Smooth and Creamy Avocado Dip

My focus in recent months has been on healthy eating and transforming my life in drastic ways. In January, I landed in the hospital for a week after spending four days horribly ill, unable to function and barely able to walk on my own. While my doctors are still trying to uncover the cause of my ongoing struggle with dizziness, imbalance, facial pain and difficulty finding strength to walk some days, a diagnosis of diabetes and anemia during my hospital stay has catapulted me into a total lifestyle overhaul. It has been the most difficult thing I think I've ever had to deal with in my forty-four years on this planet - scary as hell. But, I've been dedicated since that moment back in early-January to making healthy choices every single day and making the most of my new reality.

I've always loved salads and raw vegetables. (I'm so grateful for that now since those foods make up seventy-five percent of my diet every single day.) I buy pretty much the same items at the grocery store for myself week-after-week now. I know what works for me. I'm coming to know what foods do and do not spike my glucose levels. And, I know that these are ingredients that will be on my plate going forward for years to come.

So, finding creative, new ways to prepare or use those ingredients has become a daily challenge for me - one that I'm actually embracing with joy.  And, since avocados are something that I'm encouraged by my doctor to eat pretty much every day, turning them into a dip for my raw veggies only made sense.

And, this dip couldn't be easier. You'll need a blender or food processor to make it since you're looking for a super-smooth texture. Once you've got that ready, it's just a matter of tossing in some basic healthful ingredients and whirling it all until super creamy and luxurious.

I use this as a dip. But, you could drizzle it on tacos or it can be drizzled on a Buddha bowl (just thin with a bit more water). Yum!

The flavors are bright and vibrant. The dip turns out smooth and almost buttery. And, it lasts for a couple of days in the fridge, so make enough for tomorrow's lunch.

Baked Sweet Potato Chips with Cool and Creamy Chili Dip

These Baked Sweet Potato Chips and I go way, way back. Many, many years ago, I used to order these as an appetizer at a now-closed restaurant in Indiana. Once a year, my four closest friends from high school and I would meet up for a girls' night at this particular place. The spot was over an hour from my house, so that yearly occasion was about the only time I ever went there. I would crave these during the months in between each visit, so I started making them at home.

It's actually a very simple recipe that requires just sweet potatoes, olive oil, salt and pepper for the
chips component. The key is getting the chips as thin as possible - either by using a spiralizer or kitchen mandolin, or by using a thin-bladed, sharp knife.

And, as amaze-balls as the chips are, please hear me when I say that the dip is essential. After a good deal of trial and error, I was able to recreate the dip from the restaurant just as I remembered it. And, it must not be skipped. {Did that sound too demanding? Sorry. I'm just really passionate about the dip, people.}

I often whip these up for us on movie or t.v. night just as a snack. But, they are great to serve alongside sandwiches or burgers, too.

Serves 2

Hydrating Green Juice {No Juicer Needed}

You've probably assumed that making fresh juice at home requires some high-powered juicer contraption. And, if you've ever purchased good-quality fresh juices - with legit, real ingredients - at juice bars or cafes, you know just how expensive they can be. So, I was intrigued when I came across versions of this Green Juice on Instagram {thank you, Life Is But A Dish and Eating By Elaine}. I've enjoyed several batches over the past few weeks, and wanted to sneak this post in here on the blog before everything turns to pumpkin spice, casseroles and cozy soups as we are set to welcome fall.

This juice is so simple and quick to make. Whether you make a batch to simply sip on during these final warm days of summer or want to hydrate after a good workout, this recipe/method to making juice at home is worth checking out.

Even though you don't need a juicer, a good-quality blender is needed. And, you'll need an avenue in which to drain the juice and get rid of the pulp after blending. I used a few coffee filters and a fine mesh sieve. The gals who inspired me to make this recipe use nut milk bags. They can be ordered online and would probably work even better. But, if you don't want to make the investment {or wait}, my method did the trick.

The foundation of the juice is celery, green apples, cucumber and lemons. From there, you can add in greens, fresh herbs, spices, etc. I like a little sprinkling of cayenne pepper in mine and, also, tried some agave added in for a little extra sweetness once. It's all about figuring out what you like as you experiment with making this.

Joyously Domestic is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. You can read my full disclosure statement here. This post contains an affiliate link to amazon.com.

Yields 2  - 3 servings.

Confetti Sweet Corn Soup with Baked Tortilla Strips

Should you find yourself wandering through life as a person who relishes soup year-round {as I do} or someone who is simply getting that "is it soup season yet?" itch this time of year, my Confetti Sweet Corn Soup may be right up your alley. It really is the perfect transitional soup for the lingering weeks of summer and the early days of autumn. Sweet corn is divine this time of year. And, this soup really celebrates all that we love about corn fresh from the garden or farmer's market.

The base of the soup is a simple medley of sautéed onion, red bell pepper and jalapeño {use as much or as little per your heat preference} that gets friendly in the pot with some dried oregano, crushed red pepper flakes and salt. From there, a little sprinkling of flour helps with thickening as some good-quality chicken {or veggie} stock joins the party.  Most of the corn kernels {once removed from the raw cobs} get added right in while some get whirled up in a blender or food processor with a touch of milk before being added into the soup.

One of my secrets is to toss in a few of the stripped corn cobs while the soup simmers. This little hack brings some intense corn flavor to the party. {Just carefully remove and discard after they've done their job.}

To finish, I like to top the soup with some baked tortilla strips that are made pretty easily from soft corn tortillas, non-stick spray and a little salt. This step is totally optional {you can even utilize store-bought tortilla chips as a topper}, but they are worth the few minutes of work.

Trust me.

One thing I'd like to note is that after testing this recipe four times in the past couple of weeks, I think I've come to the conclusion that the richness and sweetness {so-to-speak} level of the end result when making this recipe seems to really depend on how sweet and intense the corn is that is used. Obviously, we all know that sweet corn can vary in taste, sweetness and even tenderness. So, there can be variations in the end flavor profile {or "corniness"} each time this soup is made based on the batch of corn one uses.

Yields 4 - 6 servings.

Asian Roasted Broccoli and Carrots

I've struggled posting new recipes in recent weeks. We're in that end-of-the-school-year frenzy and things have been CRAZY. Band concerts. Conferences. Sports banquets. Field trips. Graduation. Open houses. Field days. Two kiddos have birthdays within two weeks in our house this time of year. And, we just added a new driver in the house - our son turned the big ONE-SIX. {Plus, it's softball season, so my behind is parked in a lawn chair at a ball field quite often these days.} I'm happy for things to be winding down. {Tomorrow is the last day of school. Hallejulah.} I always have more time in the summer to cook and blog. So, look for me in your inbox and newsfeeds a little more often.

For this new post, it's all about roasted veggies - broccoli and carrots to be specific. Charred, roasted broccoli has been like, my love language lately. Roasting vegetables is a thing of magic. And, it's so dang easy.

Truth be told, the Asian glaze really steals the show here. Like, I cannot wait to slather this stuff on grilled chicken and shrimp this summer. The ingredient list for the glaze consists of stuff that many cooks probably keep on hand and it takes like, 2 minutes to whip up.

I was inspired by a recipe from a few years back posted on Damn Delicious. It's genius and I'm so glad that I finally decided to try it out after eye-balling it for quite some time.

NOTE:  I like my roasted broccoli pretty charred on the exterior and still a little crisp inside. If you prefer yours a little more tender on the interior and less charred on the exterior, I recommend cutting the pieces a little smaller than shown here and giving the carrots about a five minute head start in the oven before adding the broccoli.

Yields 2 - 4 servings.

Greens and Grains Salad with Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette

With Easter just around the corner and the official day of spring on the horizon, my mind has been on all things fresh, green and vibrant. And, since I am hosting our family dinner this Easter, I've been contemplating the menu. We pretty much always serve a baked ham with traditional side dishes - sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, etc. But, coming up with unique vegetable side dishes seems like a challenge most years. With all of the heavier, carb-laden dishes being served, I always like to offer a dish or two that's a little lighter and has some fresh elements. This salad totally fits the bill and will look stunning on the holiday table.

What I love most about this salad is the contrast between the roasted asparagus and the fresh, crisp raw vegetables. I, also, super love the texture and chewiness of the cooked grains scattered throughout the salad. And, the simple vinaigrette is such a great compliment to all of the elements in the salad.

NOTES:

Use whatever grains you desire. {I utilized a small bag of a barley, rice, wholegrain oats, wheat berries and spelt blend.} Quinoa would work great. Barley or all wheat berries would be good.

I used baby spinach as the base of the salad, but any style of lettuce or mixed greens can be used.

Frozen peas {that have been thawed} can be substituted in place of the sugar snap peas if desired. And, any other green vegetable{s} of your choice can be incorporated into the salad as desired.

Vegetarian Sweet Potato Chili

Chili is a staple for so many during this time of the year. When the snow and wind are whirling around outdoors, curling up with a big bowl of chili just screams COMFORT and really warms us up from our heads to our toes. Adding football season to the mix can really drive home everyone's yearning for chili. Whether you're hosting a big game day party at home on Super Bowl Sunday or tailgating at your favorite team's big game, serving up chili with "all the fixings" will definitely score you some major points with your guests.

Incorporating sweet potatoes and foregoing any type of meat in this recipes means that it is vegetarian-friendly. {The chili actually is completely vegan. But, due to my garnishment suggestions that include dairy, I opted to label it as "vegetarian."} I have major meat-lovers in my house ... they love this chili. All of the flavors of traditional chili are present. It's hearty and satisfying, but you can feel good about eating a lighter, healthier version when digging in to this cold-weather staple. The sweet potato addition lends bulk to the chili and, also, brings a hint of sweetness that perfectly balances out the little bit of spice present.

So, grab a pot and seize the moment. This really is a no-fuss recipe that takes just minutes to get going and only a short amount of cooking time.

NOTE:  This is an easy recipe to double {or triple} as needed, so it's perfect for feeding a crowd. Once prepared, it holds well on the WARM setting in a slow cooker, if desired.


Yields 4 - 6 servings.

Coconut Curry Soup with Roasted Chickpeas

When your husband of two decades declares that your first go-round of making Coconut Curry Soup produced "the best soup you've ever made" and you alone eat two large bowls in one sitting, there's a good chance that you've got a killer new soup recipe on your hands. {We won't even discuss the close-to-legit fight the two of us had over the remainder of soup in the bottom of the pot.} Seriously. We are in love. With soup. Smitten. {#soupfling}

Sooooo, in celebration of the new year, I bring you this healthful, vibrant, ethereal soup as my first post of 2018. It is - all at once - rich, delicate, hearty, dainty, subtly-spiced, broth-y, creamy and light. And, it's adorned with the most-glorious of toppings to kinda meld soup and salad into one dish. Perfection.

It's flavor profile and ingredient list is just enough off the beaten path - in terms of traditional soup for many of us - to be adventurous. But, it's simple enough to make and familiar enough to eat - especially for those already accustom to curry.

The soup takes just around thirty minutes to make from beginning to end. Be sure not to skip the roasted chickpeas, by the way. They shine nestled atop the soup among the other finishing touches.

I mentioned the soup's heavenly deliciousness. Luckily for all of us, it is, also, incredibly healthy. I consider it quite qualified to propel many of us through our January resolutions of healthier eating ... a lunch or dinner option that fits in nicely with our commitments to incorporate more fresh, wholesome dishes into our lives.

Now go make soup. And, may you all begin a love affair with this particular recipe as I have done.

Serves 4. {Easily doubled and does reheat quite well.}

Roasted Cauliflower and Garlic Soup with Parmesan Croutons

I often say that I could live on salads during the summer months and on soup during the chilly months {with maybe a casserole thrown in every now and then for good measure}. I've shared with you an abundance of soup recipes over the past five years here on Joyously Domestic. Recently, I posted a collection of Fourteen Tantalizing and Comforting Soup Recipes and it took off like wildfire here on the blog and on social media. So, I know I'm not alone in my adoration of soup.

Now, with that said, I understand that not everyone particularly digs cauliflower. But, even if you insist that it is the evilest of vegetables, I think you may be a bit surprised at just how amazing it is roasted and spun into a creamy soup. Seriously.

Just the roasted cauliflower alone almost did me in. I had to restrain myself from eating half of the batch when it came out of the oven ... before the soup-making process had really even gotten off of the ground. {I'll definitely have to randomly roast up a slew of cauliflower florets more often just for snacking purposes. For sure.}

The fabulous news about this soup? It is quite healthful. Can you believe the recipe has ZERO butter, milk or cream? It's, basically, a combo of cauliflower, garlic and chicken stock with a few seasoning components. {And, if you really wanna be healthy, I guess one could omit the croutons. But, I would not recommend it, friends.}

NOTE:  Know that the recipe as written only yields four smaller-sized servings. {This soup isn't necessarily one that a big, whopping bowl is needed at one sitting as it's somewhat decadent and rich in taste and texture. It's a pretty easy recipe to double, however, to feed a larger crowd if needed.

Yields 4 servings.

Fourteen Tantalizing and Comforting Soup Recipes

Fall is upon us. Winter will be here before we know it. In my household, this time of year means SOUP. I've complied some of my favorite and most-popular soup recipes from Joyously Domestic. Some are for the slow cooker. Some are vegetarian. A few are cream-based soups. A handful of them are more-healthful and good-for-you versions. Basically, there's something here for everyone.  

 

 

Just follow the links to check out the recipes for each soup. And, if you'd like to browse through all of my soup recipes, you can visit my RECIPES page here and look through the SOUPS, STEWS AND CHOWDERS section.

Easy Falafel Salad with Savory Pita Croutons

If you're a lover of falafel sandwiches, wraps or platters like I am, this is a fun take on the traditional way of serving {and eating} those delectable little chickpea fritters. And, with a couple of store-bought shortcuts, this salad is on the table in about fifteen minutes. It's fresh, healthful and light, yet is hearty enough to serve as a casual meal for two.

I'm always looking for fresh and unique salad ideas. I pretty much could live on salads all throughout the summer months. If you have followed me for any amount of time, you know that I have gravitated towards more-frequent and deliberate meal prep with the focus on what I like to call "Intentional Eating." Instead of aimlessly grazing about my fridge and cupboards during the day {nibbling my way from a string cheese to a handful of granola to a spoonful of nut butter}, I have been trying to keep fresh, healthful ingredients on hand that either incorporate quickly into interesting, cravable salads or grain bowls for myself OR they inspire me to take a little time to meal prep a few days worth of quick-to-grab lunches.

Having frozen or fresh store-bought falafel on hand is especially lovely for me. I adore falafel. I do enjoy making from-scratch falafel, but don't always have the time {nor do I always want to take the time} to do so. I like to get bags of frozen falafel from Trader Joe's to keep on hand. But, I have, also, been noticing both refrigerated and frozen varieties more frequently in regular grocery stores, too.

NOTE: When I have made homemade falafel, I always follow Alton Brown's recipe. It never disappoints.

And while I do often make hummus from scratch, there are many really good brands and flavors of store-bought hummus these days. {I prefer the garlic or roasted red pepper versions of hummus for this salad.} I utilize hummus here as the base for the dressing. With just a bit of water to thin the hummus, you've got a quick, flavorful salad dressing that really ties everything together. With both falafel and hummus already in the fridge, whipping up this delicious salad is a total breeze.

Yields 2 servings.

Peach and Gorgonzola Salad with Maple Pecans and Honey-Lemon Vinaigrette

I'm gonna keep this short and sweet {just like this recipe} ... this salad rocks. Like, seriously rocks. And, besides being totally delicious, it can be whipped up in a matter of minutes. {I timed myself the last go-round that I made this and it took all of twelve minutes.} It's so ideal for hot summer days when we just want something light, refreshing and quick for lunch or dinner - without having to heat up the house or fret too much.

With peach season kickin' right now, this salad really is a celebration of my favorite summer fruit. {Fresh strawberries, sliced apples or sliced pears could be swapped in if peaches aren't in season as you read this post.}

All it takes to whip this up is spending four minutes making the maple pecans, then allowing them to cool while the quick dressing is assembled and the salad is put together. {The only real knife work required is the slicing of one peach and a red onion.}

If you wanted to invest the time, topping with some sliced, grilled chicken would make this a more-hearty salad if desired.

This recipe yields two servings, but you could easily adapt the recipe to make several servings or even make one large salad for sharing.

Yields 2 servings.

BLT Naan Flatbread Pizza

If you're a lover of BLT Sandwiches, this is a recipe that you're going to want to try. The ingredient list is a short one and making these little pizzas is a breeze. Bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheese, green onion and mayonnaise meet up atop pillow-y, soft naan flatbread. I utilize naan bread to make a variety of pizzas. {My favorite is my Cheesy BBQ Flatbread with Grilled Vegetables.} Using naan as a starting point for a quick, easy dinner is a no-brainer. It can easily be found in the bakery section of most grocery stores these days {I like these} or you can search online for recipes to make your own at home {something I plan to try very soon}.

Our eighteen-year old daughter works at a pizza restaurant that serves an amazing BLT Pizza. I based the development of this recipe upon their concept. But, since we love naan for pizza, I decided to swap it in to take the place of traditional dough. Worked like a charm.

The pizza is assembled by melting a little shredded cheese on top of the naan, then piling on cooked bacon and the vegetables. Drizzle on some mayo before service for the perfect dinner, lunch or snack.

Yields 2 servings.

Cool and Creamy Vegetable "Pizza" Crescent Cups

These Cool and Creamy Vegetable "Pizza" Cups are fun twist on the traditional version of veggie pizza that many of us know and love. They are perfect appetizers for summertime parties or you can even enjoy them as a light meal. They are easily customizable - use whatever fresh vegetables that you love or have on hand - and they seem to always be one of the first things to be devoured at parties.

For the recipe, you'll, basically, need a couple of tubes of refrigerated crescent seamless dough sheets, a few simple ingredients to make a cream cheese/sour cream filling and some fresh vegetables. After a short bit of oven time and a few minutes of cooling, the crescent cups get a dollop of cool and creamy filling before being topped off with your chopped veggies of choice.

From my experience, these can be made up to six hours {or so} in advance. While I do enjoy them just fine the next day {if there are leftovers}, they are best when freshly-made the day of service.

NOTE: VEGETABLES SHOULD BE CUT INTO SMALL PIECES AND BE OF UNIFORM SIZE. THE AMOUNT OF VEGETABLES NEEDED TO MAKE A SINGLE BATCH OF THESE IS VERY MINIMAL. ROUGHLY ONLY 2 - 3 TABLESPOONS OF EACH CHOPPED/SLICED VEGETABLE IS NEEDED. HOWEVER, THE AMOUNT, OBVIOUSLY, WILL VARY DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF VEGETABLES USED AND THE TYPE/VARIETY OF VEGETABLES CHOSEN. THEREFORE, I AM NOT PROVIDING EXACT MEASUREMENTS IN THE VEGETABLE SECTION OF THE INGREDIENT LIST BELOW.

Also, note that the recipe yields sixteen "cups," but is easily doubled or tripled for large crowds. And, to clarify, the cups are made in muffins tins with regular-sized wells - not mini muffin tins.

Yields 16 cups.

Grilled Asparagus with Maple Walnuts and Savory Yogurt

Lightly grilled asparagus comes together with a super simple Greek yogurt sauce and some quickly-glazed maple walnuts for an incredibly easy and healthful side dish. This is a recipe that takes mere minutes to prepare, but is one that truly celebrates the freshness and beauty of asparagus - especially during the spring.

I have been testing a good deal of asparagus recipes over the past week or so. I made a farro salad with chopped grilled asparagus and tomatoes. I tried a Parmesan-crusted baked asparagus recipe, but still can't quite manage to keep the crust to stay fully on the asparagus. {I may keep working on that one because it was very tasty.}

After testing this particular recipe for this post, I came to the conclusion, however, that I really prefer keeping things pretty simple and uncomplicated when it comes to asparagus. This recipe really highlights asparagus. Just a few other ingredients amp up the dish. Greek yogurt is mixed with lemon juice, salt, pepper, honey and a little za'atar {a Middle Eastern Spice Blend}, then drizzled on top of the grilled asparagus. Maple walnuts top it all off for come crunch and sweetness. It's a beautiful, quick side dish that I'm sure asparagus lovers are sure to savor and enjoy.

Joyously Domestic is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. You can read my full disclosure statement here. This post contains affiliate links to amazon.com.

Yields 2 - 3 servings.

Cheesy BBQ Flatbread with Grilled Vegetables

I seriously cannot express to you nearly enough just how awesome this recipe is. I know this flatbread may not look super knock-your-socks-off impressive. And, I can attest that this certainly isn't a complicated or sophisticated dish. But, it's just one of those things that once you start making your way through this at the dinner {or lunch or snack or anytime} table, you'll come to understand just what I am talking about. If you're a lover of barbeque sauce, cheese, and/or grilled veggies, this is right up your alley. I know it is mine. {So much so that I've made this three times in the past week.}

Using store-bought naan bread {found in the bread or bakery section in most supermarkets these days} makes this a super simple recipe to whip up. {Soft pita bread could, also, be used.} A bounty of freshness from the sweet corn, onions, peppers and fresh thyme makes this flatbread a real winner. Some zip and sweetness comes from the inclusion of bbq sauce. And, a little cheddar cheese makes the whole thing truly sing.

Regarding the bread, you want something that isn't too thin and is rather soft. This dish turns out best when the flatbread just kinda warms through during a few, quick minutes in the oven. It should still remain tender and soft for service. Nothing super thin, crispy or crunchy.

One last thing I'd like to mention ... we experimented with a few different kinds of barbeque sauce for this. We have our favorites for certain types of grilled meats and the like. For this? It has to be Kraft Original. I mean, go with what you like. But, we found old-school Kraft to be our choice.

NOTE: Grilled or breaded chicken {already cooked} that has been cut into small dice can be added for those desiring more than just vegetables on their flatbread. {I did use some chicken during one of the times that I recipe tested this flatbread - as shown in the photo below.}

Joyously Domestic is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. You can read my full disclosure statement here. This post contains affiliate links to amazon.com.

Yields 4 flatbreads / Serves 4.

Simple Potato and Corn Soup

I have shared several potato soup recipes here on the blog since its start in 2012. Some were slow cooker ones. Some called for summer sweet corn off of the cob. A couple were spicy versions. Bacon and lots of cheese were the highlights of a couple. But, for this particular recipe, I've broken it down to the basics. A simple, straight-forward soup. Simple, no-fuss ingredients. Very simple, easy prep. On the table in around thirty minutes from start to finish.

The result is a creamy soup that is loaded with chunks of potato and pops of corn kernels. This is the type of soup that you want to hunker down with on the couch on a chilly evening - a blanket atop your lap and remote in hand - and just savor each comforting, homey bite.

It's an ideal soup to make for weeknight dinners due to the ease and simplicity of the recipe. And, if you'd like to make dinnertime even easier, you can have the potatoes prepped the night before or morning of, too. Just keep the chunks submerged in cold water in a lidded bowl in the fridge, then drain before utilizing them in this recipe.

Potluck-Style Crunchy Asian Ramen Salad

This recipe is a throw-back to the hip-happenin' days when this salad was a staple at so many church potlucks, family gatherings, summer picnics and reunions. Perhaps it is still a mainstay in some circles at get-togethers today, but it's been quite awhile since I've seen it around. It happened to cross my mind the other day when I was cutting up cabbage for our St. Patrick's Day dinner. I had not eaten this salad in years, so I was excited to make it for my family to see if they'd love it as much as I remember loving it.

The salad is a marriage of thinly-sliced cabbage, lots of crunchy vegetables, sliced almonds, a little fruit for sweetness and crushed, toasted ramen noodles. The whole shebang gets dressed with a simple Asian-style dressing that probably uses ingredients most of us tend to keep on hand.

Many recipes call for inclusion in the dressing of the actual chicken-flavored seasoning packet from the ramen noodle package. I have had the dressing both with it and without. Both are good. I opted to make the dressing without it for nutritional reasons. {If you would like to include it as it does add a little something "extra" that isn't present when omitting it, I recommend lessening the soy sauce called for in the dressing to only 1 tablespoon and using only ONE packet of the chicken flavoring.}

TIME SAVING TIP:  If desired, packaged coleslaw mix can be subbed in for the hand-prepped shredded cabbage and carrots.

SERVES 6 - 8.

Pan-Roasted Purple Potatoes and Carrots with Garlic-Lemon Aioli

My mother knows that I love to work with unique, fun ingredients in the kitchen. So, it was no surprise that she picked me up a bag of stunning purple potatoes this past week and said, "I knew you could do something cool with them." I decided on pan-roasting them with some carrots in my large cast iron pan. I knew I wanted some type of dipping sauce, so I whipped up a super-quick aioli that totally elevates this dish.

The mayo-based aioli is lemon-y, creamy and garlicky. Having it alongside of the vegetables is a necessity. Plunging those perfectly-roasted potatoes and carrots into that sauce is pretty much heaven on earth. The vegetables themselves come out super tender on the interior, but are not mushy. And, they have just the right amount of crusty sear and crispness on the exterior.

This is a fabulous side dish that takes little prep work and truly highlights beautiful, fresh produce in a simple, yet delicious way.

NOTE: Baby gold/yellow or red potatoes can be utilized for this dish if you can't get your hands on the purple variety.

Yields 2 - 3 servings.

Joyously Domestic is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. You can read my full disclosure statement here. This post contains an affiliate link to amazon.com.

Cold Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce

I've gotten into the habit in recent months of spending my Mondays prepping lunches for myself for the week. With the kids gone to school and the hubby at work all during the week, it's just me at home throughout the day. One of my New Year's resolutions was to eat more purposely and with greater intention. {I'm trying for lunch for myself not to be just a string cheese and a protein bar.} Some weeks I roast off a bunch of veggies and cook up some grains so that I can throw together a quick grain bowl on an given day. I often make up pasta salads, too, for myself. And, I keep quick, homemade vinaigrettes on hand and lots of prepped, fresh vegetables.

Over the past week, I worked on developing and testing this Cold Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce recipe. It's loaded with tons of fresh vegetables and is served tossed with a killer peanut butter dressing.

It is a super versatile salad ... whatever crisp veggies that you like or have on hand work here. In addition to what I've listed, some suggestions would be sugar snap peas, sliced cabbage, edamame or even some chopped apples. And, if you like things spicy, toss in some sliced chili peppers in place of the sweet ones I've used.

The peanut butter sauce is simple to whip up and really makes this salad the winner that it truly is. Its base is a blend of sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, lime juice and peanut butter.

Preparing this whole thing will require boiling off your noodles, whisking up the dressing and a little effort chopping up your veggies - maybe twenty minutes or so total. Then, you can tuck the leftovers away in the fridge and enjoy a healthful, hearty, fresh lunch for the next couple of days without any work at all.

Yields 4 servings.