Sweet Corn and Red Pepper Fritter Burgers

A lot has changed since I last posted. We've sold our house, got a new job and moved to Texas and all the craziness that accompanies choices like that. We're loving being in the South again and realizing we probably should have done this along time ago. We left behind lots of good friends and memories but we're excited about everything ahead of us in this new adventure!

The move meant a few months of essentially no cooking as everything was packed up and then we had awhile in between houses with hotels and such so it feels good to be back in a nice kitchen again and cooking away.

Wild Rice and Hummus Burgers

I don't like the idea of veggie burgers more for the reason that people are typically trying to use them as a substitute for a real meat burger. And there is no substitute. Period. But if instead you just want to have a really good sandwich and it happens to not have any meat in it, I'm all for that. And honestly with these Wild Rice and Hummus "burgers" I'm OK with them not having any meat. I almost topped them with some bacon though. And that would have made them just that much better.

Curried Whole Grain Pilaf with Bacon, Mushroom and Cabbage

We're now in our second week of recipes for a Tasty and Healthy New Year with California Olive Ranch and Bob's Red Mill. We're moving on to side dishes this week and pairing together the Grande Whole Grains Blend and the Miller's Blend Olive Oil. Did you do a double take when you saw the title of this post and then saw healthy in the first line? Bacon and healthy... yeah, it works in my book. You see the thing is, coming from a non health nut, it's about balance. I am trying to eat better but I also like some things that aren't necessarily good for you. It's about moderation and making sure that the healthy foods usually outweigh the bad. And we all know, bacon makes eveything better, right? And come on, it's only four slices for the whole thing. You'll love it.

Olive Oil and Whole Wheat Flatbread with Veggies

Starting today, our Virtual Potluck group is working with California Olive Ranch and Bob's Red Mill to bring you healthy options as we start this new year. We'll be sharing some fun and healthy ways to combine whole grains and fresh olive oils to create some fantastic new recipes. Find out more about the potluck and see who's participating here!

Wild Rice Stuffed Peppers

I'll be the first to admit that I don't make the healthiest choices when I'm eating or cooking. I've always simply eaten what I've wanted and never had to deal with any really adverse effects. I love to eat good food and the thought of any kind of diet makes me cringe. Unfortunately though,  if I want to keep my good health I need to start making better choices. I recently had my cholesterol tested and although I knew it was high from tests in years past, it's gotten worse. My doctor has given me some time to see if I can lower it naturally before having to go on medication. So, while I still don't think I can follow any kind of strict diet, I'm going to start consciously trying to make better decisions in the food I eat. And now that I've said it here, you can help keep me accountable.

Squash Blossoms

A month or so ago, a family friend came back from a trip to Rome and sent me an email about some of the amazing food she had experienced while there. One dish she described was a squash blossom that was stuffed with cheese and then fried. It sounded pretty good and I made a note to look into it some more. Then last week I was out in our garden and when I saw these beauties below, I was reminded of her message and knew I had to try it out.