If you have been following my recipe posts for a while, you probably figured out by now that I love balancing different flavors and textures to blend together into one harmonious dish. This spinach salad is true to that theme. The sweetness of the dates and the strawberries blend beautifully with the slight bitterness of the spinach and the saltiness of the nuts. Because the dressing is warm when poured over the spinach, it slightly wilts the leaves, taking away their slightly raw and bitter taste. All the while keeping it fresh and crunchy with all of the nutrients intact.

This dish is an explosion of antioxidants and nutrients from both the orange carotenoids in the sweet potato and the green chlorophyll in the spinach. The spinach and sweet potato complement each other beautifully in this dish that makes a wonderfully cozy side dish or appetizer.

This is an extremely easy dessert to assemble. The crunchiness of the toasted almonds, chewiness of the dried cranberries, and the softness of the baked pear are a perfect marriage of textures and flavors. A cozy dish for the winter months.

This is a really simple recipe that makes for a great healthy dish to use for a special occasion. The slightly sweet honey mustard drizzle along with toasted ground almonds really takes a plain piece of salmon to the next level.

If you’ve never cooked artichokes before, this is the recipe to try. Easy and delicious!

Pears are a great dessert fruit that can be cooked to bring out it’s natural flavors and aromas. The cinnamon, nutmeg and almond extract pair perfectly with the distinct sweet pear flavor. This recipe can be served as its own dessert or alongside pie or cake.

Excite your taste buds with this dish! It’s sweet, yet still nutritious with dietary fiber and nutrients from the apples and sweet potatoes. Have your children help you make these, and have fun while doing so.

You would never believe what a little but of peanut butter can do to the humble head of cabbage. The combination of peanuts, soy sauce, garlic and cabbage, which are staples in Thai cuisine, really add to the unique qualities of the dish. This stir-fry is delicious as a side dish or you can add some leftover shredded chicken or meat for a main dish.

As the fall slowly approaches, it’s time to start thinking about preparing soups for the cooler nights. This soup freezes really well, so feel free to double the recipe and freeze in smaller batches.

These stuffed mushrooms make for an impressive appetizer but take minimal effort. They are filling and delicious and satisfy both meat and vegetarian eaters because of the mushrooms’ “meaty” texture. Stuffed mushrooms can be used as a side dish as well with a light lunch or dinner.

The mango and the tuna really complement each other in this recipe. The sweet mango, zesty lime, and refreshing vegetables all work together to upgrade a simple and healthy slice of fresh tuna.

Grilled fruit is one of my favorite summer desserts. It’s extremely easy to prepare, refreshing to eat, and is an excellent conclusion to a fun family barbeque. You can grill the mangoes and peaches on an outdoor grill or even a grill pan. The two main points to remember is that you must grease the grill (or grill pan) very well, and grilled fruit works best with ripe fruit.

This recipe offers a new way to prepare millet. The creamy, porridge-like consistency is warm and filling at breakfast time. This blueberry coulis is a delightful match for the millet and adds great flavor. What’s best about this recipe is that it can be prepared ahead of time. Store the creamy millet and the coulis separately in the refrigerator, heat the millet in the morning, and add some blueberry coulis on top!

This dish is bursting with the flavors of traditional Indian style curry without the extra calories. The sauce pairs brilliantly with the simply cooked millet, bringing out the natural nuttiness of that grain. The added depth upgrades this into a special dish. Feel free to add small cubes of tofu or cooked chicken (from last night’s dinner!) to the sauce for added protein.

These muffins can be made in advance and used in the morning as a “grab and go” option. It’s almost like having a fresh omelet in the morning without the extra cooking time. I love how the peas add color and sweetness to give these quiche muffins a whole new dimension.

Pairing peas with brown rice is a great way to create a complete protein. This is because brown rice is high in the amino acids cysteine and methionine but low in lysine. Peas, on the other hand, contain a high lysine content but are low in cysteine and methionine. This makes peas and rice complementary proteins and when paired together they offer an excellent amino acid profile that is equivalent to eggs or dairy.
Mint is often added to dishes containing peas because it boosts the natural sweet flavors that the peas offer to the dish. The sundried tomatoes add a satisfying tartness to balance the salad. Enjoy!

This sorbet is so delicious with natural sweetness from the fruit and added sweetness from honey. It is a little tangy, a little sweet, and wonderfully smooth and creamy. You’ll never go back to those packaged frozen desserts which are loaded with added sweeteners after you try this!

These French toast sandwiches are perfect for a Sunday morning breakfast or brunch with the family when you have a little more time to spend on cooking. Children can even help out as the recipe is pretty easy and straight forward. The strawberries are sweet so there is little need for added sweetener, making this a healthy and hearty meal that is high in fiber, and low in sugar.

Often the beets that we purchase come with beautiful green stalks attached to them which we promptly throw out when using the actual beet root. However, the beet greens are nutrient-rich with very high levels of vitamins A, K, and C. Similar in taste and appearance to Swiss chard, beet greens can be prepared in a similar manner. They can be eaten as a side dish sauteed with garlic and lemon or added to various recipes such as eggs and pastas. I decided to add them to my morning breakfast omelet and I found it to be delicious and satisfying

This salad is an unbelievable marriage of colors, textures, and flavors. You wouldn’t think to put cheese together with beets, but the blend of the slightly sweet and slightly salty are incredible. The textures and flavors of the soft roasted vegetables with the crunchy lettuce and nuts, along with the smoothness of the cheese do wonders to the palate.