Brunch Archives - Nutritious Eats

Pesto Chicken Salad

May 14, 2013 by Melanie Flinn, MS, RD13 Comments

Chicken salad is so personal- everyone makes their own favorite version. I have never loved a heavy-mayo based chicken salad until I had one at a wedding shower a long, long ago- it was made with fresh tarragon, celery and some other basic ingredients. Even though I have come around to mayo-based chicken salads (although I am still super picky about which ones I'll eat) I have been obsessed with this version lately, pesto chicken salad. It's such a nice change from your typical chicken salad and if you are using homemade pesto, it's even better. The great part about chicken salad recipes is … [Read more...]

Filed under: Brunch, Poultry, Salads, Sandwiches Tagged with brunch, chicken salad, dairy, easy, greek yogurt, lunch, make-ahead, pesto

Creamy Dill Cucumber Salad

April 24, 2013 by Melanie Flinn, MS, RD10 Comments

Have I ever mentioned I am a magazine junkie? Well it's true. Over the last couple years I was good and cut back to two cooking magazines. Then I don't know what happened- actually I do. This crazy discount magazine site sent me emails about all the sales they were having I picked up a couple of subscriptions for $3.99 (for a whole year!). I could pass up those deals. Another discount site offered 5 magazine subscriptions for the year for only $19.95. Seriously? I couldn't even buy those magazines at the full retail price one time for that value! I take stuff to our local consignment shop on … [Read more...]

Filed under: Brunch, Sides, Vegetables Tagged with BBQ sides, cucumbers, dairy, dill, easy, low carb, side, sour cream, vegetarian

Salmon Salad Stuffed Avocado…With a Mexican Twist

April 10, 2013 by Melanie Flinn, MS, RD25 Comments

Congratulations to the winner of the Bestowed Box giveaway, Jessie J.! Salmon Salad Stuffed Avocado. I can't remember the last time I bought a can of salmon (or tuna). I am not sure why, but it just fell off my list of staple foods. When my mom was here visiting she mentioned that she loves the canned salmon from Costco. It got me thinking of putting a twist on the typical mayo-based salmon (or tuna) salad. I almost always have the ingredients to give things a Mexican flair so that's what I did! I have been scaling back my carbs over the last week or so since I have had to stop … [Read more...]

Filed under: Brunch, Fish & Shellfish Tagged with clean eating, fish, gluten free, healthy lunch, low carb, low fat, paleo, salmon salad

Spaghetti Squash Au Gratin

March 27, 2013 by Melanie Flinn, MS, RD7 Comments

Who doesn't love that cheesy creamy hash brown casserole that usually makes an appearance around the holidays? If you are trying to avoid potatoes, this is a great substitute...Spaghetti Squash Au Gratin. It's lower in fat, calories and carbs. What more could you ask for? Oh and it tastes good too! I used plain Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream which adds about triple the amount of protein and subbed spaghetti squash for the hash browns. There is a recipe similar floating around Pinterest, but the one I saw used sour cream and hardly any cheese. If calories weren't a concern I'd … [Read more...]

Filed under: Brunch, Easter, Sides Tagged with cheese, christmas, dairy, easter, easy, gratin, greek yogurt, holiday side, spaghetti squash, thanksgiving

Apple Oat Muffins and What I Ate This Month

February 27, 2013 by Melanie Flinn, MS, RD20 Comments

Apple oat muffins. Sooooo good. I have been wanting to make this recipe forever. I kept seeing the little recipe card on the loose in one of my kitchen drawers and I just knew the kids would love these muffins. Also on my list of things to do has been making egg-free baked goods for my 15 month old who is allergic to eggs. Since he loves apples I knew this recipe would be perfect for him. Who doesn't love apple and oats together? A friend recommended ground flaxseed meal as a replacement for the egg and sure enough on the back of the package of my Bob's Red Mill ground flaxseed are the … [Read more...]

Filed under: Breakfast, Brunch, Snacks Tagged with apple, breakfast, brunch, dairy, egg substitute, egg-free, flaxseed meal, muffins, oats, snack

Raspberry Cornmeal Pancakes with Lemon Curd

February 6, 2013 by Melanie Flinn, MS, RD8 Comments

I am a bad food blogger. I don't follow the national food holidays at all, but I noticed someone on twitter mentioned that yesterday was National Pancake Day and I since I am still recovering from my cold and rather tired I thought I'd whip up some pancakes for dinner instead of what I had on the meal plan. You might be wondering how I managed to whip these up AND take photos while feeling under the weather? Well these aren't the actual pancakes we had last night...thank goodness for keeping a few recipes in the queue! As a result, I thought it would be a perfect time to share this … [Read more...]

Filed under: Breakfast, Brunch, Splurge-worthy Tagged with brunch, cornmeal, lemon curd, pancakes, raspberries

Nutrition in Eggs & Recipe for Poached Eggs in Tomato Sauce

January 10, 2013 by Melanie Flinn, MS, RD23 Comments

I am always on the look out for new ways to eat my eggs. This might look like a strange combo but it was delicious! I love eggs and yes there is some controversy about their health benefits. Depending on the source and your personal reaction to them, they might not be best for you. For me, they are one of my favorite breakfasts and even great for dinner (egg tacos, quiche, frittatas). Unfortunately we just found out my 14 month old baby boy is allergic to them so I have to be a bit more careful about what I prepare using eggs, but I am sure he will grow out of it as many children at that age … [Read more...]

Filed under: Breakfast, Brunch, Nutrition & Wellness, Organics, Vegetarian Tagged with brunch, cheese, eggs, nutrition in eggs, tomato sauce, vegetarian

Broccoli Apple Salad

October 17, 2012 by Melanie Flinn, MS, RD11 Comments

Broccoli apple salad. This is a recipe my mother-in-law often makes so she shared her version with me. I was in the mood for a different way to eat my broccoli- normally it's just raw with dip, steamed or roasted then topped with lemon, but this is a nice cold salad that keeps for several days so it's perfect for lunches or snack. When we were in Hawaii this past summer for our family reunion we served it for brunch with an egg casserole and fruit salad. It's a very versatile dish. Broccoli frequently earns a spot in the "top superfoods" list- it's low in calories, high in … [Read more...]

Filed under: Brunch, Salads, Sides, Vegetables Tagged with broccoli, make-ahead, potluck, salad

Pear Bread

October 11, 2012 by Melanie Flinn, MS, RD7 Comments

I will admit I prefer apples over pears during the autumn and winter seasons but last year after I exhausted all ideas for the use of apples and had made more than enough banana bread, pumpkin bread and cranberry bread, I was ready to branch out. I made this pear bread right after the end of pear season so had to wait a year before I could share it with you! Quick breads are about the easiest things to make and make you feel very accomplished. So I seem to think. I also love bread recipes that yield two loaves. One for now, freeze one for later...or if you have big eaters in your house like … [Read more...]

Filed under: Breads, Breakfast, Brunch, Snacks Tagged with baking, fall, pears, quick bread, snack

Trick to Making the Creamiest Smoothie & a Tropical Smoothie Recipe

September 6, 2012 by Melanie Flinn, MS, RD13 Comments

Congratulations to the two winners of the lunch kit giveaway- Aimee S. and Frances S. Thank you so much for entering! I know what you're thinking. A smoothie recipe? How original, right. Well the only reason I am posting this is because I learned a trick to making the creamiest smoothie possible. We're talking milkshake creamy. We got home from a family bike ride over the weekend and I was craving something refreshing. I make the same smoothie all the time and this isn't my typical "recipe". I had this humongous bag of frozen Tropical fruit from Costco that I am trying to make my … [Read more...]