Years ago, I discovered this Green Bean Salad with Feta recipe in a Southern Living magazine and made it pretty much every time there was a family get together or pot luck. I was obsessed with it and it became my signature recipe (at least in my mind). I love green beans, more so in a salad form than any other way. Especially in the summertime.

I decided to turn my beloved Green Bean Salad into this Lemony Green Bean Pasta Salad, making it more of a meal. I don’t know about you, but I appreciate pasta salads during the summer because it means not having to really cook if you aren’t in the mood for anything too heavy. This green bean pasta salad is simple but filled with so much flavor. It includes veggies, walnuts, feta and whole wheat pasta so it is filling and substantial in the best way possible. I made the switch to whole wheat pasta over 10 years ago and it’s all my family eats now, but feel free to use your favorite type of pasta.

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I have a great Chipotle Chicken Chili recipe for you today. I love making chili and as often as I make it I tend to stick with my usual turkey chili recipe for most weeknight meals. This week I wanted to change things up and honestly, I wanted to specifically kick things up and make it spicier than usual. If you didn’t already know, I love spicy food and I really enjoy experimenting with different chili powders when I make chili. This Chipotle Chicken Chili is pretty simple to put together, but the flavor from the chipotle chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, Bush’s Chili Kidney Beans and my little secret ingredient is out of this world.

If you like a warm spicy flavor, then I think you will really dig this Chipotle Chicken Chili.

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Remember how I mentioned I got a second dinner out of the pork I cooked for Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Pork Tostadas that included brown rice and vegetables? Well, these Sautéed Cilantro Lime Vegetables are the veggies that landed onto that dinner plate.

This vegetable medley of zucchini, yellow squash and red onion is the perfect side dish for so many meals from simple oven baked black bean and cheese quesadillas to Mexican baked pasta (both go-to dinners in my house). One of my favorite ways to cook veggies is by sautéing them over medium high heat with a tiny bit of oil and finishing them off with a squeeze of lemon or lime and fresh herbs.

Super quick and easy – not to mention, healthy and delicious. This is how to get your family to eat their vegetables!

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When it comes to building a quesadilla, I think it’s pretty safe to say “anything goes”. I think that’s what I love the most about making them. They are basically just the vehicle for whatever ingredients you have on hand, and most of the time I would say, it’s pretty hard not to get it right.

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Just look at that glorious bowl of pasta. Does it make you hungry? It sure makes me hungry that’s for sure. I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever met a bowl of pasta that doesn’t instantly make my stomach growl. It is truly one of my comfort foods, and loaded with fresh roasted veggies like this one makes it even better.

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It may be back to school here, but to me it’s feeling like the dog days of summer that’s for sure. It’s hot, it’s muggy and I am finding myself wanting to be outside in the fresh air, but quickly going back in once I’m out there because I feel like I’m melting.

It is what it is. It’s August. (and Florida will be feeling this way until at least mid-October so I promise I won’t complain anymore.)

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Whenever anyone asks me what my favorite kitchen tool or gadget is, my reply is always a sharp knife. A sharp knife is essential to any kitchen as far as I’m concerned, and after experiencing an injury to my hand last year because of a not-so-great encounter with a dull knife and an onion, I now know first-hand how important it is to make sure your knives are good and sharp before you use them.

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This post is sponsored by Bush’s Beans.

A while back my friend Amy posted this open-faced black bean omelet recipe and I’ll tell ya, it got me intrigued. I had never thought of cooking up beans in my eggs, though I have had them on the side when I’ve ordered something like Huevos Rancheros out at restaurants, but not actually in the egg dish itself. At least not that I can recall.

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I love attending parties where guests are asked to bring a dish. It’s always fun to see what everyone brings and even more fun to taste everything. A few summers ago, my friend Allison got a bunch of friends together at her house where we all brought something to share (I remember bringing this rice salad) and I remember tasting this simple cucumber salad and being blown away by it.

I’m not kidding when I say that this salad is simple. It’s so so simple that it’s become a staple salad in my household, especially during this time of year when we are cooking up our meals on the grill a lot more often.

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It’s Valentine’s Day. I have no chocolate or hearts or anything really all that cute for you. Doesn’t mean I don’t love you though. I do.

I have pizza for you.

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