Lox & Veggie Pasta in Vodka Sauce with a Pear-Goat Cheese Salad with Citrus Dressing

Yes, I've made a smoked salmon pasta before. But this one is new and improved!! It has fresh tomato and zucchini and a thicker, creamier vodka sauce without piling on any extra calories. Who can resist? So even if you've made the previous one, you'll need to quickly whip up a shopping list and run out to make this meal tonight. It's just that good. Additionally, I went the extra mile and used fresh pasta instead of dried/boxed pasta. It's more expensive but it makes the meal ten times better, so take this as a good time to splurge. (My general rule of thumb is that as a side dried pasta is fine but when it's the main meal I go for fresh.)

The pasta was paired with a fall-flavored salad featuring crisp, juicy pears from my local farmer's market with creamy, rich goat cheese and a homemade citrus dressing. The contrasting flavors will have a party in your mouth and you'll be gobbling down this healthy salad in no time.

Difficulty: easy
Time: 45 minutes
Cost: $22.81

Garlic-Lemongrass Shrimp with Buttercup Squash-Radicchio Risotto

This meal pairs two very different foods, but in the end it works out really nicely together. I have freshly grilled shrimp, deliciously but delicately flavored with lemongrass and garlic. The two light but tantalizing spices blend perfectly together to give the shrimp a hearty and delicious flavor. You'll want to gobble these up as fast as they come off the grill. It's a good thing shrimp cook so quickly!

Along with the shrimp I made a hearty risotto, stuffed to the brim with squash and radicchio. If you've made any of my risottos before, this one is different. This one is savory from the squash but then the radicchio lends an almost bitter aftertaste. I hate to describe it that way since it really tastes quite delicious, but it definitely has a tart quality. By using parmesan instead of a creamier, thicker cheese, that is only further highlighted. But the warmth and thickness of the risotto balances the delicate lightness of the shrimp, providing a delicious, filling, and healthy meal for dinner.

Difficulty: medium
Time: 1 hr 30 min
Cost: $16.69

Zucchini-Tomato-Eggplant Tian

I love eggplant. And you know what else is pretty good? Zucchini, tomatoes, and cheese. So when you mix all of those together you are bound to come up with a tasty end result. This time it's a tian, which is more or less a fancy name for piling up some veggies and putting a few bread crumbs on top to give it a slight crunch. I like to think of it as a veggie lasagna minus the noodles and going quite lightly on the cheese to save calories, yet still add a little flavor.

This came out wonderfully and I wolfed it down, but please keep in mind that without protein or even carbs, it's not particularly filling. I needed a fairly large serving to satisfy my hunger, so this dish unfortunately didn't last quite as long as I would have liked. I still strongly recommend making it, it's delicious, but just make sure you're not overly hungry or else you make plenty of extra for seconds.

Difficulty: easy
Time: 1 hr 45 min

Sicilian Swordfish with Mediterranean Orzo

What is there NOT to love about the Mediterranean? Climate, beauty, wine...and food. This meal combines the delightful tastes of some Mediterranean delicacies. The succulent Swordfish is served with a topping made up of dates, raisins, almonds, and oregano. The orzo, a delight on its own, is lightly coated with a sauce made up of olive oil, lemon juice, tomatoes, artichokes, and cheese. The two also balance each other out, complementing and working well to deliver a one-two punch leading to an unforgettable meal.

The orzo is also easily strong and rich enough to stand on its own as an entree. It is full of vegetables, providing a healthful boost, and the addition of whole wheat orzo rather than its refined cousin adds a fiber boost and, in my humble opinion, greater taste. Make this for a vegetarian entree or as a side dish, like I do. Either way, make sure you make it soon and often.

Difficulty: easy
Cost: $27.19
Time: 30 minutes

Roasted Apples and Brussels Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts, you ask? This oft-maligned vegetable is considered sour, tart, and generally not very enjoyable. If you've made my caramelized brussels sprouts before, though, you know that is definitely not always the case. They can actually be quite delicious, and this recipe adds another option for preparing this healthful food in a way that will delight your senses as well as your physical well-being.

And healthful they are! Brussels Sprouts have a lot of sulforaphane, which may have anti-cancer properties. They also have indole-3-carbinol which boost DNA repair and block cancer cells. If those fancier properties aren't enough, they're also chock-full of iron, magnesium, thiamin, riboflavin, phosphorous, copper, fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, folate, potassium, and manganese. Are you convinced yet?

So jump on board with us and explore the wonders of this actually truly tasty vegetable. Head to your local farmer's market and get some super-fresh apples as well to really make this side dish sparkle.

Difficulty:
Cost: $13.99 (for the meal, served with Macadamia Tilapia and perogies)
Timing:

Shrimp Korma with Fresh Spring Rolls

Have I mentioned how much I love Indian food? Yet so often, it's full of cream, fat, and calories. So I decided to take one of my personal favorites, Korma, and try my own hand at making it at home in a healthier fashion. It turned out flavorful and delicious - and very similar tasting to the Korma you'll find in restaurants! Keep in mind that, as always, I prefer my food mild so the dish below will be full of flavor but mild in its spice level. You can add some cayenne or chili for added heat.

As a side, however, we had a bit of mixing of Asian cultures. I prepared fresh Thai spring rolls. These are a cousin of the more famous spring rolls, but since they are served cold (no frying) they are quite healthy. Instead, they come full of freshly cut vegetables and are wrapped in a rice skin. Look for the skins in a specialty aisle at your local supermarket. I easily found them at my Whole Foods. Also feel free to play with the ingredients. While I detail what I put into them in the recipe below, you can add other veggies or meats to suit your individual tastes.

Difficulty: medium
Time: 1 hr
Cost: $35.56

Spiced Citrus Salmon over Spaghetti Squash

It's Squash Season! True, squash is actually available year-round. In the summer you can find fresh summer squash, my new favorite Zephyr squash, zucchini, Pattypan, and more. The varieties are endless - and delicious. But with winter and fall you get into a new crop that matches the crispness in the air and the beautiful leaves beginning to change color. This recipe uses one of my favorites, the classic Spaghetti Squash, but watch for Butternut, Buttercup, Acorn, Pumpkin, Hubbard, and other varieties to appear in recipes over the next few months.

I paired this salmon and squash meal with one of my favorite starch recipes, crisp smashed potato cakes. They combine the delicious, unbeatable wonder of freshly made smashed potatoes (healthy, of course) with a crisp outside that delights. I've never understood why people routinely load up mashed potatoes with cream and salt when they are so easily made healthy and are just as delicious.

Difficulty: easy
Timing: 1 hr 35 min (mostly just for the spaghetti squash to bake)
Cost: $21.23

Catfish-Cabbage Wraps with Creamy Potato-Leek Soup

I lose. I forgot to take a picture of this meal. Part of me feels like that means I need to skip this day's blog, but alas, the soup was so delicious that I cannot do it. You'll just have to imagine what it looks like and get all excited to make it yourself. Five points to anyone who makes it and sends me a picture so I can stick it up here and stop feeling silly.

I made a fairly straightforward catfish-cabbage stir fry which I served in wraps for a tasty dinner. However, you could have just as easily eaten it with a fork and no wrap. But what's the fun in that? This way we sorta pretend it's like moo shu mixed with Mexican tortillas.

The real treat, however, was the soup. Mashing the potato with broth makes a for a thick, creamy texture without the calories. Just add a tiny touch of cream and you end up with soup that tastes like a thousand calories without having to actually go to the gym for 17 hours straight. The leeks provide a smooth flavor without being overpowering and the cheddar toasts I prepared to dip into the soup were a fantastic finishing touch. This soup will be made again and again.

Difficulty: medium
Time: 1 hr
Cost: $19.02