I really enjoyed this simple and refreshing Asian noodle salad! I loved the combination of sweet, salty and tangy flavors.

I added some julienned red bell pepper for extra crunch and color. To make a more substantial salad, stir-fried shrimp, chicken or tofu would also be delicious additions. For the dressing, I added a little sesame oil and soy sauce for extra flavor. Since I only had seasoned rice vinegar, I omitted the extra sugar, and also omitted the salt since I added soy sauce. If you want a little kick to the dressing, add some Asian chile garlic sauce.

Vietnamese Rice Noodle Salad
-recipe from epicurious.com

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Tags: Asian fish sauce, cilantro, rice noodles, rice vinegar, Vietnamese

This hoagie "dip" is not a dip at all. In fact, I refer to it as a deconstructed hoagie because it's got all the hoagie makings chopped into small pieces that you spoon on top of bread (like a bruschetta topping). It's very easy to make and people love it!

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Tags: Appetizer, bruschetta, deli turkey, hoagie dip, provolone, salami

This quick and easy Asian-flavored dish is perfect for a weeknight meal. I followed the recipe except for adding some red bell pepper that I needed to use up. The fresh linguine I used worked great, but next time I'll try the recipe using fresh Chinese noodles.

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Tags: broccoli, Chinese egg noodles, lo mein, pork, pork tenderloin

I love stir-fry dishes! They're quick, easy to make, and a great way to eat more veggies.  My family is always thrilled to see beef on the menu so this meal was a hit (even with my Young Picky Eater). I particularly liked the sauce, which is flavored with hoisin sauce and sesame oil.

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Tags: Asian, Beef, broccoli, flank steak, garlic, ginger, red pepper, stir-fry

The first time I tasted pesto was in a small restaurant in San Francisco called Restaurante Parma. I was in my late teens-early twenties and on a vacation with my family. Always being the adventurous eater, I ordered the pesto pasta even though I didn't really know what it was. I'd never tasted anything like it before; there was so much flavor in such a simple dish.  I've been smitten with pesto ever since.

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Tags: basil, garlic, olive oil, parmesan cheese, parsley, pecorino cheese, pesto, pine nuts

Here's a quick curry-flavored soup that is delicious and easy to make. You can even change up the flavors each time you make it by using different curries. I used curry powder this time (doubling the amount called for); next time I'll try red, green or yellow Thai curry paste.

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Tags: Chicken, cilantro, coconut, curry, lime, soup

If you like Buffalo Chicken Wings, you're going to love these sandwiches! They're easy to make, delicious and way more satisfying than those scrawny little chicken wings. I love the spicy red pepper sauce that coats the tender chicken breasts, and the tangy, extremely flavorful blue cheese spread that gets slathered on the bun tops. Basically, this sandwich ROCKS!

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Tags: blue cheese, buffalo chicken sandwich, Chicken, Frank's Red Hot Sauce

Sometimes I crave a good vegetable soup. I made this one recently when I had a boat load of broccoli in the fridge and all the other ingredients called for in the recipe. This simple soup is not only tasty but it's also high in vitamin C and fiber.

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If you're looking for a twist on traditional chicken soup, then you should try this recipe for Chicken and Vegetable Chowder. It's simple, easy to make and comforting.

For the blending of the chowder, I used an immersion blender (stick blender) instead of transferring the soup in batches to a blender. If you do use a regular blender, let the chowder cool off a bit before blending. Also, remember to only fill the blender about 1/3 full and hold the lid down tightly with a towel (this is to prevent hot soup from spraying all over you and your kitchen when you turn the blender on). I used whole milk for the chowder, but I'm sure 2% would work fine, too. I would definitely not use nonfat milk, though. Serve the chowder with crusty bread and a salad.  

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Tags: carrots, Chicken, Chicken and Vegetable Chowder, potatoes, rice

The other day I was in one of those "what am I going to make for dinner" quandaries. I knew I wanted to use some fresh corn I had on hand and I was NOT going to make a special trip to the store for any dinner ingredients. After a quick inventory of what I had in the pantry/fridge and a quick recipe search, I decided to make Mexican Chicken Soup. Now I know that September isn't quite soup weather but, hey, we live in the Pacific Northwest and it was overcast and rainy on this particular day. Soup was definitely going to be on the menu!

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Tags: beans, chipotle chile, cilantro, corn, Mexican Chicken Soup, tomatoes