TACO TUESDAY - Homemade Healthier Tortillas

A couple of years ago, I did an internship with a health club in Minneapolis. I assisted with a twelve week program that provided a group of clients (about 25 - 30) with nutrition advice and 6:00 am workouts six days a week. I left my house by 5:00 am to get there on time, which means I woke up between 4:00 - 4:30 am every day. The quickest, most filling breakfast I could make, was a tortilla with egg whites, and maybe beans if I had enough time to open a can. My mouth is drier than the sahara desert just thinking about them. I cannot eat store bought tortillas. I hate the way they smell, taste, and last for years in the fridge. Even when they're slathered with peanut butter, I just can't do it.

I knew the solution was to make my own, but I was deterred for about 3 years by the fact that every single recipe I looked at involved lard or shortening. It took a couple months, but I finally developed a recipe and cooking method that works perfectly!

Blue Corn Cakes Topped with Avocado and Herby Heirloom Tomatoes

This summer, our favorite thing to eat is Grilled Romaine and Grilled Pizza. Last summer it was Grilled Panzanella, and the summer before that, it was Corncakes with Tomato Salsa. I recently made these, and we remembered how much we L O V E D them, that and it is the perfect 'cold' dish to serve during the heat of the summer!

Four great things about this dish: 1) it can be served as an appetizer or as a side, 2) it can be served cold, 3) it utilizes delicious heirloom tomatoes, 4) it harks back to traditional southern cuisine, but in a healthy way.

Heirloom Tomato, Beet, Avocado Cold Summer Salad

It took me a couple of years to acclimate to Nashville summers. No t-shirts (if you sweat as much as I do...), God help us, NO gray, breathable fabrics only, no pants EVER, you get the idea. One night before dinner time, I asked P to research exactly this: 'cold summer vegetable recipes' and 'cold dinners for hot summer days'. We didn't really find much that could be ready super quick. (Sometimes I wait until I absolutely MUST eat within minutes, and that kind of limits things.)

EASY Butternut Squash Pasta with Chickpeas & Roasted Hazelnuts

One of my favorite people in the world, Brooke, told me that she has a special term for May; 'CRAYMAY'. CrayMay INDEED.

Butternut Squash Pasta is one of my go-tos when we need a good substantial dinner in a short amount of time. Super delicious, easy, and quick! You probably already have several of the ingredients on hand. The only ingredient I usually have to buy is the butternut squash.

Veggie Ramen (with Legit Eggs)

I took a few short cuts, especially with the broth. Added some roasted sweet potato, which is DELIGHTFUL, but not the most ramen-authentic thing in the world. You know what was authentic? The soft boiled egg with runny yolk. A perfect pillowy island with golden streams of yolk pouring out.

Snowed In and Roasted Sweet Potato, Farro, Kale Salad with Warm Cinnamon-Honey Dressing

If you are making a trip to the grocery store, you should pick up some ingredients to make this rockin' Roasted Sweet Potato Farro Kale Salad with Warm Cinnamon Honey Dressing. This recipe is great for the following situations:

Showing off at a dinner party
Bringing the best salad to a potluck
Providing the only healthy item at a potluck (Are potlucks generally unhealthy or is that just a Southern thing?)
Tricking people into eating something healthy thats actually VERY delicious
Meatless Monday!!!
A warm meal for a snowy day

Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili - Fourth Item in The Grateful Plate Series

Sometimes after a long day, the best kind of dinner is the one where you just throw a bunch of stuff into a pot. You use up some of those vegetables that you forgot you had, pop open some beans, throw in some canned tomatoes, and not only do you have a delicious dinner, but you have some marvelous, healthy, delicious, leftovers for the week. (LEFTOVERS ARE THE BEST)

Accidentally Amazing - Quick Veggie Quesadillas

Sometimes life gets hairy and you forget to do certain things that are important to sustain life. Like eat. Maybe you've probably been having hunger pains and grumbles for a while now, maybe they even started around 3:00 pm, but waves of anxiety or worry might have extinguished them. These quesadillas were born out of that exact scenario and were a total accident. An amazing accident that happened after only 30 minutes of effort!! They’re healthy, fresh, full of protein, fulfilling, and bursting with flavor. They will use up that pepper in your veggie drawer and the last few cherry tomatoes.