View Post

Healthy Asian Coleslaw Recipe

In Dairy-free, Food Around The World, Gluten-free, Recipes | Delicious and Quick Recipes for Real Food by Lisa Soldo-JohnsonLeave a Comment

Asian Coleslaw is the newest addition to my spring/summer salad recipe collection. It’s a refreshing detour from the softer lettuce-based salads, especially when you’re in the mood for something crunchy and fresh to pair with a meal or even as the meal itself. I especially love the variety of healthy vegetables you get with every bite. My biggest pet peeve …

View Post

Mediterranean Orzo Spinach Salad

In Food Around The World, Recipes | Delicious and Quick Recipes for Real Food by Lisa Soldo-Johnson2 Comments

When I was growing up, my mother worked full time, so family dinners were deliciously predictable. My mom stayed true to her famous five; fried pork chops with mashed potatoes and homemade gravy, Italian spaghetti and meat sauce, tuna and noodle hot dish, homemade soup, and pot roast on Sundays. She detoured from those meals whenever she had the time to get …

Dairy-Free Cashew Cheese Recipe

In Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Recipes | Delicious and Quick Recipes for Real Food by Lisa Soldo-JohnsonLeave a Comment

Years ago, I learned to make nut cheese and it is still one of my favorite dairy-free recipes, Nut cheese is a healthier alternative to traditional cheese and makes a delicious spread for crackers, dip for chips, sauce on pizza or noodles, and a tasty way to add extra vitamins and minerals in your morning smoothie. Cashews have a buttery, …

Jamaican Festival Bread Recipe

In Dairy-free, Food Around The World, Recipes | Delicious and Quick Recipes for Real Food by Lisa Soldo-JohnsonLeave a Comment

Festival is a celebrated tradition in Jamaica. I’m not referring to an outdoor street party, though I adore the festive steel drum music they play near the pool. Jamaican Festival bread is a traditional bread side served with dishes like Jerk Chicken and Escovitch Fish. The actual name is Jamaican Festival Dumpling, but it looks and tastes more like a …

Jamaican Coconut Bread with Tropical Cream Cheese Dip

In Food Around The World, Recipes | Delicious and Quick Recipes for Real Food by Lisa Soldo-JohnsonLeave a Comment

Once in a while, an unexpected combination of ingredients creates pure decadence. Jamaican coconut bread with tropical cream cheese dip is that unexpected recipe. You wouldn’t guess it by looking at the photograph, but one bite in and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. After returning from Jamaica last year, it inspired me to get creative in the kitchen.  …

View Post

Persian Yogurt And Spinach Dip | Borani Esfanaaj Recipe

In Food Around The World, Gluten-free, Recipes | Delicious and Quick Recipes for Real Food by Lisa Soldo-JohnsonLeave a Comment

Borani Esfanaaj is a Traditional Persian appetizer made with Yogurt and spinach. I first tasted this delightful dish at a dinner party hosted by my gorgeous friend, Sohiela, who makes the most wonderful Persian food. The word “Esfanaj” in Farsi means Spinach and “Borani” is the yogurt part of the dip. What I love about Sohiela’s version are the fresh …

View Post

Israeli Lamb Kabobs

In Dairy-free, Food Around The World, Recipes | Delicious and Quick Recipes for Real Food by Lisa Soldo-JohnsonLeave a Comment

The Middle Eastern Culture, specifically Turkey, has gifted the world with a delightful dish called kabobs, originally named Shish Kabobs. In the Turkish language, “Sis” means sword and “Kabobs” means meat. Using swords to grill pieces of meat over an open fire, this technique of preparing food soon spread to other regions and countries. As each culture adopted this style …

View Post

Authentic Italian Arugula Salad Recipe with Artichokes and Prosciutto

In Food Around The World, Gluten-free, Recipes | Delicious and Quick Recipes for Real Food by Lisa Soldo-JohnsonLeave a Comment

This fall we hosted an exchange student, Ignacia, from Chile. I admit I was unfamiliar with this South American country. Aside from Chilean Seabass, I was unfamiliar with traditional Chilean cuisine but excited to learn more. In Chile, they make a salad similar to an Artichoke Carpaccio.  The Italians prepare this traditional dish with thin slices of raw beef topped …

View Post

Old-Fashioned Organic Homemade Apple Pie

In Recipes | Delicious and Quick Recipes for Real Food by Lisa Soldo-Johnson6 Comments

When I think of homemade apple pie, I think of my mother. She had a way of creating magic with just a few swipes of a flour-dusted rolling pin over freshly kneaded dough, and an apple-filled pie crust topped with sugar, cinnamon, a sprinkle of nutmeg, and plenty of butter. Unapologetically, she swore off any suggestion of a pre-made, store-bought …

View Post

Red Pepper Paste Recipe

In Dairy-free, Food Around The World, Gluten-free, Recipes | Delicious and Quick Recipes for Real Food by Lisa Soldo-JohnsonLeave a Comment

One of my favorite things about learning to make food from around the world are the bonus lessons that accompany good, wholesome, authentic dishes. Part of the magic that happens when you create a recipe from scratch is the specific flavors that come through during the cooking process. I have found that keeping a dish as authentic as possible, including …