There’s no frogs breath, worms wort, or deadly nightshade in this Nightmare Before Christmas Soup but it looks good enough to kill! Kale and pea green curry is topped with a skull-shaped slice of provolone to resemble Sally’s Worms Wort Soup.

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Other than frogs breath, worms wort, and deadly nightshade, I have no idea what is in Sally’s worms wort Nightmare Before Christmas Soup. So I took some liberties and remade a kale and pea green curry soup inspired by spring vegetables and Thai/Cambodian flavors that I had at a dinner party recently, made by Damian of Fetty’s Street Food.

Despite the lengthy list of ingredients, this soup actually comes together in just 1 hour. I know that’s not super fast but given the complexity of flavors you would think it took longer. However, this is one of those recipes that the quality of the ingredients matter. Sure it uses frozen peas and spinach, but make sure you are using good green curry paste, coconut milk (no light milk here), and fresh seasonings because they make the difference.

At the dinner party, Damian served this soup with Thai style fried pork belly, a drizzle of Thai bail oil, and peas/pea shoots for garnish. It was exquisite but not necessary for Sally’s Nightmare Before Christmas soup. Instead I added a slice of provolone cheese cut to resemble the skull that appears over the soup as she makes it. I know, lots of skulls this week!

The result is a velvety bright green soup with all the flavors: fish sauce for salt, sugar for sweetness, vinegar for sour/tartness, and mushroom seasoning for umami. Not nightshade to put you to sleep here like Dr. Finkelstein, but you may enough enough to put yourself in a food coma instead.

Welcome to 2024’s #HalloweenTreatsWeek event!

If you’re new here, Welcome! If you’re a returning haunt, welcome back!

#HalloweenTreatsWeek is a yearly Halloween blogging event that is hosted by Angie from Big Bear’s Wife . This spooky event is an online, week-long event that is filled with some frightfully fun Halloween treats and recipes from some fantastic Halloween loving bloggers!

For this year’s 7th annual #HalloweenTreatsWeek event we have 12 hauntingly talented bloggers who are sharing their favorite Halloween recipes throughout the week! You can follow the hashtag #HalloweenTreatsWeek on social media to collect all of these frightful recipes to use at your own Halloween parties and events!

• Mozzarella Skull Caprese Pasta Salad from BigBearsWife
• Hocus Pocus Spell Book Rice Krispie Treats from Semi-Homemade Recipes
• Vanilla Citrus Cider from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
• Purple People Eater Macaron from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Mini Pizza Skulls from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Halloween Candy Chocolate Pie from Sweet ReciPEAs
• Halloween Bark from Art of Natural Living
• Pumpkin Oatmeal Bread from A Day in the Life on the Farm

SALLY'S WORM WORT NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS SOUP (GREEN CURRY SOUP)

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Yield: 8 Servings Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cooking Time: 45 Minutes 45 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp neutral oil, such as canola
• 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and roughly chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed/chopped
• 1 heaped Tbsp good green curry paste*
• 1 bunch kale, stripped off the stem and roughly chopped
• 1 (12 oz.) bag of frozen peas, thawed
• 2 (13.5 oz.) cans of coconut milk
• 10 oz. water
• 3 Tbsp sugar
• 1 Tbsp fish sauce**
• 1 Tbsp white vinegar
• 2 Tbsp mushroom seasoning/powder
• 2 tsp ground white pepper
• 1 (12 oz.) bag of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed or excess liquid
• 8 thin slices provolone

Directions

1. In a wok/heavy based sauce pan, heat oil over medium high and fry onion until it starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté until lightly browned all over, about 1 minute.
2. Add curry paste and sauté until oil starts to separate from the paste stirring frequently (about 2 minutes). Quickly add kale and peas, and cook until the kale is wilted and halved in volume (about 5 minutes).
3. Add coconut milk, water sugar, fish sauce, vinegar, mushroom seasoning, and white pepper. Stir to combine and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 20 minutes. Taste and adjust for seasoning: fish sauce for salt, sugar for sweet, vinegar for sour/tartness, mushroom seasoning for umami. Remove from heat and let the soup cool completely.
4. Transfer the soup and thawed spinach to a high speed blender***. Blend for at least one minute until completely smooth and bright green. Return soup to the pot and reheat.
5. While soup reheats, use a small round cookie cutter and/or paring knife to cut provolone slices into skulls.
6. Serve soup with provolone skull on top.

Notes

*I have the privilege of getting fresh homemade green curry paste from Damian himself, but you can find good pastes from a local Asian market. **For fish allergies or vegetarian option use soy sauce. ***I normally like to use my immersion blender to avoid the need to cool and transfer, but a high speed blender is preferred here to get a silky smooth texture.

Source: Adapted slightly from Damian of Fetty’s Street Food.

This retro frito taco salad recipe came out of my mom’s recipe box. Made with spinach, taco seasoned ground meat, onion, tomato, pinto beans, radish, cheese, Catalina dressing, and of course Fritos corn chips.

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This Frito Taco Salad is the next recipe card that I pulled from those that my mom gave me over the years. But she often didn’t supply a source so I initially wasn’t entirely sure where this one originated.

While searching the internet to determine if this was one of her own creations, I discovered that there are many interpretations of the same dish. Some use Romaine lettuce, beans, corn, or taco seasoning, bur the most consistent thing was ground meat, Catalina dressing, and Fritos corn chips.

Her recipe originally did not call for taco seasoning (just salt and pepper) or pinto beans but I decided to add them because I felt like to be a taco salad it needed taco seasoning, right? After all, where would the taco flavor come from if I didn’t use the taco seasoning? But she did use spinach (albeit half as much) instead of Romaine and radishes so I kept those.

Have you ever had a Frito taco salad before? What’s in your version? This salad actually reminds me a lot of a Doritos salad or as I made it, Cheetos salad. Also similar to a walking taco, or again in my case a Cheetos walking taco (do you see the trend here?).

MOM'S FRITO TACO SALAD WITH CATALINA DRESSING

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Yield: 4 servings Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cooking Time: 10M 10M

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp olive oil 1 lb. ground beef or turkey
• 1 package of taco seasoning (or 2.5 Tbsp homemade)
• 1/3 + 1/2 cup Catalina dressing
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 5 oz. fresh baby spinach
• 1 large tomato, diced
• 1/2 cup sliced radishes
• 1 (14 oz.) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or a blend)
• 16 oz. bag Fritos corn chips

Directions

1. Add oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add meat and brown, breaking into smaller pieces, until no longer pink on the outside, about 5 minutes. Add taco seasoning, 1/3 cup dressing, onion, and simmer for 5 more minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
2. In a large bowl, combine spinach, tomato, radish, beans, cheese, and remaining 1/2 cup dressing*. Add meat mixture and and Fritos, then toss to combine. Serve immediately.

Notes

*Stop here if you are preparing ahead of time. Otherwise the Fritos will get soggy.

Source: My mom gave me this recipe in May of 2007, but while digging through old recipe boxes of hers I found a similar recipe from a Charlene Reid of West Junior High School that originally used 1/2 head of lettuce.

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Start your day off with these better breakfast burritos, made with whole wheat tortillas and filled with turkey sausage, eggs, bell pepper, and feta.

This content is sponsored by the Ohio Poultry Association. I was compensated for this post but all thoughts and opinions remain my own.

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Happy National Better Breakfast Day!

As a kid I always wanted the unnaturally bright colored cereal to start my day. To say I was a picky eater is a gross understatement. Thankfully my taste buds have matured and now appreciate most foods this world has to offer (I’ll try almost anything at least once). With it, came an appreciation for a good breakfast.

Don’t get me wrong I love pancakes, French toast, waffles, and doughnuts but I reserve them for special occasions. I certainly eat enough dessert that I don’t need more for breakfast. These days I prefer to start my day with something more nutritious, which is often some rotation of Greek yogurt, fruit, oats, vegetables, and eggs.

Eggs have been under fire in the past, but they truly are little nutritional powerhouses. Just one egg contains 6 grams of protein, 8 essential nutrients (such a choline which is essential for brain health), only 70 calories, and obviously naturally free of sugars and carbohydrates. So not only are eggs a a good course of protein, they also help maintain a healthy weight by keeping you satisfied longer than their sugary, carb-loaded competition, thus curbing snack cravings,

But if you’re sitting there thinking, I don’t want to just eat eggs for breakfast, I have a recipe for you. These better breakfast burritos take a little bit longer than just scrambling eggs, but you will only be using one pan.

First, you brown the turkey breakfast sausage (omit if vegetarian), cook the eggs until there is no longer any obvious liquid egg, then cook the bell pepper and spinach until wilted, and assemble into whole wheat tortillas sprinkled with crumbled feta cheese. You can even wrap it in foil to keep warm if you need a to-go option.

These could also be easily adapted into tacos, if that’s more approachable. Would also be easier for kids to get involved in making/assembling their own meal! Just substitute the whole wheat tortilla for double the amount of smaller taco shells or tortillas, layer in the ingredients, and enjoy.

Have leftovers? These can be safely stored and consumed for up to 3 days in the fridge or frozen. In fact you can freeze raw eggs as well – just not in the shell please. Crack and beat them in a freezer-safe container (with a lid) and they can hang out in the freezer for up to a year! Just thaw them in the refrigerator a day before you want to use them. Any eggs still in the shells should be stored on the refrigerator shelves, not the door where the temperature fluctuates.

I always have a fresh supply of eggs in our refrigerator and love knowing that I am helping Ohio farmers in the process because Ohio is one of the nation’s largest producers of eggs, producing about 10 billion eggs every year. Visit OhioEggs.com to meet some of these wonderful Ohio egg farming families and to get more cooking tips, recipes, and nutrition information. You can also follow the Ohio Poultry Association on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

BETTER BREAKFSAT BURRITOS

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Yield: 4 servings Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cooking Time: 20 Minutes 20 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 8 oz. turkey breakfast sausage, crumbled
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1/2 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 5 oz. fresh spinach
• 4 oz. crumbled feta
• 4 whole wheat tortillas, warmed

Directions

1. Place a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage, breaking up into smaller pieces, and cook for 8-10 minutes or until no longer pink. Remove sausage from skillet to a paper towel-lined plate, cover to keep warm, and remove all but 1/2 tablespoon of the grease.
2. In the same pan add the beaten eggs. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until no longer runny, stirring frequently. Remove to another plate and cover to keep warm.
3. In the same pan add the bell pepper and spinach, cooking until the spinach is wilted, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
4. To assemble, divide eggs evenly down the center of each tortilla. Top each with sausage, peppers, spinach, and feta. Fold the bottom of each tortilla up over filling and roll up. Serve warm*.

Notes

*Or wrap in foil and place in a ziptop freezer bag. When ready to eat, remove foil, wrap in a damp paper towel and microwave for 3 minutes.

Source: Adapted from my Chorizo Breakfast Burritos.

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You might not think of soup this time of year, but this spring minestrone soup is full of fresh spring vegetables and herbs that now is the time to make it!

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Last weekend we planted our herb and vegetable garden for the season and I am excited for the bounty to arrive! So no, unfortunately nothing in this spring minestrone soup came from my garden. But, the bread you see in the background does have some oregano from my neighbors herb garden that is already taking over. The benefit of perennials!

Other than our mint growing back and our asparagus bed, we again planted a few types of tomatoes, peppers, basil, and zucchini. The newest addition this year is yellow squash. But I also finally bought a few potted flowering and decorative plants to spruce up our front porch and back deck. I feel like a true homeowner finally after 3 years haha!

But back to this soup.

I’ve made a more traditional minestrone in a slow cooker before, but I loved the idea of incorporating a bunch of fresh green springtime herbs and vegetables – peas, sugar snap peas, zucchini, spinach, and parsley. Add some cannellini beans and ditalini pasta to make it hearty enough to be a meal on it’s own. Then to seal the deal it’s finished with a dollop of fresh basil pesto. But if you need more may I suggest serving it alongside a homemade Chicken Salad Chick chicken salad?

I actually have made this twice already because the first batch I canned and gave to a close friend going through breast cancer treatment right now. She enjoyed it so much I had to make more for myself because I only tasted one spoonful to make sure it was edible. And yes, I also gave her a fresh baked loaf and herby sourdough bread too ;-).

Two years ago: Father’s Day Gift Guide

Four years ago: Grilled Garlic & Peppercorn Pork Tenderloin with Corn Salsa

Eight years ago: Twinkie Truffles

Ten years ago: Grilled Steak Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing

SPRING MINESTRONE SOUP

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Yield: 4-6 Servings Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cooking Time: 20 Minutes 20 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 small sweet onion, chopped
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 32 oz. (4 cups) reduced sodium vegetable broth
• Parmesan cheese rind, plus grated for garnish
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 sprig fresh thyme
• 1/4 tsp salt and pepper
• 1 (15 oz.) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup shelled peas
• 6 oz. sugar snap peas, trimmed and halved crosswise
• 1 small zucchini, diced
• 4 oz. (1/2 cup) uncooked ditalini pasta
• 3 oz. (1/2 bag) fresh spinach
• 1/4 cup basil pesto
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh Italian parsley

Directions

1. Heat oil in a medium pot over medium-high. Add onion and celery, cooking until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 more minute or until fragrant. Add broth, Parmesan rind, thyme, bay leaf, and salt and pepper, and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat to a simmer and beans, peas, and zucchini. Cover with lid ajar and cook for 5 minutes. Add pasta and spinach and cook another 5 minutes*. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper.
3. Remove the cheese rind, bay leaf, and thyme stem and then stir in the pesto and parsley. Serve immediately with additional cheese on top.

Notes

*I undercook the pasta slightly at first because it will continue to cook as it cools down.

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Fresh basil pesto is key in this flavorful pesto chicken lasagna with spinach, kale, chicken, ricotta, and plenty of cheesy goodness!

This content contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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With how much basil is growing in my garden, I have no need to get any from the Farmers Market, but since it is #FarmersMarketWeek I figured now was a great time to share a recipe using some homemade pesto in case you are in the same boat – whether home grown or picked up at your Farmers Market.

I am was lucky enough to be able to use some kale growing in my garden for this recipe too. All those fresh greens!

And yes the garlic bread I served with it was homemade too ;-). I didn’t make my own semolina pasta dough noodles or Mozzarella this time but I have before and it’s totally worth it if you have the time. This recipe is a little more realistic for the masses using dried noodles, shredded Rotisserie chicken, and store bought cheese.

Every time I talk about homemade pesto I say that it is remarkably better than anything store bought (unless you are buying it from somewhere that makes it fresh). The color alone is a great indicator of it’s freshness – just look how bright green it is! Store bought is usually brownish green and comes with only half the flavor.

Add in the fresh garlic, fresh Parmesan cheese, and some high quality olive oil, and you’ll never go back to store bought ever again. Unless of course you simply don’t have the time in which case go ahead and use that jar, this lasagna is worth it either way.

In the effort of saving time, I usually make large batches of pesto, especially at the end of the season when I am chopping everything down, and then freeze it so I can enjoy that fresh basil flavor anytime. Plus, then I don’t have to drag out my food processor the next time I want pesto.

I thank my past self for little things like this all the time. This is my kind of self-care and self-love.

While we try to eat a lot of lean protein and vegetables, quarantine has us cravings comforting carbs more than ever. Thank goodness for our home gym in the basement, because the two of us are all of this lasagna (obviously not in one sitting).

One year ago: Lamb Burgers with Purslane Aioli

Four years ago: August 2016 Stitch Fix #17

Five year ago: Wheat Berry Salad

Six years ago: Turkey and Kale Panini

Seven years ago: Gnocchi with Sausage and Kale

Nine years ago: “I Can’t Believe It’s Healthier” Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

PESTO CHICKEN LASAGNA

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Yield: 9-12 servings Cooking Time: 50 MInutes 50 MInutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

GREENS

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 4 cups loosely packed spinach, chopped
• 4 cups loosely packed kale leaves, chopped
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp onion powder

RICOTTA

• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 16 oz. ricotta

CHICKEN

• 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp salt

ASSEMBLY

• 12 lasagna noodles, cooked
• 1-1/2 cup basil pesto
• 2 cups Italian cheese blend
• 8 oz. fresh mozzarella, sliced and torn into pieces

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425F. Grease a 9x13 baking pan and set aside.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil. Add garlic, cooking just until fragrant, about 30-60 seconds. Add the spinach and kale in batches, and salt. Cook until greens have cooked down completely, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
3. In a small bowl, blend together the eggs and ricotta. Set aside.
4. In a medium bowl, toss together the chicken and seasonings. Set aside.
5. To assemble the lasagna: Place 3 cooked noodles in a single layer on the bottom of the baking dish. Spread 1/3 the ricotta mixture over noodles, top with 1/3 of the greens, 1/3 of the chicken, dot with 1/4 of the pesto, and sprinkle with 1/4 of the cheese. Add another layer of noodles, and repeat layering.
6. Add the final layer of noodles and top with the remaining pesto, shredded cheese, and mozzarella slices.
7. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the filling is bubbling mozzarella is golden brown. Cool 15 minutes, slice, and serve.

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Tag @THESPIFFYCOOKIE on Instagram and hashtag it #THESPIFFYCOOKIE

Who else loves strawberry spinach salad? What if I served it on top of a pizza crust? Cause that’s what this pizza is all about.

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Are you on team fruit as a pizza topping? Pineapple is usually the fruit in question and personally I think it is amazing on pizza. Especially when paired with ham or bacon. Mmmm deliciousness.

But today I am expanding your horizons to strawberry! It is #BerryWeek after all and I love an excuse to get creative.

After weeks of falling off the wagon, I’ve been trying to get back into the habit of eating more greens, so what better way than to serve one of my favorite warm-weather salads on top of a pizza?

This oil based pizza is topped with all the components you love in strawberry spinach salad: crumbled feta cheese, fresh strawberries, red onion, almonds, and post oven spinach and a balsamic drizzle.

The best part? The strawberries basically get roasted on top. If you’ve never had a roasted strawberry before you are in for a treat.

And of course a balsamic drizzle elevates any pizza. It’s one of my favorite post-own pizza toppings in recent times along with hot honey, fresh greens, and ricotta. Not necessarily all at once…. but maybe ;-).

Wednesday Berry Week Recipes

• Berry Pretzel Dessert by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Berry Sourdough Muffins by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Blackberry Glazed Chicken by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Blueberry and Cream Breakfast Pastry by The Freshman Cook
• Mixed Berry Sangria by Family Around the Table
• Oven Baked Ribs with Blackberry Sauce by Eat Move Make
• Raspberry Danish Pinwheels by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Raspberry Peach Jam by The Redhead Baker
• Strawberry Spinach Salad Pizza by The Spiffy Cookie
• Strawberry, Bacon & Brie Panini with Balsamic Honey Sauce by Sweet Beginnings

One year ago: Pesto Chicken Salad

Four years ago: Taco Hummus

Five years ago: Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce & Coconut-Ginger Rice

Six years ago: Homemade Whole Wheat Bread Bowls

Seven years ago: S’mores Puppy Chow

Nine years ago: Banana Foster Cream Pie

STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD PIZZA

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Yield: 2-3 servings Cooking Time: 20 Minutes 20 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 1 recipe pizza dough, risen
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup pizza cheese blend, shredded
• 4 fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
• 1 Tbsp toasted almond slices
• 1 cup chopped spinach
• 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar (or balsamic reduction)

Directions

1. Place pizza stone on middle rack and allow to preheat in the oven to 450 degrees, for at least 10 minutes.
2. Roll out pizza dough and transfer to a pizza peel sprinkled with cornmeal.
3. Evenly brush on the olive oil,followed by feta cheese, pizza cheese, strawberries, red onion, and almond slices. Transfer to the pizza stone (without removing from the oven) and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the crust starts to turn golden and the cheese starts to bubble.
4. Allow to cool 5 minutes. Top with spinach, drizzle with balsamic, slice and serve.

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Tag @THESPIFFYCOOKIE on Instagram and hashtag it #THESPIFFYCOOKIE

After you use up all those carrots making side dishes or carrot cake for Easter, save the tops and make a delicious spring pesto!

Normally I am all about finding ways to use every last bit of food to reduce waste. I save a ton of veggie scraps in the freezer to make homemade veggie stock (a trick I learned from @plant_brat), I regrow my green onions by putting the white rooted ends in water, and repurpose leftovers into new meals. So it was an obvious idea to make pesto out of the carrot tops that were not used in carrot-heavy recipes such as honey carrot soup.

The only problem? Most carrots in grocery stores are sold without the tops these days! I had to go out of my way and go to another grocery store to actually find carrots with tops just so I could find a purpose for those tops. How silly does that sound? I wonder what the suppliers of all those bald carrots do with the greenery? I hope it is fed to bunnies or another animal and not wasted. At least I can say for certain that these ones were eaten and with pleasure!

So if you happen to require carrots for a recipe on your Easter menu this year (may I suggest carrot cake or carrot gnocchi), go ahead and keep an eye out for the carrots with luscious locks of green hair and make this pesto as well. Spoiler alert: it will go great with the potato recipe I am sharing on Friday ;-). And it’s pesto so you can literally use it on most anything, or freeze it if you want to save it for later.

To keep you up to date, here’s the Easter Menu I’ve shared thus far (updated as I post more):

• Apricot-Honey Glazed Ham
• Black Pepper Parmesan Biscuits
• Creamy Spring Peas
• Herb-Roasted Carrots & Parsnips
• Smashed Potatoes with Lemon Aioli
• Carrot Top Pesto
• Mom’s Investment Salad (aka Ambrosia Salad)
• Raspberry Almond Streusel Pie with Allspice Whipped Cream

Two years ago: Easter Gooey Butter Cake

Three years ago: Weekly Meal Plan: April 11-17

Four years ago: Eggplant Tofu in Garlic Sauce

Five years ago: Apple Jelly Glazed Pork Chops

Six years ago: Slow Cooker Chicken Nachos

Seven years ago: Cheesy Potato Casserole

CARROT TOP PESTO

Makes approximately 2 cups

Ingredients:

3 cloves garlic

2 oz. Parmesan cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes (freshly shredded is fine)

1 cup soft carrot top greenery (main stems removed)

1 cup fresh baby spinach

1 cup fresh basil

1/2 cup pine nuts

1 tsp lemon juice

1-1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 cup Pomora extra virgin olive oil (can add extra to thin out if you so choose)

Directions:

1. In the bowl of a food processor, add garlic. Turn on and add cheese through the feed tube. Continue processing until cheese is finely chopped.
2. Add greenery, pine nuts, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Process 2-3 seconds, then gradually add olive oil through the feed tube. Continue processing until thoroughly combined.
3. Pour into an air-tight container, and top with a small amount of olive oil. Store in the refrigerator.

Source: Adapted from my Homemade Pesto.

Disclosure: I received complimentary Pomora olive oil to use as I pleased. All thoughts an opinions are my own.

Serve this yummy mummy stuffed with spinach, artichokes, and mozzarella cheese at your spooky Halloween party!

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Yesterday I watched as the last of our lab equipment was carted away and moved a whole 5 miles away to Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH). A little over four years ago I had a dream come true, moving back to Columbus, after finishing my PhD in Memphis and a year of fun-employment in Knoxville (for real it was a blast despite the uncertainty), to work at none other than my alma mater Ohio State, a university that I love dearly.

I’ve loved working for Ohio State, the perks of inexpensive but great health care, unparalleled retirement benefits, commuting by bike, my best friend working in the building next door, and discounted football tickets didn’t hurt. Needless to say I am sad to leave Ohio State and the fact that the entire moving process over the last couple months has been miserable isn’t helping alleviate those feelings. That’s not to say that NCH doesn’t have it’s own benefits (I wouldn’t be going if it didn’t) but I’m still in my grieving phase.

Seems fitting that the end of the Ohio State era of my career (at least for now) happens to coincide with Halloween. As such I’ve made a cute edible mummy – a stromboli filled with spinach, artichokes, and cheese, with wrappings of dough pieces that resemble a mummy. This technique it similar to mini mummy dogs if you’ve ever made them.

I actually brought it to a Halloween themed potluck with a group of the Cbusfoodbloggers. People always assume I will bring a dessert to potlucks. Granted desserts are my favorite things to hand out at work because it’s less temptation at home, but sometimes I feel the need to show that I’m not type-cast to just desserts! But I digress.

Creepy Creations

• Black Velvet Layer Cake from Fresh April Flours
• Bloody Monster Hands from That Recipe
• Monster Rice Krispie Treats from Hostess At Heart
• Mummy Brownies from Devour Dinner
• Mummy Halloween Poppers from Magical Ingredients
• Pumpkin Pudding with Chocolate Spiderwebs from Art of Natural Living
• Spider Web Mexican Pizza from Palatable Pastime
• Spider Web Pretzels from Jen Around the World
• Vampire Donuts from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks

We share Recipes From Our Dinner Table! Join our group and share your recipes, too! While you’re at it, join our Pinterest board, too!

Two years ago: Apple Fritter Bread

Three years ago: Chocolate Covered Peanut Brittle

Four years ago: Caramel Apple Oreo Truffles

Seven years ago: Root Beer Sloppy Joes

MUMMY SPINACH ARTICHOKE STROMBOLI

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Yield: 4 servings Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cooking Time: 10 Minutes 10 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb pizza dough (I halved this recipe)
• 6 oz. jar of artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• 5 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed of excess moisture
• 1-1/2 cups grated Mozzarella cheese
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 sweety drop peppers or olive slices, for eyes
• Dried parsley & Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Line large rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper or spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Spread pizza dough out on baking sheet to be approximately 10×16-inches.
3. Spread artichokes evenly over the center 1/3 of the dough lengthwise, leaving an inch on the edges. Top with half the cheese, all of the spinach, garlic, and remaining cheese.
4. Brush the 1-inch edges of dough with the egg and fold over the filling. Make cuts 1 inch apart on long sides of dough to within 1/2 inch of filling (See photo below). Alternately cross strips over filling to mimic the mummy wrappings. When you reach the bottom tuck the last strips underneath and pinch to seal. Place peppers or olives to resemble eyes. Brush the entire stromboli with egg and sprinkle parsley and cheese over top.
5. Bake 8-10 minutes or until bubbly and golden. Remove from oven, cool 5 minutes and slice into pieces.

Source: Adapted from my Stromboli.

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Your favorite party dip just became your new favorite side dish. This spinach artichoke potato salad is a must at all summer cook outs.

It’s almost Memorial Day! For me nostalgia demands grilled cheeseburgers and potato salad at the very least. What are your Memorial Day staples? I will always prefer my dad’s creamy potato salad over all others (again nostalgia) but obviously I can’t share the same recipe year after year so prepare yourself for a new variation that’s a worth addition to your cookout menu this weekend. Oh how I love coming up with menus for holidays and events!

Have I ever mentioned that I actually enjoy grocery shopping? I enjoy the whole process, from recipe creation, making the grocery list, crossing things off said list, and sometimes finding some new seasonal items before cashing out and bringing it all home for the main cooking event!.I might be weird, but that’s okay. As an added bonus, the grocery at which I frequent, Giant Eagle, has an awesome fuelperks+ program making it a one stop shop for all things summer.

While I didn’t earn enough fuelperks+ on this specific shopping trip to add on to the $0.03/gallon discount my rewards card automatically gives me at the GetGo gas station, I only need to spend $11 on my next trip to increase that discount to $0.20/gallon – every $50 spent equals $0.20 off – up to a free tank of gas! They also added new features allowing you to apply fuelperks+ to your grocery bill up to 20% off and you can earn at the pump too. Download the app or learn more about fuelperks+ by clicking this link –> http://cbi.as/a1yuq.

What things will you buy and/or activities will you do with your family because you saved with fuelperks+? As for me? I am looking forward to all our summer travels (and the discounted gas we will need to get there)! This weekend in fact we will be driving to our hometown of Rochester, NY for my bridal shower and part one of Bob’s bachelor party. Which brings me right back around to potato salad and its requirement on Memorial Day.

The base to this potato salad is pretty similar to my father’s if you can recognize that Greek yogurt is a good substitute for mayo and cream cheese for sour cream (albeit a bit thicker). After that however, it veers in a totally different direction with the addition of artichoke hearts, spinach, garlic, and Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. You read that correctly, I turned one of the most popular party dips into what is soon to be one of the most popular cookout side dishes!

One year ago: Bacon Cheddar Burger with Jalapeno Aioli

Two years ago: Mini Lime Cupcakes with Blueberry Frosting

Four years ago: Strawberry, Rhubarb & Pear Salad

Five years ago: Strawberry Basil Gelato

Six years ago: Apricot White Chocolate Granola Bites

Seven years ago: Chicken and Veggie Nuggets

SPINACH ARTICHOKE POTATO SALAD

Serves 8

Ingredients:

1 lb. medium red potatoes (about 5-6)

8 oz. plain Greek yogurt (or mayonnaise)

4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature

1 (14 oz.) jar artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

1 (10 oz.) package frozen chopped baby spinach, thawed and excess moisture squeezed out

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

1/2 cups finely shredded Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp dried oregano

Salt and pepper, to taste

Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions:

1. In a large pot, place the whole potatoes and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook until toothpick will easily go through the potatoes. Drain and allow to cool until able to handle.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl cream together the yogurt (or mayo) and cream cheese. Stir in the remaining ingredients.
3. Peel the cooled potatoes, chop into bite-sized pieces, place in the bowl with other ingredients, and stir gently until thoroughly combined.
4. Place in serving bowl, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Source: Adapted from My Dad’s Creamy Potato Salad and my Spinach Artichoke Dip.

Have you been stalking me on Instagram as I tackle my summer to-do list? If so then you know that tonight I’m going to see Real Madrid play Paris Saint-Germain! Ohio State’s American Football schedule may be right around the corner (woohoo!) but in the meantime I’m gonna enjoy some futball! A few friends are attending as well but we all bought our tickets at separate times so I’m not entirely sure how close our seats are together, but oh well.

This soccer game as absolutely nothing to do with this recipe today, however. Maaaaybe if it was a Greek team playing I could make some sort of lame attempt to connect to two but I’m not even gonna pretend – I just didn’t have anything else on my mind to talk about so I told you about my plans tonight. Stalk away (good luck trying to find me, although my bright purple hair might make it easier).

But in all seriousness, this spanakoptia is superior. Why? Because I originally was going to make a more classic version, inspired by this month’s Book Club Cookbook Cooking Crew invitation to cook a dish from Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières. But then I decided that I wanted to limit the time I spent in the kitchen, cut the recipe in half, and used puff pastry instead of phyllo dough. Because it’s easier. And my laziness paid off because this little rustic spanakopita tart looking thing was magical. Think of it as a flaky-crust spinach and cheese pizza.

One year ago: Three Cheese and Swiss Chard Pasta Bake Cake

Five years ago: BBQ Chicken Burgers

RUSTIC SPANAKOPITA

Serves 6

Ingredients:

1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped spinach

2 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided

3 scallions

6 oz. small curd cottage cheese

4 oz. crumbled feta cheese

1 egg

4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature

1 tsp Greek seasoning

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp lemon pepper

1/8 tsp nutmeg

1 sheet (1/2 pkg.) frozen puff pastry, thawed

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and set aside.
2. Thaw the spinach and drain in a colander.Squeeze out excess moisture. Roll spinach in a clean dish towel and wring dry. Place in a large bowl.
3. Chop the green and white parts of scallions separately. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a small skillet and saute the scallion whites until soft, approximately 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in scallion greens. Add to the spinach along with the cottage cheese and feta.
4. In a separate bowl, using an electric mixer at medium speed, beat the egg briefly. Add the cream cheese and continue to beat until smooth. Add to spinach mixture.
5. To assemble, roll out the puff pastry dough on the baking sheet. Place spinach mixture in the center and spread out into a circle, leaving at least 1 inch of dough on the edges. Fold dough over the spinach mixture allowing a majority of the center to be visible. Melt the last tablespoon of butter and brush on the edges. Bake for 25-30 or until edges are golden and center is set.

Source: Adapted from The Book Club Cookbook, Revised Edition: Recipes and Food for Thought from Your Book Club’s Favorite Books and Authors by Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp.

Here we are at the final #thebookclubcookbookCC event. Final. Can you believe it??

It’s hard to fathom that our year-long journey to explore – and cook from – The Book Club Cookbook, Revised Edition: Recipes and Food for Thought from Your Book Club’s Favorite Books and Authors by Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp* is drawing to a close. Judy, Vicki, and their publisher, Tarcher-Penguin, provided the hosting bloggers with copies of the book plus copies to giveaway each month of the project. We are so grateful for their generosity over the past year.