Smokey Buffalo Burgers with Roasted Poblanos & Avocado

I have a working theory that it is impossible to leave Costco without twice as many items as were on your list. You may walk in with the good intention of only purchasing almonds, greek yogurt, and a roast chicken, but inevitably chewing gum, toilet paper, and an 10 pound block of cheese end up in that oversized cart. The solution is simple: If you're going to impulse buy in bulk, be sure you get the good stuff...such as lean and mean ground buffalo.

Nectarine Dried Cherry Crisp

The temperature has plummeted! I have officially rotated my wardrobe, moving pants to the front of the shelf and releasing my plethora of coats from their vacuum bagged prison. The pups is loving this reprieve from the heat, being able to once again join us on our shorter runs and roll in the dewy morning grass. But she isn't the only one...ladies and gentlemen, start your ovens!

Aperol Spritz

I don't know about your neck of the woods, but this past summer has been absolutely fabulous. Loads of sunshine without too much heat or humidity...what else could you ask for? Only an equally fabulous and delicious summer cocktail.

Grilled Sweet Potato Rounds with Fresh Mint

A few weeks ago we celebrated my 30th birthday. Yup....the big 3-0 folks. For once the hubs did not permit my nonchalant, "just another day" attitude that was my signature for every 20-something after I could legally get into a bar. He got together a group of friends and planned the perfect shindig - old school steakhouse followed by a tequila bar...the perfect combination of classy and scandalous. It was a night of delicious debauchery, but one that also blew out eating-out budget for the month. It was totally worth it, especially considering the awesome cheap eats that we can do at home to balance that big ticket night out a bit.

Cheddar & Chive Zucchini Gratin

My very favorite thing about zucchini is its versatility.  Grilled, sliced or shredded, it's a great addition to practically practically any savory or sweet dish.  But from time to time, it's important to remember this veggie is flippin' fabulous all on its own and it deserves the full spotlight every now and again.  Particularly when that light comes with panko and cheese.....yum.

Peach, Pistachio & Sweet Corn Salad

Summertime and the living is easy!  So lunch should be as well.  Helloooooo simple salad!

Chimichurri Turkey Burgers with Avocado

I have always been a sucker for condiments.  Ketchup, barbecue sauce, pickled jalapenos, tomato relish, pesto, creamed honey...if you can spread it, I can overindulge.  Where most would be happy with a tablespoon or so, it seems I always need about a quarter cup to satisfy my craving.  This is also the reason I hoard emptied food jars like a crazy person...it seems there are always more sauces like this delightful chimichurri that need to stored. 

Cherry Tomato, Zucchini & Brie Pasta

Cherry tomato season is finally upon us!  May the feasting commence!!!  Ever since I was a little girl picking veggies in our family garden, I have looked forward to the first fresh tomatoes of the year with the same anticipation most people reserve Black Friday.  (Red...Wednesday?  Why not!)  Now my hubs is pretty darn terrific.  Sure I've mentioned his culinary talents and yes, he is now officially a doctor.  But there's a lot more to my man than that.  For instance, he is also an avid reader, loves kids and has a die-hard fanbase in the online world of Tetris.  But last week he topped the cake by bringing me the very first ripe tomato from our rooftop community garden.  That's one heck of a man.

Summer Radish Toast

Hi. My name is Paul, and I am the second foodie, also known as 'the hubs'. You may have seen me in the background of photos, patiently waiting for Annika to take a picture of her wonderful creations while the food gets chilled. But hey, that’s cool – I still get to eat amazing food on a regular basis. So this is kind of an awkward circumstance...writing on behalf of my wife on her blog. However, because I had a major hand in creating this dish, Annika asked me to write it up. So here it goes...

Pineapple Upside-Down Greek Yogurt Pancakes

Let's talk cake....for breakfast.

Rosemary & Olive Oil Farinata

Here we are people.  The moment of truth (or post, if you will).  Italian time!  I've been itching to recreate some dishes from our international adventure at home, and here we begin with one of my very favorites.  Move over crackers....meat and cheese have a new favorite partner in this household!

Different Places, Same Three Faces

So remember that last post in which I alluded to fabulous Italian cuisine on the horizon?  Perhaps I should have been a bit more exact with my timeline...for three weeks later not a recipe has been posted.  Why?  Well because these two foodies and our pup have relocated to beautiful Minneapolis, Minnesota!

Ciao a tutti!

It has officially been a month since my last shared recipe.  A dreadfully long time in the world of blogging, but a fabulously long time for the hubs and I.  Why precisely is that?  Because the majority of that month was spent in Italy!!!  Perfetto!

Blanco Verde Enchiladas with Fish & White Beans

Have I mentioned my affinity for the color green?  To call it my favorite would be an understatement.  The main color for our wedding, the pattern on our china, the color of our first piece of Le Creuset cookware, even the color contacts I wore throughout college...all green.  But even I had to chuckle at my produce haul this past week:  broccoli, spring onions, zucchini, peppers, apples and avocados made the red cherry tomatoes seem somewhat flamboyant.  With all the budding blooms outdoors and fresh produce indoors, it is the perfect time of year for some very green (and very good) enchiladas.

Chicken Caesar Salad Tacos

The process of moving is always stressful.  Flimsy cardboard boxes and cumbersome furniture is cajoled into a truck before the inevitable breaking of some (hopefully unimportant) item.  But the pre-moving?  Man, I love that time.  I get to riffle through every nook and cranny of our apartment, hunting for treasures and chucking all trash.  I finally found my missing Valentine's sock (that mate's been lonely for a year and a half), gave away two copies of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels on VHS (why did I even have two?) and the hubs made $60 selling used medical textbooks on Amazon.  We're slowly but surely downsizing in preparation for the packing, and that includes the pantry.

Indian Spiced Lamb in Yogurt Sauce

You've all played the Forever food game, where you pick one type of cuisine to eat for the rest of your life because you love it just that much.  For the hubs that's Mexican...my man would eat chilaquiles, enchiladas and huevos rancheros every day and be completely satisfied until his dying day.  And honestly, I could too...as a runner up.  Without a doubt, my Forever food is (and always) will be Indian.  Tender basmati, chewy naan, sweet lassi, flavorful masala, rich yogurt, spicy chilies....I could go on forever.

MATCH DAY NEWS!!!

For nearly three years I've written to you as the wife of a medical student in Southeast Ohio.  As of this May, all that will change.  I'll still be sharing our delicious kitchen exploits, but as the wife of a doctor and radiology resident.  After four years of relentless studying, sporadic hospital shifts and diligent work, we are so excited for the next stage of this adventure in medicinal life.  And as Match Day was last Friday, we found out where that life will continue....

Corned Beef, Havarti & Sauerkraut Panini

Another St. Patrick's Day has come and gone, leaving our refrigerator filled with odd ends of corned beef, boiled potatoes, sauerkraut and roasted cabbage.  Yessssss.  The timing is perfect for fantastic leftover creations with all the bold flavors of your traditional corned beef dinner.  Time for pot pie, Irish-inspired omelets and my take on the classic reuben.

Movie Snack Cookies

In an effort to spring clean our lives, the hubs and I have been working on our Netflix queue by watching movies every weekend.  Last night was spent with Populaire, a darling French film that had us laughing within five minutes (two thumbs and a pup paw up).  In order to make an in-house movie night more authentic, it is essential to have cinema snacks.  For us that entails popcorn and M&M's, two perfect munchies to satisfy the salty, sweet and crunchy cravings.  I'm always bouncing back and forth between the bowls, as the combo of crisp kernels and creamy chocolate is so very scrumptious.  So the idea to throw the two together in cookie batter was genius, creating the combo I love in a convenient cookie form with a lot less wiggling to distract the hubs from the home-ified cinematic experience.

Pea, Prosciutto & Parmesan Risotto with Seared Scallops

It's March, meaning enough time has passed since New Year's for a truly rich and decadent dish.  I always try to hold out on these for a while, my attempt to assist all you resolutioners out there to turn those shining ideas into habitual healthy choices.  But I seriously cannot wait any longer to share this one.  The starter crops of fresh asparagus and peas are just too tempting for this veggie-lover to resist.  And in case those don't float your boat, how about tons of parmesan cheese and savory prosciutto?  Or oodles of creamy risotto?  Yeah, now I have your attention.