This creamy polenta recipe with sautéed mushrooms is the best quick-and-easy weeknight comfort food. A thick hearty bowl of polenta topped with savory mushrooms and a bit of cheese truly hits the spot on cooler evenings. But this recipe is also a light enough meal to enjoy during warmer months too. And it is a…
Columbia’s 1905 Salad is one of my favorites. It’s a bit like a Cuban sandwich in salad form, and the secret is in the sauce. But I’ll get to the dressing that makes this salad irresistible in just a minute. Columbia Restaurant First of all, are you familiar with the Columbia Restaurant? It’s one of…
This easy white bean soup is one of my favorite weeknight meals to make when I’m craving something comforting, yet light and healthy. It’s a quick and easy soup and takes about 30 minutes to make from scratch. So there’s no need to plan ahead or pull out your slow cooker. We have cooking tips…
You know how there are those certain foods your parents make you eat that you don’t quite appreciate until you’re an adult? Tourtiere is one of those foods for me. Growing up, my grandmother used to make “meat pie” every year for Christmas. And not just one, but several so that we could freeze them…
We’ve been craving comfort food, and nothing beats traditional Irish pub food like this slow cooker Guinness Beef Stew. Traditionally it’s made in a Dutch oven, but I like to make mine in a slow cooker. It’s easy to prep in the morning, and the whole house ends up smelling so wonderful that I look…
Pasta Bolognese is such a popular comfort food, but do you know its origins? Bolognese is a kind of ragù (the Italian word for meat sauce), originally from the city of Bologna, Italy. It’s a tomato-based meat sauce simmered low and slow with a trio of aromatics (celery, onion, and carrots) and a good dose…
Hot ham and cheese sandwiches are a lunchtime staple. And with just a few added ingredients, you can take the basic ham and cheese sandwich and make it extraordinary. This recipe is inspired by one of our favorite cafes in Orlando, B3. It stands for Bikes, Beans, and Bordeaux and is a favorite among locals…
Air fryer salmon is one of my favorite quick and easy weeknight meals. It’s perfectly cooked and tender every time. Air frying is seriously about the only way I’ll cook salmon these days. We have a recipe for you below along with tips for selecting the right cuts of salmon, choosing an air fryer, and…
Maybe it’s summer nostalgia, but I’ve been craving antipasto salad. You know, the kind that you can typically find at your neighborhood pizzeria that’s covered in olives and pepperocini and loaded with dressing that you can sop up with fresh baked garlic knots. If you’ve been craving antipasto salad too, we have the whole scoop…
Summertime is sockeye salmon season, and this Maple Glazed Salmon recipe is one of my favorite dinners to make at home, especially as we look forward to our cruise in Alaska this summer! There’s only 5 ingredients and the clean-up is easy, so it’s a simple and delicious recipe that’s perfect for a busy weeknight,…
Looking for a few good ramen hacks? We’ve got you covered. Buried in the back of your pantry, probably from your college days, is a hard brick of instant noodles. You know the kind of ramen I’m talking about. Not the legit full of umami kind that a chef spent hours on, making a broth…
Pork carnitas, a Mexican-style slow cooked pulled pork, are probably my absolute favorite street food. Carnitas literally means “small pieces of meat” which makes them perfect for tacos. I’ve had them while visiting Mexico in Puerta Vallarta as well as many parts of the southern United States. At home, pork carnitas are a dish that’s…
Looking for some of the best pasta recipes? I don’t know about you, but I’m missing travel right now and seeking comfort in my kitchen. And my favorite comfort food, hands down, is pasta. It’s alike a warm hug in a bowl, it’s filling, and there’s always a box of it in my pantry. So,…
Cavatappi is a toothsome pasta, named for it’s curlicue corkscrew shape that’s perfect for holding on to a savory sauce — and you’re going to love this lemon ricotta sauce we have below. This recipe is inspired by a dinner we had at a Sicilian wine estate just outside Catania during our food tour of…
Yes, I’ve been on a Whole 30 kick lately. And this recipe for a Whole 30 Beef and Broccoli is one we’ve been enjoying. You’ve likely seen me posting more recipes like Whole 30 compliant pizza bowls and bacon burger bowls. What can I say, I still like my comfort foods while going on a…
You are going to love these Whole 30 Bacon Cheeseburger Bowls. Did I say CHEESE and Whole 30 in the same sentence? You bet! And I’ll show you how to make a dairy-free Whole 30 compliant cheese sauce below. In order to add “cheese” to a Whole 30 diet is you gotta make it from…
If you’re looking for an easy weeknight meal, you’re going to love these Whole 30 Hamburger Bowls. I’m not typically a follower of most fad diets, but Whole 30 seems to work for me. Especially as a sort of digestive “reset” in-between traveling and holidays. (Because, I hate to admit, I love dairy, but dairy…
This post is sponsored by La Cucina Italiana While visiting the Emilia Romagna region of Italy this summer, I took a cooking class just outside of San Marino to learn how to make a rustic pasta with an interesting name — strozzapreti. How Strozzapreti Became Known As The Priest Choker Strozzapreti is a typical pasta…
This chicken enchilada bake is my new go-to for any occasion that needs a casserole. Or simply when I’m in the mood for something hearty and spicy, but don’t want to make chili. It’s a lot like regular enchiladas, but instead of rolling up the tortillas, they’re layered like a lasagna. How’d this recipe come…
When I had the pleasure of traveling to Ireland a while back, I returned with lifelong friendships — and a soul-warming recipe for Colcannon Soup. Let me back up. Travel can be a trial by fire for any relationship, so it’s worth noting that Rachelle and I first became friends on a trip. We were…
We kicked off the autumn season in our house this week with this pumpkin risotto. It may still feel warm here in Florida during the first week of October, but we’re enjoying the flavors of fall. This recipe was inspired by my trip to Zurich this summer where I visited the first vegetarian restaurant in…
If you’re following Whole30, you’re going to love this recipe for Whole 30 Pizza Bowls. Since I travel for work, I like to eat really simply at home to balance out all the delicious indulgences while on the road. And the only diet I found that really works for me is Whole30. This recipe is…
This corn avocado salad is one of my favorite side dishes to serve with grilled chicken or fish. Plus, it’s a crowd-pleasing side dish to bring to barbecues too. It’s similar to Esquites, a Mexican Corn Salad, but without the dairy and the heat. (Although, I do love esquites). This corn avocado salad is more…
If you hate bland chicken, or having it seasoned the same way week after week, this recipe for sesame chicken is a great one to add to your rotation. Whether barbecuing outdoors, or on the stovetop in a cast iron grill pan, the sesame seeds add such an irresistible nutty flavor to grilled chicken. And…
Meatless Monday and taco Tuesday seem to run together in our house with these quinoa and black bean burrito bowls. In an effort to eat healthier meals and have at least one meatless night a week, I had to make it look appetizing and a burrito-style quinoa bowl seemed to do the trick. The benefits…
While visiting Seoul, we frequently indulged in the ultimate Korean comfort food – Bibimbap. The name bibimbap literally translates to “mixed rice” and consists of sautéed meat and vegetables arranged separately, and sometimes rather artfully, over a bowl of rice. Some are served with a fried egg on top along with a sweet and spicy…
Sausage and onions are one of my husband Pete’s favorite meals, so I created a way to make it somewhat healthy (i.e. vegetables) with this Italian Sausage Skillet with cannellini beans, tomatoes, Italian sausage and spinach. Inspired by our recipe for Portuguese Sausage & Beans, this one-skillet dinner is low carb and faster to make….
Yes, this lemon linguine recipe truly comes from an Italian contessa. Just outside of the city of Catania, in the Sicilian countryside, is a sprawling farm with charmingly rustic 17th century stables and buildings. During our Southern Italy food journey with EF Go Ahead Tours, our guide brought us out to this rural farmhouse owned…
With the lasting chill in the air this winter season, I’ve been craving hot comfort foods. And while there’s no shortage of yummy recipes to warm up the heart and soul, it is January so I’m trying to stick to a healthy glutton-free, dairy-free diet. Jody, with Legal Nomads, has been posting all kinds of…
This apple cider chicken is the perfect autumn salad for balancing out all those sweet pumpkin-flavored indulgences. It’s light, refreshing, eash-to-make, and has a great a autumn apple cider flavor with a bit of a sweet crunch from the crispy shallots. I like to make this salad with cress since it’s a nutritional power house…
I do love a good origin story when it comes to food, especially when a few legends are mixed in. And chimichurri is just the kind of condiment that’ll get a friendly foodie debate going after a few glasses of Malbec are poured. If you’re not familiar with chimichurri, it’s most widely known as an…
Sometimes, you need to sneak a little more veg into your diet – which is why I whipped up this spinach and kale pesto. I just recently had a gum graft (no fun), and it basically put me on a soft foods diet for two weeks. At first I was all, “Yeaaaaaah! I’ve got a prescription to eat…
Whenever I travel, I’m always on the lookout for new recipes to try at home, as travel is such a great resource for food inspiration. During my latest cruise on Carnival Vista, there was a salad on the Lido Deck that really tickled my tastebuds and made me smile. Yes, I discovered recipe inspiration at…
I’ve been a little obsessed with blueberries lately, visiting local u-pick farms in Orlando and filling our fridge by the bucketful. So, when my friend Kita with Girl Carnivore invited me to participate in a recipe challenge for National Burger Month, I had to figure out a way to do something savory with my favorite fruit….
This farro salad with crisp cucumbers and tangy blueberries seasoned with lemon and thyme is my new lunchtime favorite. In fact, I crave it! It’s inspired by a new cookbook I’ve been reading, The Nordic Way. Farro Salad – The Perfect Carb-To-Protein Ratio The premise of The Nordic Way is to deliciously combine the perfect…
Throughout my travels through Louisiana, I indulged in quite a bit of sausage and grits — a comfort food that’s a signature dish for the coastal south. If you’re unfamiliar with grits, they’re kind of like the American version of polenta consisting of ground up cornmeal and cooked in hot water until it’s soft and cereal-like….
This BBQ crock pot pulled pork recipe is one of Pete’s favorites, and it has saved us from slaying over a hot grill many time in the crazy heat of summer. Plus, it’s great over a bowl of rice during winter and is really easy to make with only 5 ingredients. I also love it…
My friend Nelson recently sent me a copy of his Portuguese Travel Cookbook, and having skimmed through the stories and photos I couldn’t wait to try out this Portuguese sausage skillet dinner recipe! The book is much more than just recipes; it’s wonderful collection of stories about life and food in Portugal. From what makes Vinho…
One of my favorite weeknight meals is a Thai ginger lime ground pork recipe called Nam Sod. Not only is it easy to make, but it’s light, healthy, and has that big multi-layered “pow” of flavor that Thai food is known for. While visiting Thailand, I loved how fresh the food looked and tasted and it…
A refreshing mango chicken salad with all the tropical fixings is perfect for a quick and nutritious lunch throughout the week. The tart lime, coconut, yogurt and honey make this a delicious mix of tangy and sweet with a bit of crunch, and the tropical flavors remind me of sitting on the beach in the Caribbean or…
I’ve written down this lemon pasta recipe on a napkin so many times for friends that I thought I should actually shoot it and add it to the blog. It’s a zesty five ingredient lemon pasta recipe that’s one of my favorites to throw together when I’m short on time. Not only is it quick…
When our work schedules get busy and the weather is just a tad chilly outside, I have a go-to quick and easy turkey chili recipe I make all the time. It’s easy to make in one big pot without creating a big mess of dishes. Add a few blue corn chips and sour cream on…
One of my favorite dishes in the whole world is a hearty, cheesy risotto. With cauliflower being one of the trending foods of 2016, I wondered if I could make a cauliflower risotto? Indeed, it can be done. And it’s much better than cauliflower mashed potatoes! Adapted from my Champagne risotto recipe, this one is…
Khao soi – the coveted Thai coconut curry noodle bowl popular in Northern Thailand. During my first visit to Chiang Mai, I took a cooking class to learn how to make their local Khao Soi recipe. And while it was delicious when I tried the recipe at home, it just didn’t quite taste the same as what I had Thailand….
South African’s know how to make the most amazing grilled cheese sandwich. It seriously puts our buttered grilled cheese in a saute pan to shame. But their name for it in Afrikaans is quite a tongue twister — braai-broodjes (or braaibroodjie). It’s is a toasted cheese sandwich made over an open fire during a South…
I’m headed to France this summer, so in preparation (and anticipation!), I decided to dust off a vintage cook book my mom found for me at a garage sale and give Julia Child’s coq au vin a try. I recruited my husband Pete to help by taking photos each step of the way as I…
This smoked salmon recipe glazed with butter and maple syrup is one we learned during a road trip around Nova Scotia. Seafood has a long history there. And with 13,000 km of coastline, you’ll find lots of fresh fish, smoked salmon, scallops, and mussels on local menus. Close to Nova Scotia’s eastern shore and located…
In adding to my collection of recipes from around the world, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to spend some time with Chef Kelvin at the CasaMagna Puerto Vallarta Marriott as he offered to share with me his abula’s recipe for enchiladas rancheros, or Mexican enchiladas. And you know there’s nothing better than a recipes…
Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day and I’m always fascinated to see what morning provisions are present in other countries. For me, there’s a sense of comfort provided by a leisurely meal (and gobs of coffee) to transition into the day. While visiting Bali last year for my FSJet trip assignment, I met…
Most of my recipes have a fun travel story to go with them, but this one for crispy baked chicken wings from home and begins with a confession: I might be the only American that doesn’t totally love football. If I have to pick a team to root for, I usually choose them based on…
Is there anything more comforting than a bowl of hot creamy soup when there’s a chill outside? Butternut squash is one of my favorite fall flavors. I’ve paired it with smokey sage and bacon to make a hearty pasta dish and have even roasted it just plain with salt and butter. This recipe below comes…
Growing up with a step-father from Puerto Rico and residing so close to the Caribbean, I could probably live on arroz con pollo (seasoned Spanish rice with chicken). It’s pure comfort food to me, and as I’ve discovered through my travels, that seems to be a global sentiment! From sweet to spicy, there are many variations…
The word mole originates from the Aztec word molli, meaning something smashed or pureed into a sauce. In the case of mole poblano, roasted chilies and vegetables, burned tortillas, intriguing spices, and chocolate are blended into a sophisticated topping for a multitude of dishes. The flavor profile is a complex tapestry of smoky chilies, garlic,…
The main staple for all Caribbean cooking is chicken and rice, or, arroz con pollo. Every country and region has it’s own version and the subtle changes and nuances in preparation really do make each one taste a little different. (I think there’s a multi-country chicken and rice cookbook idea there!) Driving through the country…
Some might think it cliche to have pizza in Italy. For me, it was a personal mission to taste at least a couple of different slices and bring home some fresh new ideas for toppings. This red cabbage and Gorgonzola pizza was one of them. One afternoon, my husband and I went for a walk…
As a newlywed, I’ve been showered with gifts and well wishes to begin our new lives together, including a family recipe for Thai Chicken Curry. The one gift in particular I’m especially grateful for is the gift of flavor! My family is of French-Canadian descent. My husband’s is Thai-American. Our two families combined create quite…
Yes. You read that title correctly. It does say “bunny” and “recipe” in the same sentence. But this isn’t a recipe for rabbit food. Bunny chow is actually a simple curry traditionally served in a scooped out loaf of bread and is a popular quick meal in South Africa. HOW DID BUNNY CHOW COME TO BE?…
This recipe for Ginger Birch Baked Salmon has a fun story. Always looking for flavors unique to a destination, I was fascinated to find that there was a sort of rivalry between the East and West Coast regarding … syrup. Yes, I said syrup. I bet you know all about maple syrup and maybe recently…
I’m gearing up for my 2nd marathon – the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. It’s now less than a month away and as my excitement increases … so does my appetite! The calories expended during our longer training runs (14 miles to 20 miles) has me hunting for more creative and tasty ways to…
“experience nature and the seasons through fine food, while bringing the exotic to your table … ” I just love a challenge. And this month, Marx Foods is daring foodies to a Blogger Mushroom Recipe Contest. Each blogger that signed up received samples of a couple of different types of mushrooms to experiment with and create an original recipe.