And it’s SO PRETTY! Look at those beautiful colors. Red cabbage is a food blogger’s best friend- it always photographs beautifully. Paired with the bright orange from the carrots, it’s even more beautiful. I had almost a whole head of red cabbage leftover from making chipotle salmon tacos, so I whipped up this colorful salad with the rest. Honestly, I don’t know why it’s called red cabbage. It’s far more purple than red....

Ingredients and Substitutions Pinto Beans – I used canned, but you can cook them from dried beforehand if you prefer. Pinto are the most traditional for refried beans, but you can use black beans or other beans as a substitute if you like.Bacon – only two slices.OnionSpices: Chili powder and cayenne pepper. You can omit the cayenne if you don’t want them spicy (or use more to pump up the heat)....

Hope your week has been and continues to be peachy. I have decided to make the most of yesterday’s sun and take a day off. I almost managed a full day of reading a book…almost as I found myself testing a couple of recipes in the afternoon. Pesky guilt got to me, I think. Lots of tiny little steps and I will get there eventually. Myself and Duncan like to psychoanalyse ourselves a lot and we often joke that if we managed to fix all our issues before we are die that will still be a success, there are so many!...

Hello! I’m baaack! Apologies for a bit of a radio silence but I’ve had a massively busy week and recipe development has had to take a bit of a back seat. I returned from London late last night where I’ve spent the past week decluttering, giving things away, packing and cleaning in advance of completion on my bachelorette flat, which is set for tomorrow. It’s been an exhausting process, but it’s done now and as of tomorrow I will no longer be the owner of it....

As I’m a devout mushroom lover, it would be remiss of me not to publish a recipe for a mushroom pâté ahead of Christmas. You are welcome! This vegan pâté takes very little effort and tastes absolutely divine. It’s perfect spread on crackers, oatcakes or a slice of sourdough bread. Even Duncan, who isn’t as crazy about mushrooms as me (he likes them but does not get nearly as excited about them as I do) and was not keen on the concept of a vegan pâté with mushrooms when I first put it on my recipe list for Christmas, could not get enough of this pâté....

This vegan red pepper pasta will always remind me of Greece. When we first moved here we used to live on a slight variation of this dish as I was smitten with the local combination of red peppers and feta. When we stopped buying dairy I had to come up with other pasta options… Living on a small Greek island, there was no way I was able to get my hands on any vegan cheese (let alone feta) so the recipe fell from grace....

I’m sounding a bit like Dr. Seuss. Let me rephrase. This meal requires NO ACTUAL COOKING besides boiling some water! I’m serious, folks. This makes it an ideal meal for hot summer days since it’s nice and cool to eat, and doesn’t heat up your kitchen. Vietnamese Shrimp Spring Rolls are extremely healthy, crisp, and refreshing. They taste fresh and bright from an awesome combination of fresh cilantro, mint, and basil, and the hoisin peanut sauce adds a salty, savory umami to the mix....

As of Monday, we are officially out of lockdown here in the UK. At last!! Although I am quietly cautious. My hunch is that drinking (pubs are now open) is not conducive to minimising spread. Back when we lived in London, the pub was the one place where intoxicated I love yous and gestures of affection between colleagues and friends was quite commonplace on a Tuesday night – something that the virus must be rubbing its hands (spikes?...

Notes & Variations Substitute for black mustard seeds. Substitute this with half a teaspoon of whole grain mustard. However, the latter is more concentrated so make sure to start with a little dash, then taste and adjust as needed. Don’t hesitate to play with the spices. I use basic spices but you can totally mix it up. If you don’t have cumin seeds, you can use cumin powder. You can add curry powder, garam masala, fresh ginger, garlic or other warm Indian spices....

Yay to the weekend! It’s been a bit of a tough week for us as Duncan went down with the same virus I was struck with the week prior, and boy, he did go down hard! He came back from his running camp (where given his state he pushed himself a bit too much, I think) all feverish and poorly. I was really worried about him on his drive back, as 3 hours on a motorway when you feel like you can hardly keep your eyes open is no joke, but luckily he got home in one piece....

There’s nothing better than warm, cheesy pull-apart garlic bread to share with family and friends. What makes this recipe even better? It can be made ahead of time! Assemble the loaf, freeze it, and bake fresh whenever you need it. Whether it’s for pasta night, a barbecue, or a comforting side dish, this cheesy, buttery sourdough loaf is pure comfort food that’s quick and easy to prepare. Can I use pre-grated cheese?...

Can you make Chicken Adobo ahead of time? Yes, you can marinate the chicken and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. You can also freeze the marinated chicken for up to 2 months. Thaw completely in the fridge overnight prior to cooking. Watch how to make Chicken Adobo Is Chicken Adobo suitable for leftovers? Chicken Adobo can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave. Not suitable to freeze....

This colourful and delicious Chicken Fajita Tray Bake is one of my family’s favourites. It is one of mine, too, as it is made with simple, economical ingredients, and comes together quickly with only one tray to wash up! The dish includes chicken and veggies so there’s no real need for sides, either. Meals that can be prepared ahead of time – especially those that can be frozen, ready to thaw and cook later – are a lifesaver, making mealtimes extra easy on busy weeknights....

One-pot Indian spiced Bell Pepper Chicken Curry is made with cumin seeds, turmeric, slow roasted tomatoes and onions, non-spicy peppers, and green onions. It is delicious! A recipe that needs to be on repeat and pairs well with bread at large gatherings similar to pav bhaji. It is a clean-eating and refreshing chicken curry dish that is perfect for meal prepping and your flavor-loving tastebuds. Accidentally buy ground chicken instead?...

OK. Here I go. They are juicy. They are bursting with delicious Italian flavors. They are healthy (inspired by my favorite cooking magazine: Cooking Light. They really have the BEST recipes!). And they are easy to make in bulk and freeze for later, or feed a crowd easily! I hope you already know how delicious chicken parmesan is. Traditionally, it’s a fried cutlet of chicken smothered in marinara sauce and mozzarella/parmesan cheese, topped with fresh basil and served with a side of pasta....

This post contains helpful tips and tricks! If you’re in a rush, please use the “Jump to Recipe” above! 💭 Why you’ll love this recipe Super cute and festive! Who doesn’t love a colorful cookie? The combination of sprinkles and icing will make these cookies look as good as they taste. Easy to bake with the whole family:Just mix everything together, roll out your dough, cut out shapes, decorate with icing, and voila!...

WHAT IS A SPINACH PAKORA? Crispy Fried Fresh Spinach Pakora also known as Palak Pakoda in Hindi and Palak Pakora in Urdu, are spinach fritters. Originating in India, these fritters have become popular in Pakistan as well. This Pakistani/Indian appetizer is widely enjoyed in both countries and is especially popular during Ramadan for Iftar. This Pakistani/Indian recipe is vegetarian. Spinach Pakoras are crispy from the outside and soft yet not soggy from the inside, just like Paneer Pakoras, Aloo Pakora, and Vegetable Pakora....

Zach and I must return to work as teachers tomorrow. Siggghhh. I know, I know… we are lucky we had a summer vacation at all. Sorry, I got sulky there for a second. Let me look at the silver lining! For one thing, I can get back to problem solving for this blog and really hone in on the real food for busy people aspect… I have drifted away from this since I have had inordinate amounts of time for the past six weeks to make whatever cooking creations from scratch I wanted!...

This post contains helpful tips and tricks! If you’re in a rush, please use the “Jump to Recipe” above! 💭 Perfected over many summer barbecues! I’ve made this for so many summer potlucks and perfected it over time. The salad uses super simple ingredients and requires minimal active prep work but still packs a punch. It’s also super customizable. You can swap the goat cheese with feta or any crumbly cheese, the arugula with other salad greens, and the pistachios with other toasted nuts....

This, my friends, is comfort food at its finest. It has all the taste of chicken pot pie without the effort (because who has time to deal with a pie crust on a busy weeknight?). Between the fluffy dumplings with a biscuit-like texture, the juicy, tender shredded chicken, and the creamy, thick broth, this easy chicken and dumplings recipe will have you and your whole family literally RUNNING to the dinner table!...