
Although the black beans got top billing, the olives are really key here. They add a surprising pop of saltiness that pairs well with the richness of the beans.

Although the black beans got top billing, the olives are really key here. They add a surprising pop of saltiness that pairs well with the richness of the beans.

I bought this Kashi cereal recently and completely fell in love with it! The slightly sweet, nutty flavor adds a whole new dimension to plain old potatoes. » Read more: Kashi Potato Balls

Residing in Northern VA, we have access to some of the most amazing Vietnamese cuisine you could ever imagine. I’ve been introduced to so many wonderful dishes thanks to all of the local restaurants in the area. Most people are familiar with Pho, the traditional Vietnamese soup that is known for it’s aromatic broth. The broth begins with marrow rich bones and includes spices such as cinnamon, clove, anise and ginger. It is then simmered for hours to achieve just the right balance of flavors. My version calls for beef broth and a heaping teaspoon of Chinese Five Spice which hits all of these notes but doesn’t require hours to achieve an intensely flavorful broth.

Papas Arrugadas, Canarian wrinkly potatoes.
I think of myself as a foodie most of the time, but I admit that I’ve become quite jaded with the concept of a celebrity chef restaurant. The general public is gladly lapping up the fame food craze,but I find myself wondering how a person who calls themselves a chef can appear in multiple television series, run several different food properties (often in different states) and still find the time to ever get dirty in a kitchen. When you add in the rampant trend jumping of middle-end dining, you can quickly become disappointed with almost any dining experience. When’s the last time you saw a menu without some kind of miso-glazed sea bass or a shaved fennel salad?
That being said, I’ve got to give credit to Jose Andres and his restaurant Jaleo for introducing me to Papas Arrugadas, an unexpectedly unique and simple side dish you should try today.

James and I are huge fans of Thai food and we have a regular place that we order from. I always get their Thai style salmon wrapped in banana leaf and I absolutely love it! So, I decided to give it a go at home….

This is the ultimate vegetarian burger! It’s so hearty and satisfying that even you die hard carnivores won’t miss the meat.

Gnocchi is one of James’ favorite dishes but on a busy weeknight, making fresh gnocchi just isn’t an option. Luckily, there are a ton of great prepared ones on the store shelves these days. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the awesomeness that is gnocchi, they are basically little potato filled pasta pillows of yumminess. If you’ve never had it, or even if you have, go pick yourself up a bag and try out this easy, deliciously satisfying meal tonight!

This is the perfect appetizer to whip up for guests. It’s quite impressive but only takes about 5 minutes to make.

Chicken pot pie is truly one of the classic comfort foods. Delicious and damn tempting but by no means healthy.

French fries and meatloaf may sound like a calorie laden catastrophe but this dish is anything but! We took out most of the fat, calories and cholesterol (we don’t need no stinkin’ egg!) but piled on the flavor!

I was a vegetarian for years and when I finally caved and went back to eating meat again, the only one I never got around to was lamb. I hadn’t had it since I was about 10 and for that reason, as the years went by, I sort of built up this weird fear of it. James would always ask me to try a bite when he ordered it at restaurants and I always turned him down. Until recently….
Place lamb and all other ingredients in a large casserole and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to marinate for 2 hours at room temp or overnight in the fridge.
Preheat oven to 375.
Get a large skillet going over high heat, add olive oil, then lamb, meat side down. Allow lamb to sear for about 5 minutes and transfer to a foil lined baking sheet.
Roast until medium rare, about 15 minutes. Allow the lamb to rest for 10 minutes so that the juices can redistribute.
Wham bam, thank you lamb for being oh so tasty!

I could seriously eat lettuce wraps every day. I love the whole process of assembling each one. The fact that you can customize and dress them up any way you please makes dinner time that much more fun!
Yogurt Sauce:
For sauce, simply combine all ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate until ready to use. It’s best if made a few hours ahead.
Spray your pan with non-stick spray over medium – high heat and toss in garlic and onions. After about a minute, add in your chicken. Season with spices, break up the meat a bit with a wooden spoon and then add in your apricots. Continue to cook until chicken is browned, about 10 minutes.
To assemble, lay a lettuce leaf out on your plate and top with chicken mixture, finish off with a bit of your yogurt sauce, pine nuts and some fresh mint.
These were a big hit as is but I think next time I make them I’ll throw in some golden raisins too for extra sweetness.
*sumac can be found in Middle Eastern grocery stores or at a variety of places online.
A recent search of the dark reaches of our fridge inspired a new cocktail for us the other day. Gretchen’s favorite martini has always been a Ketle One, extra dirty martini, but I couldn’t find a jar of olives in the fridge with enough leftover juice to make a cocktail.
James treated us to some of his delicious bread this Thanksgiving and with the leftovers (which are rare!) I decided to make crostini.

Lettuce wraps are a great way to trick people into eating family style: cook up a pan of filler, set out a head of lettuce and some toppings and let your guests do the work!
» Read more: Hawaiian-Style Lettuce Wraps