finding time for cooking

for the time-starved or curious culinary adventurer

Super Healthy Dishes

I firmly believe that super healthy recipes should also be DELICIOUS.  Healthy eating does not mean giving things up (in most cases), and it shouldn’t be an ordeal. 

So I’ve got a whole host of main dishes, veggie-forward sides and mains, homemade dips and sauces (minus all the fake crap), and even desserts that will help you feel great—both because they’re healthy, and because they taste awesome. 

It’s been a while since I did my “new year healthy eating” posts, but you can peek at a couple past lists (here and here) if you’d like to see some of these collections.

And I’m not a big believer in super restrictive diets, but no one knows more than I that sometimes they’re necessary for a while.  So I also have shared some of my personal tips for surviving on a super low-carb (keto) diet and not lose your mind. 

Not sure where to start??  Here are a few of my faves:

You can browse my full recipe index or a more scaled-down index of super healthy recipes (which I’ve organized by category), or explore the archives below…

Super Easy & Healthy “Loaded” Thai Chicken Salad

I have to be honest up front…this loaded Thai chicken salad is not a *pretty* dish.  But it IS easy, healthy, and (most critically) delicious.   No lie, the first time I made it, I threw it together while on a conference call, just putting myself off-camera every few minutes to do another step. 

Easy & Healthy "Loaded" Thai Chicken Salad - this healthy Thai cabbage-based salad is a great weeknight meal

You might also like:  The Kitchen Tools & Gadgets I Swear By

It’s hard to even know what to call the dish…is it a Thai cabbage salad?  A slaw?  I think Thai chicken salad works nicely, though somehow under-represents the sheer volume of veggies in it.  This will look like it makes a ton, but it’s really only about 4-6 servings (depending on if it’s your main dish or a side). 

I’ve made a number of small tweaks to the original recipe to better suit my tastes and simplify as well.  I prefer using a fresh head of cabbage (I use a half-head here), but bagged can work too.  I used much less pepper, carrot, and herbs, and more chicken (to keep me full longer). 

And wow, the heat from the gochujang really comes through!  It creeps up on you a bit (though I’m a total baby about spice, so your mileage may vary).  The recipe calls for Sambal Oelek, with gochujang as a good substitute (and what I had on-hand).  

Easy & Healthy "Loaded" Thai Chicken Salad | This Thai cabbage salad is super easy to make, healthy, only 15 minutes

Now what I can’t tell you is that this makes perfect leftovers.  It makes *fine* leftovers, but it has a tendency to get watery (which isn’t the end of the world, and you can drain off the liquid).  So here are a couple tips if you’ll be mostly eating it as leftovers:

  • Definitely don’t use too much lettuce, or any at all
  • The red onion really takes over once it’s been siting for a while, so go really light if you’ll be eating as leftovers, or keep separate
  • I found I liked to warm it up slightly…like zap it in the microwave for like 20-30 seconds.  I liked it cool or room temp, but not fridge-cold (deadens the flavors)  
  • You also *could* reserve the dressing and dress it as you go…that feels overly complex but it would keep it from getting soggy or watery

Easy & Healthy "Loaded" Thai Chicken Salad | This Thai cabbage salad is super easy to make, loaded with veggies & has a flavorful sweet-spicy-savory dressing that makes it a pleasure to eat! This healthy meal only takes 15 minutes to make & is a perfect easy weeknight meal. #chicken #healthydinner #healthyrecipe #cabbage READ THE POST

The Easiest, Juiciest Poached Chicken Breasts (& How to Shred Chicken in 10 Seconds)

This recipe is a two-in-one kitchen hack, and it actually blew my mind.  How did I not know this was a thing???  Because today I’ve got for you not only how to make the easiest, juiciest poached chicken breasts, but also a 10-second hack for how to shred chicken.

The Best, Juiciest Poached Chicken Breasts & How to Shred Chicken in 10 Seconds | These two super easy kitchen hacks show you how to make shredded chicken with almost no effort & super fast. Easy meal ideas, keep this pulled chicken on hand for a quick, healthy meal. Hands-off recipes, healthy recipe ideas. Low-carb recipes, high-protein. #shreddedchicken #kitchenhacks #poachedchicken #chickendinner

I am all about having some cooked chicken in the fridge to snack on, or to add to pasta, rice, or a salad for a super fast meal.  But I overdid it on grilled chicken for a few years and needed to mix it up a bit. 

This super moist shredded chicken made with poached chicken breasts was the perfect answer.  I keep a container of this at all times, and sometimes add it to recipes (like the loaded Thai chicken salad shown below), but often just put a bit of BBQ sauce on and eat it straight out of the container.

The Best, Juiciest Poached Chicken Breasts & How to Shred Chicken in 10 Seconds | These two super easy kitchen hacks show you how to make shredded chicken with almost no effort & super fast. Easy meal ideas, keep this pulled chicken on hand for a quick, healthy meal. Hands-off recipes, healthy recipe ideas. Low-carb recipes, high-protein. #shreddedchicken #kitchenhacks #poachedchicken #chickendinner

I made an Instagram Reel of the technique so you can see it in motion…this link will take you to the video on IG (and follow me @findingtimeforcooking) for recipe inspiration, videos, & more!).

These easy poached chicken breasts & how to shred chicken quickly makes an easy addition to many recipes

What temperature should chicken be cooked to?

More modern thinking says 145 F to be done and safe inside (previously was considered 165 F which can be quite tough & dry). For poaching, you’ll have trouble getting the chicken much higher than 145-150 due to the gentle cooking method in water. Make sure to insert your thermometer at the thickest portion of the breast.

READ THE POST

Roasted Sicilian Cauliflower

I’m struggling to even figure out how to best explain this Sicilian cauliflower dish to help you truly understand how delicious it is…

Easy & Delicious Roasted Sicilian Cauliflower | This healthy, easy side dish recipe is packed full of flavors, with savory, sweet, acidic, and more (plus lots of textures). It seems fancy but also is perfect on a random weeknight, as it only takes about 20 minutes! A fairly hearty vegetarian meal as well. #sidedish #cauliflower #roastedveggies #easysidedish #vegetarian

What makes it Sicilian??  The roasted cauliflower is paired with a classic Southern Italian combination of savory, spicy, acidic, and sweet elements for a “party in your mouth” end result.

And these are all great ingredients to keep on-hand anyway (plus fresh parsley is cheap), because pine nuts are great for pesto and tossing in salads for crunch, fresh garlic is a must-have for curries and more, and golden raisins are amazing in salads, kheer, and korma.  (I buy my golden raisins in bulk on Amazon)

The original recipe calls for white wine vinegar, which works well, but I’ve been using this absolutely delish champagne vinegar from Brightland.  I’m obsessed with their oils, vinegars, and honeys, and using them in all sorts of recipes.

Delicious Sicilian roasted cauliflower makes a great side dish or vegetarian meal

And not only that, but it’s wicked easy as well.  While the cauliflower roasts, you prep a couple ingredients to toss together with it (soak some golden raisins, quickly fry up some garlic and pine nuts), and then once it comes out of the oven…VOILA!

This has become a staple side dish a few times a week, on rotation with my brussels sprouts rubble and some charred broccoli bits with Trader Joe’s 21 Spice seasoning.  

Easy & Delicious Roasted Sicilian Cauliflower | This healthy, easy side dish recipe is packed full of flavors, with savory, sweet, acidic, and more (plus lots of textures). It seems fancy but also is perfect on a random weeknight, as it only takes about 20 minutes! A fairly hearty vegetarian meal as well. #sidedish #cauliflower #roastedveggies #easysidedish #vegetarianREAD THE POST

Roasted Brussels Sprouts “Rubble”: The Easiest, Fastest, Most Delicious Way to Eat Them

I’ve shared many brussels sprouts recipes over the years, from simple (caramelized shredded) to a little more involved (maple-dijon roasted).  But I realized I hadn’t shared a super straightforward recipe for how I eat them on an almost-nightly basis…BEHOLD, the best roasted brussels sprouts EVER a.k.a. “rubble”. 

The Easiest, Fastest, Best Roasted Brussels Sprouts...a.k.a. "Rubble" | There are many wonderful ways to make brussel sprouts, but these are the fastest & easy brussels sprouts...and ready in like 15 minutes! I make these several days a week, any time of day (sometimes topped with eggs). A super healthy side dish or main with some protein. Crispy, tasty, fast roasted brussels sprouts recipe! #sidedish #brusselssprouts #healthyrecipe

These balsamic-honey ones are probably the closest to these, and you can absolutely add a bit of sweet and vinegar to give it an extra layer of flavor.  But these are still amazing all on their own, with only salt and garlic powder for flavor.

I discovered that this was the best roasted brussels sprout technique by accident…I used to quarter or halve my sprouts before roasting, which was often great but frequently also gave me some tough, chewy pieces.  Then my grocery store started having MASSIVE brussels sprouts, and quarters just didn’t make sense.

So I halved them and then diced like I would other veggies (small slices, then turn and slice the other way).  What I realized after months of doing it this way is that it is 1) wicked easy, 2) they cook way faster and more evenly, and 3) they pick up more flavor this way.

I often top these delicious easy brussels sprouts with soft cheese & basted eggs for a fast vegetarian meal

This is now my default way of preparing them when I just want easy roasted brussels sprouts on a random Tuesday.  I can have them prepped and in the oven in 5 minutes (in fact I have to remember to pre-heat my oven ahead) and then they’re ready in 10-12 minutes. 

Cruciferous veggies like brussels sprouts are a great source of fiber, many critical vitamins and minerals, cancer-fighting compounds, and a great way to promote gut health and biodiversity.  My two main cruciferous foods are brussels sprouts and cauliflower, but I’m trying to add more into my diet.

how to make the best, easy brussels sproutsREAD THE POST

Adapting Ottolenghi’s “Cauliflower Cake”: A Unique, Delicious Vegetarian Meal

Hehe, I can hear some of you guys…”cauliflower” and “cake” do NOT go together!  But I’m here to show the doubters how wrong they are.  I love Yotam Ottolenghi’s super interesting and vegetable-forward recipes, and this cauliflower cake is no exception.

Unique, Healthy Cauliflower Cake | This adaptation of Ottolenghi's cauliflower cake is a perfect vegetarian meal, full of fiber and protein, super flavorful, and makes awesome leftovers. Make this easy & satisfying vegetarian meal next Meatless Monday! #vegetarian #cauliflower #meatlessmonday #easydinner

After making it the first time, I made some changes to the recipe, including adding more veggies (I went with roasted brussels sprout “rubble” for texture, flavor, and health). 

I also backed off the parmesan and added soft goat cheese for more interesting flavor and textures.  And I layered in salt through multiple steps and was more specific about amounts, as my first try was quite bland.

Finally, the first time I made it, I found the texture to be a little too flour-y and dense, so I’ve added an egg and backed off the flour to get a bit more fluffy version.  This new version is checking all my boxes! 

Unique, Healthy Cauliflower Cake | This adaptation of Ottolenghi's cauliflower cake is a perfect vegetarian meal, full of fiber and protein, super flavorful, and makes awesome leftovers. Make this easy & satisfying vegetarian meal next Meatless Monday! #vegetarian #cauliflower #meatlessmonday #easydinner

Texturally, this cauliflower cake is somewhere between a Spanish tortilla, Indian pakoras, and…I’m not even sure what.  It’s a great vegetarian meal, hearty enough to satisfy and packed with flavor.  Plus it makes awesome leftovers. 

Three’s definitely the ability to adapt ingredients based on what you have…just think about texture and taste changes.  So if you left out the goat cheese, you should add a little more salt (or another soft, salty cheese).  And just be careful with adding other veggies, as too much moisture will break down the cake.

this healthy cauliflower cake is packed full of veggies & proteinREAD THE POST

The Crispiest Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer (or Oven or Stove)

I never quite got my membership card for the cult of the air fryer.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against them at all, but I just don’t use mine nearly as often as some people do.  But there are absolutely some recipes where an air fryer is a no brainer gadget—and these super crispy chicken tenders definitely qualify!

The Crispiest Air Fryer Chicken Tenders | Making super crispy chicken strips is super easy and fast with an air fryer and panko breadcrumbs. The key is the 30 minute rest! Only a few ingredients, less than an hour, and you have a delicious, healthy dinner that feels indulgent! #chickenstrips #panko #chickentenders #healthydinner #easydinner

I’d been playing around with some easy paleo/keto-friendly chicken tenders in the air fryer several months ago, based on some dietary restrictions I had.    They used mostly almond flour as the coating, which definitely didn’t crisp up.

So I really wanted to try getting a TRULY crispy chicken tender in the air fryer.  I used this technique and *rough* recipe from The Kitchn, and played around with the amounts of panko and spices, and only used about half of the buttermilk and one egg (felt wasteful otherwise).

As I’ve made it subsequent times, I’ve adjusted the spices specifically, for a more flavorful punch…the recipe below reflects those changes.  And I think it’s great!

Super crispy air fryer chicken tenders...ingredients and techniques!

This is my view while cutting up chicken 100% of the time…

READ THE POST

Egg & Salmon Breakfast Casserole with Goat Cheese & Veggies

I feel like I can sense about half of the internet’s judgment from here…”Fish in an egg casserole??  Are you insane?!”  I know, I know.  That’s basically what I was telling myself when I threw together this egg and salmon breakfast casserole with delicious salty goat cheese and tons of veggies.

Egg & Salmon Breakfast Casserole with Goat Cheese & Veggies | This delicious and easy brunch recipe is a great way to use up leftover salmon filets (cooked) and use up all the produce you have sitting around. A unique breakfast recipe, perfect way to use up salmon leftovers. Healthy breakfast recipe, can make ahead. #salmon #eggcasserole #breakfastrecipe #brunch

I feel like the idea of a salmon breakfast casserole is kind of weird, unless you’re using smoked salmon maybe…you know, like a twist on “bagel and lox”.  In this case, though, we’re using regular grilled or baked salmon, flaked into chunks and studded throughout.

The texture is better in a baked egg dish, it’s not as salty, and is a perfect way to use up leftover salmon filets from dinner.

Egg & Salmon Breakfast Casserole with Goat Cheese & Veggies - easy brunch recipe

We still get the saltiness with the addition of fluffy goat cheese, and brighten it up with fresh herbs…whatever you have on hand works.  I had basil, which is perfect, but any combination of chives, dill, a little rosemary, etc. will work.

And finally we pack it with tons of roasted or sautéed vegetables.  You can use whatever you have on hand here too.  I used sweet potatoes, onions, baby bell peppers, and zucchini.

Egg & Salmon Breakfast Casserole with Goat Cheese & Veggies - easy brunch recipeREAD THE POST

A Classic Gin Rickey Cocktail (Low-Carb, No Sugar)

I’d been about to finally post this recipe when I stumbled across this recent article from New York Magazine declaring the gin rickey this summer’s official drink.  And they’re not wrong…

And while it’s true that the gin and tonic is my one true love any time of year, there is something so simple and refreshing about the way that sparkling water lets the flavor of the gin and lime shine.

An Easy Classic Gin Rickey Cocktail (No Sugar, Low-Carb) | This super simple 3-ingredient gin cocktail is perfect any time of year, but especially summer. A sugar-free, naturally low-carb cocktail (like for keto) that is delicious, tart, and refreshing (also perfect for day drinking). #gin #cocktail #keto #lowcarb #lime

This classic cocktail is one of those drinks that you can sip all afternoon by the pool, and still feel good in the evening…very light and clean-feeling.  

It’s naturally sugar-free and about as much of a low-carb as is humanly possible (about 1-2 total carbs, from the lime juice).

Just 3 ingredients make this clean, refreshing gin rickey cocktail perfect for a low-carb dietREAD THE POST

Easy Almond Flour Pancakes (Naturally Gluten-Free, Keto, Low Carb)

I wasn’t planning to share any more keto recipes, as it’s not really the focus of this blog and I feel a bit tapped out on what I can do there.  But then this amazing and easy almond flour pancake recipe came along and…honestly??  They are shockingly good.

Easy & Delicious Almond Flour Pancakes | These keto pancakes are so easy & perfect for any morning. Naturally gluten-free pancake recipe that's low carb, no weird ingredients, and packed full of protein and healthy fats. Easy keto breakfast or low carb breakfast recipes you'll love, gluten-free breakfast recipe that's so easy to make. #keto #lowcarb #almondflour #pancakes #glutenfree #gf

While I won’t tell you that these naturally gluten-free pancakes are just as perfect and fluffy as my basic buttermilk ones (scientifically, can’t really be), it’s the first recipe in a while that didn’t feel like I was getting a lesser version of what I really wanted.  

These are great just being what they are.  They’re moist, have a little fluff to them, and a really nice texture overall. They’ve got a little sweetness.  They pack a punch in both protein and fat, but basically no carbs.  

And you can make a batch of the batter and keep it in the fridge, just making up a few here and there as needed (I don’t think they’re as great reheated).

Easy & Delicious Almond Flour Pancakes | These keto pancakes are so easy & perfect for any morning. Naturally gluten-free pancake recipe that's low carb, no weird ingredients.

And the best part about these keto pancakes?  Less than 15 minutes start to finish, including a 5-minute rest of the batter.

READ THE POST

Easy “No-Squeeze” Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Y’all, I was SOOOOO skeptical about this.  Seriously, could a “no squeeze” cauliflower pizza crust even work??  It was so wet!  Surely this was a recipe for disaster.

But wow…this was the easy cauliflower crust of my dreams.  

Super Easy No-Squeeze Cauliflower Pizza Crust | This amazing easy cauliflower pizza crust doesn't require any pre-cooking the cauliflower or squeezing all the moisture out...a (not weird) secret ingredient makes this super fast and easy. Great keto, low-carb, or grain-free dinner option. #cauliflower #cauliflowercrust #keto #lowcarb #glutenfree #gf

This crust is gluten-free, grain-free, high protein and low carb, and doesn’t have the weirder preservatives and stabilizers found in store-bought cauliflower crusts.

What makes it amazing is that it’s so fast and hands-off…you don’t have to pre-cook the cauliflower (you use it raw), and you don’t have to squeeze (and squeeze and SQUEEZE) all the moisture out before making the dough.

An easy cauliflower crust recipe...no squeezing, it's super wet to start with but turns out perfectly

But HOW, I can hear you saying??  This crust includes one key secret ingredient that makes this possible—egg white protein powder.  

I talked in my post on how I survive a low-carb or keto diet about how I tend to avoid weird special ingredients that I don’t know enough about, but this is an exception (and it’s not that weird). 

It’s just pure powdered egg whites and it makes all the difference in a super easy cauliflower pizza crust.  The crust “dough” is super wet when it goes in the oven (you even PUT water in it!) but the powdered egg whites soak it up as it bakes and makes it puffy and like a real dough.

Super Easy No-Squeeze Cauliflower Pizza Crust | This amazing easy cauliflower pizza crust doesn't require any pre-cooking the cauliflower or squeezing all the moisture out...a (not weird) secret ingredient makes this super fast and easy. Great keto, low-carb, or grain-free dinner option. #cauliflower #cauliflowercrust #keto #lowcarb #glutenfree #gfREAD THE POST

10 Tips For Surviving a Super Low-Carb Diet (Keto or Keto-Like)

Y’ALL…this post has been a long time coming.  For varying health reasons, I’ve had to keep my carbs to an absolute minimum for the past 4-5 months, which basically feels like forever.  So I wanted to share my tips for a keto diet (or super low-carb diet). 

Basically, how to not lose your mind and hate everyone and everything 🙂

10 Tips for Surviving a Super Low-Carb Diet | These tips for keto diet or other low-carb diet (and candida anti-fungal diet) are the ones that helped keep me sane and happy when on such a restrictive lifestyle. Keto diet tips, low carb recipes, tips for low carb diet. How to make it work for YOU. #lowcarb #keto #diettips #ketodiet

A lot of this came from trial and error, seeing which things actually could help me make good choices.  At the end I’ve also shared some of the recipes that have been my go-to’s for this low-carb diet. 

I tend to avoid lots of store-bought keto things just due to not knowing/liking all the weird ingredients and stabilizers so generally make things myself.  I also just didn’t really use cream cheese…it’s never something I’ve bought or worked with (though am not against).

1.  Stock up on produce, & have a shelf life strategy

I am not a meal planner or prepper, and my work life is nuts, so my biggest enemy was time and planning ahead.  I knew I needed to eat tons of veggies (the super low carb kind), and so started just buying a ton.  

For instance on one trip I bought:

  • Zucchini and mini bell peppers
  • A bunch of curly kale
  • A head of cabbage
  • Red and orange bell peppers
  • Avocados (I ate sooooo many)
  • Mixed greens
  • Tomatoes
  • Cauliflower pearls (rice)
  • A head of cauliflower
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Okra
  • Hearts of romaine lettuce, “little gem” lettuce, microgreens

But I do have a bad habit of letting things go bad then having to toss them.  So instead I started by figuring out how to use the cauliflower rice, avocados, okra, zucchini, lettuce and greens, because they were going to go bad the fastest.

On the other hand, the curly kale, mini peppers, tomatoes, head of cauliflower, and brussels sprouts could be my “mid”-term options, while things like onion, cabbage, and big bell peppers are much sturdier and can sit around for a while.

READ THE POST

How to Make Traditional Cauliflower Crust Pizza

If you’d told me a few months ago that cauliflower crust pizza would be making up like…25% of my diet, I’d have asked what you were smoking.  And yet here we are.  

Traditional Cauliflower Crust Pizza | How to make cauliflower crust, an easy homemade recipe (does include some squeezing)...this cauliflower crust pizza only takes a few ingredients and is full of fiber & vitamins. Grain free, gluten-free, low carb and keto recipe option. #cauliflower #keto #grainfree #cauliflowercrust #gf #glutenfree #pizza

This cauliflower crust only takes a few ingredients (most of which you have on hand).  It’s is high in vitamins K and C, low-cal, high in fiber and antioxidants, and (like all cruciferous vegetables) good for detoxing the liver.

Your topping options are also really versatile, though I stay away from super wet/soggy ingredients.  Here are a few things I typically throw on:

  • I often keep cooked hamburger on hand to throw on any dish
  • I use both shredded (parmesan, cheddar, mozzarella), and a soft cheese (there’s a sheep/goat one that’s AMAZING)
  • I usually will throw a pan of roasted vegetables in the oven along with the cauliflower crust (brussels sprouts, peppers, and onions are my fave)
  • You can use sauce, but I’m not a fan and it does make things soggy.  Sometimes I will spread a bit of dijon mustard on though for extra flavor.

How to make this traditional cauliflower crust pizza

You might also like:  10 Tips For Surviving a Super Low-Carb Diet (e.g. Keto)

Why do I call this “traditional”?  It’s because it involves manually squeezing all the liquid out before mixing and baking.  I’ve recently found an alternative recipe that doesn’t require squeezing (due to a secret ingredient), which I’ve been loving as well.

The thing about making a traditional cauliflower crust is that it’s not super fast.  Now, it’s not HARD, it just has a few different steps and ALL THAT SQUEEZING.  What I’ve found helpful in how to make cauliflower crust is to break up into a few key phases or steps so I can plan my timing around it.  

  • Rice/food processor your cauliflower (if necessary) and cook it
  • Squeeeeeeeze your cauliflower to get all the liquid out, then mix together the dough
  • Bake the dough mixture by itself, then top and bake just long enough to melt the cheese

So I’ll often do the first step earlier in the day so it can cool, then just throw the cooked cauliflower in my nut milk bag and come back to it later.  Then when I’m ready to actually make dinner, I turn my oven on and start the squeezing. 

I’ll squeeze once, let it rest a couple minutes, come back and squeeze some more…you want to get as much liquid out as possible.

READ THE POST

Soupy Creamy Golden Rice With Crispy Spiced Chickpeas

Some dishes just scream “comfort food”, and this creamy, soupy golden rice topped with crispy spiced chickpeas ticks all the boxes for a hearty and comforting vegetarian meal any time of year.

Soupy, Creamy Golden Rice with Spiced Chickpeas | This delicious hearty, comforting, and also still light dish is a perfect vegetarian dinner any time of year. Perfect Meatless Monday dinner recipe. #turmeric #chickpeas #vegetarian #meatlessmonday

It’s super easy and doesn’t require a ton of hands-on work.  The flavors are quite subtle, not the kinds of spices that punch you in the face.  In fact if you’re not careful it can be a tiny bit bland, so I recommend being a little heavy-handed on both layering salt as well as the red pepper flakes.

What really elevates this soupy turmeric rice dish is the crispy, crunchy chickpeas that are PACKED with flavor.  Used as a topping, these chickpeas first provide protein, but also have a salty and spicy flavor, some intensity from the shallots, and little crispy bits from the coconut as well.

These delicious spiced chickpeas provide the crisp against the soupy golden riceREAD THE POST

Grilling Tips For First-Timers & How To Use A Gas Grill

I am a massive fan of grilling, and actually run my grill almost every night, year-round.  Why, you ask?  Well, 1) it’s the best way I’ve found to consistently eat healthy, 2) it’s super fast and easy, and 3) it requires very little clean-up.

Did you need more reasons than that??

A First-Timer's Guide to Grilling...How to Use a Gas Grill, Easy Grilling Recipes, & More | If you're newer to grilling, these easy tips and my favorite recipes will make you a grillmaster in no time. Grilling is a healthy, easy, and fast way to cook. How to grill moist chicken, how to grill steak and salmon, vegetables, and amazing grilled pizza. Grilling tools you'll need & more! #grilling #gasgrill #howto

Since I moved into my house a few years ago and finally got a real gas grill, I’ve been working to become a grillmaster of sorts, testing all kinds of different recipes. 

So I wanted to share some of my favorite grilling tips and recipes here, particularly for grilling newbies…and I’m always looking to up my game so feel free to send me YOUR best ones too! 

(I feel like I need to caveat here, that I’m not one of those amazing obsessed grilling nerds…but that’s why this guide is perfect for newbies)

What this post covers

  • Grilling tools for success
  • General grilling tips
  • Tips for grilling various meats
  • Marinades
  • Vegetables
  • Pizza

Tools you need

It goes without saying that a good grill is a good starting point.  I use a gas grill, so all the tips here will be geared toward that, I can’t speak to charcoal.  I upgraded to a Weber recently but had a Charbroil for a few years, they’re only a few hundred bucks, and it did great.READ THE POST

Protein-Packed Single-Serving Almond Butter Waffle (GF, Keto, Low Carb)

First off, I’m not going to pretend that these are “real” waffles.  Not like my fluffy carb-y buttermilk goodness, or dark chocolate indulgence.  But if you’re on a low carb diet for whatever reason, this keto waffle recipe might be your best friend.

Easy Low-Carb Keto Waffle Recipe (GF) with Almond Butter | This super easy low-carb waffle recipe is perfect for people on keto diet, or just trying to eat lower carb or gluten-free. Takes 5 minutes, ingredients you should have already. Perfect keto breakfast option or healthy breakfast recipe. #keto #waffle #breakfast #lowcarb #gf

I accidentally made this a few months ago on a healthy whim, and kind of forgot about it since it didn’t blow my mind. 

But the last month I’ve been on a super low-carb diet for health reasons for (like keto, but more restrictive).  And after a couple weeks of egg-mania plus some 90-second keto bread, I was craving something that felt semi-normal.

You might also like:  10 Tips For Surviving a Super Low-Carb Diet (e.g. Keto)

It’s crazy easy and all the ingredients were things I had on-hand.  Even if you’re not on a specific diet, going low-carb and gluten-free on occasion isn’t a bad thing. 

I often add a bit of cinnamon and vanilla to the mix, and you could even try going a tiny bit savory if you wanted (like some fresh rosemary).  It doesn’t need sweetener, but you could definitely add a bit of honey or monkfruit syrup too.

I’ve made it in both my more Belgian-style waffle maker and a more traditional rectangle one and it’s great either way (I’m more partial to the Belgian).

Easy Low-Carb Keto Waffle Recipe (GF) with Almond ButterREAD THE POST

90-Second Keto “Bread” (No/Low Carb)

I KNOW.  You’re probably thinking, “What is happening here? Who is this person??” Same.  But here we are—90-second keto bread.

Easy 90-Second Keto Bread | This simple fast keto bread is perfect for a quick meal...no weird ingredients or techniques, and ready in just a few minutes! Keto diet ideas, Maffetone diet ideas. What to eat on keto, how to survive on keto without bread. #keto #bread

You might also like:  10 Tips For Surviving a Super Low-Carb Diet (e.g. Keto)

When I started looking for easy keto bread recipes, just to have a vehicle for my almond butter, I had trouble finding one that sounded good.  A lot had cream cheese (not my thing, nor do I keep it around the house), or weird ingredients (lookin’ at you psyllium husk), or were overly complex.  And then I found this gem.

Technically I guess it should be called like…5-minute keto bread since you have to get the ingredients out and stir them together.  The 90 seconds is just the cooking time.  But still.

Easy 90-Second Keto Bread - no weird ingredientsREAD THE POST

Socca (Chickpea Flatbread) with Roasted Veggies & Goat Cheese

Be honest…if I say “chickpea flatbread”, does it give you immediate cravings??  I’m guessing that’s a NO.  But it should.  Socca has been on my radar for several months, but for whatever reason I kept putting off giving it a try. 

Then last week I was starving, needed something super healthy, and had nothing in my fridge…I’d gotten back in town late Christmas Eve so everything was closed.  I had some veggies clinging on for dear life in my fridge and that was it.  So I decided that socca needed to happen immediately.

Simple Socca (Chickpea Flatbread) with Roasted Veggies | Also called farinata, this simple socca only takes a few ingredients, is very easy, versatile, and healthy. It's naturally gluten-free, egg-free, and dairy-free, packed with protein, and can be topped with whatever you have. Perfect healthy meal any time of day. #gf #glutenfree #soccca #chickpea #healthyrecipe

What is socca?

Socca (called farinata over the border in Italian Liguria) is a traditional Provençal flatbread and street food, somewhere between a pancake and a thick crepe.  It’s crazy simple, made with chickpea flour and water, with a little salt and olive oil for flavor.

It’s naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free, and high in protein from the chickpea flour.  Cooked under the broiler, it’s got a charred top and golden, crispy outside, with a soft creamy inside, perfect for topping with whatever your heart desires.  

Personally I love garlicky roasted vegetables and soft, salty cheese, but you can top with eggs, fresh veggies, meat, or anything else, or just slice it up into wedges and eat hot and fresh.

Simple socca chickpea flatbread, topped with roasted vegetables and soft cheese

It’s satisfying, one of those healthy recipes that still feels a little indulgent.  And perhaps most importantly, socca is flexible…as long as you have chickpea flour on hand you can make it, and then just figure out what your refrigerator has to offer for toppings.  

I use a small 5-inch cast iron skillet for a single portion of this socca breakfast skillet. You can double or triple it for a larger pan to feed more people, but it’s so easy and fast to make that I wouldn’t try to use it for leftovers.  It’s definitely best fresh.READ THE POST

Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic-Honey Drizzle

I needed to mix up my veggie side dish game recently, because I’ve overdone it a bit on the cauliflower front, as well as being very carb-heavy (lots of sweet potatoes and butternut squash).

Enter these crispy roasted brussels sprouts with balsamic and honey…

Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic-Honey Drizzle | These roasted brussels sprouts are totally addictive and super easy, perfect for any weeknight but also a fancy holiday dinner. You need these honey balsamic brussels sprouts in your life! Delicious flavor combo, ingredients you have in your pantry, healthy side dish recipe or vegetable recipe. #brusselssprouts #balsamic #honey #sidedish

I’m absolutely in love with this honey balsamic brussels sprouts flavor combo…the sweet-bitter taste that soaks into the sprouts and softens them a bit.  That, combined with the sea salt added before roasting and the deeply charred nature of the brussels sprouts, makes this dish truly magical. 

The main change I’ve made from the original recipe is backing waaaay off the amount of dressing/drizzle.  I’ve found that a 1-tablespoon-to-1-teaspoon ratio works best, and even sometimes a bit less than that (I eyeball when making for myself).  You don’t want it sopping wet.

Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey Balsamic Drizzle

Here’s my other everyday recipe:  Roasted Brussels Sprouts “Rubble”READ THE POST

Amazing, Flavorful (& Easy) Chicken Shawarma

Obssssssessed.  That’s what I am with this spiced (and a little spicy) easy chicken shawarma. 

The first time I made it, I was first blown away by how phenomenal my house smelled while it was cooking.  And then when I took my first bite, the flavors just exploded in my mouth.   

Amazing & Easy Chicken Shawarma | I've fallen in love with Nadiya's chicken shawarma recipe, a flavorful spiced dinner recipe that's simple, delicious, and versatile. Easy dinner recipe, healthy dinner recipe, what to do with chicken thighs. #shawarma #chicken #nadiya #dinnerrecipe

The recipe is so simple that it’s hard to figure out why it’s so GOOD. 

You don’t need any special equipment, or really anything in the way of special ingredients, to make this.  It can be thrown together in just a few minutes of hands-on time.  It’s just this magical combination of spices and cooking the meat until it’s really tender.  Easy peasy.

Super easy chicken shawarma recipe, perfect for any weeknight

A couple of tips on this one…the turmeric ended up staining my non-stick loaf pan.  So now I have a savory pan and a (new) pan for sweet bakes 🙂 

Also, Nadiya’s original recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of cayenne which is…WHOA.  But you do you.  I’ve backed that off significantly in the recipe below.

Nadiya's chicken shawarma is mind-blowingly flavorful and easy!READ THE POST

Delicious & Easy Kale Salad

I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to give this a try.  I’ve been wanting to find an easy kale salad recipe for forever, something I could put in my regular dinner rotation.  And don’t roll your eyes…when done properly, kale can be totally delish.  

When not done properly it’s a tough, chewy mess.  Fear not, this is not that kale.

The Best Easy Kale Salad | This basic kale salad is super delicious, healthy, and only takes a few minutes to make. You can use either curly or lacinato kale, and the other ingredients are flexible based on what you have (pistachios, parmesan, lemon zest, and golden raisins). The light lemon dressing gives it a bright flavor. This is the perfect side dish for any meal, an easy side dish for weeknights in particular. #kale #salad #sidedish #healthyrecipes

As I said above, I’ve been wanting to lock down a great basic kale salad for forever.  But then I stalled and stalled…partly waiting to actually find lacinato kale in my grocery store (it’s like a unicorn!). 

Finally I gave up and tried this with curly kale, and totally loved it.  It’s such a simple combination of flavors, but can be super flexible depending on the ingredients you have and is equally great with either curly or dino/lacinato kale.

This easy kale salad has tons of flavor and is simple to throw together

I have made a few tweaks to the original recipe, mostly to the dressing.  I felt it had WAY too much lemon juice so I halved it, and also added a bit of dijon mustard for some creaminess and tanginess.  

I love the fall feel this salad brings, but it’s honestly great any time of year.  I also love that it takes less than 10 minutes to throw together.  

A great basic kale salad that makes good leftovers as well (especially with curly kale)READ THE POST

5-Minute Healthy Breakfast Tacos

These healthy breakfast tacos have been giving me *life* the past several days!

I’ve been on a bit of a “detox” the last couple weeks, nothing super extreme but the kind where you tell yourself you need to LOCK. IT. UP.  I’ve been focused on eating simple, unprocessed foods as much as possible, lots of fruit and veg, largely staying away from alcohol…you know the drill.

5-Minute Healthy Breakfast Tacos | These super easy breakfast tacos are delicious, fast, and versatile...they're perfect when you're trying to eat healthy but on a crazy busy schedule. And they feel indulgent and keep you satiated. These need to go in your recipe rotation! #healthyrecipes #tacos #breakfast #vegetarian

And these easy breakfast tacos have been playing a big role in enabling my “being good”.  I can be on a conference call, taking notes and speaking up, and still whip these babies up in 5 minutes.  They’re a great fast lunch when on the go.

I also love how simple they are, yet how satisfying they are…I don’t feel cheated in any way, and I’m full for hours.  

5-Minute Healthy Breakfast Tacos | These super easy breakfast tacos are delicious, fast, and versatile | finding time for cooking

They’re also really versatile, so you can get as creative as you’d like with extra toppings or seasonings.  Even calling this a “recipe” feels like it’s overstating things a bit—they’re that easy.

If you’re timing this, here goes…READ THE POST

Salmon Potato Hash With Fresh Herbs

Some of the best recipes result from trying to use up an ingredient, and that’s definitely the story of this AMAZING salmon and potato hash. 

I’d bought a couple giant salmon filets, but the week kind of got away from me and they were smelling stroooong.  I was trying to figure out what to do, since throwing $20 worth of salmon away did not appeal.  But just eating the filet itself kind of freaked me out.  So I decided to just bake it up and figure it out later.

Easy, Healthy Salmon & Potato Hash with Fresh Herbs | This delicious hash is perfect if you're looking for how to use up leftover salmon, packed full of vegetables and protein, and can be a side dish or main. Amazing leftovers or breakfast for dinner as well. #breakfastfordinner #healthyrecipe #leftovers #salmon #breakfastThen I got a brainwave about a salmon and potato hash, since I also had a bunch of red potatoes to use up.  After looking up a bunch of recipes nothing struck my fancy, so I just made it up. 

And this has become a new fave, a hearty and healthy lunch option that makes great leftovers and is the perfect way to use up leftover salmon.

The recipe is super flexible, so you can add other veggies or adjust the seasonings based on your mood.  Just don’t add anything too wet (like fresh zucchini or squash)…it’s meant to be dry and get kind of caramelized.

You’ll actually notice through this recipe that I alternate between two sets of photos.  I’ve made this a few times, and once I added in some roasted butternut squash that was just sitting around.  Don’t let it confuse you!

I love to top my salmon & potato hash with basted eggs

To really level it up, serve with some fresh salty feta, goat cheese, or capers, or top with poached or basted eggs.  READ THE POST

How To Baste Eggs: Basted Eggs with Caramelized Shredded Brussels Sprouts

What are basted eggs, you ask?  Well, friend, prepare to fall in love.  It is a super fast and easy way to cook eggs, but strangely flies under the radar.  It’s somewhere between fried (which I never ate growing up) and poached (which is complicated and challenging).  Basting eggs takes like five minutes total, and you can choose whether the yolks are runny or firm.  So let’s talk how to baste eggs.

And then I’ll share a “recipe”…which isn’t really a recipe so much as a meal combination that I stumbled upon many years ago in the throes of desperation, trying to avoid yet another meal of cereal and wine.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that…

How to Baste Eggs...and Meal Ideas with Basted Eggs | finding time for cooking

I’ve already shared my love of brussels sprouts, including this delicious, easy caramelized shredded brussels sprouts (and much faster than roasting them in the oven!).  

You can make this breakfast for dinner

So one night, I had a few brussels sprouts sitting in the fridge I knew I could make up, but that wasn’t going to cut it for dinner. So I decided to baste up some eggs for a protein kick. What was great was how the egg yolk (I like mine on the runny side) mixed in with the brussels sprouts.  Think of these brussels sprouts like you would a vegetable hash, a wonderful base for eggs.

Too lazy to shred??  Try this roasted brussels sprouts “rubble”

READ THE POST

Simple No-Cook Tomato Sauce For Traditional Margherita Pizza

Everyone should have a simple pizza sauce in their repertoire, something they can throw together in just a couple minutes from ingredients in their pantry.  And for me, there is nothing more perfect in its simplicity than the traditional tomato sauce for margherita pizza.

I’ve been on a grilled pizza kick, both because it’s amazingly delicious, and also because I’ve been trying out all sorts of grilling different techniques to determine once and for all what the best is. 

And in the process I’ve eaten a loooooott of margherita pizza.  So much.  But so yumz.  

Check out my deep post on how to grill pizza, & the best easy dough recipe!

There are just a handful of ingredients in this super simple pizza sauce recipe, so quality really matters.  And all it takes is a quick whiz in the blender, so no heat, no mess, and literally 5 seconds.  Then you can make this easy, delicious traditional margherita pizza!  READ THE POST

Chetna’s Easy Chicken Curry

So here’s the thing.  This is not the most photogenic dish.  It’s just not.  But MAN, it packs a wallop of a flavor punch.  This easy chicken curry recipe from Great British Bake-Off contestant Chetna is healthy and simple, but (most importantly) totally delish.

An Easy Chicken Curry | This simple and delicious chicken curry recipe from GBBO contestant Chetna is packed with flavor but super easy to prepare. Easy weeknight dinner and awesome leftovers, just chicken, spices, yogurt, and plenty of garlic and ginger! #weeknightdinner #dinnerrecipe #curry #chickendinner

Now, some folks may ask why there’s no curry powder in it, if it’s a curry.  But actually curry powder is a largely Western invention and addition, and “curry” is just a larger class of dishes.  You can read a bit more about it here since, as a white American farm girl, I’m not the expert 🙂  Suffice to say, this is a curry!

This easy chicken curry makes great leftovers or weeknight dinner

You may look at the total preparation time and think, “ain’t nobody got time for that on a weeknight”.  And maybe that’s true, but what I love about this recipe is that the hands-on time isn’t much, and the first several steps go in stages with plenty of time in-between to prep…so while the oil heats up chop your onions, while the onions cook chop up your tomatoes, etc.READ THE POST

One-Skillet Thai Ground Turkey Curry with Rice

It’s been a bit since I found a main dish recipe I really loved.  I’ve had a few “okay” ones, but this…now THIS is worth sharing with you.  It’s only recently I’ve started playing around with ground turkey (I’m a hamburger girl), and wouldn’t have thought to put it in a curry.  But this easy Thai ground turkey curry is so lovely and comforting that I’m a convert.

One-Skillet Thai Ground Turkey Curry with Rice | A super easy and delicious main dish, ready in about half an hour! Great blend of spices and flavors, healthy, and makes good leftovers. #curry #30minutemeal #easydinnerrecipes

This recipe really is quite versatile.  I added zucchini as I like the green color it adds, and also as a way to cram some more veggies in.  The first time I made this I also substituted sweet potatoes for the carrots (very thinly sliced, like matchsticks), and both were delicious.

What DOES matter is using really good quality coconut milk if at all possible.  I’ve linked to one that I am currently using that I buy on Amazon, but try and find one without BPA-lined cans, guar gum and similar stabilizers, and with the highest fat content possible (don’t go “light”!).  I think Trader Joe’s organic canned coconut milk is great as well.

Easy one-skillet Thai ground turkey curry...a great 30-minute meal

This is so easy and adaptable that I’ve made it a few times in the past few weeks, trying to make sure I had it right.  I made it in both a very large skillet and a stockpot (and both worked fine) so you may see both make an appearance in the photos below.READ THE POST

Winter Grain & Roasted Vegetable Salad With Balsamic Dressing

It’s happened.  I found a salad recipe I love.  True, it’s packed with roasted vegetables and hearty grains in addition to the baby kale…

But still, I absolutely love this recipe, and for a person who’s not really into salad, that is saying something!

Healthy winter roasted vegetable salad with grains and balsamic dressing

One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it’s CRAZY adaptable, takes very little hands-on time, and you can use store-bought ingredients to make things simpler.  I used pre-cooked beets (I still went ahead and roasted them after), and a clamshell of baby kale which is tender and doesn’t need shredded.

This roasted vegetable salad is also a great dumping ground for other leftovers…I’ve tossed in roasted veggies, grilled chicken, and anything else that caught my fancy.  It made a great make-ahead lunch for taking to work all week, and I actually *looked forward* to pulling it out of the fridge.

a roasted vegetable salad with grains

Besides swapping out  the wild rice for a hearty grain like barley, and I played with the dressing proportions quite a bit…in particular, I decreased the olive oil so it makes less dressing but the flavor is stronger—so you need less and cut the calories down a little.

Because I use baby kale and it’s more tender, this works okay, and you can add the dressing ahead of time without everything getting too soggy.  It packs a punch!

roasted vegetable salad with baby kale, dried cherries, and moreREAD THE POST

A Fall Classic: The Best Homemade Apple Butter Ever

The very first time I made this recipe was many years ago, when the leaves were turning all shades of fiery red and orange, signaling a gorgeous Georgia fall.  There was a chill in the air, co-workers arguing over SEC football, and comfort food cravings were haunting me.

You know what else says “fall”?  Apple butter.  Well, technically anything apple + cinnamon, but apple butter is definitely high up on the list.  My mom had shared a homemade apple butter recipes from our family friend, Louise, and I decided to give it a try…and it’s become one of my favorite recipes of all time.

Best Homemade Apple Butter Ever | This super easy stovetop apple butter is totally delicious and takes very little hands-on time. The best part is you don't even peel the apples! Perfect for fall! #applebutter #apples #fallrecipes

Since that time many years ago, making this apple butter has been a rite of fall.  I’ve made it, without fail, every single year for going on a decade.  I share jars with friends, co-workers, family…this stuff is legendary.  And all the better because it’s so easy.

Delicious homemade apple butter, perfect for fall

One of the best parts??  No peeling necessary–you keep the peels on your apples, because the pectin in the peels helps it thicken up.  The combination of spices and brown sugar makes for a complex and warm flavor, completely adaptable to your own preferences.  This is one of those great things that bubbles away on the stove, but takes very little hands-on time and effort.

Delicious homemade apple butter, perfect for fall

I’ve posted the original homemade apple butter recipe as I was given it below, but when I make this I make one major tweak—the amount of sugar it called for seemed extreme, so I decrease it significantly.  It lets the natural sweetness of the apples as well as the spices shine through, and makes it healthier overall.READ THE POST

Maple-Glazed Chicken With Sweet Potato Hash

I was getting ready to start my grill the other night, when all of the sudden I realized I needed a break from it.  I’d grilled chicken and veggies almost every night for over a year and a half (and loved it), but it was time to switch things up.  But since it was already dinner time, I had to find something fast, easy, and that didn’t require special ingredients.  Oh, and healthy.  And yet magically this delightful maple-glazed chicken with a nice spiced sweet potato hash totally fit the bill!

Maple-Glazed Chicken with Sweet Potato Hash | finding time for cooking blog

I ended up modifying the original recipe a little, specifically in how I cooked the chicken since I had tiny tenders vs. full chicken breasts.  What I discovered is that the recipe is simple and flexible, so you can figure out the right proportion of stove vs. oven each time you make it.  The sweet-and-savory combo was a total winner!
READ THE POST

Bing Cherry Pie With Streusel Topping

I love pie.  Pie is the best.  But for a holiday where pie plays a major role, I don’t really love Thanksgiving pies.  Thanksgiving’s a big deal in my family. We always come home. We get together not only all day on Thanksgiving, but pretty much every other day that weekend. We play football. We play cards. There are glorious sunsets. There is SO much food. This year I think we actually set a record.

Easy Bing Cherry Pie with Streusel Topping | An easy dark sweet cherry pie recipe that's as great for everyday as it is for a holiday gathering! #pie #cherries #holidayrecipes

[Note: I edited and republished this in December 2019 with refreshed photos]

Every year I make a fruit pie or two, because pumpkin, German chocolate, and chocolate chip pie are just not for me. There’s usually a pear-apple pie with streusel topping, or some similar combination (I’ve been on a roll with this bourbon pear crumble pie).  A couple years ago, though, I was really at a loss for what else to make, and then my mom found a bag of dark cherries in the freezer.

bing cherry pie filling in the pie crust

After looking up a number of recipes on Pinterest, I had to basically make up the recipe and hope it would work (I had visions of it just being this giant pool of juice, the soggiest pie ever). It was actually super simple and so easy to throw together.

This bing cherry pie ended up being my favorite dessert that year, and I had it for lunch, dinner, breakfast the next morning, and the tiny sliver that was left the next morning as well. This pie is my everything. I have no idea why, but it’s amazing.

READ THE POST

Hearty Fall Lentil, Butternut Squash, & Kale Salad

I had some hesitation as I decided to try out this recipe, to be honest.  On the one hand, I love a hearty salad (I’m on the record as not generally loving lettuce salads…).  But on the other hand, I’m not a massive fan of lentils.  I don’t hate them, just tend to find the texture weird and flavor a bit underwhelming.  So I wasn’t sure how this lentil, butternut squash, and kale salad would land with me.

But I was pleasantly surprised both by the flavor and texture, and how satiated it kept me for hours!  I didn’t feel cheated or dread having to heat up my lunch, and for me that is a win…the cafeteria chicken tenders are always calling, and I have to avoid that call!

Hearty Fall Kale, Lentil, & Butternut Squash Salad | finding time for cooking

Besides the lentils, the base of this salad is a delicious blend of roasted vegetables.  Butternut squash for heft, red onion for flavor, and kale for texture (and greenery).  Personally I could have left out the pecans and wouldn’t have missed them, since I’m not hugely into nuts and they add calories.  And I loved the subtle dressing that blended everything together—sometimes dressings can overpower a salad, especially on leftovers, and that’s not the case at all here.

If you’re looking for other delicious hearty salads, I’m particularly in love with this roasted vegetable and barley salad with a yummy creamy shallot dressing, and this sweet potato and chickpea buddha bowl with maple tahini dressing.  Along with this dish, they all three make DELISH leftovers and are perfect for taking to work for lunch as well.

READ THE POST

Grilled Gorgonzola Potatoes

The grilling extravaganza continues!  And this time we go a little fancier—gorgonzola grilled potatoes.  My love of grilling recipes is well-documented, partly because grilled food is delicious, but also because it’s often healthier, easier, and requires less cleanup.

I’ve been in love with my grilled cheddar rosemary sweet potatoes for like a year now, and this is a similar idea, just taking it up a notch.

Gorgonzola Grilled Potatoes | A super easy & delicious grilled side dish that works perfectly for a quick weeknight dinner or a nice dinner party. 5 minutes of prep, 15 of grilling. Easy side dish ideas, healthy side dishes!

Now, obviously strong blue cheese is a polarizing thing.  I truly adore it, but realize not everyone does.  If you hate it, then I’d say move on, this isn’t for you.  But if you’re kind of on the fence, then I’d recommend giving this a try…melting the gorgonzola crumbles and the thin coating it makes over the crispy potatoes and herbs really mellows out the flavor and makes it less in-your-face.

This is a perfect weeknight side dish for one person (hello!), but also could be a great fancy-feeling (and low-effort) side for a dinner party.

READ THE POST

Quick Healthy Thai Chicken Cauliflower Rice Bowl

Sometimes a self-directed health guilt trip and a slapdash new recipe can actually work out for once.  My track record lately on poorly-thought-out and super rushed recipe trials has been…not great.  Due to tons of travel lately (and not a little bit of stress and convenience-based choices), I’m feeling less than spry and as soon as I got back from a week at the wineries of Sonoma I really felt the need to LOCK IT DOWN.

I really needed to actually eat a decent healthy lunch last week, and this thai chicken with cauliflower rice happened to catch my eye.  I actually threw it together in just a few minutes *while* making my dinner for that night, and to my surprise it was totally awesome!  Easy, delicious, and fast.

healthy thai chicken with cauliflower rice, gluten free

And best of all, it made amazeball leftovers.  Like, leftovers I actually looked forward to warming up at work.  I made a few tweaks to the recipe, both playing with the ingredients in the sauce slightly as well as combining a few steps to make it even easier.

easy weeknight dinner...thai chicken with cauliflower riceREAD THE POST

How To Brine Chicken Breasts: A Secret To Amazing Chicken

Not to brag or anything, but I make darn good grilled chicken breasts.  Like, my-sister-requests-them-for-her-birthday-dinner good.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts often get a bad rap for being the iceberg lettuce of the protein world…a bland necessary evil but absolutely nothing to get excited about.  However, I really struggle with the texture and flavor of chicken thighs or bone-in chicken, so I’ve made it my mission to crack the code on delicious chicken breasts.

How to brine chicken breasts and grill them

My best friend (my Cheese) put me on to wet brining a few years ago, and it’s become an invaluable tool in my arsenal.  I often forget to put chicken in to marinate in the morning before I leave for work, and so what I will often do when I get home at night is make up a brine, throw the chicken in, go for a run, and fire up the grill as soon as I’m back.

We’re going to talk about both wet brine and dry brine methods here, as both are great (but I’ll tell you my new favorite at the end).

READ THE POST

Roasted Vegetable Barley Salad With Lemon Tahini Dressing

It’s rare that I find a recipe that not only makes amazing leftovers, but makes *enough* of them that it’s worth all the work.  And that I can actually talk myself into still choosing over the cafeteria’s amazing chicken tenders on days 2, 3, 4…

This is one of those recipes.  

Easy roasted vegetable and grain salad with lemon tahini dressing

This grain and roasted vegetable salad is a total recipe unicorn—easy, versatile, and just as good hot, lukewarm, or cold.  It can be meat-y, vegetarian, or vegan.  Basically, YOU DO YOU.

Also, this lemon tahini dressing is sooooo good!  It really pulls everything together, with depth and tanginess but doesn’t just overwhelm you.  Honestly you should put this dressing on everything!

The only downside of this recipe is that actually getting that many vegetables roasted or grilled (and prepping them, honestly) can take a bit of time.

However, what I usually do is pace it over the course of an afternoon, since the veggies don’t need to be piping hot fresh.  And I’ll do a combination of grilling and roasting so I don’t have my oven on forever.  I love to absolutely pack this salad with veggies rather than have it be really grain-heavy, because HEALTH.

lemon tahini dressing really makes the saladREAD THE POST

Farro Salad with Butternut Squash, Goat Cheese, & Pepitas

It’s been a while since I’ve shared a simple healthy dinner recipe…probably because it’s been a while since I’ve *made* one that doesn’t require just throwing chicken and veggies on the grill.  But this yummy and super easy farro salad is such a perfect way to transition from winter’s cozy comfort food to lighter summer fare that I had to share.

Farro Salad with Butternut Squash, Goat Cheese, & Pepitas, a delicious vegetarian dinner option

This is another Smitten Kitchen gem that I’ve adapted in several different iterations depending on what I have in the fridge (like that delish goat cheese with thyme and apricots you can kind of see in the pic below).  This is the simplest version, but feel free to add to or switch up ingredients.  The best part of this dish is the combination of different textures and flavors—creamy, chewy, salty, crunchy, sweet.  So as you swap things in and out, try and maintain those elements for maximum awesomeness.  You can also try it with different grains (barley is a particular favorite of mine).

READ THE POST

Feta & Sweet Potato Hash With Greens

It’s been over a month since I’ve posted something healthy, which feels like a pretty good indication of what my life choices have been like lately :p #allcarbsallthetime

Between work, travel, and this disgustingly cold polar vortex weather, I’ve been indulging a bit too much, and right now I feel the need to get my eating back on track.  But it’s still gross cold and so these healthy options have to be delicious as well.  Behold—soft, sweet, salty, healthy feta & sweet potato hash!

Feta & Sweet Potato Hash | This healthy breakfast recipe is easy & delicious, and a perfect Meatless Monday dinner option, and it makes great leftovers too!

The flavors of the mellow sweet potato, the bitterness of the greens, and the saltiness of the feta play really well together, and the dried herbs add depth to the overall flavor profile.  It’s a really comforting dish, something easy to throw together and really healthy, but feels like you’ve done something special.  Here’s to good choices 🙂

READ THE POST

One-Pot Yellow Cauliflower Chickpea Curry (vegan)

I don’t want to oversell this, but I’ve got your new favorite Meatless Monday recipe comin’ at ya.  It is LEGIT.

Easy One-Pot Cauliflower Chickpea Curry (vegan) | this super easy and healthy curry comes together quickly and provides a great Meatless Monday or healthy weeknight dinner option.

This easy cauliflower & chickpea curry is crazy flavorful and super easy to make.  It’s healthy but doesn’t feel like you’re giving anything up.  We all win.

Easy One-Pot Cauliflower Chickpea Curry (vegan) | finding time for cooking blog

The other great thing about this recipe (besides how fast it comes together) is that it doesn’t take much in the way of special ingredients.  Other than red or yellow curry paste (which I think most grocery stores have now, and you can easily get online), everything should already be in your kitchen.

Make with this:  Easy Homemade Naan Bread

READ THE POST

Whole Wheat Cranberry Pistachio Orange Shortbread Cookies

A couple years ago, my sister sent me an email out of nowhere with this recipe and a note that said “This has to be on your blog!”  And I’ll be honest…it kind of took me a while to get to it.

But I played around with the recipe, making for a co-worker on maternity leave, for my own personal consumption, and then to take to work.  And somehow never got around to posting the final version that I love dearly.

Cranberry Pistachio Orange Shortbread Cookies | these healthy whole wheat shortbread cookies are super easy and delicious, egg-free cookies. | finding time for cooking blog

And guys, these cookies are weird.  They have no leavening agent and no eggs…which shouldn’t work, but it totally does.  In fact, they could be vegan if you substituted coconut oil for butter (though I haven’t tried that from a texture standpoint).

Side note, this cookie dough is AMAZING.  Like, try not to eat it all raw before baking it, I DARE YOU.  And because there are no eggs, you don’t have to worry about raw egg in it (which…I don’t, but I know some people do).

Cranberry Pistachio Orange Shortbread Cookies | finding time for cooking blog

One of the great things about this kind of recipe, where you make the dough into a log and then slice pieces off, is that you can make parts of it at a time super easily.  So the last time I made this, I baked up about half the dough right after dinner, and then two days later sliced up the rest and baked it when I had my whole family over for dinner again.  Bonus points because they’re really quite healthy.

Crushing. It.

Cranberry Pistachio Orange Shortbread Cookies | finding time for cooking blogREAD THE POST

Apricot Balsamic Rosemary Chicken

I’ve been accidentally keeping this recipe a secret the last couple months.  I know, I’m sorry…that’s not what friends do. 

It wasn’t not on purpose.  It’s just that life’s been so crazy, and this chicken has been one of the things getting me through.  As the weather has gotten too cold for my normal nightly grilling, I had to try and find something else super easy but still healthy to have regularly.  And once I tried this once, I was totally hooked.

Apricot Balsamic Chicken with Rosemary | A super easy and delicious weeknight dinner recipe that feels fancy. Ready in under 30 minutes, this is perfect cooking for one person or a whole family. | finding time for cooking blog

This apricot balsamic chicken recipe comes courtesy of Joy the Baker (link at the end of this post), and it’s so simple but feels kind of fancy.  The original recipe calls for chicken thighs, and it probably is best because thighs stay more moist and bring more flavor.

But I use chicken breasts sometimes, just because I struggle with the texture of thigh meat and don’t typically have it on hand.  Chicken breasts work just fine, and my biggest tip is to make sure they’re sliced or pounded thin and even, so they cook quickly without drying out (also, try brining them first).  I also swapped out the thyme the original recipe calls for and added rosemary instead, which I think gives it a punchier flavor.

This is the kind of recipe you can actually whip up on a weeknight after a frantic day of work in less than 30 minutes, then sit down with a glass of wine and take a deep breath.

You know you know what I’m talking about.

Apricot Balsamic Rosemary Chicken | finding time for cooking blogREAD THE POST

Za’atar Roasted Cauliflower with Pine Nuts, Dates, and Thyme

I am a well-known lover of cauliflower, but even I was surprised by how fervently I fell in love with this recipe.  I tried it kind of on a whim, just to mix things up from my normal grill foil packet cauliflower (which is bomb, and I’ve made literally every night for like four months).

But I took one bite and said out loud (in a room by myself), “OH MY WORD THIS IS AMAZING!”  My cats looked at me weird.  Whatever, they’re totally missing out.

Za'atar Roasted Cauliflower with Pine Nuts, Dates, & Thyme | finding time for cooking blog

The flavor combo of this roasted cauliflower is crazy and intense.  It’s such a perfect blend of sweet, savory, crunchy, and earthy.  I would never have thought to pair really ANY of these together, but the result is absolutely sublime.

Za'atar Roasted Cauliflower with Pine Nuts, Dates, & Thyme | finding time for cooking blog

And you know what’s bonus??  It’s super easy too.  There’s very little hands-on time, and it can all come together in under half an hour—basically the time it takes for the cauliflower to roast.  It makes a perfect side dish alongside simple things like grilled or baked chicken, and I’ve even had it as a lighter vegetarian dinner as well.

Za'atar Roasted Cauliflower with Pine Nuts, Dates, & Thyme | finding time for cooking blogREAD THE POST

Roasted Vegetable & Farro Salad with Creamy Shallot Dressing

Ever since I got my grill, it’s been tough pushing myself to try new recipes that don’t require me to just throw things on the grill, because it’s my new favorite thing ever.

But this recipe has been a staple the last few months as I’ve navigated moving, living in a temporary apartment for a couple months (with a terrible kitchen set-up), and then trying to balance the gluttony of travel and meetings with the need to fit into my clothes.  The key is that it’s not just healthy, it’s YUMMY.

Roasted Vegetable & Grain Salad with Creamy Shallot Dressing | finding time for cooking

There’s a fair amount of “dealer’s choice” in this recipe.  It’s incredibly flexible and forgiving…you can substitute different vegetables, use different grains (I use farro, but barley, Israeli couscous, wheatberries, or other similar grains would do), and I’ve even had to substitute dressing ingredients in a pinch.  One time I didn’t have fresh lemons or oranges, so I used a combination of lemon juice & rice wine vinegar to get the tang and acidity, and one time left out the Greek yogurt, and it was still great.

So that’s all to say, I’ll tell you how I’ve done it a few different times, but if the spirit moves you go with your gut.  Grill, roast, and drizzle your way to healthy deliciousness.

Roasted Vegetable & Grain Salad with Creamy Shallot Dressing | finding time for cookingREAD THE POST

Easy Side Dish: Fried Baby Potatoes

I moved away from home when I left for college, and only get back to Kansas once or twice a year.  Usually that’s around Thanksgiving, but on the rare occasions it happens to be during the summer, my mom invariably asks if there’s anything in particular I want to eat, and I invariably answer “grilled chicken and steak with fried baby potatoes”.

It’s our thing.

It’s nice that some things in life are consistent 🙂  This is barely a “recipe”, but I’ve never really had these quite the same anywhere else so I wanted to share how we do this.  The reason that summer is key is because we want to get fresh new potatoes if possible (red is best), and the key is SMALL.  Yes, you can make regular potatoes this way, but it’s only with smaller potatoes that you get the right ratio of buttery crispy goodness and soft fluffy innards.

Innards.  Mmm.

READ THE POST

Cheesy Rosemary Sweet Potatoes on the Grill

Guuuuuyyyyys.  I know I haven’t posted a non-dessert recipe on here in a while.  That’s mostly because I haven’t been cooking—I’ve been GRILLING.  Ever since I moved in and have been getting settled, I’ve started using my awesome new grill non-stop.  A lot of that has been slapdash marinating or brining and then throwing things on the grill as fast as I can.  Not really “recipes”, per se.  But *this* is the real deal, and I couldn’t wait to share it.

Behold, cheesy rosemary sweet potatoes on the grill.

Cheesy Rosemary Sweet Potatoes on the Grill | finding time for cooking blog

I mean, that’s just ridiculous.  I’ve been experimenting a lot with foil packet veggies (it’s my fave way to do cauliflower on the grill), and this is my favorite find yet.  You can still make these if you don’t have rosemary (or could substitute fresh sage), but the rosemary really elevates it.

Cheesy Rosemary Sweet Potatoes on the Grill | finding time for cooking blog

I *am* working on a bigger post on grilling for first-timers.  I definitely can’t claim to be an expert yet, but I’ve done a lot of experimenting and reading up, with a lot of success, so hope to make the subject feel a little less daunting for other first-timers.  I’ll share my favorite marinades and rubs, different ways to prepare veggies, tips for moist and not overcooked meat, and how to make sure you cook things to a safe temperature.  So stay tuned!

READ THE POST

Baked Whole Wheat Penne with Beef and Summer Veggies

I’ve mentioned a few times in the last couple years that I’ve been shying away from making too many pasta recipes, as I’ve had to keep a closer eye on my weight (for annoying and boring reasons like injuries and stress).  But I have found a couple recipes that strike a good balance between feeling like delicious pasta goodness and not being just a calorie and carb bomb.

Whole Wheat Baked Penne with Summer Veggies & Beef | healthy pasta recipes, packed full of veggies & protein, easy dinner recipes, easy pasta recipes, healthy dinner recipes #recipe #bakedpasta #healthy

My baked ziti with chicken sausage and summer veggies was one such recipe, but I thought that it could be even healthier without feeling like I’m giving something up.  I usually make it with Trader Joe’s chicken sausage, but that adds quite a lot of calories, so I swapped that for lean ground beef or venison.  You can do it meatless as well, I’ve accidentally done that a few times and while you don’t get nearly the protein, it’s still very satisfying

I also used whole wheat penne or ziti instead of regular pasta, and packed in even more veggies so that my pasta to veggie ratio was about 1:1.  The core vegetables here are zucchini, squash, and tomato, but you can add other veggies if you want (I’ve thrown an orange pepper in before, for instance).

Whole Wheat Baked Penne with Summer Veggies & Beef | healthy pasta recipes, packed full of veggies & protein, easy dinner recipes, easy pasta recipes, healthy dinner recipes #recipe #bakedpasta #healthyREAD THE POST

Korean BBQ Cauliflower & Chickpeas (vegan, gluten-free)

I’ve been completely obsessed with this this recipe for a couple months now.  I’ve seriously made it three or four times in six weeks.  And I cook like…maybe once a week?

This dish is super healthy done right—it’s so delicious that you don’t feel like you’re giving something up, and so easy that you don’t have to work hard to convince yourself to make it.  Another bonus is that the main ingredients are really affordable, which isn’t always the case when using fresh, healthy ingredients.

Korean BBQ Cauliflower & Chickpeas | easy, delicious meatless recipe, healthy and naturally gluten-free, vegan dinner recipes, vegetarian dinner recipes #healthy #vegan #meatlessmonday

Given how hectic things have been lately, I’ve tried out a couple of meal prep delivery services to see if they would help me be better about cooking and eating healthier—rather than relying on UberEats.  I recently tried Terra’s Kitchen and focused on largely paleo and vegan recipes for my first box, to try and counteract the rest of my life.

This is a slightly adapted recipe of the first meal I made from them, and it was a WINNER!  If you are wanting to try out a meal delivery service that has a lot of really healthy, fresh options, you might give them a try.  This code will get you $40 off your first box (just a referral link, not a partnership of any sort).

Korean BBQ Cauliflower & Chickpeas | easy, delicious meatless recipe, healthy and naturally gluten-free, vegan dinner recipes, vegetarian dinner recipes #healthy #vegan #meatlessmonday

The star of this dish is the sweet, tangy, spicy sauce that coats everything.  But don’t underestimate how awesome the different textures are in combination—solid yet tender cauliflower, chewy chickpeas, crunchy peanut pieces.  Nom nom nommity nom!READ THE POST

Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Butternut Squash with Dijon Vinaigrette

I am obsessed with this side dish.  It is one of the few things I went back for seconds on at Thanksgiving, and has become one of my go-to side dish recipes—particularly when I need to feed a big group.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Butternut Squash with Dijon Vinaigrette | perfect holiday side dish, make ahead side dish for Thanksgiving, healthy side dish recipes, delicious and healthy | finding time for cooking #brusselssprouts #butternutsquash #sidedish

The hands-on time is minimal, just prepping and chopping the veggies.  After that, you briefly toss in olive oil, season, and pop it in the oven.  The vinaigrette takes all of two minutes to put together, so this is a perfect dish to make when you need to focus on other things in the kitchen.

One of the best things about this dish is that you can easily make it ahead, and it warms up and travels well.  The flavors feel indulgent, but it’s still really healthy…which was one of the things we needed this Thanksgiving.  I looked at our family’s Thanksgiving dish list and realized there were no green vegetables (no, green bean casserole doesn’t count!).  So I whipped this bad boy up, and it got rave reviews.

You can also easily increase or decrease the amounts to feed only a few people or a horde.  Basically, this is the perfect side dish and you need it in your life right this minute.READ THE POST

How To Cut Up a Butternut Squash (& Roast It)

It’s fall, so you know what that means…

No, I’m not talking about festive Starbucks cups and new fall TV shows.  It means that hundreds of butternut squash recipes are flooding Pinterest.  You’re probably getting seduced by them as we speak.  And then you remember that getting a butternut squash from whole into bite-sized pieces is THE WORST.

Until you know how to do it well.  So that’s where I come in.  I’ve found and refined a way to dismember butternut squash that doesn’t take long, doesn’t kill your hands, and will get you perfect little cubes every time.  Sure, you can sometimes buy it pre-cut (and there’s nothing wrong with that), but you can’t always find it that way plus it gets kind of slimy fairly fast.  Better to have a good back-up.

So let’s dive in, shall we?  There are two main pieces of equipment that you need, and one of them is an actual decent Y-peeler.  I’m in love with my OXO peeler, got it a few years back and now no longer accidentally take off layers of skin when I’m peeling veggies.  It gives you so much more leverage and stability than a regular vertical-bladed peeler.

Begin peeling long, deep strips out of the squash.  You’ll need to overlap your stripes, because it will likely take two tries to get it deep enough.  Butternut squash peel is not messing around.READ THE POST

Sweet Potato Chickpea Buddha Bowl

So…I’ve been chastising myself lately for my diet.  Between crazy work schedules, travel, and being on crutches, I’ve just been a bit too reliant on Uber Eats and definitely lacking in fruits and veggies.  It’s kind of amazing I don’t have scurvy.

Then this morning as I was working I decided to finally get around to watching “What The Health?” on Netflix, which talks through a lot of the things wrong with our diets and how that’s impacting our health, and the medical establishments and lobby groups that are set on keeping it that way.

Sweet Potato Chickpea Buddha Bowl with Maple Tahini Sauce | Finding Time for Cooking

Its basic conclusion is that we’re meant to eat plant-based diets, and that anything else is unhealthy.  It’s definitely an interesting watch, and while I don’t completely agree that meat is the devil—I grew up on a family-run cow farm, after all, and I also believe that God designed us to eat some meat—I 100% agree that we’ve totally screwed up our food chain in so many ways and that a heavier plant diet is a good thing, and overall it guilted me REAL HARD into really putting on my adult pants today.

Sweet Potato Chickpea Buddha Bowl with Maple Tahini Sauce | Finding Time for Cooking

So I did some digging on plant-based diets and found some recipes that I want to try to rotate into my everyday routine.  This was the first one I came across that made me go “Hmm!”  The flavor combos are awesome, it’s easy to make, I’m a sucker for a good tahini sauce, and I’m hoping it’ll make an awesome lunch for a couple days this week as well.  For a non-pasta vegetarian meal, I’m totally on board with this one!

READ THE POST

Pakistani Kima

Full disclosure:  I have no idea if this recipe is truly Pakistani, nor do I know what “kima” is.

But I *do* know that it’s delicious, filling, healthy, and easy.  That’s a dinner grand slam in my books.

30-minute Pakistani Kima, full of veggies, protein, and aromatic spices, and comes together for a healthy & easy dinner

My sister has been making this for her family for quite a while, and she made it for us while I was visiting my parents a couple years ago.  I fell in love with the incredible aroma and flavors of the spice combination.  It’s truly what makes this dish special.

30-minute Pakistani Kima, full of veggies, protein, and aromatic spices, and comes together for a healthy & easy dinner

But it has a lot more going for it.  It’s chock-full of veggies, across the color spectrum (something that I’m usually desperately needing).  It’s also super satiating, with a one-two-three punch of the fat in the butter (don’t skimp on this), the lean ground beef, and the fiber-full vegetables.

It clocks in at around 320 calories per serving (if you make 6 servings out of the batch), which is great if you’re trying to keep your calories down but not feel hungry all the time.

30-minute Pakistani Kima, full of veggies, protein, and aromatic spices, and comes together for a healthy & easy dinner

And best of all, this recipe is super easy to make, a one-pot standby.  It only takes about a half-hour total, and only requires you to do some vegetable chopping and throw everything into a pot.  I made two desserts while putting this together a couple weeks ago, because I didn’t have to spare any brainpower for it.  So I’m kind of in love.READ THE POST