A fresh, satisfying salad with savory flat-iron steak, sweet corn and tangy chimichurri vinaigrette.
Salad. I know.
“Salad,” you’re thinking, “is what I eat when I’m trying to feel healthy.” The days are getting shorter, your workday is *feeling* longer, and maybe you’re just not about trying to sink your teeth into a spa menu right now.
Dinner
Caldo de Pollo (Mexican Chicken Soup)
A refreshing yet satisfying soup featuring tender chicken, savory tomatoes and warming peppers. A twist of lime and avocado slices keep things feeling light and fresh. When I was in college, I lived like a lot of college students: in a terrible, no-good, very bad apartment. It flooded every year or so for various different reasons.
Tricolore Pear Salad
Sweet, soft pears and pine nuts complement a mix of buttery, nutty and bitter lettuces dressed in a simple balsamic vinaigrette. Summer isn’t over yet and I’m trying to squeeze out every last drop, but… fall has undeniably started creeping into my thoughts. Maybe it’s just from spending the majority of my life in school and teaching, but once August hits everything goes into overdrive, hurtling toward September like a defensive end on a pass rush…
Date Night Peach-Glazed Pork Chops
Cowboy cut pork chops seared to perfection in a sweet peach sauce with just enough spice to keep things interesting. A showstopper for date nights in, or you can slice the chops to feed up to four. What’s better than a night out on the town? How about one where no one has to find parking, everyone gets a big juicy pork chop with a sweet, peachy glaze, and no one has to drive home after eating said deliciousness…
Cheesy Fusilli with Tomatoes and Sausage
Pasta in a creamy parmesan sauce, topped with roasted tomatoes, spicy sausage and nutty arugula. Simple enough to throw together tonight, flavorful enough to make again for company this weekend. I’ve had a whole lot to celebrate lately. Between the little girl we’re expecting in November and all the excitement that comes with planning, visits with loved ones, and a slew of weddings—including three of my bridesmaids…
Summer Party Panzanella
This Italian bread salad boasts the best summer garden bounties and toasted bread cubes, all tossed in a tangy white wine vinaigrette. It’s big enough to bring to your block party—and keeps well enough to keep all to yourself. Is there any better feeling than walking out to the garden on a sunny day, picking a juicy cucumber, rinsing it off, and eating it right then and there like an apple?
Sweet Onion Tomato Sauce with Gnocchi
A rich, creamy pasta sauce with sweet onions, savory tomatoes, peppery seasonings and sharp parmesan. This sauce is versatile and easy to throw together with things you probably already have. Have you ever noticed how much colder it feels when it’s already been warm and the temperature dips back down?
Sheet Pan Sweet Spiced Chicken Thighs and Vegetables
A simple sheet pan meal with tender chicken thighs and crunchy vegetables coated in sweet spice and umami flavors. Perfect for a big family meal, or meal planning for the week. Do you ever come home at the end of a long day and feel like you’d rather walk into a lion’s den than cook (at least you’d get in one blissful pet)…
New Year’s Lentil Soup with Sausage Meatballs
This savory Italian-inspired soup is filled with earthy lentils, infused with aromatic herbs and peppered with tender meatballs. Lentils are a New Year’s tradition, but this soup is great anytime. Happy New Year! What are your New Year’s resolutions? I have mixed feelings on New Year’s Eve and New Years. On the one hand, I think it’s a little overblown. Reasons: I already stay up past midnight most days…
West Virginia Creamed Turkey
Savory turkey in a rich, creamy sauce is perfect over flaky biscuits and mashed potatoes. Pimentos add unexpected brightness. This West Virginia favorite is the ultimate comfort food, and the best way to use leftover turkey. I would imagine most kids don’t exactly look forward to “hot lunch” days…
