Roasted Salmon with Pineapple Salsa Recipe

It is salmon season and I am ready to party!  I scored a gorgeous piece of Copper River sockeye salmon and I knew just what I wanted to do with it.  I love the combo of a flavorful spice rub and a fruit salsa.  This pineapple salsa is something I have paired with before in Kitchen Matters with chipotle shrimp tacos.  I saw Carolina Gelen score salmon in an instagram reel and I thought it was a clever way to really get the spices to adhere to more of the fish.  So good!Continue reading

S’mores Ice Cream Cake Recipe

There is not one way to make this s’mores ice cream cake but you can look at it 2 ways: crust + ice cream + topping OR graham cracker component + chocolate component + marshmallow component. You can have all the components folded into the ice cream and do without a marshmallow topping, or go extra and cover the ice cream pie with a store-bought fudge sauce and a marshmallow cream. Torch or broil it for that campfire effect! The key is just make sure you have graham crackers somewhere, chocolate somewhere, and marshmallows somewhere if you want to call this a S’Mores Ice Cream Cake!Continue reading

Breakfast Nachos Recipe

Breakfast Nachos

This is a fun take on traditional nachos which normally use tortilla chips as a base. You can certainly use chips here with all the fun breakfast toppings, but other options are whole grain waffles, pancakes, or waffle fries. Personally, I like the indentations in waffles to catch all the toppings! Basically, anything that you would put in a breakfast burrito would be amazing on Breakfast Nachos!! See more of my suggestions at the bottom of the recipe. You do not have to follow my measurements for toppings and you can mix and match with the toppings you like. Remember, breakfast needs protein, so make sure you’re adding your preferred protein, either plant-based or animal-based or both. 

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Chicken Kabobs with Green Goddess Tzatziki Recipe

grilled chicken kabobs

It’s grilling season! Both the chicken recipe and the sauce recipe for these chicken kabobs are a hybrid of several recipes that I like, and not straight forward traditional Persian or Greek kabobs and not a traditional tzatziki. I still play around with this marinade and sauce, adding a little harissa to either (but not both) for some spice or omitting the cucumber to keep things creamier. You don’t technically need a sauce, but who doesn’t love sauce??? It’s definitely needed if you intend to serve the chicken in a lavash or pita or on a grain bowl. Continue reading

Grilled Potato Salad Mexican Street Corn-Style Recipe

grilled potato salad

I love grilling potatoes and I especially love whole potatoes.  This grilled potato salad is so creamy and delicious.  Plus, when you include the skin, potatoes are a whole food and good source of carbohydrates.  You can put a lot of dressings on grilled potatoes, even just olive oil with salt and pepper.  I am not afraid of a little mayonnaise, which is just egg yolk and oil.  I prefer the lighter texture and flavor of vegan mayonnaise.  And this has the smokiness and heat from chipotle powder.  I think this is perfect for Memorial Day weekend!Continue reading

Quinoa and Jicama Salad with Avocado Dressing Recipe

When I first moved to California over 30 years ago, I was introduced to the avocado and my love affair has continued.  I had never eaten an avocado before, nor had I tried guacamole. My then boyfriend (who is now Hubs) took me to a new fast casual restaurant called Baja Fresh and I ate a burrito with guacamole.  Holy deliciousness.  Now I buy avocados every week and smash them on toast, cube them into salads, turn them into pudding and brownies, mash them into guacamole, and blend them into dressings. I love their creaminess and healthy fats and fiber, and their versatility. I especially love this avocado dressing in this quinoa and jicama salad recipe I am sharing today.Continue reading

Baked Morning Glory Millet Porridge Recipe

Ingredients for Baked Morning Glory

One of the best muffins I have ever eaten is a Morning Glory Muffin which is traditionally studded with carrots, apples, raisins, coconut, pineapple and nuts. The batter is also laced with warm spices and is so flavorful.  Plus the crumb has such good texture and moistness (is that a word?). I transferred those flavors to a baked porridge similar to an oatmeal bake but I put a twist using millet instead.Continue reading

Fish in Parchment with Fennel, Citrus and Olives Recipe

Some of the biggest challenges home cooks face are lack of time and accommodating different dietary preferences.  I am right there with you!  And this new fish in parchment recipe I am sharing is a dream come true.  It is not only healthful and delicious, but it’s quick to prepare, quick to cook and customizable.  You can use different fish, omit the vegetables or substitute other ones, add a spicy element, or keep it super plain for the choosier eaters.Continue reading