The perfect side for a day of backyard grilling. Whether as an accompaniment to steak, fish, or a vegan item like portobello mushrooms, these grilled bitter greens topped with nothing except a flavorful pear vinaigrette are simple, no-fuss, and delicious. MOOD MUSIC Muddy Water's "Take The Bitter With The Sweet" seems self-explanatory as a song …
Quick & Easy
Rich Vegan Israeli Couscous with Tender Greens and a Bright, Lemony Finish Alright now, if you’re movin’ down the flavor line and lookin’ for creamy comfort with a groove, we got just the thing—vegan creamy Israeli couscous that sings smooth like Raphael Saadiq’s “Movin’ Down the Line.” This ain’t your everyday grain game—we’re talkin’ pearl …
Stop playing! Make this baby kale pesto and put it on just about everything you like to grub on. My meal prep is as basic and simple as it gets. I make a few different sauces every Sunday such as this baby kale pesto or my favorite roasted red pepper sauce which you can find …
Badass collards shouldn't be reserved for just Sunday soul food dinners and holidays. These silky-smooth meatless braised collard greens were meant to be enjoyed on weeknights as well. Musical Inspiration for Wine Braised Collard Greens If I could only eat one food, it'd likely be collard greens. My love affair with this dark cruciferous aphrodisiac …
Grilled scallops are quick, delicious and can go well with just about anything, so I keep them in the rotation especially on nice sunny days. They're golden, as long as you don't overcook them. These are grilled to perfection and topped with a lemony salsa verde made with beet greens and a mix of fresh …
This vegan BLT sandwich is the TRUTH! Fresh tomatoes and a killer smokey sauce elevate this BLT to the head of the class. MOOD MUSIC Some years ago when I was working for Kraft Foods I had a research assignment where we visited Velveeta Cheese consumers to discuss and observe their Velveeta consumption habits. I …
This Salmon Poke Bowl recipe is not traditional in the true Hawaiian sense by any means, but it is damn good and more in line with versions you'll see as part of the craze that's going on currently. I used the toppings to put my personal spin on it which skews more towards soul food …
A very simple roasted broccoli recipe dressed flavorfully for an easy weeknight side. Garlic and parmesan are simple adds that deliver big flavor! MOOD MUSIC I find some of the simplest recipes are the best. This roasted broccoli qualifies as such and is one of our favorite staples. It's especially great in a pinch when …
Simple Cucumber Salad that's packed with flavor and super easy to pull together. The salad is a refreshing, pick me up, but I also use it when I need to quickly take the edge off and prevent hangry man from showing up. However, because it presents so well and packs a lot of flavor it …
Purple vegetables make for a silky smooth cauliflower potato soup in this simple dinner soup recipe. Purple cauliflower and purple potatoes are well seasoned, cooked and pureed into creamy goodness then garnished with purple daikon and crushed pistachios to add a bit of crunch. The purple madness in this recipe is the result of all …
There is nothing like a migas breakfast after a long weekend. It's a hearty meal that is uniquely Tex-Mex. I tweaked this classic skillet breakfast by adding another Texas staple, leftover smoked brisket. Migas have long been a staple skillet breakfast option to most Texans, however outside of the Lone Star State they are relatively …
Avocado toast recipes seem to be everywhere these days. Admittedly I'm not a "trendy" guy, but I do have those in my life such as my wife and kids, who will on occasion pull me out of the dark ages. This version of avocado toast is one of those times. The idea of using an …
Brussels sprouts with balsamic vinegar - Without a doubt one of the best roasted Brussels sprouts recipes you'll make; a simple, highly flavorful way to enjoy them! The sprouts are both savory and sweet, highly aromatic, and provides a unique mouth experience for the holidays or easy weeknight side. I never had brussels sprouts as …
Creamy, delicious avocado ice cream paired with a tart and tasty pomegranate sauce for an unforgettable dessert. Lifted by the citrusy lime and balanced with fresh basil the savory avocado is transformed into sweet creamy deliciousness. MOOD MUSIC There is no limit to the amount of effort I'll put into securing damn good ice cream. …
Meatless Monday grilled portobello mushrooms. It's a simple way to get a filling and tasty meatless meal on the table in a matter of minutes. Mushrooms are marinated in a pineapple juice marinade and served with a delicious spinach chimichurri sauce. MOOD MUSIC GRILLED PORTOBELLOS INGREDIENTS GRILLING PORTOBELLOS INSTRUCTIONS Prepare the mushrooms Remove the stems, …
Fire up your weekend grill or weeknight steak night — this spinach chimichurri sauce brings herby heat and cool green swagger to anything you put on the plate. Your flavor guy here with a sauce that sings straight from the garden to your taste buds. This spinach chimichurri is a remix on the classic—bold, herbaceous, …
These fiery Peruvian chicken kebabs (anticuchos) are an easy way to transform a simple, cheap cut of meat into something spectacular. Chunks of chicken, marinated in a hot and fruity yellow pepper sauce and quickly grilled on wooden skewers for a game day pleasing appetizer or quick, easy mid-week dinner entree with the family ready …
For your next meatless meal try this sweet potato salad recipe or hockey pucks as my son calls the rounds. Cut them round, square, lengthwise or simply nice and fat. These oven-roasted steaks are enhanced by your choice of toppings. You can be as creative or plain as you want but this recipe strives for …
What better way to showcase delicious mushrooms than in these simple, flavorful vegan stuffed portobello mushrooms. This is a great option for vegans as well as non-vegans who just want to lower their meat consumption. This time of year when family and dear friends are around making it a great time to catch-up over familiar …
This Mexican Beer Cocktail aka Da Moopbrown is damn good! Hey if Arnold Palmer can have his own drink, why can't I? Make it and thank me later. Fair warning if you don't like beer, this isn't for you, otherwise drink up, responsibly that is. Admittedly, I was slow to the idea of a beer …
This grilled cheese sandwich with andouille sausage is Southern comfort turned all the way up. Smoky Cajun sausage, deeply caramelized onions, tangy pickles, and layers of melty cheese create a sandwich with crisp buttery bread and an irresistibly gooey center. Inspired by the classic American diner grilled cheese but remixed with Louisiana flavor, it's a …
This is not your average bowl of eggplant stew. It's delicious, made with just a few ingredients, and seasoned with a South African Braai spice rub. The spice rub is made homemade and adds amazing flavor to a very simple dish that you will enjoy No Doubt! FOR THE MOOD Eggplant Ingredients For the eggplant …
These poached vegetables represent simplicity in prep and cooking, but AMAZING complexty of flavor! In a unique and loose reinterpretation of a "garden vegetable soup," leeks, fennel, and new potatoes are poached in a smokey ginger lemongrass broth. This is a one-pot dish in which chopping the vegetables is all the work required and cooking …
Last of the squash blossoms, just in time to make vegan squash blossom tacos! In Texas it's never easy to discern when Fall Season actually starts. The months and days change, but the temperatures not so much. So you have to take the good with the bad. The good and some times the great is …
I know it's fall but we still enjoy a fancy cucumber melon soda! A refreshing and tasty beverage for a hot day or an enjoyable mocktail. MOOD MUSIC SODA INGREDIENTS SODA INSTRUCTIONS Remove seeds from both melon and cucumbers. Chop the fruit roughly and add to a blender along with basil and blend until smooth. …
Asian daikon salad, a most beautiful and tasty thing! One ingredient side salad with a simple but delicious vinaigrette. MOOD MUSIC WHAT IS DAIKON? Typically daikon is white and actually look like a thicker white carrot. They are common to Asian cuisine, particularly Chinese and Japanese. Not only are these daikon beautiful in color, they …
Tailgate with this grilled Corn on the Cob recipe, featuring simply seasoned fresh corn topped with a vegan crema. MOOD MUSIC One of my favorite tailgating songs is "Eye of the Tiger" from the Rocky IV soundtrack, partly because my fondest college football memories are from my days as a player were our intense workout …
Weeknight soul meets global flavor—this soba noodles bowl brings sweet potatoes, collard greens, and good vibes to your table for lunch, dinner, or that midweek reset meal. Your flavor DJ here, spinning a little flavor harmony straight outta the kitchen. This soba noodles bowl hits like a groove—earthy buckwheat noodles twirlin’ with sweet roasted potatoes …
Creamy mashed root vegetables made Caribbean style for an alternative side dish in place of plain, boring mashed potatoes! Boniato root, popular throughout the Caribbean, is paired with turmeric and spices for a colorful and tasty mash. This mashed boniato recipe is comfort food with a passport. Rooted in Caribbean kitchens and built on the naturally …
Nothing like some raw collard greens chiffonade to get me off that slide! Simply prepared, a tasty way to get collard greens in your life any day of the week. We eat collard greens in one form or another at least once a week in our household. This collard greens recipe made chiffonade style is …
Hot vinegar pepper sauce is a sharp, fiery Southern table condiment made by steeping fresh peppers in tangy vinegar until the flavors mellow, deepen, and light up every bite of greens, beans, fried fish, or barbecue. This version layers in tequila for subtle earthy sweetness and smoky complexity that rounds out the heat while giving …
Avocados are deserving of "top billin" status and these hummus stuffed avocados elevate them to main dish status. This recipe was inspired partly by my avocado ice cream dish. Avocados are halved and stuffed with hummus and a delicious pumpkin seed pesto. MOOD MUSIC WHAT'S NEEDED TO MAKE STUFFED AVOCADOS For the avocados For the …
Velvety pear cream sauce meets golden pan seared scallops in a dish that’s equal parts elegance and flavor—perfect for date nights, dinner parties, or when you want to treat yourself to a restaurant-worthy meal at home. Scallops sizzlin’ like sweet sax notes on a warm night—tender, caramelized sea scallops kissed by the heat, then draped …
This recipe for simple roasted leeks has an intensely deep flavor that makes this weeknight side feel gourmet. I'm a huge fan of roasting vegetables due to their simplicity and the intense flavor that roasting brings out. Roasted leeks are true to this form and are perfectly scented with fresh herbs in this recipe. MOOD …
Delicious vegan taco recipe perfect for meatless tacos Tuesday. I could eat these roasted vegetable tacos every day! So simple to make and very filling, and a great excuse to put a cool, tasty salsa on top. My favorite tacos are traditional carne asada with cilantro, onions, and lime juice. These vegetable tacos are meatless …
An omelette recipe made with loads of vegetables for an easy delicious breakfast. MOOD MUSIC Open-faced omelettes were a big part of my breakfast mornings as a kid. We always had plenty of eggs thanks to my great Uncle Bubba's farm. In my later years, I discovered Norma's Cafe in my beloved Oak Cliff neighborhood …
My daughter teases that a root vegetable salad is "old peoples' salad! But she never passes on fixing a large plate of this simple and delicious salad that brings together farm-fresh ingredients. When you grow-up with your grandparents and spend a fair amount of time with your grandmother and her crew of girlfriends and sisters, …
This Peruvian Lima bean recipe (ensalada de pallares) is a highly underrated bean salad. It's got flavor and texture. Growing up in Texas I've had my share of blackeyed pea salads aka "Texas Caviar" and this Lima bean salad is very similar in taste profile and technique. Lima or butter beans are common to soul …
Give leftover beet greens a fresh spin with this vibrant salsa verde—zesty, earthy, and the perfect greens salsa for fish, meats, or veggies. This beet greens salsa verde is a quick, no-cook recipe that transforms tender greens into a bold, flavor-packed sauce. Blended with garlic, citrus, herbs, and olive oil, it comes together in just …
This papaya blackberry sorbet recipe makes for an interesting combination that works extremely well! I love making ice cream. I grew up on that plain vanilla and on a good month that neopolitan trio or the sherbert on-sale flavor of the week. Now its fancy gelato and exotic sorbets lol! This blackberry and papaya sorbet comes …