There are a few things that make this recipe exceptional, and first are the spiced pecans. We eat these sweet, crunchy, spicy pecans by the handful and love sprinkling them over salads and sides, especially during the holiday! Next is that sweet, sticky honey-baked acorn. The sweetness of the acorn is so spot on with the ricotta and nuts its perfection in every bite. Because the rest of the ingredients are simple it's important to use good quality ingredients. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
​1 large acorn squash 
3 Tbsp good quality olive oil, divided 
2 Tbsp honey, divided 
3/4 cup fresh ricotta 
4-6 mint leaves, roughly chopped
Flaky sea salt 
½ cup Spiced Pecans, see recipe below 
Crusty bread for serving
 
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut the squash in half and scrape out the seeds with a spoon. Carefully slice the squash into half-moons and place in a large bowl, leaving the skin on. Toss the squash with 1 Tbsp olive oil and 1 Tbsp honey. Season with salt and pepper. 
 
Lay the squash pieces on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until the squash is golden and tender. 
 
Meanwhile on a serving platter, spread ricotta evenly across. Drizzle with 1-2 Tbsp olive oil, 2 Tbsp honey, and spiced pecans. Season well with salt. 
 
When squash are finished arrange on top of the ricotta and garnish with mint leaves. Serve with crusty bread and additional honey if desired. 
 
Spiced Pecans 
 
1 Tbsp water
1 egg white
3 cups pecan halves 
1/2 cup white sugar 
1 tsp cinnamon 
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg 
1/4 tsp ground cardamom 
¼ tsp cloves
1/2 tsp kosher salt
pinch of cayenne 
 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
 
Whisk together water and egg whites in large bowl. Add pecans and toss to moisten. 
 
In a separate bowl combine sugar with the rest of the ingredients. Pour sugar-spice mixture over the nuts and toss to coat completely.
 
Line baking tray with silicone baking mats (or foil if you do not have silicone mats). Spread nuts across tray in a single layer. 
 
Bake 15 minutes, flip nuts halfway through, and bake another 10-15 (be careful not to burn!).

Not your mama's frittata! Loaded with flavor and packed with feel-good vegetables - we LOVE this sweet potato version of a simple classic. The curry compliments the sweet potato and kale so well, and it couldn't be any easier to throw together. We could eat this everyday for breakfast (or lunch, or dinner!).
 
Serves 4 

Ingredients:
1 medium sweet potato 
2 Tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper
½ cup diced onion 
½ cup diced red pepper
1 cup chopped kale
2 garlic cloves
1 tsp grated ginger, or 2 tsp pre-grated from tube 
¼ tsp cumin seed
1 tsp curry powder
6 Large eggs
¼ cup half and half
2 tsp cilantro 
¼ cup crumbled feta cheese 

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel and slice sweet potato into ½ inch cubes. Spread out on a lined baking tray and drizzle with 1 Tbsp olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and toss gently with the spoon. Roast in oven for 15 minutes or until sweet potato is golden brown and tender.
 
While the sweet potato is cooking heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a 9-inch cast iron or oven-proof skillet over medium. Add onions and red peppers. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until onions become translucent. Add chopped kale and cook an additional 2 minutes to wilt. Add garlic, ginger, cumin seeds, and curry. Cook 1 minute longer or until garlic becomes fragrant. 
 
Meanwhile, in a large bowl whisk together eggs and half and half. Season with salt and pepper. Gently pour egg mixture into the skillet over the cooked onion mixture, and do not disturb or stir. Top with roasted sweet potato, cilantro, and feta cheese. 
 
Place in oven and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until eggs are just set in the center.  Carefully remove skillet from the oven (it will be hot!), and allow to cool a few minutes before slicing. 

You don't have to be a sushi chef to throw an epic sushi party! Trust us, it's not that difficult, and there is no wrong way to do it. You'll get the hang of rolling the nori (seaweed wrappers) just after a couple of times, and you don't even need any fancy tools to do it (plastic wrap or foil work just fine).  

You could even prepare the rice and fillings in bowls and have your guests do the rolling, but here we will show you how we make the rolls ahead for your guests. In addition, we're sharing some of our favorite side dish recipes to serve along side all of the tasty homemade rolls.

P.S. Don't forget the chopsticks! 

Here's what you'll need:
Nori 
Sushi Rice, Recipe below
Fillings, Recipes below
Sesame Seeds
Soy Sauce
Ginger
Wasabi 
Pickled Ginger
Sriracha 
Sriracha Mayo

Side Dishes:
Easy Spicy Peanut Noodles (Recipe Here)
Coconut Lemongrass Quinoa Salad with Mango, Cashews, and Mint (Recipe Here)
Sea Salt Edamame 
Cucumber Salad

Step 1 - Prepare the rice 

Makes 8-10 rolls 

4 cups sushi or short grain rice 
4 cups water
4 Tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
2 Tbsp Kosher salt 

In a strainer, rinse the rice under cold water until water runs clear. Drain.

Place the rice and 4 cups of water into a large pan over high heat. Bring to a boil. Once it begins to boil, stir once, and reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. 

Transfer rice to a large bowl and toss well with vinegar and salt. Allow to cool to room temp before using.  

Step 2 - Prepare the fillings (4 of our favorites)

Spicy Tuna
Dice 4 oz sashimi grade tuna into small 1/4 inch pieces. Mix with 1/2 tsp sesame oil,
3 tsp sriracha, 2 scallions, and black (and or white) sesame seeds.

Crab
In a small bowl mix 8 oz cooked crab meat with 3 Tbsp mayo or sriracha mayo,
a couple dashes of soy sauce, and scallions.

Smoked Salmon
Cut 3 oz thinly sliced smoked salmon into 1/2 inch strips with 
1 1/4 inch strip cream cheese, and 1 1/4 inch cucumber slice. 

Loaded Vegetable 
Peel one ripe (but firm) avocado, and slice into 1/4 in think slices.
Squeeze lime or lemon juice to prevent browning. Roll with sliced red bell pepper,
roasted portobello mushrooms, and roasted sweet potatoes. 

​Step 3 - Roll the sushi

The key is to roll the sushi tightly, so it doesn't fall apart, but you don't want to smash the rice, so you must be gentle at the same time. If you don't have a bamboo mat, use a piece of plastic wrap or foil. 

Also, the rice will stick to your hands, so prepare a small bowl with equal parts water and rice vinegar to moisten your fingers while you work. 

Begin by laying a sheet of nori, shiny side down on the mat (or plastic wrap/foil). Wet your fingers and spread 3/4 cup of rice evenly onto the nori sheet. Sprinkle the rice with sesame seeds.

Now turn the sheet over so the rice side is facing down. Alternatively, you can also keep it right side up and make rolls with the nori on the outside, like in the photo above. 

Next, place a line of your filling of choice at the bottom end of the nori sheet. Grab the bottom edge of the bamboo mat (or plastic wrap/foil) while keeping the fillings in place with your fingers, roll into a tight cylinder. Continue to roll forward while keeping gentle pressure on the roll. Give the roll one final gentle squeeze.

Using a very sharp knife, cut the roll in half then each into 4 pieces. Clean the knife with a damp towel every few slices, as needed. 

This salad is what quinoa dreams are made of. So many beautiful flavors, textures...and of course COLORS! It's the perfect accompaniment to a sushi party, weeknight dinner, or luncheon with the ladies. 

Serves 4
​
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup quinoa
2 cups coconut milk 
4-5 large mint leaves, torn 
​1/3 cup cashews, roughly chopped
1 ripe mango, pitted and sliced
1 ripe avocado, pitted and sliced
2 scallions, green and white parts chopped
Sesame seeds to garnish
optional; radish 

For the dressing:
2 Tbsp lemongrass paste or minced lemongrass from stalk 
2 Tbsp fresh squeezed lime
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 tsp freshly grated ginger
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 Tbsp honey
Kosher salt, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:
Rinse the quinoa under cold water for about 30 seconds. In a medium pot, add rinsed quinoa, coconut milk, and a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 15 minutes, until quinoa is cooked and has absorbed most of the liquid. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl. Allow to cool.

​Meanwhile prepare the dressing. Remove the outer layer of lemongrass and trim off the tough ends. Crush the salt with the back of your knife to release flavor, then roughly chop it. Place lemongrass,  lime, olive oil, ginger, garlic, and honey in a small blender and combine until smooth. Taste, and add another squeeze of lime, if needed. Season well with salt. 

Once quinoa has slightly cooled, toss with mint and cashews. Transfer to a serving bowl, drizzle with dressing. Top with mango, avocado, and scallions. Serve with additional mint sprigs and lime wedge, if desired.

Super simple brown rice noodles (we used pad Thai noodles, but you can use any type you'd like) tossed with a salty, sweet, and slightly spicy peanut sauce. So much flavor and so so delicious! These make for a perfect party side dish, but we love these noodles so much we often make whip them up for an easy weeknight dinner with chicken or sautéed vegetables.

INGREDIENTS:
8 oz brown rice noodles 
1 handful cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup peanuts, roughly chopped

For the sauce:
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp honey
1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger
1 Tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice
1 - 2 tsp sriracha 
1 tsp sesame oil 
1-2 Tbsp water

INSTRUCTIONS:
In a large bowl whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, garlic, honey, ginger, lime juice, sriracha, and sesame oil. The mixture will be slightly clumpy at first. Add water one tablespoon at a time until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy. Set aside.

Cook noodles according to package directions. Once noodles are al dente, remove and toss with sauce immediately. Top with chopped cilantro and peanuts. Serve immediately.

Is it weird that we both have serious beet cravings? Like, we need them in our diet almost as badly as we need chocolate. *Almost.* We can't be alone?
Thankfully this salad is easy to put together because it's on our crave list, and frankly we could eat it every week. Super fresh and incrediby simple ingredients come together to create a bold flavors. We hope you love it as much as we do!

INGREDEINTS:
Serves 3-4

3-4 medium beets
1 blood orange
1 ripe, but tender avocado
2 oz goat or feta (in the brine), crumbled
2 Tbsp toasted walnuts (candied walnuts are great too)
6-8 mint leaves, torn 
kosher salt and pepper
olive oil to finish 
 
Vinaigrette:
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp lemon juice, plus 1/2 tsp lemon zest 
1 tsp dijon
2 tsp honey
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 
kosher salt and pepper

INSTRUCTIONS:

For the salad: ​
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash beets and individually wrap in foil.  Roast beets until tender when pierced with a knife, about 45 minutes.
Meanwhile peel orange, discarding all white pith and skins. Slice orange segments and set aside.  Peel and pit avocado. Slice in half lengthwise, and then slice against the width into about 10 slices. Set aside. 
Once beets are cool enough to handle, peel skins off using a paper towel. Slice into ¼ inch slices.
Arrange beets on a plate and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle dressing over top and repeat with oranges and avocado.  Top with feta or goat cheese, walnuts, and mint. Finish by spooning leftover dressing over all ingredients. 

For the dressing:
Combine all ingredients into a glass jar and shake well until combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

Don't be fooled by the list of ingredients here - this recipe is easy to put together, and packs so much Unami flavor! This is one of our favorite weeknight dinners, not only because it's so delicious, but it's one of those feel-good meals leaving you completely satisfied. Feel free to sub any of the vegetables, or add additional vegetables of your choice!


​Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS:
​2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
8 baby bell peppers
6 oz shiitake mushrooms, stemmed
2 Tbsp white miso
2 Tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp garlic powder
3 Tbsp olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 inch piece ginger, freshly grated (about 1 Tbsp)
1-2 red fresno chilies or jalapenos, seeds removed and chopped
2 lemongrass stalks, crushed and diced small
​1 14oz canned coconut milk
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp fish sauce
½ cup fresh cilantro
2 scallions, white and green chopped
7-9 Thai basil leaves, roughly torn
1 lime, sliced for serving
4oz brown rice noodles
​Optional: Sesame Seeds 
 
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Make the marinade by whisking together the sesame oil, miso and garlic. Spoon the marinade onto the veggies on a baking tray, then use your hands to coat everything. Bake for 15 minutes, and remove peppers and mushrooms, return tray and cook sweet potatoes until golden and tender.
 
In a large pot with olive oil add the garlic, ginger, fresno pepper, and lemongrass and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until fragrant. Add the, coconut milk, chicken stock, soy sauce, and fish sauce. Bring the mix to a boil and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer 10-15 minutes minutes for flavors to infuse. Stir in the cilantro and scallions.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the noodles according to package directions. Drain.
Divide the noodles between bowls and top with roasted veggies and coconut milk. Top with basil, additional cilantro, and lime wedge. 

We cannot get enough sweet potatoes and all of their natural goodness. This recipes is the perfect accompaniment to any protein, and couldn't be easier to throw together!

INGREDIENTS:
2 lbs sweet potatoes, washed and cut into 2 inch pieces 
¼ cup pure maple syrup, plus 1 Tbsp
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper 
1/3 cup tahini 
3 Tbsp white wine vinegar 
1 small garlic clove, minced
3 Tbsp water 
½ cup shaved feta cheese (feta in brine is best or ricotta salata)
¼ cup toasted pecans
2 Tbsp pomegranate seeds 
 
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400 F.
 
Arrange sweet potatoes in even layer on large baking tray, being careful not to overlap. In small bowl combine ¼ cup maple and olive oil. Pour mixture over sweet potatoes, and toss to coat. Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown, flipping halfway through.
 
Meanwhile make the tahini dressing by adding tahini, vinegar, garlic, and 1 Tbsp maple syrup to a medium bowl. Whisk to combine then slowly add water until creamy and pourable. You may need to add a bit more water to thin. Season well with salt and pepper. 
 
To serve, arrange roasted sweet potatoes on a platter, drizzle tahini dressing over top. Top with feta cheese, toasted pecans, and pomegranate seeds. 
 
 

INGREDIENTS:
​1 ½ pounds skinless, boneless salmon
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp mayonnaise 
½ cup coarse bread crumbs
3 scallions, sliced white and green parts 
1 tablespoon capers, drained
Salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
Salt and pepper 
4 slices horseradish cheddar
4 buns
Pickled Red Onions (see recipe for Jenny's Pickled Onions)
Arugula, for serving
Mayonnaise, for serving 

INSTRUCTIONS:
Cut the salmon into large chunks, and put about a quarter of it into a food processor with the dijon. Pulse until salmon becomes pasty. Add the remaining salmon, and pulse the machine on and off until the fish is chopped and well combined, leaving small chunks of the salmon. Be careful not make the mixture too fine.

Stir in the mayonnaise, bread crumbs, scallions, capers and some salt and pepper. Shape into four burgers.
​
Heat oil in a nonstick skillet to medium-high (alternatively you can grill the burgers). Cook each side until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per side.  Be careful not to overcook!  Serve with arugula, pickled onions, mayonnaise, and horseradish cheddar.

Nothing beats this classic from the south of France. If you like to eat salads for a meal this is your guy! It is packed with flavor and leaves you feeling good afterwards. Win win!

INGREDIENTS:
2 heads green leaf lettuce, washed and chopped
2 cups arugula
1 lb poached shrimp
1 cup roasted beets, diced
8-10 roasted or boiled purple potatoes
4 oz blanched green beans, trimmed
3 hard boiled eggs, peeled and quartered
1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
1⁄2 cup Kalamata olives
1⁄2 cup sliced red onion
Tarragon Caper Dressing, see below

INSTRUCTIONS:
Begin by bringing together all of your salad ingredients. Prepare salad dressing and arrange both lettuce and arugula on a large platter. Arrange the shrimp, beets, potatoes, green beans, eggs, tomatoes, olives, and red onion on top of the lettuce. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with 1⁄4 cup of the dressing. Serve with additional dressing on the side.

Tarragon Caper Dressing
1/2 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp honey
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 small garlic clove, minced
2 Tbsp capers, drained and rinsed
1 Tbsp finely chopped tarragon
Combine all ingredients in a large mason jar, tighten lid, and shake well until fully incorporated.
Season with salt and pepper, to taste.