Mango-Papaya Salad

This salad is light, refreshing, and full of flavor. It also comes together extremely quickly, making it a wonderful appetizer or side for any meal. It will be best in the summer months when fruits are fresh and tomatoes are just off the vine, but after you taste it once you'll be craving it year around.

I made this alongside one of my favorites, homemade tofu pad thai, but the flavors are versatile and light enough that you should be able to make it with nearly anything. Perhaps whip it out at your next summer pool party or barbecue!

Difficulty: easy
Time: 20 minutes
Cost: $7.50

Shrimp-Corn Cakes with Fresh Heirloom Tomato Salsa and Persian Stuffed Zucchini

Heirloom tomatoes, you may ask? Well, let's just say I'm a little behind on my blogging. And by a little, I mean I made this in June when the heirloom tomatoes were ripe and juicy at my local farmer's market - along with corn on the cob and zucchini! So perhaps this isn't quite seasonal, but it's delicious enough to make up for it. This meal takes a bit of planning and effort, but in the end you will be very glad you went for it.

The cakes are delicious, full of fresh corn and luscious shrimp, but it's the tangy yet sweet heirloom tomato salsa that truly makes the meal. As for the zucchini, they're naturally delicious but the unique blend of rice, dried fruit and nuts, and Persian spices will leave you wanting more. Head to your local Whole Foods or wait until the summer - but make sure you make these recipes at some point!

Difficulty: medium-hard
Time: 1 hr 30 min
Cost: $22.24

Tomatoes Stuffed with Corn and Quinoa

I'm getting hungry just looking at this picture. The memory of these delicious stuffed tomatoes comes roaring back and I can practically taste the sweet, fresh farmer's market corn, fluffy quinoa, and warm, gooey cheese. Amazing.

Of course, before getting to the recipe, I must apologize for the long absence. The last few months have included moving cities, leaving my job, starting grad school, getting married, and enjoying a 4 week honeymoon. It's been exciting and exhausting. Unfortunately this has means very little cooking and, therefore, very little blogging. I do hope to start getting back on track but with grad school as opposed to a 40-hour a week job, I'm afraid there will be far less gourmet and a lot more quick meals not worthy of the blog. Hang in there, though, and I'll make sure to toss a few fun ones your way.

I made the stuffed tomatoes alongside some freshly grilled mahimahi lightly seasoned with black pepper and oregano.

Difficulty: medium
Time: 1 hr 25 min
Cost: $24.79

Lemony Strawberry Shortcakes

Who doesn't love strawberry shortcakes? Cake. Strawberries. Cream. This sounds like a fantastic idea. Of course, the drawback comes in the fat and calorie content. Luckily, this favorite dessert can be made much healthier (I won't claim that it's actually healthy) so that you can snack away with far less guilt without having to sacrifice the flavor.

I actually whipped these up after dinner when some friends came over but you can even make them for an afternoon snack on their own or if you are having people over for just dessert. Or who needs an excuse? Just make them for breakfast - it has fruit in it so it must be good for breakfast, right?

Difficulty: medium
Cost: $4.99
Time: 1 hr

Peanut-Crusted Tofu and Crisp Slaw Corn Tacos

Amazing. I thought these would be good, but was pleasantly surprised to find that they exceeded all expectations. These fairly simple-sounding tacos came out tantalizingly delicious and kept us racing back for seconds and thirds. The peanut-crusted tofu came out crunchy and flavorful and the slaw added a delicious tangy and fresh burst.

Of course, I would be remiss without addressing the tortillas themselves. After receiving a tortilla press from my dad I made some homemade corn tortillas as part of this recipe. They were salt-free (!!!) which is nearly impossible to find in real-life yet chock full of flavor. They also had a wonderfully soft and pliable texture that is impossible to obtain with store-bought tortillas. They do take some extra time and effort, but are far simpler to make than one would expect and are fully worth it.

Difficulty: medium-hard
Time: 1 hr 15 min
Cost: $14.45

Broccoli Rice Bowl

This hearty, delicious meal will please even the pickiest eaters - and it also comes together in under half an hour. The brown rice is nearly fully cooked already so it just takes a couple more minutes but still provides the health of the real thing. It provides a great base for some crisp-tender broccoli, succulent onions, crunchy almonds, and creamy American cheese.

This dish is also quite flexible in its place in the meal. This can easily serve as a vegetarian main entree, a side for a protein, or lunch to be taken in pieces over several days. In fact, make more of it and use it for an entree and lunch! In my case I made it along with some mustard-crusted trout for a very fast, healthy meal.

Difficulty: easy
Time: 25 minutes
Cost: $13.75

Garlic and Ginger Broccoli Rabe

This side dish comes together extremely quickly and provides a tremendous burst of flavor. It's a perfect addition to nearly any meal - meat, seafood, or vegetarian. It's crisp-tender, providing a delicate crunch, and the ginger and garlic leaves you craving more.

I made this with some pecan tilapia from whole foods and one of my staples and favorites - perogies. The entire meal was easily prepared in just in just 30 minutes, making a wonderful, healthy weeknight meal. Let us know in the comments, though, if you have another great pairing.

Difficulty: easy
Time: 15 min
Cost: $11.49

Butternut Squash-Leek-Spinach Lasagna

This was delicious. My fiance, who dislikes lasagna, cream cheese, and spinach, couldn't resist seconds and thirds of this dish. Where could you get a better endorsement than that?

I made a giant dish of this, enjoyed some for dinner, and then took leftovers every day for lunch during the week. It was filling and incredibly tasty, but also packed in a fair amount of nutrients through the plethora of veggies. I would suggest making extra large portions so you can do the same. You'll want to be able to keep eating this all week.

Difficulty: medium-hard
Cost: $15.00
Time: 2 hours

Sole with Cucumber-Tomato Salsa and Mushroom Orzo

This meal is light, healthy, filling, and simple to make all at once. The delicately-seasoned sole pairs extremely well with the crispy cucumber and juicy tomato while the savory mushrooms and herbs are perfect with orzo, the rice-shaped pasta. The meal is light on calories but still filling. It also comes together shockingly quickly, making it perfect for a weeknight.

If you are looking for a vegetarian meal, the orzo and mushrooms would make a wonderful main entree. You can always saute and add some other veggies to bulk up on the nutrient content. Or, whip up the orzo to supplement leftovers - it would be loved by nearly anybody!

Difficulty: easy
Time: 25 minutes
Cost: $21.27

Praline Salmon and Chickpea Salad with Curry and Yogurt Dressing

Ready for a unique yet fast meal? The fish here has hints of the South with its homemade praline glaze (made healthier!) while the accompanying side brings a burst of Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian flavors. They might be from different worlds bu these two fusion foods work together quite well. They also come together in just about fifteen minutes each (IF you have your chickpeas prepared) so this is a great meal to make on a weeknight when you're short on time but looking for something healthy and original.

As for chickpeas, if you can, use the dried kind and prepare them in advance. They're very simple to prepare but it does take a little bit of advance planning. The directions will be on the bag but will most likely entail you soaking them overnight or else boiling and letting them sit for a couple hours. I would recommend just putting the chickpeas in water the night before if you can - then they're all ready to go with no other attention paid when you get home and want to start cooking. You can always use the canned version in a pinch, but make sure to check out the nutrition labels. The canned kind packs in sodium with the dry kind is nearly sodium free. The nutrition below is based upon the dried ones.

Difficulty: easy
Time: 25 minutes
Cost: $15.18

Shrimp and Mango Kebabs with Grilled Sweet Plantains

It's a tropical dinner tonight and it will definitely leave you wanting more...and more and more. This meal absolutely hits the spot. Rev up the grill on a warm night and enjoy this quick-to-prepare meal with a cold glass of white wine. You can make it when you need a healthy dinner fast or else whip it up with friends and spend a couple hours enjoying the weather as you munch away. Either way you are guaranteed a success with this menu.

I found this plenty filling on its own, but if you're looking to beef it up a bit more I'd suggest making some fresh rice and tossing it with cilantro, lime juice, and perhaps even a handful of your favorite nuts. It's not grill food, but it will pair nicely with the flavors and provides a bit of oomph. Of course, to get some added nutrition out of it, make sure to use brown rice rather than white.

Difficulty: medium-easy
Time: 20 minutes
Cost: $18.50

Yellow Squash Ribbon Salad

That's right - you'll be making squash ribbons to complete this side. However, don't let it stress you at all. They are actually surprisingly easy,and fun, to make. You just need a good vegetable peeler and a little bit of willingness to try something different. You'll be producing delicate squash ribbons in no time - and once you do you'll realize how versatile they are. They can be served raw to enjoy a touch of crunch, cooked as they are here, or even used in the place of pasta.

This dish is light and delicate, showcasing the squash ribbons with red onion adding some tartness and color and black pepper and Parmesan adding a burst of flavor in every bite. The dish is simple yet incredibly original, making it perfect for when you don't have much time but are looking to impress. I served it alongside freshly grilled caprese sandwiches but it can be paired with nearly anything.

Difficulty: medium-easy
Time: 20 min
Cost: $18.16

Eggplant-Yogurt Dip

This babaghanouj-ish dip is delicious and healthy. It includes the delicious, fresh flavor of grilled eggplant but instead of combining that with calorie and fat dense tahini, it uses fat free Greek yogurt. The thick yogurt gives a robust, creamy texture to the dip but cuts down considerably on the fat and calories while still providing a boost of calcium. Black pepper, lemon juice, and garlic provide a nice flavor blend to augment the mild vegetable and just a pinch of sea salt goes a long way without packing in the sodium.

I made this for lunch for the week and just put together sandwiches with the dip, onion, and tomato. However, it's quite versatile. Make your favorite sandwich with this as a base or serve it with pita chips as a dip for guests. Either way, it's absolutely delicious and sure to hit the spot. You could even make it into a dinner with fresh bread, cheese, and veggies piled on top and perhaps even broiled to perfection.

Difficulty: easy
Time: 20 minutes
Cost: $7.11

Whole Wheat Pappardelle with Cherry Tomatoes, Asparagus, Squash, and Spinach

Making pasta from scratch may take a bit of extra time, but it is always worth the effort. And, if you have a wonderful hand-cranked pasta machine like I do (I have the Marcato line) then it's actually not so bad. From start to finish I was able to put this dish together in about 3 hours by myself. With two hands going at once you could have a homemade pasta dinner in probably under two hours - not too bad at all! The fresh pasta also doesn't just taste better. I'm able to control exactly what goes into it, using whole wheat flour (make sure you compare - not all 'whole wheat' labels mean the same thing and you want some whole grains in there) and no salt. I also make sure to use farm fresh eggs. However, you could also substitute in egg beaters to make it even healthier.

This dish served as a stand-alone meal, full of fresh vegetables. I used cherry tomatoes, spinach, summer squash, and asparagus. However, I was simply picking the freshest produce available based on the season. Feel free to mix and match. The end goal is to stuff this dish full of delicious and healthy vegetables for a tantalizing summer meal. Cook with the white wine you want to drink to pair perfectly and eat out on a porch to enjoy those first warm spring evenings.

Difficulty: medium
Time: 3 hours
Cost: $24.35

Pecan Trout with Mushrooms, Tomato, and Cheese Polenta

Ready for a southern-style meal? They're lightened up considerably, removing extra oil and all traces of cream, but are absolutely delicious and will leave you hoping there are enough leftovers for lunch the next day. The side here, the polenta, is also packed with vegetables, making use of fresh tomato liberally.

Look for instant polenta in your local supermarket, but if you can't find it, you can also make it using cornmeal. It will be a much longer process so the instant is far easier, but it's always an option if you are in a pinch!

Difficulty: medium-easy
Time: 1 hr
Cost: $21.19

Stuffed Shells with Shrimp

I'm not sure if it was the light texture of the shrimp, the fresh marinara sauce, or the creamy cheese blend, but my fiance and I couldn't get enough of these shells. Despite a large serving it was hard to avoid immediately devouring all of them. The flavors paired together perfectly for a delight in every bite. They were also surprisingly easy to make and came together far faster than I thought they would, making it an easy enough meal for a week night.

I paired the shells with some roasted asparagus sprinkled with garlic, black pepper, and a touch of rosemary olive oil. This was a simple and delicious side that worked very well with the meal. However, feel free to substitute in another side. A large salad would also work very well if asparagus isn't in season! You could also go the route of adding some (cooked) veggies directly to the shells, but I think they were delicious just as is.

Difficulty: medium-easy
Time: 1 hr
Cost: $15.47

Salmon Ravioli with Cucumber Sauce and Four Cheese Ravioli with Vodka Sauce

That's right - this dinner featured a duo of homemade ravioli. Amazing. It definitely took a fair amount of effort to make (then still less than doing it completely by hand thanks to my pasta machine and ravioli board) but it was worth it. I made this when having a few friends over for dinner and they were duly impressed. Pull this one out when you're looking for that reaction - or just when you're looking for a cooking-filled afternoon that will result in a delightful dinner.

I made these in two entirely separate batches. As in, I prepared the dough all at once but made the two fillings separately and separately boiled the ravioli. That way I could also make two sauces and toss each batch of ravioli in the relevant sauce. I'm not sure how the cheese ravioli would have tasted with cucumber sauce! I also served this meal with some freshly-prepared bruschetta which is always a classic. It did add starch to the meal but at least each piece was also filled with something good for you (salmon, cucumber, yogurt, tomato!) and by making everything from scratch it cut down considerably on other miscellaneous additions like salt. (I added none.) However, to up the nutrient factor even more, cut down the carbs by eliminating the bread and instead serve a fresh salad - perhaps even an heirloom tomato one!

Difficulty: medium-hard
Time: 4 hours (alone - less if you have a sous chef!)
Cost: $29.57

Recipes and nutrition below the jump!

Mushroom-Green Bean Risotto

Risotto is delicious in all forms, but hardly healthy in general. Rice is full of carbs and calories and risottos often included added salt (as well as salty broth to start) and thick creams and cheeses. Yummy perhaps, but hardly leaving you feeling fit and healthy. This risotto is still carb-heavy, it's hard to avoid that with a rice dish, but it takes out a lot of the vegetable broth (instead using liquid flavored with porcini mushrooms), just uses a bit of reduced fat Parmesan, and packs in some veggies for an extra wallop.

If you use freshly grated Parmesan, full of flavor, you can cut down on the amount in the recipe below. It's a bit of a toss-up. The low-fat version doesn't muster up the same taste as the freshly grated stuff, so you need more of it. In the end, who knows which one ends up better for you!

Difficulty: medium
Time: 1 hr
Cost: $12.69

Tuna Avocado Tacos with Roasted Tomatoes and Asparagus

Fast, simple, nutritious, delicious. This dinner has it all. The tacos have only a few ingredients, but pack a punch of flavor. Make these when you're short on time but still want to wow your guests (or just yourself.) Also, while I used albacore tuna here, you can certainly substitute another kind.

Then, if you've never had roasted tomatoes before, you are in for a treat. When they are roasted they become extra sweet and juicy. Just be careful eating them or you might end up with tomato juice shooting all over your shirt!

Difficulty: easy
Time: 30 min
Cost: $19.79

Broccolini-Tempeh Stir Fry

This was my first attempt at cooking with tempeh, but it certainly will NOT be my last. Matt and I both truly enjoyed this soy product. Yes, soy. That means it's the same base as tofu, but it turns out entirely differently. Tempeh is originally from Indonesia and it's bound into a very firm patty, unlike the much softer tofu. It's also stuffed with protein, fiber, and vitamins while staying low in calories - how can you not like that?

I chose to stir fry the tempeh, taking the already firm patty but crisping it up even more. It was absolutely delicious and paired wonderfully with the broccolini and rice. However, I am sure this versatile soy product would work well with nearly any combination of vegetables, so get creative and give us ideas in the comments for future meals!

Difficulty: medium-easy
Time: 25 min
Cost: $15.43

Shrimp and Cajun Stuffed Potatoes

I cannot say enough about these. Perhaps, though, that's not much of a surprise. When you use a potato as a base and add in shrimp, onion, zucchini, and cheese, all cooked in savory cajun spices, there isn't much to criticize. There were three of us eating and the potatoes disappeared off the plate in near-record speed. (Though, even with our best efforts, there were still some leftovers for lunch the next day. Potatoes certainly are filling!) Then, to add in some more veggies, I also whipped up the always popular spaghetti squash with cherry tomatoes and pesto. It's a side that can pair with nearly any meal.

Make sure to plan in advance when making this recipe. It's delicious, but it does take a long time from start to finish. Luckily, the majority of that time is for roasting (in my case roasting potatoes AND spaghetti squash) so you can at least be productive while keeping an eye on the kitchen.

Difficulty: medium-easy
Time: 1.5 hrs
Cost: $23.27

Beet-Goat Cheese Crostini

Surprised at all the beet recipes? I must admit, my local CSA-like box came filled with them, so I've been searching for new and interesting ways to use them. However, this exercise in beet-recipe searching has turned out to be a wonderful surprise. They're delicious! Sure, they stain your hands (for a while!) but they are well worth it. They're tender and delicious served in nearly any manner. And, did I mention that they are full of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, dietary fiber, and anti-oxidants?

I made these along with one of my favorite recipes - tilapia en papillote, made with roasted banana and a yogurt-peanut butter sauce. However, these could easily hold their own with nearly any entree. Or, forget the dinner, and serve these delights at your next cocktail or wine party. They make great hors d'oeuvres.

Difficulty: easy
Time: 1 hr 20 min
Cost: $16.37

Nutrition and recipe below the jump!

Beet and Potato Hash with Poached Eggs

Breakfast for dinner! It might be a more sophisticated version, not just waffles or even a straightforward omelet, but it's still a comforting breakfast for dinner. It combines some crispy potatoes with rich, savory beets and gooey poached eggs. Not the fanciest meal I've ever made, but it definitely hits the spot.

I was planning on making a simple salad, with a variety of fresh greens and a light vinaigrette, to go with this hash but skipped it when I had leftovers from my dinner salad the night before. If you are making this without leftovers, I do recommend the greens. A peppery arugula or crisp microgreens would pair perfectly.

Difficulty: medium
Time: 2 hrs 10 min (mostly to roast beets)
Cost: $12.43

Nutrition and recipe below the jump!

Shrimp and Corn Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

I know some eager-eaters out there are hesitant about entree salads, but this one is filling and delicious - absolutely hitting the spot. It combines luscious shrimp, creamy avocado, sweet corn, and a tart lime vinaigrette with the freshest of greens. This will easily stand on its own or you can pair it with nearly any side. In my case, I made it with one of my favorites - apple and garam masala soup.

Did I also mention that this salad is healthy? That's right - eat this one guilt-free! Of course, the avocado is fattening, but just a little bit adds a lot of flavor without too many calories.

Difficulty: medium-easy
Time: 15 min
Cost: $30.41

Nutrition and recipe below the jump!

Parsnip and Butternut Squash Pasta

This pasta is amazing. It's naturally sweet from the parsnips and butternut squash, savory from the onions, herbs, and Parmesan, and creamy yet light. What else could you possibly ask for? It'll hit the spot and packs in the vegetables while pleasing people just looking for some hearty pasta. There's a little prep work involved, but all in all, this comes together quickly enough for a time-pressed weeknight.

While this dish could easily stand on its own, I made some macadamia tilapia to go along with it. I picked it up pre-coated at Whole Foods so I could just throw it on the stove when there was about 15 minutes to go on the pasta. However, you could easily substitute another protein if you prefer.

Difficulty: medium-easy
Time: 1 hr 15 min
Cost: $15.27

Nutrition and recipe below the jump!

Vegetable Chickpea Pasta

I've been trying to make an effort to incorporate more legumes into my cooking, so don't be surprised to see chickpeas, lentils, beans, and more popping up on this blog. In this recipe, I venture into chickpeas for a very quickly-cooking meal. This dinner comes together in no time and incorporates protein, fiber, and veggies all at once so you don't have to worry about adding any sides for a well-rounded meal.

You'll see in the recipe below that I call for dried chickpeas rather than canned. You can use canned if you are really in a crunch, but I highly recommend against it. Take a look at the nutrition labels of each.. you'll find the canned completely filled with sodium while the dried ones have almost none. It's definitely worth the extra effort of soaking them for a few hours (it's not like you have to pay attention to them!) for the health benefit.

Difficulty: easy
Time: 30 min (not including time to soak the chickpeas)
Cost: $15.22

Chocolate Rugelach and Arugula Citrus Salad

Hanukkah! Okay, a little late for Hanukkah, but at least I'm not as far behind yet as I was with the Thanksgiving post.. progress counts, right? For this Hanukkah dinner I worked to combine some of the classics with some new options for a delightful meal. Make this any of the eight nights, or just any night of the year when you're craving some 'Chosen People' goodness :)

First up, I made latkes, because how can you celebrate Hanukkah without these potato fried yumminess? For some protein, I decide to go the breakfast for dinner route. I laid out some freshly cut nova lox on top of a couple latkes and then poached some (free range) eggs and plopped those on top. Savory breakfast for dinner! Then, in a tribute to my Sephardic half, I made a fresh salad using a variety of citrus fruits- an ode to the Mediterranean. Finally, I couldn't resist dessert. I tried my hand at chocolate rugelach. They're a longtime favorite that I'd never attempted before. I quickly found out it was worth it!

Difficulty: medium
Time: 2 hrs
Cost: $17.03

Nutrition and recipe below the jump!

Gnocchi with Fresh Vegetables in a Vodka Sauce and Rosemary Swordfish

Gnocchi is pretty much the best thing ever. I love this classic Italian dish in pretty much any form. I've made gnocchi from scratch several times, but since that takes many hours (unless you're Fabio from Top Chef) I'm always scouring for frozen options that are at least close to the made-fresh variety. However, I've recently discovered these little bites of heaven in an inexpensive, vacuum-packed box and they taste amazing. While they still may not rival the true, made from scratch variety, they are a close runner-up and at a few dollars a box and under 10 minutes to boil are a must-have for weeknights.

Here, I prepared the gnocchi with several fresh veggies - zucchini, tomato, onion, and mushrooms - in a delicious vodka sauce. It was creamy yet light, and full of delicious, fresh tomato flavor. Then, I paired the potato and veggie dish with some rosemary swordfish. What's not to love?

Difficulty: medium easy
Time: 30 min
Cost: $27.48

Nutrition and recipe below the jump!

Mustard Spiced Salmon and Cous Cous Stuffed Dumpling Squash

Winter squash is amazing in all forms, but sweet dumpling squash remains one of my favorites. It might not be as common as butternut or acorn, but you should still be able to find it easily at least at Whole Foods, when in season, even if you can't find it at your local farmer's market. Of course, I urge you to buy local when you can! It's a smaller squash than some of the other favorites, and has a thin skin that is completely edible. It means it's not as hard to cut as some of it's cousins and peeling isn't necessary. I know you're probably already sold - but did I mention it's deliciously, naturally sweet?

Here, I serve the squash stuffed with a mix of savory and sweet ingredients, but you can easily cook this in many ways. I also prepared a simple salmon dish. The fish is broiled to lock in its moisture (I'm not a fan of baking salmon) and topped with a quick-to-prepare mixture of mustard, honey, and spices. It's flavorful without being overpowering, letting the delicious, natural flavors of the salmon still shine through.

Difficulty: easy
Time: 1 hr
Cost: $15

Nutrition and recipe below the jump!

Cous Cous Stuffed Dumpling Squash
Time: 1 hr

Ingredients:
2 medium-sized sweet dumpling squash
2.5 c roasted garlic and olive oil cous cous, prepared
1/4 c dried cranberries
1/8 c almonds, blanched
1/8 tsp black pepper

Get your oven pre-heating to 375 degrees.

Cut each sweet dumpling squash in half. Scoop out the seeds and pulp and discard. Grease a baking dish with cooking spray and place the four halves in the dish, cut-side down. Bake for 30 minutes or until tender.

Remove the squash from the oven, but keep it on.

Mix the cous cous, cranberries, almonds, and black pepper in a bowl. Turn the the squash halves back over, so the cut-side is now facing up and they form bowls. Divide the cous cous mixture among each one, stuffing it inside the "bowl" of the squash. It's okay if the mixture overflows a bit. Return the squash to the oven and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes. Enjoy!

Servings: 4
Serving size: 1/2 squash
Nutrition: calories 215; carbs 45g; fat 2g; protein 6g; sodium 431mg; iron 8mg

Mustard Spiced Salmon
Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
1 lb Alaskan salmon
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp honey
1/4 tsp Turmeric
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp black pepper

Get your broiler pre-heating and coat a broiler pan with cooking spray. (Or use oil if it's a non-stick broiler pan.)

Put the salmon on the pan, skin-side down.

Mix the Dijon mustard, honey, Turmeric, garlic powder, and black pepper in a small bowl until evenly combined. Brush the mixture evenly over the fish. Put the pan in the oven and broil for 10-12 minutes or until the salmon is cooked to the desired degree.

Servings: 2
Serving size: 1/2 lb
Nutrition: calories 390; carbs 2g; fat 20g; protein 48g; sodium 230mg; iron 5mg

Lemon-Pepper Flounder

Lemon-pepper mixes are used on fish routinely, but this one relies on fresh ingredients for a truly delicious flavor. I used it here on flounder, but you could easily spread this simple sauce on nearly any type of white fish. Mix it up to use up whatever is freshest at your local market or even the fillet still frozen in your freezer from a previous trip. The meal comes together very quickly without sacrificing flavor.

I made this on a weeknight when I was pressed for time with some roasted fingerling potatoes and a smorgasbord of leftover vegetables in my fridge. You can do the same, taking advantage of the quick prep and cooking time. But, don't be fooled by the simplicity. This meal could also easily stand up to a fancier dinner as well. It's versatility is part of its allure!

Difficulty: easy
Time: 20 min
Cost: $18.42

Nutrition and recipe below the jump!

Thanksgiving! Rosemary-Garlic Turkey, Pumpkin Ravioli, Creamy Mashed Potato Casserole, Cajun Crab Dip, and More!

This post is going to show just how far behind schedule I really am with this blog.. this is my Thanksgiving post. That's right - it's nearly two months late, but I hope it's worth it. It's a long one, full of delicious, healthy recipes that can easily be enjoyed at any time of the year. Or, keep this bookmarked for the fall when next Thanksgiving rolls around.

I did make every single dish below, plus a few others, completely from scratch. The full menu included: pumpkin ravioli in a hazelnut brown butter sauce, butternut squash and cheese gratin, creamy mashed potato casserole, cajun crab dip, sauteed garlic broccoli rabe, rosemary-garlic turkey with pan gravy, green bean and mushroom casserole, apple-cranberry sauce, chestnut stuffing, pear stuffing, apple and cranberry pie, and pumpkin cheesecake on almond cake. I cooked for nearly two days straight, but it was absolutely worth it in the end. If you do go for the full menu, I cannot advise strongly enough that you make up a detailed cooking plan in advance. Without it, nothing would have finished on time or in the right order. So enjoy and let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Difficulty: easy to hard based upon individual recipes
Time: 19 hours (for all of it!)
Cost: $134.57 (for all of it! I fed 6 people with leftovers for the next 2 weeks)

Nutrition and recipe below the jump!

Arugula-Apple-Brie Quesadillas

Looking for a quick, healthy meal? This upscale quesadilla is a perfect choice. The creamy, mild brie is matched perfectly with crisp, fresh, local apple and the natural spice of arugula. It's a delicious combination that will leave you eager for more.

I whipped these up on a weeknight for a filling and healthy dinner. They come together extremely quickly, so you can make a homemade meal without being pressed for time. And feel free to experiment with ingredients and let us know in the comments below if you find a really delicious addition!

Difficulty: easy
Time: 30 min
Cost: $15.04

Nutrition and recipe below the jump!

Maple-Lemon Glazed Salmon and Polenta with Zucchini Ragout

Ready for a nutritious and easy-to-prepare meal? This dinner combines some fresh, delicious, and of course sustainable Alaskan salmon prepared with a honey and lemon glaze with a tantalizing polenta dish complete with peas, zucchini, and fresh tomatoes. Everything comes together in under an hour yet still provides a healthy, affordable, homemade meal.

While the ragout I present includes zucchini, onion, tomato, and peas, you can easily swap out other favorites. You can include mushrooms, carrots, asparagus, summer squash, even forms of winter squash. If you come up with something that tastes wonderful, let us know in the comments.

Difficulty: easy
Time: 45 min
Cost: $12.52

Nutrition and recipe below the jump!