Dani Spies

*From the archives.

Like all QuickBites, this is a seriously simple recipe that comes together very quickly! 

I wanted to shoot a video using leafy greens in one of the simplest ways I know how (which is a quick saute).  This recipe is the perfect demonstartion of how easy it can be to get power foods on the table in about twenty minutes!

*Updated with a video 11/09 - You guys asked for this recipe to be demonstrated in a video, so here ya go!

Let me first say, that I have nothing against potatoes. As a matter of fact, I love potatoes... especially baked potatoes.  Oooooh and french fries.  I really love french fries.  I'd be lying if I said I that a crispy, crunchy, perfectly salted, fry didn't do it for me.  I mean seriously, is it even possible to not like a French fry??

But, here's the deal...

Here in Southern California, September is one of the hottest months we have so this Strawberry-Vanilla Smoothie is still on my menu.

Besides, I really wanted to sneak in one more summery QuickBite before we start cuddling into the warmer foods of fall.

With football season kicking off this weekend I wanted to give you guys a little game time meal that you could feel good about eating!  These Buffalo Chicken Butter Lettuce Cups are the perfect dish!

What can I say, I've been making so many different types of Egg "Pizza's" lately, I just couldn't help but share another Egg "Pizza" flavor combination! 

Hey guys... I'M BACK!  Lot's of fun, long trip, happy to be home BUT most importantly... happy to be back in my kitchen with my knife and my cutting board!  Man oh man, did I miss cooking!

Yep.  You read it right.  Bacon Wrapped Turkey Mignons from Trader Joe's. 

Hello easy.  Hello D'lishes.

Don't ask me why, but it seems every time I went to the grocery store this week I bought broccoli. 

Broccoli, broccoli, broccoli. 

So when I peeked in the veggie drawer last night to decide what was gonna be for dinner, guess what came pouring out?  Yep.  Broccoli!  Broccoli and a head of Napa Cabbage.

Never underestimate an egg.  Really.  They are so darn versatile!  I've become a big fan of eggs for dinner so when I was at my Yoga class last week and my favorite yoga teacher (Amy) in the whole world told me that she made my leek and potato tortilla (which is not posted) with the addition of smoked salmon I was not only flattered but I couldn't wait to get into the kitchen and give it a try!

Whew.  Other than packing my cooler, I haven't had a chance to do much cooking this week. I seriously need to get on top of those leafy greens!  Any chance you guys have come up with some good leafy green recipes;)?

Anyhow, this is a recipe that I made a few weeks ago but never had the chance to post.  It it was the first time I ever tried Opah and truth be told I didn't even do the cooking.

So here we go...another asparagus recipe!  And you probably won't be suprised to hear me say that this is another super easy dish!

As far as the asparagus goes, all I did was steam it up.  Which reminds me...

Here is the fish that I served with my Napa Cabbage and Watercress Salad last week. 

I really liked the combination because while the fish was warm and spicy the salad was cool and crunchy!

Here's another quick recipe starring, "Cabbage".  The cabbage with it's cool, crunchy self was perfecty paired with the tender, spicy watercress. I served this with some Curry Coated Tilapia (which I'll be posting soon) and I've gotta say, it was d'lishes!

Okay, so soup was not on my cabbage agenda this week. 

I was planning braised red cabbage with apples and goat cheese served with some type of protein; possibly experimenting with chicken or pork moo shu, and/or whipping up an asian style cabbage salad. 

What changed things you ask?

This is the chicken that I served with my Red Cabbage Salad the other night.  I found this recipe on a blog called "Good Things Catered", Recipes from a casual cook turned caterer turned back again. 

I just sort of stumbled across this blog while searching for Asian style chicken recipes and decided to give it a go, after all blog recipes are where it's at these days;). 

Four words:  SO GOOD, SO EASY!

I'm telling you guys, if you are looking for quick, healthy, weeknight food you HAVE TO add some fish to the menu.  I topped some wild salmon with a teaspoon of olive oil, dill, and salt and pepper and twelve minutes later, it was done!  DONE!

White fish (like Sole and Flounder) is one of the quickest dinners you can make.  You just sprinkle on a little seasoning, throw it under the broiler, and voila'... three minutes later dinner is served. 

I made this in a pinch the other night and served it with some Minty Pea Quinoa and steamed asparagus.  So simple, so yummy and so nutritious!

So this one isn't so much a recipe as it is an idea. 

Really you can use any veggies or any cheese that you have hanging out in the fridge, it's is less about the details and more about the big picture.

When opting to use all white meat in this recipe, my fear was that the extra lean turkey meat could have the tendency of drying out. So the challenge was to find a way to keep these babies moist and tender.

And guys, I am proud to say, "Mission Accomplished"!

A friend of mine gave me the "South Beach Diet" Cookbook a few years back.  She wasn't that into it and thought I might get some use out of it... she was right!

Okay guys, here's the deal; I love you... I really do.  And I love eating.  I also love healthy food, cooking, and talking.  And although, I don't love, love, love writing I can deal with it in order to share with you all of the things I really do love.

*updated from the archives.

As you may know, I am a big fan of "whole foods" and I think that whole eggs are a perfectly delicious and nutritious food.  I love adding them to just about anything; breakfast, lunch, or dinner. But anytime I am trying to pull back on my calorie intake a bit without pulling back on flavor, I skip the yolks and stick to the whites. 

Only one week til' Thanksgiving and then the Holiday Season really kicks in (I love the holidays)!

I wanted to make a video showing an alternative dish for Thanksgiving dinner, so I chose a Stuffed Turkey Breast.  (If you want to see how to make a traditional holiday turkey, you can watch me make one here).

One thing that I find to be a HUGE HELP when it comes to sticking to a healthy game plan during a busy week, is a little pre-preppin'.  Although I sometimes opt to spend the extra hours at the beach or lounging with some friends, I'm usually pretty good about "setting up my week". 

It's about that time of the year when basil starts handing itself over in abundance, which means it's time to make pesto... lots and lots of pesto!!

Hummus is very simple to make at home.

This recipe only takes about five minutes to whip up and you can really taste the difference between home made and store bought.

Oh how I LOVE the combination of salmon and dill.   

They are a match made in heaven (I suppose that is why they are a classic flavor combination!).