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If you like beets you’re going to LOVE this salad: Earthy steamed beets tossed with a simple vinaigrette, tangy pickled red onions, salty feta, and fresh parsley…AWESOME! It’s definitely a restaurant-quality salad (actually better than most beet salads I’ve had in restaurants)! My beet-loving dad remarked after tasting it, “Now THIS is a beet salad!” That’
My mom loves Eggs Benedict so next time I see her, I’ll be making her this Mexi-inspired version of it! In this recipe, salsa verde (a green tomatillo-based salsa) replaces the traditional hollandaise sauce, and the black olives and fresh cilantro add another layer of fresh flavor. I suggest warming the Canadian bacon before adding it [...]
I took a quick field trip over to Moonstruck Chocolates this morning because, well, do I need to have a reason?? Actually, I went there because Mother’s Day is this weekend, and my birthday is just around the corner, so I thought good chocolate was in order. Moonstruck Chocolates is a local Portland company that has received [...]
This light and refreshing salad is perfect for Mother’s Day, or a light lunch or dinner. Because the flavors are so simple, fresh crab (not canned) is best in this recipe and definitely worth the splurge! The recipe can easily be doubled or tripled (or more) making it perfect for Spring and Summer entertaining. Serve with crusty artisan [...]
Posole (also spelled pozole; pronounced poh-SOH-lay) is a hearty, meaty Mexican soup or stew that includes hominy, although there are vegetarian versions out there, too. This recipe for Green Posole with Chicken is delicious, super easy to make and perfect for entertaining! The recipe calls for 1 cup of bottled green salsa but I used one 12-oz. jar of Trader Joe’s [...]
I love fish tacos, and this version is easy to make and full of fresh flavors. This recipe features chile-marinated grilled fish served with fresh Pico de Gallo salsa and a super tasty Lime-Cilantro Sour Cream Sauce. You can make almost everything ahead so it’s perfect for entertaining…just grill the fish right before serving. The recipe [...]
If you’ve never made your own salsa, it’s time you step out and give it a whirl. Not only is fresh salsa super easy to make but it tastes much, much better than the jarred stuff. Plus, you’ll be the star of the party when you walk in with a bowl of this fresh, smoky [...]
Classic Strawberry Shortcake is one of those recipes you need to know how to make: easy-to-make biscuits layered with juicy strawberries and freshly whipped cream…heaven! It’s the perfect dessert for Spring and Summer! My biscuit cutter is a little smaller than 2 1/2″ so I got a few more biscuits out of the batch. I like to use coarse [...]
I was at the Zupan’s Market in Lake Oswego last week and I got to try a new local product that I’d never seen before…Bee-Nut Butter Bliss. The all-natural peanut butter has a touch of sweetness from Oregon clover honey, and a light saltiness from sea salt. The texture is in between smooth and crunchy. After tasting it, I [...]
Fresh asparagus is everywhere right now so why not pick some up next time you’re at the market and make this simple side dish. It’s super easy, and goes with a variety of meaty main dishes. Enjoy! Note: Remember to cut the tough, woody ends off each spear of asparagus. Click here to learn how. [...]
We’re definitely moving into salad weather so here’s a recipe featuring pungent and peppery arugula tossed with homemade croutons, shaved Parmesan cheese and lightly dressed with good olive oil and fresh lemon juice. Don’t even think about using store-bought croutons. Homemade croutons are super easy to make and so much tastier! This is a simply-flavored salad [...]
I love egg sandwiches! They make a great meal with very little effort, and are a great breakfast on the go. Before trying this recipe, I usually just used English muffins as the foundation for my egg sandwich. The bagels, however, add a little more heft and you can switch up bagel flavors depending on [...]
Welcome to Inspired2cook…I’m so glad you’re here! I’m a stay-at-home mom, I love cooking and entertaining, and I have a passion for blessing my family and friends with great homemade food! My goal with this blog is to motivate you to get in the kitchen and cook by providing you with tested recipes from my favorite [...]
You can never have too many chicken recipes! This delicious Thai-inspired dish is easy to make and perfect for a weeknight meal. The super flavorful peanut sauce is the star of the show here. If you like Thai food then you’ll love this recipe! Don’t feel like pounding the chicken breasts? I ‘spose you could use chicken cutlets [...]
If you’re looking for a chocolate dessert that that will make you swoon then look no further. This wonderful cake is smooth and rich, and perfect for entertaining (Christmas, Valentines, bridal showers, dinner parties, etc.)! While easy to make, the cake does require time in the fridge (about 7 hours) so plan accordingly. Before serving the cake, drizzle each plate [...]
This fresh-tasting, super easy salad makes a great side dish for an Asian meal! I love the salty-sweet-sour combination of flavors and the punch of fresh herbs…delicious! I’ve made the salad a variety of ways. Sometimes I substitute lime for lemon, or green onions for the red onions. I’ve also made it with both mint [...]
This recipe for Chicken Potpie Pasta is an easy-to-fix twist on the classic comfort food dish. You get all the chicken potpie flavors without the fuss of making pie crust…perfect for a weeknight meal! I added a little white wine and some freshly chopped parsley to the sauce, and substituted a cup or so [...]
Before you turn up your nose at a cauliflower recipe, this easy-to-make soup really is delicious. It’s similar in flavor to potato cheese soup but lighter in texture and not as rich. I love cauliflower but I didn’t pick up much cauliflower flavor…mostly the sharp cheddar. Is there anything more comforting than a hot bowl of [...]
This recipe is a great way to use up leftover roast turkey. Or just use deli turkey if you prefer. I love the combo of smoky bacon and blue cheese…yum! Radicchio is a sturdy leafy green veggie that holds up well to heat. I didn’t have any (and wasn’t going to make another trip to [...]
I’m a big fan of just about any kind of caramel and chocolate treat. These gooey bar cookies are definitely a winner: chocolate chips, crunchy pecans and a rich caramel drizzle layered between an oatmeal cookie base and crumble topping. They are rich, delicious and easy to make. I always use Mrs. Richardson’s brand Butterscotch [...]
Since the holidays are are upon us, here’s a great side dish that will compliment a potpourri of menus. I love the combination of chewy wild rice, roasted butternut squash and sweet corn…delish! This dish goes well with just about any meat, and much of the recipe can be made ahead of time — making [...]
I’m always on the search for new ways to use up leftover turkey, which is what led me to this delicious soup. It’s loaded with fresh veggies and herbs, and you can substitute different veggies depending on what you have on hand. For instance, I used green beans instead of zucchini. Serve with crusty bread [...]
Here’s some great advice on how to safely store your holiday leftovers (or any meal for that matter): Leftovers Aren’t Forever -from Thanksgiving 101 by Rick Rodgers On Thanksgiving, store your leftovers safely. Get any leftover turkey and stuffing into the refrigerator within two hours of serving. Never leave leftovers out overnight. Slice all of the [...]
Pumpkin admirers will love this moist pumpkin cake. It’s easy to make, not too sweet, and tastes pumpkin pie-ish (only better)! The cake took longer to bake than the recipe states. I had to turn my oven down a bit so it wouldn’t brown too much. Check the cake at 30 minutes and if it’s [...]
I love sweet potatoes (yams) but I’m not a fan of the cloyingly sweet dishes that call for sugar and marshmallows. Instead, I prefer savory sweet potato recipes like this one that includes smoky chipotle chiles. The heat of the chiles is really delicious with the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes. This recipe is perfect [...]
If you’re looking for a creative stuffing/dressing recipe for this holiday season, you’ll want to give this one a try. I had never tried rice stuffing before but was intrigued by the list of ingredients in this recipe from best-selling author Debbie Macomber: crunchy water chestnuts, toasted hazelnuts, tart apples, and sweet raisins. Hazelnuts (filberts) are grown [...]
This is seriously one of the easiest side dishes I’ve ever made. If you like brussels sprouts then you’ll love the extra flavor that roasting brings out in them. If you don’t like brussels sprouts then maybe it’s time to try them. C’mon, I dare you! These pint-sized cabbages are loaded with Vitamins A and [...]
Can anyone resist a fresh biscuit still warm from the oven? It’s definitely one of life’s simple pleasures! These light and fluffy Southern Biscuits are easy to make so you’ll never need to buy another can o’ biscuits again! We’ve made this recipe many times and the biscuits always come out perfect. You gotta love Alton [...]
We love sandwiches in my house so I’m always looking for new ingredient combos to pile between slices of bread. This recipe features turkey, smoked mozzarella, peppery arugula, and tangy whole grain mustard. I used my favorite sandwich bread, Portland French Bakery Sliced Hearth Rustic Wheat Loaf, but you can use whatever hearty bread you like. Serve with [...]
We spent last weekend at a friend’s house in Newport, Oregon. Since we were at the coast I thought it would be fun to make this delicious cioppino — a tomato-based fish stew that originated in San Francisco — for dinner. It was a perfect meal after a day spent walking along the beach and searching for hidden [...]
Not only are quesadillas super easy to whip up but they make a great snack, lunch or light dinner. This particular recipe is jazzed up with a creamy, smoky chipotle and corn filling…it’s delicious! Serve the quesadillas with mixed greens drizzled with Southwestern Vinaigrette and you’ve got a tasty meal! Note: The recipe calls for a grill [...]
These delicious thick-cut fries couldn’t be any easier to make! I served them with a smoky Chipotle Mayo dipping sauce along side grilled burgers…sooo good! Instead of using non-stick spray on the baking sheet, I lined it with parchment paper. In the past, I’ve had potatoes stick to the pan even with the non-stick spray but [...]
I love Indian food so I was eager to try this recipe for Tandoori-Style Chicken Thighs. The grilled chicken is tender and flavored with fragrant spices. Let the chicken marinate for several hours (up to 12) for best flavor. Serve with basmati rice and a cucumber salad. Grilled Tandoori-Style Chicken Thighs -recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine This [...]
I love secret ingredient recipes, and you’d never know there was shredded zucchini hiding inside this moist, chocolatey cake. Even my Picky Eater who normally runs away from zucchini (and many other “green” things) commented that he liked it. The cake is great on it’s own or served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. While [...]
This easy basmati rice pilaf is flavored with sauteed sweet onions and fresh herbs…simple yet delicious! I recently served it with Cedar-Planked Salmon and Grilled Veggies…a perfect summer meal! Basmati rice is a fragrant variety of long grain rice grown in India and Pakistan. The cooked grains of rice are long and slender, and have a nutty flavor. [...]
This Southwestern-inspired recipe is a perfect weeknight meal: marinated chicken breasts are grilled and topped with a tangy corn and pepper salsa…simple, fresh and super easy! Fresh corn would be great in the salsa instead of frozen corn. If using fresh corn, shuck 2 ears of corn and discard corn silk. Cook the ears of corn [...]
It’s time to seek out your nearest farmers’ market or farm stand and load up on fresh produce! This versatile recipe for grilled veggies is a perfect way to take advantage of the wonderful summer harvest, and can be served as a side dish to any grilled meat, or added to pastas and paninis. Simple flavors, but oh so tasty! The recipe [...]
Kitchen Share SE, a kitchen tool lending library for residents of SE Portland, will be celebrating their grand opening on August 21st from 5-8pm in SE Portland at St. David of Wales Episcopal Church (2800 SE Harrison Street). The festivities will include music, food, demos, and homemade ice cream. Kitchen Share SE will be a place where “community members can borrow [...]
This simple summery salad is packed with fiber and flavor, and was the perfect lunch on a recent picnic at the beach. I especially love the texture of the chewy wheat berries. It’s also a versatile salad that you can build on — Feta or goat cheese would be great additions, as well as green [...]
And the gold medal for Ultimate Summery Breakfast goes to this recipe for Blueberry-Buttermilk Pancakes! These easy-to-make hotcakes (as my Grandma used to call them) are tender and fluffy, and dotted with juicy, freshly-picked blueberries. Dang, they’re good! We had them most recently for one of our camping breakfasts last weekend. The dappled morning sunlight of the forest and the cracklin
Wow…this is a great sandwich! I made these for lunch today and Husband commented after savoring one of them that it tasted like a fancy restaurant sandwich. Well, he was right…the recipe comes from local superstar sandwich shop, Bunk Sandwiches. This is a tuna sandwich like no other you’ve ever had!!! you get a little heat from [...]
Today, a friend and I trekked downtown to the Pearl for an outing with the kids and happened upon the Oregon Berry Festival on the corner of NW 10th and Johnson in the Ecotrust parking lot. This family-friendly event features a potpourri of vendors selling berries and berry-related products like ice cream, pies and other baked goods, [...]
In Portland, we’re surrounded by great food and excellent locally-made products…and Big Tony Brown BBQ Sauce is absolutely one of my favorite local finds! My family loves it so much that they use it in place of ketchup now (I’m not kidding!). The sauce has a great balance of flavors — slightly sweet with a little [...]
This delicious Mexican-inspired recipe has dinner on the table in no time: quick-cooking chicken cutlets are pan seared then finished in an easy sauce made from salsa verde (green salsa made with tomatillos) and sour cream (or creme fraiche). A tasty weeknight meal doesn’t get much easier than this! If you can’t find chicken cutlets, just use regular [...]
I made this Italian-inspired sandwich recently for a friend’s birthday lunch. It’s hearty, delicious and a creative way to enjoy a meat-free meal! Think of a caprese salad (tomato, basil and fresh mozzarella with a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar) in the form of a sandwich with the addition of a grilled portabella mushroom…Delish! To prep the portabella mushrooms, cut o
I love, love, love salmon that’s been cooked on a cedar plank! Every time I’ve used this cooking technique, the fish has been moist and delicious with a wonderful hint of smoky flavor. This particular recipe features a simple lemon-herb-pepper rub and a tasty horseradish-chive sauce…YUM! It’s definitely a great summer dish that is perfect for entertaining! [...]
Summer entertaining should be relaxed and easy going. It’s okay to have elaborate menus for some festivities, but sometimes you just want to keep it simple. Recently, Al Fresco (the all-natural chicken sausage people) asked me if they could send me some FREE coupons to try out their sausage for a dinner party. I thought [...]
Looking for something special to make on Father’s Day? Look no further than this recipe for Chili-Roasted Baby Backs with Homemade Barbecue Sauce. Dang, they’re good! The bad photo doesn’t do them justice (I was in a hurry to get them on the table). Also, don’t skip the steps of making the homemade sauce…it’s easy [...]
Last week I was invited to a blogger event for the unveiling of NYC’s famous Murray’s Cheese at the newly renovated Burlingame Fred Meyer. Murray’s Cheese, in business since 1940, is the oldest cheese shop in New York City and has been hailed as “The World’s Best Cheese Shop” by Forbes.com. At the event we got to sample [...]
