100 Turmeric Recipes

I go through phases where a certain type of food or ingredient sits first and foremost in my mind. Something grabs on and won't let go until I've explored it further by learning more about it and using it in several recipes or applications. Lately, it's been turmeric—specifically the fresh root, which is part of the ginger family.

I think it started when I saw a bin of the fresh root at the market, stared at it for a few minutes, then left without buying any. I didn't buy it because I didn't want it to go to waste. I have a tendency to pick up cool "new" ingredients, only to let them go to waste while looking for the perfect way to use them.

Thai Fish Soup

This soup came about on a clean out the pantry and fridge night. I used a can of peas and a can of corn (I know - gasp!), along with the end of a bag of julienne carrots. But really, any frozen or fresh veggies will work here. Throw in some ribbons of greens, some snow peas cut on the bias, or some beautiful carrot coins. Switch up the herbs, or use only one kind.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bars

Thank you to Meijer for sending me a box of essential health products to kick-start my health, fitness, and diet goals in the new year! All opinions shared in this post are my own.

Well friends, we are officially into the third week of 2016. I meant to share this post with you in the first week, but this year started off very rough for my family. It's not something that I'm ready to talk about yet, but I will be soon. So, I apologize for starting the year a couple of weeks late.

Tell me, did you make any resolutions or set any goals for yourself this year? I've never been big on resolutions, since any I set seemed like things I should always be striving for anyway. So, I tend to call them goals instead. But really, I guess they're just the same thing—changes, improvements, and things I want to accomplish going forward. One foot in front of the other seemed like a good place to start recently.

Salmon and Cucumber "Noodle" Salad

I rarely eat canned salmon. I've had it maybe two or three times max in my lifetime. I was never very impressed with it. Bones, skin, ummmm...if I'm buying a can, convenience is what I'm after, and picking out the bones and skin is anything but. So, I just stick with fresh (which oddly enough, I don't mind removing the skin and bones from).

And then I received a package in the mail.

My friend Bea of The Not So Cheesy Kitchen is a proud PDXer (Portlander?). Anytime I bring up salmon (which is surprisingly quite often) she reiterates her stance on Pacific Northwest Salmon being the best salmon. Especially when I tell her that I just ate Atlantic Salmon. That's what I usually seem to find in "my" Northwest (that would be Northwest Indiana).

One day, her and the fam headed to the beach...or was it the mountains...maybe it was both...and she mentioned two magical words: salmon and jerky. Together. As in, Salmon Jerky! And since she knows me (and can pick up on the needy desperation in my voice), she bought some extra and shipped it to me. It was ridiculous. Basically like hot-smoked salmon (one of my favorite things in the world), but less meaty and more chewy.

Apricot-Almond-Chia Granola Bars + 32 more recipes using Chia Seeds!

Here I am, still on my quest for new and exciting ways to use my favorite superfood - chia seeds. I've mentioned some of their amazing health benefits before, and since... a) you may have already read that post, or b) you've probably read/heard about these benefits numerous other times, or c) "I'm just looking for some recipes, so stop the jawin' lady" ...I won't repeat them now.  But on the off-chance that up until this very moment, you had no idea that chia seeds were even edible, let alone extremely good for you, you can check out my mini-intro here.

So, like many people, when I brought home my first bag of chia seeds, I wasn't sure where to start. What would I do with them? What types of foods and beverages could I slip them into? The answer to those questions are: pretty much anything that you want to.

If you know me, you know that I drink my daily chia. I love sliding the gelled seeds through my teeth; my day would not be complete without it. I think slipping them into your beverage is the easiest way to familiarize yourself with them and what they do. After that, try adding them to breads, crackers, even cookies. Throw a couple of teaspoons into your next batch of homemade granola (or granola bars like I did here).

Chia Seed Breakfast Pudding

So, I'm not really the kind of person that makes resolutions.  I'd rather set goals.  Although, when you stop to think about it, they're kinda-sorta the same thing.  It must be a mental thing.  Resolutions are so... resolute.

Definition of resolute: firm, unwavering.  It's a "do it, or else" sort of commitment.  It's like you're setting yourself up for failure.  Are things really meant to be set in stone?

And then there is a goal.  Definition of goal: an aim or desired result.  It's more of a "work your hardest until you are able to reach it" sort of attitude.  It conjures up images of success and hard work.

Salmon Burgers with Pickled Ginger and Coriander + Sriracha Mayo

Gwynie did it again.  She wrote another awesome cookbook.

I remember when I checked My Father's Daughter out from the library, read through it, and immediately went to Amazon to order a copy for myself.  Well, the same scenario played out with It's All Good.

Now, I didn't go in expecting to love either book, I just did.  I'm not a Gwyneth-Paltrow-the-actress fanatic.  (I am a fan, though.)  I didn't neeeeed to have the book because she is a celebrity.  Or because she's married to a celebrity.  The books and her voice on the pages are what make them attractive to me.  Beautiful, soft photographs.  A healthy, without being pushy, perspective.  And yes, there are a couple of ingredients here and there that didn't have a regular spot on my pantry shelves before - but they do now. Hello quinoa flakes and brown rice syrup.  Lovely to meet you.