Ground Turkey Soup Recipe with Rice, Kale, Mushrooms, and Butternut Squash

I loved the flavors in this Ground Turkey Soup with Rice, Kale, Mushrooms, and Butternut Squash.

For a while now I've been trying to develop a long-term relationship with ground turkey, which I think definitely has the potential to be a bit boring.  I think I'm getting to know ground turkey a little better though, because this year I've had a couple of recipe success stories using it, and this Ground Turkey Soup with Rice, Kale, Mushrooms, and Butternut Squash is definitely another winner.  If there's a secret to ground turkey success, it's to use a lot of other flavorful ingredients with the turkey, and in addition to mushrooms, butternut squash, and kale, this soup has plenty of dried herbs and a generous amount of balsamic vinegar stirred in at the end.  I loved the soup; hope everyone else who's developing an appreciation for ground turkey will enjoy it too.

Click to continue reading

Chicken Paprikash Recipe (Paprika Chicken)

Here's my updated recipe for Chicken Paprikash, which is warm and comforting for fall!

(Updated with better photos, a better recipe, and step-by-step instructions October 2013.)  I've been updating photos on my oldest posts for over five years now, and there's something so satisfying about taking a favorite recipe that was hidden away in the archives and showing it off so current readers will want to try it.  Sometimes I decide I can improve the recipe as well, and with this favorite recipe for Chicken Paprikash I realized that now I'd prefer the recipe with less meat and more of the roasted red peppers that make this dish so flavorful.  Of course Chicken Paprikash is a traditional Hungarian dish that usually includes a roux made of flour and chicken fat or butter, but if you like chicken, onions, roasted red peppers, paprika, and sour cream, I bet you'll like my diet-friendly version just as well.

Click to continue reading

Twice-Cooked Greek Cauliflower Recipe with Feta, Green Onions, and Dill

Jake and I loved this Twice-Cooked Greek Cauliflower with Feta, Green Onions, and Dill.

Cauliflower really is your friend when you're trying eat a diet that's loaded with healthy vegetables.  Through the years I've shared lots of tasty cauliflower recipes, but I'm guessing Twice-Baked Cauliflower, Ham and Cauliflower Casserole Au Gratin, and Pureed Cauliflower with Garlic, Parmesan, and Goat Cheese must be the most popular cauliflower recipes on the blog.  The combination of cauliflower + cheese usually guarantees a winner, so when thoughts of a cauliflower dish with Feta cheese and other Greek flavors popped into my head last spring, I thought it would be easy to come up with a recipe.  But by the time Jake and I had tried four versions of this Twice-Cooked Greek Cauliflower with Feta, Green Onions, and Dill to get the one we both loved, the weather was getting so hot I knew you wouldn't want to turn on your oven.  I've been saving the recipe since May waiting for cooler weather so I could share this for a Meatless Monday dish; hope all the other cauliflower fans out there will like it as much as we did!

Click to continue reading

Recipe for Spinach and Mozzarella Egg Bake

Lots of spinach, mozzarella, and green onion and just enough egg to hold it together!

(For Phase One Fridays I highlight Phase One recipes from the past that have been my personal favorites, and this delicious Spinach and Mozzarella Egg Bake is something I'd love for breakfast.  If  you ever buy those big packages of spinach from Costco and end up letting some of it go bad, keep this recipe in mind as a good way to use up the spinach!)

If you look at my recipe category section for Eggs, you'll see that I've come up with a lot of variations for South Beach Diet friendly breakfast casseroles through the years.  I make breakfast casseroles on the weekend, cut into individual servings, and keep in a container in the fridge to eat for breakfast all through the week.  I still have favorite breakfast casseroles that I make regularly, but for a while now I've been making a variation I'm calling an "egg bake."  This is a similar to a breakfast casserole, but with lots of vegetables, meat, or cheese, and just enough egg to barely hold it together.  This particular version with spinach and a generous amount of low-fat mozzarella is something I've made at least six times in the last couple of months, so I think it's officially a favorite.  I love the idea of starting out the day with a big serving of spinach, and this is so delicious you won't even think about eating something that's good for you!

Click to continue reading

Slow Cooker Chickpea Stew Recipe with Italian Sausage, Tomatoes, and Pesto

Chickpeas, Turkey Italian Sausage, Tomatoes, and Pesto make a delicious slow cooker stew!

When I first started blogging I probably thought everyone loved Chickpeas (also called Garbanzo Beans) as much as I do, but now I realize some of you aren't all that enthused about these ultra-nutritious beans.  If you're one of those people who's not especially a chickpea fan, I hope you'll trust me when I  promise that this Slow Cooker Chickpea Stew with Italian Sausage, Tomatoes, and Pesto is truly amazing.  Hanging out in the slow cooker with the spicy turkey Italian sausage and tomatoes makes the chickpeas creamy and full of flavor.  And the seasonings in this recipe are perfect, with the addition of a small amount of the pesto at the end a flavor-boosting way to finish the dish.  If you try it I bet you will like it, but if I can't convince you that this combination with chickpeas is really, really good, I hope you'll try this recipe with another type of beans!

Click to continue reading

Ten Easy and Amazing Vegetarian Recipes Using Butternut Squash

Here are Ten Easy and Amazing Vegetarian Recipes Using Butternut Squash, and many are vegan!

My name is Kalyn and I am a butternut squash addict!  I inherited this butternut squash infatuation from my Grandma Denny; every fall Grandma would hack apart giant butternut squashes from her garden, scrape out the seeds, and wrap pieces in foil and bake them in the oven.  When it was done we'd eat the squash mashed up with lots of butter, salt, and pepper.  Now I'm more likely to cut the squash in cubes and roast it with olive oil, but pretty much any way you cook it, I love the savory flavor of butternut squash.  Whether you're already a confirmed fan of this most popular of winter squashes or trying it for the first time, you can't go wrong with one of these Ten Easy and Amazing Vegetarian Recipes Using Butternut Squash.  (And if you have more good recipe ideas for butternut, let us know about them in the comments.)

Click to continue reading

Recipe for Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers with Brown Rice, Mushrooms, and Feta

You won't miss the meat in these Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers with Brown Rice, Mushrooms, and Feta!

Recently on the Kalyn's Kitchen Facebook page a reader asked whether I had a stuffed pepper recipe that was vegetarian.  That inquiry started the idea of vegetarian stuffed peppers swirling around in my mind, and this week when I got together with Jake for a day of cooking, we came up with these Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers with Brown Rice, Mushrooms, and Feta. The peppers are stuffed with a mixture of sauteed onion, chopped peppers and chopped mushrooms that's seasoned with Greek Seasoning and then combined with crumbled Feta.  We loved everything about this recipe, and if  you can't eat six peppers at once, take some out of the oven a little sooner and freeze for a quick dinner later.

Click to continue reading

Slow Cooker Recipe for Mediterranean Beef Stew with Rosemary and Balsamic Vinegar

A tummy-warming beef stew for the adults to eat while kids are eating candy!

(For Phase One Fridays I highlight Phase One recipes from the past that have been my personal favorites, and this recipe is one I'd love to make on the weekend so I'd have leftovers to eat for lunch of a quick dinner during the week.  If you're not a slow cooker fan, there are directions at the end for making this on the stove.)

On Halloween night you know the kids aren't going to want to eat anything but candy, so why not make this slow cooker beef stew with lots of adult flavors to keep the grown-ups happy?  You can start this mid morning and by dinner time it will be ready to go.  If you'll be gone all day, just do the advance prep the night before, refrigerate the ingredients in a plastic container, and put the cold ingredients in the slow cooker and let it cook all day while you're out.  I'd love this with a dollop of sour cream on top, but no matter how you eat it, this stew is loaded with flavor.  (There are also stove-top instructions if you don't have a slow cooker.)

Click to continue reading

Spaghetti with Italian Sausage and Arugula

Spaghetti with Italian Sausage and Arugula is a quick but amazing dinner with some of my favorite flavors.

(Updated with better photos and step-by-step instructions, October 2013.)  There's nothing I like much more than Italian Sausage, unless it's arugula, so a dish that combines them has to be one of my personal favorites. And did I mention there's garlic, a touch of lemon, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese?  Arugula is definitely an acquired taste, but I love the peppery flavor of the greens that go so nicely with the spicy Italian sausage, lemon, and Parmesan.  I made this recently with Jake to update the photos, and we gobbled it up, even though we'd already tested several other recipes that day and weren't really hungry.   (It's a tough job, but someone has got to try out the recipes!)  Enjoy!

Click to continue reading

Slow Cooker Frittata Recipe with Artichoke Hearts, Roasted Red Pepper, and Feta

If you haven't cooked eggs in the slow cooker, this Slow Cooker Frittata with Artichoke Hearts, Roasted Red Pepper, and Feta might convince you to try it!

I admit I was a little skeptical the first time I tried cooking eggs in the slow cooker.  But that experiment was such a success, and it taught me two things about slow-cooked eggs.  First, the finished dish will be a little softer than something similar that's cooked using higher heat on the stove (which actually makes it perfect to store in the fridge and reheat later.)  And second, the long slow cooking time infuses the eggs with the flavors from the other ingredients in a way that produces delightful results.  This Slow Cooker Frittata with Artichoke Hearts, Roasted Red Pepper, and Feta would be a lovely dish to put in the slow cooker for a mid-day brunch, and I think it would be just as good for a light dinner. 

Click to continue reading

Recipe for Spicy Slow Cooker Soup with Ground Turkey, Pinto Beans, Red Bell Pepper, and Green Chiles

A spicy slow cooker soup, with Hatch Green Chile Enchilada Sauce adding some heat.

(For Phase One Fridays I highlight Phase One recipes from the past that have been my personal favorites, and this Spicy Slow Cooker Soup with Ground Turkey, Pinto Beans, Red Bell Pepper, and Green Chiles is a tummy-warming soup that includes green enchilada sauce to add lots of flavor.  I love this sprinkled with grated cheese, enjoy!)

Ever since I made the Layered Mexican Casserole with Chicken and Green Chiles I find myself grabbing a few cans of Hatch Green Chile Enchilada Sauce whenever I'm at the grocery store.  There are other good brands of green chile enchilada sauce, but Hatch brand seems perfect to my tastebuds, and when I wanted to spice up this spicy ground turkey and pinto bean slow cooker soup the Hatch enchilada sauce plus a can of diced green chiles gave me just the right amount of heat.  I loved the soup with a little grated cheese sprinkled on top, and for those who'd like even more heat, Green Tabasco Sauce is the perfect thing to add to your soup at the table.

Click to continue reading

Stuffed Pepper Soup Recipe

If you like stuffed bell peppers, you're going to love this Stuffed Pepper Soup!

I have a notebook on my desk where I jot down recipes ideas, both things I spot on the web and those that seemingly just pop into my head.  And sometimes an idea pops into my head and when I check online I notice that other people have had the same idea.  That's what happened with this recipe; I had Stuffed Pepper Soup down in my notebook, and when I decided to make it I found out just how many other people have made a soup inspired by stuffed peppers!  That didn't stop me from creating my version, which uses both hot turkey Italian sausage and lean ground beef, and has a "secret" ingredient to add flavor.  Jake and I both loved the soup, and when I gave my sister Pam some to take to work for her lunch she texted me in the middle of the day to say she loved it too.  If you like stuffed peppers at all, I promise you're going to love this soup!

Click to continue reading

Ten Healthy and Amazing Thanksgiving Side Dishes (just in time for Canadian Thanksgiving!)

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends, and for those in the U.S., it's never too early to start planning the menu!

If you're in the U.S. you might have groaned when you saw the title of this post.  Of course I realize that Thanksgiving here is still many weeks away, but Canadian Thanksgiving is this coming Monday, and I thought it would be fun to spotlight a few of my favorite Thanksgiving side dishes in time for my friends in Canada and my Canadian friends in the U.S.  I'm also a little extra excited about Thanksgiving this year, because not only is it my favorite holiday, but in my new house I finally have enough room to host Thanksgiving dinner myself, and I'm looking forward to doing that this year!  For me Thanksgiving is all about the side dishes, and whether you're in the Canada, the U.S., or somewhere else in the world, these are some of my very favorites.  

Are you celebrating for Canadian Thanksgiving next Monday?  If so, let us know in the comments what side dishes are going to be on your menu.  

Click to continue reading

Recipe for Greek Salad Spaghetti Squash Bowl

I'm not sure why I decided to combine Greek Salad and Spaghetti Squash, but this Greek Salad Spaghetti Squash Bowl was definitely a winner.

First, thanks to everyone who has given nice feedback about the makeover and new features for Kalyn's Kitchen.   I'm thrilled with the new design, especially the way it will make it easier for anyone who wants to find recipes that are Gluten-Free, Vegan, Meatless, Paleo, Low Carb, or things that Can Freeze.  I am so happy with the new design; thanks again to the fabulous Rand and Jennette!

People ask me all the time where I get recipe ideas, and while it's true I spend plenty of time looking at cookbooks and food magazines and cruising around other food blogs, sometimes an idea just pops into my head and I have no idea where it came from.  That's what happened with these Greek Salad Spaghetti Squash Bowls.  My sister Pam gave me a spaghetti squash and it hung out on the counter for at least a week while I wondered how to make it into some kind of interesting Meatless Monday dish.  Then one day I suddenly had the thought to top the cooked spaghetti squash with a Greek Salad mixture, including plenty of lemony vinaigrette that would drip down and flavor the squash.  I tried this out on my nephew Jake (who is NOT a fan of spaghetti squash) and he gobbled it up, so I think it's fair to say that this recipe is a winner!

Click to continue reading

Kalyn's Kitchen Gets a Makeover (with a New Easier Way to Find Recipes for Every Kind of Diet)

Kalyn's Kitchen has changed a bit through the years, and repeat after me, "Change is Good!"

For a few months now I've been working with my brother Rand (the design guy) and the fabulous Jennette (web designer and coder extraordinaire) to create a new look for Kalyn's Kitchen. (Thanks guys!)  Rand and Jennette are two of the smartest and most talented people I know, and I'm excited to reveal the new design and explain how the new features can help you find the kind of recipes you're looking for on the site.

Click to continue reading

Phase One Stuffed Peppers Recipe with Turkey Italian Sausage, Ground Beef, and Mozzarella

These Stuffed Peppers with Turkey Italian Sausage, Ground Beef, and Mozzarella are great for Phase One

(For Phase One Fridays I highlight Phase One recipes from the past that have been my personal favorites, and this recipe for Phase One Stuffed Peppers with Turkey Italian Sausage, Ground Beef, and Mozzarella is something I love to make and freeze individually for quick meals later.  This recipe was featured in January 2012 for a Month of Daily Phase One Recipes, and it's been a big hit ever since.)

If you watch the left sidebar where it shows the most visited recipes, you might have noticed that Stuffed Green Peppers with Brown Rice, Italian Sausage, and Parmesan are almost always there as one of the most-visited recipes.  Who knew stuffed peppers were so popular?  That recipe contains rice, but I also love this version of Phase One Stuffed Peppers and I recently made it again with Jake to update the photos.  We each enjoyed one, and then I had leftovers with my brother Mark, who also thought they were great.  This recipe makes six peppers, and this is the type of thing I'd make ahead and keep in the freezer to take for lunch when I was teaching school, so even if you're only cooking for one or two people I recommend making the whole recipe and freezing some. 

Click to continue reading

Whole Wheat Sesame Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Use whole wheat spaghetti to make these Whole Wheat Sesame Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce.

(Updated October 2013 with better photos and step-by-step instructions.)  Back in 2008 I read on Madeline's blog Everything Rachel Ray about using whole wheat spaghetti to make spicy sesame noodles, and I knew I would love this dish.  Since then I've made it quite a few times, and I finally managed to take some better photos, although I decided that noodles are not all that photogenic.  This type of quick dinner is one of my favorite things to make with the wonderful Garofalo Organic Whole Wheat Spaghetti that I buy at Costco, and if you think whole wheat pasta isn't that exciting, I guarantee this whole wheat spaghetti from Italy will change your mind.

Click to continue reading

South Beach Diet Phase One Recipes Round-up for September 2013 (Low-Glycemic Recipes)

Kalyn's favorite Phase One Recipes for September 2013 were Three Cheese Zucchini Frittata, Baby Kale Paleo Taco Salad, Sriracha Beef Cabbage Bowl, and Roasted Balsamic Zucchini and Mushrooms.

Another month has gone screaming by, and it's time for me to share the links I've collected all month for this round-up of low-glycemic recipes. (All the recipes here are suitable or easily adapted for the South Beach Diet Phase One, and many are also Low Carb, Gluten Free or Paleo.)  And I probably say this every month, but what a great-looking collection of healthy recipe ideas!  

It's been a busy month behind the scenes at Kalyn's Kitchen.  If you follow me on Facebook, you know I'm in the middle of having the blog re-designed.  I'm aiming for a new site that will feel very similar (with most functional elements located exactly where they are now) but the new look will also have expanded features (including a second row of tabs with categories to make it easier to find certain types of recipes.)  I'm getting excited, and it won't be long now, so keep an eye out for the new look!

Click to continue reading