Super Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins It’s that time of year when I’m craving all the fall desserts: Pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies. So when a friend raved about Skinnytaste’s pumpkin muffins I had to look them up. I’m trying to steer clear of refined grains as much as possible (they make…
Freezer Friendly
Instant Pot Picadillo
Get ready for a new favorite! This has been a favorite since I taught it in cooking classes last spring. Instant Pot pork picadillo comes together in about 10 minutes flat, and it’s a trifecta dinner in my house (meaning all three of my kids think it’s a winner). I leave the olives whole, so…
Weeknight Bolognese
Easy Weeknight Bolognese Wasn’t it Monday a hot second ago? It feels like we’re in a time warp, with homework, sports and activities reaching a fever pitch. You (and I) need easy and nutritious dinners more than ever. Enter weeknight bolognese to save the day! Consider this a one-and-done dinner since it’s packed full of…
Instant Pot Black Beans
True confession: My Instant Pot sat in a box for a year after I bought it. I was afraid of it. Visions of imploding appliances danced in my head. But finally, with some encouragement from a friend, I unpacked it and gave it a whirl. Instant Pot black beans were one of the first of…
Red Curry Carrot Ginger Soup
PrintRed Curry Carrot Ginger SoupAuthor Marcia W. SmartYield 6-8 servings Whole30, dairy-free and vegan, this red curry carrot ginger soup is full of flavor. It freezes well, so make a double batch and stash some for a busy night down the road. Ingredients1 tablespoon coconut butter or coconut oil1/2 medium onion, peeled and chopped2 celery…
Chicken Tortilla-less Soup
Have you noticed I’m on a soup kick lately? We’re having a chilly winter in Houston and the flu is going around something fierce. Warm bowls of soup — like this Whole30 Chicken Tortilla-less Soup — help me feel like I’m warding off illness, even if that’s a total farce. This Chicken Tortilla-less Soup is…
Dairy-Free Creamy Tomato Soup
When I was growing up, I loved a warm bowl of Campbell’s Tomato Soup and a side of buttery toast cut in triangles. It’s a cold and blustery day in Houston, and nothing sounds better than a big pot of creamy tomato soup. While I haven’t had a bowl of Campbell’s in at least two…
Holiday Granola to Feed a Crowd
PrintCranberry, Pecan and Pumpkin Seed GranolaAuthor Marcia W. Smart If you don’t have a large sheetpan, use two cookie sheets when baking the granola and rotate them halfway through. The granola needs to cook in a single layer so it toasts evenly. If you use dark baking pans, decrease the time by 10 minutes and…
Weeknight Chili
Halloween night. Sports team parties. Potlucks. This weeknight chili recipe sees a lot of action in our kitchen. It’s super versatile, easy, fast and savory. The best part is you can make this chili with either ground beef or ground turkey, canned kidney or pinto beans or no beans at all (just double the meat)….
Pumpkin, Apple and Honey Nut Squash Soup
Squash season is in full swing, and that means a rotation of roasted butternut squash, Delicata and Kabocha. Recently, I noticed a new variety of squash that looks like a baby butternut. Honey nut squash is sweet and tender when cooked, and easier to cut than its big brother. A couple of these cuties are…