I must be missing Louisiana lately, because I keep making my favorite traditional dishes. Yesterday I made a homemade king cake because I have been craving one for weeks now and today I woke up dreaming about red beans and rice for dinner. We have lived in Texas for almost four years now, but every year around this time I start to miss Louisiana and all of the food and celebrations that happen from Mardi Gras on. The classic dishes that are known in Cajun and Creole cultures are some of my favorite recipes I’ve ever had and truly what made me fall in love with Louisiana when I moved there. My easy red beans and rice is just that kind of recipe and makes for the perfect cozy weeknight meal that the whole family will love!
GUYS, tomorrow is Valentine’s Day? Can you believe that February is almost halfway over already? And while we are not huge celebrators of Valentine’s Day around here, I do like to use it as an excuse to make dinner a little extra special for a yummy date night in! We are definitely the people who do not try and go out to a restaurant on Valentine’s Day to fight the crowds! Anyone else feel the same way? I feel like you are either team stay home or team go out and there is no in between! Lobster is one of those ingredients that automatically feels special and like it should be prepared for a special occasion! I created a casual and easy sheet pan Cajun lobster bake that is perfect for your date night celebrations or any night of the week!
Happy Monday! Over the weekend one of the ways I like to meal prep is by making a big batch of muffins that I can keep in the fridge or freezer for easy breakfasts and lunch box additions all week long! I find that everyone is always happy when freshly baked muffins are available and even better if they are somewhat healthy too! I happened to find myself with some really ripe bananas last week and knew they were meant to become banana muffins! I wanted to take them up a notch by adding some dark chocolate chunks to make them extra special and delicious! My healthier chocolate chunk banana muffins are just the special treat that your weeks needs and the good news is they are super simple to make too!
The weather has been a little warm here in Texas this week and I have been craving fresh salads with lots of fresh ingredients including anything and everything citrus! I made a lunch based on these cravings yesterday that will be on a weekly rotation in my house from here on out. It was one of those salads that was a happy accident that came from using ingredients I had in the fridge! I literally couldn’t stop saying “mmm” to myself while I was eating it (you know what I am talking about) and knew I had to share it with you all as soon as possible! My chili grapefruit salmon salad is not only super healthy, but is also full of fresh flavors that truly make the perfect lunch or light dinner any night of the week!
Bye Bye January and hello February! Anyone else feel the same way? I always feel like January is a slow motion month where I can’t seem to find my rhythm after the holidays. It’s basically there so we can adjust to normal life again and then in February we get to really start our new year. Or maybe I’m alone in this and I need to get my act together sooner next year…either way I am welcoming February with open arms! I am finally over my shingles (yeah I had shingles last week if you missed it) and I feel like I am all about eating things that makes me feel good and that nourish my body as I am healing! I have been loving adding this Spicy Kimchi Avocado Toast into my morning or afternoon because it’s not only delicious, but packed with serious nutrition too!
Y’all know by now that I am a burger girl through and through. I just can’t help myself, I love a good burger and it was the #1 thing I craved when I was pregnant with my son. We make burgers almost weekly at our house and while usually I always opt for a meat burger, I like the option of a vegetarian burger also from time to time. I am the first to admit that I have rarely eaten a black bean burger that holds a candle to a regular burger, but I may have just made a recipe that was just as satisfying to me! My BBQ black bean burgers are easy to make, healthy, and gosh darn delicious too!
