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…
Author: Vivacious Chef
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…
Whole Wheat Banana Flax Bread
WAIT – don’t judge this as bland tasteless bread just from the name. This bread is packed with delicious flavor and nutrition to stick with you all morning. Bake a loaf on Sunday, slice it, store it in the fridge, and toast a slice each morning. Top it with peanut butter, and you’ve really got…
Better Minestrone
Minestrone soup was one of the first recipes from the early days of this blog. After forgetting about minestrone for a long time, I wanted to bring it back into rotation but with more satisfying flavor. This version has more depth of flavor and less ingredients, because, let’s be honest, not every dish on a…
Beans & Greens
This dish doesn’t sound like much, but the combination makes it perfect: savory, substantial, and flavorful. It’s so versatile that you can substitute whatever green or bean you have on hand. On top of that, it’s so easy that it’s a no-brainer on a weeknight – we make it at least once a week as a…
Herb Spiced Nuts
Once September hits, I start craving beets. How does that have anything to do with herb spiced nuts? My salad needed something crunchy, and it was about time I made some fancy nuts. After not finding what I wanted online, I combined about three recipes to get this. It’s great. 2 egg whites 1 Tbsp…
