I love this “dump and walk away” marinara sauce—it’s versatile enough to use on anything from zoodles to eggs to paleo pizza. If tomatoes are in season, try using 3 to 4 pounds (1.4 to 1.8 kg) of fresh, ripe ones instead. Prep time 15 minutes Makes about 11/2 to 2...
Autumn Harvest Pasta Sauce
I noticed an autumn-inspired pasta sauce during one of my shopping trips to Trader Joe’s, and snagged a jar to try at home. Wow. I loved that the tomato base takes a back seat to the squash and pumpkin flavors. I was determined to create a version of my own, and love...
“Roasted” Garlic
Roasting garlic in the oven is easy, but using a slow cooker is good for large batches if you don’t have the time to “babysit” it. Also, it’s much more forgiving and won’t burn as easily as it does in the oven. Roasted garlic is such a versatile, flavor-boosting...
Ginger-Honey Spaghetti Squash
This is a fun little side dish that takes spaghetti squash to a sweeter place with honey, orange, and ginger. It would be the perfect cooling sidekick to a spicy Asian-style meat dish. Prep time 15 minutesServes 6 as a side 1 large spaghetti squash, cut in half and...
Rosemary-Garlic Mashed Potatoes
I’m an Idaho girl at heart, and the thought of mashed potatoes without milk, cream, or butter seemed like food I wanted nothing to do with. Luckily ghee, chicken stock, and lots of garlic and herbs came to the rescue! These spuds are packed with flavor, but you can...
Salt-“Roasted” Beets
One of my favorite ways to eat beets is roasted and finished with a vinaigrette. I used the components of a lemon-Dijon dressing to flavor the beets as they cooked, resulting in tangy, mustardy, tender fuchsia bites. These would make a great winter side dish,...
Taqueria-Style Shredded Beef
I’ve always lived in places with large Mexican populations, and with that, wonderful things like Latin markets, taqueria restaurants, and food trucks. If your experience has been limited to Americanized “Mexican” fast food, you’re missing out. My favorite tacos are...
Chicken and Andouille Sausage Lettuce Wraps with Creamy Celery Slaw
When I nailed this dish, I couldn’t keep my fingers out of it. I probably ate two or three lettuce wraps worth of chicken and sausage before we even sat down to eat. It was a tad spicy (which I love), but luckily, the celery slaw helped cool it off for my little...
Spicy Chicken Sausage and Pineapple Stuffed Peppers
I’ve always loved stuffed peppers. I made them several times when my husband and I were first married, but it wasn’t until around year five that Steve admitted he doesn’t like cooked peppers. I wasn’t sure whether to be annoyed that he didn’t tell me sooner or touched...
Maple-Mustard Chicken with Carrots and Brussels Sprouts
I love the combination of maple and mustard: sweet playing off of tangy. But the carrots and Brussels sprouts nearly stole the show, because the sauce created in the cooker was the perfect complement to the vegetables. Prep time 15 minutes Serves 6 1 pound (455 g)...