Fudgy No-Bake Brownies

So far, the summer has been cruel: Hot, humid, and sticky just about every single day, and more often than not a combination of all three.
So you should take me seriously when I say that the heat is getting to me and that I have zero desire to cook anything that involves turning on the oven for more than 5 minutes.
Besides, why would you even need to cook for longer than 5 minutes in the dead heat of the summer? The farmers’ markets are overflowing with produce that require minimal (or zero) heat to make it tasty: Tomatoes, zucchini, and glorious stone fruit.

One-Pot Creamy Garlic Zucchini Rice

People, the season of zucchini overabundance is officially here.
The other day I came home from the farmers market with so much zucchini the overflow from the refrigerator filled a big bowl on my counter.
Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t scared at all. For many the summer mantra is “too much zucchini”, but my attitude is: Bring ‘em on.
I love zucchini so very much. It’s one of the most wondrous ingredients available and a gift to the seasonal cook.
Zoodles, casseroles, patties, fritters, frittata, even a grilled cheese. You can do anything with zucchini!

Curried Light Chicken Salad

As far as I’m concerned, I have a really clear idea of what a chicken salad should taste: crunchy, salty and sweet, juicy and tangy, fresh and light, flavorful and satisfying.
Believe it or not, this Curried Light Chicken Salad is all the above and maybe even more.
Which is the reason why I’ve been making big batches of this and snack on it throughout the week and pack it up for lunch.
YUM!

(Gluten-Free) Blender Chocolate Banana Bread

I love this recipe for so many reasons.
Let me count the ways!
1) So simple. Throw everything in the blender, pour it in a baking pan, and bake. It seriously doesn't get any simpler than this.
2) Flourless. There's no flour or flour substitute. No almond flour. No coconut flour. None of that. In fact, there's no “specialty” ingredients at all.
3) Only 6 ingredients. I can’t believe I haven’t started with this one. How good is that, though? Only 6 ingredients!
4) The flavor. Oh, how do I describe it? Before baking, the mixture is like a delicious thick banana chocolate smoothie. And though one is tempted to drink it all, I recommend you bake it.
Because after baking it becomes uh-mazing. A fudgy, thick, moist, delectable banana bread that tastes almost like a brownie.

Quinoa with Roasted Vegetables and Olive-Mint Pesto

As you are probably already aware, quinoa is one of my favorite ingredients to work because not only it has a great nutritional profile, it also is incredibly versatile.
You can use quinoa in a wide variety of dishes: casseroles, meatballs, salads, pizza crust or soups.
Quinoa is a superfood for many reasons. It’s gluten-free, easy to digest, packed with fiber, essential vitamins, and it’s also a complete protein (meaning that it contains all of the essential amino-acids).
Meaning that quinoa is a perfect option for anyone following a plant-based diet. Also for anyone that is trying to move from a meat centered diet, but is concerned about their protein intake.

Green Tea Lemonade

For reasons I can’t fully understand, if you show up at a 4th of July barbecue with pitchers of freshly-squeezed lemonade, you’ll be greeted and revered; but if you show up with the same pitchers of freshly-made green tea lemonade, people will actually flip out.
Why is green tea lemonade far more exciting than regular lemonade? It is a mystery to me as well.
But that’s what happened the day before yesterday at a friend’s Fourth of July party.
Along with other food items I was asked to bring lemonade.
I thought about bringing Cherry Lemonade, Peach Mint Lemonade, Blueberry Lemonade or just regular yellow pale lemonade. But then I thought about this Green Tea Lemonade — I make all the time — and how delicious and simple to make it is.
I gave it a shot.
And you know what?

People raved about it and many asked for the recipe. 

So here it is.

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July people!

The Fourth is by far one of my favorite holidays of the year. Outdoor parties, food, family, friends, parades, fireworks. It all makes for a perfect day.

If you live in the U.S. enjoy this awesome day. Hopefully there will be plenty of sunshine, great food,  great people and, why not, a bit of booze too. If you’re living elsewhere, I hope you still have an awesome Tuesday.

Have a blast!

Mike

(Paleo & Vegan) Chocolate Pecan Bars

It is true.
We’re on the edge of something uh-mazing here.
I can tell.
Can you?
But I think I say that every time I share something with pecans. Something sweet with those crunchy little suckers that make the world seems a better place.
Admittedly my view is bias, yours will be too the moment you’ll taste these Chocolate Pecan Bars.

Simple Zucchini Chorizo Frittata

I went ahead and make you a perfect lunch for today.
Except I ate it. All. It was too good to resist.
So eventually if you could make your own lunch today, I think that it would definitely be best.
I’ll tell you what to use, how to cook it, and the reasons why you should cook it. I won’t go as far as cooking it though. Because I will eat it all.

Cherry Lemonade

It’s no secret that I share quite a few summer drink recipes around these parts, but every good host knows he needs several top notch refreshing lemonade recipes in his stash — a Blueberry Lemonade and a Peach Mint Lemonade are definitely not enough.
This family friendly Cherry Lemonade is one of my fave for the hot summer days and nights.
I love to keep a pitcher made up to enjoy. If family and friends are coming over, I pour it in tall glasses with a couple of lemon slices and lots of ice: Max results, minimum effort!