Farmhouse Winter Veggie Beef Instant Pot Soup

 Boost nutrition while warming up from the inside out with my Farmhouse Winter Veggie Beef Instant Pot Soup – all in about 40 minutes! In the winter months, I absolutely love coming home from a long run or day’s work to a comforting, soul-soothing pot of soup, stew or chili. However, so many of my old family recipes take hours upon hours to complete — ain’t nobody got time for a slow-simmer these days!

 Farmhouse Winter Veggie Beef Instant Pot Soup

Farmhouse Winter Veggie Beef Instant Pot Soup uses the Instant Pot to cook quickly under pressure and replicate the deep, rich flavor of those traditional all-day dishes our grandmothers, mothers and other matriarchs so lovingly made. Read on to get all the details and full recipe:

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Make Ahead Italian Ground Beef for Meal Prep

Lean ground beef is an excellent source of meal-prep protein, packed with ZIP (zinc, iron and protein) and only about 150-ish calories for a cooked 3 ounces serving (4 ounce uncooked). My master recipe for Make Ahead Italian Ground Beef is easy to make, economical, ultra-versatile and freezes/defrosts beautifully rendering it ideal for freezer meals, meal prepping and make-ahead solutions. Make Ahead Italian Ground Beef for Meal Prep

Time and time again, I’ve used these deliciously seasoned beef crumbles in wholesome, hearty recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The recipe is basic, but the way it can be used in dishes is limited only to your imagination. Read on to get all the details and get a juicy, meaty jump start on your daily protein needs. Continue reading

No-Noodle Lasagna Stuffed Peppers

Whew, I’ve been too busy to blog, and am still playing catch-up with life since coming back from Lake Tahoe where I did that little “thing” – ya know, run in the Spartan World Championships in elite coin heat! More on that insanity later, now I just want to share an easy recipe that I made for dinner this week in an effort to bring life back into balance with some simple, nourishing foods that weren’t complicated to make! No Noodle Lasagna Stuffed Pepper

No-Noodle Lasagna Stuffed Peppers come together in 15 minutes and provides 32 grams of protein for only 312 calories – only 12 grams of fat yet so cheesy, creamy and delicious! Plus, no pasta, noodles or other grains are used keeping it gluten-free and paleo-ish (if you do cheese). Read on to get this easy, 15-minute recipe. Continue reading

Light Truffle Mushroom Burger Queso

When it comes to appetizers, are you looking for a starting player for your football parties and other fall-season entertaining? It’s the winning call to move my Light Truffle Mushroom Burger Queso to the top of any line up. This creative hamburger-inspired dip is insanely flavorful, fun to serve, and quite likely to cause a celebration dance in the chip-and-dip zone.  Light Truffle Mushroom Burger Queso

Oh, and did I mention that in the scheme of indulgent, creamy, cheesy dips, this queso is not the diet disaster that you might assume it to be? I’ve lightened it by using lower-fat milk and cheeses along with lean ground beef! Read on to get all the deets and this winning recipe. Continue reading

Beef and Blue Cheese Monte Cristo with Cherries

Sunday is National Monte Cristo Day (9/17), proving once again that we Americans love to celebrate all things food. The yummy dish reminds me of a collision between French toast and a lunch box ham sandwich – the traditional version, a favorite during my childhood, is made with ham and cheese book-ended between white bread, dipped in an egg mixture and then pan fried or even deep fried (gasp) with raspberry preserves and powdered sugar to garnish! Crazy yum!

Beef Blue Cheese Cherry Monte Cristo

Of course, I’m anything but traditional so today I’m sharing my even more brazen version of this classic sammie – a Beef Blue Cheese Monte Cristo with Cherries! Read on to get all the juicy details and recipe. Continue reading