Biscuits and Gravy

This is one of the mainstays of comfort food that has been off of my menu for several years now. I was looking around in an Amish cookbook and figured I could easily modify this recipe to make it a little healthier and in line with my dietary needs.

Mediterranean Hummus Pizza

I can't remember where I saw the idea for using hummus instead of tomato or garlic sauce on a pizza but it sounded so good! I used tomatoes and peppers from my garden but feel free to mix it up. The tomato and basil flavored feta was amazing and really kicked it up a notch.

BBQ Chicken and Black Bean Burrito

This has just enough BBQ flavor without being overly sweet. It's chock full of protein! So quick and easy, too.

Chickpea Burgers

I was nervous about starting the Ripped in 30 meal plan because the calorie allowance was pretty low, but I soon realized that Jillian Michaels didn't let me down on great tasting meals, just like those in her cookbook! These remind me so much of falafel but without the added fat and calories from frying.

Cinnamon Raisin Granola

Fairly simple and delicious homemade granola that costs a fraction of the price in stores!

Black Bean Burgers

These burgers include just enough vital wheat gluten which helps the ingredients stick together and gives a slightly chewy, meat-like texture without being too dense. I've had many meat eaters tell me how delicious these are. You won't even want to put ketchup or mustard on them. Thanks to my friend Jameson for passing on this recipe!

Bombay Sloppy Joes

This is a great twist on American sloppy joes because of the intriguing flavors. The honey and raisins give hints of sweetness that really complements the spices. It's perfect served with naan!

Homemade Ketchup

So the next time we needed ketchup, I planned on buying some that didn't have any high fructose corn syrup. Then my local farmer's market posted this recipe for homemade ketchup that sounded very easy and yummy. It is! It's very flavorful and hard to remember that it's ketchup and not a dip.

Pasta Salad

I was craving vegetables this week and a local farmer's market posted this recipe that is very easy to make your own.

Garlic Breadsticks

Came up with this recipe just before a late night trip to the store. We wanted warm flaky pizza crust but didn't want to go through all the trouble to make one.

Turkey Egg Muffins

I love these even for dinner! They can be made quite spicy depending on the heat of your salsa. You could also use egg whites but it would require a full dozen which is quite wasteful, in my opinion.

Sweet Potato Fries

I had an extra sweet potato left over from baking the cake and my mom was craving sweet potato fries so I came up with this recipe.

First Farmer's Market of the Season

The local farmer's market had its opening day on Saturday. There wasn't much fresh produce yet, but I was able to get some asparagus and mushrooms along with some chicken breasts and sourdough bread. I also found a booth selling wood grilling planks and decided to try an oak one since it was only $1. It didn't seem to give the chicken a smoky flavor at all, but it did help slow down the cooking time and reduce the grilled char that is sometimes unappetizing. You can also use them in your oven.

Apple Cider Chicken

This tastes a lot like another recipe I have for orange chicken but is much simpler to make. I forgot to buy the peppers and didn't have any frozen veggies on hand so I omitted them but it would be great with broccoli as well.

Pita Chips and Hummus

I love pita and hummus but the store bought stuff is so expensive and full of sodium. This is an easy way to make healthier and cheaper. I made these for my classmates who ate them all up!

Black Bean Calzones

This is one of my favorite recipes because it lets you indulge in the flaky pizza crust without the guilt from all of that oil and grease. Experiment with different flavor profiles, like traditional Italian with turkey pepperoni and marinara sauce. Beans are great because they provide lots of protein and fiber.

Linguine with Lemon-Yogurt Sauce

I know, I know... a yogurt sauce? Trust me, it isn't as weird as it sounds. It's a healthy alternative to a cream- or alfredo-based sauce and doesn't retain its tartness. The whole wheat linguine provides fiber, while the yogurt and cheese are full of protein and calcium.