Autumn Apple Pecan Chicken Salad

A crisp, apple studded, protein rich chicken salad that's perfect for a hearty autumn lunch or even a simple weeknight dinner that won't weigh you down.

It's made healthier with a combination of Greek yogurt and a little mayo, and it pairs beautifully with a hearty whole grain bread. Or you can serve it lower carb over lettuce leaves for another nutritious option.

This version is made with rotisserie chicken but you can use leftover cooked chicken breasts as well. I just recommend that you avoid canned chicken for a better chicken salad.

It's simple to make and worthy of your recipe collection!

Try serving it with baked sweet potato fries or sweet potato chips for a colorful fall pairing.

Easy Refrigerator Pickled Beets

Pickled beets used to be one of those things that I cringed at growing up but now I absolutely love them! Maybe that's because the homemade version completely changed my opinion on them.

I make these several times every summer when I get fresh beets from my brothers garden. Pickled beets really don't get any better than this!

These are super fresh, perfectly simple without other flavors to hide their unique flavor, and you wouldn't believe how easy they are to make.

These are a great option if you, like me, aren't familiar with canning things yourself (to make them shelf stable). Someday I'll learn but in the meantime this quick and simple method using the fridge is such a breeze and it makes the best pickled beets I've ever tasted! See for yourself and make a batch this week.

Then pair them with a ham and cheddar salad, or make them the star of a spinach salad and pair them with some walnuts and feta.

Homemade Chicken Burrito Bowl Recipe

This is my go-to recipe when I’m craving Chipotle but want to eat at home. Made with fluffy cilantro-lime rice, tender chicken, and all the best toppings, it’s nutritious and delicious recipe the whole family will agree on. 

Plus, it’s easy to customize and great to make ahead of time for meal prep. You’ll find this chicken burrito bowl recipe is the perfect option to feed a crowd, pack for lunch, or whip up for a quick weeknight meal. 

In fact, these burrito bowls are so tasty you may never go back to restaurant versions again! I’ll show you how to cook, assemble, and store them for easy meals whenever a craving hits. 

Where Did Cucumber Sandwiches Originate? 

Cucumber sandwiches are often thought of as an English tradition. So, you might be surprised to learn that they were originally created in India. From there, they spread to China, the Middle East, and Europe. 

It is said that the sandwiches were created by British colonists in India who were trying to find foods that would fill their bellies and relieve them from the intense heat. The sandwiches then made their way back to England and became a staple component of Victorian-era high teas. 

Today, they remain a popular recipe and are enjoyed all over the world. Quick, easy, and delicious, it’s not hard to see why they have been enjoyed for thousands of years. I’ll show you how to make them in minutes for the perfect snack, appetizer, or light lunch! 

The Best Coffee Smoothie Recipe! 

Who doesn't love a quick breakfast that makes mornings easy? One that also satisfies hunger, tastes great, and contains simple ingredients you may likely already have on hand. This quick coffee banana smoothie checks all the boxes. 

Made with just a handful of ingredients, it’s sweetened without any refined sugars and has an irresistible rich chocolate mocha taste. Plus, with the addition of oat flour, it’s super thick and creamy and can easily be turned into a coffee smoothie bowl, too. 

You can even make it with decaf coffee so that it’s suitable for those who are sensitive to caffeine.

I’ll show you how to make it in minutes so you can whip it up in no time, no matter how crazy your mornings may be. And on those days you have a little extra time top it with fresh whipped cream (or coconut whipped cream to keep it vegan) and chocolate sauce for a real treat!

One sip of this exceptionally flavorful smoothie and you'll instantly fall in love!

Tossed together and ready in only 10 minutes, it’s a crowd-pleasing summer recipe! 

Easy Spinach and Strawberry Salad

Strawberries are one of my favorite summer fruits, and while I love sweet treats like strawberry shortcake trifles and a freshly baked strawberry rhubarb crumb bars, one of the best ways to put them to use is in this strawberry and spinach salad.

It’s made with a base of fresh spinach and strawberries tossed in a homemade poppyseed dressing, and you may love to include almonds and feta cheese, too. 

You’ll find it comes together in minutes and makes a large batch perfect for feeding a crowd. Whether you need a quick side dish or a nutritious meal (with added rotisserie chicken), this salad always has your back. Plus, the dressing can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge so you can make this salad on repeat. 

This may quickly become a go-to summer recipe for you! It's a breeze to throw together, has such a refreshing satisfying flavor, and you can easily modify the recipe using ingredients you have on hand (think spring salad blend, or blueberries or raspberries work well too).

So much to love about this super fresh salad!

What Is Tabbouleh? 

Tabbouleh, also known as tabouli or tabbouleh salad, is a popular Middle Eastern side dish. No matter how it is spelled, the root of the word comes from the Arabic word ‘taabil’ which means to season or spice. The dish is believed to be more than 4,000 years old, having first been eaten by people in the mountains of Lebanon and Syria. 

Today, there are many variations of the dish, but it always consists of fresh produce and contains a few staple ingredients such as bulgur, parsley, tomatoes, olive oil, and lemon juice.

With its satisfying texture and a bright, savory flavor, it’s not hard to see why tabbouleh has quickly grown in popularity throughout the world. In fact, it’s won over the heart of so many that the first Saturday of July is known as National Tabbouleh Day in Lebanon. 

If you’ve never had it, tabbouleh is sure to become a fast favorite in your home.  

Is It Healthy? 

Generally speaking, tabbouleh is an extremely healthy dish. Naturally nut-free, dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian, it’s full of fiber, vitamins, and nutrients, making it a nutritious option. 

An upgraded coleslaw that's crunchy, fresh and delicious. Made with cabbage, apples, cranberries and almonds and it's all coated in sweet and tangy dressing. It's the perfect side for BBQ's, parties or picnics!

Apple Slaw Recipe

Who doesn't love coleslaw? It's crunchy, it's creamy, it has just enough sweetness, and it goes with just about anything. It's always quick to be polished off.

Here you get the perfect blend of textures and flavors with the mix-in additions of apples, cranberries, almonds and optional cheese. And it's covered in a more wholesome, lighter Greek yogurt dressing (versus a classic coleslaw dressing that has as much as a cup of mayonnaise in it).

This apple slaw recipe has a pleasant mild flavor to it, but if you'd like a more pronounced flavor you can add in a tablespoon of dijon mustard to the dressing.

And if you want to skip a step and go with a shortcut, you can use a coleslaw mix in place of the shredded cabbage and carrots. Also just chop the apples instead of getting paticular and cutting into matchsticks to save time.

I think it's time for pulled pork or pulled chicken sandwiches this week for dinner, don't you? And then of course this homemade coleslaw to go with it!

Fresh Made Almond Milk

Making this DIY almond milk is easily the superior version of almond milks. It actually tastes quite different from store-bought versions because it's just so good! I was completely surprised myself the first time I made it.

This homemade variations doesn't included additives such as thickeners like added guar or gellan gums (which to some can cause stomach upset), and the almond flavor here just comes from the almonds not added flavor. I would suspect there's a greater ratio of almonds used in this almond milk vs. factory processed as well (though I have no way of proving this, I'm giving that judgment based on taste alone).

Isn't making things from scratch and that bit of self sufficiency involved with it just such a gratifying process (and we tend to appreciate it more too right)? Even when it's this easy, totaling about 5 minutes hands on prep time.

It's also a handy know-how for when you may run out of store-bought milk of any kind but you're wanting that bowl of muesli or cereal with it.

You'll just need a few special tools including a nut bag or a clean tea towel for straining, and a high speed blender to finely pulverize the soaked almonds.

Uses and Variations

Once you've completed the simple process there are countless uses for it. You can drink as is, serve with cereal or oatmeal, add to soups, makes sauces such as curries, or create desserts along the lines of pudding and so forth.

You can even change up the flavor of the almond milk. Making it taste horchata-like by blending with a cinnamon stick, turning it into chocolate almond milk or hot chocolate, or giving it a spiced flavor and sunny glow by making it golden milk (turmeric milk). And don't forget the fruity options like strawberry milk by adding a strained homemade strawberry sauce.

I'd say start with the basic recipe below to taste it's pure goodness, then explore all the other flavor options and uses from there.

Sweet Brown Sugar or Honey Glazed Carrots

You may find these are reminiscent of sweet potatoes but with a fraction of the time effort! And you only need 5 ingredients (plus salt and pepper).

Carrots are sliced on a biased, steamed in a skillet until nearly tender, then sautéed with butter and brown sugar or honey.

It's a simple method that has plenty of leeway for adaptations (variations I'd recommend are adding spices, tossing in dried nuts or dried cranberries, and finishing with other herbs such as chives or dill).

You'll find it to be a quick go-to side dish that will compliment so many of your favorite entrees, they may even take center stage for favorite item on the dinner plate. Even kids will love these!

It's often the simplest things that are the best.