gives great entertaining tips.
One of her latest creations was a stars and stripes pie that was just calling to me! Anyone that knows me, knows that I am the least Pinterest-y person around. I never decorate for holidays (minimally for Christmas-and really only because I have kids), I’ve never made cute little kids projects (even though I have 2 kids), and I’m not at all crafty! A patriotic pie? With stars and stripes? Laugh if you will, but just you wait-I think I actually pulled this one off!
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I think it’s fair to say that (almost) everyone loves nachos. A staple at parties, most tend to lean toward the southwest in their flavor profiles – cheese, spicy meats, peppers, and salsa. This summer, we wanted to come up with a twist on the classic. Something a little lighter, with fresh, bright flavors but still a great party food that is easily assembled for even the most spontaneous of gatherings. Enter: Greek Nachos with Tzatziki….