Chocolate Ricotta Mousse

So often when you are done with your recipe that you bought your big container of ricotta for (and you always buy the bigger one because it is more cost effective that way), you still have ricotta left and you don’t know what to use it for. I decided to go on the hunt for a healthy dessert that I could indulge in without feeling guilty.

This comes together in about 5 minutes (plus a little bit if you want it chilled) so you can whip this up any time you are craving something slightly sweet and chocolaty. If you are used to making healthy switches in your diet this will be more than perfect for you. If you are, like my family, not used to subbing healthy alternatives in for other things – this may not satisfy your sweet tooth. If you (or your family) want it more sweet – just add more sweetener!

Mexican Orzo Salad

Pasta Salad: good on the side or perfect for a light meal.

There are so many different types of pasta salad, how do you choose just one!?

This Mexican Pasta Salad is delicious enough to count as a light summertime meal while still being healthy (and vegetarian). Often you see pasta salad made with big chunky pastas but this version switches it up a little allowing the other fresh summer flavors a chance to shine!

[Crock Pot] Mexican Stuffed Peppers

The Summer Heat drives many of us out of the kitchen and onto the deck to grill.

Although I love grilled food (especially because that means Rich is doing a lot of the work), sometimes I just don’t want to eat Grilled Goodies everyday! So, this summer, when Mother Natures turns on the heat & you don’t want to turn your oven-heat on… turn instead to your Crock Pot!

Now, we often think of the Crock Pot for making thick and hearty Winter Dishes – but it can easily adapt to make delicious fresh flavored lighter summer dishes! The gorgeous Peppers that will soon be overflowing from your bountiful Summer Garden can easily be cooked up for your next great dinner in your Crock Pot.

Take your classic Stuffed Peppers and switch it up with the Mexican Flavors.

Pineapple Salsa with Grilled Tuna

Grilling & Summer go Hand-in-Hand. Recently I went on a little bit of a Non-Tomato Salsa kick, making this pineapple salsa as well as some Peach Salsa and a Savory/Sweet Strawberry Salsa. Savory Summer Fruit Salsas go amazingly well with Fresh Grilled Summer Proteins.

This Pineapple Salsa is beyond adaptable! You can serve this over a fish (we did Tuna, but Salmon or other fish would be great) or over some tasty chicken, over pork and even over some fresh steak. In addition to serving over proteins, this salsa is of course perfect with some tortilla chips or on top of your classic tacos!

Happy Summer, Happy Salsa, & get your Eat On!

Peach Salsa

Two of of my favorite things about Summer are all of the Fresh Flavors and eating Warm-From-the-Sun Fresh-Picked-Fruit. This Peach Salsa gives you all of that fresh flavor of the fresh-picked fruit but in a dippable form! Last week I shared my Strawberry Salsa (and stay tuned for Pineapple Salsa) but this salsa here showcases another fruit – the peach! You can very easily enjoy this peach salsa with some tortilla chips or if you ease up on the suggested amount of ‘spice/kick’ in the recipe below then you end up with more of a sweet salsa perfect for with those cinnamon chips.

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No matter how you enjoy your fruit (and the fruits of your labors) this summer, do it deliciously.

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…SPEAKING OF DELICIOUSLY: I am currently entered in the “Live Deliciously” Contest that Cupcake Winery in running on Facebook. Remember a while back I made Red Wine Cupcakes?  Well, even if you don’t, please take a moment to head over to the contest and VOTE