By Kristin Helwig
 Happy almost Valentine’s Day loves! I never need an excuse to eat chocolate, I love it in every way. But these are such a fun way to spread the love this V-Day. The balsamic gives the chocolate a little extra intense complex sweetness that just …
 On days when I feel I need to eat healthier this is now my new go to. The herb caper sauce is packed with so much flavor, lemony, briny, spicy it’s a perfect balance on the baked halibut and brown rice. I’m sure it …
 I feel like during the winter I could eat spicy noodles every day! There is just something so warm and comforting about it. These are super quick and easy noodles. You can always make them with no vegetables as well but I love the …
Happy citrus season! What better way to appreciate all these beautiful fruits. The balance between the anise flavored fennel, sweet tangy citrus, and salty buttery salmon with the creamy avocado with the peppery arugula mixed in to balance it out….I’m telling you it’s the best …
 I love anything almond and this is no exception. I can’t get enough of this heavenly cake. It’s so light and airy it feels like your eating clouds.  Ingredients 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar 1 cup cake flour 1 1/2 cups egg whites …
With it being the middle of winter I am in love with blood oranges, especially blood orange juice! So after I ran yesterday I decided to throw some coconut water in there to add a little extra sweetness, and club soda for effervescence. Perfect!  …
 This is the classic burger made healthier with turkey instead of beef. I promise you, you won’t miss the beef! The spicy homemade pickles give a little extra kick to this burger with their crisp, spicy dill flavor. You can top it with whatever …
These are the perfect little appetizers! I made them for my friends baby shower. So light and fresh, the herbs just brightens it right up. The pesto would be perfect to spread on a pizza or sandwich as well!  Ingredients Pesto 1 (10 ounce) bag …
 There’s nothing I love more than good homemade bread. This was a recipe my grandma used to make for her family. It takes a little bit to make but it’s so worth it. The smell of warm bread in the oven just fills the …
Happy New Year everyone!! Anyone feeling a little under the weather today? Ready to start the new year out right? Try this delicious little green detox juice. It will make you feel so good from the inside out! Your body will thank you later. If you …
 Over the holidays I’m constantly trying to find homemade gift ideas. Finally I found an awesome one…Spicy pickled vegetables for my dad! He loves anything spicy so I thought what better way to spread the love. Anything homemade just brings that extra little special …
Who can resist a nice warming cup of holiday cheer over the holidays? I know I can’t! I made up the perfect little cup. I used almond milk to switch it up and add a little nutty richness. Out shopping the other day, I found the peppermint …
This is the perfect winter salad when the oranges and pomegranates are in season. The sweetness from the oranges and tartness from the pomegranates are the perfect combination! It’s light and refreshing and balances out nice with all that delicious comfort food that’s going around. …
Happy holidays and cookie season!! This is my favorite time of the year. Everywhere you go it smells like Christmas  trees and with their sparkling lights there is just a certain magic in the air. I love to make all kinds of cookies and this is …
My favorite combination! The crispy outside of the buttery salmon, freshness from the dill and sweet citrus from the lemon just brightens this dish right up. We eat a lot of fish and I love changing up the combinations of flavors, to see what brings …
 One of my favorite fall vegetables along with many is the deliciously sweet butternut squash. I always grew up eating lots of acorn squash so I wanted to make a soup with both and add just a touch more sweetness and tartness from the …
I absolutely love homemade pizzas. There is nothing better than homemade crispy, crunchy crust, endless toppings, and gooey melted cheese. The crust is like a blank canvas awaiting your imagination! Last night I had a bunch of left over greens and mushrooms in the fridge; and then found …
I find over the holidays that I always have leftover pumpkin puree that needs to be used up. So what better way than a festive smoothie. It’s perfect for breakfast or after a workout! Ingredients 2 frozen bananas sliced 1/2 cup pumpkin puree 1/4 cup …
I absolutely love anything almond and especially almond cookies! These are just amazing so butter and flaky, and the green tea ice cream adds just that little something special. If you don’t prefer green tea you can always substitute, be creative! The options are endless!! …
This is my absolute new favorite salad! I found a whole bunch of kale and baby arugula from the farmers market and was craving this after my run yesterday. The arugula gives it a nice peppery spicy bite, while the squash and cherries add a …
 I love love love making homemade pasta! There is nothing quite like it. There’s something very soothing and rustic about kneading dough. I have been thinking about adding pumpkin to homemade pasta for a while and this is what I came up with. The …
 This is an absolute favorite of mine to make for a fall dinner! It’s hearty, sweet, savory, and creamy with a touch of cinnamon! All of the best flavors together in one dish!!  Ingredients 1 tbsp. unsalted butter 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive …
  Happy apple season!! We went to the apple orchard on Sunday and filled up with tons of apples and found these awesome apple brats, so I had to make these. The apple sauce is so rich and delicious and easy to make. Your …
 I can’t even describe how delicious these are! There are just so many flavors and textures in these salmon burgers, sweet, salty, crunchy, and creamy. You definitely need two hands to eat this!  Salmon Burger   Ingredients 1 lb. wild Atlantic salmon filet, …
 I have been playing around with the idea of purple potato gnocchi for a while. I finally found some amazing purple sweet potatoes at the farmers market and I couldn’t resist. So happy fall!!! This is my twist on the traditional sweet potato gnocchi …
This is such a fun twist on couscous! It makes the couscous nutty and crunchy, packed with all the delicious Mediterranean flavors.  Ingredients  2 tbsp. scallions, sliced 1 tbsp. capers, minced 1 cup kalamata olives, chopped ½ cup red bell peppers, cored, seeded and …
This is perfect for all the end of the summer corn. It’s creamy and rich and total comfort food that will warm you right up on a cold day!  Ingredients 1 tbsp. butter 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil ½ cup yellow onion, small …
 This is my twist on the classic Friday night fish and chips. I found some really awesome tilapia and decided to pan fry it with some roasted sweet potato fries so it would be healthier. I then paired it with the lemon caper sauce …
 I made this bread yesterday with a couple ripe bananas while I was cleaning the house. So as you can imagine the house was super clean, decorating for fall and this delicious bread was baking in the oven making the whole house smell like cinnamon …
Happy fall!! My favorite time of the year! I made these the other day when we went to the Brewer game for tailgating, and they got taken into the game by the pocketful. They are chewy and delicious and pack full of all those favorite fall …
These are so easy and so much fun to make! They will get eaten by the handfuls so make sure to make extra! The pecans are full of so many flavors, nutty, sweet, salty and spicy. My family can’t get enough!  Ingredients 1 lb. …
Sometimes I forget how good a meatloaf is. Just like a classic but with a spin. I used ground turkey to make it a little healthier. Wrapped in prosciutto and stuffed with mascarpone, parmesan cheese,  and spinach. Finished off with a sage cream sauce. It’s …
I love this pesto because the artichokes make the pesto creamy and lighter than adding a ton of cheese. The tomatoes and corn add a great pop of color and sweetness. It’s a perfect summer pasta dish!  Ingredients Kosher Salt 1 lb. fusillata casareccia …
I can start to feel fall in the air and I’m so excited about it! The last couple days my allergies have been crazy so I was craving soup. This was just perfect for it! It has all the summer vegetables packed into it.  Ingredients …
  So my husband and I just celebrated our one year anniversary up in Grand Marais, MN and it was such an amazing experience. There were so many local little stores up there with wild rice, maple syrup and jams so I had to take some …
This one is a big family favorite! My mom used to make this as a family meal and we just loved it! With just a few simple ingredients you will have everyone asking for more! Ingredients 1 (3 lb.) Beef chuck roast 1 1/2 cup …
A granita is a semi-frozen dessert similar to a slushy. I found awesome little tart cherries at the farmers market the other day and couldn’t figure out what to make with them. Finally came up with this special little sweet treat. It takes a little …
These are great vegetarian burgers pack full of flavors. Sweet and tart from the chutney to creamy and spicy with the arugula pesto! The sauces make it!  Roasted Vegetable Wild Rice Burgers  Ingredients  2 ½ cups wild rice, cooked ½ cup red bell …
I have been thinking about making these forever but never given it a go because of how touchy they are to make. But I found the right recipe and combination of flavors and they are totally worth it!! I’m so excited to finally share this …
This is such a fun twist on a pizza. It’s perfect for an appetizer or dinner. Having the mushroom as the crust makes it a great vegetarian and gluten free option!  Ingredients 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 4 Portobello mushrooms ¼ cup red …
Sweet and spicy, these are the perfect little cakes. If you looking for an appetizer serve one but as an entrée serve 2! Ingredients 1 tbsp. unsalted butter 1 cup Arborio rice 1 (13 oz.) can coconut milk 1 cup water ¼ cup toasted raw …
This is a perfect appetizer for a backyard BBQ or just as a snack. If you can’t find heirloom cherry tomatoes just use all cherry tomatoes, but the assorted colors is just so beautiful you can’t beat it!  Ingredients 2 cups corn, husked and …
What a perfect little cocktail for the summer! So crisp and refreshing I could drink these all day. Ingredients  4 fresh mint leaves 6 fresh basil leaves 3-4 cucumber slices 1 tbsp. lime juice 1 tsp. granulated sugar 2 oz. white rum 8 oz. club …
I have had a real coconut obsession lately! I had a whole bunch of raw coconut that I shaved from my most recent one and wanted to incorporate it into a salad. I also found a bunch of dried fruit from the store so I …
According to my husband these are one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever made! So I think that means he really enjoyed them. They are so easy to make and are quite the show stopper.  Ingredients Spinach Pesto (recipe follows) 2 (ea) chicken breast, …
These cookies are more cakey than crispy. They are like little fluffy muffin tops that are just so ladylike and perfect for your afternoon tea. Or a perfect summertime dessert!  Ingredients 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. baking soda ½ …
You’re grilling everything else this summer why not a bread salad! This is a Mediterranean twist on a classic Italian summer side. This salad is so versatile and you can put whatever you want in it.  Ingredients ¾ loaf Ciabatta, grilled and diced 2 …
I love making these when people come over for appetizers or just as dinner. Grilling the crust gives such a nice smokiness to it. Piadini are similar to pizza but the crust is made without yeast so it doesn’t need to rise, making it a …
Pair this easy little salad up with the Mexican Corn and you have an amazing summer dish. Light, sweet and smokey! It’s perfect. Ingredients 3-4 heads Romaine Lettuce 2 skinless chicken breasts, boneless 2 tsp. lemon zest and juice 2 tsp. lime zest and juice 1 …
Happy summer!! These are perfect for the backyard BBQ or for 4th of July right around the corner! Ingredients 2-4 corn cobs 2 tbsp. butter 1 tbsp. garlic 2 tbsp. cilantro, minced 2 tbsp. lime juice pinch of red pepper flakes sprinkle of grated parmesan …
If you are looking for a healthy dish jam-packed with flavors, textures and colors this is it!! We are obsessed with it. It has sweet, spicy, salty, crisp, nutty the list goes on… Try it out!!  Ingredients 1 cup red pepper, cored, seeded, julienned 1 …
I made these the other day for Father’s Day! It’s kind of our thing when I’m home, to make breakfast together.  But this time I wanted to switch it up and make something special for him. He absolutely loved them! Then when adding the raspberry …
This quick and easy little dip has become a real staple at all our family gatherings. When you get perfectly ripe tomatoes and combine with the salty brine of feta and the sweet tanginess of the balsamic its perfection! Â Ingredients 2 cups Roma tomatoes, …
I have become obsessed with purple potatoes! I love the flavor and the color is amazing. So I have been playing around with this recipe to try and keep the potatoes purple and found out roasting them is the secret! The orange, purple, green and …
I found some awesome Wild Copper River Sockeye Salmon at the store so I had to get it and make this flavor packed dish with it. It’s so light and refreshing, I can’t stop eating it. I would love to hear what you all think!!  …
 These are an explosion of flavors and colors, and the great thing about these is you can top them with anything you want! Perfect for any fiesta or along with a margarita! Ingredients  4 corn tortillas 2 chicken breasts 1 cup corn 1 cup …
So who else is as excited about summer as I am?! I just got these awesome popsicle molds and am loving all the homemade fruit popsicle. I bet your kids will be lining out the door for them! Top left: Mango Watermelon Ingredients 2 cups …
 If you like spicy then this is the dish for you! I just love all the flavors, colors and textures. It’s perfect with a little crisp white Pinot Grigio or some sake. Enjoy!! Spicy Asian Sauce: Ingredients  2 tbsp. garlic, minced 1 tbsp. Chili …
This combination together is amazing! So many flavors, crisp, salty, sweet, tangy, crunchy. It’s a perfect 3-ingredient salad!! Plus you can make a big batch for a party or one small individual one for yourself. 🙂 Ingredients 1 cup watermelon, medium diced 1 cup English …
This pasta is a party on a plate! It is so colorful and delicious!!! Ingredients For the Broccoli Pesto: 2 cups broccoli, just the florets; try and cut as much of the stem off as possible 1 ½ tbsp. lemon zest ¼ cup lemon juice …
So much beautiful lettuce at the market I couldn’t resist! These are such quick little wraps to make, and so easy. Not to mention, they are full of color and packed with flavor! For Peanut Sauce: Ingredients 1 cup creamy peanut butter 1 tbsp. garlic, …
This is my new favorite juice!! It is so refreshing, and perfect to make right after a workout to stay hydrated. Ingredients 2 cups watermelon, diced 1 small beet, cooked and peeled 2/3 cup water 3-4 ice cubes Directions Place all in a blender and …
Ingredients 1 lb. ground turkey 2 tbsp. fresh herbs chopped (I use parsley and basil in here) 2 tsp. kosher salt 1 tsp. black pepper 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, cored, seeded, sliced 4-6 fresh basil leaves white cheddar cheese, sliced 4 Ciabatta buns Directions …
These are a great alternative to the russet potato fries; so much more colorful and healthy!! I serve these with my Herbed Turkey Sliders and it’s a great combo! Ingredients 1 Yam, peeled and julienned 1 sweet potato, peeled and julienned 2 tbsp. extra virgin …
These are great for a snack or an appetizer. Make extra because they will be gone!! Ingredients 1 package of Pita bread, I use Holyland Pita Bread 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 2 tbsp. kosher salt 2 tbsp. fresh rosemary, chopped Directions Preheat oven …
This is so easy and quick to make for breakfast or right after a workout. It fills you right up!! Ingredients 1 banana 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries 2 cups almond milk, homemade if possible 1 tsp. almond extract 1 tsp. vanilla extract Directions …
This is such a quick light salad for summer, you can’t go wrong! Ingredients 2 cups baby spinach and arugula 1/2 cup radishes, sliced 1/2 cup English cucumbers, seeded and sliced 1 tbsp. fresh basil chopped Shaved parmesan, for garnish Directions Place all ingredients in …
 Happy Spring!! This recipe will have your whole kitchen smelling so fresh and amazing. For the Crust: Ingredients ½ lb. of butter, unsalted, room temperature ½ cup granulated sugar 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/8 tsp. kosher salt ½ tbsp. dried lavender buds Directions Preheat …
This is my signature dish, basil pesto with linguine! I make a big batch of it and keep it for leftovers all week. I have a secret obsession with basil and garlic so this is perfect! For the Pesto: Ingredients 3 cups fresh basil 2 …
This is a twist on a Chinese chicken salad. It’s sweet, salty, and crunchy. I can’t get enough of it so I make it almost weekly!! For the Soy Vinaigrette: Ingredients 1/4 cup vegetable oil 4 tbsp. soy sauce 4 tbsp. rice vinegar 2 tbsp. …
This is so much fun to make! It’s an awesome twist on peanut butter and you can put it into smoothies for a little added substance, or dip fruit into it. Ingredients 4 cups raw, unsalted almonds 1 tbsp. honey Directions In a large food processor with …
This is such a refreshing light salad! It’s sweet and tangy from the grapefruit and then a beautiful creaminess from the avocado. YUMÂ
You can be so creative with this burger!! And that’s why I can’t get enough of them. You can top it with anything you want. I just like the tomato, feta, arugula combo because it complements the burger. Have fun with this one! For the Garlic …
I LOVE this salad!!! I could eat this every day, it reminds me of summer. It’s so colorful and full of flavor, with a ton of vitamins. Enjoy! For the Vinaigrette: Ingredients 1 tbsp. sugar 4 tbsp. orange zest ½ cup orange juice 1 tbsp. …
This smoothie is great right after yoga or a run! The avocado and banana give it a wonderful creaminess, so it feels like substance. If you don’t have agave nectar, you can always substitute for honey as well. Ingredients ½ banana ¼ of an avocado …
This is so much fun to make, and so easy. I love watching the puffed pastry rise and fall in the oven. The flavors just compliment each other so wonderfully. When baking the puffed pastry, make sure to poke enough holes in it so it …
These are great for a vegetarian dinner, and making these are so easy, healthy and versatile. You can put really any kind of filling inside that you would like! The lemon really adds a nice freshness, and brightens them right up!! Plus, you can’t beat that …
Look how awesome and easy these are to make, and you can literally put anything in them. Talk about refreshing: it’s like a spa day at your home!! I used sliced strawberries, lime, lemon, cucumbers, and frozen blueberries (that’s why it turned purple). Just put a couple …
I love this recipe because it reminds me of my grandmother and why I started cooking and baking in the first place. She was such an inspiration in my life. This decadent, rich pie will be the hit at any family gathering. Or a late …
I love using this for cereal, in smoothies, and in baking! Or, just after a workout straight out of the pitcher 😉 Ingredients 3 cups whole raw almonds 4 cups water 1/2 tbsp. vanilla extract 1 tsp. honey Directions Take the almonds and soak them in …
This pie is perfect to make when the air starts to get a little crisp and you can feel fall coming. The apples are at their peak of ripeness! It’s a show stopper. Also, you can buy an already prepared pie crust, but if you have …
This is perfect for lunch or a light dinner. Packed full of veggies, color and flavor, it’s definitely a go-to around here because it’s so easy to make!! Also, with the sauces, you can always switch them up but I like homemade pesto and tomato …
This is a little Italian with an Asian twist. It has all the flavors: sweet, spicy, salty, creamy, nutty! I love it! Ingredients 1 tbsp. coconut oil 1 tbsp. butter 1 ½ cups Arborio rice 12 oz. sweetened coconut milk 3 cups of unsweetened almond …
I absolutely love this juice! It is so refreshing and hydrating! Plus the color is amazing! Ingredients 2 cups diced watermelon 1/4 cup fresh orange juice 1/4 cup water 2 mint leaves 3-4 ice cubes Directions Put all ingredients into a blender, and blend until …
