Bacon Orzo Salad

Bacon. Do I have your attention? I was in charge of bringing a salad to a family BBQ birthday celebration over the weekend. I racked my brain to try to think of something outside of the box (i.e. no pasta or potato salad). Remember when I said that orzo is like the forgotten carb? Well, I’m not forgetting about it this weekend. I’m making an orzo salad. Yes, orzo is type of pasta, so I guess that I’m sort of cheating by still bringing a “pasta” salad. However, this one is different than any other that you might see at …

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How to Steam Broccoli Without a Steamer

My husband and I make this broccoli at least once a week. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve made this broccoli.  Seriously, too many times to count.  So to say it’s tested, tried and true is an understatement.  I never thought about sharing this as a recipe, because well, I don’t know why.  I think it may be just because it’s too easy and is too obvious to bother.  But aren’t easy recipes the best to share?  Yes.  So now I’m finally sharing it with you. This broccoli is nothing fancy, but it sure is tasty.  It’s a …

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Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Pasta Salad

This is my kind of meal. I cannot tell you how obsessed I am with this pasta salad.  Well, I can try.  😉  Let’s start with the ingredients.  This salad is basically a bowl full of some of my favorite things on earth.  Pasta, avocado, cheese, tomatoes, basil… this is seriously heaven for me.  I could not stuff my face fast enough when I ate it.  (Although it probably did not help that it took me longer to photograph than I expected so I was starving by the time I could eat it.) I love this salad not just for …

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Bean Salad

Happy Wednesday! I wracked my brain trying to figure out what side dish to bring to a family BBQ.  I wasn’t sure what everyone (or most people) would like.  Thankfully there is no shortage of options when my family gets together.  There’s enough food to feed an army, so even if no one wants what I made, it’s not the end of the world.  Is that a Greek thing to make absolutely sure there is way, way too much food available? Anyway, this bean salad is inspired by the cowboy caviar that I made a few years ago.  I skipped the celery and used less onions to make …

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Pesto Quinoa with Roasted Vegetables and Chickpeas

Quinoa is like sprinkles.  My husband wholeheartedly disagrees with that statement on the basis of quinoa being gross, and sprinkles not being gross.  I don’t mean how they taste though. I know that sprinkles and quinoa are two very different ingredients and that they are not normally found in one recipe.  (Thank goodness!)  However, every time I cook with either one I end up spilling them all over the kitchen counters and floor.  No matter how much I clean I still find some days later.  Am I the only one that experiences this? Anyway, I’ve been on a quinoa kick lately and this …

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