No Lettuce Was Harmed in the Making of This Salad: Forget Boring Salads, Make This Rainbow Salad Soon!

It's almost summer time. Occasionally, even I like to eat lighter, healthier meals. These meals, however, don't have to be boring or uninspiring. Today, I'm sharing my idea of a fun salad: filling, colorful, with a variety of colors, textures and flavors and sans lettuce!

Forget Boring Salads, Make This Rainbow Salad!

Ingredients
1 orange pepper, thinly sliced
1 yellow pepper, thinly

It's almost summer time. Occasionally, even I like to eat lighter, healthier meals. These meals, however, don't have to be boring or uninspiring. Today, I'm sharing my idea of a fun salad: filling, colorful, with a variety of colors, textures and flavors and sans lettuce!

Forget Boring Salads, Make This Rainbow Salad!



Ingredients
1 orange pepper, thinly sliced
1 yellow pepper, thinly

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Zucchini, Tomato & Feta Gratin Recipe: Versatile Vegetarian Side

This Zucchini, Tomato & Feta Gratin Recipe has a few of my favorite things: tomatoes, cheese and pine nuts. I adapted this recipe from the Sunday Roasts cookbook, from which I've previously made Salmon Fillets on a Bed of Peas.

The original recipe for the Zucchini and Tomato Gratin used rosemary, which I dislike, and had somewhat complicated directions for layering vegetables with cheese,

This Zucchini, Tomato & Feta Gratin Recipe has a few of my favorite things: tomatoes, cheese and pine nuts. I adapted this recipe from the Sunday Roasts cookbook, from which I've previously made Salmon Fillets on a Bed of Peas.

The original recipe for the Zucchini and Tomato Gratin used rosemary, which I dislike, and had somewhat complicated directions for layering vegetables with cheese,

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Super Quick & Delicious Appetizer: Marinated Feta

I love salty snacks. Potato chips. Pistachios. Pickles. Olives. This past weekend I came up with a super quick and delicious idea for marinated feta. You can use these marinated cubes of feta as an appetizer, or add them to salads or soups. In fact, in the next few weeks I'll share those recipes with you!

Marinated Feta

Ingredients

8 ounce block of feta, cut into 3/4" cubes {I used Athenos

I love salty snacks. Potato chips. Pistachios. Pickles. Olives. This past weekend I came up with a super quick and delicious idea for marinated feta. You can use these marinated cubes of feta as an appetizer, or add them to salads or soups. In fact, in the next few weeks I'll share those recipes with you!

Marinated Feta

Ingredients

8 ounce block of feta, cut into 3/4" cubes {I used Athenos

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OXO Salad Spinner Giveaway and a Recipe for Cucumber, Radish & Hearts of Palm Salad

Today, I'm hosting a second giveaway for OXO. If you weren't lucky enough to win the kitchen scale I featured last month, here's your chance to win an OXO Salad Spinner in a pretty green color!

I always wanted a salad spinner and finally bought one at IKEA last year. It definitely works, but it's sort of basic. After all, it did cost less than $5.00.

Unlike my IKEA salad spinner, OXO's model

Today, I'm hosting a second giveaway for OXO. If you weren't lucky enough to win the kitchen scale I featured last month, here's your chance to win an OXO Salad Spinner in a pretty green color!

I always wanted a salad spinner and finally bought one at IKEA last year. It definitely works, but it's sort of basic. After all, it did cost less than $5.00.

Unlike my IKEA salad spinner, OXO's model

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Once in a While, Treat Yourself to Lunch! Johnny's Half Shell

I very strongly believe in the idea of treating myself. It's not about the money; it's more about doing little things to make myself feel better. These things can mean painting my nails, listening to Latin music, eating a piece of dark chocolate or buying flowers or orchid plants.

Another thing I treat myself to from time to time is a little splurge: it's raw, slightly salty and goes down

I very strongly believe in the idea of treating myself. It's not about the money; it's more about doing little things to make myself feel better. These things can mean painting my nails, listening to Latin music, eating a piece of dark chocolate or buying flowers or orchid plants.

Another thing I treat myself to from time to time is a little splurge: it's raw, slightly salty and goes down

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What to Make with Daikon? Marinated Carrots, Daikon & Radishes

Have you ever tried a daikon? Sometimes called white radish or Japanese radish, daikon look like large white carrots and have a crisp texture with a mild flavor. Growing up, my parents made a shredded carrot and daikon salad flavored with sunflower oil and a bit of salt.

These days you can find daikon in most grocery stores. They have very thin skin and add a great crunch to your sandwiches,

Have you ever tried a daikon? Sometimes called white radish or Japanese radish, daikon look like large white carrots and have a crisp texture with a mild flavor. Growing up, my parents made a shredded carrot and daikon salad flavored with sunflower oil and a bit of salt.

These days you can find daikon in most grocery stores. They have very thin skin and add a great crunch to your sandwiches,

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Cream of Asparagus & Spinach Soup Recipe

Guess what?! There is no cream in this soup. What makes this Cream of Asparagus & Spinach Soup creamy is the addition of a few boiled potatoes. This is an incredibly healthy, nutrient-filled and easy-to-make soup. Luckily, it's also delicious and can be served hot or chilled. If you want to make this into a vegan recipe, use vegetarian broth and leave out the Parmesan cheese.

Now, go grab

Guess what?! There is no cream in this soup. What makes this Cream of Asparagus & Spinach Soup creamy is the addition of a few boiled potatoes. This is an incredibly healthy, nutrient-filled and easy-to-make soup. Luckily, it's also delicious and can be served hot or chilled. If you want to make this into a vegan recipe, use vegetarian broth and leave out the Parmesan cheese.

Now, go grab

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Greek Yogurt Dessert with Sour Cherries, Strawberries, Mangoes & Pistachios

When it comes to dessert, more often than not I'm a chocolate girl. Give me chocolate ice cream, cake, or just a bar of dark chocolate and I'll be happy.

On rare occasions, however, I prefer something lighter. I do not count fruit as dessert, but if it accompanies a slice of cheesecake or is added on top of a pound cake with whipped cream, I'll give it a go.

One of my most favorite desserts

When it comes to dessert, more often than not I'm a chocolate girl. Give me chocolate ice cream, cake, or just a bar of dark chocolate and I'll be happy.

On rare occasions, however, I prefer something lighter. I do not count fruit as dessert, but if it accompanies a slice of cheesecake or is added on top of a pound cake with whipped cream, I'll give it a go.

One of my most favorite desserts

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Five Rum Cocktails from America Eats Tavern

Last weekend I was invited by Heather Freeman Media & PR to attend a cocktail class at America Eats Tavern. The subject of the class was rum.

Here's the bad news: there are two more classes offered in this series, but they are both sold out.

Lucky for you, there is good news too! I'm here to share five rum cocktails I learned how to make in the class. And remember, you can go and get your own

Last weekend I was invited by Heather Freeman Media & PR to attend a cocktail class at America Eats Tavern. The subject of the class was rum.

Here's the bad news: there are two more classes offered in this series, but they are both sold out.

Lucky for you, there is good news too! I'm here to share five rum cocktails I learned how to make in the class. And remember, you can go and get your own

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Not Your Bubbe's Matzo Brei: Matzo Brei with Roasted Peppers, Olives & Parsley

Happy Passover! I think of myself as a cultural Jew: I enjoy Jewish folklore, holiday traditions, and food, but don't visit a synagogue regularly, pray, or keep Kosher.

This past week, I picked up a box of matzo at Whole Foods and decided to make matzo brei for breakfast. Typically, matzo brei is made with eggs and a bit of seasoning. Many people I know use cinnamon and sugar, but that's not my

Happy Passover! I think of myself as a cultural Jew: I enjoy Jewish folklore, holiday traditions, and food, but don't visit a synagogue regularly, pray, or keep Kosher.

This past week, I picked up a box of matzo at Whole Foods and decided to make matzo brei for breakfast. Typically, matzo brei is made with eggs and a bit of seasoning. Many people I know use cinnamon and sugar, but that's not my

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Birthday Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting and Other Cooking Adventures in Charleston

Usually when I travel, it's all about eating out. When I went to Charleston last weekend, however, I stayed in my friend Melissa's gorgeous beach house and we got to cook a few meals. It was lovely because the kitchen was huge and beautiful.

Before we made any meals, Melissa baked me a birthday chocolate cake with chocolate frosting! Look at this beauty:












Afterwards, we made dinner:

Usually when I travel, it's all about eating out. When I went to Charleston last weekend, however, I stayed in my friend Melissa's gorgeous beach house and we got to cook a few meals. It was lovely because the kitchen was huge and beautiful.

Before we made any meals, Melissa baked me a birthday chocolate cake with chocolate frosting! Look at this beauty:












Afterwards, we made dinner:

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Where to Have Brunch in Charleston: The Grocery

One of the first things I do when planning a vacation, after booking my flights and hotel, is figure out where I will be dining.

My recent trip to Charleston, SC, however, was a little different. Because I stayed at my friend Melissa's gorgeous beach house, my culinary adventures were split between eating out and cooking in. With two full days and two half-days in Charleston, I had to plan

One of the first things I do when planning a vacation, after booking my flights and hotel, is figure out where I will be dining.

My recent trip to Charleston, SC, however, was a little different. Because I stayed at my friend Melissa's gorgeous beach house, my culinary adventures were split between eating out and cooking in. With two full days and two half-days in Charleston, I had to plan

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How Hard is it to Make Pasta from Scratch? Plus, Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes & Asparagus and Buffallo Mozzarella

Hi! I'm back from spending four wonderful days in Charleston, South Carolina. It was a relaxing long weekend of cooking, eating out, exploring downtown Charleston, walking on the beach and spending time with Melissa and Pankti. All the photos have been edited, and I will post a couple restaurant reviews in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Today's subject, however, is pasta.

A few weekends ago I

Hi! I'm back from spending four wonderful days in Charleston, South Carolina. It was a relaxing long weekend of cooking, eating out, exploring downtown Charleston, walking on the beach and spending time with Melissa and Pankti. All the photos have been edited, and I will post a couple restaurant reviews in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Today's subject, however, is pasta.

A few weekends ago I

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