Tag Archives: tomato

Farro with Chicken and Tomatoes is a one pot meal that is ready in about 30 minutes, making it great for a busy weeknight meal.  It’s warm and comforting without being overly filling so it’s something you can enjoy year-round.  This recipe is essentially a healthy grain bowl that’s packed with protein.  If you aren’t familiar with farro, it’s a bit heavier than quinoa and a bit chewier in my opinion, with a similar texture to rice.  It has a nutty flavor and is a perfect plant-based alternative to meat (if you have dietary restrictions) and is packed with protein and fiber. These bowls have warm farro, tender chicken, juicy tomatoes, and plenty of cheese to top.  With a few changes, you can make these vegetarian or vegan.  Swap the chicken for chickpeas, substitute dairy-free cheese or perhaps use nutritional yeast and skip the cheese.  You could also add some mushrooms, peas, chopped bell peppers, you name … Continue reading

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Are you in search of a healthy yet classic comfort food?  Look no further!  My recipe for Tomato & Thyme Farro is sure to please.  For those of you that don’t know what farro is, it’s a grain that is nutty and chewy with a texture similar to rice.  This dish is bursting with fresh flavors from the tomatoes, thyme, and basil.  It’s like risotto but much less work to create and uses farro in place of rice. The recipe can be found here. This recipe takes about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes to make but the result is worth it! Start by melting butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.  Add the shallot (or use yellow onion) and cook until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes.  Add the garlic, salt, and pepper, and continue to cook for 1 minute. Add the farro and stir to combine and coat in the butter.  Let the farro toast for … Continue reading

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Chicken Pesto Ciabatta Melts are perfect for your next weeknight meal!  Think of a classic bistro sandwich with warm, toasted bread, tender, juicy chicken, fresh, ripe tomatoes, melted cheese, and an herby pesto to top it off.  That’s what this recipe is, a wonderful hot sandwich option that fills the void for dinner (or lunch).  It’s filling without leaving you uncomfortably full.  The fresh ingredients make it feel like a light sandwich.  I personally think ciabatta is the perfect bread for a sandwich.  It’s soft and airy inside with a crispy crust so you can’t go wrong! The recipe can be found here. Start by baking the ciabatta bread according to package instructions.  Set the bread aside to cool.  Then slice the tomato and set it aside until ready to assemble.  I always but take and bake ciabatta vs fresh.  I think the taste holds up and I like that I can bake it when ready and feel like it … Continue reading

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Caprese Ravioli Salad is the pasta salad of summer…. or winter…. whenever you are looking for something light and refreshing.  It’s ready in about 20 minutes or less and is packed with fresh flavors of basil, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and balsamic glaze.  This recipe can be served as a side dish or main course.  If serving as the main course, add a garden salad or some fresh veggies and hummus on the side. The ravioli is coated in a wonderful oil and herb dressing.  You can use cherry or grape tomatoes.  I recommend cheese ravioli or perhaps cheese tortellini (if you can’t find ravioli).  Use fresh basil, it’s way better than dried basil.  And use mozzarella pearls or fresh mozzarella slices that are cut into smaller chunks.  The keyword here is FRESH!  You will really notice a difference in the taste and texture of the dish if your ingredients are fresh. The recipe can be found here. Start by … Continue reading

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Creamy Tomato Gnocchi with Burrata is the ultimate weeknight meal!  It’s quick and easy to make, uses simple yet fresh ingredients, and highlights some popular summer flavors.  Think fresh tomatoes and basil (possibly from your garden), creamy burrata, and soft gnocchi.  It’s a game changer! The recipe can be found here. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the gnocchi according to package instructions.  Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water and drain the rest of the water.  Set the gnocchi aside.  You can prepare homemade gnocchi if you prefer but store-bought works well for this recipe. Heat oil in a large skillet over low heat.  Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 60 seconds. Add the tomatoes (unsliced, you want whole tomatoes), red pepper flakes (add more if you like a lot of heat), and salt.  Stir to combine.  Increase the heat to medium … Continue reading

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Grilled Chicken Caprese is an Italian-inspired chicken dish that is perfect for summer!  It’s made with tender, juicy chicken that’s topped with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and a lovely balsamic glaze.  This dish can be prepared in a variety of ways, but my preference is to grill it. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating a grill pan over medium-high heat.  Spray with cooking spray.  You can also use your outdoor grill if you prefer. Combine the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Season both sides of the chicken. Grill for 6-7 minutes on each side or until cooked through and an internal temperature of 165 degrees F is reached. Top each piece of chicken with a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese.  Loosely place tin foil over the grill pan to act as a cover to melt the cheese (or close your actual grill over to … Continue reading

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A Pimento BLT Sandwich is not your ordinary, run of the mill sandwich.  It’s an elevated BLT because of the Pimento Cheese spread.  If you aren’t familiar with Pimento Cheese, it’s a creamy, cheese, and tangy spread that is often referred to as the pâté of the South.  It’s made with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, pimento peppers (which are sweet and mild), and mayonnaise.  You can adjust the spicy by adding cayenne pepper and other seasonings.  It’s best when homemade but you can usually find a jarred variety at your local grocery store.  It goes well with crackers, vegetables, or spread on a sandwich, which is what we are doing today. BLTs are crisp, fresh, flavorful, and can be a delicious sandwich on their own but I like to add a little something extra to mine.  I always think something is missing so I like to add avocado, egg, or in this case, Pimento Cheese.  It’s a BLTP … Continue reading

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Pesto & Tomato Flatbread is a yummy recipe when you are in need of a quick meal.  It’s light and will leave you feeling satisfied without being overly full, and it has great flavor!  The Lavash bread is crispy, the pesto has a lovely, fresh taste, the mozzarella cheese is melted and pairs well with the pesto, and the tomatoes are tender and roasted.  It’s delicious!  Plus, if you’re anything like me, you probably have most of the ingredients at home already so it’s easy to whip up in a bind or when you don’t have other dinner ideas 😊 I like to use store-bought pesto for the convenience, but you can use homemade if you prefer.  If you aren’t familiar with Lavash, it’s a flatbread that is low in sodium, low in cholesterol, and is very thin, so it’s less doughy.  It’s great when you are looking for a paper-thin, crispy crust or are looking to cut some … Continue reading

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Mediterranean Lemon Garlic Chicken Salad is an incredibly flavorful and filling meal for any time of year!  You want something light and refreshing on a hot summer night?  This is the perfect option.  It’s the middle of the winter and you want a meal that isn’t super hearty and heavy?  Look no further. The chicken is marinated in a lovely blend of lemon juice paired with a variety of seasonings, leaving it perfectly tender and moist.  The chicken is served with a salad, containing only the freshest vegetables, and a side of tzatziki sauce, which if you’ve tasted before, you know how incredibly light and refreshing it is.  The combination of the 3 is absolute perfection! The recipe can be found here. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper.  Reserve 1/3 cup of the dressing mixture and … Continue reading

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Friday night is pizza night at our house.  With COVID, we’ve been cooking at home a lot more than ordering in or going out to eat so we’ve taken to preparing our own pizzas from scratch at home.  It’s been fun to play around with toppings and be creative with what we add to each pizza.  You can definitely stick with the traditional toppings if that’s what you prefer on pizza, but we like to branch out and make each pizza unique. This crust is a favorite of mine as well.  I’d prefer less dough and more toppings in each bite so I’m going to share with you my recipe for Thin Crust Pizza Dough.  This is the base I use for all my homemade pizzas.  It’s thin, doesn’t require any time to rise, and gets nice and crispy when you bake it on a pizza stone.  One plus side … Continue reading

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