pico de gallo

fast and easy

Skewered Fish With Couscous Is an Easy, Any Season Meal

In terms of cooking seasonal cuisine, late September and early October can be a confusing time.

In terms of cooking seasonal cuisine, late September and early October can be a confusing time. The farmers markets are still overflowing with heirloom tomatoes, while butternut squash and apples begin to appear, too. I can't help but wonder, am I supposed to make Caprese salad or butternut squash soup?

Instead of obsessing over what to make, I like to select dishes that are virtually season-less, like this skewered fish with couscous. The fish chunks are coated with a store-bought tapenade before being cooked under the broiler. Served with a quick-cooking couscous, it makes for a healthy, balanced meal that comes together in minutes. To offer it to your family, check out the recipe and read more

recipes

The Basics: Pico de Gallo

During the Spring and Summer, you can almost always find the ingredients for pico de gallo in my fridge.

During the Spring and Summer, you can almost always find the ingredients for pico de gallo in my fridge. This delightful Mexican condiment has a fresh tomato base and is flecked with raw onions and minced jalapeno. Just-squeezed lime juice adds a refreshing tartness. If I have cilantro, sometimes I'll stir that in, too.

To simply enjoy the pure flavor of pico de gallo, serve as a dip with crunchy tortilla chips. Or use the versatile mix in a number of creative ways. Place on top of grilled fish or steak. Stir into a salad of mixed greens or fold with cooked couscous. Toss with shredded chicken and you've got a quick filling for tacos or enchiladas frescos. Place in between soft tortillas with cheese and make quesadillas. Puree in the food processor for salsa.

See? The possibilities are endless. Get this recipe that you'll be making well into next Fall when you read more

seafood

Not Your Regular Nachos: Crab Nachos

What do you get when you combine crispy, salty chips with spicy, melty cheese and fresh, flaky crab?

What do you get when you combine crispy, salty chips with spicy, melty cheese and fresh, flaky crab? Some amazingly delicious nachos! Between the newly-picked crab, the homemade pico de gallo, and the pepper-jack béchamel, these nachos are more gourmet than ghetto — who said Mexican food can't be high end?

The recipe calls for blue corn tortilla chips, but any tortilla chip would work. I used frozen corn — make sure it's thawed, you don't want soggy nachos — because fresh isn't in season. These nachos were incredibly tasty and I'm definitely making them again. To look at the recipe, read more

calorie breakdown

Pico de Gallo Chips: Like Doritos, But Healthier

As a kid, I hate to admit it, but I grew up on junk food.

As a kid, I hate to admit it, but I grew up on junk food. Maybe that's why I'm such a freak about it now - too many years of eating crap that make you feel like crap.

Nacho Cheese Doritos were one of my faves. They were a typical afternoon snack when I came home from school - I used to LOVE licking the powdered cheese off my orange-stained fingers. I've long since given those up, but they'll always be one of my fond childhood memories.

While at the health food store, I came upon Pico de Gallo Chips made by Garden of Eatin'. They taste so much like Doritos, but the ingredients are much healthier. Doritos have partially hydrogenated soybean and Cottenseed oil. And nothing says junk food like artificial color - love that Yellow 6. Yum.

Want to see how they compare nutritionally? Then read more