Creamy Polenta with Sauteed Mushrooms and Spinach

I don't know what has taken me so long to make polenta. I love the stuff; it is right up there with my favorite breakfast, grits. No idea what grits are? Go down to North Carolina and you'll quickly learn what grits are, along with hush puppies, the REAL way to prepare BBQ, and that Southerns don't skimp on butter or desserts. But back to polenta, it is actually quite similar to grits in texture and preparation; the main difference between the two is that each are made from different types of corn. So, basically there is no difference. Want to make creamy grits with sauteed mushrooms and spinach, be my guest!

Moroccan Lentil Stew

I keep hearing all of this news about global warming, but I must say that current DC weather conditions make it hard to believe. This past Wednesday was the first day of spring, and yet I saw snow flakes Thursday morning. There is something seriously wrong with this picture. Spring should mean warmer days with crisply cool evenings...not snow. As much as I love our environment and want to do everything to protect it (reduce, reuse, recycle!), I'm really a fan of warmer weather; so, a little global warming here and there can't hurt anyone, right?

Black Bean Hummus

Looking back, it probably would have been smart to post this dip on Superbowl Sunday for all of you party people who love hummus. I apologize for my brain fart! But hey, this recipe can give you an excuse to have people over more often. A delicious hummus recipe is just as good of a reason as any.

Healthy Spinach and Artichoke Casserole

Know anyone who doesn't like vegetables? I'm betting that you do. And I'm also willing to bet that they are over the age of 5. I was never a huge fan of vegetables growing up, but I've learned that if they are prepared correctly and have enough seasoning and other flavorful ingredients mixed with them, vegetables can actually be pretty tasty (except peas...I despise peas). But I know a lot of people who refuse to even look in the direction of a vegetable. However, this casserole will change any picky eater's mind. In fact, I've seen first hand a vegetable hater love this dish (Hi Uncle Kenny!).

Falafel Cakes

Here is another quick, easy, and delicious dinner to add to the books! If you've seen some of my previous posts, then you are probably starting to pick up on the fact that I love chickpeas. They are a great ingredient to use in dinner recipes because they are versatile, healthy, full of fiber and protein, and cheap! With a lot of other food prices going up recently, I always like to find and purchase items that won't break the bank.

Spaghetti Squash and Tomato Casserole

I love finding new recipes that are delicious, easy, and healthy. This is one of those recipes that I plan to make again and again. I have seen many recipes that use spaghetti squash, but have always been too intimidated to actually try making one of them. After going to the Eastern Market and seeing spaghetti squash for sale, I convinced myself to bite the bullet and buy it. And I'm so happy that I did!