I love eggplant, but nine times out of 10, I end up making eggplant parm whenever I’m craving the diverse vegetable. The truth is, eggplant can be used in a ton of ways—and it’s especially delicious on salads or paninis. Today, I went with fried eggplant piled into a warm panini. I had originally planned to top the sandwich with arugula, mozzarella, and roasted red … Continue reading Eggplant Panini With Roasted Red Pepper Mayo
I don’t love chicken, but I do love cream cheese. Honestly, I could probably just eat cream cheese right out of the container—but I don’t (usually). However, a cream cheese mixture cooked over chicken? That’s the type of protein I can get behind. This might not be the healthiest meal on the planet, but I’ll do a few extra situps at the gym tomorrow—tonight’s dinner … Continue reading Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken
Growing up on the coast, seafood has always been a huge part of my diet. I’ve had a vacation home near the beach (down the shore, as we NJ natives call it) since I was young, and if I’m there, I’m digging into a crab cake sandwich or an order of oysters Rockefeller for any and all meals. Shrimp are such a versatile seafood. Grilled, … Continue reading Sweet Chili Shrimp Lettuce Wraps
Mac & cheese has always been my favorite food. I remember feeling so empowered when I was little, whenever my mom would let me take the reins and stir the powdered cheese sauce into the perfectly cooked Kraft noodles. Yes, it’s pretty easy to make boxed mac & cheese, but when you’re young, cooking anything alone is an accomplishment. I’ve upped my cooking game a … Continue reading Chipotle cheddar macaroni and cheese
New Jersey has this bad habit of getting excessively warm and then cooling down again. It’s like Mother Nature can’t decide whether or not she wants the AC on. For the past few weeks, temperatures have been anywhere from a warm 80 to a cool 55 (today happens to be 90, but don’t worry, it will be in the 60s again by the weekend). Anyway, … Continue reading caprese sandwich with homemade basil-walnut pesto
Taco Tuesday can’t really be a thing when you’re trying your hardest to eat healthy. Of course, that’s not to say there aren’t any healthy taco options out there, but they often “claim” to be healthy, yet come with some sort of tangy mayonnaise-based dressing and fried meat that, while delicious, knocks the fat and calorie counts right back up to where you don’t want … Continue reading Tex-Mex Chicken Salad With Greek Yogurt & Cilantro Dressing
Yes, this is the third macaroni and cheese recipe on the blog. But the reason for it is simple: it’s the world’s best mac and cheese. Self-proclaimed, of course. My previous recipes were a unique beer-bacon mac and cheese and a healthy Greek yogurt mac and cheese. But this one is just an original, thick and creamy mac and cheese recipe that everyone in the … Continue reading thick & creamy macaroni and cheese
The beginning of fall means just that: the beginning of fall. Long gone are those sweltering summer days where I’d step outside and suddenly feel like Olaf in that scene from Frozen where he stands in front of the fireplace a little too long. Instead, I can finally preheat my oven without feeling guilty about the escaped heat raising the house’s temperature a few degrees. … Continue reading crispy garlic kale chips
I grew up visiting the Jersey Shore nearly every weekend in the summer. And no, I wasn’t partying with Snooki. I have a lot of family down in South Jersey, and everyone knows that summertime is when South Jersey is at its best. Fresh fruits, fresh veggies, and, of course, fresh seafood. Crab cakes, lobster, tender scallops; you name it, the shore’s got it. But … Continue reading baked stuffed cod
The best part about being Italian? The food. I was born to love everything Italian; from eggplant parm to any type of pasta you could possibly think of, there is nothing like the flavor of a delicious Italian meal. These bite-sized apps imitate a classic antipasto: hot peppers, artichoke hearts, provolone and more, all stuffed inside a crispy genoa salami cup. With a super easy … Continue reading antipasto bites
simply delicious. 