It’s seems odd to have soup for dinner in August… am I right? Here’s how it happened: On Saturday, Mr. EN and I had planned to attend our annual summer family birthday party when one of our family members texted to tell us she had been exposed to Covid on Friday at work. B-U-M-M-E-R. Needless to say, even though the party was going to be held outside, with appropriate social distancing measures in place, we collectively decided it would be in everyone’s best interest to reschedule our party for another date. Guess who got stuck holding a big bag of kale???  Yours truly! Now I definitely c ..read more

Move over croutons. There’s a new kid in town and she’s ready to dress your salad with a mouthful of flavor, fewer carbs, and a boatload of protein.  Plus, chances are you have all the ingredients you need to make these Crispy White Beans already in your pantry;  and they’ve  probably been sitting there for weeks! These Crispy White Beans are …   High in protein Loaded with complex carbs High in fiber Very easy to make Unique Crispy-crunchy Versatile – east them as a side dish, sprinkle them on a salad, scatter them over some roasted veggies, use as a garnish for soups or ..read more

Ridiculously easy, this dish can be made entirely from pantry staples if you don’t count the fresh herbs at the end. Mangia! According to Italy Magazine, some say the name, Pasta Puttanesca originated in the brothels of the Spanish Quarters, while others claim it was invented in the 1950s in a famous Ischia restaurant. “Una puttanata qualsiasi,” means, to throw together whatever ingredients you have to make something simple. And that’s exactly what this dish is! This Pasta Puttanesca is…   Loaded with heart-healthy mono-unsaturated fat from the olives AND the olive oil Packed with Vitam ..read more

Mounds Bar Nice Cream Wait what? I missed National Ice Cream day? Sad but true. National Ice Cream day was yesterday, July 19th and Mr. EN and I didn’t have a lick of ice cream all day. Shucks.  I’ve been waiting to post this recipe for Mounds Bar Nice Cream for almost a year! This Mounds Bar Nice Cream is… Loaded with heart-healthy potassium (see the ingredient list to find out why!) A good source of protein – because of the nuts and plant milk Low-sodium and cholesterol free Extra creamy Sweet Smooth Flavorful Satisfying Plant forward Coconutty Plus, it really is so easy to make. Any ..read more

This is what I call a quickie post. It’s a follow up recipe that goes with my earlier post today, for 10-Minute Garlicky Swiss Chard.  Below is a recipe for a super simple, Chard, Cheese and Tomato Oven-Baked Frittata for Two. And yes, this recipe is made with LEFTOVER COOKED SWISS CHARD and it was out of this world!  Mr. EN and I ate this with a toasted bagel and a cold glass of O.J.. It was the perfect start to a rainy summer Sunday.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.   Peace, love, and good eats from our Empty Nest to yours. Print Chard, Cheese and Tomato ..read more

Easy to make with common ingredients and Oh, so flavorful! You may never go back to cooked spinach again.   If you belong to a CSA, chances are you’ve received a beautiful bundle or two (or three or four) of Swiss Chard. And, chances also are, that some of you aren’t quite sure what to do with it. You know you can’t leave it on the counter (too hot outside!) so So, you spend a few minutes wrestling with the unwieldy leaves and stems until you can successfully coax the chard into a way-too-small plastic bag which you pack into the fridge and immediately forget for the week. Please: ST ..read more

Yesterday it stopped raining (finally) and when Mr. EN got home from work, we both decided to make dinner as quick as possible so we could spend some long-awaited time outside. I had already defrosted some ground lamb which I bought locally from a friend (thank you Scott!) and, after a quick inspection of my fridge contents, I found I had everything I needed, right at my fingertips, to make this earthy, herby, delicious Middle Eastern Salad with Garlic-Yogurt Dressing. This Middle Eastern Salad with Garlic-Yogurt Dressing is…. Loaded with vitamins and minerals – just look at all those colors ..read more

I have to say, I’m a little embarrassed to post another carrot recipe. However, truth be told, Mr. EN and I have been stockpiling carrots, along with onions, celery and garlic because for me, most dishes start with one or a combination of all of these tremendously versatile workhouse veggies. Last week, we went a little overboard and bought A LOT of carrots which brings me to this Spicy Instant Pot Carrot Soup. Now before you get to thinking, “Soup?  It’s almost summer for God’s sake,” I urge every naysayer to TRY THIS SOUP. It’s so delicious whether you eat it for lunch alongside a sandw ..read more

Yesterday’s weather was beautiful and it was so nice to be outside. For dinner we grilled a few tuna steaks, whipped up a quick kale Caesar and polished off a whole plate of these homemade Carrot Fries while sitting on our deck drinking a beer, soaking up the sun, and watching the birds and squirrels. Spring – I thought you’d never get here! We’ve been buying a lot of carrots lately. They last a long time and you can include them in just about any dish, sweet or savory. This week we had a few too many carrots and a few too few potatoes so, I decided to roast them together and check it out — I ..read more

Perfectly chewy, delicate, and delicious; it’s hard to stop at one. A few weeks ago my youngest daughter came home from Chicago to stay with us for a while and “work from home”.  Mr. EN and I loved having her with us (she hasn’t been home for three weeks since high school) but, man-oh-man can that girl put away the sweets! Needless to say, while she was here all three of us developed a  short-term, although I must admit nightly, addiction to these Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons.  I’m a bit embarrassed to say we whipped up a batch, every few days, for the entire time she was ..read more