Pistachio-crusted Salmon Dinner for Two

So, last week I made these, which may have left you with some extra crushed pistachios.  I came up with this recipe to use them up in a delicious salmon dinner.  It's super easy and can be served with any number of things.  I served mine with a side dish consisting of orzo (a grain-shaped pasta), red and yellow peppers, crumbled feta, dill, capers, lemon zest and a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette.

Perfect Pesto

I have a basil plant that has recently gotten a little out of control, and so there was only one thing for me to do...make pesto!  Pesto is an Italian sauce that traditionally uses basil, garlic and parmesan cheese although now there are hundreds of varieties of pesto.  This is because pesto comes from the Italian word meaning to grind--> think mortar and pestle. So, now there are sun-dried tomato, black olive, eggplant, pistachio and mushroom pestos (just to name a few).  What we are talking about here is the original, Genovese, basil pesto. This recipe is simple, fast and delicious.  What's even better is that you can freeze it for use at a later date. I like to freeze it in ice cube trays and pop it out as needed.   Pesto is also very versatile: think veggie tarts, pizzas, sautéed vegetables, sun-dried tomato mozzarella and pesto sandwiches....etc.

Date and Nut Balls

It has been a super long time since my last post..oops.  Since starting a new job October, I dropped the ball on writing down recipes to share, but I'm back and promise to at least attempt to write more regularly.

The following recipe is just something simple I threw together as a snack when my pantry was reaching near-bare conditions.  The only required equipment is a small skillet and a food processor or blender, and the result is a chewy, sweet and salty treat.  They are also raw, gluten free, and vegan (aside from honey if you're a super strict vegan but then you can just use agave syrup instead).  I like recipes like this because it's like having a cookie without having to turn on your oven in the hot summer.  

My New Favorite Breakfast: Baked Eggs

I've never been one to eat a lot in the morning, but I do believe in having a delicious breakfast to start your day off right.  I tend to like things that are a savory and nothing can really beat a well-prepared egg dish.  This is a simple way to enjoy eggs that also gives you a lot of freedom to add whatever you like.

Make Your Own Tea Blends

Making your own tea blends is easy, and you can do it with things lying around your kitchen.  Ok, you might have to buy a few things, but it's still pretty easy.  I like to make my own herbal tea blends I can have at night without worrying about caffeine keeping me awake.  It helps with digestion and is a nice treat to give yourself at the end of a long day.

Salted Chocolate Chip and Hazelnut Cookies

I wanted to make chocolate chip cookies, but needed something different to set them apart.  I ended up tossing in some toasted hazelnuts which, when combined with the chocolate, gives the cookie an almost Nutella-like flavor.  I also sprinkled some sea salt on top just before baking and that really makes the flavor of the cookie stand out.  These cookies are hard to resist, so why even try to?

Disappearing Peanut Butter Oreo Brownies

At the supermarket the other day I found something amazing: Peanut Butter Oreos!  That's right, Oreo cookies with peanut butter filling.  I knew I had to buy a package and I immediately had plans to make something with them.  I decided to take my brownie recipe and toss a few of the Oreos into the mix.  The result was a gooey, yummy brownie that had people helping themselves to second, third, and fourth portions.