I was raised in a house full of sports fans, though I never really got into it myself. However, whenever the Superbowl came around I would get really excited for the food, the commercials, and even the game. Every year my family would go to my grandparents' house and enjoy good eats and good company. As I got older and moved away from home I had to start my own tradition. So every year, without fail, I make buffalo chicken dip. This stuff is CRACK - so delicious, so addictive, so satisfying...don't say I didn't warn you.
When I got home from work today I peaked in the fridge and was convinced there was nothing to make for dinner. Just as I was on the verge of ordering takeout, a minimalist idea popped in my head. I had pasta shells which are a great, filling base for a meal! It was just a matter of what could go with it.
When I think pasta my mind goes immediately to tomatoes. Luckily I had some cherry tomatoes on hand! I had some fresh sage leftover from a few days ago that I figured could be used in place of the classic, basil. Lemon and extra virgin olive oil are things I always have in the pantry (as you should, too!) and with all of that I was set! You ever feel like you just need more greens in your life and there isn't enough ways to get them? After all, you can only eat so many salads. This calls for getting creative. If there is one thing I love to finish to the last drop it is sauce of any kind. I will lick a plate/bowl clean to get it all. This green sauce is PACKED with good for you ingredients plus it's raw so no cooking is involved!
It's also super versatile. You can use it as a sauce, a dip, a dressing, a marinade - you name it! Plus the color is so amazing and vibrant...it is a great way to get kids and picky eaters alike to eat their greens. Nothing inspires me to bake more than a rainy Sunday. I love being cooped up inside with the sound of rain tapping on the windows and the smell of baked goods in the air! It's so relaxing and home-y. And in the winter I feel it just adds a layer of comfort and warmth.
I'm all about any type of cookie. You just can't go wrong. But shortbread cookies hold a super special place in my heart. They're basically crunchy yet melt-in-your-mouth butter and I just love that. I use the same base recipe for my shortbread cookies every time but depending on my mood they either stay plain or get flavored. Being that it is winter and citrus fruit is at its prime, the mood struck for me to flavor them with the sweetness of blood orange. I LOVE beets. Roasted, pickled, pureed...whatever cooking technique is used I'll eat them right up. My boyfriend, on the other hand, strongly dislikes them. In a perfect world this is ideal because then I can have all of the beets. But this is not a perfect world and what this actually means is I rarely eat beets because we are always cooking for two.
I've always told him I will get him to like beets someday. It may have taken nearly five years, but I've finally done it in the form of beet chips! This was a total win for me. He ended up eating more of the finished product than I did! So if you already like beets or think you dislike them, let this recipe nurture your loving taste for them! |
AuthorAli is a Brooklyn based blogger and Certified Health Coach with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, providing you with recipes to inspire you to cook more at home! She is a firm believer in knowing that eating healthy can be made easy and inexpensive if you simply know how to cook and understands that for the average person there needs to be balance between "healthy" and "unhealthy". Whether you are looking for easy weeknight recipes, delicious snacks, or want to try something new, Ali's recipes are easy to follow at all skill levels! For more info about Ali and her offerings, check out the About page. Categories
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