Garlic Paprika Smashed Parmesan Potatoes (Whole30)

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Forget potato salad this summer. Who needs those extra calories by adding loads of mayonnaise to an already carb-filled side? Smashed potatoes are soft with a crispy exterior, and are drizzled with olive oil, spices and Parmesan cheese for a burst of flavor. You'll thank me. Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 12 oz. baby yellow potatoes
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1/2 tsp. onion powder
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• Salt, to taste
• 2 tbsp. Parmesan cheese, grated (omit if doing Whole30)

Put the potatoes in a large saucepan and fill with water. Make sure the water rises at least 1-inch over the potatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce to low and simmer until the potatoes are fork tender, about 30 minutes.

Alternatively, you can make a small slit in the top of each potato and microwave for about 7 minutes per pound, or until the potatoes are tender. This might take less time depending on the size of your potatoes.

Set your broiler to medium.

When they potatoes are done, place on paper towels to dry them off. Once dry, transfer the potatoes to a baking sheet. Use a paper towel or paper plate to carefully mash them to 1/4-inch thick.

Mix the oil, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, pepper, salt and Parmesan cheese together. Drizzle a small amount of oil mixture over top of each smashed potato.

Set the potatoes under the broiler for 5-8 minutes or until they become crispy. Keep an eye on them so they don't burn. Remove from oven and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Enjoy immediately.

Source: SK Original

Gazpacho (Whole30)

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Chris and I are trying the Whole30 diet, which basically eliminates dairy, grains, sugar, legumes, processed food and alcohol from your diet for 30 days. The first few days were ROUGH for me. Like, my body ached, I had headaches, felt nauseous and really fatigued. I experienced, from what I read, something called "Carb Flu." Basically my body was going through carbohydrate withdrawal. Pretty pathetic, huh? But we both pulled through and so far have lasted almost half a month! 

I'm going to share some of the recipes that I make in case I lose my mind and decide to do this crazy diet again. Most of the recipes are actually meals we normally eat, just with a variation of ingredients. Take this gazpacho for example. Sometimes I add sugar or even bread to my gazpacho, but why? This one is probably the best gazpacho recipe I've made and it's fresh, healthy and has no additives. Win-win. Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp. garlic, minced (less if you don't like it very garlicy)
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 1 large cucumber, chopped
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• 3 fresh basil leaves
• Dash of salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 (29 oz.) can low-sodium tomato sauce

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until you get a slightly smooth texture with small chunks scattered throughout (or whatever texture you like your gazpacho). You might need to do this in batches depending on the size of your food processor. Transfer to an airtight container. Chill for 2 hours and serve. 

Source: SK Original

Quick Teriyaki Zoodles

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This is one of my new favorite side dishes or small lunches because it's quick, easy, healthy and SO yummy. They now sell pre-cut zucchini and squash noodles (zoodles) in most grocery stores, so that makes the prep time even less! This can be done in 5 minutes. Seriously, make it!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 12 oz. zoodles (pre-cut zucchini and yellow squash noodles), or you can do spiralize them yourself
• 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• Sprinkle of red pepper flakes
• Salt and pepper, to taste

In a medium skillet over medium heat, add soy sauce, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Stir and cook until just begins to boil. 

Add zoodles and cook for 3-4 minutes or until squash is tender. Serve immediately.

Source: SK Original

Three Bean Salad (Gluten-Free)

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Here's a quick and easy side dish that pairs excellently with anything you prepare on the grill. It's fresh and crisp with a little bite. Perfect for summer! Use fresh corn off the cob to make it even more delicious. Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15 oz.) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15 oz.) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (8.75 oz.) can corn, drained
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Add black beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans and corn to a large bowl. Toss to combine.

In a separate bowl, mix oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Whisk to combine. Drizzle over bean mixture and gently toss.

Refrigerate until ready to eat.

Source: SK Original

Zucchini Rice

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Spruce up a simple rice side dish with some shredded zucchini, black beans, corn, a squeeze of lime juice and a handful of chopped cilantro for a healthy, satisfying and refreshing side dish on a hot spring or summer day. This is perfectly paired with grilled chicken, fish, or even as a side to your favorite tacos. Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups uncooked rice
• 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15 oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained
• 2 zucchini, shredded
• 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

In a large saucepan of 3 cups water, cook rice according to package instructions; set aside.

Remove from heat and stir in black beans, corn, zucchini, butter, lime juice and cilantro. Cover and let stand 5 minutes.

Fluff rice with a fork; season with salt and pepper, to taste

Serve immediately.

Source: Damn Delicious

Baked Blackened Salmon (Gluten-Free)

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Bathing suit season is upon us (okay well, let's be honest...it's felt like bathing suit season for months now), so bring on the healthy recipes! Blackened salmon is a cinch to make and the spice mixture adds so much flavor to any type of fish. With a meal that can be prepped and on the table in under 20 minutes, it's no wonder this is making it onto our bi-weekly rotation. Top it with a dollop of refreshing guacamole or a side of sautéed vegetables, and you've got yourself a meal. Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. salmon, cut into 4 pieces
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. oregano
• 1 tsp. pepper
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• Guacamole, for serving (optional)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

In a small bowl, combine salt, cumin, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, chil powder, oregano and pepper. Mix well.

Sprinkle spice mixture evenly over each piece of salmon. Drizzle the olive oil over the spice mixture and rub to combine.

Bake for 15 minutes, or to desired doneness. 

Serve immediately with guacamole.

Source: SK Original

Cauliflower "Rice" Lemon Pilaf

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Here's a light and flavorful side dish or lunch idea. Cauliflower "rice" is used in place of rice for a guilt-free treat. Lemon juice spruces up the flavors of the dish while the panko Parmesan crumb topping adds just a little bit of crunch. Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 (14 oz.) package cauliflower cauliettes
• 1/4 tsp. salt 
• 1/4 tsp. pepper 
• 2 tbsp. olive oil 
• 1 tsp. lemon zest 
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice 
• 1 tbsp. parsley, chopped

Panko Parmesan crumbs:

• 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs, toasted
• 2 tbsp. Parmesan, grated
• 1 tsp. lemon zest
• 1 tsp. parsley, chopped

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

Sprinkle salt, pepper and olive oil on raw cauliflower cauliettes and toss to coat evenly. Spread on parchment lined sheet pan and roast for 20 minutes. 

Remove from oven, toss with lemon zest, juice and parsley in serving dish.

Toast panko crumbs in oven for 3-5 minutes until golden. Remove from oven and mix in Parmesan, zest and parsley.

Sprinkle crumbs on cauliflower just before serving.

Source: Culinary Cuts Club

Squash Ratatouille

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Both of my kids love squash, so roasted zucchini and yellow squash are side dish staples in our house. The other day I was prepping our routine side dish when I decided to spruce things up! Bradley was watching Ratatouille, so I thought, "Why not?" I used ingredients I had on hand (so no eggplant nor tomatoes per traditional recipes), but feel free to add them if you have them! I loved this and can't wait to make it again. The kids gobbled it up, too!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

For the sauce:

• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 3 tsp. garlic, minced
• 1/2 yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp. dried basil leaves
• 1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes, drained

For the sliced veggies:

• 2 yellow squash
• 2 zucchinis

For the herb seasoning:

• 1 tsp. dried basil leaves
• 1 tsp. garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. dried parsley
• 1/4 tsp. dried thyme
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 3 tbsp. olive oil

Preheat the oven for 375 degrees F.

Slice the zucchini and yellow squash into approximately 1/16-inch rounds, then set aside.

Heat 2 tbsp. of olive oil in an 8-inch oven safe pan. Sauté onions, garlic and bell peppers until soft. Season with salt, pepper, and dried basil, then add diced tomatoes. Stir until ingredients are fully incorporated. Turn off the heat and smooth the surface of the sauce with your spatula.

Arrange the sliced veggies in alternating patterns on top of the sauce from the outer edge to the inside of the pan. Season with salt and pepper.

Mix herb seasoning ingredients and pour over the vegetables.

Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes. After 40 minutes, uncover, then bake for an additional 20 minutes. The vegetables should be soft.

Serve while hot or at room temperature.

Source: Adapted from Buzzfeed

Cauliflower Fried "Rice"

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Cauliflower rice is the new "rage" these days, so I was eager to try it in my favorite fried rice recipe. The only substitution I made was subbing cauliflower for rice or quinoa, and this easy meal turned into a low-carb, delicious and super filling meal. Chris and I honestly couldn't taste even one hint of cauliflower. It was so, so yummy and incredibly healthy, so I think this might be my go-to fried "rice" recipe from now on since the kids gobbled it up, too. Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp. olive oil, divided
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup matchstick carrots, chopped
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 3 tsp. garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp. fresh ginger, minced OR 1/4 tsp. dried ginger
• 1 (14 oz.) bag cauliflower rice
• 2 eggs, lightly scrambled (still raw)
• 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed

Sauce:

• 1 1/2 tbsp. teriyaki sauce
• 2 1/2 tbsp. low sodium soy sauce
• 1 tsp. sesame oil

Mix mix sauce ingredients (teriyaki, soy sauce, and sesame oil) together in a small bowl. Set aside.

Heat 1/2 tbsp. olive oil in a large sauté pan over a high heat. Add onion and carrot and cook for two minutes. Add scallions, garlic and ginger to the pan. Cook another two minutes. Add in the rest of the olive oil and the cauliflower. Stir-fry for about two minutes. 

Add sauce to the pan and stir-fry until incorporated, about two minutes. 

Make a well in the center of the cauliflower mixture and pour eggs in. Scramble the eggs with a spatula. Once cooked, combine with the rest of the cauliflower mixture.

Add the peas, then toss everything together until the peas are warmed through. Serve immediately or at room temperature.

Source: Adapted from this SK recipe

Spinach and Egg Strata

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Today's SRC post comes from Ashley at Rainstorms and Love Notes. I was excited to get her blog this month because I haven't had a chance to blog in a while (ya know, with a newborn and all), so finally getting online and checking out the abundance of yummy recipes Ashely had lined up made me even more excited to get in the kitchen and make something new.

I love strata recipes because they're kind of like a glorified french toast…without all the extra work, of course. You throw the bread and milk into a ramekin with yummy spices, add some spinach for extra flavor and texture, and then top with delicious Mozzarella cheese. A super simple breakfast that is packed with flavor (and vitamins) and will keep you full until lunchtime. Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 slices of bread
• 2 handfuls of fresh spinach
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp. oregano
• Pinch salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Tear the bread into small pieces and divide evenly in the ramekins.

Chop the spinach and place on top of the bread.

Whisk together the eggs, milk, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper.

Pour the milk mixture evenly over the bread and spinach.

Top with the cheese, cover with foil, and bake for 20 minutes.

Remove the foil and back for another 15 minutes, until the cheese is starting to brown.

Source: Rainstorms and Love Notes

An InLinkz Link-up

Festive Roasted Vegetables (Gluten-Free)

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Not only do I love this recipe because it's really easy (my two-year-old helped with almost every step) and spiced perfectly, but it's a perfect make-ahead dish. It's great both fresh out of the oven or at room temperature, so you can make it earlier in the day and just let it sit out until you're ready to serve it…totally ideal for Christmas day! The mix of vegetables will satisfy everyone, plus it's gluten-free! Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2 cups baby carrots
• 1 (8 oz.) packaged sliced baby bella mushrooms
• 1 1/2 cups Brussels sprouts, ends removed, halved and outer leaves removed
• 4 cups red potatoes, cut into quarters (about 1 1/2-inch pieces)
• 1 cup butternut squash, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 tsp. black pepper
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 tsp. dried thyme
• 1 tsp. dried basil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Add all vegetables into a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with pepper, salt, oregano, thyme and basil and stir so evenly coated. Pour vegetables into an even layer on two baking sheets.

Bake for 45-50 minutes, flipping halfway through. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Source: Adapted from Love Grows Wild

Brown Sugar Glazed Baby Carrots

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Bradley used to hate, hate, HATE carrots, but the past few weeks he has been really into them. Therefore, I've been more than determined to include them in most things I make for dinner before the phase passes. So far I've put them in Vegetable Soup, an easy pasta with vegetables and our favorite slow cooker meal, but I also wanted to make them as a side dish. These are incredibly easy to throw together and are a perfect side dish for any dinner. Plus you only need a handful of ingredients. They'd be perfect on your Thanksgiving table as well! Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 lb. baby carrots
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• Pepper, to taste

Place carrots in a medium saucepan. Pour in water so that it almost reaches the top of the carrots.

Bring the water to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Continue cooking for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain and transfer to a bowl.

In the same saucepan, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar, salt and pepper and stir to combine. Add the carrots back in and stir to coat with the sauce. Cook for 1-2 minutes, or until carrots are fully glazed. Serve immediately.

Source: SK Original

Maple Baked Sweet Potatoes

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There was no doubt in my mind that for this month's SRC post I would be delivering something Thanksgiving-worthy. Margaret's blog, Tea and Scones, had a ton of options to choose from, but this sweet potato recipe won me over. I really only needed two ingredients (plus a few pantry essential items) and it was really easy to put together. And seeing that I'm due a little over a week after Thanksgiving, I wanted something quick, simple and delicious that I could make without wearing myself out! We really, really enjoyed this side dish and I'm certain I'll be making it again, Thanksgiving or not. Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 medium sweet potatoes (about 3 lbs.), peeled and sliced 1" thick
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3/4 tsp. pepper
• 3 tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/3 cup water

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. 

In a large saucepan, cover the sweet potato slices with water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until just tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well. 

Arrange the sweet potatoes in a large gratin dish. Season with the salt and pepper, then dot with the butter pieces. Drizzle the maple syrup over the sweet potatoes, sprinkle with the water and bake for 15 minutes. Turn the sweet potatoes over and bake for about 25 minutes longer, until they're tender and lightly browned. Once done, turn on the broiler and broil for 1-2 minutes, until golden brown.

Source: Tea and Scones

An InLinkz Link-up

Panzanella Salad

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With the warm weather winding down, it's the perfect time to head to your local farmer's market to pick up your last few baskets of fresh produce before they close down for the season. Panzanella is a delicious salad that is extra filling since toasted bread is a main component. Adding fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and basil gives the salad a burst of flavor and color. The simple vinaigrette brings it all together for a delicious side dish. Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 small French bread or boule, cut into 1-inch cubes (6 cups)
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 large, ripe tomatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, and sliced 1/2-inch thick
• 1/2 red onion, cut in 1/2 and thinly sliced
• 10 large basil leaves, coarsely chopped
• 3 tbsp. capers, drained

For the vinaigrette:

• 1 tsp. garlic, finely minced
• 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 3 tbsp. rice wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper

Heat the oil in a large saute pan. Add the bread and salt; cook over low to medium heat, tossing frequently, for 10 minutes, or until nicely browned. Add more oil as needed.

For the vinaigrette, whisk all the ingredients together.

In a large bowl, mix the tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, basil and capers. Add the bread cubes and toss with the vinaigrette. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Serve, or allow the salad to sit for about half an hour for the flavors to blend.

Source: Adapted from Food Network

Grilled Shrimp Salad with a Garlic Balsamic Vinaigrette

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Chris and I have been craving healthy dinners the past few weeks, so I've been perusing my "Healthy Eating" section for some recipe inspiration. Salads always seem like the way to go, but I find myself having to add a lot of fixings so that we aren't starving a few hours later. A simple protein (like shrimp) and tons of other vegetables are an easy way to load up a salad and make it a hearty main course. Top with a delicious vinaigrette and you're done. Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

Dressing: 

• 1/4 cup balsamic
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Pinch of sugar
• 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup olive oil

Shrimp:

• 1/4 lb. peeled and deveined shrimp
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Salad:

• 1/4 cup canned corn, drained
• 1 bag salad greens
• 1/4 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• 1/2 green pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
• 1/4 cup mushrooms, sliced

In a small bowl, combine the balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper, sugar and Dijon. Slowly whisk in the olive oil and set aside.

Meanwhile, sprinkle the shrimp with salt and pepper. 

Lightly spray a grill pan with cooking spray. Add the shrimp and cook for 2 minutes per side or until pink. Remove from the grill and set aside.

Add the corn to to a dry skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes or until begins to char.

Add the salad greens to a bowl. Top with corn, tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers, mushrooms and shrimp. Drizzle salad dressing over top.

Source: SK Original

Soy Ginger Snow Peas

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If you need a really quick and easy side dish to accompany your next Asian-inspired entree, these snow peas are the way to go. They add the vegetable side dish element to your meal, and include all of the traditional flavors you would expect: soy sauce, ginger and rice vinegar. Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 (8 oz.) bag sweet snow peas
• 1/2 tbsp. canola oil
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar
• 2 tbsp. water
• 2 tbsp. soy sauce
• 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp. rice vinegar
• 1/2 tsp. garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)

Wash snow peas and remove ends.

Heat oil in a medium skills over medium-high heat. Add snow peas and cook for 5-7 minutes or until slightly tender.

Meanwhile in a medium bowl, combine brown sugar, water, soy sauce, ginger, rice vinegar, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Add to cooked snow peas and stir to combine. 

Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes or until snow peas are coated in the sauce. Serve immediately or at room temperature.

Source: SK Original

Crispy Parmesan Smashed Potatoes

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Looking for a quick and easy side dish? Smashed potatoes are easy to prepare and go with just about any entree, from a classic chicken dinner to a BBQ feast to an easy meatloaf supper. I keep baby potatoes on hand for occasions where I run out of fresh produce and need a vegetable to go with my dinner, and they always come in handy. Plus they're super delicious and you can switch up the seasonings to make them pair even better with your meal. Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 lb. baby yellow potatoes (or 1-2 per serving)
• Parmesan cheese, grated
• Garlic powder, to taste
• Seasoned salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Fresh parsley, chopped, for serving (optional)

Put the potatoes in a large saucepan and fill with water. Make sure the water rises at least 1-inch over the potatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce to low and simmer until the potatoes are fork tender, about 30 minutes.

Alternatively, you can make a small slit in the top of each potato and microwave for about 7 minutes per pound, or until the potatoes are tender. This might take less time depending on the size of your potatoes.

Set your broiler to medium. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside. 

When they potatoes are done, drain them and place on paper towels to dry them off. Once dry, transfer the potatoes to the prepared baking sheet. Use a paper towel or paper plate to carefully mash them to 1/4-inch thick.

Sprinkle 1 tsp. of Parmesan cheese over each potato. Season each potato with garlic powder, seasoned salt and pepper, to taste. Drizzle a small amount of olive oil over top.

Set the potatoes under the broiler for 5-8 minutes or until they become crispy. Keep an eye on them so they don't burn. Remove from oven and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Enjoy immediately.

Source: SK Original

Black Bean and Fresh Corn Salad

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Fresh corn is a hot commodity in the summertime and can be found at all farmers' markets or your local grocery store. Grilling corn is one of my favorite ways to eat it, but I also really enjoy it raw off the cob and in a salad. Lime juice makes an excellent base for this salad dressing, so I paired that with cumin, salt and pepper for a quick and fresh topping. Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 ears corn, shucked
• 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, sliced in half lengthwise and seeded

Dressing:

• 5 tbsp. fresh lime juice
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 1/4 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/3 cup olive oil

Cut the corn kernels off the cob. Add the corn, beans and tomatoes into a medium bowl.

In a separate bowl, combine lime juice, salt, pepper and cumin. Slowly add in the olive oil, whisking to combine.

Pour dressing over corn mixture and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Source: SK Original

Spicy Smoky Black Bean Dip

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Today's SRC post is from Jane over at The Heritage Cook. Jane has an impressive background that includes contributing recipes to Food Network, so I was pretty certain that whatever recipe I chose would be amazing! She was also recently diagnosed with a gluten intolerance, so most of her recipes are gluten-free, which I love! I definitely recommend checking out her page.

I chose to make a dip for this week's recipe reveal, but there are SO many other recipes I'll be back to make soon. I had an occasion coming up where I needed a delicious appetizer, and this recipe fit the bill. It was seriously the only way I could decide on one to make! It took no time at all to prepare and had so much flavor! This reminded me of a black bean hummus when it was chilled, so Bradley obviously loved it as well. This dip was excellent with some cheese sprinkled on top and paired with some lime chips. Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 (15.5 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup vegetable or beef stock
• 4 to 5 scallions, tough ends discarded, chopped
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 tsp. garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp. cilantro leaves, chopped
• 1-2 chipotles in adobo, seeded and minced (optional)
• Juice of 1 to 2 limes, to taste
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Cheddar cheese, shredded
• Scallions, chopped, for garnish

Place the beans, stock, scallions, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, cilantro, and chipotle in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the chopping blade or in a blender. Puree until smooth. Taste and add lime juice, salt and pepper, and additional chipotle as desired.

This may be made up to 3 days ahead and kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the dip to protect the surface from drying out. Bring to room temperature or reheat slightly in a microwave to take the chill off the dip. Sprinkle the top with cheese and bell pepper pieces. Garnish with a sprig of cilantro.

If you would rather serve this hot, place dip in an ovenproof dish, top with shredded cheese. Place in a 350 degree F oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the dip is warmed. Sprinkle minced bell pepper over the top for color. Garnish with a scallions. Serve with tortilla chips, salsa, and guacamole if desired.

Source: The Heritage Cook

An InLinkz Link-up

Peppers and Onions Hash

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Chris loves exploring new additions for the classic potato hash he likes to make on the weekends, and I think he outdid himself this time. We usually put cheese on top of hash, but we opted to keep it off this time to save ourselves some calories. Peppers and onions alone added enough flavor to the crispy potatoes that cheese wasn't needed anyways. Hash is a super simple breakfast that tastes like something you would eat at a restaurant, but can be made in the comfort of your own home. Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp. canola oil
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 8-10 baby potatoes, diced
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup frozen red and green bell peppers, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. Lawry's seasoned salt
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (optional)

Preheat broiler to 500 degrees F.

Add oil and butter to a heavy cast iron skillet. Add potatoes and onions. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender and begin to brown and get crispy.

Once potatoes are brown, add bell peppers and stir to combine. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until heated through. Season with seasoned salt and pepper.

If using cheese, sprinkle cheese over top. Transfer the skillet to the oven under the broiler. Let sit for 2-3 minutes or until completely melted. Keep an eye on the skillet since the cheese can brown quickly!

Carefully remove from oven and serve immediately.

Source: SK and Chris Original