Creamy Panera Broccoli Cheddar Mac & Cheese

Mac and cheese inspired by Panera. Actually, it’s inspired by Pinterest since I’ve never even had Panera’s mac and cheese. When I do indulge in mac and cheese, I tend to prefer it to come from my kitchen and to be of the baked variety. I am a sucker for those crispy ever-so-slightly burnt edges. That said, I’ve been (always am…) craving Panera’s lethally delicious Broccoli Cheddar Soup, so I decided to meld the two. So, while I can’t say that I know this to be an exact replica of Panera’s popular mac & cheese, it was yummy, easy, and decadent, and the original recipe is said to come from Panera itselft. AND, it included one of my very favorite, and very under-rated cheeses, the American Cheese, white, thinly sliced from the deli. Yum.

Pomegranate Glazed Salmon

I saw that Costco was carrying wild salmon so I picked up a huge slab of it on Sunday. I find it more and more difficult to find wild fish these days which is SUCH a bummer. The idea of farmed fish is so creepy to me.

This salmon is yummy and SO easy. It is glazed with a zippy pomegranate molasses and spicy mustard mixture and roasted in a very hot oven for about 10 minutes. The end. We served it with sauteed spinach (I seriously could eat a pound of sauteed spinach every day – so good) and my whole wheat couscous with caramelized shallots and walnuts.

Panko-crusted salmon

This salmon is simple to prepare, flavorful, crunchy, and healthy. Honestly, I can’t ask for much more in a meal. Try it once, and it will be in your repertoire of go-to methods from here on out.

Kale and Potato Salad in a Creamy Mustard Vinaigrette

This salad is DELICIOUS. I love how I feel after I eat a ton of dark leafy greens — like you just did something good for yourself. It doesn’t hurt when they’re tossed in a flavorful, creamy vinaigrette using greek yogurt, maple syrup, red wine vinegar, and grainy mustard, either. Oh, and toss it all with some teeny tiny potatoes and bacon. Eat your greens!

Grilled Pierogi with Kielbasa

Even though I am half Polish, I didn’t grow up eating a lot of Polish food. I don’t think I had a pierogi until a few years ago even. Why I have had a kielbasa and pierogi craving for the last couple of weeks is beyond me, but I’m glad I did because this recipe is delicious!

Roasted Shrimp with Mustard-Horseradish Sauce

Ok, it’s detox time. The holidays, while one of my favorite times of year, invites eating waaaaaay too much naughty food. This dish is a lovely detox dish after indulging at Thanksgiving. Couldn’t be easier and full of tons of flavor.

Horseradish Dill Roast Beef Dinnah.

Anyone watching The Chew? While they still have some bumps to work out, I quite enjoy it. Mostly because of Clinton Kelly, who I think is pretty awesome. When I watch the show, I love his long island pretend-accent, and I can totally hear him saying “roast beef dinnah”. I can also hear anyone in my hometown Boston saying the same thing, but anyway…
This roast beef was so good and so easy. If you’re anything like me, different cuts of beef totally baffle you. I found this guide online and I literally brought it to the grocery store with me to help me find the right cut for roasting. Handy! I served this with simple roasted carrots and individual potato gratins (recipe to come soon).

Cornmeal-Crusted Catfish with Collards and Creole Mustard Vinaigrette

This recipe is from one of my all-time favorite restaurants in the Boston area — Hungry Mother. After eating and loving their catfish dish more than once, I was over the moon to find that the recipe was shared online! I actually found this recipe about a year ago and ever since have been looking for Creole mustard. Literally, every.single.grocery trip I stopped to survey the mustard selections and could never find it. Well, folks, this weekend I found it. Waaaay too excited to find mustard, let me just tell you. On the way to a friend’s house, we stopped for espresso and stumbled upon a fantastic gourmet food store called The Cook Shop. Along with the Creole mustard (yay), I grabbed some whole wheat cavatappi (also an impossible find), a rockin’ Microplane pizza wheel, and a few other fun kitchen gadgets and food stuffs.

I’m so glad I finally found this mustard. I’m sure I could have easily substituted another mustard, but because I was trying to replicate a restaurant dish, I really wanted to try to make it as authentic as possible. This dish was amazing, and well worth the search.

Herb and Mustard Crusted Pork Tenderloin

“The best pork I’ve ever eaten”.  Brian’s sentiment, and I agree with him! The fennel and mustard combo, in my opinion, is what makes this pork so good. Try it immediately!

Mustard Chicken

Everyone needs a new chicken recipe from time to time — and this one is yum. This recipe is all about the sauce. Mustard is one of my favorite things ever, and I love anything involving a sauce. Try it when you’re in a chicken rut!

Croque Madames (quickened, definitely not lightened)

In a continuing effort to improve my photos, I took a little field trip to one of my favorite shops, Paper Source, to purchase some props. Behold one of the pieces of beautiful wrapping paper I purchased to use as a background. Despite my somewhat inexplicable lack of motivation in pretty much every area of my life right now, I have, somewhat miraculously, managed to construct a DIY light box, very much using Ashley’s model and other resources on the interwebs — something that’s been on my to-do list for many months.  I’m starting to see some improvements around these parts, which is a nice motivator. Who knew?

Oh, and the food. This sandwich is the freaking bomb. Make it, immediately.

Mixed Greens with Grilled Salmon, Avocado, Egg

This salad is perfect in every way. Easy to make, beautiful, delicious, simple, healthy and hearty. This year, skip the resolutions and make more food like this.

Oven Dogs

I have a soft spot for hot dogs.

And melted cheese (obvs).

Then you introduce chili and lots of fun condiments.

Then a snowstorm hits and suddenly this is the most perfect food ever.

B and I had fun making these together. They’re messy and yummy, and actually not all that bad for you, considering the turkey dogs and turkey chili we used. Next time I might ease up on the relish (a little too sweet for me) and add more mustard and some spicy stuff (jalapenos? yes. ).

Bangers & Mash

Brian’s been asking me to make bangers and mash foreverrrr. Why in god’s name did I wait so long?? It’s SAUSAGE and MASHED POTATOES. How bad can that be? Overall, this is one of the best mashed potatoes recipes I’ve ever made, and the sausages couldn’t be easier or yummier. Make this!

Favorite Turkey Burgers

Martha calls this the “favorite turkey burger”. I have to say, it was delicious! And since I always have these ingredients around, it’s a great go-to. I served these with some ridiculous sweet potato skins (recipe soon!) and a green salad. Yum.

Souffle Stuffed Chicken

So far, I have been VERY impressed by the recipes I’ve tried from the South Beach Diet book. This recipe was so easy, and so good that I might serve it at my next dinner party. The lemon dijon sauce is optional — I think this would be great with or without.

Honey Mustard BBQ Chicken

This chicken reminds me of summer. And since spring is right around the corner, I was in the mood for this (can’t wait for summer corn to go with it!) and to eat on the deck. Mission accomplished.

Sticky Mustard and Marmalade Chicken Drumsticks

This chicken is very low-maintenance, good for you, and delicious. Make it!

Mustard Green Goodness

One of my promises to myself this year is to eat as many dark leafy greens as I can my sausagey little hands on. And then that made me want a sausage. Thus, a compromise and a lunch were born.

Chicken with BLT Gravy

This literally takes no time and is a great go to. And it has bacon.