We're Stuffed!

What's better than a few ingredients you love?  Stuffing those ingredients into something else you love!

Today we're bring you 3 delicious stuffed recipes featuring 3 vessels that are even more delicious when you stuff something in them.  These recipes offer a great way to hide delicious and nutritious ingredients for the picky eaters in the family.

Our first dish, brought to you by Dishing Up Dirt via Bloglovin, is a whole-lotta-goodness!  Chickpea Stuffed Eggplant with Couscous and Tahini Sauce, brings Mediterranean flavors to the forefront.  This elegant dish looks like it came from the most executive chef's kitchen, but can be easily created in your own home.  Give it a go, and let us know what you think!

Next up, a veggie favorite of ours, Stuffed Mushrooms with Farro.  Vegetarian Times brings this tasty recipe to you, with an Italian whole grain, you may not be familiar with.  Farro gives a great texture and flavor to this dish and can be incorporated into your diet along with brown rice, or quinoa as a healthy, starchy alternative.

Let's introduce another stuffed recipe featuring a plethora of flavors, this time, of the southwestern variety, with Stuffed Zuchini from Kalyn's Kitchen.  This thing has cheese, black beans, and green chilies mixed with brown rice for a fantastic new dish with the option to spice it up even more with green Tabasco sauce.

Such amazing flavors in all three of these dishes-which is your favorite?

Traditional Recipes With A Twist! (Meatless Monday Edition)

Going meatless once a week can not only save you a few bucks, it can help boost your immune system and help prevent a TON of diseases and illnesses by giving your body a shot of nutritious veggies and fruits that might otherwise be missing from your diet.  Many kids groan at the thought of having a meal that consists only of vegetables, but that's not what Meatless Monday is about at all.  It's simply taking a break from meat, fish and poultry.  You can still eat all the carbs, grains, and starches you would normally consume.

Today's recipes offer traditional dishes with a twist, and not just because they are meatless.  Whether it's a complimentary ingredient, or a complete substitution, we're sure you'll find a winner out of this bunch.

Let's kick things off with a classic kid's favorite, given a superfood twist.  Quinoa Mac and Cheese by Simply Quinoa, not only substitutes regular pasta with quinoa, but it also adds a shot of hidden vegetables, with pureed butternut squash to give it a creamy, dreamy texture.  Use whatever your favorite cheese is, or even use a few different varieties to kick this dish up a few notches.

The next dish again, really throws some great ideas and large doses of veggies with it's take on another classic, spaghetti and meatballs.  Skinnytaste.com features Eggplant Meatballs over "Zoodles" or zucchini noodles.  Stick to regular pasta if you don't think the family will go for the zoodle-noodle switch, as Gina's eggplant meatballs offer a plethora of nutritious goodness.

Our final dish is a simple spin on another favorite.  When it comes to cobblers, crisps, or crumbles, why use one fruit when you can use two?  Instead of plain ol' cherry crisp, Good Housekeeping features a "triple tested" hit with their Cherry Nectarine Crisp.  If you can't use fresh fruit or are out of season, check your local grocer's freezer and follow the thawing directions on the bag.

Here's to healthy eating and a happy Monday!

Summer Sandwiches-Meatless Monday Edition

Sandwiches can be a quick and easy way to fuel you up and with an assortment of summer vegetables available, why not use some seasonal favorites to change things up?  We've got 4 delicious sandwich options to have you and your family saying "Yum!"

The first sandwich we're talking about is great for a breakfast or snack choice.  Fitbie's "Raisin the Stakes" waffle sandwich, featuring 3 powerfoods, is great for a protein packed start to your day.  Plus this yummy sandwich only takes 5 minutes to make!  All you need are raisins, peanut butter, a frozen waffle (preferably whole wheat), and add a banana for some extra yummy goodness.

This next sandwich features some great summer veggies like eggplant, yellow squash, and bell peppers.  Sandra Lee, from the Food Network, created this delicious Grilled Vegetable Panini, perfect for a quick lunch or easy dinner!

If you have any leftover eggplant from our last recipe, why not use it again in Blissful Basil's Baked Eggplant Marinara Sandwich?  You can even make a batch of these beforehand, and reheat them to their original, delectable state.

Last, for today, we're bringing back Half Baked Harvest for another winning dish!  Her Spinach and Artichoke Melts not only look divine, but is such a fun take on a classic.  Her recipe yields extra dip for something later in the week, but after you taste these, we think you'll just make sandwiches the next day.

Do you have any Meatless Monday recipes you want to share?  Send us a comment and you might see it on our next post!

Meatless Monday: Berry Good!

Summer berries-delicious and a great source of so many necessary vitamins.  Today's post will have your mouth watering from the pictures alone.

Raspberry Almond Scones from Two Peas and Their Pod might get your hands a little messy, but oh is it worth it.  These pretty scones are perfect for breakfast (especially on the go), or for a dressed up brunch you can impress your friends and family by making.  They look like they came from a fancy bakery somewhere.  Don't be fooled by their looks though-they are super easy to make.  Give it a try this weekend-we promise you'll be happy you did!

Another dish that's almost too pretty to eat-Fresh Strawberry Cobbler from Chocolate, Chocolate and More.  So glad southern belle, Joan, chose to do more than just chocolate creations, because there is nothing better than fresh cobbler for dessert on a hot summer evening.  Add ice cream to take this dessert to the next level!  Thank you, ma'am!

These Very Berry Muffins are a colorful and tasty way to start your morning.  Sally's Baking Addiction is welcomed with open arms (as are her other muffin recipes) as a great kick start to your day.  Mix and match with your berries of choice for a killer combination.

Mouth watering yet?  They are almost too pretty to eat...almost!

Check out other great Meatless Monday dishes and desserts on our Meatless Monday Pinterest board.

Meatless Monday: Grill Master Edition

It's Monday again, time to start the week off right with some delicious meatless recipes!  Seems like most evenings you can smell someone grilling something, so tonight, why not let it be you!

We'll kick things off with a tasty Moroccan- inspired side dish from Dinners and Dreams.  Her Mushroom Skewers are packed with flavor featuring harissa, a Moroccan red pepper sauce.  Remember to soak your skewers before putting your veggies on them as they will quickly catch on fire from the grill.

This next recipe is a perfect dish, especially when you need a meal in a hurry.  It's nutritious, delicious, and a great meal that will leave you satisfied.  Grilled Zucchini and Eggplant Parmesan from the Cookin' Canuck takes 10 minutes or less to prepare AND cook!  It's also a perfect dish to make when you have just a little bit of left over spaghetti sauce, and don't want pasta again.

Speaking of fast, this next recipe again, takes 10 minutes or less to prepare and cook.  It's almost too good to be true!  The kids, especially, will love this one!  Grilled Tomato-Basil Pita Pizzas from Kraft, a fun way to get the kids to the dinner table.

This last recipe is stuffed with everything...literally.  Veggies, spices, protein, you name it, it's got it, with a name to match!   Grilled Tex-Mex Quinoa Stuffed Sweet Potato Skins from Half Baked Harvest...a healthy alternative to yummy potato skins by using sweet potatoes, and chocked full of flavor thanks to Tieghan, a talented, young foodie.  Try them out for yourself!

Feel free to comment about which recipe is your favorite on our Facebook page-happy eating!

Meatless Monday: Picnic Style

With the warm weather and kids out of school, take the time to enjoy the outdoors by having a picnic.  You can go to the park or even spread a table cloth out in your yard (or even in your house if it's raining).   Today's picnic inspired menu is easy and delicious!

A red raspberry salad from Taste and Tell is a great new salad recipe to try.  The sweet raspberry dressing and multiple fruits tossed in, will satisfy you as a great meal starter.

This yummy balsamic pasta with veggies from Bake Your Day can be served warm or cool, which makes it a perfect recipe for any picnic!  And as Cassie suggests, you can use any leftover veggies so you can customize this based on what you have in your fridge!

To top everything off on a sweet note, these chocolate dipped elephant ears are the perfect balance to this picnic meal.  From eatwell101, these 3 little ingredients form a delicious dessert.

For more Meatless Monday recipes check out our Pinterest board.  Here's to a Happy Monday!

Meatless Monday: Mushroom Inspired Super-Foods

These new Meatless Monday recipes disguise a great veggie like mushrooms, into some irresistible and delicious entrees that the whole family can enjoy. Mushrooms have been considered a super-food as they are a great source of vitamin D and calcium and are one of the greatest foods to help boost your immune system.  According to Health.com, cooking them brings out more muscle building potassium, as opposed to eating them raw, which might help babies and young children, chew and swallow them more easily.  The following recipes are a great way to use the grill and step outside to enjoy the beginning of a new summer month!

First, are these absolutely scrumptious Mini Portobello Burgers from Country Living. Treat you and your family to an outside dinner with these perfect-sized burgers and enjoy summer before it gets too hot.

Vegetable Kabobs, from Life As Mom blogger, Jessica Fisher, are also a great grilling meal that are made just perfect with some mushrooms thrown into the mix (with such pretty colors, maybe the kiddos won't even notice they're eating healthy stuff)!

Substituting the meat in a kid-favorite meal for a meatless option is another yummy way to introduce this super-food into your child's diet. This yummy Mushroom Parmesan spin from KitchMe is an exceptional recipe that you and your family can enjoy.

To see more recipes for this amazing super-food check out our Pinterest Meatless Monday board. Have a happy Monday filled with good eating!

Meatless Monday: Easy Easter Inspired Dishes

Here comes Peter Cottontail... Easter is just under two weeks away and although it's on a Sunday, we thought we'd share some cute recipes you can use that are meatless for your holiday celebration.  Don't forget to check out our last post that also ties in with the Easter theme here, featuring dishes that include carrots!  

Bunny-face pancakes will make your little ones squeal with delight!  Get creative or let your kids decorate their bunny's face.

Need to make a festive appetizer?  How about this Vegetable Carrot from Saavy Mom?  Super easy, and can be paired with any veggie dip you can think of!

Or use up some of those hard boiled eggs to create these super cute Deviled Egg Chicks.

Hungry Happenings gives a great picture tutorial on how to make these adorable egg salad stuffed croissant carrots.

Here's to a Happy Easter!

Meatless Monday: Carrot Craze

Carrots are one of the 40 best anti-aging super foods according to Menshealth.com, so we thought today's Meatless Monday post should encompass this wonderful orange veggie.  Often associated with the benefit of improving one's eyesight due to vitamin A and beta carotene, carrots hold an array of features and benefits that can aid your health.  It can help prevent heart disease and cancer, as well as flush toxins and lower cholesterol, making carrots a worthwhile investment in your diet.

Today's menu features some unique ways to try this tasty root vegetable.

An orange puree made of yams and carrot from Parenting.com can be used to introduce your baby to solids, as well as a way to sneak veggies into your child's entree.  We even like it as an alternative to mashed potatoes as the consistency is thick enough for adults using standard dinnerware, like a fork.

Not into pureed versions of food?  Then this ginger, citrus, and carrot medley, courtesy of The First Mess, may be for you.  With black sesames, avocado, and edamame, this vegetable medley covers all the nutritional bases.  With a citrus-y Asian dressing, this will surely brighten up your taste buds.

Looking for more of a comfort food to warm you up until spring gets here?  A Carrot and Parmesan Risotto from What's Gaby Cooking, is just what the doctor ordered.  All it takes is the patience to cook risotto, but oh what the payoff will be!

And if you just need a quick and easy alternative for a side dish and want a new recipe, then Carrot and Parsnip Fries is the answer.  Our favorite crafty lady, Martha Stewart, shares this wonderful recipe, that bakes, not fries the veggies, so you don't lose any of the nutritional benefits.

Check out our Pinterest board for more carrot and Meatless Monday recipes!

Meatless Monday: We're Nuts About Nuts

Has the crazy weather driven anyone else nuts?  We've been part of the uniquely disastrous Atlanta winter storms the last few weeks, and although we aren't complaining as our usual temperatures are much better than the rest of the U.S., it has definitely taken a toll on us.  So, in light of the crazy cabin fever and nutty winter weather, today's meatless Monday recipe index is all about nuts!

We've got some lovely recipes featuring 4 different kinds of nuts to suit your fancy.  By toasting them, notice how the flavor is really brought out, and adds more oomph to your dish.

Let's kick things off with this Pear Salad with Walnuts and Feta, by Babble.com.  This simple dish is great this time of year as many different pear varieties are in season.  Eat it as an addition to your meal or as a yummy lunch entree.

Speaking of additions, these next two recipes will really pick up the slack that your everyday side dishes have been offering.  Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan and Pine Nuts by Your Homebased Mom, is a much healthier option than smothering those florets with cheese.  Or if you're looking for something a little starchier, try Martha Stewart's Rice Pilaf with Toasted Almonds.  Use both if you're really looking to go above and beyond on tonight's dinner.

And of course we can't forget to end our meal with something sweet.  White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies are the perfect end for today's meal.  Annalise over at Completely Delicious offers this great recipe that makes about 2 dozen, so you can fill your cookie jar to the brim and enjoy one or two of these at the end of the day.  Here's to hoping your weather is warming up and the cabin fever craziness is over!

Meatless Monday: Carb Lovers Edition

Carbs...who doesn't love 'em?  Today's recipes are based off filling carbs that are paired with a healthy dose of yummy vegetables.  But enough with the chatter...let's get to it!

Our first meatless recipe is from the queen of Italian cuisine, Giada de Laurentiis.  Her Rigatoni with Eggplant Puree offers the best of an in-season favorite and because the veggies are all pureed, you can introduce this dish to any picky eaters in the family, without breaking a sweat!

Need something with a little more zing?  Then try this Spring Vegetable Fried Rice recipe by Laura B. Russell.  Don't let the name fool you though, all veggies in this dish can easily be found at your local grocery store, year round.  Or if you want to shop at the farmer's market and only want to use in season goods, substitute the vegetables for what is available in your area.

Spinach and artichoke go together like peanut butter and jelly.  So for this next dish, why not go with such a winning combination?  Spinach Artichoke Pasta offers the creamy goodness you know and love from the traditional dip, but add some cayenne pepper for a little kick and this pasta dish will have you making it over and over for your family.

And if you're feeling just a little guilty for consuming all these carbs, don't be afraid to make the switch from regular pasta to whole wheat.  Or for today's Spring Vegetable Fried Rice, use brown rice or even quinoa as a healthy substitute.

Meatless Monday: No Bake/Cook Recipes

Summertime is the perfect time to sit back and relax.  Why waste your time being stuck in the kitchen, cooking all day?  Today's meatless recipes are no bake/no cook,  just mix and go!  From easy veggie salads, to a delicious cheesecake dessert...did we mention they are no bake/no cook recipes?  So try one, and spend the rest of your down time doing the things you really want to...or do nothing at all-we won't judge!

Cucumber is one of those ingredients that can really refresh your palette.  There is nothing quite like a delicious cucumber salad on a hot summer day.  This Cucumber Salad with Sour Cream and Dill Dressing, compliments of Martha Stewart, is absolutely perfect for a picnic.  Just mix lemon juice, sour cream, dill, and a pinch of salt and pepper together and toss in your cucumbers...easy, breezy, just how we like it.

Or try a slightly different variation, this time using broccoli.  Eating Well adds a few more ingredients to their Broccoli Salad with Creamy Feta Dressing that mimics the above recipe, yet takes it in a completely different direction with the bright flavor of red bell pepper.

A Watermelon Gazpacho can really liven up your day, and give you plenty of extra time outside the kitchen, without disregarding your taste buds.  This recipe, also from Eating Well, only requires the press of a button on your blender or food processor to ensure yummy results.

With all these cool, refreshing flavors, let's bring it home with a cool, creamy dessert!  Oreo Cookies and Cream No Bake Cheesecake from Bakers Royale appears too good to be true, but we wouldn't lie to you...it only requires the use of a hand mixer to concoct this creamy, dreamy goodness.  Is your mouth watering yet?

With all the time these easy no cook/bake recipes saved you, why not get around to organizing that hall closet you've been putting off...or take that much needed nap (we said we wouldn't judge!)

Meatless Monday: Cheesy Dishes

Cheese.  It's good on pretty much everything, don't you think?  Unless you're lactose intolerant, we think you'll find these 5 recipes, featuring all sorts of cheesy goodness, to die for!

Starting with a  breakfast dish that can be served all day long, this mini quiche features feta and mushrooms with caramelized onions.  Featured on treehugger.com, you can find easy directions and delicious pictures that are sure to make your mouth water.

photo courtesy of  Jaymi Heimbuch

This Zucchini Parmesan dish can either be a snack or a side.  And all you need is zucchini and Parmesan cheese!  Can't make it any easier than that! For the nutritional information of this dish, check out Spark Recipes.

This next dish is quite the light fare.  Again featuring feta cheese, it's the perfect appetizer or poolside pick me up.  Cucumber-Feta Bites from Bitedelite.com are fun and fresh, not to mention delicious!

Love cheesy potatoes, but need something different?  Try adding cauliflower!  A Potato, Cauliflower, and Cheddar Bake from Martha Stewart gives you a little bit of help lowering your risk of stroke, according to Men's Health.  This lovely white vegetable is also a great source of potassium and folate.  And because it's white like the potatoes, you may be able to hide it in all that cheddar-y goodness, so you're kids will eat it all up without any complaints!  It's a win-win!

Check back next week for some easy no bake, Meatless Monday recipes!

Meatless Monday: Pizza Edition

Happy Monday AND Happy Earth Day to those of you who are celebrating.  Today's post, as well as all of our Monday posts, are brought to you with eco-living in mind.  Our Meatless Monday posts not only highlight delicious vegetarian recipes for you and your family to try, but they are brought to you with health benefits and green living in mind.

By serving meatless (or seafood-less) dishes one day a week, you can reduce your risk for various cancers, as well as slim down your waistline AND reduce your carbon footprint by utilizing less water and reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted from the manufacturing processes used in the meat industry.

Now that you have a little background of why we post these yummy meatless recipes, let's dive in to today's recipe series featuring an easy family favorite-PIZZA!

This colorful pizza really adds a zing of flavor with pineapple mango chipotle salsa.  Brought to you from Parents Magazine, "Tropical Pizza" offers several servings of vegetables, plus it takes about 20 minutes from start to finish to make!  Great for a night when the family is rushing around due to extracurricular activities.

Want something with just as much flavor, but a little more mainstream, in terms of ingredients?  Try Martha Stewart's recipe for Ricotta Pizza with Fresh and Roasted Tomatoes.  This savory pizza would also be great as an appetizer for your next party or get together.

This next dish really piles on the veggies.  Simone Anne's Easy Homemade Veggie Pizza is just that-easy!  Bake the veggies 'til they are nice and tender and enjoy.  Don't be afraid to sub in/out veggies based on the season.

Last, but certainly not least, this recipe has a tried and true partnership that always works!  Spinach and Artichoke Pizza takes 30 minutes total based on this recipe from Real Simple.  If you want something a little lighter on calories, sub out the cream cheese in favor of a little olive oil and fresh garlic.

These recipes are a great way to introduce your family to Meatless Monday and to show them there are more pizza toppings out there than just pepperoni and cheese.  Want to add a little competitive edge to your Meatless Monday?  Host a pizza bake off-loser has to do dishes!