Category: Lifestyle

If you are a fan of sweet AND savory, this recipe is for you. We used to go to my grandmother’s house every Sunday when I was growing up and this recipe was always in the rotation. Basically what I am trying to say is, for me, it tastes like nostalgia. If you read Because of Winn Dixie you know what I’m taking about 🙂

I love a good one pot meal and I have a love affair with my Always Pan. I use it several times per day from egg to pasta to… pork! You can read all about the pan in this post and use code LINDSEY10 to grab one for yourself.

4 boneless pork chops
1 can of cling peach halves
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp ginger
1/8 tsp dry mustard
1/8 tsp garlic powder
Salt and Pepper

Directions:

Strain the peaches from the juice and reserve the juice from the can.

Mix the peach juice with the cider vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, dry mustard, and garlic powder.

Add salt and pepper the pork chops and then brown them in a tablespoon of oil in a hot pan.

Pour the drained peach mixture over chops.

Cover and simmer until fully cooked, about 20 minutes.

Cut green pepper into strips. Add pepper and peaches to the pan with the chops.

Cover and cook another 5 minutes more.

Serve with steamed rice.

Don’t shy away (or run) away from this recipe because of the unusual name. Ants Climbing up a Tree is actually a traditional Sichuan recipe that is full of beautiful flavors and a touch of spice. I love that this recipe only requires my Always Pan and takes under 30 minutes from start to finish making it a the perfect weeknight dish.

If you are new around here, I have a love affair with my Always Pan and use it several times per day. You can read all about the pan in this post and use code LINDSEY10 to grab one for yourself.

Ingredients

8oz Rice Noodles

1 tbsp oil

1 tbsp ginger finely minced

1 tsp fermented chili paste
1 lb ground pork

2 cups chicken broth

4 tsp soy sauce (*use coconut aminos to make gluten free)

2 scallions, chopped

Directions

Cook the noodles according to the package.

In a large sauce pan, add the oil and the ginger. Cook for about a minute and then add the chili paste and cook for another minute.

Add the pork and cook until no longer pink, breaking it up with the back of a wooden spoon.

Add the broth and soy sauce and bring to a boil.

Finally, add the noodles and scallions. Mix everything together and enjoy!

Call it comfort food if you must, but this dish is a crowd pleaser! Any meal I can make in one pan that my entire family loves is a win. Another reason I love this dish is you likely have most of these ingredients on hand. If you are new around here, I have a love affair with my Always Pan and use it several times per day. You can read all about the pan in this post and use code LINDSEY10 to grab one for yourself.

Ingredients

1 box of penne pasta (I sub with gluten free)
1/2 small onion, diced
1 cup frozen peas
1 4 ounce package of diced pancetta
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions

Cook the pasta according to the package instructions and add the peas during the last 3 minutes of cooking.

In the Always Pan, add the pancetta and cook.

Once cooked through, add the onion and cook until soft.

Add the drained pasta, peas and butter to the pan and mix.

Then add the heavy cream and parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

get excited because there is a new kid in town! The Perfect Pot is here and let me name the reasons I love this beautiful piece of cookware. First, and debatably most important, it’s gorgeous. It comes in four stunning hues to complement your kitchen’s vibe. Trust me when I say you will never want to store it – it like stove decor! Another HUGE selling point for me is that it is super lightweight – it’s 4.5 pounds with the lid on and feels like a fraction of the weight of my other pots. Like the Always Pan, The Perfect Pot was designed to replace the need for a lazy susan full of random cookwear. This one pot can boil, crisp, braise, bake, steam, store, pour and more. It comes with a roasting/steaming rack and a notched spoon that fits inside the pot with the lid completely shut. The lid has a built in strainer that aligns with the easy pour spout. These pots make a for a great kitchen upgrade just in time for soup season. If you have a foodie on your holiday list, it would also make a great gift! Use code LINDSEYS10 to save 10% on your purchase!

I broke my Perfect Pot in with an easy weeknight chicken soup recipe. Let’s be honest, everything I make is easy and usually requires only a handful of ingredients. This particular recipe went over VERY well with my kids and has a great balance of protein and vegetables. Yes, it’s comfort food (hello butter and half and half), but there is spinach in there too so that must count for something! Because I am gluten-free, I didn’t use flour to thicken the soup. If you wanted to add about 1/4 cup flour, you can do that after sautéing the vegetables before adding the broth.

Weeknight Chicken Soup Recipe

Ingredients

3-4 carrots diced

3-4 stalks of celery diced

half medium onion diced

1 cup baby bella mushrooms diced

2 cloves garlic minced

2-3 tablespoons butter

Small Rotisserie chicken (breast meat removed and diced)

6 cups chicken stock

1/4 cup half and half (more if desired)

Handful of fresh spinach

Borsari Seasoning to taste

Instructions

Melt butter in the Perfect Pot and sauté carrots, onions, celery and garlic until soft (about 5 minutes)

Add chicken stock and chicken and let simmer for a few minutes until chicken is warmed through.

Lower heat, add half and half and borsari seasoning

Toss in a handful of spinach and stir until wilted.

Serve hot!

My only regret about this recipe was that I didn’t double it! I honestly thought my kids would hate it and they would eat something else, but turns out, I was scraping the pan clean. If you are unfamiliar with kimchi, it’s a mix of fermented vegetables (mainly cabbage and carrots) with garlic, ginger, and chili peppers. I find my kimchi in a glass can in the refrigerated section of the supermarket. It’s usually near the pickles and sauerkraut and other fermented foods. You can eat it alone (it’s a great source of probiotics) or use it as a condiment and it usually comes in spicy or mild. I first heard of cauliflower kimchi fried rice when I was trying a week of super clean eating. I tweaked a recipe that I got from Sakara to create my own version of this super healthy dish.

This is one of those recipes that you can modify easily depending on ingredients you have at hand. You can also use jasmine rice instead of cauliflower rice and/or exclude the eggs if you follow a vegan diet.

The only tools I needed to prepare this dish were a set of great knives for chopping (I am seriously obsessed with my Our Place knives) and my Always Pan. You can use code LINDSEY10 to save 10% sitewide. If you have been following my blog for a while you know this pretty much the only pan I use. Here is a post explaining why it’s so amazing. The knives are a new addition to the Our Place family and wow – once you start using good knives, you get it! Plus they are pretty too!

This recipe requires a few minutes of chopping and a few minutes of sautéing. It’s definitely a 20 minute dish that can be served as a main course or as a side. It’s a meal you can feel good about because it’s loaded with veggies and healthy protein.

Ingredients

Half yellow onion chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

2 tsp grated ginger

1 cup shitake mushrooms chopped

1 cup shredded carrots

1 cup kimchi (I used mild)

3 cups frozen riced cauliflower

1 1/2 cups fresh spinach

2 tsp kimchi juice

2 tsp coconut aminos

2 tsp sesame oil

4 eggs

Directions:

Heat olive oil in pan and saute yellow onion, garlic and ginger until onion begins to soften.

Meanwhile, in a small dish, mix the kimchi juice, coconut aminos, and sesame oil together and set aside.

Add mushrooms, carrots, kimchi and continue to saute for 2-3 more minutes.

Add the riced cauliflower to the pan and fully integrate the mixture.

Add spinach and drizzle with the kimchi juice mixture and cook until the spinach has wilted.

Serve with a fried egg on top (or scramble the egg and add to the mixture)

My husband and I love this dish and I really was surprised my kids loved it too! If you try it, let me know what you think!

As a self-proclaimed lover of food, but not the best chef in the world, there isn’t much I love more than a good one pot meal. Not just any one pot meal, one that is satisfying, healthy, and checks all of the boxes (easy, balanced, crowd-pleasing). Here is a meal I make often and can be substituted with items you may have in your kitchen – pretty much any veggies go! You can also make it vegetarian, by omitting the chicken. Quinoa as a lot of protein so if you follow a plant-based diet, I am sure you are already aware of this super food!

I use the Always Pan to make this dish and it is the pan I use multiple times per day. I know many of you have this pan already and/or are thinking about purchasing one! I wanted to share some quick care tips for the Always Pan so you can protect your investment and preserve the non-stick coating.

Always Pan Care Tips:

• The Always Pan should only be used on low-medium heat. The occasional sear is ok, but the aluminum body is designed to distribute heat evenly and quickly so you shouldn’t need to use high heat.
• It is also recommended to use non-aerosol high smoke point oils (extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, refined coconut oil, ghee or peanut oils)
• Wait until the pan is cooled before submerging in water.
• Clean with warm soapy water and the sponge it comes with. The mesh basket is dishwasher safe, but the pan and the spatula should be hand washed only.
• The Always Pan can be used on any type of stovetop. If using induction heat, it is recommended to use the smallest burner.
• The Always pan is NOT oven safe.
• For more FAQs, check out this page!

Veggie Loaded Chicken and Quinoa

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced into 1-inch cubes
• Borsari seasoning (or just good old fashioned salt and pepper)
• Half yellow onion, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup quinoa (uncooked)
• 2 cups chicken broth (may need a little additional)
• 1 1/2 cups broccoli florets
• half cup frozen peas (honestly I just eyeball it )
• 1 cup fresh spinach
• Optional: lemon and grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

Heat 1 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp olive oil on med/low heat. Add the chicken and season to your liking. Sauté chicken until cooked through and then remove from pan and set aside.

Add the remaining butter and olive oil to the pan. Sauté the onion and celery until tender (about 4 minutes). Add the garlic during the last minute.

Stir in uncooked quinoa and broth. Increase heat slightly so the mixture comes to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and allow to simmer for about 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and quinoa is cooked.

Remove lid and add broccoli florets to the pan. If needed you can add a bit more chicken broth. Replace lid and let broccoli cook for about 5 minutes.

Add the peas and spinach to the pan and gently stir until wilted.

Add the chicken back to the pan and gently mix until heated through.

Serve with parmesan cheese or a squeeze of lemon juice.

Happy Tuesday, friends! It’s the one day of the week that I do not have to make a decision about what I am making for dinner because it’s TACO TUESDAY BABY! Last week I was out of shells so I got a little creative and turned our traditional taco meal into a taco soup. It ended up being the perfect meal for this cold, snowy weather we’ve been having. The best part? So stinking easy! Minimal chopping and only one pot to clean. In the future, I may double the recipe for left overs. My family of six ate the entire pot in on sitting. Not gonna lie, I was flattered.

Every time we have tacos we typically use ground turkey, but you can definitely substitute ground beef or even omit to make it vegetarian.

Ingredients:

1 red pepper diced

1/2 onion chopped (I used yellow)

1 pound ground turkey

1 cup zima tomatos halved

1 1/2 cups corn (I used frozen)

1 15 oz can kidney beans

1 cup salsa

1 packet of taco seasoning

3 cups chicken or vegetable broth

Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, cilantro, sliced avocado, and/or tortilla chips

Directions:

Heat 1-2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot. Sauté red pepper and onions for 5 minutes or until they are starting soften. Add in ground turkey and cook through breaking up often until no longer pink. Add tomatoes, corn, beans, salsa and taco seasoning. Mix and cook for one minute. Add broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer for 15-20 minutes. Serve alone or with your choice of toppings (shredded cheese, sour cream, cilantro, sliced avocado, and/or tortilla chips).

In a dinner rut? Me, too girl, me too. I feel like any ounce of culinary creativity I used to have has been zapped from my body these days. Before you can say “spaghetti and meatballs AGAIN”, I’ve rounded up some healthy dinner recipes that are simple enough to make this week! They are a mix of vegetarian/non-vegetarian and many are gluten free and/or can be with a few ingredient swaps!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup steamed broccoli

2 hard boiled eggs (or fried)

1/2 an avocado sliced

salt + pepper

Combine ingredients into a bowl and enjoy!

Ingredients

Olive oil

Shallot or 1/4 onion chopped

1 pound turkey sausage (loose or removed from casing) or ground turkey meat

1 sweet potato diced

Half can black beans

1 cup broth

1 cup rice (I use ready-made)

1-2 cups fresh spinach

Preheat oven to 400 and roast sweet potatoes in a little olive oil, salt and pepper until soft (about 15-20 minutes). Meanwhile, sauté shallot in olive oil, after a minute add sausage and cook completely through. Add rice, black beans, and broth and cook until heated. When sweet potatoes are cooked, add to mixture. Throw a cup or two of spinach on top and integrated it until wilted. Serve hot. (My kids like it with a little shredded cheese on top)

Before we dive into the good stuff, let’s discuss what Banza is. It’s a gluten-free pasta alternative made entirely from chickpeas! If you are a pasta-lover but trying to incorporate some healthier, plant-based things into your diet this is 100% for you! Banza tastes like the real deal and doesn’t get mushy like some other pasta alternatives might.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s talk about this pasta bake. I saw this on an episode of The Kitchen on Food Network and have been dying to make it. I did make a few tweaks, however! I chose to use Banza because of the gluten-free factor (although you can find regular, gluten-free pastas!) and it worked just as good. I also added in some zucchini for a little extra helping of veggies.

Eggplant, Zucchini and Tomato Banza Bake

Recipe adapted & slightly tweaked from Food Network

Ingredients

• 1 pound of Banza (I used penne) or regular rigatoni pasta
• 1 eggplant, diced
• 1 pint of cherry or grape tomatoes
• Olive oil
• 1 zucchini
• One 24 ounce jar of tomato sauce of your choice (I used Rao’s Arrabbiata)
• 2 cups fresh mozzarella cut into cubes
• Salt & pepper
• Oregano (optional)
• Garlic powder (optional)
• Non-stick cooking spray (to spray baking dish)
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan (or as much as you’d like 🙂 )
• Fresh basil for garnish

Directions

Preheat over to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes evenly in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil, salt & pepper (add any other spices you wish, too!) and mix together to coat. Pop in the oven for 25-30 minutes to roast. Leave oven on at 400!

While the veggies are cooking, cook the Banza/pasta according to package and drain. Set aside. If cooking regular pasta, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water. If using Banza, be sure to rinse it off after draining so it maintains it’s firmness.

Once veggies are done roasting, combine them with the pasta, jar of sauce, 1 cup of the cubed mozzarella and mix to coat evenly. Note: The original recipe calls to reserve some pasta water and add to this mix. I found with Banza it is not needed, as it’s still a little wet from rinsing off.

Spray baking dish with non-stick spray and dump your mixture into the dish. Top with the remaining cup of cubed mozzarella and Parmesan, and toss in the oven for about 20-25 minutes. For extra golden brown on top, turn on your broiler after your dish is done cooking for a few minutes.

Top with chopped basil, serve & enjoy!