Mediterranean Rice Salad

11 Amazing Arugula Recipes

Jan 24, 2022 · Leave a Comment

Eleven of our best arugula recipes for you to try! Everything from arugula pesto, to arugula salads even arugula pizza!

Two photos of arugula recipes with text reading 11 delicious recipes.

I almost always have a container of arugula (or rocket) in my fridge. I love the bitterness that it adds to salad.

With it's assertive flavor, it also holds it's own in many recipes from salads, to pizza, to pesto and even pasta!

If you're looking for the best arugula recipes to spice up your cooking you have come to the right place!

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Falling Water Falls on Signal Mountain

Jan 21, 2022 · Leave a Comment

This short hike on Signal Mountain, Tennessee ends at the top of the water fall with gorgeous bluff views of the Tennessee Valley.

It is located on Signal Mountain, a suburb of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Hike at a glance.

Distance: .39 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 101ft
Highlights: cascading water, bluff views.

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Arugula Salad with Grapes and Sunflower Seeds

Jan 17, 2022 · 1 Comment

This arugula salad with grapes and sunflower seeds is delicious change from your usual salads!

Arugula, grapes and sunflower seeds are dressed in vinaigrette sweetened with honey and maple syrup. This salad is loved by kids and adults!

Two wooden salad bowls on a wooden tray, filled with an arugula, grape and sunflower seed salad.

This arugula salad is great year round, but it is especially nice in the fall. It's the perfect transition from the tomato and cucumber filled salads of summer to the heartier winter salads.

The bitter arugula pairs beautifully with the sweet grapes and the nutty sunflower seeds. A honey and maple sweetened vinaigrette ties it all together!

I've been making this recipe since 2009 when I found it in an old Cooking Light Annual.

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Tray Baked Salmon and Green Beans

Jan 10, 2022 · 9 Comments

Salmon, green beans and tomatoes roast together in one pan for an easy and delicious dinner!

White scalloped plate with salmon and green beans with tomatoes and black olives.

When I first saw this tray baked salmon recipe from Jamie Oliver, I knew I had to give it a try!

Green beans, cherry tomatoes, black olives and salmon all roast together in one pan to give you a quick and easy dinner.

The intriguing part was the anchovies. I love anchovies and I know the flavor that they can give to so many things. I love that they break down in sauces, giving you that savory salty that you would never guess is anchovies.

They do the same thing in this one pan salmon recipe! They cook down adding their delightful saltiness and unami flavor to the veggies!

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Instant Pot Asian Pork Noodle Soup

Jan 3, 2022 · 3 Comments

This light and healthy Asian Pork Noodle Soup is so easy to make in the Instant Pot!

Simple and delicious with pork, kale, mushrooms and lots of ginger, this is the perfect light comfort food!

Two bowls of pork noodle soup, topped with radishes and green onions.

I'm not sure when you are reading this, but right now we are coming off of heavy holiday eating.

This soup is the answer to all that eating. It is simple, fresh, light and healthy. I found it in an American Heart Association Instant Pot Cookbook.

It's very basic, but you could easily jazz it up with your favorite Asian flavors and seasonings - like fish sauce, chili paste or whatever you like!

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16! of the BEST Appetizers and Cocktails for New Years

Dec 27, 2021 · 2 Comments

A selection of 16 of our favorite New Years Appetizers and Cocktails!

Perfect for parties or just the two of you staying in!

Collage of appetizers and cocktails for New Years.

I admit it, we rarely go out for New Years any more. I am content to stay at home, make sparkling cocktails and nibble on food. Sometimes I even make it to midnight!

Whether it's just you or you plus all your friends, I have some of the best New Years Appetizers and Cocktails for you to choose from!

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Rich and Creamy Mushroom Risotto

Dec 20, 2021 · 2 Comments

Rich and creamy, this delicious mushroom risotto is pure comfort food!

Made with mushrooms, arborio rice, white wine, butter and the secret ingredient - dried mushrooms!

Mushroom risotto topped with parsley in a stoneware bowl.

When I want pure comfort food, I don't have to look much further than risotto! While I've made it in the oven - Baked Cauliflower Risotto and in the Instant Pt - Instant Pot Shrimp Risotto, I also love making it on the stove top.

There is something so meditative about slowly stirring in each ladle of chicken broth. Watching the rice absorb the tasty broth and becoming creamier and creamier.

This mushroom risotto is one that I've been making for years, I found the recipe in an old Italian Classics Cookbook from Cook's Illustrated.

I love that it uses dried mushrooms and fresh mushrooms and as a bonus the soaking liquid from the mushrooms adds even more flavor to the broth!

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55 Homemade Food (and Drink) Gifts

Dec 13, 2021 · Leave a Comment

A collection of 55 of the best homemade food and drink gifts for any occasion!

Some are holiday focused, but most can be made and given year round!

Easy homemade food gifts for all your foodie friends and even infusions and liqueurs for your cocktail lovers!

Collage of photos with text reading 55 homemade food and drink Christmas gifts.

Whether it's the holiday season or some other celebration, people love homemade gifts.

The best homemade gifts to give and get are food and drink! We have a collection of 55 of our favorite food and drink gifts!

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Salt and Pepper Shrimp

Dec 6, 2021 · Leave a Comment

You're going to love this lightened version of the classic Salt and Pepper Shrimp.

Instead of deep frying the shrimp is seasoned and the sautéed until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Bowl of salt and pepper shrimp on top of noodles.

A few weeks ago, I made one of my favorites (and yours too!) my Thai Peanut Noodles.

While I usually serve the noodles plain, I wanted to add a little more to them. This Salt and Pepper Shrimp was perfect. I made a quick Cucumber Sambal and had the most amazing dinner!

The shrimp are excellent alone, especially as an appetizer. Or you can serve them over rice or noodles add them to a salad, the possibilities are endless!

This is a very old Cooking Light recipe that I've had printed off for ages!

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Cast Iron Jalapeño Cornbread

Nov 29, 2021 · Leave a Comment

Take your cast iron cornbread to a whole new level with fresh corn and jalapeño peppers!

Rich and golden on the outside and moist and tender on the inside with the perfect amount of spice from the jalapeño peppers!

Slice of cornbread with cornbread in a cast iron skillet behind it.

Whether you prefer northern cornbread or southern cornbread, you really must try this jalapeño cornbread!

It is baked in a cast iron skillet with whole corn, jalapeño peppers and buttermilk!

The whole corn makes it so moist and the jalapeño peppers give it an extra kick. There isn't any cheese in it, but you could definitely add some!

This is an old Cooking Light recipe that I've been making ever since I found it in the 1997 annual!

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18! Thanksgiving Sides to try this year!

Nov 22, 2021 · Leave a Comment

If you're looking to change up your Thanksgiving Sides, we have a collection for you!

While we all love the usual classic sides for the holidays, maybe this is the year you change it up a bit. Instant Pot Green Beans? Marmalade Glazed Carrots? Try a few of our new sides, they might become your new classic!

Green beans with text reading 18 Thanksgiving Sides.

We have a collection of 18 new sides for your Thanksgiving holiday!

Sure, there is nothing wrong with the classics, but we have collected some new recipes for you to try, you just might find your new favorite!

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Slow Cooker Beef and Sweet Potato Chili

Nov 15, 2021 · 3 Comments

Use your slow cooker to make this delicious beef and sweet potato chili!

Ground beef, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, black beans and tomatoes simmer all day long for a delightful bowl of pure comfort food! Top with your favorite cheese and other toppings!

Two bowls of chili topped with cheese and cilantro.

Cooler weather means big bowls of chili, am I right?

Not just any chili though, how about one filled with sweet potatoes and black beans?

We have this sweet potato chili on regular rotation at our house all winter long, it's the perfect game day food! Just have it simmering in the crockpot and everyone can help themselves and use their favorite toppings!

This is an old Cooking Light recipe that I've been making since 2016!

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Mediterranean Roast Chicken

Nov 8, 2021 · 3 Comments

Turn a whole roasted chicken into a Mediterranean feast with potatoes, eggplant, bell peppers and fennel.

Meltingly tender vegetables, juicy chicken in an easy one pan chicken recipe!

Bowl with roasted chicken and vegetables over polenta.

This succulent roast chicken is pure comfort food!

The chicken is roasted simply with olive oil and lemon. Then the Mediterranean vegetables are added and continue to cook with the chicken.

The chicken juices braise the vegetables into they are tender and flavorful, while the chicken stays so juicy!

Simple and yet so delicious!

Ingredients.

Fennel, eggplant, thyme, lemon, garlic, olive oil, potatoes and chicken.

Fennel - you'll use the bulb, you can save some of the fronds for garnish.
Eggplant.
Thyme, garlic, lemon and olive oil. Fresh thyme is preferred, if you buy extra be sure and use this guide - How to Dry Thyme to save some! Lemon Infused Olive Oil would also be delicious here!
Potatoes - small new potatoes if possible.
Whole chicken. If you bought two, save one for our Thyme Roasted Chicken with Potatoes!
Bell peppers - accidentally left out of photo.

Step by step instructions.

Photo collage showing chicken before and after roasting.

Rub the chicken with olive oil, place half a lemon and a sprig or two of thyme in the cavity and generously sprinkle with pepper. You can truss it if you'd like.

Place in a large roasting pan (big enough to hold all the vegetables) breast side down and roast at 400 for 30 minutes.

Remove the pan from the oven and turn the chicken over. Baste with any drippings. Add the potatoes and roll them around in the drippings. Sprinkle chicken and potatoes with salt. Roast for 30 more minutes.

Cut eggplant into 1 inch cubes, quarter the bell peppers and the fennel.

Remove the pan from the oven and add the eggplant, bell peppers, fennel and garlic. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with the remaining olive oil.

Continue to roast for 30-50 more minutes, basting and stirring the vegetables occasionally.

Check the temp of the chicken (should be 165 f) and enjoy!

Bowl of roasted chicken with vegetables.

I have made this easy roast chicken countless times and it is always amazing. I play with the ratio of vegetables and often use whatever I have on hand.

To serve you can cut up the chicken into serving pieces and place them mounded on top of the vegetables on a big platter. Skim the juices and serve it on the side or drizzle over the top.

It is especially delicious served over polenta to get every last drop of the tasty juices.

Recipe.

**As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Print Recipe

5 from 31 votes

Mediterranean Roast Chicken

Juicy roast chicken with Mediterranean vegetables is pure comfort food in an easy one pan dinner!

Prep Time10

Cook Time1 30

Total Time1 40

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Servings:

Calories: 914kcal

Equipment

Roasting pan

Ingredients

4 ½ pound whole chicken giblets removed
⅔ cup extra virgin olive oil
½ lemon
thyme few sprigs
1 pound potatoes small, new or peeled and cut into chunks if large
1 red bell pepper seeded, cut into quarters
1 eggplant cut into 1 inch cubes
1 fennel bulb cut into quarters
8 garlic cloves unpeeled
salt and pepper

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400.
Rub some of the olive oil over the chicken and sprinkle with fresh ground black pepper. Place half a lemon and a few sprigs of thyme in the cavity. Place the chicken breast side down in the roasting pan and roast for 30 minutes.
Remove the pan from the oven and turn over the chicken. Baste with drippings. Add potatoes and roll them around to coat in the drippings. Sprinkle chicken and potatoes with salt and roast for 30 more minutes.
Remove pan from the oven and add the rest of the vegetables and any remaining thyme and then drizzle everything with the rest of the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Roast for 30-50 more minutes or until chicken is cooked to 165, basting and stirring the vegetables occasionally.
Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 10 minutes. Skim the juices and serve the chicken with the vegetables and the juice.

Video

Notes

I like to serve this over polenta.

Nutrition

26! Delicious Bean Recipes

Nov 1, 2021 · Leave a Comment

You'll enjoy adding beans to your life with this collection of 26 Delicious Bean Recipes!

Everything from side dishes, to main dishes, to soups and salads! Beans are so versatile and it is so easy, healthy and yummy to add them to your diet!

Bowl of a bean salad with text reading 26! Delicious Bean Recipes!

I keep reading about how healthy beans are and how that one of the things the people who live in those blue zones have in common is beans.

They eat a lot of beans. Daily usually.

Luckily for me, I love beans. We have them almost daily too.

I love them in side dishes, salads, soups and main dishes. Lately I have been really using them a lot as a side dish instead of the usual pasta or rice.

If you are a bean lover (or even if you're not) you're going to find lots to love with these recipes!

Recipes Using Black Beans.

It's no surprise to me that the majority of my recipes are using black beans. I love black beans and I love the big 10 pound bag of organic black beans that I get from Costco.

Up first I have a collection of slow cooker and Instant Pot black bean recipes.

Our Slow Cooker Southwestern Chicken Soup, Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole and Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowls are perfect weeknight main dishes. And if you didn't get dinner started in the morning, then you're going to love our Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin with Black Beans.

Slow Cooker Chicken Soup with Beans

Your whole family is going to love this easy Tex-Mex chicken soup!

Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole

This layered chicken enchilada casserole is so much easier than making enchiladas! It's creamy cheesy and so good!

Slow Cooker Chicken Chile Burrito Bowls

This Slow Cooker Chicken Chile Burrito Bowls is pure comfort food!

Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin with Black Beans and Coconut Rice

Pork Tenderloin and black beans cook all together with rice and coconut milk in this easy one pan meal!

Taco lovers rejoice - try our Chicken and Chorizo Tacos or our Spicy Shrimp with Mango and Black Bean Salsa Tacos. Or skip the tortillas and try this Grilled Chicken with Corn and Black Bean Salsa.

Chicken and Chorizo Tacos

Using dry cured Chorizo sausage and finely chopping it in a food processor is a complete game changer in these Chicken and Chorizo Tacos.

Shrimp Tacos With Mango and Black Bean Salsa

These Shrimp Tacos with Mango and Black Bean Salsa are easy and delicious!

Grilled Chicken with Corn and Black Bean Salsa

Smokey grilled chicken with a corn and black beans salsa are topped with cilantro, lime yogurt dressing.

Black beans lend themselves beautifully to salads and salsas.

Try out Black Bean Salad with Avocado Dressing, Spicy Bean and Quinoa Salad, Mexican Quinoa Salad or Corn, Avocado and Black Bean Salad.

Black Bean Salad with Avocado Dressing

This Black Bean Salad with Avocado Dressing is healthy, meatless and delicious!

Spicy Bean and Quinoa Salad with “Mole” Vinaigrette

Bean and quinoa bring plenty of protein to this salad, while the "mole" vinaigrette adds spice!

Mexican Quinoa Salad

This Mexican Quinoa Salad is filled with all sorts of good for you things - like black beans, orange bell peppers, quinoa and avocados.

Corn, Avocado and Black Bean Salad

This easy salad is the perfect side dish for tacos!

Navy Beans, Great Northern Beans, Cannellini Beans and Chickpeas.

I've combined all these white beans in one category. One big delicious category!

White beans and navy beans make two of my favorite recipes - Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup and Boston Baked Beans.

Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup

This Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup tastes like it's been simmering all day, but it's ready in about an hour!

Boston Baked Beans

These easy homemade baked beans will become your new favorite barbecue side dish! So easy and so delicious!

Cannellini beans are also used a lot at our house. Rigatoni with Sausage, Cannellini Beans and Swiss Chard is pure comfort food, and our Tuna Quinoa Bowl takes healthy eating to a whole new level.

Combine cannellini beans and chickpeas for a winning combination with our Easy Three Bean Salad and our Slow Cooker White Chili with Avocado Cream.

Speaking of chickpeas, we had to include our Chickpea Salad and, of course, a classic Hummus recipe!

Close up of pasta, beans and greens in a yellow bowl.

Hearty Penne with Sausage

Hearty Penne and Sausage Pasta is a riff on the classic beans and greens. Use your favorite pasta, beans, sausage, and greens to make it your own!

Tuna Quinoa Bowl

This Tuna Quinoa Bowl is filled with bold flavors from tuna, quinoa, beets, beet greens, olives, beans, and hard boiled eggs.

All Bean Three Bean Salad

This three bean salad doesn't use green beans or wax beans, instead it's easily made with all canned beans!

Slow Cooker White Chili With Avocado Cream

This Slow Cooker White Chili Chicken with Avocado Cream is so full of flavor!

Lemon and Thyme Chickpea Salad

This healthy side dish recipe is so easy to make and so delicious! It's gets even better after sitting, so it's perfect for make ahead!

Hummus

You are going to love having jars of this hummus in the freezer. Perfect for lunch or snaking!

Kidney Beans, Black-Eyed Peas and Lima Beans.

Kidney beans really shine in our Zucchini, Corn and Bean Salad and they are perfect in our Slow Cooker Minestrone (which also has lima beans.)

I start every New Years with these Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas, but they are good year round! Try them in the fall with our Black Eyed Peas Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash.

Zucchini, Corn, and Bean Salad

This Zucchini, Corn and Bean Salad makes the perfect summer side dish! With no mayo, it's great for picnics and potlucks.

Bowl of minestrone soup garnished with Parmesan Cheese.

Slow Cooker Minestrone

The classic Italian soup made even easier in the slow cooker!

Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas

This Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas recipe makes the best black eyed peas ever! Creamy and rich and oh so delicious!

Black-Eyed Peas Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese

This Black-Eyed Peas Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese is the perfect fall salad!

Pinto Beans and Borlotti Beans.

We couldn't call ourselves Southerners if we didn't have a bag or two of pinto beans always in the pantry!l

I've been making this Slow Cooker Pinto Beans with Beef since college, it's that good!

You might be surprised to find that pinto beans are included in these Shredded Pork Tacos with Pumpkin Seed Slaw.

Last, but not least, I have a Borlotti Bean Minestrone. They are a little trickier to find, but so worth it!

Bowl of beans topped with cheese and jalapeño peppers.

Slow Cooker Pinto Beans with Beef and Bacon

Let the slow cooker cook up a big batch of these beans! Top with your favorite topping for a bowl of comfort! Perfect for game day!

Shredded Pork Tacos with Pepita Slaw

The Pepita Slaw on top of these Shredded Pork Tacos adds such an incredible flavor and it's healthy too!

Arugula Pesto

Bright and peppery this arugula pesto is the perfect condiment.

There you have it! A collection of the best bean recipes! Which one are you going to try first?

Slow Cooker Pinto Beans with Beef and Bacon

Oct 25, 2021 · 5 Comments

Bring out your slow cooker to make this Southwestern Pinto Beans and Beef. It's hearty, comforting and delicious!

This classic pinto beans with beef and bacon is so easy to make and perfect when you want a bowl of good comfort food.

Bowl of beans with cheese and jalapenos on top.

I have been making this southwestern style pinto beans and beef since the late 70's! I found it in my 1975 edition of Crockery Cookery by Mable Hoffman. Back then I used my avocado green crockpot to have dinner waiting for me after classes.

I started making it in college, it was absolutely perfect after a chilly football game.

There are a few extra steps at the beginning, but it's so worth it. A deep flavored beefy broth, perfectly cooked beans, topped with your favorite toppings.

Did I mention that it has bacon?!

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Bread Machine Pizza Dough

Oct 18, 2021 · 5 Comments

Use you bread machine to make the easiest pizza dough ever! Just add the ingredients and let the breadmaker do the work!

This is going to be your favorite way to make pizza dough, perfect for easy peasy pizza nights!

Bowl of pizza dough on a wooden pizza peel.

My bread machine is one of the oldest and most used appliances in my kitchen! I use it it for sandwich breads, dinner rolls and even focaccia.

One of my favorite ways to use it is to make pizza dough! I've been making this pizza dough since my girls were little.

You just put all the ingredients in the bread machine and it does all the work. This recipe makes enough for 2 14-16 inch pizzas, so I freeze one ball of dough!

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14! Amazing Green Bean Recipes

Oct 4, 2021 · Leave a Comment

A collection of green bean recipes for all you green bean lovers! From mains to sides and even an Instant Pot recipe, we've got you covered!

Green beans go with everything and we have them with chicken, salmon, in soups and sides! Something for everyone!

Green beans on a platter with text reading 14 Green Bean Recipes.

Main dish recipes!

You might think of green beans as only a side dish, but we have a collection of main dish recipes that have green beans included!

Up first we have our latest recipe, Thai Ground Pork with Green Beans. I made this a couple of weeks ago and we've already had it three times!

You might not think of pairing salmon and green beans, but it's a match made in heaven. Try our Five Spice Salmon with Sesame Green Beans, Roasted Salmon with Green Beans and Citrus Vinaigrette, and Roasted Orange Chile Salmon.

Another seafood pairing, our Mahi Mahi with Cherry Tomatoes and Green Beans has long been a favorite on this blog!

White bowl with ground pork and green beans.

Thai Pork and Green Beans

This easy stir fry of ground pork and green beans is sweet and spicy and ready in minutes!

Glazed salmon on a foil lined baking sheet.

Five Spice Honey Soy Glazed Salmon

Whisk together a quick marinade that does double duty as a glaze. The salmon gets sweet and sticky under the broiler and the green beans are crisp tender.

Salmon and green beans on a bowl of salad greens.

Roasted Salmon and Green Beans with Citrus Vinaigrette

Such a simple recipe with amazing flavor! You'll use the citrus vinaigrette on everything!

Orange Chile Oil | Roasted Salmon and Green Beans

This Orange Chile Oil is going to become your favorite kitchen ingredient. It turns simple recipes like this Roasted Salmon with Green Beans into something spectacular

Roasted Mahi Mahi with Green Beans and Cherry Tomatoes

This Roasted Mahi Mahi with Green Beans and Cherry Tomatoes is an easy sheet pan dinner that you'll make over and over again!

Chicken recipes!

We only have a few chicken recipes to share, but they are both so good!

Za'atar Chicken with Vegetables is easy and healthy and our Roasted Chicken recipe uses the same orange chile oil from the salmon recipe above!

Light and healthy our Chicken Salad with Tomatoes, Olives and Green Beans makes a great lunch or light dinner!

Za’atar Chicken Tenders with Vegetables

This Za'atar Chicken Tenders with Vegetables and Couscous is so easy and delicious!

Orange Chile Oil Roasted Chicken, Beets, and Green Beans

Infused oil (in this case Orange Chile Oil) turns an easy sheet pan supper of Roasted Chicken, Beets and Green Beans into an extra flavorful dinner!

Chicken Salad with Tomatoes, Olives, and Green Beans

This Chicken Salad with Tomatoes, Olives and Green Beans is an easy, light and healthy lunch or dinner

Green bean sides!

Of course we have plenty of green bean sides to share with you!

If you're looking for holiday sides (or anytime really) we have you covered. Our Green Bean Gremolata is so pretty and no one needs to know how easy it is! If you're stove is occupied, no problem, make Instant Pot Green Beans with Bacon and Mushrooms, it's a real crowd pleaser.

This Zucchini and Green Bean Slaw is on regular rotation at our house all summer long.

Platter of green beans with toasted almonds on top.

Green Beans Gremolata

Takes simply steamed green beans to a whole new level with a fresh parsley, lemon and garlic gremolata. Toasted almonds on the top are the delicious finishing touch!

Platter of green beans with mushrooms and bacon on a lace tablecloth.

Instant Pot Green Beans with Bacon and Mushrooms

Use the Instant Pot to make perfectly cooked green beans infused with flavor from the bacon and the mushrooms!

Zucchini, Green Bean, and Chile Slaw

This Zucchini, Green Bean and Chile Slaw is the perfect way to use some summer zucchini!

Soups!

Can you really call it a vegetable soup if it doesn't have green beans in it? I don't think so!

Both of these soups, French Vegetable Soup with Pistou and Minestrone feature green beans. But also, take notice of the delish toppings for the soups - a classic pistou and an arugula pesto. They really make the soups something special!

French Vegetable Soup with Pesto

The soup is loaded with vegetables, you won't even miss the meat!

Arugula Pesto

Bright and peppery this arugula pesto is the perfect condiment.

Condiments.

Last but not least we have our favorite way to preserve green beans! I love having jars of these Tarragon Pickled Green Beans lined up to get me through winter!

Tarragon Pickled Green Beans

Preserve your bounty of green beans with this easy pickle! You can use tarragon, basil or no herbs if you wish!

Thanks for reading through this round up of delicious green bean recipes! Which ones are you going to try first?

Thai Ground Pork and Green Beans

Sep 27, 2021 · 4 Comments

Spicy Ground Pork and Green Beans is an easy Thai favorite recipe that everyone should know how to make!

Green beans are charred, pork is browned and it's all tossed in a spicy curry sauce. It's ready in the time it takes your rice to cook!

White bowl with ground pork, green beans and rice.

Easy Thai dinner!

I absolutely love stir fries for getting a quick and easy dinner on the table. It doesn't get much easier than this Thai minced pork and green beans.

With only 7 ingredients, a few minutes of cooking, you have a sweet and spicy dish that everyone will love!

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Roaring Creek

Sep 24, 2021 · Leave a Comment

The Roaring Creek Trail is a fun hike located in Graysville, Tennessee. It is part of the Cumberland Trail and includes lots of gorgeous water action and stunning overlook views.

It is located about 37 miles north of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Hike at a glance.

Distance: 5.44 (for partial hike)
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 656
Highlights: cascading water, bluff views.

Roaring Creek trail map.

Trail map for the Roaring Creek Trailhead.

Topo map showing the roaring creek trail hike.

You can see a map of the entire hike and then a map of our actual hike. We hiked starting at the parking lot, followed the creek, then started up the mountain.

We turned right and the fork with Hell's Kitchen (a great bouldering site) and then headed to Cranmore Cove Overlook. We did not go all the way to the end of the trail. Turning around at the overlook gave us a nice moderate hike, under 6 miles.

Elevation.

This is my favorite kind of elevation gain - you go up on the way there and down on the way back!

Even though it does look like a pretty steady up, there are plenty of switchbacks and it is very doable.

Directions and parking.

The Roaring Creek trailhead parking area and kiosk.

The Roaring Creek Trailhead is not difficult to find from the Chattanooga area. Take US 27 north and, after passing through Sale Creek, turn left onto TN 303 (watch for the Graysville sign). Continue on TN 303 for a short distance and then take the first left onto Pikeville Avenue, which will become Brayton Mountain Road.

Continue for about 1.5 miles and look for the gravel parking area on the right. The trailhead kiosk is visible from the road.

Start on an old roadbed!

A man walking the trail with the creek on the left and rocky wall on the right.

The hike begins at the kiosk where the trail leads you down an old roadbed. The white metal blazes will help to keep you on the Roaring Creek section of the Cumberland Trail. With Roaring Creek on your left and rocky walls to your right, there’s no chance of getting off the trail as you start your hike.

Roaring Creek to the left of the trail with its water rushing around large rocks.

The creek wasn’t necessarily roaring that day but it certainly was an impressive flow! As you hike this roadbed you will see many traces of an old coal mining operation, including stone walls and bridge abutments.

The roadbed can be quite wet in some spots due to small streams from the rocks above, but nothing significant.

Begin your ascent!

A woman hiking up the trail, away from the creek.

Approximately ¾ mile from the trailhead, you arrive at a point where the trail bears to the right, leaving the old roadbed. You then begin a steady ascent.

The climb is steady but the switchbacks are a great help. This was early March, with no leaves on the trees, and we had nice views of the Roaring Creek area below.

A man stands beside a sign on the trail.

You will soon get to an intersection sign for “Hell’s Kitchen”, which is a rock climbing area. It is not part of the CT and you bear to the right, following the white blazes, to continue on the trail.

We plan on going back and visiting Hell's Kitchen on a later date!

A small waterfall cascades across many large rocks as it heads towards the creek.

The steady ascent continues through some great rocky areas. You will soon approach a small stream cascading through the rocks from the bluff above. Well placed stones made it easier to get over the stream where it crossed the trail.

It was very picturesque at the time of our hike but I’m sure it becomes less impressive during the drier times of the year.

A man hiking the trail as it winds below a rocky bluff.

You will continue the climb towards the top of the bluff, weaving your way through some massive rocks. The views begin to open up as you near the top of the plateau.

The plateau!

An overlook provides a view of the valley below and the distant mountains.

There was a big blue sky greeting us as we crested the top and rounded the point! Roaring Creek Overlook offers some great views of the valley and the countryside surrounding Roaring Creek.

Leaving the Roaring Creek Overlook, you are rewarded with a nice, level trail and a walk through a pine forest along the bluff.

A waterfall cascades down into a pool of water in the rocks below.

You soon arrive at Wildcat Hollow Falls, which is impressive but presents some challenges in trying to get a good view! This waterfall is approximately 2 miles from the trailhead.

A Cumberland Trail sign with arrows pointing the direction of the trail.

Leaving the falls, you continue on the trail through a pine forest. You eventually come to a wooden Cumberland Trail sign post with directional arrows. This is the first of three sign posts you will pass. At this point the trail appears to start following an old roadbed.

Continue on and you eventually pass a second trail sign. A short hike brings you to the third CT trail sign where the trail then bears to the right towards the bluff, leaving the old roadbed.

Cranmore Cove overlook!

The trail passes very close to Cranmore Cove Overlook and you can’t miss it! A short few steps off the trail rewards you with magnificent views in all directions!

A view of hills and mountains to the north from Cranmore Cove Overlook.

There are many spots for great photos along that section of the bluff, not just one big rock for the view!

Point of view photo of two people sitting on a rocky overlook.

And it’s a great place to have the lunch you packed in, which is exactly what we did!

After wandering around the overlook and just sitting, staring into the beautiful scenes in front of us, we then began our hike back to the trailhead.

We give the Roaring Creek trail (north) two thumbs-up…or 4 boots up! Good exercise and great reward!

12 Sweet Potato Recipes that Prove They Aren't Just for the Holidays!

Sep 20, 2021 · Leave a Comment

This collection of 12 Sweet Potato Recipes proves that they are not just for the holidays!

Everything from chicken, pork and beef main dish recipes that include sweet potatoes to a meatless recipe and a couple of sweet potato side dishes!

Sweet potatoes not just for the holidays!

Sweet potatoes with pasta and text reading 12 sweet potato recipes.

While I love a sweet, marshmallow topped sweet potato casserole, I also love sweet potatoes all year long!

Growing up, we only had sweet potatoes at the holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas. The rest of the year was regular potatoes. I hope you are not in that rut.

I'm here to fix it if you are, with this collection of 12 Sweet Potato Recipes that absolutely prove they are not just for the holidays!

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Sheet Pan Roasted Sausage and Vegetables

Sep 13, 2021 · 11 Comments

Your favorite sausage and your favorite vegetables roast together in one pan in this easy sheet pan sausage and vegetables supper!

You can make this year round with seasonal vegetables, but it is especially yummy made with autumn vegetables.

Sheet pan with sausages, sweet potatoes and onions.

Easy one pan sausage dinner!

If you've visited this recipe before, you might notice that it's changed a bit.

When I first made it, I was using an Eating Well recipe that was called Autumn Roasted Vegetables with Chicken Sausage.

It called for Brussels sprouts, butternut squash and already cooked chicken sausages. While it was good, I didn't like how dried out the sausage got.

So, I've remade it using Italian sausages, whose hearty flavor seemed to stand up better to the vegetables. I didn't have sprouts, so I added some sweet potatoes.

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15 Easy and Delicious Sheet Pan Dinners

Sep 6, 2021 · 11 Comments

Looking for an easy sheet pan supper? We have you covered with 12 sheet pan recipes, from salmon to shrimp to chicken and pork!

Everything from maple roasted chicken, to easy salmon and shrimp dinners, even pork chop sheet pan suppers! Easy tray bake recipes for your weeknight dinners!

Photo collage with text overlay reading Easy Sheet Pan Suppers.

Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes

Nothing says easy weeknight dinner like a sheet pan supper. Everything cooked on one sheet pan in the oven. Clean up is easy, food is amazing and everyone is happy.

This is a collection of my favorite sheet pan dinners. No matter what you like, I've got you covered. We've got salmon, shrimp, cod, chicken, and even an easy pork chop dinner!

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Easy Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas

Aug 30, 2021 · 2 Comments

These easy Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas means you can have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes!

Shrimp, peppers, and onions are tossed with a flavorful spice mix and roasted in the oven for a quick, easy and delicious dinner!

Easy sheet pan dinner.

I don't know about you, but I love sheet pan dinners. So much so, that I did a whole round up of them - 10 Easy and Delicious Sheet Pan Dinners.

Well, I'm going to have to add this shrimp fajita recipe to the list!

This comes together so quickly and easily. You simply toss shrimp, peppers and onions with some flavorful spices and roast them. Then the shrimp gets a bit of a rest, while you broil the veggies.

It's all topped with crema flavored with cilantro, jalapeño, lime and garlic!

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