Balsamic Pesto Tomato Sauce
The taste of marinara sauce made with fresh tomatoes is divine. Finding the time to peel and seed the required tomatoes can be enough to make you buy a jar! I decided to try a new approach which eliminated these tedious steps. The first time I made this, I turned around and bought more tomatoes…
Gorgonzola Noodles
As I was returning from my older son’s cross country meet just in time to run my younger son to swim practice, there was not a whole lot of time for cooking and no leftovers to speak of. As I reached for the eggs–a favorite quick dinner in our house–I spotted a jar of leftover…
Apricot Ginger Shrimp Kabobs
Tender shrimp with Asian-inspired flavor is easy to prepare, quick to cook, and makes a popular appetizer or entree. At a cookout years ago, my friend Judy dished up grilled shrimp that was absolutely delicious: light tasting and tender with just a hint of sweetness. I jotted down the recipe, which was mayonnaise-based…
Pizza with Goat Cheese, Thyme & Honey Lime Chicken
Years ago, a friend who runs a local cooking school called Essen suggested topping a grilled pizza with Manouri cheese, honey, and thyme. Manouri cheese is a Greek goat’s milk cheese with which I was not familiar at the time. What threw me, however, was the honey. Honey on pizza? I like to mix sweet…
Garden Pesto Grilled Pizza (with a family favorite recipe for grilled pizza dough)
A layer of pesto under some fresh mozzarrella makes a simple pizza taste extra special. I love to use my Asiago Pesto Spread and add whatever I happen to have on hand. In this case, it was a few dabs of leftover Summer Tomato and Leek Sauce and Parmesan Zucchini Bites. You may…
Summer Tomato and Leek Sauce
A simple, summer sauce is the perfect way to enjoy a bounty of vine-ripened tomatoes and works beautifully as a light pasta or pizza sauce or as a flavorful topping for chicken or fish. My original plan for this sauce was to use red onion, until I saw some baby leeks at market. Leeks provide…
Grilled Pesto Veggiewich
Years ago, I ate my first “veggiewich” at a restaurant and I was hooked. Vegetables never tasted so delicious yet made such a hearty meal. My home version incorporates my Asiago Pesto Spread, although your favorite pesto would be perfect. This time, I used leftover Balsamic Dijon Grilled Vegetables and fresh mozzarella cheese. Havarti with dill is…
Quinoa, Cheddar and Zucchini Bake
Simple ingredients mix up in a snap and then bake to golden perfection for an easy, cheesy meal enjoyed by kids and adults alike! Delicious recipes that allow for seasonal adjustments rank high in my book. Originally, I developed this baked quinoa dish because I wanted to use this wholesome grain in a new…
Gluten-Free Grilled Pizza
When my dad had to give up wheat, there were a few things he really missed: his favorite spice cake, a good cinnamon raisin cookie, and pizza. To this day, he gets excited when he sees a restaurant in town that offers gluten-free pizza. Most of the time, however, he reports that he wouldn’t order…
Muffin-Cup Barbecue Turkey Meatloaves (Gluten-Free)
This flavorful take on the classic meatloaf was inspired a while back by some leftover homemade barbecue sauce. While I often use dry oats as a binder, you may also experiment with cooked quinoa–even crushed saltines or panko, if you are not concerned about a gluten-free meatloaf. The addition of barbecue sauce and salsa give…
Lemon Thyme Dijon Grilled Chicken (a variation on Wicked Good Chicken)
Wicked Good Chicken is a delicious in-a-hurry dinner that relies on pantry ingredients. No marinade time necessary. Bakes in twenty minutes. Pair it with one of my all-time favorite salads–Apple-Pecan Spring Greens with Maple Dijon Vinaigrette–and you have a complete meal that is worthy of company. Slice cold leftovers and serve them overtop of the same…
BLT Ranch Pasta Salad
Classic flavors come together with ease in this BLT pasta salad that’s equally perfect for family meals, packed lunches, and casual entertaining. Add grilled or rotisserie chicken for a well-rounded meal. To celebrate my older son’s 14th birthday, we had a group of his friends over for a cookout. He chose hamburgers and hot…
