Dinner Archives - Page 7 of 11

John and I took a very special trip to Italy last fall for some amazing pasta (and other things… but mostly pasta). The bite I ate and still can’t stop thinking about was this perfectly al dente spaghetti, lovingly coated with garlic, olive oil, chile, white wine, and the briny burst of tiny, fresh clams.

It’s simple but sultry and totally spectacular, a dish to transport you to the sun-soaked coast of the Mediterranean and make a mermaid out of all of us yet.

And since it’s my birthday today, this is what we’re eating — couldn’t think of anything more delicious!!

See this recipe come to life on my IG.

Crispy Mushroom Tacos

This week’s recipe is a hearty (dare I say, meaty!) VEGETARIAN taco filled with crispy roasted mushrooms, sweet and spicy baked tofu, and an incredibly bright and crunchy slaw, loaded with pickled jalapeños, apples, and fresh mint!

Meat eaters will love it, too! This combo is amazing for your next taco spread and perfect to feed a crowd — the slaw only gets better as it sits, and feel free to make extra tofu or mushrooms for amazing grain bowl and salad toppers throughout the week with any leftovers.

Let’s dig in!

See this recipe come to life on IG.

Miso Sesame Chicken Tenders

Looking for something that tastes decadent but is actually lovely and light (and super versatile)?

This week’s Miso Sesame Chicken Tenders are crispy, crunchy, ultra-flavorful and made simply with chicken breast and a few choice ingredients before baking in the oven to golden-brown, juicy perfection.

Miso brings a gentle sweetness and savory umami flavor that makes these extra crave-worthy, especially when paired with a simple miso-mustard dipping sauce that easily becomes a dressing for a delicious chicken salad — should you somehow have leftovers to chop up and toss together with some crunchy romaine or Napa cabbage, shredded carrots, cucumbers and scallions… two meals in one, double the fun!!

Now, who’s joining me on the Tower of Tenders ride??

See this recipe come to life on my IG.

Chili-Stuffed Butternut Squash

Every January, I crave savory, comforting foods that nourish my body and help me get back on track after the holidays. This Chili Stuffed Butternut Squash is so flavorful and filling.

And since this dish is a veggie stuffed with lots of veggies—and juicy ground turkey flavored with chipotle and other warming spices!—it’s fixing to be your favorite new weeknight staple. The butternut squash gets so tender and sweet as it roasts, the perfect complement to the gentle heat of the filling — I love to top mine with a little fresh parsley and rich, cooling avocado to round out every bite for pure, clean eating joy!

See this recipe come to life on my IG.

Popcorn Chicken And Shrimp

Last NYE, we started a new tradition and rang in 2021 with some glorious Publix fried chicken (if you know, you know!).

Their version has this just-peppery-enough, ultra-crispy coating with juicy, perfectly seasoned chicken hidden below… and sinking your teeth into it has to be one of the most fun ways to close out the year and usher in a new one!

Since I plan to stick with the tradition, I thought we should try to replicate those crisply shattering shards on perfectly poppable chicken nuggets that you can make at home in case you don’t have a Publix nearby!

Extra credit: If you have the time, soak your chicken overnight in a mix of buttermilk spiked with hot sauce for an extra boost of flavor. And then, in the spirit of making sure we stuff this next year full to the brim of good memories and even better bites, let’s go ahead and add some crisp and tender Coconut & Panko Fried Popcorn Shrimp and a bomb little sweet and spicy sauce!

Here’s to a 2022 full of flavor and fun!

See this recipe come to life on IG.

Turkish-Spiced Leg Of Lamb With Crispy Rice

The time has come to make our holiday main!! How does a glorious, roasted Turkish-Spiced Leg of Lamb with Buttery Crispy Jeweled Rice (inspired by Persian Tahdig, though I cannot claim total authenticity!) sound?

The lamb is rich, fragrant with garlic, spices, and fresh herbs and roasted to perfection so the surface is crisp and the meat is juicy and tender. It pairs perfectly with fluffy rice, scented with saffron and layered with currants and slivered almonds before being toasted to crisp, buttery perfection for a textural play that is utter holiday happiness.

This video is coming to you in 3 parts so we can lavish the time needed to make sure you nail this recipe at home!

Part 1: Turkish-Spiced Leg of Lamb
Part 2: Buttery Crispy Jeweled Rice
Part 3: Putting It All Together

Christmas Salad

Before we get to the rich, indulgent, over-the-top holiday mains, we’re mixing a Plume and Petal Pink Flamingo (for 21+) and pairing it with something colorful, something extravagantly special but still light enough to keep you and your guests hungry for more… This Chicory Salad with Garlicky Breadcrumbs and Fresno Chive Vinaigrette holds up beautifully in all its festive colors and crunchy textures and plays amazingly well with the other delicious bite you crave on your holiday table. The dressing has just a touch of sweetness and heat, so it balances out the slightly bitter flavors of the endives and radicchio while keeping everything fresh and vibrant.

And the perfect pairing for this salad is the Plume and Petal Pink Flamingo, of course! With only 20% ABV, subtle sweetness and layered flavor, Plume and Petal is a vodka infused with natural flavors that enhances the flavors of raspberry and lemon to give us this delicious cocktail with a lot of holiday flare… just how I like it!

See this recipe come to life on IG.

Fresh Salmon Cakes

Why yes, this is a giant side of fresh salmon! And yes, I am about to chop half of it up and use it to make my yummy fresh salmon burgers (salmon cakes, really) with Fresno chiles, mint, and red onion and devour it over salad for a filling, healthy, protein-packed, and ultra-delicious mermaid lunch.

I first fell in love with fishcakes when I spent a college summer living in London, and though very little about this recipe is reminiscent of the cozy pub dinners I enjoyed there, I still feel the same comfort tucking into this richly flavorful — and juicy! — fish medallion.

Pops of capers and fresh herbs keep your taste buds guessing, while a bit of heat from the chiles is tempered nicely by the richness of the salmon. I love getting my fish big format like this and then I’ll save the rest to make my Sticky Chili Glazed Airfryer Salmon or simply pan seared filets with extra crispy, salty skin that my kids love! Or just portion out and save in my freezer for a quick dinner down the road.

But for now — fishcakes, baby!

See this recipe come to life on IG.

Grandaddy’s Stuffed Artichokes

Each Christmas, my grandfather cooks up huge batches of these delectable vegetables for the whole family, and they always, ALWAYS steal the show!

These giant green jewels are jam packed with flavor — Italian breadcrumbs! Pecorino cheese! Garlic! Olive oil! And his one special secret addition to keep the whole thing extra flavorful. The breadcrumbs get soaked with broth (stick with veg if you want a meat-free option, or choose chicken for a richer flavor) and olive oil before roasting away to a crisp, golden brown top and melting, cheesy garlicky breadcrumbs coating every tender artichoke leaf.

They make for a gorgeous vegetarian main or starter option to share for your holiday table!

See this recipe come to life on my IG Video.

Maple Butter Turkey with Gravy

Our Thanksgiving menu wouldn’t be complete without an ultra-juicy, crispy-skinned bird! This turkey not only gives you the melt-in-your-mouth delicious meat to pair with all your favorite sides, but spatchcocking means it cooks up in 90 minutes (and I would argue with more evenly cooked results!) so you get your oven back!

Get your butcher to spatchcock for you unless you’re feeling like a star because you really must put your back into it to remove the backbone and break the breast plate, so your turkey lays flat. But take my word for it, it’s so worth it!

The perfect gravy incorporates tons of flavor from roasting turkey drippings, plus a splash of white wine and a quick little roux to thicken it up for an extra gratifying pour. I’ll show you how to use all parts of the bird to give your gravy tons of depth, and then we’re going to use it to lacquer up your turkey, stuffing, and everything else on your plate!

By the end you’ll have your juicy Maple Butter Turkey, savory Chestnut Sourdough Stuffing, and smooth, velvety Roasted Turkey Gravy ready to go!! Basically, we’re hanging all day.

Watch the meal come together (quite easily!) on IG Video:
Prep Our Maple Butter Turkey
Turkey Gravy & Chestnut Sourdough Stuffing
Finishing Up Our Turkey Dinner