With elderflower tonic, gin, fresh lime juice, and a touch of rose water, this St-Germain cocktail is a refreshing–and totally intriguing–twist on the classic gin and tonic. Photo Credits: Elana Lepkowski When I’m wrapping a long long day and want to indulge a little, my husband makes me this St-Germain cocktail. I love it so much that I had to get it on the site! It’s a celebration of gin’s botanical qualities, with delicate elderflower and orange blossom notes, and a fresh zing from the citrus....

Extra gooey chocolate brownies with a generous swirl of creamy, nutty tahini . This recipe changes the brownies game in the best way! The occasional addition of nuts or a swirl of peanut butter to gooey chocolate brownies is nice, but if you’re really looking to step up the brownie game, then look no further than tahini ! What is tahini? Most folks have only experienced tahini in a creamy hummus dip or a tangy tahini sauce atop a juicy kabob , which I highly recommend....

Italian carrot cake is a light, airy cake made without butter, oil or dairy. The lift comes from whipping egg whites to stiff peaks then folding them into the batter. It’s just barely sweet, scented with orange zest finished with a drizzle of warm honey. Healthy carrot cake has never tasted so good! Photo Credits: Andrea Gralow A carrot cake hailing from Northern Italy, Torta di Carote is a light, elegant dessert that contains no butter, oil, or dairy....

Youvarlakia, also spelled giouvarlakia, is a Greek meatball soup. The lemony broth is hearty and comforting, and the juicy beef meatballs are packed with incredible herbaceous flavor. If you love Greek avgolemono soup then you’ll love this gluten-free meatball soup recipe too. Photo Credits: Elana Lepkowski Youvarlakia is Greece’s traditional meatball soup. It is both bright and light while also feeling hearty and comforting. I must confess—I eat this Greek meatball soup all year round....

This easy, flavor-packed za’atar garlic salmon recipe has been in the queue since the beginning of summer. And I’m so excited to finally share it with you! Because we try to faithfully follow the Mediterranean diet , I’ve been looking for new, easy ways to prepare fish. This garlic salmon recipe is one of those that came together on a whim of experimentation, and I’m so glad it did. It’s become another quick go-to sheet pan dinner, for which I will not apologize....

You can have this Syrian Honey Garlic Shrimp on your table in under 20 minutes, but it tastes like it took much longer. If you’re looking for a quick, healthy recipe that doesn’t skimp on flavor, this one’s for you. Photo Credits: Omayah Atassi Why This Honey Garlic Shrimp Recipe Works It’s full of flavor: The spices were inspired by a recipe called Sayadieh, a roasted white fish and rice dish, common in Syrian homes like mine....

This fudgy, vegan chocolate mousse is blissfully chocolatey and secretly healthy! Cooked apples act as a base for rich dark chocolate, while the pistachios add a delightful crunch. Once chilled, this gluten-free dessert sets to a soft, pudding-like texture. Photo Credit: Ali Redmond If you’re a chocolate lover looking for an easy, no-bake dessert that’s actually healthy, this vegan chocolate mousse is a little bit like a magic trick. It’s made with just dark chocolate, apples, extra virgin olive oil, and pistachios....

Hands down the best baked rigatoni recipe I’ve tried! Layers of tender pasta, a perfectly seasoned thick meat sauce, and a little melty mozzarella. I sneak in a couple of veggies, which are totally optional but take this dish to a new level of delicious! Baked rigatoni with a little twist! A perfect rigatoni pasta bake is made of tender noodles, a perfectly seasoned meat, and for me, a thin layer of melty mozzarella....

First baked, then tossed with a sweet balsamic vinaigrette, the silky, sweet, and savory caramelized roasted onions make a comforting vegan and gluten-free side dish. Photo Credits: Miriam Novoa Why I Love This Roasted Onion Recipe Onions are naturally sweet: Roasting softens the bite of the onions, caramelizing their natural sugars, and a quick agrodolce-style vinaigrette adds tang to every bite. Simple ingredients, big flavor: Just pantry staples, but the results taste like a special-occasion side....

Strata is a savory, layered breakfast casserole made with bread, eggs, meat and vegetables. Make it the day before and bake it in the morning! Photo Credits: Alison Bickel I’ve been making breakfast strata recipes in one form or another for the better part of 20 years. These layered egg casseroles are easy to make, easy to adapt to what you have on hand, perfect for meal prepping, and are the ultimate one-pan meals....

Here is the perfect opportunity to get your Greek on! Greek Briam takes roasted vegetables to a whole new level of delicious. You need just a few simple pantry ingredients: potatoes, zucchini, red onions, and tomatoes. But the Greek flavors from spices, fresh garlic, parsley and a generous drizzle of excellent EVOO make all the difference. Plus, this recipe is text-book Mediterranean diet. Vegan. Zero Cholesterol. Low Carb. Gluten Free....

This sweet and silky roasted butternut squash pasta sauce is full of cozy fall flavors, including sage and garlic; perfect for an autumnal pasta night! Photo Credits: Mark Beahm In this butternut squash pasta sauce recipe, woodsy fresh sage and the warm nuttiness of nutmeg round out the sweetness of roasted squash, onion, and garlic. Grated Parmesan adds savory umami, while a spritz of lemon juice brightens the sauce, ensuring it’s complex and not cloying....

Smooth, creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup , layered with subtly sweet and nutty flavors. It is so comforting, you won’t believe it is vegan! Be sure to check out my tips for how to make butternut squash soup perfectly every time! The secret to extra creamy vegan butternut squash soup! This roasted butternut squash soup takes on a tasty Mediterranean twist, and it is extra creamy and comforting, you won’t even know it’s vegan!...

This easy chicken schnitzel recipe transforms chicken breasts into crispy, golden perfection in just 15 minutes! Photo Credits: Suzy Karadsheh It may surprise you to know that growing up in Egypt, chicken schnitzel was a common meal at our table. My mom made it regularly for a quick and easy dinner with a salad or simple pasta. To this day, that first crispy bite takes me right back home!...

Caramel apple slices are an easy, no-bake treat made with crisp apple rounds, soft and sweet date caramel, crunchy nuts, and a drizzle of chocolate—a perfect healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth! Photo Credits: Ali Redmond I was inspired to create a healthier—and much easier to eat— caramel apple after making a batch of this 5-ingredient date caramel recipe . When paired with crisp apple rounds and a scattering of crunchy nuts this recipe captures all the best parts of this classic fall treat....

Bold, briny, and beautiful, these antipasto skewers are a crowd-pleasing appetizer that are so easy to make! All you need are some vegetables, cured meat, fresh herbs, and cheese! If you’re a fan of food on a stick, like chicken kabobs , vegetable kabobs , or shish kebabs , you need to try these antipasti skewers. With fresh and marinated vegetables, cured meat, creamy cheese, and robust herbs, these appetizer skewers are a delightful hand-held appetizer for your next potluck....

These easy Greek salad skewers turn a traditional recipe into a colorful party appetizer. Think of it as Greek salad on a stick, drizzled with a zesty vinaigrette! Greek salad on a stick! I love food on a stick. From vegetables to chicken , kofta , and much more. I’ll use any excuse to thread food onto skewers. And after I shared a recipe for Italian-style antipasto skewers , I was inspired to take one of my favorite salads and turn it into finger food!...

This easy shrimp scampi recipe is a classic Italian seafood dish. Succulent shrimp are quickly sautéed and then sauced with a luscious mixture of garlic, lemon, butter, white wine, and olive oil. Traditionally served over pasta or with crusty bread, this shrimp recipe feels fancy but comes together in just minutes. Photo Credits: Ali Redmond One of my freezer staples is a bag of wild-caught shrimp. Because shrimp thaw fast and cook quickly, it’s easy to transform them into a rich seafood dinner in a hurry....

In these Sicilian-inspired phyllo cup appetizers, orange adds sweetness to a savory combination of fennel, shallot, and salty olives. A dot of creamy whipped goat cheese is the perfect finishing touch. Photo Credits: Ali Redmond Why You’ll Love These Phyllo Cup Appetizers They look fancy but are secretly easy. Thanks to store-bought phyllo cups and quick-cooking veggies, these elegant bites come together with minimal effort. Big Sicilian flavor in one little bite....

These Greek fries are oven-baked in extra virgin olive oil and finished with a fragrant mix of garlic, thyme, oregano, and feta cheese. (That’s right, your favorite snack just got an upgrade!) Deliciously crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these oven fries make the perfect game day snack or side dish for all your favorite burger recipes! Photo Credit: Mark Beahm This easy Greek fries recipe was inspired by Patates Tiganites, a comforting dish of fried potatoes served in mom and pop tavernas across Greece....