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for the time-starved or curious culinary adventurer

Gluten-Free Recipes

Gluten-free doesn’t have to mean that you really feel you’re “giving up” something.  Over the years I’ve amassed many GF recipes (particularly desserts) that are delicious and easy. 

What I’m focusing on here is more *purposefully* gluten-free recipe replacements rather than the many, many recipes that are incidentally gluten-free…vegetables, meat dishes, puddings, curds, jams, and more.  But there are tons of those on the site!

So below you’ll find recipes for gluten-free desserts and breads in particular…whether using naturally gluten-free ingredients (my preference) or a special mix, these gluten-free dishes will wow!

Not sure where to start??  For me, it’s about desserts, and here are a few of my absolute go-to recipes:

And here are some more savory or breakfast-based options:

You can also browse through this post on a handful of my favorite gluten-free desserts, or pore through the archives below…

Chicken Massaman Curry

Massaman curry has somehow become one of my go-to comfort foods.  When I’m cold, stressed, tired, or just annoyed, this particular curry—with its combination of soft and crunchy textures, its creamy sauce and slightly spicy bite—are like a warm, yummy hug.

Easy Chicken Massaman Curry Recipe

[Some recipe photos updated January 2023]

For years I went to the same Thai restaurant and ordered the same thing (Bangkok chicken, “baby mild”, no baby corn…it’s the BOMB), but then one day I decided that I needed to branch out, and this was the least spicy of the curries.  

Plus, it didn’t have green peppers, which are truly disgusting, so that was a deciding factor.  One taste of this, with the silky avocado and the crunch of the onion, and I was in love.

I’m not sure what took me so long to try making this myself.  Maybe it’s because I tend to find that ethnic dishes are just better at restaurants, so it’s worth shelling out for them on occasion.  

Plus I’m lazy, and I tend to take one look at the long list of ingredients and get overwhelmed (not to mention my grocery store doesn’t just have this particular curry paste sitting around).

Chicken Massaman Curry | How to make massaman curry...this cozy comfort food is easier than you think!

But you shouldn’t be intimidated by the list of ingredients.  Most of them are ones you already have around, and the others are easy enough to pick up (and are great in other recipes).  I order the masaman curry paste on Amazon, most stores carry the Red Boat fish sauce (the best!), and everything else should be at your grocery store.

Prepping the ingredients will take 15-20 minutes with one set of hands, but is quite easy, and then the dish comes together very smoothly.  It makes amazing leftovers, and can feed a serious crowd.

How to make massaman curry from scratchREAD THE POST

Easy, Slightly-Spicy Thai Peanut Noodles with Chicken & Veggies

Any time I’m home to visit my family, we’re always feeding a big crowd. Generally we stick with what we know—grilled burgers or chicken, taco salad or nachos, soup and chili, or something similar. But every so often my sisters and mom and I put our heads together and come up with something different.

Enter these delicious slightly spicy Thai peanut noodles with chicken!

Thai Peanut Noodles with Chicken & Veggies

When I was home in July, we had one night where we were only going to have like 15 people—a considerably smaller crowd than our usual 25 or more.

My sister and I decided we were really craving Thai food, so quickly had Mom poke through her cabinets to see if we had the makings for a Thai peanut sauce with noodles. Since my mom’s cabinets are better stocked than most small grocery stores, we had almost everything we needed.

Thai Peanut Noodles with Chicken and Veggies

Beyond the basics of the peanut sauce recipe, we totally winged it (wung it??), adding all the delicious flash stir-fried veggies we could find, chicken, and whole wheat noodles.

This dish was meat, carbs, and veggies in one, so we knew we had to make enough to get the whole hungry horde through dinner.

And it was definitely a hit! There wasn’t even a spoonful left after supper, the pan was scraped clean. Combined with the moist strawberry shortcake I made for the big group, I think everyone was stuffed.

Thai Peanut Noodles with Chicken & Veggies doneREAD THE POST

Heirloom Tomato Risotto (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

Heirloom tomatoes in season are seriously one of my favorite foods. In fact, I got to have a fancy dinner last night and there was an heirloom tomato and burrata salad that I could have eaten gallons of. I was in paradise.

heirloom tomato risotto tomatoes & basil

So last week at the farmer’s market when I saw these gorgeous big lumpy heirloom tomatoes, I had to get my paws on them immediately. Thoughts of juicy chunks of tomato swimming in creamy, salty ricotta and tossed with al dente pasta danced through my head. I had plans.

Heirloom Tomato Dairy-Free Risotto

Then plans changed, and I had friends coming over that night, last-minute. Since they’re gluten-, egg-, and dairy-free, I had to make some adjustments to my master plan.

Heirloom Tomato Risotto finished

I racked my brain to find something that they’d be able to eat and would still do these beautiful tomatoes justice.

I landed upon a simple dairy-free risotto, making a few adjustments to accommodate their health challenges (namely, I left out the butter and parmesan—sad, but necessary). I was worried it wouldn’t be nearly creamy enough, but it was still totally delicious.

heirloom tomato risotto tomato

My love of risotto is legendary, and I’ve never understood why people are so scared to make it. Yes, it’s time consuming and takes a little TLC, but it’s also very straightforward, not difficult at all. It’s the perfect dish to put on the stove when you already have people over and want to just stand there and drink wine and chat and stir constantly.

Or heck, make your guests stir and drink wine and chat while you put the rest of the meal together. This dairy-free version lets the tomatoes be the star, with a supporting cast of fresh basil and balsamic vinegar to add just a little extra.READ THE POST

Peanut Butter & Honey Ice Cream with Sea Salt (Dairy-Free)

Summer in Georgia. Crazy humidity. The smell of rain on concrete. Fireflies. And bare legs sticking to your leather couch.  In other words, folks, it’s been hot & humid up until the cool spell we had this week.

The last thing I’ve wanted to do lately is turn on my oven, so to get my sweet fix I’ve had to turn to cool treats. I’ve never made anything but frozen yogurt in my frozen yogurt maker, but didn’t see any reason this wouldn’t work. And the sea salt, peanut butter, & honey ice cream flavor combo is one I seriously can’t resist.

Salted Peanut Butter & Honey Ice Cream | This dairy-free peanut butter ice cream is so easy to make, just a few ingredients (including coconut milk), & you have the perfect cold summer treat. Summer dessert recipe, gluten-free dessert, dairy-free dessert recipe.

This ice cream is amazing! The texture is super creamy, with the mild sweet honey and peanut butter blending perfectly, with just the hint of sea salt to cut it.

I sat on my hot couch on a Saturday night in my pajamas and ate a giant bowl, then contemplated eating the rest…then reminded myself that then I would have eaten an entire can of coconut milk in one sitting. So I resisted, but it was touch-and-go there for a while!

Peanut Butter & Honey Ice Cream with Sea SaltREAD THE POST

Super Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream

Guys, this is so good. I didn’t believe that somehow simple frozen bananas could be broken down and then coalesce into a creamy, magical ice cream.

Super Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream

If I served this to you and told you it was ice cream, you’d never guess otherwise. Unless you hate bananas, and then you’d just wonder why I was trying to poison you with banana ice cream.READ THE POST

Traditional Spanish Tortilla

Once upon a time I would have called this a frittata, and I would have been wrong.  One of my co-workers is half Spanish, and for breakfast one time he brought in a traditional Spanish tortilla. While it looked exactly like the frittatas I’m so fond of, it had a few notable differences and I knew I wanted to recreate it myself. 

Traditional Spanish Tortilla | This Spanish tortilla recipe is very simple and basic, healthy and easy to make. Using only a few ingredients (eggs, potato, onion, and some herbs) you can have a delicious vegetarian meal, with great leftovers. How to make a spanish tortilla. #meatlessmonday #spanishtortilla #frittata #eggrecipe

Spanish tortillas and frittatas are very similar, though there are a few differences. Tortillas are always egg- and potato-based, while frittatas only have to have eggs.

Also, apparently the main difference is that you’re supposed to flip a Spanish tortilla on the stovetop at the end, versus finishing in the oven like a frittata. I’ll definitely be trying this method next time—I’m trying to wheedle my co-worker’s recipe out of him!

The gold potatoes are delightfully tender and add a delicate base to the dish along with the onion (this Kitchn article speaks to the technique that gets them lovely and soft).

Many also include asparagus, chorizo, and other fillings, but this one is very simple and traditional.  The recipe below called for tarragon, though I used fresh rosemary and oregano instead.

Traditional Spanish Tortilla recipeREAD THE POST

Peanut Butter Quinoa Granola

Who ever thought to add quinoa to granola???  It sounds nuts.  But this interesting and delicious peanut butter quinoa granola proves why it’s genius.

Peanut Butter Quinoa Granola | This interesting peanut butter granola is a great, healthy breakfast option. Why you should use quinoa in your granola, provides great texture. How to make gluten-free quinoa granola. Healthy breakfast recipes, best granola recipe. #granola #breakfast #healthybreakfast

A while back I tried this maple nut quinoa granola recipe, and was instantly hooked on the light, crispy clusters. Gone are the days of tough, chewy oats. It’s a new granola day. 

The quinoa kind of puffs up in the oven (giving them a rice krispie-like texture), which provides a texture I really dig.  And so after that first recipe was a winner, my second attempt brought in peanut butter as the primary flavor, which is very up my alley.

Peanut Butter Quinoa Granola

I had picked up pepitas, and added some ground flaxseed and chia, plus some walnuts and almonds. The flavor was awesome, though the clumps weren’t quite as crispy since the peanut butter changed the texture.READ THE POST

Honey-Roasted Peaches with Cream

Some things are perfect in their simplicity, and these honey-roasted peaches definitely qualify.

I didn’t plan to buy peaches last weekend, but when I walked into the produce section I was almost knocked over by the amazing smell of ripe peaches. They were so soft you had to hold them super gently so they didn’t bruise. Fuzzy. Juicy. Amazing.

Honey-Roasted Peaches with Cream | This easy dessert is super healthy, using fresh in-season peaches and only takes a few minutes of hands-on time. Naturally gluten-free (#gf), very healthy dessert option, great summer dessert recipe. #dessert #peaches #glutenfree #roastedfruit

Since I was trying to eat really well this week, and already had like five things I was planning to make, I wanted something simple and super healthy.

This dessert feels fancy in a completely undeserved way. You seriously just cut fruit in half, drizzle a little honey and butter over it, and bake for a while.

And the result is a dessert that embodies summer, adds a little class to any dinner, and takes five minutes, tops, to prepare. Sign me up!

peach whole

Also, peaches. They’re the best!

Honey Roasted Peaches doneREAD THE POST

Ricotta, Tomato & Spinach Frittata

Simplicity, man. As I mentioned last week, I just wanted the easiest dinner possible. Something healthy, but something that didn’t require a million steps or ingredients.

Ricotta, Tomato, & Spinach Frittata | This easy frittata or egg casserole is a perfect meal when you're rushed, whether breakfast, brunch, or dinner. Makes great leftovers, perfect way to use up leftover ricotta as well. #brunch #frittata #ricotta #breakfast #vegetarian

Also, I’ve been on a weird ricotta kick. Like, eat it straight out of the carton with a spoon, maybe with a drizzle of honey. It’s getting weird. I used to hate ricotta and now look at me.

Ricotta, Tomato, & Spinach Frittata

So I made some delicious marinated grilled (well, sauteed) chicken, and this delightful frittata.

ricotta tomato & spinach frittata tomatoes spinach

Frittatas are such a great go-to meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They’re full of veggies and protein, easy, and make awesome leftovers. Basically, they’re perfect.READ THE POST

Dynamite Grilled Chicken

Last Sunday I just wanted something SIMPLE. I’d had a super long, exhausting week at work and even after resting up over the weekend I just found the prospect of cooking daunting.

[Updated 6/2018 with some new photos]

I didn’t want to assemble 20 ingredients or spend an hour preparing different elements of a meal. I wanted quick and tasty and healthy.

Also, I wanted ricotta, which is a weird craving but I went with it and threw together a delicious spinach, tomato, and ricotta frittata (bonus breakfast leftovers), then I added some more protein with this “dynamite” chicken.

Honestly, the main reason I made the chicken was so I’d have some leftovers for lunch, and also because I wanted to use my grill for the first time this spring. Aaaaand, that was a total fail because when I went out to grill the chicken like half an hour after turning on the grill, it was totally cold. I went to plan B (the stovetop), but still need to figure out what’s going on with my grill. [Updated photos with grilled chicken]

Oh well…it was worth it in the end, because the flavors on this chicken will knock your socks off. It’s really got some tangy bite, which was a nice complement to the more soothing, mellow frittata. Also, it was super easy, which is always a win in my book.READ THE POST

Black Bean Brownies with Honey – The Runner-Up

I’ve got another gluten-free gem comin’ at ya…this time it’s black bean brownies with honey.

Now I know I shared a black bean brownie recipe last week, and to me it’s absolute perfection. They’ve got amazing texture, taste great, have more protein and fiber than regular brownies, and aren’t packed with sugar (like most black bean brownie recipes are). You’d never even know they have beans in them and are gluten-free.

However, I know that some people want to avoid refined sugars, and so having an option made with honey is ideal.  I’ve got your back.

Black Bean Brownies with Honey | These easy gluten-free brownies are delicious and fairly healthy, full of fiber & naturally gluten-free. Easy gluten-free dessert recipes, without refined sugars.

These were my runner-up recipe in my great search for awesome black bean brownies.  The reason these couldn’t win the top spot is that the honey does change the texture a little. Specifically, it’s white sugar that gives the tops of the brownies that crisp, slightly crackly look, and you just can’t replicate that with honey.

These are great in their own right…they’re very moist and light, very fudge-y.

Black Bean Brownies with honey

If you’re trying not to use white sugar, this recipe is a great alternative, and crazy easy. 

Black Bean Brownies with honey bakedREAD THE POST

The Best Black Bean Brownies (Naturally Gluten-Free)

Soooooo, I have been on the hunt for the best black bean brownie recipe. Why, you ask?

Honestly, I’m not sure. I got it into my head a couple months ago after I tried out my healthy deep-dish chocolate chip cookie pie, which is also chock-full of fiber and gluten-free. Having friends who are gluten-sensitive, I’m always on the lookout for GF dessert recipes for dinner parties.

The Best Black Bean Brownies | These are the best gluten-free brownies, so delicious and easy to make, using real ingredients you already have in your pantry. A perfect gluten-free dessert for any occasion! #glutenfree #gfdessert #gf #blackbean #brownies

I’d seen people pin different black bean brownie recipes, but every time I checked out the ingredients I was shocked at how much sugar they called for—I guess to compensate for the lack of other unhealthy things.

So I started browsing through all sorts of recipes and trying several of them find one that was still fairly healthy without compromising on taste or texture.  AND I HAVE FOUND IT.

Perfect Black Bean Brownies

These black bean brownies are perfect. They’re fudge-y and rich but light and not too sweet, and just as good days later as they were fresh out of the oven.

My co-workers were shocked when I told them that they were gluten-free and made of beans. You also blend all the ingredients in a food processor, so there are no bowls to clean, no stirring—just blend, pour, and bake.

FAQs (because I can hear you asking):  Do these brownies taste like beans? No. Do they have a weird texture? No. Will anyone be able to tell they have beans in them? No. Will they make me toot? Possibly…that’s really between you and your intestines.

perfect black bean brownies batter chips closeup

READ THE POST

Oven-Roasted Garlic Rosemary Salmon

It feels like spring! I think the weather is finally turning for good, and this weekend was truly glorious. I was tempted to pull out my grill, but instead went for a meal that was bright and happy—a garlic rosemary salmon and roasted okra.

If that doesn’t say “spring in the South” to you, I don’t know what does.

Roasted Garlic Rosemary Salmon | A simple, healthy, delicious salmon recipe that only takes a few minutes to make, perfect healthy dinner recipe for any weeknight. Great low-carb or keto recipe. #salmon #rosemary #garlic #keto #lowcarb

Bright red wild-caught sockeye salmon from Alaska is dusted with freshly-ground salt and pepper, then packed with minced fresh garlic and rosemary (from my own herb garden!) and roasted for a few minutes to bring all the flavors together.

Fast, easy, and healthy. Add a side of roasted okra, and that’s a happy Sunday night.

READ THE POST

Quinoa Maple Nut Granola

Granola is one of those things I really WANT to love. I do.

I have all the best intentions of loving granola, and then I pour my milk in and try to eat it, and I chew. And chew. And chew. And then my jaw and teeth hurt.  But this quinoa maple nut granola is pretty special.

Quinoa Nut Maple Granola

While it has a traditional base (oats and nuts, some coconut), it brings in a number of interesting flavors and textures.

Quinoa Nut Maple Granola with Yogurt & Strawberries

Chia, quinoa, and sunflower seeds provide extra crunch and protein, dried cranberries and cherries substitute for raisins (which I’m not a huge fan of), and maple syrup and coconut oil hold it all together.

I threw in some flaxseed, wheat germ, and hazelnuts, for good measure, since I didn’t have the pumpkin seeds or buckwheat the recipe called for.

Quinoa Nut Maple Granola finished

The result is a delicate, crunchy, cinnamon-y obsession. If you want to see the original recipe click here, but I’ve outlined my version below.READ THE POST

Quinoa Salad with Butternut Squash & Dried Cranberries

Blah blah blah resolutions blah. Seems like that’s all anyone talks about this time of year. But the fact of the matter is, there’s nothing magical about January in terms of getting healthy.

In fact, it’s harder to make a drastic change mid-winter (when, let’s face it, your body is craving sleep and warm comfort food) than to make gradual changes over time that you can actually sustain.

Quinoa Salad with Butternut Squash, Dried Cranberries, & Citrus Honey Dressing | This easy quinoa dish is a great healthy, easy, vegetarian recipe. What to make for Meatless Monday, vegetarian dinner recipes, what to make with quinoa, gluten-free dinner recipes. #meatlessmonday #quinoa #butternutsquash #vegetarian

For me, the two major things are exercising almost every day and eating healthy at home since my job often entails lots of eating out, drinking, and treats.

But if there’s one thing I’ve learned about myself, it’s that I’m not going to stick with a diet that I don’t enjoy. That’s why one of my big focuses in the past year has been finding super healthy recipes that I absolutely love.

Quinoa Salad with Butternut Squash & Citrus Honey Dressing closeup

Make a list of the most healthy foods and ingredients you should be eating—superfoods, whole grains, spices, etc.—and then see how you can work them into recipes. Everyone’s list is going to be different. For me, I haven’t found anything involving lentils that I enjoy, and brown rice is dry and bland when eaten as leftovers.

But conversely I’ve found a lot of quinoa and barley recipes that I like and are great to take to work the next day. I love kale, brussels sprouts, all squashes, okra, and spinach, but there is no recipe or list of healthy benefits that can convince me to eat cucumbers, green peppers, or fresh ginger.

quinoa salad with butternut squash roasted

Once you find ingredients you enjoy, hunt up all sorts of different recipes using them. That’s where this recipe comes in. I’ve found that quinoa salads like this one and my sweet & savory chicken quinoa and quinoa & kale salad with feta & pecans are easy, healthy, filling, and affordable. And that’s quite the combination.READ THE POST

Gluten-Free Chocolate Financiers

As someone who loves all things gluten-ful (I did grow up on a wheat farm, after all), the whole idea of gluten-free makes me sad.

But the reality of gluten-free *baking* makes me even sadder. And it’s a reality for lots of people. I never really thought about it much until recently, when I had a friend who had realized he had a pretty decent level of gluten-intolerance and so he and his wife have gone gluten-free.

This guy used to devour all my cookies, load up on waffles, and eat my leftover pasta, so this is a majorly big deal. So I’ve tried to start playing around with alternative, gluten-free dessert recipes…and have discovered that it’s really hard!

Delicious Chocolate Financiers (Naturally Gluten-Free) | These traditional French desserts are made with almond flour so gluten-free, are a super easy dessert, and so tasty! Ready in just 30 minutes, perfect dessert for any occasion. #glutenfree #gf #dessertrecipe #financiers

See, the thing about most gluten-free recipes that I’ve found is that—in addition to their strange and interesting flour alternatives—they often call for some weird ingredients to use as a binding agent, since that’s normally where the gluten comes in.

But as much as I love cooking with real ingredients and whole foods, I just shrink back from recipes that include things like xantham gum that don’t sound like they’re that natural. So, other than puddings and custards, the pickings are slim.

Then I found this gem of a recipe…

I’ve since found some gluten-free faves…see them here!

I wasn’t even looking for a gluten-free recipe when I found it. I was (as I tend to do) going down a rabbit hole on Smitten Kitchen’s site and hopping from link to link. I was browsing the red wine chocolate cake when I found these.

They’re called chocolate financiers (pronounced all fancy and French like “fee-nahn-see-ay”), and they’re made with almond flour. I don’t know the full history, but they probably weren’t even meant to be gluten-free initially—just delicious. In fact, the traditional ones aren’t even chocolate as far as I know.

Delicious Chocolate Financiers (Naturally Gluten-Free) | These traditional French desserts are made with almond flour so gluten-free, are a super easy dessert, and so tasty! Ready in just 30 minutes, perfect dessert for any occasion. #glutenfree #gf #dessertrecipe #financiers

I whipped these suckers up in five minutes flat, and so they were done in about 15-20 minutes from start to finish. The almond flour gives them an interesting consistency, somewhere between a brownie and a cookie. Kind of fudgy. All delicious.

And the Dutch dark cocoa powder adds a super special flavor, as does the hint of almond extract in there. If you don’t have almond flour, you can get it at Trader Joe’s, probably in the health section of your grocery store, and most certainly online (Amazon Prime is your friend!). You will wow people with these, and they are a super speedy crowd pleaser to have in your dessert arsenal!READ THE POST

Healthy Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie (Gluten-Free)

I can tell what you’re thinking. That “healthy” and “deep-dish chocolate chip cookie pie” don’t belong together. It’s an oxymoron. I must be off my meds.

Healthy Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie

And to be fair, this should really be called “healthier“, not “healthy”. Because dessert will never be carrot sticks—it’s just a fact of life. Dessert CAN be made healthier, though, without giving up taste or awesomeness. And that’s what we’re doing here today.

This dish is pretty intense. Despite some major ingredient substitutions, it’s rich and sweet and soft and gooey. Plus lower in sugar and full of fiber and protein. And gluten-free.

I might go so far as to say I like it better than I’d like a regular deep-dish cookie pie (which has never been to my particular taste).

healthy deep-dish chocolate chip cookie pie finished

As you may have guessed, this healthy delight has a secret ingredient. No, it’s not the tears of a baby duck, or the hoof of a firstborn unicorn. What is it, then?READ THE POST

The Pinterest hit known as “Man Pleasing” Chicken (a.k.a. Maple Dijon Chicken)

I am not a mustard person, which is why I had pinned this recipe quite some time ago but have been finding reasons to put off trying it.  But I had company coming over and needed a quick, easy dinner I could throw together.  And thus, I decided to tackle the ever-present “man-pleasing chicken” recipe from Pinterest.

maple dijon chicken recipe, easy dinner

I was really worried that the three main ingredients—dijon mustard, maple syrup, and a sweeter vinegar—would just make this way too intense, all the flavors fighting each other.  But I was pleasantly surprised by how the flavors actually kind of balanced each other out, making the end result sweet, tangy, and with just enough bite to keep your interested.

The Pinterest hit man-pleasing chicken made with maple dijon sauce

The other nice flavor component was the rosemary.  If you don’t have it the recipe is still great, but the fresh rosemary just adds another great layer of flavor with the mustard-maple sauce.

[June 2019:  This is one of my most popular recipes, so I’ve updated the images to be better…though it’s hard to make this chicken look pretty 🙂  But it IS delicious]
READ THE POST

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

Guys, I was REEEEEEALLY skeptical about this one.

Unlike many people, crockpots actually scare me. I’m on board with soups and chili, but pretty much everything else I’ve ever made in a crock pot has turned out burned, dry, soggy, or otherwise not very good. It’s like I’m incapable of mastering it. But I needed a make-ahead breakfast option for my “breakfast day” at work, so the crockpot was really my only option. I turned to this crockpot breakfast casserole recipe…and guess what? It turned out surprisingly great!

crockpot breakfast casserole finished

The final result wasn’t *pretty*, mind you (hence no pics of it ready to serve) but it was very flavorful, not dry at all, and got a thumbs-up from my co-workers. Plus, the assembly the night before was quick and painless—cooking the bacon was the most involved piece, everything else was just layering.  Slow cooker breakfast casserole for the win!READ THE POST

Quinoa Mac & Cheese With Greens

“I need to try cooking quinoa.”

I’ve probably been saying this for two years. A couple weeks ago I finally got up the courage to try it.

quinoa mac & cheese with greens done

Why quinoa? Well, for one, it’s a bit of a superfood—high in awesome protein, rich in nutrients (such as calcium, iron, vitamin B), full of fiber and complex carbohydrates, easy to cook, hearty, versatile, and quite tasty.

For my first foray, I went with a delightful-sounding quinoa mac & cheese recipe. Spoiler alert: it was awesome, easy, and delicious!

READ THE POST

Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken

Haha, well several years after writing this post originally, I had to re-write it because basically nothing was true anymore. 

I wrote that almost none of my recipes have chicken (I literally grill chicken every night now), that knowing whether the chicken is cooked stresses me out (true, but I’ve discovered meat thermometers), and that I hate dealing with raw meat (still true, but I’ve had to man up).  I’ve updated a few of the recipe details as well.

BUT, what is still true about this delish chicken recipe is that it’s super fast, easy, and healthy.  And that still makes it a winner (winner, chicken dinner) in my book.

This recipe is so easy and not remotely stressful, even on a harried weeknight.  It even got a super thumbs up from a guy friend, so don’t worry about the brown sugar making it too “frou frou”.  I served this with a delicious cauliflower leek risotto and some sauteed kale and they went great together. We were super stuffed afterward.

Garlic brown sugar chicken breasts, an easy and healthy weeknight dinner

Note, I’ve recently updated the photos and the recipe itself to improve the overall output.

The best part about this?  Five minutes of actual hands-on time, and then it’s in the oven.  Start your ovens…

READ THE POST

Cauliflower Leek Risotto

Risotto is one of my favorite authentic Italian dishes, and my absolute favorite to make myself when I have the time. You can’t rush risotto. It’s my “stress-relief” dish—pour a glass (or two) of wine, and stir and stir. The process of it is soothing.

One of the first recipes I pinned on Pinterest was for this cauliflower risotto with leeks. It’s a healthier version, since you get the additional vitamins, fiber, etc. from the cauliflower plus you use less rice, which is a simpler carb.

Cauliflower Risotto with Leeks | a delicious, healthier alternative to regular risotto, this is flavorful and easy to make | finding time for cooking blog

I’ll admit I was skeptical about the cauliflower. I’ve never made anything with cauliflower (I didn’t even know how to chop it!), and I was worried you’d lose the smooth awesomeness of risotto by adding the cauliflower in. I remained skeptical throughout the entire cooking process, but I was more than pleasantly surprised by the result. It was so delicious!

Look at all this healthiness you’re about to put inside you.

READ THE POST

The Best Healthy Chocolate Cornstarch Pudding

Like much of the country, Hotlanta has been living up to its name lately, with temperatures soaring over 100 every day and like 90%+ humidity. You feel like you’re being broiled every time you walk outside (get in the car, wake up and get out of bed, etc.). The humidity is especially killer, it steals your breath and your will to do anything.

Suffice to say, I have been trying to turn on the oven as little as possible, since it makes my little 600-square-foot apartment feel like a hot yoga studio.  So I was racking my brain this past weekend for something easy and cold, and then had the perfect idea:  chocolate cornstarch pudding. 

Easy, Healthy Chocolate Cornstarch Pudding | This pudding is the perfect sweet treat, cold & refreshing in the summer but still hits the spot in winter. A fairly healthy chocolate pudding recipe that's super easy to make, only takes a few ingredients, and feels indulgent. Great when you want a no bake dessert. #chocolate #pudding #chocolatepudding #summerdessert #easydessert #nobakedessert

[Note, I’ve updated this post with new photos as of January 2022]

I have no idea where the recipe originally came from, but it’s been a staple in my family since I can remember.  Look at that awesome cold, creamy, sweet awesomeness.

What’s especially great about this healthy chocolate pudding is that 1) it’s super fast and easy, 2) it uses ingredients you already have on-hand, and 3) it feels indulgent without being too sweet.

Best Chocolate Cornstarch Pudding...easy, healthy, delicious

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