There is a small cafe on the college campus near work that I love. They have a large assortment of salads, and the food is always fresh and house-made. This artichoke salad is one of the dishes they serve and it is such a nice accompaniment to their hearty main dishes.
Posted in Budget, Easy, Fast, Salads, Sides having 2 comments »
I don’t usually use prepared ingredients in a recipe. I like to make things from scratch as much as possible-to both control the quality of the ingredients as well as the cost. However sometimes it is worth the added expense for the convenience of having a wholesome meal on the table between work and bedtime. Any leftover cooked chicken will do in this recipe as will a store-bought rotisserie chicken if that’s what’s in your time budget. Jarred green salsa also makes a great enchilada sauce (unlike canned “green enchilada sauce” which has a bunch of additives) in a pinch. Like many tomato based sauces, jarred green salsa often has only the same tomatillos, green peppers, onions, etc that you would use if you were making it from scratch. So check your labels and feel good about throwing together this easy, delicious convenience meal. Click here for the recipe »
Posted in Easy, Fast, Main Dish having 13 comments »
I am not sure why I never considered making Greek Nachos before. It is a fun spin on gyros and a perfect light meal for summer. You can make this with any meat or completely meat-less and add as much or as little of your favorite Greek toppings. Above, I mixed the feta into the tzatziki but next time I would prefer to sprinkle a bit on top instead. Below is a quick yogurt sauce with mint and lemon but any favorite recipe or store-brought tzatziki would work just fine. I also show you how to make pita chips below but again store-bought would work for a quicker, no-oven version. Click here for the recipe »
Posted in Easy, Fast, Main Dish, Snacks/Appetizers having 6 comments »
If I was a better blogger I would have a bunch of delicious summery meals stored up to post for you while we wind down the dog days. I’m not and I don’t-so you are getting this wonderful fall-ish meal a bit early. Yes, I did actually turn on my oven in this weather and it was so worth it. These peppers, a mixture of sweet and hot, stuffed with creamy risotto rice and herbs are really a perfect dish to straddle the cusp between summer and fall. They are light, yet hearty, and make the most out of the last of the garden vegetables.
You can make risotto in the oven. I had heard this over the years but never actually tested it before. Unfortunately, I screwed it up and wound of with dry, crunchy rice on top. It wasn’t enough for me to turn on the oven when it was 100°F outside, I wanted it to be a blazing 450°F instead of the more moderate 350°F. You will pay better attention to your oven settings, I just know it. Click here for the recipe »
Posted in Main Dish having 7 comments »
cha·os -noun 1. a condition or place of great disorder or confusion. My chaotic kitchen is the result of three kids, two adults, dog, cat, and fish, a food obsession, a wine drinking hobby, and too few hours in the day. Between trying to feed a family of five healthy, happy meals, watching my weight, saving my pennies, and staying partially sane I have picked up a few tricks along the way. So here they are: the very best tips, tricks, and recipes from my chaotic kitchen-to yours!
