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Monthly Archives: May 2015

Strawberry Tomato Mozzarella Salad

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I felt like Adam Sandler in Billy Madison when he tells his first-grade teacher, Miss Lippy, why he colored a blue duck: “I made the duck blue because I’d never seen a blue duck before and I wanted to see one.” Yeah, that’s a random allusion, but it is so stuck in my head in connection with this salad!

Sausage and Red Bell Pepper Polenta Cassesrole

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Polenta always reminds me of my Croatian grandfather because he ate it all the time – topped with rabbit stew or something else of old-country ilk. I wonder if he would’ve liked this sausage and red bell pepper casserole?

Baked Pears with Lavender, Lemon, and Honey Glaze

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I’ve always wanted to try cooking with lavender, and I’ve always wanted to make baked pears, so that’s pretty much the origin story behind this recipe. Man, cooking with lavender – not exactly for the faint of heart. That stuff is potent!

Mozzarella and Roasted Garlic White Bean Dip

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Eating this mozzarella and roasted garlic white bean dip is like jumping into a vat of cheesy-gooey-garlicky deliciousness that you never want to leave.

Spicy Spinach and Mozzarella Pasta Bake

 

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My mom was the inspiration behind this pasta bake (hi, Mom!). She was telling me the other day about this quick lasagna she made using premade spinach ravioli, and I thought, hmmm, I can do a whole-eating upgrade on that!

Garlic-Thyme Pork Chops with Dill Mashed Potatoes

 

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This recipe came out of a fail.

Mint Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

 

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Chia seeds are pretty much amazing. How are such teensy little things jam-packed with so much fiber, antioxidants, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids? That I don’t know, but what I do know is that chia seed pudding is one of the best guilt-free desserts I’ve ever eaten.