Caramelized Onion, Sausage, and Ricotta Frittata

Eggs have never looked as good as they do right here in this frittata.

I love these pictures. They are making my mouth water all over again. This lovely frittata was our Easter brunch this past Sunday. I would say to save this recipe for a special occasion but it's far too good to wait. Whether you need a fun and easy breakfast, lunch, brunch, or dinner--this is just the ticket.

Caramelized Onion, Sausage, and Ricotta Frittata is rich and hardy, with depths of flavor that will keep you coming back for seconds (and thirds...and fourths). Brown and buttery caramelized onions get this party started. Crumbled Italian sausage is earthy and rich and full of spices. Lots of eggs are beaten together with salt, pepper, fresh parsley, fresh thyme, whole milk and asiago cheese. Breakfast. It is near.

I became obsessed with frittatas when I first got my cast iron skillet. The cast iron will make the bottom of this frittata brown and crispy. It's like making a quiche, without the added pressure of making, rolling, and decorating a pie crust. Everything comes together in the skillet and then it is popped in the oven to bake.

Oh, I almost forgot. Before everything goes in the oven, I added a few dollops of ricotta cheese around the frittata. More cheese, please! The creamy ricotta blankets the soft and tender onions and will make your heart melt. 

My Favorite Green Smoothie

Have you noticed how everyone on Pinterest just LOVES green smoothies? Right after mason jar crafts and high end fashion a normal human could never pull off, green smoothies are the IT thing, if we take Pinterest's word for it.

I la-la-love a good smoothie. When the weather gets warmer, smoothies are a great quick meal or snack.

Green smoothies are super popular because you are generally adding a protein packed veggie such as kale or spinach. I have tried smoothies with both and find spinach to be the better of the two. Spinach is much softer and more tender than kale and the flavor is gentler.

My Favorite Green Smoothie is sweet and fulfilling and packed with goodies. Like all smoothies, a frozen banana is a great place to start. I also add frozen mango chunks for their tangy sweetness, half of an avocado for a rich smoothness, a handful of fresh spinach and bind it all together with unsweetened vanilla almond milk.

Whether you need to refuel after a workout, are looking for a breakfast to take on the go, or need a quick meal that is tasty and satisfying, this smoothie is for you!

Grilled Salmon with Coconut Lime Rice and Mango Pico

Spring has sprung so let's eat our fruits and veggies!

If this dish is not a tropical vacation on a plate, I don't know what is. If you've been craving sandy beaches and warm sunshine, this meal is for you.

Alright. Let me be honest for a minute. You guys SHOULD know that prior to enjoying this meal I had a major fire alarm incident in my apartment. Like...indoor grill pan + 3 room apartment = "WARNING! SMOKE IN MASTER BEDROOM!"

I am very grateful that my fire alarm works, but it is next to impossible to get it to stop even from cooking smoke. I had every window open plus the porch door and was using all of my upper body strength to wave a pillow in an attempt to get the horn to stop beeping. Thank God my landlord is also the best, because she came to my rescue. And then, it was time to eat.

So this Grilled Salmon with Coconut Lime Rice and Mango Pico was actually worth all the trouble. In fact, if you monitor your grill pan carefully, this meal is no trouble at all! Sweet and tangy mango pico is the perfect compliment to a soft coconut jasmine rice and a lightly marinated salmon fillet.

The salmon marinade is simple yet delicious. I combined agave nectar with lime juice and a splash of soy sauce and minced garlic. When the salmon goes on the grill, the agave caramelizes and the lime juice becomes bright and lovely. This is my new go-to salmon preparation (minus the fire alarm...). Dinner for one is served!

Dr. Pepper Crock-Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches

This is my love language, this drippy beautiful baby of a sandwich right here.

Some ladies want to be taken out for ice cream, some maybe want a nice steak or lobster dinner. For me, however, the way right into my heart is through good old American BBQ.

Pulled pork sandwiches speak to me more than a romantic poem. When I know I'm on my way to a BBQ restaurant, my heart is light and my tummy is hungry. What is better than sweet and tangy barbeque sauce smothering tender, juicy pork all piled high on a soft bun? Don't think too hard, because there is nothing.

When you have a hankering for genuine BBQ at home, try these Dr. Pepper Crockpot Pulled Pork Sandwiches. These are tasty, messy, and completely satisfying. A big ol' pork butt is rubbed with your favorite spice blend then slow-cooked in the Crock-pot with a whole can of Dr. Pepper. How fun is that? The Dr. Pepper flavor is not too overpowering, but it perfectly compliments the sweet notes of the pork. Once the roast has finished cooking, I drained out most of the cooking liquid, shredded the meat with two forks, then doused it all in my favorite BBQ sauce.

Once the pork is done, it is my favorite time--that is, SANDWICH TIME! I used fresh sesame seed buns as the sandwich vessel, then whipped up a quick coleslaw made with fresh cabbage and a homemade mayonnaise. The coleslaw adds a perfect crunch and freshness to these rich BBQ sandwiches. Don't forget to add an extra squirt of BBQ sauce before absolutely inhaling these!

Quick and Easy Taco Pasta Skillet

Any meal that starts off with the words "quick and easy" instantly has a place in my heart. When those dishes are also packed full of flavor and are super tasty, it's a match made in heaven.

I am a total taco junky, but sometimes I just don't have the patience to prepare all the toppings, and the meat, and the tortillas. There are times when I just want to be able to face-plant right into taco goodness without all the mess.

I think this Quick and Easy Taco Pasta Skillet is just the ticket. This is an absolute crowd pleaser. I tried lightening this dish up by using low fat cheddar cheese, ground chicken, a low-sodium taco seasoning, and Ronzoni Garden Delight pasta. This is a really easy way to sneak an extra 1/2 servingof vegetables into your dinners (by the way -- this post is NOT sponsored! I just enjoy this pasta...)

Pasta noodles are mixed into the browned ground chicken along with a can of petite diced tomatoes, sweet whole corn kernels, taco seasoning, and a few dashes of Frank's Red Hot. A hearty helping of grated cheese goes down on top before the whole skillet is popped into the oven to melt that cheese into a lovely cheese blanket. Has anyone made a cheese blanket yet? No? Well, then.

To finish this dish and add a little freshness, I chopped up a bit of cilantro to garnish the whole skillet. Individual servings can be trashed up with a dollop of sour cream, a few chunks of fresh avocado, or a bit of salsa over the top. If I were eating this skillet alone, I would have also added a can of drained and rinsed black beans. Yes, yes, yes.

Falafel Pita Pockets

I really, truly, deeply wanted to call this post "Totally Amazing Homemade Falafels." I always back off from things like that though because I might be biased. But with this not-so-humble-brag, I guess the cat is out of the bag now.

....Cat.

Ahem. OK. Let us talk about one of my most beloved foods on this earth. That food is FALAFEL. I think I first discovered these vegetarian gems at Pick Pockets in Smithfield, RI while I was at Bryant University. Pick Pockets is a very modest counter within a gas station convenience store that made the most perfect falafel pita pockets. If for whatever random reason you find yourself in Rhode Island, do yourself a favor and go here! I. Was. Obsessed.

And from then on, I was HOOKED on all things falafel. Falafel is quite simply pulsed chickpeas mashed together with amazing flavors and spices and breadcrumbs, formed into balls or patties and fried to golden perfection. You can eat falafel in all sorts of ways--on salads, as an appetizer or snack, or--my personal favorite--wrapped up in a pita with all the fixin's.

These Falafel Pita Pockets are just that. Simple and delicious homemade falafel patties wrapped up in warm pitas with a cucumber yogurt sauce, lettuce, tomato, cucumbers and feta cheese. Feta makes everything betta!

Yes, yes. I know. I am a wizard with words.

For a while I reserved falafel for the professionals. Why I was doing this, I have no idea. Homemade falafels are so easy to pull together and the taste and texture is out of this world. These are a regular in our dinner rotation and will be for a long time.

Baked Parmesan Risotto with Bacon, Peas and Cauliflower

Guys, I've missed you.

I am sorry to have been MIA for the month of February and now most of March. Work and exams required my full attention, but that attention has paid off. And now, just like that, I am back and ready to test out some fun new recipes with you.

You can probably tell from the quality that I snapped these photos really quickly before Cory and I sat down for Valentine's Day dinner (I know, I know. I made this on FEBRUARY 14th and I'm only NOW sharing it with you--awful!) Anyway, trust me when I tell you that despite the boring pictures, this risotto dish is so yummy!

This Baked Parmesan Risotto with Bacon, Peas, and Cauliflower is creamy and dreamy and so flavorful. It has all the delicious qualities of a traditional risotto without the task of stirring it constantly for 40 minutes. I love the combination of peas and bacon -- it's like this risotto is a nod to Pasta Carbonara! Roasted cauliflower adds a depth of flavor, while fresh leeks and crisp white wine cut a bit of that parmesan richness.

If you've been dying to make a risotto at home but aren't ready to tackle the constant stirring process, give this recipe a try. It is totally simple and foolproof, yet it is still elegant enough to serve to your special someone or a bunch of friends for a dinner party. All you need is an oven-proof pot, such as a dutch oven, and you are ready to roll.