Breakfast
Dabney Vaccaro
Avocado Toast--the real deal

I’ve had avocado toast before, but this is a new and better spin on what most people think of. In this recipe, the avocado is the main ingredient. Top it with an egg, lettuce, tomato, onion, and breakfast is served.

Avocado Toast--the real deal
Main
Dabney Vaccaro
Butternut Squash & Chickpea Curry

My garden did really well last summer. As a result, I have had an abundance of butternut squash that I’ve needed to use. Recently, I stumbled onto this recipe that proved to be a hit with a group of folks I had for an herbal workshop. It was so attractive in the dish, how could it not be tasty too? Eat the rainbow…this dish checks that off! Enjoy!

Butternut Squash & Chickpea Curry
Soup
Dabney Vaccaro
Lentil and Sausage Soup

Looking through my recipe blog, you may notice how many different soups there are. Soups are a great way to get nutrition into the body.  I run cold, so consuming these warm bowls of deliciousness makes me feel good. Be sure to check out where I buy

Lentil and Sausage Soup
Main
Dabney Vaccaro
Lions Mane "Crab" Cakes

Mushrooms have moved up in the culinary space with their many uses! Mushrooms like shiitake, oyster, and lions mane are showing up at farmer’s markets, restaurants, and even perhaps your kitchen table!

At a recent stroll through a farmer’s market, I was captivated by the wonderful display of medicine that lay before my eyes! Since COVID, I’ve battled off and on with brain fog. I have found lions mane mushrooms to really be a supportive ally in this regard.

Lions Mane "Crab" Cakes
Main
Dabney Vaccaro
Pasta with Sausage & Tomato Skillet

As a recovering vegetarian, I'm super picky about what meats I will consume. Not all meat is the same. While I try to eat local, I have found a wonderful company who has sustainable practices and is free of the “Big 8” allergens. Let me just say…yum! If you want to know more about this company, you can find out more here.

With tomato season here, I’m looking for ways to use these wonderful fruits. This recipe is super fast and easy especially on a work night. Don’t forget the parmesan cheese!

Pasta with Sausage & Tomato Skillet
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Quinoa and Black Bean Bowl

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Quinoa and Black Bean Bowl

I needed something quick to make on a busy day. Knowing I had limited food in the refrigerator, I had this looming thought….I should have stopped at the grocery store before now. Then I remembered my pressure cooker/InstaPot. I began to formulate a plan in the back of my mind. I knew I had lentils, quinoa, chick peas, and black beans. Surely there was something I could create with those staples. A search on the internet, bombarded me with many recipes to choose from. In my normal style, I looked at two or three to compare and contrast, and came up with some version of my own. Within 30 minutes, dinner was done and my belly was satisfied. The best part of this recipe, is it didn’t require many fresh ingredients. So if it’s been a bit since the groceries have been replenished, this may be one of those recipes you can pull out in that emergency….just like I had to.

El Salvadorian Dip & Chips

El Salvadorian Dip & Chips

Recently, I met a fun couple from El Salvador who taught me their version of guacamole. Apparently, it’s a staple in their home. With only five ingredients, it’s easy to prepare and quite fun, especially if you fry your own tortilla chips. Since learning how to fry chips, it’s hard to go back to store bought ones. I especially love the way the warm chip feels with the cool guacamole.. This is a fun experience with older children who are interested in cooking and adults too. Plan to make a lot, because they go fast! For me, it was those in the kitchen cooking that kept eating them….oops! I do love a good crunch and some tasty guacamole. I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine has.

Summer Minestrone Soup

Summer Minestrone Soup

What is a person to do with all the zucchini and yellow squash that seems to take over the garden and our kitchen counters? One solution is to make a summer soup. Even the worst gardener seems to be able to grow squash and zucchini. Believe it or not, zucchini is very good for us. One medium zucchini provides as much as 14% of our daily allowance in potassium and 58% of our daily allowance of vitamin C. Vitamin C has been shown to support the immune system and greatly reduce chronic diseases, according to the Mayo Clinic. Besides that, zucchini is a low carbohydrate food, yet provides both fiber and protein, making it one of the best vegetables to include in your health regimen. Enjoy this soup on a busy work night or a relaxing weekend with friends.

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Black Bean & Polenta Skillet

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Black Bean & Polenta Skillet

Warm and flavorful, this dish is an easy recipe for a busy work night. I found this recipe while visiting one of my daughters. This is a one pot meal if the polenta is already prepared, so clean up is a snap. This day I made my polenta from scratch while the spinach was sautéing. Just follow the recipe on the package. Personally, I use non GMO corn meal/polenta. This can also be made a day or two ahead of time.

Grapefruit and Rosemary Mule

Grapefruit and Rosemary Mule

Last summer my cousin, Cynthia, visited me for a long weekend. She brought with her this recipe for a refreshing adult cocktail. It quickly became our drink for the summer. The refreshing grapefruit takes an ordinary mule to a whole new level. Make a pitcher and share with your friends…..warning, they will be a hit! Hint: Tamp the rosemary prior to placing in the glass to release its essential oils adding to the flavor of the drink.

Strawberry and Feta Farro Salad

Strawberry and Feta Farro Salad

This salad packs a protein punch with approximately 13 grams per serving. Spring time means fresh berries. Strawberries are rich in vitamin C, potassium, folic acid, and an important antioxidant. Spinach, rich in potassium along with magnesium and calcium, makes this salad a powerhouse of nutrition. The addition of an avocado would complete the balance of healthy fat, but I don’t recommend adding it directly to the salad unless it will consumed within the day. I love avocados, but their appearance after a few hours isn’t as pleasing. Enjoy this dish as a side or as a main course.

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A Better Beet Burger

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A Better Beet Burger

When beets showed up on the dinner table when I was a child, I turned up my nose to them because of the color. Plus, I thought they tasted like dirt. It wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I gave this root vegetable a second try. Now I purchase beets a couple times a month, steam them and use them in my salads or as a side for a meal.

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Egg Roll Bowl

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Egg Roll Bowl

Last week, I had a craving for egg rolls, but I didn’t want to go through the process of rolling and frying them. I thought, why not just make the inside portion and serve them over noodles or rice? With less prep work and lower calories, this was a win for me, plus it was better the next day as left overs. This recipe is not expensive to prepare and only uses one pot. The labor takes some time with chopping, but I used a

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Chickpea Patties

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Chickpea Patties

There’s something about chickpeas that keeps me coming back for more. Hummus, patties, or toppings for salads, chickpeas are quite versatile and taste good. Chickpeas, or garbanzo beans, are in the legume family. Like any real food, it has nutritive benefits to help a body stay healthy and strong. As a vegetarian

Kale Chips

Kale Chips

Sometimes it’s nice to eat something crunchy….after all, we do have teeth. And sometimes a carrot or celery stick just won’t cut it. My spurge is organic corn chips. Yeah, I know, it’s not all that healthy, yet, I do it anyway. Recently, during a conversation about food, I was reminded about kale chips. It’s been a while since I made them, and I forgot how good they are, plus it’s easy! Looking at a bunch of kale in the grocery store seems like a lot of kale to eat, but once it’s baked, it’s amazing how quickly they shrink down and then eaten.

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Protein Packed Patty w/ Garlic Aioli

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Protein Packed Patty w/ Garlic Aioli

Hemp has taken our nation by storm. Each day there seems to be a new way to use this weed in one way or another. Hemp is the fibrous portion of the cannabis plant used to make things such as rope, paper, and fiber. Hemp seeds (or hearts) are, of course, the seeds of the hemp plant and is in the same family as cannabis. Hemp seeds can be used in a variety of ways and have scientific health benefits including:

The Best Guacamole

The Best Guacamole

A decade ago, I made guacamole an entirely different way. Ordinarily, I would mash the avocado then add prepared salsa and mix it up. It was easy and my go to. Then, my daughter, Joslyn, was home on college break and made her version of guacamole. Since then, I completely aborted my version. Her version is so addicting, I tend to use 3 or 4 avocados since this dip goes so fast. It has basic ingredients that can be omitted and adjusted to each person’s liking. Avocados are a unique fruit in that rather than being high in carbohydrates, they are high in healthy fats.

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Jackfruit Tacos with Chimichurri Sauce

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Jackfruit Tacos with Chimichurri Sauce

Jackfruit is one of the newest trends among vegetarians and vegans. Even some meat eaters are excited about jackfruit. What is jackfruit? it’s a relative to the fig family and grows in Asia, Africa, and Brazil. It contains no cholesterol, very low in sodium and calories in general. Even though the fruit itself is not loaded with protein, but eat the seeds as they have more protein than the actual fruit. In this recipe, the stems and seeds are removed, but enjoy them separately…with BBQ sauce! Here is the nutritional count:

Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Quinoa Salad

Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Quinoa Salad

This recipe is partially inspired by my daughter, Emily. She was telling me she had planned to roast some diced sweet potatoes for supper that evening, and it got me thinking how warm, sweet, and delicious sweet potatoes are. This wonderful root vegetable can be enjoyed during the chilly winter months. A powerful antioxidant, sweet potatoes are thought to promote gut health, support the brain and eyes.

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Curried Mung Beans

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Curried Mung Beans

My southern upbringing did not expose me to mung beans. Although they are called a “bean,” they are actually an edible seed in the legume family. Today, I was craving some flavorful Indian food, and I saw this recipe. I’ve had these mung beans for sometime, so today is the day to use them. I used sprouted mung beans, and found that I did not need to use as much water as the original recipe called for.

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

As a child, the smell of Brussel sprouts made me gag. It was a smell that permeated the entire house as they boiled on the stove top. As a result, my family did not have the opportunity to try them. Funny how that works. Roasted Brussel sprouts…now that’s a game changer! It seems the sky is the limit with the add ons like bacon, onions, garlic,

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