Tomato Salad with Fresh Herbs and a Balsamic Reduction

I found this recipe in the September 2011 issue of Food Network Magazine. I had all the ingredients on hand and knew it would make the perfect side dish to the kebabs I was making for our dinner guests. There is something so delicious about fresh tomatoes with good herbs and a tasty balsamic reduction... perfect summer food! This recipe was light, delicious, and a big hit with the adults and my

Scored Baby Potatoes AND Giveaway Winner!

My friend Currié recently made these potatoes for a birthday get together and I loved them. I decided to adapt them a bit by using small baby Dutch potatoes (my friend makes them with russet potatoes). I sliced them in half then scored the potato meat with a sharp knife. I seasoned each potato half with a bit of sea salt, freshly cracked pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder then baked

Grilled Tomatoes with Basil, Garlic, and Lemon

This was a wonderful side dish! I loved the sweet grilled tomatoes with the tangy and flavorful drizzle of olive oil, garlic, fresh basil, and lemon juice - it was a perfect combination of flavors. My son even liked this dish and he's not a fan of cooked tomatoes. The rest of us really loved them and gobbled every last one up.Grilled Tomatoes and Basil, Garlic, and Lemon:Adapted recipe by For the

Caprese Pasta Salad with a White Balsamic Vinaigrette

This recipe was inspired by my oldest sister Dana. She called me recently and suggested I make caprese salad combined with pasta and since I am a dutiful younger sister I complied. I decided to dress the pasta salad with a simple white balsamic vinaigrette and it turned out fantastic! I really loved the fresh basil, combined with the creamy cheese, sweet tomatoes, soft pasta, and tangy

Mediterranean Pizza

I needed to use up some ingredients in my refrigerator but I didn't feel like cooking so what's a girl to do? Make pizza. Using store bought dough and sauce makes this really feel like I am not cooking. I threw some leftover baby spinach, kalamata olives, black olives, sun dried tomato, feta cheese, red onions, and garlic on this pizza. It turned out delicious - my husband and I both really loved

Spinach Salad with Strawberry, Walnut, and Parmesan Shavings

I had some really sweet and delicious strawberries in the fridge as well as leftover baby spinach that needed to be used up, so I decided to combine the two and make a salad. I tossed in some toasted walnut pieces and shaved Parmesan then drizzled the salad with a balsamic vinegar and olive oil. It was light and beautiful salad that was so delicious.Spinach Salad with Strawberry, Walnut, and

Fruit Salad

This recipe was inspired by my wonderful, loving, sweet, and kind friend Joy (can you tell I really love her?). While we were in Idaho we had dinner at a friend's house and Joy brought a salad similar to this. You can use any fruit you have on hand, mix it with raspberry yogurt, and you will have an instant hit. Joy says that she has tried several different flavors of yogurt in this salad and

Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Grilled Vegetables

I am in love. Truly. This side dish was so good that I could eat just it for a meal and be perfectly happy. I planned to cook the veggies on the grill but it started raining so I decided to do the next best thing and use my grill pan. It worked perfectly. I loved the flavor of the grilled vegetables with the creamy orzo and tangy dressing. I served this orzo salad with the Mediterranean Pork

Grilled Havarti and Tomato on Kalamata Olive Bread

I made this sandwich for my kids' lunch and couldn't help myself from sneaking a bite... it was so good! I loved the creamy cheese with the crisp and tangy bread and the sweet tomatoes - it was a wonderful combination of flavors and textures. Both of my kids loved the sandwich and gobbled it right up.Grilled Havarti and Tomato on Kalamata Olive Bread:Recipe and photos by For the Love of

Green Bean Salad with Maple Dijon Vinaigrette

I found this recipe on Culinary Cory and decided to make it tonight. I made the vinaigrette earlier in the day and let the flavors mingle together. This salad is colorful and flavorful and was a hit with all of us. I loved, loved, LOVED the vinaigrette and look forward to trying it with other vegetables. Thanks for the excellent recipe Cory!Green Bean Salad with Maple Dijon Vinaigrette:Adapted

Spinach, Garlic, Mushroom, and Fresh Basil Pizza

When I am having one of those days where I don't feel like cooking, I pick up some pizza dough and sauce from Trader Joe's and create a quick and easy pizza using whatever ingredients I have in the refrigerator. This weeks pizza had leftover spinach, sliced mushrooms, garlic and fresh basil - it was FANTASTIC. Homemade pizza is so easy to make and tastes WAY better than take out pizza!Spinach,

Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad

I needed to make a dish to take to a friends house for dinner so I decided to do a caprese salad. Instead of using plain raw tomatoes I decided to roast them. I drizzled really good balsamic vinegar over the tomatoes before plating them with the mozzarella and basil. It was SO DELICIOUS!! I don't think I will make a caprese salad any other way ever again. Simple, quick, beautiful, and delectable

Spinach, Mushroom, and Poblano Enchiladas in a Tomatillo Sauce

I recently had mushroom and spinach enchiladas at Chevy's that I really loved and I couldn't wait to recreate at home. I had fun making this recipe and really, really enjoyed these enchiladas. My green sauce turned out tangy and flavorful and the mushroom and spinach filling was hearty and delicious. I really loved the combination of flavors and textures in this dish. My kids didn't like the

Greek Quinoa

I found some quinoa in my cupboard that I needed to use up so I decided to make a Greek style quinoa. I added some parsley, feta cheese, kalamata olives, red onion, and grape tomatoes to the cooked quinoa for a healthy and delicious side dish. I loved the flavors and textures of this recipe and my entire family liked it. Greek Quinoa:Recipe and photos by For the Love of Cooking.net1/2 cup of

Stuffed Yellow Squash

I picked up some yellow squash at the store and decided to stuff them with a bit of leftover marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoned panko crumbs. This dish couldn't be easier to make and it turned out fantastic! I think this is my new favorite way to eat yellow squash. Quick, simple, and tasty - you can't beat that!Stuffed Yellow Squash:Recipe and photos by For the Love of

Parmesan Roasted Fennel

I recently picked up some fennel at the grocery store and I planned to roast it with some carrots but I found this recipe on the Food Network and decided to give it a try instead. It was very simple to make and tasted fantastic. I loved the tender fennel with the salty Parmesan cheese - they were a perfect combination. My kids didn't love it but my husband and I sure did.Parmesan Roasted Fennel:

Parmesan Roasted Asparagus Topped with a Poached Egg

I just love eggs with asparagus lately and I can't seem to get enough of the combination. I made this recipe for lunch this week to use up the last few spears of asparagus that I had in the refrigerator. I simply seasoned the asparagus with olive oil cooking spray, sea salt, freshly cracked pepper, then topped it with some shaved Parmesan. I roasted the asparagus in the oven until it was fork

Vegetable Pot Stickers

I found this recipe from Ming Tsai on the Food Network site and couldn't wait to make them. It was a bit time consuming but so worth it because they turned out fantastic. These were truly the best tasting pot stickers I have ever had. To save time, I used a gyoza dipping sauce and sweet chili sauce that I already had in the refrigerator for dipping. My whole family really loved these pot stickers

Margherita Pizza

We had a presentation at my kids' school for my daughter's second grade class so I needed to make a quick dinner that we could gobble up and run out the door. I used store bought dough and sauce because it was quick and easy, I threw on some sliced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and seasoned it with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper. I topped the baked pizza with fresh basil. It was absolutely

Angel Hair Pasta with Arugula, Feta Cheese, Tomatoes, and Pine Nuts

I had some angel hair pasta to use up so I created this light, simple, and extremely tasty pasta dish for dinner. I love the salty feta cheese with the spicy arugula and crunchy nuts. The tomatoes add a nice color, flavor, and texture to the dish and the garlic and olive oil finish it off nicely. I love that this meal took 15 minute to prepare and that my entire family loved it. I served this