I’ve seen many versions of this viral Thomas Keller zucchini recipe on social media lately, and couldn’t wait to make it. Scoring the zucchini helps it cook evenly and creates nice caramelization, and topping it with the marinated tomatoes made it extra special. This was a fun, tasty zucchini recipe that was devoured quickly and paired nicely with some leftover Boursin potatoes and some Italian meatballs.

Scored Zucchini with Marinated Tomatoes

Marinated Tomatoes:

• 2 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp white balsamic vinegar
• 2 tsp shallot, finely minced
• 1 clove of garlic, finely grated
• 1 tsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
• Pinch of sugar
• Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
• 1½ cups of cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, diced, excess seeds removed

Zucchini:

• 2 zucchini, ends trimmed and sliced in half lengthwise
• Sea salt, to taste
• 2 tbsp avocado oil, for cooking
• 3 tbsp capers, drained and dried well on a tea towel

Serving:

• Fresh basil leaves, garnish
• Fresh parmesan, on the side

How to Make Scored Zucchini with Marinated Tomatoes:

Marinate the tomatoes by whisking the olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, shallot, garlic, parsley, sugar, sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper to taste in a small bowl.  Fold in the tomatoes and stir until evenly coated. Set aside to let flavors mingle, and stir every once in a while.

Slice the zucchini in half lengthwise, then score the flesh side in a cross-hatch pattern, ⅛” to ¼” deep.

Salt the zucchini halves by seasoning the flesh sides liberally with salt. Let zucchini rest, flesh side down on a tea towel or a few paper towels for 10-15 minutes to draw out its moisture.

Pat the zucchinis very dry with a fresh towel or paper towel.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Cook the zucchini by heating the avocado oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, place zucchini halves cut-side down in the skillet and sear until golden brown and beautifully caramelized, 4-5 minutes total.  Side Note: Adjust the heat if they are browning too fast.

Flip the zucchini halves over and sprinkle the dried capers around the zucchini.

Roast the zucchini by transferring the ovenproof cast-iron skillet to the oven to roast until the zucchini is softened, about 15-20 minutes.

Place the zucchini on a towel to remove excess grease, then place on a serving plate.

To serve, spoon the marinated tomatoes over the zucchini, along with the crispy capers. Top with the fresh basil leaves and serve. Enjoy.

Print

Scored Zucchini with Marinated Tomatoes

Course Sides

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Pam - For the Love of Cooking

Equipment

• Sharp Knife
• Large Cast-Iron Skillet (ovenproof)

Ingredients

Marinated Tomatoes:

• 2 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp white balsamic vinegar
• 2 tsp shallot finely minced
• 1 clove of garlic finely grated
• 1 tsp fresh parsley finely chopped
• Pinch of sugar
• Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
• 1½ cups of cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes diced, excess seeds removed

Zucchini:

• 2 zucchini ends trimmed and sliced in half lengthwise
• Sea salt to taste
• 2 tbsp avocado oil for cooking
• 3 tbsp capers drained and dried well on a tea towel

Serving:

• Fresh basil leaves garnish

Instructions

• Marinate the tomatoes by whisking the olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, shallot, garlic, parsley, sugar, sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper to taste in a small bowl.  Fold in the tomatoes and stir until evenly coated. Set aside to let flavors mingle, and stir every once in a while.
• Prepare the zucchini by cutting them in half lengthwise using a sharp knife, then score the flesh side in a cross-hatch pattern, ⅛" to ¼" deep.
• Salt the zucchini halves by seasoning the flesh sides liberally with salt. Let the zucchini rest, flesh side down, on a tea towel or a few paper towels for 10-15 minutes to draw out its moisture.
• Pat the zucchinis very dry with a fresh towel or paper towel.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Cook the zucchini by heating the avocado oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, place zucchini halves cut-side down in the skillet and sear until golden brown and beautifully caramelized, 4-5 minutes total.  Side Note: Adjust the heat if they are browning too fast.
• Flip the zucchini halves over and sprinkle the dried capers around the zucchini.
• Roast the zucchini by transferring the ovenproof cast-iron skillet to the oven to roast until the zucchini is softened, about 15-20 minutes.
• Place the zucchini on a towel to remove excess grease, then place the halves on a serving plate.
• To serve, spoon the marinated tomatoes over the zucchini, along with the crispy capers. Top with the fresh basil leaves and serve. Enjoy.

After trying and loving the egg roll smash tacos, I decided to use a few leftover hamburger patties from the fridge to make these smash ground beef tacos, and they turned out delicious. I served them gringo-style with shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, and lots of salsa and hot sauce. These crispy beef tacos were fun & easy to make and reminded me of the tacos my mom made when growing up, which made me nostalgic. My husband and I devoured these smashed beef tacos and thought they paired nicely with some tortilla chips and guacamole.

Smash Ground Beef Tacos

Ingredients:

• ⅛ tsp cumin
• ⅛ tsp chili powder
• ⅛ tsp paprika
• ⅛ tsp oregano
• ⅛ tsp garlic powder
• ⅛ tsp onion powder
• Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
• 7.5 oz ground beef, made into 3 thin ground beef patties (2.5-oz for each patty)
• 3 corn tortillas (or flour tortillas)
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil

Toppings:

• 1 cup iceberg lettuce, finely shredded
• ½ cup cheddar cheese, grated
• 2 compari tomatoes, seeded & diced
• ½ small red onion, diced
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, diced

Serving:

• Salsa
• Hot sauce
• Sour cream

How to Make Smash Ground Beef Tacos:

Make the seasoning blend by combining the cumin, coriander, chili powder, paprika, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper to taste in a small dish, and mix well.

Prepare the beef & tortilla by pressing each thin burger patty onto a corn tortilla, getting the beef as close to the edges as possible.

Season the smash tacos by sprinkling the seasoning blend over each taco to taste.

Cook the smash tacos by heating the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering and very hot.

Working in batches, place the tacos, meat-side down, in the hot pan without crowding them, and press down with a spatula, and cook for 2-3 minutes. Flip over and cook the tortilla side until crisp and golden, about 2 minutes.

Remove and sandwich them between the cups of an upside-down muffin pan to shape them into tacos and to drain excess grease.  Side Note: You can also use a cooling rack or a taco rack instead, if you have them. 

Finish the smash tacos by topping them with shredded lettuce, lots of cheese, tomatoes, onion, and cilantro. Serve immediately with salsa, hot sauce, and sour cream.

Print

Smash Ground Beef Tacos

Course Main

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 3 Tacos

Author Pam - For the Love of Cooking

Equipment

• Large cast iron skillet
• Muffin Pan (upside down), Cooling Rack, or Taco Tray

Ingredients

• ⅛ tsp cumin
• ⅛ tsp chili powder
• ⅛ tsp paprika
• ⅛ tsp oregano
• ⅛ tsp garlic powder
• ⅛ tsp onion powder
• Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
• 7.5 oz ground beef, made into 3 thin ground beef patties (2.5-oz for each patty)
• 3 corn tortillas or flour tortillas
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil

Toppings:

• 1 cup iceberg lettuce finely shredded
• ½ cup cheddar cheese grated
• 2 compari tomatoes seeded & diced
• ½ small red onion diced
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro diced

Serving:

• Salsa
• Hot sauce
• Sour cream

Instructions

• Make the seasoning blend by combining the cumin, coriander, chili powder, paprika, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper to taste in a small dish, and mix well.
• Prepare the beef & tortilla by pressing each thin burger patty onto a corn tortilla, getting the beef as close to the edges as possible.
• Season the smash tacos by sprinkling the seasoning blend over each taco to taste.
• Cook the smash tacos by heating the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering and very hot.
• Working in batches, place the tacos, meat-side down, in the hot pan without crowding them, and press down with a spatula, and cook for 2-3 minutes. Flip over and cook the tortilla side until crisp and golden, about 2 minutes.
• Remove and sandwich them between the cups of an upside-down muffin pan to shape them into tacos and to drain excess grease.  Side Note: You can also use a cooling rack or a taco rack instead, if you have them.
• Finish the smash tacos by topping them with shredded lettuce, lots of cheese, tomatoes, onion, and cilantro.
• Serve immediately with salsa, hot sauce, and sour cream.

We had some prosciutto and ciliegine mozzarella balls in the fridge, so I decided to make these prosciutto-wrapped nectarines with mozzarella and basil skewers for a tasty, healthy appetizer. I used a nectarine because it’s what we had on hand, but a peach would work well too. These tasty little bites were easy to make and tasted great as is, and also with a drizzle of olive oil & balsamic glaze. This easy summer appetizer paired nicely with grilled flank steak, marinated cherry tomatoes, and fresh grilled corn on the cob.

Prosciutto-Wrapped Nectarines with Mozzarella and Basil

Ingredients:

• 1 large nectarine or peach
• 2 slices of prosciutto, each slice cut into 4 same-sized pieces long enough to wrap the fruit
• 8 medium basil leaves
• 8 mozzarella balls, divided by 8

Serving Options:

• Olive oil, drizzled
• Fresh parsley, finely chopped
• Balsamic glaze or aged vinegar

How to Make Prosciutto-Wrapped Nectarines with Mozzarella and Basil:

Prepare the necatrine (or peach) by slicing it into 8 slices, discarding the pit and stem.

Wrap each nectarine slice with prosciutto around the middle of each fruit slice.

Assemble the skewers by placing a basil leaf on top of each prosciutto-wrapped peach slice.

Add a ciliegine mozzarella ball on top of the basil leaf. Use a long toothpick or a skewer to hold everything in place by driving it through the center of the stack.

Serve as they are, or topped with a drizzle of olive oil, fresh parsley, and/or balsamic glaze or aged vinegar, if desired.

Print

Prosciutto-Wrapped Nectarines with Mozzarella and Basil

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 8 slices

Author Pam - For the Love of Cooking

Equipment

• Sharp Knife
• Wooden Skewers or Large Toothpicks

Ingredients

Ingredients:

• 1 large nectarine or peach
• 2 slices of prosciutto Each slice is cut into 4 thin, same-sized pieces long enough to wrap the fruit
• 8 medium basil leaves
• 8 ciliegine mozzarella balls divided by 8

Serving Options:

• Olive oil drizzled
• Fresh parsley finely chopped
• Balsamic glaze or aged vinegar

Instructions

• Prepare the necatrine (or peach) by slicing it into 8 slices, discarding the pit and stem.
• Wrap each nectarine slice with prosciutto around the middle of each fruit slice.
• Assemble the skewers by placing a basil leaf on top of each prosciutto-wrapped peach slice.
• Add a ciliegine mozzarella ball on top of the basil leaf. Use a long toothpick or a skewer to hold everything in place by driving it through the center of the stack.
• Serve as they are, or topped with a drizzle of olive oil, fresh parsley, and/or balsamic glaze or aged vinegar, if desired.

I made this tasty Italian bean salad recipe, which I found on Two Peas and Their Pod, to pair with some lemon butter chicken, roasted asparagus, and crusty bread loaded with roasted garlic I was making for dinner. This protein-packed bean salad was easy to make and tasted fantastic with the rest of the meal. Flavorful, healthy, and delicious.

Italian Bean Salad

Vinaigrette:

• ½ cup olive oil
• 2-3 tbsp red wine vinegar, to taste
• 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese, finely grated
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 clove garlic, finely grated
• ½ tsp Italian seasoning
• Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
• Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Salad:

• 1 (15-oz) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained, remove as many skins as possible
• 1 (15-oz) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup Persian cucumber, diced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, diced
• 1 cup orange bell pepper, diced
• ½ cup pepperoncini, chopped
• ¼ cup red onion, diced   ***Soak the diced onion in ice-water for 10 minutes if the flavor is too strong
• ¼ cup parmesan cheese, finely grated
• ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, hand torn
• 2 tbsp parsley, finely chopped

How to Make an Italian Bean Salad:

Prepare the vinaigrette by combining the olive oil, red wine vinegar, parmesan, Dijon, honey, garlic, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper to taste in a small glass jar. Seal with an airtight lid and shake very well. Set aside to let flavors mingle.

Remove the chickpea skins by placing the drained & rinsed chickpeas in a large bowl filled with water. Gently rub and pinch the beans together between your hands and fingers, which will allow the skins to slide off the beans and float to the surface.  Side Note: This step is optional.

Prepare the salad by combining the rinsed chickpeas, cannellini beans, cucumber, tomatoes, bell pepper, pepperoncini, red onion, parmesan cheese, basil, and parsley.

Dress the salad by pouring the well-shaken vinaigrette over it and tossing until everything is evenly coated.

Serve, or for the best flavor, chill for 30–60 minutes to let the flavors mingle.

Print

Italian Bean Salad

Course Salad, Sides

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Allow flavors time to mingle: 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Pam - For the Love of Cooking

Equipment

• Glass Jar with Lid
• Sharp Knife

Ingredients

Vinaigrette:

• ½ cup olive oil
• 2-3 tbsp red wine vinegar to taste
• 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese finely grated
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 clove garlic finely grated
• ½ tsp Italian seasoning
• Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to taste
• Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Salad:

• 1 (15-oz) can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained, remove as many skins as possible
• 1 (15-oz) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup Persian cucumber diced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes diced
• 1 cup orange bell pepper diced
• ½ cup pepperoncini chopped
• ¼ cup red onion diced ***Soak the diced onion in ice-water for 10 minutes if the flavor is too strong
• ¼ cup parmesan cheese finely grated
• ¼ cup fresh basil leaves hand torn
• 2 tbsp parsley finely chopped

Instructions

• Prepare the vinaigrette by combining the olive oil, red wine vinegar, parmesan, Dijon, honey, garlic, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper to taste in a small glass jar. Seal with an airtight lid and shake very well. Set aside to let flavors mingle.
• Remove the chickpea skins by placing the drained & rinsed chickpeas in a large bowl filled with water. Gently rub and pinch the beans together between your hands and fingers, which will allow the skins to slide off the beans and float to the surface.  Side Note: This step is optional.
• Prepare the salad by combining the rinsed chickpeas, cannellini beans, cucumber, tomatoes, bell pepper, pepperoncini, red onion, parmesan cheese, basil, and parsley.
• Dress the salad by pouring the well-shaken vinaigrette over it and tossing until everything is evenly coated.
• Serve, or chill for 30–60 minutes to let the flavors mingle for the best flavor.

I had some chicken to use up, so I whipped up this tasty lemon butter chicken recipe from The Kitchn that looked quick, easy, and used ingredients I had on hand. The sauce was very lemony thanks to the lemon zest, juice, and slices, and it was ready in very little time. We all thought it was tasty, and it paired nicely with an Italian bean salad (recipe to follow), roasted asparagus, and some crusty bread loaded with roasted garlic.

Lemon Butter Chicken

Ingredients:

• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1½ tsp Italian seasoning
• Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
• 1 large lemon
• ¾ cup chicken broth
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tsp flour
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 tbsp butter, cut into 6 pieces
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped

How to Make Lemon Butter Chicken:

Prepare the chicken by slicing each breast in half horizontally, creating 4 pieces in total. Pat dry with paper towels. Season both sides of the pieces with Italian seasoning, sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper to taste.

Prepare the lemon by finely grating the zest from the large lemon and place it in a small bowl. Halve the lemon crosswise. Juice one half until you have 2 tablespoons of fresh juice, and add it to the bowl. Cut 4-5 (¼-inch-thick) slices from the remaining half of the lemon.   Side Note: Remove the seeds and reserve the slices.

Make the sauce mixture by whisking ¾ cup cold chicken broth, 4 finely grated garlic cloves, and the flour into the lemon juice mixture. Season with sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste and whisk until no lumps remain.

Cook the chicken by heating the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook until well-browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side (the chicken might not be cooked through).

Reduce the heat to medium-low. Re-whisk the lemon juice mixture, pour it into the skillet, and add the reserved 4 lemon slices. Simmer until the sauce thickens and the chicken is cooked through, flipping halfway through, 3 to 4 minutes total.

Turn off the heat. Transfer the chicken to a plate and loosely cover with a foil tent.

Finish the sauce by adding 4 tablespoons of cold butter to the pan and whisking until melted and combined. Taste the sauce and season with sea salt and freshly black pepper as needed. Stir in the finely chopped parsley.

Return the chicken and any accumulated juice to the pan; flip the chicken to coat with sauce.

Serve and enjoy.

Print

Lemon Butter Chicken

Course Main

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Pam - For the Love of Cooking

Equipment

• Sharp Knife
• Large Nonstick Skillet

Ingredients

• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1½ tsp Italian seasoning
• Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
• 1 large lemon
• ¾ cup chicken broth
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tsp flour
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 tbsp butter cut into 6 pieces
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped

Instructions

• Prepare the chicken by slicing each breast in half horizontally, creating 4 pieces in total. Pat dry with paper towels. Season both sides of the pieces with Italian seasoning, sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper to taste.
• Prepare the lemon by finely grating the zest from the large lemon and place it in a small bowl. Halve the lemon crosswise. Juice one half until you have 2 tablespoons of fresh juice, and add it to the bowl. Cut 4-5 (¼-inch-thick) slices from the remaining half of the lemon.   Side Note: Remove the seeds and reserve the slices.
• Make the sauce mixture by whisking ¾ cup cold chicken broth, 4 finely grated garlic cloves, and the flour into the lemon juice mixture. Season with sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste and whisk until no lumps remain.
• Cook the chicken by heating the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook until well-browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side (the chicken might not be cooked through).
• Reduce the heat to medium-low. Re-whisk the lemon juice mixture, pour it into the skillet, and add the reserved 4-5 lemon slices. Simmer until the sauce thickens and the chicken is cooked through, flipping halfway through, 3 to 4 minutes total.
• Turn off the heat. Transfer the chicken to a plate and loosely cover with a foil tent.
• Finish the sauce by adding 4 tablespoons of cold butter to the pan and whisking until melted and combined. Taste the sauce and season with sea salt and freshly black pepper as needed. Stir in the finely chopped parsley.
• Return the chicken and any accumulated juice to the pan; flip the chicken to coat with sauce.
• Serve and enjoy.

I love this restaurant-style black beans recipe using canned beans and roasted poblano pepper, which is loaded with flavor, but super easy to make. I made these quick & easy black beans to pair with some carnitas, cilantro & lime rice, flour tortillas, and a simple avocado & salad with chipotle honey vinaigrette. The beans were super tasty, had a nice kick, and paired well with the rest of the meal, but next time, I’ll make a double batch!

Spicy Black Beans

Ingredients:

• 1 very small poblano pepper
• 1 tbsp avocado or vegetable oil
• 3 tbsp red onion, finely diced
• ½ small serrano pepper, finely minced
• 2 large cloves of garlic, minced
• ¼ tsp cumin
• ¼ tsp dried coriander
• ¼ tsp chili powder
• ⅛ tsp paprika
• ⅛ tsp dried oregano
• Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
• 1 (15-oz) can of black beans, drained
• ⅓ cup chicken broth or vegetable broth

Serving:

• Fresh cilantro, chopped
• Cotija cheese, crumbled

How to Make Spicy Black Beans:

Prepare the poblano pepper by preheating the oven to broil and setting the oven rack directly under the broiler.

Line a baking sheet with foil and place the small poblano pepper on top.

Broil the pepper for 3-4 minutes or until the skin is blackened and blistered.

Carefully flip it over and broil for 3-4 minutes or until the skin is blackened and blistered. Remove from the oven, place the charred chile in a large zip-lock bag, and seal it.

Allow it to steam for 5-7 minutes. Peel off the charred skin and discard the stem and seeds. Chop the poblano and set it aside.

Cook the onion & serrano by heating the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes.

Add the garlic, cumin, coriander, chili powder, paprkia, oregano, sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper, and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.

Add drained black beans, chicken broth, and 2 tablespoons of chopped roasted poblano (saving any remaining for another recipe), and bring to a boil. Reduce to low and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and re-season if needed.

Serve the beans with a sprinkling of chopped cilantro and cotija cheese, if desired. Enjoy.

Print

Spicy Black Beans

Course Sides

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 2

Author Pam - For the Love of Cooking

Equipment

• Small Baking Sheet
• Large saucepan

Ingredients

• 1 very small poblano pepper
• 1 tbsp avocado or vegetable oil
• 3 tbsp red onion finely diced
• ½ small serrano pepper finely minced
• 2 large cloves of garlic minced
• ¼ tsp cumin
• ¼ tsp dried coriander
• ¼ tsp chili powder
• ⅛ tsp paprika
• ⅛ tsp dried oregano
• Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
• 1 15-oz can of black beans, drained
• ⅓ cup chicken broth or vegetable broth

Serving:

• Fresh cilantro chopped
• Cotija cheese crumbled

Instructions

• Prepare the poblano pepper by preheating the oven to broil and setting the oven rack directly under the broiler.
• Line a baking sheet with foil and place the small poblano pepper on top.
• Broil the pepper for 3-4 minutes or until the skin is blackened and blistered.
• Carefully flip it over and broil for 3-4 minutes or until the skin is blackened and blistered. Remove from the oven, place the charred chile in a large zip-lock bag, and seal it.
• Allow it to steam for 5-7 minutes. Peel off the charred skin and discard the stem and seeds. Chop the poblano and set it aside.
• Cook the onion & serrano by heating the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes.
• Add the garlic, cumin, coriander, chili powder, paprkia, oregano, sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper, and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
• Add drained black beans, chicken broth, and 2 tablespoons of chopped roasted poblano (saving any remaining for another recipe), and bring to a boil.
• Reduce to low and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and re-season if needed.
• Serve the beans with a sprinkling of chopped cilantro and cotija cheese, if desired. Enjoy.

I had a craving for a salad for lunch, and instead of making my go-to vinaigrette, I wanted to try something different. I ran across the viral recipe video for Chipotle’s signature salad dressing, and thought it sounded delicious. This quick & easy chipotle honey vinaigrette recipe is sweet, smoky, and spicy, making a delicious salad dressing that makes any salad extra tasty, especially a Southwestern salad.

Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette (Copycat Recipe)

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• 3-4 tbsp water, to taste, depending on desired spiciness & consistency
• 3 tbsp sauce from adobo pepper, to taste
• 2½ tbsp honey
• ¼ tsp dried oregano
• Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
• ½ cup vegetable or avocado oil

How to Make Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette (Copycat Recipe):

Place the red wine vinegar, water, adobo pepper sauce, honey, oregano, sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper to taste in a blender. Blend until well-combined.

Gradually pour in the olive oil while blending. Taste and re-season if needed.

Serve immediately or store in an airtight glass jar in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Print

Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette (Copycat Recipe)

Course Condiment

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 cup +/-

Author Pam - For the Love of Cooking

Equipment

• Blender, Food Processor, or Immersion Blender

Ingredients

• ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• 3-4 tbsp water to taste, depending on desired spiciness & consistency
• 3 tbsp sauce from adobo pepper
• 2½ tbsp honey
• ¼ tsp dried oregano
• Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
• ½ cup vegetable or avocado oil

Instructions

• Place the red wine vinegar, water, adobo pepper sauce, honey, oregano, sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper to taste in a blender. Blend until well-combined.
• Gradually pour in the olive oil while blending. Taste and re-season if needed.
• Serve immediately or store in an airtight glass jar in the refrigerator for up to a week.

We love hummus in my house, and I try to always have some on hand. I stumbled upon a quick and easy olive hummus recipe I found on The Healthy Foodie that sounded perfect because I had olives that needed to be used up. This tasty hummus was creamy, flavorful, and loaded with small bits of olives, which tasted great with flatbread and fresh veggies.

Olive Hummus

Ingredients:

• 2 (15-oz) cans of chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed, drained, and skins removed
• ½ cup tahini
• ½ cup water
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• 3 tbsp white vinegar
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• Sea salt, to taste
• ⅓ cup kalamata olives, chopped, plus more for garnish if desired
• ¼ cup Castelvetrano green olives, chopped, plus more for garnish if desired

How to Make Olive Hummus:

Remove the skins by placing the drained & rinsed chickpeas in a large bowl filled with water. Gently rub and pinch the beans together between your hands and fingers, which will allow the skins to slide off the beans and float to the surface.  Side Note: This step is optional but highly recommended as it creates an ultra-creamy hummus. 

Make the hummus by placing the drained chickpeas in the bowl of your food processor, along with the tahini, water, olive oil, fresh lemon juice, white vinegar, garlic, and sea salt to taste. Process until smooth and creamy, about 3-4 minutes. Scraping the sides, as needed.

Add the chopped olives and pulse only 5-6 times so they will still have texture.

Refrigerate for 30-60 minutes before serving.

To serve, sprinkle the top with parsley, additional chopped olives, and a drizzling of olive oil. Serve with flatbread and veggies. Enjoy.

Print

Olive Hummus

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Lebanese

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 3 cups +/-

Author Pam - For the Love of Cooking

Equipment

• Food Processor

Ingredients

• 2 (15-oz) cans of chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed, drained, and skins removed
• ½ cup tahini
• ½ cup water
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• 3 tbsp white vinegar
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• Sea salt to taste
• ⅓ cup kalamata olives chopped, plus more for garnish, if desired
• ¼ cup Castelvetrano green olives chopped, plus more for garnish, if desired

Instructions

• Remove the chickpea skins by placing the drained & rinsed chickpeas in a large bowl filled with water. Gently rub and pinch the beans together between your hands and fingers, which will allow the skins to slide off the beans and float to the surface.  Side Note: This step is optional but highly recommended as it creates an ultra-creamy hummus.
• Make the hummus by placing the drained chickpeas in the bowl of your food processor, along with the tahini, water, olive oil, fresh lemon juice, white vinegar, garlic, and sea salt to taste. Process until smooth and creamy, about 3-4 minutes. Scraping the sides, as needed.
• Add the chopped olives and pulse only 5-6 times so they will still have texture.
• Refrigerate for 30-60 minutes before serving.
• To serve, sprinkle the top with parsley, additional chopped olives, and a drizzling of olive oil. Serve with flatbread and veggies. Enjoy.

After a few videos were shared with me on Instagram by family & friends, I finally tried making this viral no-fold blanket dumplings recipe I found on Spend with Pennies. These little pork dumplings were much easier to prepare than potstickers or gyoza, making them perfect for busy weeknights.  I served them with spicy chili crisp, black vinegar, and soy sauce, but potsticker dipping sauce would also be terrific. These blanket dumplings pair nicely with a tangy cucumber salad and soy-glazed snow peas.

No-Fold Blanket Dumplings

Filling:

• ½ lb. ground pork (ground chicken or turkey will also work)
• 2 green onions, finely chopped, plus more for garnish if desired
• 2 tsp soy sauce
• 2 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
• 1 large clove of garlic, minced
• 1½ tsp toasted sesame oil
• 1 tsp rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• ¼ tsp white pepper
• Sea salt, to taste

Other Ingredients:

• 12 dumpling (potsticker or gyoza) wrappers
• 2 tsp vegetable oil
• ⅓ cup water
• Toasted sesame seeds, if desired

Serving Options:

• Spicy chili crisp
• Chinese Black vinegar
• Soy sauce
• Potsticker dipping sauce

How to Make No-Fold Blanket Dumplings:

Prepare the filling by placing the ground pork and the green onions in a bowl.

In a small dish, mix the soy sauce, ginger, garlic, toasted sesame oil, vinegar, cornstarch, white pepper, and sea salt to taste until well combined.  Pour over the ground pork and green onions, and mix with your hands until evenly combined.

Prepare the dumplings by placing heaping tablespoon-sized balls on a plate.

Place one dumpling wrapper over each mound like a blanket. Gently squeeze it to tuck it around the filling so it adheres to the top and sides, leaving the bottom unwrapped.

Cook the blanket dumplings by heating the oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the dumplings, spacing them apart. Add the water and cover with a tight-fitting lid to steam for 6-8 minutes, or until the pork reaches 145 degrees.

Uncover and continue cooking until the water has evaporated and the bottoms are crisp and slightly caramelized, about 2 minutes.

Serve the dumplings with a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds and green onions, along with spicy chili crisp, black vinegar, soy sauce, or potsticker dipping sauce, if desired. Enjoy.

Print

No-Fold Blanket Dumplings

Course Appetizer, Main

Cuisine Asian

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 12 dumplings

Author Pam - For the Love of Cooking

Equipment

• Nonstick Skillet with Lid

Ingredients

Filling:

• ½ lb. ground pork ground chicken or turkey will also work
• 2 green onions finely chopped, plus more for garnish if desired
• 2 tsp soy sauce
• 2 tsp fresh ginger finely grated
• 1 large clove of garlic minced
• 1½ tsp toasted sesame oil
• 1 tsp rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• ¼ tsp white pepper
• Sea salt to taste

Other Ingredients:

• 12 dumpling potsticker or gyoza wrappers
• 2 tsp vegetable oil
• ⅓ cup water
• Toasted sesame seeds if desired

Serving Options:

• Spicy chili crisp
• Chinese Black vinegar
• Soy sauce
• Potsticker dipping sauce

Instructions

• Prepare the filling by placing the ground pork and the green onions in a bowl.
• In a small dish, mix the soy sauce, ginger, garlic, toasted sesame oil, vinegar, cornstarch, white pepper, and sea salt to taste until well combined.  Pour over the ground pork and green onions, and mix with your hands until evenly combined.
• Prepare the dumplings by placing heaping tablespoon-sized balls on a plate.
• Place one dumpling wrapper over each mound like a blanket. Gently squeeze it to tuck it around the filling so it adheres to the top and sides, leaving the bottom unwrapped.
• Cook the blanket dumplings by heating the oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the dumplings, spacing them apart. Add the water and cover with a tight-fitting lid to steam for 6-8 minutes, or until the pork reaches 145 degrees.
• Uncover and continue cooking until the water has evaporated and the bottoms are crisp and slightly caramelized, about 2 minutes.
• Serve the dumplings with a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds and green onions, along with spicy chili crisp, black vinegar, soy sauce, or potsticker dipping sauce, if desired. Enjoy.

Warning!!! These delicious spicy chili-crisp edamame are very addictive! Spicy, salty, and so easy to make, edamame is one of our favorite snacks or Asian side dishes. I whipped up this easy edamame recipe to pair with a recent meal of sticky Asian pork ribs, garlic-ginger rice with cilantro, and bok choy with ginger sauce.

Spicy Chili-Crisp Edamame

Ingredients:

• 8 oz frozen edamame
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled, smashed
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
• 2 tsp soy sauce, more to taste
• 2 tsp chili crisp 
• Sea salt, to taste

How to Make Spicy Chili-Crisp Edamame:

Blanche the edamame in a large saucepan of salted, boiling water, over high heat for 3-4 minutes.

Drain and rinse the edamame with very cold water to prevent it from cooking further.

Dry the edamame pods on a clean tea towel (or paper towels) until very dry.

Finish cooking by heating the olive oil, toasted sesame oil, and smashed garlic in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook for a few minutes until golden brown, to season the oil, tossing occasionally. Don’t let the garlic turn dark or burn.

Add edamame to the skillet with the oil and garlic; toss it all together for 1 -2 minutes to get it nice and coated.

Add a splash of soy sauce and chili crisp, stir & cook for only 1-2 minutes, to preserve the green color of the edamame.

To serve, discard the garlic cloves. Transfer to a large bowl, and season with sea salt to taste.

To eat, grab an edamame pod, and use your teeth to pull the little edamame beans out of the shell while holding it. Discard the shells and repeat.  Enjoy.

Print

Spicy Chili-Crisp Edamame

Course Appetizer, Sides

Cuisine Asian

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Pam - For the Love of Cooking

Equipment

• Large saucepan
• Large skillet

Ingredients

• 8 oz frozen edamame
• 2 cloves garlic peeled, smashed
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
• 2 tsp soy sauce more to taste
• 2 tsp spicy chili crisp
• Sea salt to taste

Instructions

• Blanche the edamame in a large saucepan of salted, boiling water, over high heat for 3-4 minutes.
• Drain and rinse the edamame with very cold water to prevent it from cooking further.
• Dry the edamame pods on a clean tea towel (or paper towels) until very dry.
• Finish cooking by heating the olive oil, toasted sesame oil, and smashed garlic in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook for a few minutes until golden brown, to season the oil, tossing occasionally. Don't let the garlic turn dark or burn.
• Add edamame to the skillet with the oil and garlic; toss it all together for 1 -2 minutes to get it nice and coated.
• Add a splash of soy sauce and chili crisp, stir & cook for only 1-2 minutes, to preserve the green color of the edamame.
• To serve, discard the garlic cloves. Transfer to a large bowl, and season with sea salt to taste.
• To eat, grab an edamame pod, and use your teeth to pull the little edamame beans out of the shell while holding it. Discard the shells and repeat.  Enjoy.