Good evening ladies and gentlemen! Tonight, we’ll be stepping out of our comfort zones and head on down the dusty trail of new tantalizing new foods. First stop, the Quinoa Highway.

If you aren’t familiar with quinoa, know this: it’s a grain from the Gods. Quinoa has been used in recipes for since ancient times. This great little grain makes a wonderful substitute for traditional noodles when making soups and stews. Plus, it’s packed with an assortment of good-for-you vitamins. We’re confident that once you cook up your first pot of quinoa vegetable soup, you’ll be hooked for life.

If you’re a fan of hearty vegetables swimming in a sea of savory broth, you’ve come to the right place. Nothing is better than a steaming bowl of soup on a chilly day. In fact, I enjoy soup so much that I eat it even when the days are bright and sunny, and I know you will too!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Whole Foods Market.

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Wow. That’s all we can say about this awesome casserole. We all enjoyed fishing out the hunk of bacon fat from a can of baked beans when we were kids, right? Well, this recipe smothers the baked beans in crispy strips of bacon for a savory treat so mouthwatering you’re going to need a bib. Seriously, you won’t have any leftovers because they will all be in your belly.

Watch your family gobble up this meal like nobody’s business. I’m talking complete food inhalation. Whenever I place baked bean and bacon casserole on the table my husband and kids get this crazy look in their eyes like they are about to totally devour the food. And guess what? They do! I love making a meal that’s a winner with the fam.

Recipe and photo courtesy of A Lot Of Recipes.

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Ok…. so it’s not fun to be cooking last minute, especially if it’s for a large party, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible!

Our friends at Joy in Every Season suggested this as the perfect side dish for the holidays, because it has a little bit of everything.

Fresh squash and zucchini, juicy vine ripened tomatoes, and fork tender potatoes, line this divine dish.

Did I mention it’s also pleasing on the eyes?  Just look at it!

I intend to serve this accordion of taste, with a side of crusty french bread and butter, as well.

This recipe takes about 45 minutes and serves as many as can get their hands on it, until its gone!

If Parmesan is not your thing, use a little bit of butter on the top before cooking.

I also sprinkled fresh basil all over the top, as I love the aroma it leaves on my hands.

Our friends at Joy in Every Season, had this to say about the recipe:

“This Potato, Tomato, Squash Bake is the perfect side dish. It contains both your starch and veggies, it’s simple to make, tastes delicious, and goes well with chicken or beef. And, if you truly eat with your eyes first, then this dish gets extra points! It’s as beautiful as it is tasty!”

Recipe and photo courtesy of Joy in Every Season

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No one in their right mind would ever say no to pizza.  Now throw that into a deep baked, flaky crust, and we’re practically zombies for the plate. You might think it’s to hard to make deep dish at home, but honey, it’s easy peasy!

This recipe makes about 12 servings, but it probably won’t last longer than one sitting.  That being said, if it does manage to survive, this pizza keeps as well as any others, and is just as spectacular cold, as it is warm. Try noshing on a piece for breakfast. As they say, “Cold pizza is the breakfast of champions.” Do they really say that?

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Quick tip: Easily double this recipe and make it a pizza party!

Now say that 3 times fast!  The Italian fried pockets of dough are filled with all sorts of things.  In this recipe, it’s ooey gooey mozzarella cheese and juicy tomatoes.

This recipe only serves 4 people, but it can easily be doubled to serve more.  For a classic twist, add some sprigs of basil to top off the recipe.  Serve as an appetizer or main entree.

Recipe and photo courtesy of  12 Tomatoes

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Hey, who doesn’t like a good taco or burrito, every now and then, but sometimes, particularly during the cooler months, a hearty soup just hits the spot better. This Beefy Mexican Rice Soup brings all of that great Mexican-style flavor in a form that’s great for warming you up on a cold but busy midweek night. It’s exactly what you need when you don’t have the time to spend your whole day in the kitchen!

I have a “Mexican night” at home regularly, but it can take a little creativity to keep things fresh. This is a great recipe for fall and winter, and how can you beat something that makes this much and is ready in an hour and fifteen minutes? This soup is a cinch to make and it is guaranteed to become a family favorite. Plus, we all know how soups only get better after a day or two, so make sure you have enough for leftovers!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Tastes of Lizzy T’s

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Quick tip: Add some of your favorite grated cheese on top.

Here’s a Really Quick And Easy Formula For a Tasty Meal!

I am so in love with slow cooker recipes right now! With all the big family gatherings and huge dinner preparations lately, it’s such a relief to just throw a bunch of ingredients into the crockpot and let it do all the work instead.

Not that I don’t enjoy cooking – I really do, but sometimes other things in life just get in the way. If you want a hearty, “meat and potatoes” sort of meal, this Cheesy Potato, Bean, and Beef Casserole is a great choice. The slow cooker does most of the work for you, with only a very modest amount of prep required. This would also make a wonderful addition to your next BBQ party. It’s filling, warming comfort food, made really easy with the Crock-Pot. Heck, how can you go wrong with just seven ingredients (plus water, salt, and pepper) and four easy steps?

Give this one a try – and don’t forget to let us know in the comments how it turned out for you!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Tasty Gluten-Free Meals

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Quick tip: Serve with fresh, green salad.