unsalted butter | Ingredients

Butternut Squash and Coconut Soup

January 9, 2020 by pamflo

Butternut squash is a great source of dietary fiber and potassium. Turmeric, known as a medicinal spice, has powerful anti-inflammatory qualities. Coconut adds the healthy fat and provides a good source of energy. Fresh ginger aids in digestion and can alleviate gastrointestinal distress. Sweet, hearty and nutritious, this soup is a bowl of complete nourishment! There are many ways to make butternut squash soup, but the combination of vegetables, herbs and spices makes this soup special. Butternut Squash and Coconut […]

Categories: Appetizer, Crowd Pleaser, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Healthish, Lunch Ideas, Soups/Stews, Spices, Vegetables • Tags: Simmer, Whiz

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Pecan Shortbread Cookies

December 12, 2019 by pamflo

Shortbread is a biscuit made with three parts flour, two parts butter and one part white sugar. The fat from the butter creates “short” gluten strands and produces a cookie that’s crisp and crumbly in texture. Your kitchen will smell wonderful while these buttery cookies bake and they make beautiful holiday gifts! Chopped pecans mixed into the dough adds a nice nutty flavor. You can add even more nuts on the warm chocolate coated ends. Measuring the dough you will […]

Categories: Cookies, Crowd Pleaser, Dessert, Gifts, Holiday Ideas, Nuts • Tags: Bake

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Lobster and Asparagus Omelet

August 29, 2019 by pamflo

“Lobsta” as the Bostonians fondly call this tasty crustacean, is at its peak between June and late December. Maine lobsters have sweet, meaty claws and delicious tail meat, and are a perfect addition to an omelet. Lobster meat is low in calories and high in protein. It provides a great source of essential vitamins and minerals, and is low in mercury. I added steamed asparagus, and gave both the asparagus and lobster meat a quick sauté in a combination of […]

Categories: Appetizer, Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Eggs, Gluten Free, Healthish, Lunch Ideas, Seafood, Vegetables • Tags: Sauté

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Sheet Pan Seafood Bake

August 8, 2019 by pamflo

This flavorful and fun seafood bake is like squeezing summer all onto one pan, with flavorful shrimp, sausage, clams, and veggies all made on one sheet tray. I tossed the ingredients with a combination of butter, olive oil and Old Bay seasoning. I blanched the potatoes and corn ahead of time in lightly salted boiling water, and pre-cooked spicy Italian sausages instead of the classic andouille sausage, before adding to the sheet tray. This is a perfect dish for a […]

Categories: Crowd Pleaser, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Healthish, Lunch Ideas, One-Pot Meals, Seafood • Tags: Bake

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Decadent Chocolate Truffles

February 7, 2019 by pamflo

Sadly, many of the small private Massachusetts colleges are closing. Unusual that I mention this in a blog post, but I really enjoyed the many semesters I spent years ago at Newbury College in their culinary program. It was a big undertaking with classes running every Saturday from 9am-6pm, and a baby and a three year old at home with my husband. I learned so much though and came home with goodies every weekend. I loved the pastry classes although […]

Categories: Boozy, Chocolate, Dessert, Gifts, Gluten Free, Holiday Ideas • Tags: Melt

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Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

January 31, 2019 by pamflo

In honor of my 300th Zest for Cooking post, I’ve created a spicy cauliflower recipe. Over the years, my cauliflower recipes have been some of the most popular. With the 2019 Super Bowl only days away, it seems timely to post a healthy recipe option and a great dish for your vegetarian guests as well. Combining sriracha and your favorite hot sauce is the secret sauce in these tasty, fiery bites. Sriracha, the iconic hot sauce that originated in Thailand, […]

Categories: Appetizer, Game Day, Gluten Free, Healthish, Lunch Ideas, Snack, Vegetables • Tags: Roast

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Spaghetti Squash with Shrimp and Lemon

January 24, 2019 by pamflo

It started with a phone call from my brother on the west coast, why isn’t your shrimp and lemon pasta dish on the blog, I want to make it now?! Many years ago, before culinary school, he and I had taken a series of cooking classes together and a lemon pasta dish was by far the most memorable recipe we made. After tweaking the recipe and adding shrimp, it became one of my signature dishes and part of a weekly […]

Categories: Appetizer, Gluten Free, Greens, Healthish, Lunch Ideas, Seafood, Vegetables • Tags: Roast, Sauté

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Sautéed Green Beans with Cherry Tomatoes

November 15, 2018 by pamflo

Green beans are a Thanksgiving staple, and this dish is fun and easy to make. Even if you’re not hosting or contributing a dish for the holiday, this green bean dish elevates a weeknight dinner to something a bit more special. I prefer a two step process when cooking green beans. The first step is blanching which is a quick dip of about 3-4 minutes in rapidly boiling salted water, then into an icy cold water bath to halt the […]

Categories: Beans, Cooking Tips, Gluten Free, Healthish, Holiday Ideas, Vegetables • Tags: Blanch, Sauté

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Peanut Butter Banana Muffins – Gluten Free

August 23, 2018 by pamflo

As we head for September, I’m ready to get back to baking. Always in need of a healthy, easy snack option, these muffins take a combination of some favorite pantry ingredients like bananas, peanut butter and dark chocolate and unite them in a portable treat. This is the type of recipe that can easily handle substitutions. Try blueberries or chopped nuts in place of the dark chocolate chips. Coconut oil or ghee can be used in place of the unsalted […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Gluten Free, Low Sugar, Muffins, Snack • Tags: Bake

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Blueberry Cornmeal Tart

June 14, 2018 by pamflo

As I close in on almost 5 years of blogging, I’m re-visitng some of my most popular posts. With blueberries in season you should try this delightful and easy cornmeal tart. Blueberries are considered a super “brain” food, as studies show these blue beauties help with cognitive function and can boost memory. This rustic tart is fun and the cornmeal crust is much more forgiving then regular pie dough. The dough is similar to a cookie dough and just needs to […]

Categories: Dessert, Fruit, Low Sugar, Pies/Tarts • Tags: Bake

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