My brain is about two months ahead of me, and I'm excited to enter summer. I will make some recipes for summer vegetables right now instead of waiting. I can't stand waiting long enough. I need summer freshness. It's good that we live in a time when we can enjoy fresh produce throughout the year. This Ratatouille Frittata might be less expensive and perhaps more flavorful in August or July when these veggies are in season; it's an absolute lifesaver towards the end of winter when spring is attempting to come through and you're exhausted. RATATOUILLE + FRITTATA = LOVE I am a sucker...

I cooked up a simple Roasted Summer vegetables for an appetizer this week and debated whether I should make them their recipe. The roasting of vegetables is so simple that they're hardly an actual recipe, but it's more of a process. However, I needed to keep in mind that each when I share one of these simple "recipes," there are at most a handful of people who get the "Aha!" moment, which makes it worthwhile. You've probably made this at least a million times if you're a seasoned cook. If you're still struggling to get your feet immersed when you cook, you should...

I'm generally not great at sweets except when it's something straightforward, such as strawberry shortcake. Luckily, simple doesn't mean unimpressive. The only ingredients you'll need to make these adorable, Instagram-worthy shortcakes are some pantry staples and the freshest strawberries of the season. So skip the over-sugared candy-bar-stuffed-into-cake-topped-with-ice-cream-and-drizzled-with-chocolate-syrup type of over-the-top desserts that are all the rage right now, grab a pound of fresh strawberries, and make a strawberry shortcake recipe that is truly worth bragging about. Let the gorgeous strawberries do their work, and have a blast while they're here! HOMEMADE SWEET BISCUITS For the cake portion of these shortcakes, I took my preferred five-ingredient frozen...

It's FRIDAY! And Fridays call for pizza. I've not had pizza in forever, and I was worried I could not take pizza bites with my braces. But we'll be honest: an entire mouth of wire and achy, brittle tooth will not stop me from eating pizza. I was in the mood for a thin white slice of pizza last week, similar to the one I enjoyed at one of my top pizza spots in New Orleans ( Pizza Delicious If you're curious). So I cooked up this easy Garlicky Kale with Ricotta Pizza. RICOTTA FOR THE WIN Ricotta is what makes this pizza unique. If...

You guys. That Thai Coconut Curry Carrot Soup is the best. I wanted to gobble down the entire bowl! It's creamy, light, slightly spicy, and perfectly suitable for the warmer-than-usual spring temperatures we're experiencing. If you're a fan of the flavor of my vegetarian soup made with Thai Curry, You'll be awed by this one too. It has a similar flavor profile but is a bit more sweet (naturally), lighter, and has the most silky smooth texture. The recipe makes one wonder, "How do so few ingredients produce something delicious? ?" MAKE IT VEGETARIAN OR VEGAN The Thai Coconut Curry Carrot soup is a delicious vegetarian OR vegan...

I'm going to take a vacation! That's why I've got thousands of things to accomplish before leaving, and I don't have time to cook something complicated. So, whether you're amidst the chaos of your pre-vacation or is already chaotic enough, You'll be awed by the simple nature of this fresh Tomato Basil Pasta with Ricotta since pasta doesn't need to contain many ingredients to be delicious. A few new flavors, and you're good to go. ISN'T FRESH BASIL EXPENSIVE? Indeed, I'm not a big fan of this ingredient since it's one of the more expensive products in the produce section, and I'll explain. Though...

Are you looking forward to another simple meal preparation (or evening meal for the week)? It's a must! Jerk Chicken with Pineapple Black Bean Salsa is straightforward to make but still high on the summery taste. Its spicy spice blend complements that sweet and refreshing pineapple salsa, and the beans provide the bulk and protein to the meal without increasing the price. Even better, serving this hot or serving the leftovers cold to enjoy a refreshing lunch is possible. WHAT IS JERK SEASONING? Jerk seasoning is an acrid, sweet, savory, and sour mix of spices from Jamaican cuisine. The flavorful blend typically includes spicy...

I was experiencing the kind of day this morning, you know. The type of day where you have an endless list of things to do, but your body is screaming at you to relax and relax and watch Netflix throughout the day. It's a common occurrence. But I wanted to eat and cook, so I put together the most straightforward recipe: slow Cooker Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken. #noregrets This is undoubtedly one of the meals that cook by itself, which means you can binge-watch Netflix or do laundry or do whatever else while it's doing its thing, return when it's done to serve it up and savor. It's...

I am a fan of using parsley as the base of my salads since it's cheap, tasty, delicious, and full of nutrients, and it can hold well in the fridge even after dressing! It may take some time to break through the stereotype of using it as an ingredient; however, once you've done, you'll be amazed at the options that parsley can provide! This easy Parsley Salad with Almonds and Apricots is a great way to introduce yourself to the parsley salad green, with its sweet and savory taste with a crunchy texture and a tangy homemade dressing. SUBSTITUTIONS Dry apricots are...

Scrambled eggs make an excellent final minute, clean-up-the-kitchen weekend breakfast or meal. When I went through my fridge and pantry and jotted down what could be used this morning, I realized I had a half-jar of taco sauce, a tiny container of green chiles diced, and a massive block of pepper jack cheese. I immediately knew I needed a cheese-laden skillet filled with Ultimate Southwest Scrambled Eggs for lunch. It's similar to nachos with a lot of cheese, however, with all eggs and no nachos. LOL. As a fervent egg lover, I'm not sad about it. HOW TO SERVE SOUTHWEST SCRAMBLED EGGS I like them...