Tex Mex Chicken Dinner

Fire up the grill, make a salad, and utilize some of the most popular recipes on this blog! Bright flavors, great textures, and simple to pull together on a summer night! Winner, winner, Tex Mex Chicken Dinner! 

Pork "Ropa Vieja"

Picture this: It was a chilly morning, I had defrosted 2 pork loins and had no meal plan for them. I was casually scrolling down my Instagram feed, (Whaaat?!  You don't follow me on Instagram yet? Click here and follow!) and lo and behold, there appeared Clinton Kelly's Ropa Vieja slow cooker recipe. Jackpot. My little guy is allergic to beef, which the recipe calls for, but I was pretty sure I could achieve familial culinary satisfaction by using pork. I was right! As it bubbled away in the slow cooker, children would wander in, drooling, and ask hopefully "Is that dinner?" 

Kitchen Tip Tuesday! How to Ripen Avocados

Stuck with a rock hard avocado, but really want to make guacamole for your weekend get-together?  (gasp) Will they ripen in time?! Never fear! 

Tangy Black-eyed Pea Salad

This side dish is tangy, bright, and cheerful. And...it's so simple! I got the original recipe from Food Network Magazine, and made just a couple changes based on personal preference! (I'm definitely adding this one to my list of Spring/Summer potluck offerings.) It is delicious alone, and also great as a topping for burgers. We paired this side dish with turkey burgers and a green salad! 

Kitchen Tip Tuesday! Mushroom Stock

I love to use Cremini mushrooms in dishes, but I'm always left with a pile of fragrant, woody stems. So, what to do with all this rich smelling bounty?  Make Mushroom Stock of course!

Turkey Cutlets with Marsala Gravy

This twist on "Turkey Marsala" is a great weeknight dinner.  It cooks up quickly by using thin sliced turkey cutlets, and pre-made turkey gravy. I always have a stash of homemade turkey gravy in my freezer, but you could substitute your favorite can/jar turkey gravy. (Click HERE for my turkey gravy recipe.) 

Kitchen Tip Tuesday! Recipe Organization

Part of living with food allergies, is the ever present challenge of learning to translate allergen laden recipes into something safe to eat.  I am a recipe junkie. (And I strongly encourage you to become one too!) I LOVE food magazines, other blogs, the Food Network, the Cooking Channel...need I go on?  I find a great many recipes that I want to "makeover," and so as I rip them out of magazines, or print them out, the issue becomes: What do I do with all this paper and all these ideas?!  

Nut - Free Trail Mix

I often have a big batch of Nut - Free Trail Mix in the pantry.  It's a great 3 o'clock snack for me and for the kids, it's handy to take to the playground, on field trips, hiking, or to the beach.  It's so simple to make, that even my two year olds are able to help.  No stove, no oven, not even a microwave is needed!  Just a big bowl, safe ingredients, and a large spoon!