Healthy Tofu Tacos

For a long time tofu has had have a bad name. Not many people seem to care for it, and I used to be one of them. But I'm telling you if you season it right it can actually be really delicious and even something you'll want to make again and again!

In these tofu tacos the tofu is abundantly seasoned with a variety of Mexican spices, soy sauce and lime juice which builds up much more depth and a welcome vibrant flavor.

Believe it or not you may find you like them just as much as the classic ground beef tacos! And these are a healthier alternative to rotate with, plus tofu is about half the price of ground beef and ground turkey.

These tacos come together quickly for a simple weeknight meal, they are perfectly filling, and they make a great leftover lunch the next day if you have any left.

If you haven't given tofu a chance yet I'd say this is an excellent place to start. And as always with tacos, just be sure to pile high all those tasty toppings!

Easy Vegetarian Chili

You'll love that this is a vegetable chili you can feel great about eating and feeding the family, and it doesn't taste too much different than a meat-heavy chili thanks to all those flavorful Mexican spices.

It comes together quickly, it's just a bit of chopping and has a fairly short simmer time compared to that of traditional chili. It's hearty and filling thanks to the beans and fiber rich vegetables and it's still a great base for piling on all the best chili toppings.

We love it with avocado, cheese, and sour cream atop but if you if you want to make this a vegan chili then opt for a vegan cheese and sour cream, or just omit them both altogether.

Looking for more ways to make meatballs? Also try my super popular Italian Meatballs and the healthier Turkey Meatballs.

Greek Keftedes

Keftedes are a popular Greek dish made with ground beef, lamb or pork, bread crumbs (dried or fresh) with a liquid to soak, egg to bind, and to flavor they include onion and fresh herbs such as mint and parsley. Traditionally they are pan fried in oil but for a healthier alternative they can be oven baked (I've included both methods in the recipe).

They have delicious rich meaty flavor paired with fresh herby notes, they are beautifully browned, and you'll find them to be incredibly hearty and filling (5 meatballs may not seem like much but it's quite a generous serving).

These can be served bowl style as a main dish combining them with other sides, or stuffed in a sandwich, or you can opt to serve them as of an appetizer on a mezze platter. See serving suggestions below.

Chili Con Carne

Chili con carne is a robust and rich chili made with beef roast that includes deeply flavored Mexican chilies and spices all simmered together in a stew-like dish. This is a Texas style chili and it's made of mostly beef and chili sauce without lots of added fillers.

It uses a generous amount of browned beef chuck chunks rather than ground hamburger and this really builds up the meaty flavor. Whole dried chilies are used in place of pre-ground store-bought chili powder, and those chilies are toasted in a skillet then soaked in liquid and pureed in a blender to build the base of this hearty chili.

The chili is simmered low and slow on the stovetop for well harmonized depth of flavor and to tenderize the beef.

It's an impressive made from scratch chili that may seem intimidating at first but once you try it you'll see it's easier to make than you'd think.

It's also a tasty change from the original style chili and you may find tasters to love it even more, especially meat lovers! Plus it could just win your next chili cook off!

What is Beef Shawarma?

If you’ve never had beef shawarma, you’re in for a treat.! A famous Middle Eastern street food, shawarma is made with chicken or beef that is heavily marinated in oil, lemon juice, and warm spices. Then, it is placed on a vertical rotisserie or spit and slow-roasted for days until it is unbelievably tender. 

Most commonly, it is shaved off and served stuffed into bread with fresh toppings and a drizzle of tahini or tzatziki. However, you can also find it presented as part of a platter along with sides like tabbouleh and hummus. No matter how it’s plated, it’s always incredible and is guaranteed to leave you coming back for more. 

Don’t worry, though. You don’t need a fancy spit to make your own beef shawarma at home. I’ll show you how to create the same bold flavor and tender texture by searing on the stovetop instead! 

This post is sponsored by Danish Creamery. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Best Pumpkin Soup!

This is my idea of the best pumpkin soup! It's like autumn in a bowl and it has such an inviting flavor. Plus, it couldn't be easier.

No chopping, seeding, roasting, or pureeing pumpkin is necessary in this recipe. Believe it or not, this starts with canned pumpkin and you will be wowed by the end result!

Part of the secret to what makes it so good is the indulgent Danish Creamery Butter. This premium butter takes a bland fruit or veggie and turns it into something that is perfectly highlighted with rich flavor (sometimes I even sneak in 2 extra tablespoons of the butter!).

Danish Creamery has been using the same recipe to make their butter since 1895. Using just two ingredients, high-quality cream and a touch of sea salt.

It’s just the way butter should be. It's the perfect compliment to this soup!

Wondering what to serve with this pumpkin soup? It pairs beautifully with rustic bread for dipping (a hearty French bread or whole wheat are great options), and a fall-inspired side salad such as this delicious kale salad.

Our Favorite Vegetarian Black Bean Burger!

When we think of vegetarian burgers we often think of those mediocre, flavorless or dry burgers we've had that left us wishing we had made a different meal choice.

These black bean burgers will actually leave you wondering why you haven't had black bean burgers on regular rotation on your dinner menu for years. And you'll love that the food processor does most of the work!

The great thing about these is that they don't weigh you down the way a greasy hamburger does. It's something you can feel good about eating.

This black bean burger isn't dry, it has plenty of flavor and even some richness to it (thanks to the mayo and egg yolks), and the oats and peppers give it a bit of texture. Believe it or not even my kids love these.

They're best served shortly after they've been freshly pan fried and those exterior edges are nice and crisp, though it makes a batch of six and extras will reheat decently well (with a bit of olive oil just in the microwave) when you need a quick lunch.

Our favorite way to eat them is actually bun-less with a small mound of tasty toppings (like cheese, avocado, tomatoes, and salsa), but just like with a regular hamburger you can serve them up however you'd like.

Coconut Lentil Curry

This meat-free lentil curry recipe is such a tasty main dish that pairs beautifully with white rice, cauliflower rice or naan.

It has a delicious complexity of flavor, the lentils make it a nutritious choice, and the coconut milk adds some body to make it more substantial.

It makes an excellent vegan dinner and any extra that's left is perfect for lunch the next day (you can even freeze it).

If you haven't yet had lentils this is a great place to start. With the rising prices of meat these days it's a great recipe to add into the dinner rotation since lentils are a much cheaper alternative to meat.

And by using a the homemade spice blend here (which is basically a curry spice blend) you can control the amount of heat that goes into the dish making it as mild or spicy as you prefer.

Winning Broiled Salmon

My favorite way to make broiled salmon! I've long been partial to that honey-lime combo with salmon and here it was the clear winner vs. other marinades.

It perfectly highlights the flavors of salmon and the honey assists in encouraging browning. Then the final touch of spices and one extra layer of flavor.

This recipe is a breeze to prepare yet the end result is perfectly impressive and even restaurant worthy.

You get a tender, flaky, buttery interior and a gorgeously browned exterior with crisp edges, similar to a grill-kissed flavor. So much to love in every bite!

Serve it with coconut rice (or plain jasmine rice) and sauteed vegetables (such as bell peppers, corn, red onion and squash), or a black bean and corn salad to complete it.

Easy Yogurt Chicken Marinade

You can never have too many marinade recipes to really upgrade chicken. This middle eastern style chicken marinade is made with healthy ingredients that all come together so well.

It is one of my latest favorites with it's perfect blend of tang, well seasoned spice flavor, touch of garlic, and a final upgrade of cilantro.

As with just about any marinade, it's a cinch to prepare and it really takes plain chicken to a whole new level.

Perfect for a quick weeknight meal or a weekend family barbecue with all your favorite summer sides.

You may as well go through some veggies on the grill while you've got the chicken going too, or pair it with my go-to veggie couscous recipe.