As part of a paid sponsorship, I recently teamed up with the health and wellness experts at GOLO to develop a series of recipes inspired by their Metabolic meal plan.

Since it’s summertime, I wanted to focus on recipes that take advantage of the range of fresh seasonal ingredients that are more abundant this time of year, like tomatoes, red peppers, avocados, and cilantro. I also “leaned in” on nutritious proteins like shrimp and turkey.

The goal was to create fun and tasty recipes that families and friends can enjoy as part of their backyard cookout plans this summer. After considering several ideas, I locked in on three crowd pleasing and nutritious recipes that celebrate the tastes of the
summer season:

Grilled Southwest Turkey Burger Sliders:
Nothing says summer like grilling burgers in the backyard with friends and family. Brimming with flavorful ingredients like onion, cilantro, and cumin, and topped with fresh tomato, these Southwest Grilled Turkey Burgers are sure to impress.

Grilled Shrimp Tacos:
I don’t know about you, but Taco Tuesday is always a big winner at my house. Switch up your menu this summer with this recipe for Grilled Shrimp Tacos. The combination of fresh shrimp, mashed avocados, and succulent tomatoes served with a warm corn tortilla makes for some seriously good and fabulously fresh eats.

Red Pepper Deviled Eggs:
I’m always looking for a great side dish to bring to the cookout. Colorful and loaded with flavor, this recipe for Red Pepper Deviled eggs just screams summer to me. Packed with healthy protein and complimented by a red pepper punch, you’ll have as much fun making them with your family and friends as you will eating them.

Click here to see the recipes.
Remember, summer cooking is all about enjoying time with family and friends, and I hope you have fun making and eating these GOLO-inspired recipes.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Summer is quickly approaching, and with it comes the onset of backyard barbecue season! Sharing delicious meals with friends and family on warm summer nights, what more do you need? Our friends at Cooking Light have put together Kicky Black Bean Burgers that make a fantastic vegetarian meal, and can be easily customized to please dozens of different palates. Instead of using Pepper Jack, why not use provolone or mozzarella and top the patties with basil leaves instead of lettuce? Or, take the Mexican theme further with sliced ripe avocado and a dash of hot sauce.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Place beans in a large bowl; mash with a fork. Place 1 toasted bun, torn, in a food processor; pulse until fine crumbs form. Stir breadcrumbs, cumin, and next 5 ingredients (through egg white) into beans.

2. Divide and shape bean mixture into 4 (1-inch-thick) patties. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add patties to pan; cook 4 minutes on each side or until browned.

3. Divide cheese evenly among patties; cook 1 minute or until cheese melts. Top bottom halves of remaining 4 buns evenly with patties, pico de gallo, lettuce, and top halves of buns.

Tips & Trick:

• If you don’t have a food processor, you can sub about 2/3 cup plain breadcrumbs for the torn bun.
• Kids can help mix the ingredients and form the patties!

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Happy New Year! Ring in 2014 with these delicious meatless marvels from our friends at Cooking Light! Packed with nutrients and flavor these meatless dishes are sure to please the whole family, keeping them happy and healthy.

Supercrunch Tofu Tacos

Pickled daikon radishes and carrots plus a spicy Sriracha sauce set these Asian-inspired tacos apart. Pan-sautéed cashews lend meaty crunch to this vegetarian dish.

Butternut-Kale Lasagna

Gruyere-spiked Bechamel drapes over the noodles and squash to give this dish velvety richness. Hearty, earthy kale perfectly balances the sweet squash, and crunchy, toasted pecans crown the top of this luscious lasagna.

Mushroom Lentil Burgers

Make homemade veggie burgers in a snap with precooked lentils. We like the black beluga variety from Archer Farms, with no added salt. Brown lentils can be substituted but tend to be more moisture-dense and may require additional breadcrumbs to help bind the burgers.

Tomato, Squash, and Red Pepper Gratin

Sometimes, the best “steak” comes in the form of ripe, juicy beefsteak tomato slices, as in this easy gratin. Serve with a salad of fresh summer greens.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner.  Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children.  She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.