Category Archives: Quick and Easy

Honey Harissa Sheet Pan Tofu

Honey Harissa Sheet Pan Tofu by Alison's AllspiceThis honey harissa sheet pan tofu has made it into our regular rotation of dinners for a lot of reasons.  The texture of the tofu is amazing, the whole thing is super easy, and you can make simple swaps for what you have on hand.

Have you tried ripping tofu by hand?  It creates lots of edges that all get crispy when baked with starch and yields some of the crispiest tofu.  On top of that, it is kind-of fun and easy just getting into the tofu block with your hands. Good for stress relief, or a good option for kids to help out in the kitchen. Continue reading

Shrimp Panzanella Salad

Shrimp Panzanella Salad by Alison's AllspiceAbout a month ago, I posted a recipe for tomato panzanella salad that I have been so in love with so I wanted to share a pescatarian version as well.  This shrimp panzanella salad recipe is not very different, but a little more filling thanks to the addition of some protein.

What makes panzanella salad so great?  For me, it’s the bread!  A high quality bread is a must and I use a homemade sourdough.  In addition, the bread is lightly toasted so that it is crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Continue reading

Creamy Black Bean and Corn Dip

Creamy Black Bean and Corn Dip by Alison's AllspiceDuring football season, we consume a lot of dips!  I made a different type every week for during the game.  Dips like this creamy black bean and corn dip are always a life-saver because they take no time at all to whip up!

Canned black beans and frozen corn make the bulk of this dip while jarred salsa and taco seasonings yield most of the flavor.  My secret ingredient to make it creamy might just surprise you! Continue reading

Kale Smoothie

Kale Smoothie by Alison's AllspiceThis spring, I was eating kale salads on repeat and still had more kale than I could use coming out of my garden. I decided to try blanching and freezing it with the intent to make a kale smoothie recipe, which is finally here!

There are a lot of kale smoothie recipes on the internet, and not all of them are good, in my opinion. I love kale, its flavor does not bother me. In addition, I’m using blanched kale which naturally should be less bitter, so perhaps my taste buds are biased on what makes a kale smoothie good. Continue reading

Italian Tomato Panzanella Salad

Italian Tomato Panzanella Salad by Alison's AllspicePanzanella is a rustic Italian style salad that uses stale bread and tomato.  From there, many variations to this classic recipe can be found.

When researching this recipe, I found that no two recipes look alike.  They all vary based on the bread to tomato ratio, if cheese is used, what other vegetables are used, and even the type of dressing. Continue reading

Thai-Style Sour Salad with Peaches

Thai-Style Sour Salad with Peaches by Alison's Allspice This week I have another peach recipe for you, but this is no ordinary peach recipe.  This Thai-style sour salad is made with peaches, tofu, and green beans.  The dressing is amazing; it is sour yet complex in a lick-up-every-drop kind of way.

Most Thai-style salads are made with papaya and are made very (very) spicy.  The only spice I included was some red pepper flake to season the tofu, so this salad is pretty mild and fits my midwestern palate well. Continue reading

Peach Yogurt Smoothie

Peach Yogurt Smoothie by Alison's AllspiceThe other day I was looking for a fast easy lunch so I whipped up this peach yogurt smoothie. It was so easy and so filling, this one is going into my regular rotation!

Lunches for me generally include leftovers, or something simple to make.  When I don’t plan in advance, its great to have back pocket recipes like this one to save the day. Continue reading

Snow Pea Fried Rice

Snow Pea Fried Rice by Alison's AllspiceThis snow pea fried rice recipe is simply a classic fried rice recipe which swaps fresh snow peas for frozen green peas.  Nutritionally, they are the same, but when you have garden fresh snow peas why use frozen?

Snow peas have a tender pod and are often times used in stir fries because they cook quickly.  They fit seamlessly into a fried rice recipe as well, perfect for late spring and early summer when snow peas are ripe and bountiful. Continue reading

Grilled Shrimp with Rhubarb Sauce

Grilled Shrimp with Rhubarb Sauce by Alison's AllspiceRhubarb is more well known for its sweet applications, but I love to use it in savory ones too.  These grilled shrimp with rhubarb sauce are a great way get out the grill this season!

The rhubarb sauce is a little sweet and sour thanks to the honey and the rhubarb.  It pairs perfectly with the subtle sweetness of the shrimp. Continue reading

Blackened Fish Tacos with Pineapple Slaw

Blackened Fish Tacos with Pineapple Slaw by Alison's AllspiceMy homemade blackening seasoning is a favorite to use on fish, and its spicy nature is delicious in these blackened fish tacos with pineapple slaw.

The pineapple slaw is sweet and juicy keeping the spicy blackened fish from overwhelming your tastebuds.  The two are a perfect match. Continue reading