loaded hash brown waffles // Mastro Co.

Weekend breakfasts are the best.  When we are not having pancakes we are most definitely having breakfast sandwiches. Alongside our breakfast sandwiches we always have some form of breakfast potato. Justin loves to tell me about how his Mom would always use their waffle maker for sandwiches and pie pockets - then he proceeds to ask me why I don't use my waffle iron for more than just waffles- that got me thinking. Justin loves shredded potato hash browns and I am more of a home-fry girl with peppers and onions, this is the perfect combination of the two. And the perfect way to put my waffle iron to use for more than just waffles.

sweet potato + black bean quesadillas

When Justin and I first started dating and throughout our vegetarian years quesadillas were a BIG part of our lives. It was Justin's go to anytime we went out with friends to a non veg friendly restaurant and it was my go to when I wanted a quick and easy meal on a busy weeknight. Sadly, when we went vegan quesadillas were kind of forgotten about. Justin is not a huge fan of vegan cheese, so finding a quesadilla filling that satisfied him just like the cheesy version was a challenge to say the least. That was until recently, this quesadilla blows the socks off its non vegan counterpart and way more satisfying.

late summer farro salad

i get a little worked up when i host parties - taking the whole day off the day of a get together is normal for me. i am thrown for a loop when i only have, say a half day to get it together.

over obsessing on the littlest details is one thing i am guilty of. details that more than likely i am the only one that would take notice of, unless of course you are a martha wannabee too.

a few weekends ago, i was hosting a birthday celebration for my sister which included her new beau and my gram that has yet to visit our new home. so in my mind the pressure was on to make this dinner extra special and perfect - not for me, but for my guests.

well, perfect doesn't happen in 6 hours, but it came pretty close. justin swooped in and saved the day with a quick vacuum and a rum punch that knocked our socks off. but we aren't here to talk about the rum punch ( maybe another day), we are here to talk about this amazing and nearly perfect salad.

grilled sweet potatoes

one of the things i like best about summer is enjoying dinner in the backyard - grill heating up, drink in hand, pup happy, sunsetting over the lake, birds singing for their dinner and the scent of flowers enveloping you in a heady perfume that never gets old

maple chipotle sweet potato burger

life has been crazy busy lately. these are days when all i want to do is crash on the couch and not think about dinner, dishes or chores. when life gets hectic i run straight to the freezer hoping to find some semblance of a healthy dinner - typically you will find carefully tucked away leftovers or stock piles of pesto in my freezer.

this past week i was lucky - i could say that i was totally planning ahead by whipping up a batch of these tasty veggie burgers for the upcoming week. but, the reality was it was a burger experiment that just happened to taste fantastic and freeze well. this is also a burger that Justin wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole - pay no attention to him, he is weird. so that left me with 4 burgers all to myself - which ended up being a quick and east lunch/dinner for me a few days last week.

sweet potato kale mac n' cheeze

cold, rainy days are perfect for snuggling with kitty, a cup of tea alongside a good book & chunky cable knit throw and cozy comfort food. the kind of comfort food that wraps around you like a big hug.

one of my favorite comfort food's, hands down is homemade baked mac n' cheeze.

growing up we use to eat Kraft mac n' cheese like it was going out of style.

my mac n' cheeze tastes have grown up a bit. i love pureeing different veggies and using them as the base for my mac n' cheeze. in the fall/winter i usually use some type of winter squash - roasted butternut or delicata being my favorite two. being fresh out of winter squash & frozen bisque's i needed to improvise.

it was raining this past Sunday and i was craving baked mac n' cheeze - who was the super hero of the weekend? sweet potato. sweet potato saved the day and proved to be an awesome mac n' cheeze all star.

coconut quinoa pudding // very inspiring blogger award

i adore spring, a time of new beginnings and fresh starts.

every year i look forward to the freshness & renewed energy spring brings to the garden, neighbors and table. the first beautiful day of spring everyone walks about town with huge smiles on their faces. spring is a happy time - who doesn't like happiness?

this sweet treat reminds me of spring- full of goodness & happiness.

to simply put it, coconut quinoa pudding topped with sliced almonds, chia & wild blueberries puts a smile on my face much like the first day of spring does.

fiery sweet potato quinoa rissoles

this week the weather has been absolutely beautiful. march has been an unseasonably warm  here in New England, it is as if we completely skipped spring and dove head first into summer.

i had every intent to share this amazing recipe with you on Monday, however the warm weather was calling my name. you learn very quickly here in New England when the weather screams your name you go and you go fast and enjoy all her spring time glory because you never know when the next blizzard or 20 degree days will return. March is a funny month - one day 80, the next 40. So the pup and I took advantage of the beautiful weather with a walk along the lake ending with her very first spring swim in the lake of the year.

so without further delay my friends, i give you fiery sweet potato quinoa rissoles in two words:

so. (freakin') good.

cottage pie

a friend of ours started a st patty's day tradition way back in the day; every year he cooks up a traditional corned beef dinner and invites his buddy's over to celebrate with a few Irish lagers

as we all know life happens- this friend of ours found an amazing girl, fell in love and moved in

the tradition was set aside but not forgotten; i was just saying to Justin how i missed the traditional st patty's day dinner when i received a message from our friend - the dinner is back on this year

i cannot tell you how super excited i was  - i mean so excited that i committed to the dinner even before asking Justin if we had plans....well regardless, i had my plan -

i was heading to celebrate the holiday with or without him

this friend of ours is super sweet - he knows that we are vegan/vegetarian, the first thing he wanted to know is what he could cook for us. i know how much work he puts into the dinner so i volunteered to bring a few dishes to share. he loves to cook and explore different ways of cooking so i am sure he will have something fabulous for us all well.

one of my contribution's to the st patty's day potluck will be this very cottage pie

cottage pie is a traditional Irish dish made of lamb & potatoes;

in England it is made with beef and called Shepard's pie.

 let me share with you my version of cottage pie

creamy avocado chipotle sweet potato soup

one thing i can never get enough of during the winter month's is a nice big bowl or two of homemade soup - everyone should make homemade soup more often

it really is easy - and so much better for you, not to mention a heck of a lot cheaper then canned, boxed or frozen soup which typically has loads of sodium

making your own soup can take as little as 10 minutes - you can pretty much throw anything into a soup pot pour water, stock or broth over it simmer and call it soup

and it will taste good, i promise

you know why?

because you made it and everything made at home 9 times out of 10 is better

i say 9 times out of 10 cause, you know we have all been there and have had a disaster or two- read inedible experiments or recipes that just plain go wrong

this soup is the latter - nothing but goodness in a bowl

i went back for seconds, maybe you will too

sweet potato, black bean + bulgar soup

did everyone enjoy the holidays as much as i did?

sugar

sweets

cocktails

more sugar

that pretty much sums up what the past 2 months has looked like - good times, good times

but the reality is that i still need to fit into my pants. eating cake & sweets three times a day my friends does not help me in this area

to start of the new year right i would like to share with you a feel good soup

a soup that just might help you fit back into your "skinny jeans"

then in a few days i plan on sabotaging you all with an irresistible cake

no i am not evil - but at least you can eat this soup, then eat that piece of cake

 without feeling as guilty

it's all about balance isn't it - one of my life list goals for 2012

finding balance

and this soup does just that - for me anyways

and i hope it will for you too

potato + arugula pizza // spelt oatmeal crust

did you know that every friday is "pizza friday" at our house

yes i know, we are so exciting

this pizza will definitely excite you - as i am writing this i really wish i polishing off another one of these amazing pizza's

this is definitely not what you consider a normal pizza - thus allowing you to enjoy the entire pizza guilt free; well almost guilt free, it's not as if this is a magical pizza

oven fries

what's not to love about the spud- quick, versatile, cheap ; toss them into soups, mashed with a little butter, slow cooked stews, frittatas you name it potatoes are like little chameleons able to transform right before your very eyes. the white potato has been given a bad rap by some; they claim the potato is lacking in the nutrient department. did you know that the white potato has 620mg of potassium- that is more than a banana and provides 45% of you daily value of vitamin c? so next to you go for a white, yellow or red tuber don't feel so guilty- go on and give your spuds a little love.