Grilled Steak with Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans
Tyler and I made reservations for Valentine’s Day this year to continue exploring restaurants here in Nashville, but I love romantic homemade dinner dates just as much. We made this steak, mashed potatoes, and green bean combination last night and it was perfect for a cozy night in paired with a glass of red wine.
Tyler and I made reservations for Valentine’s Day this year to continue exploring restaurants here in Nashville, but I love romantic homemade dinner dates just as much. We made this steak, mashed potatoes, and green bean combination last night and it was perfect for a cozy night in paired with a glass of red wine. The weather has been unusually warm, so we decided to use the grill.
Ingredients (serves 2)
2 small beef tenderloin medallions (filets would also work)
green beans, snapped
1 large potato, peeled and cut into small chunks
1/4 cup broth (I used chicken broth)
3 T butter/ghee
Salt and pepper
Instructions:
Season the steaks all over with salt and pepper
Preheat the grill to medium heat. Sear the steaks for two minutes a side over the heat, and then let them cook away from the heat for about 8 minutes for “medium” cooked steaks.
While steaks are on the grill, bring water to a boil in a small pot. Add in potato chunks and boil for about 14 minutes or until tender.
After you add potatoes to the water, put green beans in a small pot with a little bit of water and season with salt and pepper. Cover with a lid and cook on low heat.
Drain potatoes, add broth, 2 T butter/ghee, and s&p, and use an immersion blender to blend the potatoes to achieve a smooth consistency. Add more broth if needed.
Add a tablespoon of butter/ghee to the green beans and stir until melted.
Assemble the steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans on a plate, pour a glass of wine, light some candles, and dig in!
Cru Café (Lunch)
Here’s another food pic I snapped in Charleston, SC when visiting a couple weeks ago. We stopped at Cru Café for lunch on Saturday. I got the Duck Confit Arugula Salad (baby arugula, tomato, candied pecans, fried onions, and port wine vinaigrette) and we all split the Fried Green Tomatoes as an appetizer.
Here’s another food pic I snapped in Charleston, SC when visiting a couple weeks ago. We stopped at Cru Café for lunch on Saturday and unfortunately didn’t make reservations, but luckily they had one table open for walk-ins. I got the Duck Confit Arugula Salad (baby arugula, tomato, candied pecans, fried onions, and port wine vinaigrette) and we all split the Fried Green Tomatoes as an appetizer. OMG, so good. Plus, the restaurant is an 18th century home, and if the weather’s nice, you can have lunch or dinner on the front porch! They also serve dinner. I highly recommend making reservations, ‘cause this place is popular for good reason.
MENU: CLICK HERE
Hours
(As of now due to COVID)
WEDNESDAY – SATURDAY,
12PM – 8PM
Address
18 Pinckney Street
Charleston, South Carolina 29401
Darling Oyster Bar Brunch
This beautiful Bloody Mary comes from The Darling Oyster Bar in Charleston, SC. Staples of theirs include Shrimp & Grits, French Toast, Crab Cake Benedict, and a Smoked Salmon Quiche.
This beautiful Bloody Mary comes from The Darling Oyster Bar in Charleston, SC when my sister and I were wedding venue hunting. Y’all need to go look at the @darling_oyster_bar instagram to see how cute this place is. Brunch here is a perfect way to start your day in Charleston. If you can, make reservations ahead of time, because they book up fast!
We also ordered the blueberry and cinnamon biscuit for an appetizer/dessert. The meal I finally decided on?The seafood frittata with lobster, king grab, shrimp, bacon, fennel, goat cheese, crispy potato, and arugula salad. Other staples of theirs include Shrimp & Grits, French Toast, Crab Cake Benedict, and a Smoked Salmon Quiche.
Easy Paleo Pancakes by Primal Gourmet
These Easy Paleo Pancakes by Primal Gourmet are so good that I’ve made them twice this week! All you need is four ingredients.
These Easy Paleo Pancakes by Primal Gourmet are so good that I’ve made them twice this week! I had them for breakfast one morning and then had them for dinner another night. You can eat pancakes any time of day in my opinion! For these, all you need is 4 ingredients: 1 (mashed) banana, 1 egg, 2 T of tapioca flour, and a dash of vanilla. That’s it! I love to add blueberries and/or dark chocolate chunks and serve with a side of bacon and organic maple syrup with a glass of almond milk :) For the complete recipe click here.
L.A. Jackson
L.A. Jackson in the Gulch is a fancy rooftop bar at the top of the Thompson Hotel and oh my, it is wonderful.
L.A. Jackson in the Gulch is a fancy rooftop bar at the top of the Thompson Hotel and oh my, it is wonderful. Go through the doors of the Thompson Hotel and find the elevators to the right to access the rooftop. Don’t forget your ID… they care EVERYONE, even grandmas and are 21+ only.
The views of the city are incredible; wear a cute outfit and take some photos! This is a great place to go for a girls’ night out. Order a fancy cocktail and split a double cheeseburger and fries… trust me. Let them know if you’re celebrating a special event like a birthday… they might give you free champagne! Oh, and on the weekends they usually have a DJ playing awesome early 2000’s hits.
website
hours
Monday — Thursday
4pm - midnight
Friday - Saturday
2pm — 1am
Sunday
2pm - midnight
address
401 11th Ave S. Nashville, TN 37203
The Best Patios in Asheville (A local's guide)
Here’s a list of our favorite patios in Asheville!
This patio is at the top of our list for a reason; the view of the mountains at the Biltmore Inn will leave you awestruck! Not to mention you can enjoy an array of drinks and food while you watch the sun go down. Keep in mind you have to purchase a Biltmore Day Pass or be staying on the estate to access this patio. But why not visit the largest house in the US while you’re in Asheville anyway? After your tour of the mansion, head to the Inn for appetizers, drinks, and this lovely view!
At the Grove Park Inn you’ll find the Sunset Cocktail Terrace which has a beautiful view of downtown as well as the mountains surrounding it. You can also order small bites to go with your beverage! Garage parking is free for the first three hours (except on holidays) and seating is first come, first served.
3) SkyBAR *UPDATE: Permanently Closed. They are building a new hotel and skybar which will open late 2020 or early 2021
Voted “Best Drink With a View”, you won’t regret taking the elevator up to SkyBAR in downtown Asheville!
4) HILLMAN BEER
If you’re looking for a more casual spot, try Hillman Beer in Biltmore Village. Their outdoor patio is huge and great for big groups. They also have cornhole, so you can play while you eat and drink. Be sure to order the kale salad or one of their mouthwatering sandwiches!
Another laidback spot is Burial Beer Co. in the South Slope, one of my favorite breweries in Asheville. They have a patio out front and a huge patio in back along with beer, wine, cider, and food. While in South Slope, check out the many other places that have patios in this neighborhood: Catawba Brewing, Antidote Bar, Funkatorium, Asheville Pizza and Brewing, and Ben’s Tune Up… just to name a few.
If you’re wandering around downtown and are looking for good food, a good cocktail, and a beautiful rooftop space, go to The Social Lounge! It’s one of my favorite spots. The bartenders are awesome, informative, and they know how to make a cocktail, that’s for sure! The picture on the left is me on their rooftop FOUR YEARS AGO! It’s the only photo I had showcasing their rooftop #oops. The photo on the right is a recent photo I took inside. While the rooftop was really cool four years ago, they have completely remodeled since then, and it’s cooler than ever! They also have rooftop brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11am-3pm if you’re looking for a breakfast/mimosa spot!
Corner Kitchen in Biltmore Village has the cutest. patio. I’ve. ever. seen. I love getting breakfast and brunch here on the weekend, but dinner is fantastic, too! On peak days, they can be extremely busy so I recommend making a reservation. If you don’t have time to make a reservation, you can always browse the shops nearby (coughlululemoncough) while you wait for your table.
8) SANTÉ WINE BAR *UPDATE: Temporarily Closed :(
This secret spot in downtown Asheville in the Grove Arcade has a beautiful outdoor patio, wine, beer, food, and wine flights! Okay, maybe this place isn’t a secret, but it’s never crowded! I took this photo at the inside bar, but be sure to check out their patio where you can watch Asheville city life up close and personal.
Have you found yourself in the River Arts District? Stop by the District Wine Bar for an appetizer and a glass of wine. Their patio is picturesque and is perfect on a nice, sunny day. In the mood for craft beer and a food truck instead? Walk next door to Wedge Brewing and check out their large outdoor seating area!
For a long list of tapas and drinks with a view, check out Capella on 9 at the new(ish) AC Hotel in downtown Asheville. There are two patios (one in front, one in back). I’ll tell you a secret: the one in front is smaller, but has the best view of the sunset and downtown Asheville! The one in the back is equally as cool… it’s huge and while you can’t see the sunset as clearly, it has a unique and large view of the city.
Okay, I know almost every patio I’ve listed is on a roof, but what can I say? I’m a sucker for these mountainous views! Montford Rooftop Bar, located inside the Hyatt Place in downtown, has breathtaking views, great southern food, and creative cocktails. They also have free valet parking!
There are so many great patios in Asheville… too many to list here! Where are your favorite outdoor eating and drinking spots in Asheville?
Burial Beer Co.
Burial Beer Co. in South Slope of Asheville, NC is one of my favorite spots to grab a beer and a bite to eat. Burial has a large outside patio and is walking distance from some of the other best breweries and restaurants in town.
Burial Beer Co. in South Slope of Asheville, NC is one of my favorite spots to grab a beer. If you didn’t know, Asheville, NC is THE place for craft beer and comes in second place for having the most breweries Per Capita in the United States (Portland, Maine is #1, Portland, OR is #9 FYI).
Reasons why I love Burial:
They have a giant outside patio, one in the front and one in the back
They have a great selection of beers
They have food, too! (Their brunch on the weekend is my favorite!)
They’re located in South Slope, so that means walking distance to a handful of other craft breweries and some of the best restaurants in town (like Buxton)
They also serve wine and cider
MENU: CLICK HERE
Hours
Mon-Thurs: 2:00pm - 10:00pm
Friday -Sun: 12:00pm - 10:00pm
Address
40 Collier Ave. Asheville, NC 28801
Five Daughters Bakery
If you’re looking for something sweet, Five Daughters Bakery in Nashville is the place to go.
If you’re looking for something sweet, Five Daughters Bakery in Nashville is the place to go. This insta pic worthy bakery (cute colors, signs, and designs everywhere!) sells out of their sweet treats EVERY DAY. It’s that good.
Why I love Five Daughters Bakery:
There is literally not a person who doesn’t love FDB
From their website: “No chemical preservatives. No genetically modified organisms. No hydrogenated oils. No soy. No artificial colors or flavors. Our treats are made daily from scratch, sourcing locally and fresh, from our family to yours.”
They make Paleo and Vegan donuts, too! I mean!!!!! It doesn’t get better than that y’all.
*Keep in mind: We came in close to closing and were lucky to snag one of the six donuts that were left on this Friday date night after dinner. Don’t go too late at night or you will be out of luck!
If you visit Nashville, this place has to be on your list! They have two locations in Nashville, by the way: 12 South and East Nashville. My husband and I enjoy the 12 South location, because we grab some pizza at Mafiaoza’s right next door beforehand, because pizza + donuts = the best date night ever.
Seasonal Doughnuts are the best! For fall they have “Pumpkin Spice Latte” flavor!
MENU: CLICK HERE
Hours &
Location
-12 South Location: 1110 Caruthers Ave, Nashville, TN 37204
Monday - Friday: 7am - 10pm (or till sold out)
Saturday - Sunday: 8am - 10pm (or till sold out)
-East Nashville Location: 1900 Eastland Ave Suite 101, Nashville, TN 37206
Monday - Friday: 7am - 10pm (or till sold out)
Saturday - Sunday: 8am - 10pm (or till sold out)
12 South Location
Dose Café & Bakery
Today’s breakfast date was at Dose in Nashville’s West End neighborhood. The thing I love about Dose is that they offer breakfast and lunch items all day, so you can get whatever you’re in the mood for at any given time.
Today’s breakfast date was at Dose in Nashville’s West End neighborhood. It was packed full of people, which is always a good sign! Tyler and I grabbed a couple seats together in the back of the café, connected to the wi-fi, and got some work finished while we sipped on our coffee. I ordered an almond milk latte and the avocado toast (half order) and Tyler got an iced coffee and bagel with cream cheese. The thing I love about Dose is that they offer breakfast and lunch items all day, so you can get whatever you’re in the mood for at any given time. The entire experience was a pleasant one, and we will definitely be back again!
Tyler and I have also visited Dose’s other location in east Nashville, which was a bit bigger and offered alcoholic drinks in addition to coffee and tea. The east Nashville location also stays open a little later and offers a few more food options as well. We thoroughly enjoyed both experiences, but probably will go back to the West End café since it’s closer to our house.
MENU: CLICK HERE
Hours &
Locations
-West End Location: 3431 Murphy Rd Nashville Tn 37203
Mon-Friday 6am-7pm
Saturday & Sunday 7am-7pm
-East Nashville Location: 1400 McGavock Pike
Mon-Friday 7am-9pm
Saturday & Sunday 7am-7pm
The Hopyard at Fat Bottom Brewing
The Hop Yard is Fat Bottom Brewing’s restaurant and beer garden located in The Nations neighborhood. Not only is there local draft beer available, but they also have cocktails and wine. They have a solid list of food options with items such as wings, tots, sandwiches, chicken mac, and even a burger.
The Hop Yard is Fat Bottom Brewing’s restaurant and bier garden located in The Nations neighborhood, near Sylvan Park. It’s right next to residential houses, so you really feel like a local here. Their beer is great, and they also have cocktails and wine. They have a solid list of food options with items such as wings, tots, burgers, and pretzels and beer cheese. I love their beautiful large outdoor bier garden with corn hole, and there indoor space is huge as well, so there’s room for large parties. This place is kid and dog friendly!
Tyler ordered the pretzels and beer cheese, and I got the fig and prosciutto salad which came with arugula, candied fig, prosciutto, goat cheese, toasted walnut, and pickled shallot with a mustard vinaigrette. Yum!
website
hours
Monday – Thursday: 4pm – 10pm
Friday & Saturday: 12pm – 12am
Sunday: 12pm – 10pm
Happy Hour: Tuesday – Friday 4pm – 6pm
address
800 44th Ave N Nashville, TN 37209
Simple and Healthy Pad Thai (Gluten & Dairy Free)
I’ve been eating a ton of take out lately and decided IT NEEDS TO STOP! When I saw a box of Annie Chun’s Pad Thai Brown Rice Noodles at my grocery store (you can order from Amazon, too) I thought I could make my own healthier version of my favorite take out: Pad Thai.
I’ve been eating a ton of take out lately and decided IT NEEDS TO STOP! When I saw a box of Annie Chun’s Pad Thai Brown Rice Noodles at my grocery store (you can order from Amazon, too) I thought I could make my own healthier version of my favorite take out: Pad Thai. The list of ingredients may seem overwhelming at first but it was really quite simple to make, once all the ingredients are prepped. The end product was delicious, and I will definitely be making it again soon!
First let’s talk about the noodles. They were great! They only take four minutes to boil and have a wonderful texture and flavor. They weren’t expensive (I got them at my local grocery store) and they can be bought on amazon, too! The box contains four servings (8oz total) of noodles and only two ingredients: brown rice flour and water. I guess the only negative thing is once opened, the plastic covering they come in does not seal back up, so I had to store the unused noodles in a separate plastic bag. You can use any rice noodles you want of course, but these are my suggestion to you :)
Now for the Pad Thai Recipe!
Ingredients (serves 2):
4 oz Pad Thai Brown Rice Noodles
Shrimp (5-7 per person)
1 Garlic clove, thinly sliced
2 carrots, shredded
2 eggs, beaten
Cashews (2 big handfuls)
For topping (optional):
Cashews, crushed
Cilantro, chopped
Lime wedges
Green onion, chopped
Red pepper flakes
For the sauce (mix together):
1 T nut butter
2 T honey/maple syrup
1 T lime juice
1 T rice wine vinegar
2 T fish sauce
2 T coconut aminos
Sriracha or red pepper flakes (to taste, optional)
*Once mixed, taste the sauce and adjust it to your liking!
Directions:
Prep your ingredients. Slice the garlic, shred the carrots, scramble eggs, crush some cashews, chop cilantro and green onion for topping, and cut some lime wedges.
Cook noodles according to package instructions (bring water to a boil, and boil noodles for 4-5 min) and set aside
While noodles cook, make the sauce.
Cook shrimp (1-2 minutes per side) using a couple T evoo in a cast iron skillet (or skillet of your choosing) on medium heat along with the garlic and carrots. Season with salt.
Push shrimp, garlic, and carrots to one side of the pan and scramble the eggs on the other (add more oil if needed), chopping them into little pieces.
Add noodles and sauce the skillet, and combine ingredients.
Divide into two bowls, add toppings, and devour!
Gluten and Dairy Free Taco Bowl
Being low on groceries left me searching for dinner ingredients in my cabinets and fridge. I came up with a simple gluten and dairy free Taco Bowl based on stuff I had on hand, and it turned out to be tasty and satisfying!
Being low on groceries left me searching for dinner ingredients in my cabinets and fridge. I came up with a simple gluten and dairy free Taco Bowl based on stuff I had on hand, and it turned out to be tasty and satisfying!
Ingredients (serves 2)
-1 plantain, thinly sliced
-2-3 T avocado oil
-1/2 cup brown or white rice
-1 T tomato paste
-taco seasoning (I use paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne)
-1/2 pound of ground beef
Directions:
I started with the rice first and cooked according to the package directions (and added some tomato paste, cumin, and paprika after it was done for some extra flavor)
While rice cooked, I thinly sliced a plantain and fried in avocado oil on medium high for 6-8 minutes, flipping occasionally. (I added some salt here!)
While the plantain was frying, I cooked the rice according to the instructions and added some tomato paste, cumin, and paprika after it was done for some extra flavor.
I browned the ground beef and used my usual taco seasoning mix (listed above, but you can use whatever seasoning you like!)
I added everything to a bowl with some shredded lettuce, topped with hot sauce, and called it a night. Done and done.
What would you add to this bowl?
Crockpot Carnitas + Baked Taquitos
My husband and I make Carnitas using a chuck roast or pork shoulder (whichever is available at the grocery store) to make taquitos at least once a week, and it is one of our favorite easy weeknight meals.
My husband and I make Carnitas using a chuck roast or pork shoulder (whichever is available at the grocery store) to make taquitos at least once a week, and it is one of our favorite easy weeknight meals. We can also use it to make tacos, taco bowls, burritos, or quesadillas. Even sliders would be a great option! It takes less than five minutes to prep, and then I toss it in the slow cooker in the morning, and by dinnertime all I have to do is shred. It always turns out mouthwateringly tender and is basically falling apart when I take it out of the slow cooker. This doesn’t even need a recipe because it’s so simple, but here it is anyway.
Ingredients:
2.5-3 pounds chuck roast or pork shoulder
Kosher salt
1 cup chicken or beef broth
Directions:
Cut meat into four large equal pieces *This part is important. I’ve forgotten to do this before and the meat does not come out as tender but instead is tough and hard to shred, so don’t forget to do this!!
Season each piece with salt on all sides
Place in slow cooker along with the cup of chicken/beef broth
Cook on low for 8 hours
Remove meat from crockpot, and shred using a fork.
*I’ve also cooked this in my Instant Pot before and it turned out just as good! I followed the same directions but cooked on 45 minutes for 2.5 pounds and an hour for 3 pounds and did a natural release.
**You can add more spices like cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, etc if you want, but I like to keep it simple, because in my opinion, it doesn’t need it! Plus I like adding hot sauce, guac, and additional toppings at the end.
***2.5-3 pounds makes a LOT of shredded meat. Since it’s only the two of us, we usually end up having leftovers for days… which I love!
For Taquitos:
Spread a small portion of meat and a little bit of shredded cheese evenly onto a *corn or flour tortilla. Carefully wrap the tortillas, and place seam side down in a sprayed baking dish.
Spray the top of the taquitos with nonstick spray. (I also like to top them with a little bit of the juices leftover in the crockpot.) Broil in oven until taquitos are golden brown. For me, this takes about 5 minutes, but every oven is different.
Flip taquitos over and broil other side until golden brown.
Serve with hot sauce, guacamole, jalapeños, sour cream or any other toppings you desire. My husband and I usually are full after two taquitos (each) and love having tortilla chips on the side.
*Corn tortillas are a bit more difficult because they tend to break if you’re not extremely careful but the end result is amazing and gluten free! I’ve found microwaving the corn tortillas for about 15-20 seconds makes them easier to work with. Flour tortillas are much easier to fold, but sadly not GF.
Asian Fried Quinoa
This delicious component meal comes together using just the basics!
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”
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On any given busy weeknight, our dinners are mostly component meals. And I consider myself the queen of reimagining leftovers. In general these tend to be my favorite meals of all! In this dish, I used the seasoning for my lettuce wraps to make a chicken fried quinoa (with chopped carrots, riced broccoli and diced leftover grilled chicken), added the last of my pickled refrigerator onions along with @wildbrine raw kraut, topped with a crispy fried egg and drizzled with my Asian mayo, all on top of a bed of arugula. Having some quality basics that you can combine means never being bored with simple dinners!
Shrimp Salad
This shrimp salad is the perfect way to start the week! It was inspired by a meal I had in Italy and it is so simple that it hardly requires a recipe. This was a big hit with the whole family. Bonus is that this can go from shrimp salad on Monday to shrimp tacos on #tacotuesday with the easy additions of guacamole and some cotija cheese (optional).
Ingredients for Shrimp:
2 T refrigerator pickled veggies liquid
juice and zest of 1/2 meyer lemon
1/2 T honey
1 clove garlic (finely sliced)
Mix ingredients together and shake or whisk until honey is incorporated. Add to baggie with half pound of shrimp (peeled and deveined) and let marinate in refrigerator for a minimum of 30 minutes up to 2 hours.
Remove shrimp from refrigerator 20 minutes before cooking. Remove from marinade and pat dry. Cook at medium heat in skillet with oil until cooked through (flip halfway), about 4 minutes total.
Vinaigrette:
Juice of 1 and 1/2 meyer lemon, zest of about half
2 T white wine vinegar
1 garlic clove finely minced
1 T honey
pinch of salt
evoo (I prefer a 1 part vinegar/lemon juice to about 2-1/2 parts oil, typical ratio is 1:3)
Shake/whisk all ingredients to combine thoroughly.
Salad components:
Kale chiffonade
arugula
chopped celery
grape tomatoes
nutritional yeast
fresh cracked pepper
chopped parsley
Rustic Potato Salad
This rustic potato salad is the perfect addition to your Easter menu!
“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” ~Hal Borland
Looking for the perfect side dish to bring to Easter brunch or dinner? Look no further! This is an incredibly simple potato salad that doesn’t need to sit overnight and isn’t drenched in mayo (not that there is anything wrong with that). It’s packed with a perfect flavor combo for a Spring side dish.
Ingredients
2 bags tri-colored baby potatoes
3-5 cloves garlic finely chopped
½ c fresh dill finely chopped
¼ c finely sliced spring onions
1-2 T ground mustard
2 Tbsp butter (or ghee)
1 Tbsp EVOO
1-2 T white wine vinegar (enough to just cover your chopped garlic)
s&p
Directions:
Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with water.Season water with salt, bring to a boil, then lower heat to med-high and cook potatoes until fork tender (approx. 20min)
While cooking potatoes, prep other ingredients. Place finely chopped raw garlic in 1-2 T white wine vinegar. Once potatoes are done, pour them into colander and add garlic and vinegar, dill, butter/ghee directly to the still hot pot and stir until butter/ghee is melted, add potatoes. Give it all a stir with a large fork, mash some, break up larger potatoes, leave some whole, just mix until all ingredients are evenly distributed. If serving immediately, drizzle with evoo and s&p to taste and toss. This can also be set aside and served at room temperature, just toss with evoo and s&p just before serving.
Beet Gnocchi by Tasty
This Beet Gnocchi from @buzzfeedtasty + wine at home is my kind of date night!
This Beet Gnocchi from @buzzfeedtasty + wine at home is my kind of date night! The husband and I have been trying not to eat out as much, so we’re getting creative with our meals. We are creatures of habit and often have similar dinners throughout the week, but sometimes it’s nice to do something fancy. This gnocchi involves only 8 simple ingredients and the finished product is delectable. It does take some time to complete (I’m talking 2-3 hours) but, it’s perfect if you’re looking for an at home activity! Pour a glass of wine, turn on some music, and get cookin’.🍷
Ingredients (serves 4):
1 medium beet, greens trimmed
1 large russet potato
1 large egg
½ cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for boiling
1 ½ cups whole wheat flour, plus more for dusting
½ cup salted butter, 1/2 stick, divided
2 tablespoons fresh sage, chopped, divided
Some things to consider:
*You can definitely taste the beet in this gnocchi… so if you don’t like beets, you won’t like this.
*The dough is kind of sticky and hard to work with… just keep adding flour until it’s manageable!
*This gnocchi is definitely decadent, but at the same time healthier than your usual gnocchi you order at a restaurant, so it’s not going to taste as rich.
*I haven’t tried using gluten free flour… but if you are sensitive to gluten you could try it, and let me know how it works out!
*I would recommend using a paper towel or gloves when dealing with the beet so your hands don’t turn red!
*Start cooking early! This takes 2.5-3 hours!
*I paired this gnocchi with a bottle of rosé :)
For the full recipe, click here.
Goat Cheese Risotto (Gluten Free)
This creamy, gluten free goat cheese risotto is great on its own or would make a wonderful side dish with some grilled chicken or shrimp.
I’ve always loved risotto. It’s rich. It’s creamy. It’s delicious. I love ordering risotto at restaurants, but I never know all the ingredients they put in, and I can’t do anything about the portion size they give me. This recipe contains only a few ingredients, and I like having the power to control how much cheese I use (minimal since I don’t eat a lot of dairy) and how much I make. Plus, this recipe is gluten free! This risotto is great on its own or would make a wonderful side dish with some grilled chicken or shrimp.
Ingredients:
3 cups chicken stock
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup arborio rice
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
3 oz goat cheese
1 tbsp chives, chopped
Optional Topping:
Grated parmesan cheese
*The original recipe can be found here. I did make a few changes to it.
1) I didn’t use chicken stock, because I didn’t have any. I used chicken broth and it turned out just fine!
2) I skipped the grated parmesan.
3) I split the recipe in half, which turned out to be a perfect dinner portion size for me (no protein added).
4) I didn’t use any onion because my stomach doesn’t handle onions well, plus I didn’t have any onions.
5) FYI: 3oz of goat cheese = 6 tablespoons. Since I cut the recipe in half, this means I used 3 T crumbled goat cheese. :)
6) Since I skipped the onion, this recipe only took about 30 minutes total to make.
This recipe was so simple and so delicious. Plus, it is gluten free and contains minimal cheese which kept my tummy happy. I will definitely be making it again. In the future, I’m going to make less and have it as a side with some protein. I hope you try it, and if you do let me know what you think!
Thick & Chewy Granola Bars
These granola bars from Smitten Kitchen are highly adaptable and delicious!
“We learn flexibility and adaptability” ~John Roper
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I love an adaptable recipe, and these thick, chewy granola bars from Smitten Kitchen are exactly that! I used gluten free oats, and the minimum amount of sugar, but will probably go with even less next time. I also replaced the corn syrup with maple syrup. My bars have dried fruit, shredded coconut, walnuts, almonds, pepitas, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, flax meal and a handful of leftover dark chocolate m&ms (they wouldn’t be missed, but that random bite of chocolate-y heaven sure is nice). Go make these…now. And be sure to double your recipe, because one batch isn’t enough!
Dobra Tea
Dobra Tea in West Asheville is a great cozy place to stop for tea and a bite to eat!
Dobra Tea in West Asheville is a great cozy place to stop for tea and a bite to eat! Not only do they have 100+ teas, they also have lots of vegetarian and gluten free food options. The list of teas is a literal book and can seem overwhelming, but the staff will always help you find what you want. Feel free to take your shoes off and relax at a table or sit on pillows on the floor while you sip an iced matcha (pictured below) or a cup of hot tea, if that’s what floats your boat.
Website: http://dobrateanc.com/wavl
Address: 707 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC
Hours:
Mon - Fri: 9am - 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am - 9pm