If your goal is to make a filling salad for dinner that won’t leave you reaching for frozen pizza an hour later, then you need to make sure protein-packed chickpeas are front and center. With a chameleon-like ability to adapt to whatever flavors that surround it, this legume can be combined with any number of fresh greens and veggies for a wholesome, nourishing salad designed for dinner satisfaction.
(Image credit: Dolly and Oatmeal)
If you’re trying to up your veggie intake, a great way to do so is to squeeze in a few at breakfast. That way you’re starting your day on a vegetable-filled note! Smoothies are the perfect vessels for this, as they can be super filling (if you’re smart about what you add!) and mask the flavor of things like spinach and, in this case, sweet potato and cauliflower.
Are you renovating or remodeling your kitchen? Good for you! Get even more good out of the situation by donating a lot of the stuff you’re no longer using to a home salvage center. There are tons of organizations (on a local or national level) that will take your old stuff and either use it to build a home for a family in need or sell it for money to put toward a project. Some places may even handle the pick-up for you. You get a tax write-off, help those in need, and keep stuff out of landfills. It’s a win-win-win!
Keep reading to see what you can donate. If you’re unsure about something on this list (or even something that’s not!), call a donation center near you and see what they say.
(Image credit: Maria Siriano)
Come spring there are few desserts quite as delightful as those bursting with bright, lemony freshness. That’s precisely why we’re big fans of this yogurt-filled play on lemon cream pie.
This no-bake sheet pan lemon tart is big enough for all your get-togethers. If it doesn’t win you over with its sweet bite, the supreme ease of it sure will. Each bite of this tart greets you with a sandy graham cracker crust holding up a lush lemon yogurt center, topped with a thick swirl of Cool Whip. Be prepared to go back for seconds.
These veggie melts answer the call for easy comfort food after you’ve had one of those days. You know the kind — when you want something nourishing but also a little indulgent. Since they’re stuffed with a mess of sautéed vegetables and melted cheese, and treated to a swipe of tangy spread, these melts deliver the familiar comfort you love from a grilled cheese, while using those vegetables hanging out in the crisper for a veggie-packed meal.
When people think of leeks, they think of the supporting role leeks take in recipes — blended in soups and stews, infused into sauces, or paired with potatoes in what might be an otherwise bland dish. But leeks can be the star of the show. This dish of braised leeks and lentils allows leeks to shine by embracing their flavor and leaving them whole. By braising them, you get the true taste of a leek, which is far more mellow than one might expect. Pairing the creamy leeks with the toothsome green lentils is an excellent contrast of textures and brings a nutty taste to the dish.
Cleaning your kitchen is a never-ending job — especially if you actually use it. There are your everyday messes (those breadcrumbs that got all over while you were packing up lunch) and there are the ones that build up over time while you’re busy doing other things (how’d that backsplash get so greasy?). Staying on top of all of it could end up being a full-time job. But you already have one of those!
While everyone has spring cleaning on their minds, we thought we’d leave you with this list, detailing what you should clean and how often you should clean it. It’s not here to stress you out (we swear!), but rather to serve as a gentle reminder.
Here are all the things you should clean — and when.
Ready to feel totally victorious about getting an amazing veggie-packed dinner on the table on a weeknight? Step one: Enlist the help of the slow cooker. Step two: Make sure it’s a classic. A slow cooker veggie pot pie starts to feel like the obvious choice, doesn’t it? From the creamy filling, studded with a rainbow of hearty vegetables, to the buttery biscuit topping you add right at the end, it delivers the comfort of homemade pot pie without any of the fuss.
Expect to take one bite of this salsa and then want to dig into it the rest of the day and the days following. It’s that good and it also happens to be that versatile. Between the briny kalamata olives, tangy feta, and juicy tomatoes, this is one serious bowl of flavor. Oh, and there’s also the revelation that when fresh dill and basil join forces, like they do here, everything sings.
Pile this salsa on toast for lunch, toss it with cooked grains or pasta for a simple supper, and scoop it up with pita chips for those in-between (read: hangry) moments. You won’t be able to get enough of it.
(Image credit: SMEG)
From Apartment Therapy → SMEG’s Small Appliances Get a Bold Makeover, Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana