By Alysha Melnyk Gado-gado is an Indonesian salad. Traditionally, this salad is made of cooked vegetables, hard boiled eggs, fried tofu or tempeh, and rice wrapped in a banana leaf, served with a peanut sauce dressing. My version is modified, using raw vegetables for a fresh and simple preparation, baked tofu, brown rice and a…
Taco Salad
By Alysha Melnyk There’s nothing like a fresh and easy salad for a weekday meal! I love taco salads because they are so easy to make, but can also use a number of fresh ingredients you may have tucked in your refrigerator or need to use. Get creative and enjoy! Serves 3-4 Ingredients 1 Pound…
Sweet and Creamy Shishito Pepper Chicken
By Alysha Melnyk Looking for a satisfying and flavorful dinner idea for the week? Look no further than this cheese stuffed, shishito topped baked chicken recipe! I love the combination of flavors in this dish – a creaminess from the goat cheese and cream cheese filling, a smokiness and bit of spice from the shishito…
Broiled Green Tomatoes and Fresh Peaches
Peaches and tomatoes are a beautiful combination. I enjoy this dish because it combines the warmth of broiled tomatoes with the coolness of fresh cut peaches. Having the tomatoes heated as well brings forth a more savory flavor and cuts back on acidity, which pairs nicely with the peach sweetness. For an appetizer, light meal…
Watermelon Basil Wine Slushie
A refreshing summer drink to enjoy any day of the week! Wine slushies will always “scream” summer for me. I’ve had them at a handful of wineries, but at times I feel the “fruit base” is actually a lot of artificial flavors and colors but not real fruit. This combination is a great, natural way…
Crispy Sheet Pan Red Potatoes and Sweet Onions
An easy sheet pan side dish that is super simple to throw together! I love sheet pan meals and side dishes. Anything that’s easy in the food prep realm I am always game for. Crispy sheet pan potatoes are a favorite of mine, because it’s a super hands off way to make potatoes and also…
Overnight Crunchy Pickled Peppers
A quick and easy pickling recipe to try at home!Quick pickling has easily become one of my new favorite ways to prepare crunchy, flavorful vegetables to add to sandwiches, salads, pasta, egg scrambles – you name it! A lot of quick pickling methods use hot water to ensure the vegetables are pickled at a faster…
Basil, Peach and Goat Cheese Toast
A simple sweet and savory toast perfect any time of the day.Simple summer recipes are incredibly enjoyable. Especially on hot July days, when it’s somewhat unimaginable to have to turn on a stove for any sustained period of time. Local peach season is one of my absolute favorites. Like all the summer fruits, I wait…
Creamy Beet and Basil Risotto
A summer “twist” on the classic Italian risotto recipe.Risotto is a traditional Northern Italian rice dish. You have likely experienced its deliciousness in Italian restaurants or have made the dish at home for a special meal.When I crave “comfort foods”, risotto is always a go-to dish for me. I adore the creaminess and cheesiness of…
Tempura Fried, Triple Cheese Stuffed Squash Blossoms
A must-try summer cuisine. In my opinion, squash blossoms are a must-try in the world of edible flowers. The beautiful blossoms are delicate and delicious, and can be eaten raw or cooked. I grew up most of my life not knowing these were the summer cuisine I was missing out on. Squash blossoms are prepared a…
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