Tropical Melon Popsicles

I'm not a hot weather person. I'd be happy if the temperature never climbed higher than 89 degrees. So, when it gets miserably hot in the summer, I love to cool down with popsicles. They're such fun, nostalgic treats. Everyone turns into a kid with a popsicle in hand. Right?

Armed with this idea, I went to the grocery store a few nights ago determined to come home with some popsicles for Sunday dinner dessert. It was hot as Hades outside, and I was in a mood to match the weather. I tore through the frozen aisles, assuming that in this age of additive-aware healthy living, finding an all-fruit, no-sugar added frozen treat would be a cinch. Boy, was I wrong.

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Salmon Burgers

I've been on an insane burger kick lately. It's the only thing I seem to want for dinner. And although I wouldn't mind sinking my teeth into a juicy, half-pound beef patty every night, for health reasons I've tried to round out the sandwich menu. I've cooked my share of turkey burgers, veggie burgers, quinoa burgers… But the usual beef substitutions were wearing thin.

It's in such situations that Providence plays a part. Last weekend while grocery shopping, I spied a gorgeous side of salmon—almost 4 pounds—and on sale, too! I couldn't resist. I snatched it up, took it home, and began dividing it into 1-pound portions for freezing. I ended up with three, perfect, coral-hued filets (ideal for this recipe), and one sad, leftover tail portion. Somehow, it didn't feel right storing the tapering tail meat with the other filets. I wondered aloud, "What else can I do with this?"

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Steamed Artichokes with Mustard-Cream Dipping Sauce

I'm back from my blog-cation. Instead of working on a blog post last weekend, I volunteered for an organization near and dear to my heart: Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago. On Saturday, April 28, 3,000 volunteers helped rehab 68 homes, 4 community facilities and a large park in the Chicago neighborhood of Englewood and the Village of Harvey. It was an amazing day with a remarkable organization!

It felt good to take a break from blogging, but it also feels good to be back at it again. I'm excited to share this week's recipe with you. I know the tagline of this blog is "...life is more than broiled chicken & steamed vegetables," but this gives short shrift to one of the best methods for preparing artichokes: steaming them.

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Quick Cassoulet Beans (aka Game Day Redzone Beans)

Tomorrow night, apparently, there's some sort of sports contest on TV. It involves a bunch of tight pants wearing men running around, tossing an oblong ball, and attempting to kick said ball through a large metal "H." One team will triumph over the other in what is sure to be a most ripping victory.

I kid, I kid. Even though sports aren't my thing, I know the Super Bowl is tomorrow night, Patriots vs. Giants. And while I'm uninterested in the game, the outcome, or even the commercials, I am interested in one thing: the food. Super Bowl Sunday is a celebration of pork. Lots and lots of pork.

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Vegetables 101: Tender, Buttery Brussels Sprouts

Lately, I cannot seem to get enough Brussels sprouts. I fantasize about eating them. At lunch, I think about running to the grocery store after work and adding them to whatever dinner I have planned. In the middle of a work email, I'll imagine popping a tender, buttery nugget in my mouth... "It could work as a chili side," I think to myself. "Right?"

I've become a little garbages fiend.

I realize this is not normal. But whatever the source of this new affliction, I'll take it. I've never craved cruciferous vegetables before, so I consider this a win. It's hella better than the kinds of cravings I normally have. Part of my current obsession stems from a new preparation method I discovered. Although I like sprouts sautéed, steamed and roasted, my double-cook process is proving irresistible: first you steam; then you pan-sear.

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