You know when a recipe calls for a teeny, tiny amount of fresh herbs and convinces you that the fresh herbs are SO much better than dried herbs so you just MUST buy them fresh. (Yes, I try to convince you of that in about half of my posts, but it really is true.) So you […]
Running a food blog has taught me a few things that I was not entirely aware of before the birth of jackedkitchen.com. Let me share.Food photography is difficult.I mean, duh, right? Good photography is not easy. I knew that from trying to snap pictures of my scrumptious looking dinner on my phone only to realize it […]
There are many busy days that we have to rely on what is in the freezer or stocked away in the cupboard for dinner. The days of frozen dinners, canned soup or boxed macaroni and cheese. Fast, easy and let’s be honest, not necessarily bad tasting. I can’t say I’ve ever been mad about eating […]
My inspiration for this recipe came about when one of my good friends gave me a boat load of fresh peppers. She loaded me up with everything from little red spicy peppers to sweet banana peppers. The best part of the stack of peppers was that my friend had hand-picked them from her family farm, […]
I think we all go through phases of fighting the meal slump. When nothing sounds good and you are tired of the regular rotation of meals. When the few things that DO sound good just so happen to be the three least healthiest foods in the world. I wish when we were bored with food we […]
Italian beef sandwiches are one of my favorites. Slow cooked, tender beef drenched in rich juices on a flaky Italian style hoagie roll. Is that not how you make a classic sandwich? There is no shame when you take a bite and the juices drip down your arm. There is no hope with a napkin at […]
The idea of French onion soup always sounds appealing to me. Combining basic, inexpensive ingredients with a bit of slow cooking to create a soul comforting, decadent dish. The soup, a rich broth filled with sweet caramelized onions, baked cheese and large crusty croutons, is full of rich flavors. However…that all sounds good and great […]
Cooking for 1 person can take some getting use to. Many recipes are written for 4 or more people. That means you either have to eat the same thing for days or end up wasting a lot of food. Just because you may not have to feed more than yourself doesn’t mean you have to eat […]
Breakfast tacos are just the best. Actually tacos for every meal is best. These roasted veggie tacos are so delectable I’ve been whipping them up a couple of times a week. Roasting the vegetables instead of sauteing them brings out their sweetness and adds a crunchy char to the edges of the asparagus and onions. Add silky, […]
Tilapia is an easy fish to cook because it has a mild taste and is great at absorbing flavors. It works well for baking, grilling or pan frying. Sprinkle the fish with a bit of seasoning and a dab of butter, and it cooks in a matter of minutes.In this recipe I season the fish […]
I’ve never been a big fan of deli meat. Back to the days of grade school packed lunches I just couldn’t get myself to do it. Peanut butter and jelly all the way for me. In my older, wiser years I’ve found that there are quality cuts of meat that make a great sandwich, but […]
When it’s summertime you have to eat like summertime! I’m hanging on to every last sweaty, humid day before I have to pull out my sweatshirts. I make weekly trips to the farmer’s market and the revolving door of in-season produce is telling me that the fall is coming. Berry season has passed and the […]
The beauty of food is not just that it gives us energy and prevents us from turning into hangry, zombie versions of ourselves. It has the to ability to transport us. A familiar smell or taste can bring up memories of a different time. There are some meals that remind me of my childhood so much […]
When it’s time to get back on track after too many “treat” meals, I often fall into the ease of pairing a protein and vegetables. For me, that often translates into salad. Luckily, salad doesn’t mean I have to settle for something boring while lusting for something more decadent. A salad bowl is a blank canvas that […]
I truly enjoy the act of cooking. I like picking out all of my ingredients in anticipation of what the flavors will taste like together. I love getting everything chopped and prepped and then watching a dish come together by the act of my own creation. I get to see from start to finish my […]
Sausage, red onion and green pepper is one of my favorite pizza combinations. It’s classic Italian….classic Chicago. I’m hooked on it. I’m usually a go-to veggie-only girl when it comes to pizza, but I make an exception for this combination.In this recipe I use naan bread instead of traditional pizza dough. It’s a little lighter so […]