Author Archives: Laura Youngquist

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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Baking with blocks of feta cheese recently became all the rage on TikTok.  I admittedly tried the Baked Feta Pasta recipe from a TikTok post, and it was phenomenal!  This blog, however, isn’t about pasta.  It’s about mashed potatoes.  Baked Feta Mashed Potatoes to be specific.  They are just as easy and effortless to make as the baked pasta and have a wonderfully creamy texture with a hint of tang from the feta cheese.  It’s the perfect recipe for a weeknight side dish (with leftovers to spare), to serve at a holiday dinner, or perhaps bring to a potluck.  It’s a foolproof recipe I’m sure you’ll love! The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.  Next, wash, peel, and chop the potatoes, chop the chives, and slice the butter. Add the potatoes to the baking dish and pour the half & half … Continue reading

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Shrimp Scampi is a classic seafood dish that is widely popular.  It’s considered Italian-American cuisine and consists of shrimp that is cooked in a butter, garlic, and white wine sauce.  It’s wonderful to eat on its own or can be paired with rice or pasta.  It can be served as an appetizer or can be a main course.  I love how effortless and simple it is to make.  You can whip it up for a quick weeknight meal or impress guests at a dinner party because it looks like an elegant meal.  It requires few ingredients to make but the sauce is the key because that’s where all the flavor blend together and give you the lemony, garlicky, buttery combination. The recipe can be found here. Start by marinating the shrimp.  You can use frozen or fresh but if you do use frozen, make sure it is completely thawed, and drain any liquid from the packaging before … Continue reading

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Sometimes I like to cook with chickpeas.  I know they aren’t for everyone, but they are a wonderful meat substitute in many recipes.  Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are beige in color, pea shaped, and part of the legume family.  They are very versatile and packed with protein. Chickpea Bowls are wonderful.  They are easy to prepare, come together in 20 minutes or less, and can easily be customized with the toppings of your choice.  Wonderful weeknight recipes that are healthy and light but will still fill you up. The 2 recipes I want to share with you today are as follows: VEGAN ORANGE CHICKPEAS are sweet and tangy with a lovely citrusy flavor, similar to orange chicken from a Chinese restaurant. VEGAN SESAME CHICKPEAS are sweet and have a slightly roasted flavor with a sticky sauce, similar to sesame chicken from a Chinese restaurant. Both recipes are vegan.  Feel free to substitute ingredients or add toppings that are … Continue reading

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Burrata, Prosciutto, and Arugula Flatbread with Fig Jam is a wonderful recipe for any time of year.  It’s light, flavorful, and packed with fresh ingredients.  It’s so damn delicious!  The burrata is rich and creamy, and one ball is the perfect amount for the flatbread.  The prosciutto is nice and salty and adds a nice texture to each bite.  The arugula is a nice pizza topping because it adds fresh flavor and a bit of crunch to each bite.  You often see this combination in recipes (burrata, prosciutto, arugula) so you know this pizza will be good! The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees F.  Place the naan flatbread on a baking sheet and spread fig jam on each flatbread. Break apart the burrata and divided between the flatbreads.  Bake for 7 minutes.  Then remove from the oven, divide the prosciutto between each flatbread, and bake for an additional 5 minutes. In a small … Continue reading

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I recently had a yummy salad at a brewery we stopped at while traveling out of state and I couldn’t stop thinking about it!  I knew I had to try to recreate it when we got home, and the result is…drumroll please… Arugula Salad with Burrata & Prosciutto. The recipe can be found here. This salad is packed with flavor and is incredibly light and fresh!  The arugula is the base of the salad and has a slightly peppery taste.  The burrata cheese adds a lovely creamy flavor in each bit and pairs well with the salty prosciutto.  I had some extra chopped walnuts lying around from a previous recipe and thought, why not toss those in for a little crunch?  The dressing is a wonderful mixture of tangy balsamic glaze (drizzled over the top) and sweet honey and fig jam (spread on the bottom of the bowl).  You will love this salad and want to make it again and … 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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Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Pulled Chicken is my new favorite recipe!  It’s a slow cooker recipe so get ready to set it, forget it, and have a yummy meal waiting for you.  I love honey mustard when paired with chicken, chicken tenders specifically, but shredded chicken slathered in a honey mustard sauce isn’t too bad either 😊 The chicken is tender and juicy and is paired with a perfect sweet and tangy sauce.  Serve as a sandwich, on top of a salad, over rice with veggies, on top of mashed potatoes with some steamed veggies, etc.  It can also be enjoyed as is. The recipe can be found here. Start by placing the boneless skinless chicken breasts in the bowl of a slow cooker.  This recipe is for boneless skinless chicken, but you can use another variety if you prefer (i.e., chicken thighs) but you may need to adjust the cook time. Add the honey, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, melted … Continue reading

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Salted Caramel & Chocolate Pretzel Bars are an amazing treat that is the perfect combination of sweet and salty!  The recipe is very basic and simple to make, any only requires 4 ingredients.  These no bake bars are perfect for any occasion! The recipe can be found here. Start by lining a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Add ¾ bag of chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl.  Make sure to use good quality chocolate!  You don’t want to skimp on the chocolate in this recipe because it’s one of few ingredients and it’s a main ingredient.  Heat the chocolate in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until completely melted and smooth.  Pour onto the parchment paper and spread in an even layer.  You can use a spoon or offset spatula to do this.  You want the chocolate to almost reach the edges of the pan. Add the pretzels on top of the chocolate and lightly press down to … Continue reading

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Slow Cooker Shredded Ranch Chicken is a delicious yet versatile recipe that is perfect for any day of the week!  With only 4 ingredients needed, you’ll be able to whip it up in no time (or whip it up and start your slow cooker, lol).  The taste of the chicken reminds me of Cool Ranch Doritos…it’s a little tangy and zesty.  The chicken is very tender and moist, and the seasoning is a combination of ranch and taco seasoning making is super flavorful.  The chicken can be enjoyed as is or served as a sandwich, on top of a salad, over rice with veggies, in tacos, fajitas, or quesadillas. The recipe can be found here. Start by placing the boneless skinless chicken breasts in the bowl of a slow cooker.  Sprinkle the taco seasoning and ranch seasoning packets over the top.  Pour in the chicken broth. Close the lid and cook on LOW for 6 hours … Continue reading

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