New Year’s Eve with kids means that we’re staying in to spend time together, and cooking a great meal. This is a little more trouble than your normal pasta dish, but that’s what I look for when making a special meal. The sauce is very creamy despite having no butter or cream. The sparking wine…
Author: Vivacious Chef
Maple-Rosemary Spiced Nuts
⅓ c real maple syrup 2 Tbsp grapeseed oil or extra virgin olive oil2 Tbsp fresh rosemary, minced (or 2 drops DoTerra oil)2 tsp aleppo pepper (or crushed red pepper if you don’t have it)1 tsp smoked paprika1 tsp (rounded) kosher salt1 heaping c almonds 1 heaping c pecans1 heaping c walnuts Preheat oven to…
No Bake Cookies
1 stick butter1/2 c milk3 Tbsp (heaping) cocoa powder1 c sugar in the raw1 c creamy peanut butter1 tsp vanilla extract1/4 tsp salt3 oz dark chocolate chips3 c old fashioned oats (quick-cooking) 1 stick of butter in a medium saucepan set over medium heat. Melt the butter and add ½ cup whole milk, 3 heaping…
Instant Pot Curried Chicken Thighs
Yes, I jumped on the Instant Pot bandwagon. No, I don’t regret it. How else can I get impossibly tender and juicy meat in a short period of time. (Even when you consider the time it takes for it to come up to pressure, which no one talks about.) Here’s my easy chicken curry. 5-6…
Healthier Instant Oatmeal
I need more options for a quick breakfast. This mix is easy to make on the weekend, far cheaper and healthier than the store-bought varieties, and even easier to mix up in the morning. I keep some at work, and just add the hot water from the cooler – stir, and enjoy! Oatmeal Base 5 c…
Stuffed Green Pepper Casserole
Our neighbor made this for us about a year ago (I can’t remember why), and we were hooked. I was so hooked that I asked her for the recipe while I was pregnant, but she said that she had just made it up. And then she brought me some the next day! So we’ve recreated…
Sesame Ginger Quinoa Bowls
Todd found this recipe to help me find healthy alternatives to sandwiches for lunch, and like everything else on here, we’ve made a lot of changes for the better. This recipe is so great at lunch time: a cold grain bowl packed with flavor and texture. We make this Sunday so it’s ready to go…
Perfect Brown Rice
Perfect brown rice takes work, and it’s achieved by following the package directions. To help it, we found that you need less liquid than than you think. Perfect Brown Rice 2 c. brown rice, rinsed 1 small yellow onion, minced 1 Tbsp. olive oil 3-1/4 c chicken stock In a heavy bottomed pan over…
Hummus
There are a million hummus recipes out there. Here’s the one I prefer. Basic Hummus 2 cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1/2 c. tahini paste (mix well before measuring) 1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil 2 cloves garlic 1 lemon, juiced 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper water (if necessary) Add all of the ingredients (except…
