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Savory

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Spicy, Zesty Tuna Salad- no mayo

2025/04/03 By Melinda Leave a Comment

I was looking to recreate a similar tuna salad that I made and posted here several years ago but I live in the country now and harissa is not available at my corner market- or if it is available it is preciously priced. What I do have on hand is a jar of preserved lemon […]

Filed Under: Recipes, Salads, Savory Tagged With: chili crisp, preserved lemon, tuna

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Cilantro Basted Oven Baked Cod

2025/03/17 By Melinda Leave a Comment

I love a meal that looks fancy but is actually remarkably simple and nutrient dense- no dairy, no gluten, high in protein. This oven baked cod hits all the boxes.

Filed Under: gluten free, Recipes, Savory Tagged With: beans, cilantro, cod, fish, white beans

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Easy Bok Choy Breakfast Skillet with crispy garlic

2022/11/14 By Melinda 1 Comment

An adaptable to what you have one hand, one pan, one bowl slightly spicy breakfast with crispy garlic, bok choy, toast, and eggs. The leaves have all fallen from the trees and so the view takes another color palette shift, from greens to golds to blue and brown so I paint a new backdrop to […]

Filed Under: Breakfasty Brunchy, Cast Iron, Eggs, Recipes, Savory, Veggies Tagged With: Bok choy, eggs, garlic, stovetop

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Radish Pesto- one of many things you can make with radish greens

2021/04/12 By Melinda 3 Comments

how a bunch of radish greens turned into two condiments and some flat bread when I am very good I turn my fresh radish greens into a pesto or zippy chimichurri style sauce when I am just good I do the  same only with slightly faded greens when I am bad I let the greens […]

Filed Under: Condiments, Sauces, and Gravies, gluten free, Recipes, Savory Tagged With: pesto, radish greens, sauce

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Chorizo Cheddar Savory Dutch Baby

2019/12/29 By Melinda Leave a Comment

I thought about making this more complicated. Individual dishes instead of one cast iron pan- going to the store to buy crumbly mexican cheese or avocado. But then I remembered that my favorite things are straight up and easy and made with what I have on hand while still in my pjs. Breakfast should be […]

Filed Under: Breakfasty Brunchy, Cast Iron, Recipes, Savory Tagged With: chorizo, eggs, sharp cheddar, spicy sausage

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mushroom pasta: spaghetti & simple chanterelle cream sauce

2019/10/28 By Melinda Leave a Comment

Pasta and mushroom cream sauce – though technically without cream, a white sauce made umami delicious with a healthy portion of fresh chanterelles and just a hint of salty parmesan. This comes together in less than a half hour and served with a simple salad (think butter lettuce and oil and vinegar) makes one wonderful […]

Filed Under: Pasta, Recipes, Savory, Vegetarian Mains Tagged With: chanterelle mushrooms, mushrooms, Pasta, stovetop

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homemade meatball soft tacos

2019/06/26 By Melinda Leave a Comment

A Mediterranean Mexican mash up, soft tacos made with homemade flour tortillas and stuffed with tiny flavor bomb meatballs, cucumber, yogurt sauce, and pickled veggies. a note on the flour tortillas I used my bacon fat flour tortilla recipe except this time I used butter and warm milk instead of bacon fat and only divided […]

Filed Under: Meaty Mains, Recipes, Savory Tagged With: flour tortilla, ground beef, ground pork, jalapeño, meatballs, red onion, tacos, yogurt

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Ground Turkey Green Chile Frito Pie

2019/05/30 By Melinda Leave a Comment

Crispy corn chips. Quick and easy ground turkey green chile chili. Cheese! and any and all the toppings. Bar food/fair food/walking tacos made to sit down and eat: this green chile frito pie is  a mashup of so many of my favorite things and as a bonus I suspect it’s actually kinda healthy. Let’s get […]

Filed Under: Meaty Mains, Recipes, Savory, Soups, chilies, chowders Tagged With: corn chips, green chile, ground turkey

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meat pie: savory ground beef and sweet potato pie

2019/04/16 By Melinda 2 Comments

close up of ground beef meat pie with rich milk bread dough

Somewhere between a Kulebyaka and a midwestern meat pie (which I honestly didn’t know was a thing until the internet told me so, if you’re familiar please share!) this savory meat pie made with ground beef and an enriched dough is comfort food for a crowd (or for two) easily sharable and even when your […]

Filed Under: Meaty Mains, Recipes, Savory, Yeast Breads Tagged With: enriched dough, ground beef, leek, sweet potato

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Savory French Toast with easy Hollandaise Sauce- for One

2019/02/27 By Melinda Leave a Comment

This Savory Herb French Toast topped with a simple yet bright lemony Hollandaise Sauce uses just a few pans and requires no special equipment.  A recipe written for one person (yes, you can brunch in style by yourself). Whether you dine alone or double the recipe this easy hollandaise uses the leftover egg mixture from […]

Filed Under: Breakfasty Brunchy, Condiments, Sauces, and Gravies, Recipes, Savory Tagged With: benedict, cast iron, eggs, french toast, hollandaise

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my favorite popcorn w/ nutritional yeast and ghee

2019/02/13 By Melinda Leave a Comment

A big bowl of brewers yeast and ghee popcorn

Using ghee as the cooking oil for this stovetop popcorn gives a layer of delicious buttery flavor that goes so well with crisp (not chewy) popcorn. And Nutritional Yeast is what I grew up with. Carob and Tempeh can stay in the 70s but popcorn just doesn’t taste like popcorn to me without the cheesy […]

Filed Under: gluten free, Recipes, Savory, Sides and such Tagged With: gluten free, popcorn, snacks

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Chickpea Chili with spicy cilantro cream

2019/01/31 By Melinda 1 Comment

I’ve made variations on this chickpea chili from scratch and I’ve made it using canned chickpeas and tomatoes because sometimes dinner needs to come together in less than thirty minutes. But with a few additions, like the spicy cilantro cream, that add flavor and complexity the sum seems greater than the parts.  Remember last weeks […]

Filed Under: Condiments, Sauces, and Gravies, Recipes, Savory, Soups, chilies, chowders, Vegetarian Mains

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Socca- chickpea flour flatbread

2019/01/24 By Melinda Leave a Comment

It’s always good to have a few snack items in your arsenal that are easy to remember, have very little hands on time, and can please a variety of palettes and preferences. Socca, the original gluten free flat bread made with equal parts chickpea flour and water and little else, is one of those snacks.  […]

Filed Under: Breads Biscuits Buns, Cast Iron, Quick Breads, Recipes, Savory Tagged With: chickpea flour, flatbread, garbanzo flour, gluten free, mediterranean, stove top

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Roasted Onion Cream- simple, vegan, onion sauce

2019/01/23 By Melinda Leave a Comment

Every once in awhile I find a recipe worth obsessing over this Roasted Onion Cream, a simple, vegan, onion sauce is one of them. It’s inexpensive, the hands on time is minimal, it’s actually good for you, and you can use it so many things from soups to scrambles. Roasting the onions adds sweetness and […]

Filed Under: Condiments, Sauces, and Gravies, Recipes, Savory, Veggies

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Bloody Mary Chicken Pot Pie with Olive Biscuit Crust

2019/01/16 By Melinda Leave a Comment

Part comfort, part Sunday morning this chicken pot pie flavored with an untraditional tomato  based sauce and topped with a tender biscuit topping studded with green olives can be on the table in less than an hour. If you want to serve it for valentines -hello bloody mary valentine!- but don’t have heart shaped cutouts […]

Filed Under: Breads Biscuits Buns, Cast Iron, Meaty Mains, Quick Breads, Recipes, Savory Tagged With: biscuits, cast iron, chicken, meals for two, olives, pot pie, tomato

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spicy sweet potatoes w/cilantro sauce

2019/01/10 By Melinda Leave a Comment

Do you really need a recipe for roasted spicy sweet potatoes? Maybe not. Let this serve as a reminder instead. Sweet potatoes are awesome, sweet potatoes are easy, sweet potatoes are pretty and quick, and, even pretty quick.  And if you do want a recipe I’ve got one of those for you too. If you […]

Filed Under: Breakfasty Brunchy, gluten free, Recipes, Savory, Sides and such, Veggies

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Lamb Dumplings w/ soy vinegar dipping sauce

2019/01/09 By Melinda Leave a Comment

Since these are steamed and rich with ginger and scallions I’m calling them  lamb dumplings. But really, with the hearty lamb filling and the slightly chewy homemade wrapper, I am reminded of pasties, though I’ve never seen, nor want to see, a steamed version of those. This is a winter dumpling, rich and comforting. Perfect […]

Filed Under: Condiments, Sauces, and Gravies, Meaty Mains, Recipes, Savory

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Onion Salad with pomegranate and cilantro

2019/01/08 By Melinda Leave a Comment

The pomegranate seeds fooled him. “It’s dessert,” he said. “I’ll eat it last.” It’s onions,” I said. “Onion salad, try it now.” He waited. He ate onion salad for dessert. I like it with rice. As a side for dumplings or grilled shrimp. Not dessert. Salting the onions and allowing them to sweat it out […]

Filed Under: Condiments, Sauces, and Gravies, gluten free, pickled things, Recipes, Savory, Sides and such Tagged With: gluten free, salad, vegetarian

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Cast Iron Brussel Sprout Pizza w/white sauce

2019/01/03 By Melinda 2 Comments

When you have pizza as often as we do it’s important to mix things up. Some days are thin crust, some days are thicker, sheet pan pizza one week, pizza baked one pizza stone the next, almost every breakfast pizza baked in a cast iron skillet. Red sauce, white sauce, just olive oil and garlic. […]

Filed Under: Breads Biscuits Buns, Cast Iron, Recipes, Savory, Vegetarian Mains, Yeast Breads Tagged With: brussel sprout pizza, cast iron pizza, white sauce

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easy sautéed mushrooms: chanterelle, shiitake, or cremini

2018/11/13 By Melinda Leave a Comment

easy sautéed mushrooms: chanterelle, shiitake, or cremini in cast iron

Like all the best recipes these easy sautéed mushrooms allow for substitutions and modifications. chanterelles out of season?  shiitakes too darn expensive? cremini cramping your style? switch it out. just follow a few basic principles and you have a most simple, delicious, easy and satisfying side dish or garnish. Bonus points for being vegan and […]

Filed Under: Cast Iron, gluten free, Recipes, Savory, Sides and such, Veggies, Winter Holiday Tagged With: cast iron, easy, garlic, gluten free, mushrooms, stove top, vegan, wine

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Simple Vegetarian Stuffed Acorn Squash

2018/10/25 By Melinda Leave a Comment

vegetarian stuffed acorn squash

What’s more comforting on a cold autumn evening than roasted winter squash? Mostly savory with just a little bit of sweet, this stuffed acorn squash can be an easy weeknight meal or the centerpiece of a delicious vegetarian feast.  The sweet and creamy nature of the squash is balanced with a dose of ancient grains […]

Filed Under: gluten free, Recipes, Savory, Vegetarian Mains, Veggies, Winter Holiday Tagged With: acorn squash, feta, gluten free, peppers, roasted, vegetarian, winter squash

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Balsamic Roasted Sweet Peppers and (optional) Onions

2018/10/25 By Melinda Leave a Comment

Deliciously easy sweet peppers and onions roasted with balsamic vinegar

Filed Under: gluten free, Recipes, Savory, Sides and such Tagged With: onions, peppers, red peppers, roasted, vegan

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Spicy Lemon Parsley Dipping Sauce

2018/08/25 By Melinda Leave a Comment

Inspired by chimichurri this is my all purpose, add to almost anything sauce. It has a little heat,  a little zest, and a lot of green.

Filed Under: Condiments, Sauces, and Gravies, Recipes, Savory, spring veggies, Veggies Tagged With: dill, lemon, parsley, sauce, serrano pepper

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Small batch summer vegetable fritters

2018/08/24 By Melinda Leave a Comment

close up of Small batch summer vegetable fritters with sauces

Small batch summer vegetable fritters are for those of us who can’t choose just one. Corn? Green beans? Peppers? Have one or have them all- it just takes a few more bowls and and less than five more minutes to make a fritter buffet showcasing all the summer vegetables. I won’t mention the summer squashes […]

Filed Under: Breakfasty Brunchy, Cast Iron, Recipes, Savory, Vegetarian Mains

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Tomatillo Tzatziki- raita, or just call it yogurt sauce

2018/08/24 By Melinda Leave a Comment

Some may see this as a desperate attempt to make something other than enchiladas or salsa verde with my bounty of tomatillos but I’m going to stick with sort of genius. Not full on genius, that’s reserved for novels that make me both laugh and cry, math with all sorts of symbols, and world peace. […]

Filed Under: Condiments, Sauces, and Gravies, gluten free, Recipes, Savory, Veggies Tagged With: garlic, raita, Tomatillo, yogurt

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savory skillet cornbread: tomato upside down cake

2018/08/07 By Melinda 2 Comments

There is something immensely satisfying about baking something that is both beautiful and tasty, add two notches of oh yeah for using up some garden fresh tomatoes.  With just a whisper of sweet, this mostly savory skillet cornbread does double duty as a summer tomato upside down cake. Whether you call it cornbread or corn […]

Filed Under: Breads Biscuits Buns, Breakfasty Brunchy, Cast Iron, Quick Breads, Recipes, Savory, Sides and such Tagged With: baking, cast iron, cornbread, dill, tomatoes

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Summertime Chilaquiles with fresh tomatoes

2018/07/26 By Melinda Leave a Comment

There is nothing quite as perfect as a salsa fresca made with summertime ripe and bountiful tomatoes, fresh tomatoes bursting with flavor and variety, no uniformly red hot house fruit but the variety and zip that only something fresh and local has to offer. Now is the time for this summertime chilaquiles recipe made with […]

Filed Under: Breakfasty Brunchy, Cast Iron, Eggs, Recipes, Savory Tagged With: cast iron cooking, corn tortillas, jalapeño, poblano, spicy, Tomatillo, tomato

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Coconut Curry Noodles with grilled pickled vegetables

2018/06/17 By Melinda Leave a Comment

Overhead shot of Coconut Curry Noodles with grilled pickled vegetables

These coconut curry noodles with grilled pickled vegetables are a quick and simple spicy noodle dish- inspired by bahn mi and thai coconut curry, and delicious hot or cold.  If it wasn’t for those charred pickled vegetables this would fall into the weekday food in my mouth right now catagory. But those veggies are worth […]

Filed Under: Recipes, Savory, Vegetarian Mains Tagged With: carrots, coconut milk, curry, fish sauce, jalapeño, Pasta, pickled veggies

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Kofta-esque: ground beef kebabs with yogurt dipping sauce

2018/05/29 By Melinda Leave a Comment

Kofta-esque: ground beef kebabs with yogurt dipping sauce overhead shot with flatbread and cucumber

A little bit kofta, a little bit gyro- these ground beef kebabs with yogurt dipping sauce have all the fresh herbs you want in a summer time grill with just a hint of the warm spices you traditionally find in kofta.  Addictively good, on the grill or on a grill pan, with a healthy heap […]

Filed Under: Meaty Mains, Recipes, Savory Tagged With: greek, grilling, ground beef, gyro, kebabs, labneh, middle eastern, yogurt

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quick and easy mushroom salt

2018/05/23 By Melinda Leave a Comment

This quick and easy mushroom salt is the umami addition to all your favorite savory treats. So quick and easy you can whip up a batch in under five minutes and start spreading it with flair. Go ahead, be the mushroom salt bae. (quick note from 2025, the salt bae is still around here’s link to […]

Filed Under: Condiments, Sauces, and Gravies, gluten free, Recipes, Savory Tagged With: dried mushroom, gluten free, mushroom salt, porcini, shiitake, vegan

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Jo-Jos ! gluten free, shiitake mushroom, crispy, baked potato wedges

2018/05/16 By Melinda Leave a Comment

close up of gluten free, shiitake mushroom, crispy oven baked Jo-Jos

Crispy potato wedges breaded with a flavorful mixture of mushroom salt and garbanzo flour then baked to crispy goodness. These Jo-Jos are flavorful enough to eat on their own but oh so addictive when served with ranch dressing (I’ve included my favorite quick and easy off the cuff Ranch dip in the recipe below) Jo-Jos […]

Filed Under: Cast Iron, gluten free, Recipes, Savory, Sides and such Tagged With: fries, gluten free, jojos, mushroom, mushroom salt, Potato, potato wedges, vegan

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Homemade Bacon Fat Flour Tortillas

2018/05/01 By Melinda 3 Comments

close up of homemade Bacon Fat Flour Tortillas

Most days tortillas are one of the few items I give myself permission to buy pre-made, but some days call for homemade, for the flavor and slight imperfections of made from scratch. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a perfectly round tortilla lacks the flavor found in a tortilla just slightly off center. Sure, […]

Filed Under: Cast Iron, Quick Breads, Recipes, Savory, Sides and such Tagged With: bacon fat, bacon grease, flour tortilla, tortillas

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savory pickle brine biscuits aka tender vegan scones

2018/04/13 By Melinda 2 Comments

Five ingredients, twenty minutes, tender, flavorful. These pickle brine biscuits, lined with a green layer of pesto, just happen to be vegan. I’ve been happy to test and re-test this recipe over the last few days. These make an amazing lid for egg salad (or its faux egg alternative if vegan is your thing). My […]

Filed Under: Breads Biscuits Buns, Breakfasty Brunchy, Quick Breads, Recipes, Savory Tagged With: biscuits, pickle brine, savory, scones, vegan

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crispy vegetable egg rolls w/ asparagus, green beans, scallions, cream cheese, & (optional) prosciutto

2018/04/05 By Melinda Leave a Comment

overhead shot of crispy baked vegetable egg rolls with asparagus, green beans, scallions, cream cheese, and (optional) prosciutto on a black plate

Egg rolls so packed with flavor you don’t need a dipping sauce- making them the perfect party snack. Fried or baked, these crispy egg rolls are jam-packed with green vegetables and, wait for it, here’s the genius part, a secret cream cheese layer that adds flavor and structure. Plus a prosciutto bonus round. Your guests […]

Filed Under: Recipes, Savory, Vegetarian Mains, Veggies Tagged With: appetizer, asparagus, baked, cream cheese, fried, green beans, ham, prosciutto, scallions

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Spring Greens Stove Top Mac and Cheese

2018/03/23 By Melinda Leave a Comment

overhead shot of cast iron pan and a wooden spoon serving up spring greens stovetop mac and cheese into a blue and white bowl

An easy creamy stove top macaroni and cheese studded with a healthy serving of spring greens that comes together in less than 15 minutes. Bowl optional. For a lighter slightly more grown up, but equally quick, take on peas and pasta you might want to try my summer peas and angel hair pasta  This is not […]

Filed Under: Recipes, Savory, spring veggies, Vegetarian Mains Tagged With: basil, Chives, dill, fresh herbs, hard cheese, havarti, macaroni, one pan, Pasta, peas, quick, romano

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