The ultimate chicken and rice dish! This one-skillet meal sears chicken in a cast iron pan for deliciously crispy skin and then nestles it into an orzo and rice pilaf made with shredded summer zucchini. Bake it all in the oven until juicy and tender, then top with feta, olives, and fresh dill for the… The post Crispy One Skillet Chicken with Zucchini Rice Pilaf appeared first on Girl With The Iron Cast ..read more

This antipasto-inspired pasta salad is the ultimate summer side dish! Fresh mozzarella, peperoncini, and olives give it that bold antipasto flare, while Calabrian chilis amp up the spice. Balance all the kick with lots of crunchy veggies, fresh herbs, and a light and bright Italian vinaigrette. Best served cold as a refreshing picnic side (or… The post Spicy Italian Pasta Salad appeared first on Girl With The Iron Cast ..read more

These chicken street corn tacos with charred, spiced chicken and topped with everyone’s favorite Mexican side dish – esquites (Mexican street corn salad)! It’s an easy one-pan meal ideal for using up in-season summer sweet corn. Seriously juicy and packed with sweet-spiced flavor – your new taco night go-to!  It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of taco night (whether it’s fish tacos or carne asada, I’m all in). But this chicken street corn taco recipe might be my best ever! It combines two of my favorite things – juicy, spiced chicken + classic Mexican street corn salad (aka, esquites).&nb ..read more

Classic tart-sweet key lime pie, individually portioned in muffin tins! Each mini key lime pie has a spiced gingersnap crust and a smooth, creamy key lime custard filling, perfected from years of pie eating in my home state of Florida. Top with whipped cream for the best summer after-dinner treat.  Are you even a Florida native if you haven’t sampled an ungodly amount of key lime pies?! Lucky for me, the Keys were only a couple of hours away from where I grew up, making for the perfect day or weekend trip. Every visit always included key lime pie.  I’ve had every type of key lime pi ..read more

This easy fish piccata cooks in a skillet on the stovetop smothered in lemon butter caper sauce. A simple yet beautiful way to enjoy flaky, buttery snapper. Ready in one pan in 20 minutes or less.  Every day at 2 pm, my local fishmonger gets a fresh delivery straight from the fishermen’s boat. And you bet I’m first in line!  One fish that’s always available at the market is fresh snapper. It’s commonly caught in southeast Florida and whenever I get my hands on it, I know I’m making this snapper piccata recipe for dinner. Snapper is a white fish with a beautifully rich, buttery, slig ..read more

The fried zucchini pasta made famous by Stanley Tucci – Spaghetti alla Nerano! Frying zucchini adds a delicious caramelized flavor that pairs beautifully with pasta. I take it a step further by blending the fried veggies into a creamy basil sauce that coats al dente spaghetti. Serve with more zucchini and grated cheese for a fantastic vegetarian summer pasta dish. Spaghetti alla Nerano is an Italian pasta dish made famous by Stanley Tucci on his show Searching for Italy (I’m a big fan!). He raved about the simple pairing of al dente noodles and deeply caramelized, fried zucchini – so I had to ..read more

Nothing captures the essence of summer like a clambake or seafood boil! This recipe simplifies the process by roasting juicy shrimp, briny clams, spicy andouille sausage, corn on the cob, and baby potatoes on a sheet pan in the oven. Tossed in an Old Bay butter sauce, the one-pan, hands-off cooking creates a delicious caramelized roast, with the bonus of easy cleanup! Serve family style, start peeling, and enjoy a tender, succulent seafood dinner. Napkins recommended.  This recipe is a beautiful blend of the two places I live throughout the year—New England and Florida. These northern an ..read more

Every backyard BBQ needs grilled vegetable skewers with halloumi! The savory, chewy cheese tastes even better when charred on the grill. Skewer the halloumi on kebabs with zucchini, peppers, onion, and tomatoes soaked in a Greek-inspired marinade for an extra pop of flavor. Then grill until golden, tender, and caramelized. Quick and easy!  Over a decade ago, my sister-in-law brought halloumi cheese to our family’s 4th of July grilling party. It was a fun surprise (most of us were looking forward to a juicy burger) but the salty, chewy cheese quickly stole the show.  It might not be ..read more

Simple grilled swordfish steaks for weeknights, BBQs, and more! This recipe starts with a 15-minute lemony marinade to season and tenderize the fish before grilling for a smoky char. Perfectly tender, succulent results in no time (step-by-step instructions included!). Serve with a briny olive chimichurri and charred lemons. Swordfish has a meaty, steak-like quality that makes it the perfect fish to grill! But don’t let this fancy-feeling protein intimidate you – I promise it’s easier than you think. I first learned how to grill swordfish during summers on Long Island. One of my favorite local ..read more

Super juicy baked chicken meatballs stuffed with ginger, garlic, carrots, and green onions and tossed in a sticky-sweet homemade teriyaki sauce! A comforting twist on a classic that’s easy enough for weeknights. Ready in 45 minutes! This recipe is the perfect combination of two of the best culinary creations — tender, juicy meatballs + sticky-sweet teriyaki sauce.  Unlike classic Italian Meatballs, this recipe uses Japanese-inspired, aromatic flavors to season the ground meat. You’ll use plenty of garlic, ginger, and green onions, plus some tamari and fish sauce. The extra ounce of savor ..read more