Halibut is good fish to grill with because it is denser and can stand up to the grill better than something like Tilapia. Just a few tips: Make sure the grill is very clean and preheated then place the fish skin side down diagonally across the grates. Once the skin is nice and crisp, use TWO slim spatulas to catch each side of the filet and gently flip the fish. DON’T MOVE IT MORE THAN THIS, it will surely fall apart if you mess with it too much.

I love this recipe because it uses fresh, healthy ingredients and is fast and easy and to prepare. I make double the amount of salsa to use with tortilla chips the next day…yum. The recipe is courtesy of Gwyenth Paltrow via Bon Appetit:

INGREDIENTS (yields 4 servings)

• 1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and cut into 1/2″ dice
• 1 medium ripe mango, peeled and cut into 1/2″ dice
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 4 large fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more for brushing
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice, divided
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 6-ounce halibut or mahi-mahi fillets
• 4 lime wedges

PREPARATION

Prepare a grill to medium-high heat. Gently combine the avocado, mango, tomatoes, basil, 1 tablespoon oil, and 1 tablespoon lime juice in a large mixing bowl. Season salsa to taste with salt and pepper and set aside at room temperature, gently tossing occasionally.

Place fish fillets in a 13x9x2″ glass baking dish. Drizzle remaining 2 tablespoon oil and 2 tablespoon lime juice over. Season fish with salt and pepper. Let marinate at room temperature for 10 minutes, turning fish occasionally.

Brush grill rack with oil. Grill fish until just opaque in center, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to plates. Spoon mango-avocado salsa over fish. Squeeze a lime wedge over each and serve.

Delish!

P.S. If you are like my gorgeous little Godson and are allergic to mangos, substitute them for strawberries.

To be completely honest, it is not my first fish of choice. And I know I am not alone here. I don’t love the flavor of cooked salmon (sashimi is a different story), which means I need to find recipes that make it a dish I actually look forward to eating. I prefer to broil salmon, I think it tastes much better than baking, grilling or, god forbid, poaching. So here are my four favorite broiled salmon recipes:

Herb Crusted Salmon with Roasted Lemons

Herb Crusted Salmon with Roasted Lemons – A pretty recipe from Martha Stewart. This is a crowd pleaser that looks great on the plate, which makes it a healthy option for a dinner party. For this particular dinner at home with my hubby, I paired it with sauteed kale and shallots and baked sweet potato fries.

Salmon Glazed with Honey and Mustard

Salmon Glazed with Honey and Mustard – This is my personal favorite. The honey-mustard glaze is just delicious, I have never eaten my salmon so quickly. I normally make it with brown rice and quick sauteed kale.

Broiled Salmon with Arugula Pesto

Broiled Salmon with Arugula Pesto – I decided to try an arugula pesto at my mother’s suggestion and thought a normal basil pesto would be too strong for salmon. She was right – the arugula version works very well. The recipe is just for the arugula pesto but all you have to do is prepare the pesto, spread a healthy layer on top of your filet, and then broil it for 8 – 10 minutes. I pair this with quinoa and roasted tomatoes and a light green salad.

Broiled Salmon with Orange Miso Glaze – I wish I had a photo of this but the last time I made it, I just plain forgot. Next time I am in the mood for asian flavors (and don’t opt for sushi), I will make sure to snap one and add it to this post. If you like miso glazes, you will love this dish. I make it with brown rice and green beans sauteed in sesame oil and soy sauce and topped with toasted sesame seeds.

If you want to read up on why salmon is a superfood, this article is a good one: http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/animal-product/health-benefits-of-salmon.html.

Not all salmon is created equal. Wild salmon is best but the fish market/counter can be intimidating so I refer to the Blue Ocean Institute’s Guide to Ocean Friendly Seafood. It is available as an app for the iPhone called Fish Phone, which I often reference when I am at the store scanning what is available.

Please leave a comment and share your favorite salmon recipes…we need as much help as we can get!

So I began a search for alternative ways to satisfy my desire for bread, pasta, etc. I’ve tried many, many different products but so far these three are my favorites:

Ancient Harvest Quinoa & Corn Pasta – I just served this to my greek relatives who are very picky and they were shocked at how similar the texture and taste was to regular pasta. I use the spaghetti to serve with my husband’s favorite turkey meatballs and it stands up just as well as the semolina variety. And because it is sans gluten you don’t get that heavy, need-to-unbutton-your-pants feeling right after eating it. You can buy it in bulk at amazon.com or at Whole Foods.

Pamela’s Baking & Pancake Mix – I love, love, love blueberry pancakes but I normally need a nap after eating them for breakfast. Not the case with Pamela’s Pancake Mix – It makes light fluffy pancakes that can stand up to berries, nuts, and even chocolate. Drizzle them with maple syrup and breakfast is saved. You can also use this mix to make cookies, muffins and other pastries. Buy it in bulk at amazon.com or at Whole Foods.

Kind Fruit and Nut Bars – These are my newest discovery and oh how excited they made me. Finding a good snack or breakfast bar without gluten that doesn’t taste like bark or  dirt is next to impossible but these are filled with big chunks of natural ingredients and taste delicious. So far my favorite is the Almond & Coconut but there are over twenty different flavors and I am thinking I might like the Dark Chocolate & Peanut Butter too. Ya think? Buy at amazon.com.

If you have any favorite gluten-free or just plain healthy products, please leave a comment and share with the rest of us.

Please excuse the tardiness of today’s post. I spent a good portion of the day taking photos for the new Miss Know It All. I am updating the site to make it more fun and exciting. Stay tuned because I think you are really going to like it!

I cannot claim today’s find. It is once again thanks to Gywneth and Goop.com. She featured TasteSpotting.com in the October 7th newsletter along with her other favorite food blogs. TasteSpotting, however, is not really a blog. Its creators call it a “community driven potluck”, which as far as I can tell is a perfect description.

Anyone (but mostly chefs, foodies, bloggers, home cooks and students) submit high-quality images of a dish or a product, include a category, a brief title and description, and a link to the original content (e.g. the recipe on a blog, the online store where it can be purchased, etc). TasteSpotting’s editors then meticulously review the submissions and decide what gets published. This is a well curated site so the submission guidelines page is somewhat rigorous in that it demands that anything posted is of high quality and good taste. All one needs to do is spend some time on the site to understand that the sophisticated aesthetic is just a means to great content. As a visually driven person, I am so happy someone came up with this idea. Shopping for recipes is much more fun when you have great images to flip through.

Searching the site can feel a bit daunting, however. When I just wanted to browse, I used the “popularity”, “date”, and “random” filters they offer. But when you are looking for something specific, use the search function and type in your key words. I tried “pasta primavera”, “stuffed mushrooms”, “indian”, and “miso” and there were plenty of recipes to choose from within each search. I am really excited about this site and plan to tweet about any recipes I find on here. If you don’t follow me already, I am @missknowitalls.

Now that I have TasteSpotting.com, looking through recipe titles on epicurious.com will never be the same

Why you should drink it: According to Harvard Medical School, green tea is a great source of a group of antioxidants called catechins that are more powerful than vitamins C and E in halting oxidative damage to cells and appear to have other disease fighting properties. Studies have found an association between consuming green tea and a reduced risk for several cancers, heart disease and hypertension.

How you should drink it: Drinking green tea freshly brewed is the best way to absorb the beneficial antioxidants. Decaffeinated and bottled versions have less of these properties and many contain sugar and other additives. To bring out the catechins, Harvard Women’s Health Watch recommends allowing tea to steep for three to five minutes.

I drink an average of two cups per day. According to Harvard, the usual amount is three cups per day in green tea drinking cultures. With a fraction of the caffeine of coffee, I don’t ever feel jittery after drinking tea or irritable when I don’t. If you think you don’t or won’t like the flavor of green tea, I challenge you to try my favorites. They are fruity, slightly sweet but also light and refreshing. Of all the types I’ve tried, these brands and flavors are the best:

The Republic of Tea, Wild Berry Plum Green Tea $10 for 5o bags. – The Republic of Tea has the biggest assortment of flavored green teas, including a line of superfruit teas with an extra boost of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants. Buy at republicoftea.com or amazon.com.

Lazy Days Tea Co. B.F.F. $10.50 for 5oz. – This is a loose tea so you will need to buy a tea brewing ball or other form of infuser but you’ll forget the extra step when you taste it. This is such an exciting green tea, with apple and caramel flavors that are perfect for fall. Buy at lazydaytea.com.

Mighty Leaf Green Tea Tropical $10 for 15 bags. – A little more expensive but well worth it. This is the smoothest green tea I have ever tasted. Buy at mightyleaf.com or amazon.com.

All this tea drinking requires a lot of hot water. My sister-in-law introduced me to the Bodum Bistro Electric Water Kettle and now it’s my most used kitchen appliance. Made from BPA-free plastic, this lightweight kettle boils water in just minutes and has a see-through water level indicator that is measured in “cups” so you only boil what you need.

Now that you have all the “tools” you can cut out some of the caffeine and start drinking what’s good for you. Leave a comment with your favorite green tea.

As the summer months begin to wind down, the pressure to make the most of the remaining weeks intensifies. Other than the warm weather, the weekends spent at the beach, sun-kissed skin and the ability to wear dresses everyday (no pants for me!), one of my favorite parts of the season are the light, yet flavorful home-cooked meals.

My favorites are never too filling but still have the ability to leave you completely satisfied. Summer meals are best when eaten al fresco and accompanied by fresh corn from the farmer’s market or a simple salad with ripe, colorful vegetables. And, of course, a chilled glass of wine!  Here are some of our best-loved warm weather recipes:

Ina Garten’s Grilled Tuna Rolls: This tuna dish is my most recent obsession. One of my best friends has made it twice for me and I still cannot get enough. The combination of marinated red onions, scallions, avocado and bitter arugula is explosive. She makes it sans bread and serves it in on a large platter. If you want something more substantial without the gluten, it would be great over brown rice. Follow the recipe at www.foodnetwork.com.

Paula Deen’s Watermelon Salad with Mint Leaves: Watermelon always reminds me of summers when I was little; pink juices dripping down my chin. I still love to eat watermelon but now I always make sure to have a fork and napkin handy! Serve this dish for lunch or as a refreshing appetizer at dinner. Instead of olive oil, drizzle some balsamic vinegar to add more tartness to the flavors and keep things light! Find the recipe at www.foodnetwork.com.

NoTakeOut’s Linguini with Lemon & Pignoli: As you may recall, we featured NoTakeOut.com back in June and have been using the site ever since. This dish is perfect if you have a craving for pasta but don’t want to be uncomfortably full. Use a whole-grain linguini if you want a healthier option – and if you still need to indulge, add a dollop of ricotta cheese. Add a few grilled shrimp and an extra squeeze of lemon for some protein. The recipe plan includes an avocado and grapefruit salad that sounds like a delightful bonus. Go to www.notakeout.com for the recipe.

Giada DeLaurentis’ Grilled Artichokes with Parsley and Garlic: When two loves of my life (artichokes and garlic) combine, it can be nothing short of magnificent. This dish is simple with just a few ingredients but is extremely tasty. Feel free to substitute the parsley for cilantro (my third great love) for a completely different flavor! For the recipe go t0 www.foodnetwork.com.

Martha Stewart’s Favorite Turkey Burger: This is one of Melina’s favorites that I’m hoping she’ll make on my next visit to Chicago or Fire Island. I’m a fan of any kind of designer burger but this one looks especially good with scallions, garlic, mustard and, more importantly, gruyere cheese. Melina tops it all off with homemade coleslaw. So invite some friends over and have a BBQ they’ll never forget!  Start cooking at marthastewart.com.

So this weekend, turn up the heat and start cooking! Summer will be gone before we know it but hopefully the memories (and recipes!) of these dishes will be everlasting. Bon appetite!

xoxo Lauren

Summertime and the livin’s easy with our selection of fresh and light seasonal cocktails. Unlike some served at bars and restaurants, these refreshing drinks aren’t loaded with calories and ingredients you’ve never heard of. They’re essentially guilt-free (or so we’re telling ourselves)! So round up your grateful friends, gather around the patio, pool, or rooftop, and toast to the rest of a carefree summer!

The Bicicletta Cocktail (from Bon Appétit):

Ingredients: Ice cubes, 2 ounces Campari, 1 ½ ounces dry white wine, ½ ounce club soda, Lemon slice.

Directions: Fill wine glass with ice. Add Campari, wine and soda; stir to mix. Garnish with lemon slice, if desired.

Berry-filled Sangria (from The Domestic Goddess):

Ingredients: 1 cup sliced strawberries, ½ cup bluberries, ½ cup rasberries, juice of ½ lemon, ¼ bottle dry white wine, ¼ bottle dry champagne, 1 bottle rose zinfandel, ¼ fruit infused vodka, 2 cups white cranberry juice, 1 ½ cups soda water.

Directions: Put ice cubes in bottom of pitcher, toss in fruit on top of ice along with lemon juice. Add wine, champagne and vodka and stir.

The Flirtini (from Marie Claire and created at Whiskey Blue at the W Hotel in LA and Westwood):

Ingredients: 1 ½ oz. Grey Goose L’Orange, 1 oz. pineapple juice, splash of Champagne

Directions: Serve in martini glasses and pour the Champagne last.

Citrus White Wine Spritzer (from the Food Network):

Ingredients: 2 (1/4 inch) slices of lemon, 2 (1/4 inch) slices of lime, 4 oz. Pinot Grigio (or other white wine), 2 oz. lemon-lime flavored seltzer water, ice cubes.

Directions: Arrange slices of lemons and limes between ice cubes in large stem glasses. Pour 4 ounces of white wine (1/2 cup), and 2 ounces of sparkling lemon lime seltzer water (1/4 cup), down over fruit and ice. Stir, serve and enjoy!

The Ginger Drop (from Marie Claire and created at Megu in NYC):

Ingredients: 1 ½ oz. Bacardi Limón, 1 oz. Lillet, Champagne, Fresh Ginger

Directions: Muddle fresh ginger with the Bacardi Limón and Lillet. Then pour into a champagne glass. Next, top with Champagne and garnish each glass with a piece of crystallized ginger for the pièce de résistance

And remember, it’s 5:00 p.m. somewhere!  Cheers and enjoy!

xoxo Lauren

Before we tell you what we made, here is a quick background on NoTakeOut.com: It was created by three sets of parents living in New York and Paris to provide simple dinner plans for busy people. Their mantra “Cook. Eat. Laugh. Great meals made easy.” explains why their recipes work so well. Before you begin cooking they provide a list of what you will need by category: “Shopping List, Pantry Items, and Tools”. Then each recipe is presented as a “Game Plan” and broken down into 3 steps: “1. When you walk in the door”, “2. Prep”, and “3. Start Cooking”, making it simple even for the most culinary challenged novice. For the most part the recipes originate from the three creators (occasionally they borrow from a master like Mario Batali), are healthy and wholesome and can be made in less than one hour.

Lauren’s first recipe of choice was the Pasta di Stromboli (also known as the Pasta of the Sun). Here she tells us how it went:  It was quick, easy and light (i.e. perfect for my hassle-free summer night). The dish boasted an olive oil, basil and garlic sauce with a plethora of tart cherry tomatoes. I made a few adjustments to it, such as replacing the spaghetti with healthier whole-wheat angel hair pasta, and substituting regular cherry tomatoes with local organic ones that vary in color. I also quadrupled the amount of garlic the recipe called for (as an Armenian this is standard practice when cooking). So as to allow my guests some portion control, I served the ricotta cheese in a side bowl so that everyone could “plop” their desired amount. I paired the pasta with a chilled bottle of Rose, and side dishes of prosciutto and melon and whole steamed artichokes. The meal was a success (if I do say so myself) and was molto delizioso!

I’ve eaten Lauren’s cooking before and can tell you she is no slouch in the kitchen, having been raised by a great cook – her mom and my Aunt Andy. For my first recipe I made Crisp Parmigiano Fish with Spinach and Onions. This was a knockout! Full of flavor from the Parmigiano coating on the fish and the hefty topping of sautéed onions that at first worried me would overwhelm the dish but instead pulled all the ingredients together for an outstanding first bite. At my husband’s request, I’ve made this dish twice now and used Tilapia the first time and a gorgeous red snapper the next. Both types of fish work well with the dish, but as long as you use a very light white fish cut into small filets you will be fine. I also doubled the amount of spinach the dish called for because once sautéed it reduces down to almost nothing. If this is the only green you are serving, I recommend doing the same.

I did not stop with the fish. I, like Lauren, love, love, love pasta. So when No Take Out posted a recipe for Greek Style Penne, I knew I had to try it. I am not only a fan of Greek cuisine, I am half Greek on my Father’s side and have traveled to the Greek Islands twice now with my husband. The first trip was our honeymoon and while staying on the gorgeous island of Crete, we had the most delicious pasta dish that I’ve never, until now, been able to recreate. The No Take Out version is simple yet flavorful with just the right amount of sautéed peppers, tomatoes, oregano, parsley, and garlic to create a beautiful base sauce for the mounds of feta cheese and pasta. I also used a whole-wheat penne and increased the amount of garlic called for. But in general this dish was very tasty and light – the perfect twist on a traditional Italian pasta salad and could be used as a side dish for a larger gathering or BBQ. I paired the pasta with a crisp white wine and a salad of fresh Romaine with shallot vinaigrette.

Lauren and I love how these recipes make the cook feel as though they should be enjoying themselves. Each one includes playful instructions like “Open the wine, pour yourself a glass and have some fun with this!” and “Get someone to set the table – you’re the cook and you’ll be busy!” With daily new recipes that are emailed to you once you subscribe, you will never be left wondering what to make for dinner tonight.

xoxo Melina & Lauren

I always thought that my friends not only had good taste—but good taste buds as well. My close friend, Carrie, certainly did not disappoint when she recommended BakedByMelissa.com.

The site is dedicated to owner Melissa Bushell’s most ingenious creation in the entire world: stuffed bite-sized cupcakes. The concept is perfect for someone like me, who is horrifically indecisive and takes hours to order at a restaurant because I want to have a small sample of everything on the menu.

With flavors like Cookie Dough (!!!), S’mores, Cookies & Cream as well as the timeless PB&J;, all jam-packed in a quarter-sized morsel—you can sample everything on the menu!

Unfortunately, there is a minimum for online delivery orders but for the lucky few who live in the “City that Never Sleeps” (and always wants to eat), you can stop by their store in SoHo and put Carrie’s (and your own!) taste buds to the test.

Each cupcake costs less than one dollar, and ten dollars for a dozen, so you definitely won’t feel the need to discriminate. With recession-proof, confectionery treats like these; I dare you to just have one.

Back in college, the days when it was difficult to wake up before noon on a Saturday, I would roll out of bed (quite literally), take a couple of aspirin, and make my way to the center of town.

When the snow started to slowly melt and students began to remember what green grass looked like, there would be a farmers’ market in the town square. Local farmers, bakers, and artisans loyally stood by their tents every week as students, faculty and locals all came together to celebrate their wares. The thought of fresh, organic, and locally grown food, enticed all walks of life, and was one of the only times that everyone came together to support the small community.

After graduation when I returned to the big city, I began to miss that small-town feeling, where one knew exactly where their food was from, and what family it supported. I’m not a strictly-organic gal at all, but I do like knowing that my food is fresh and after spending a semester living on a farm in high school, I can say that there are definite health benefits, not to mention a big boost in taste.

So, tired of paying an arm and a leg at Whole Foods I found www.LocalHarvest.org- a website devoted to finding farmers’ markets, restaurants and grocery stores that use local produce, closest to you. Just log-on and type in your zip-code and you’re halfway there. Each market, restaurant, etc is reviewed by other users and provides all the necessary information (address, days and times etc).

FarmersMarket.com is a similar site that can also help you in your search for freshness. So get out there and start reaping the delicious rewards from those who’ve toiled in the soil!