Jess, Author at Dash of Color and Spice

Chicken and Apple Salad with Apple Vinaigrette

April 7, 2023

Chicken and Apple Salad in a wooden bowl with apples, tomatoes, red onion, grilled chicken, gorgonzola cheese. Small bowl of gorgonzola cheese, dressing on side

This Chicken and Apple Salad with Apple Vinaigrette is not only a mouthful to say but it is so dang good! Perfect meal for summer when you really just don’t feel like eating anything heavy or even hot. You can use leftover chicken from grilling or use rotisserie chicken to make it easy on you. It’s also perfect to have everything prepped ahead and ready to assemble whenever you want. If you work full time like I do an need a lunch option to take with you that has been prepped ahead of time, then this is perfect for you! The vinaigrette can be made ahead of time and all of the veggies can be chopped and ready to go.

Whipped Goat Cheese

February 10, 2023

This creamy and versatile Whipped Goat Cheese is everything you didn’t know you wanted! We first had whipped goat cheese at a restaurant with a little honey drizzled on top and were instantly hooked. I knew I had to remake it ASAP, especially for game day app! Here we are, Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl to play the Philadelphia Eagles and what better way to celebrate than with a delicious app. Clearly a glass of wine or bottle of beer to go right along with it because it is a celebration after all!

Mexican Chicken Lentil Soup

January 27, 2023

This Mexican Chicken Lentil Soup reminds me of my mami. There is not a legume that woman doesn’t like but she especially likes her pinto beans and her lentils. I vividly remember growing up and my mami tell me she was making lentejas con pollo, or lentils with chicken, and truthfully not very excited about it. As I grew older I learned to appreciate lentils more and now really love making them as a soup because they’re so comforting and delicious. In addition to chicken, this Mexican Chicken Lentil Soup also has carrots, potatoes, onions, and tomatoes making it hearty and flavorful. Don’t be intimidated if you’ve never cooked with lentils before. I would encourage you try them as a bean alternative. They cook similar to any beans and if you’ve never cooked beans from scratch, don’t worry! I promise it is easier than you may think.

Albondigas in Chipotle Sauce

October 8, 2022

Bowl of albondigas (meatballs) with potatoes, carrots in a chipotle sauce.

When I say a dish reminds me of my mami, this is definitely towards the top of the list. There are so many Mexican dishes that I could list that remind me of family, remind me of my childhood, and remind me of my culture. These Albondigas in Chipotle Sauce that I grew up eating hit the spot every dang time! Meatballs, or Albondigas, are a great and easy way to spruce up your weekly dinner routine. The chipotle sauce is spicy, smokey, and full of flavor. These are not your traditional meatballs and are a must for your dinner rotation. Serve with rice, beans, cauli rice, more veggies. Endless possibilities!

Grilled Chicken with Fried Goat Cheese Salad

June 10, 2022

Salad platter with greens, strawberries, pears, and grilled chicken. Topped with fried goat cheese medallions and red wine vinaigrette.

This Grilled Chicken with Fried Goat Cheese Salad is perfect for any leftover grilled chicken you may have on hand. The combination of fruit in this salad with the tangy and crispy goat cheese is meant to be. It’s all thrown together in a delicious red wine vinaigrette and makes for the perfect summer salad. I love making this for meal prep also to have on hand for lunch during the busy work week. Seriously, you need to add this Grilled Chicken with Fried Goat Cheese Salad to your menu ASAP, it does not disappoint!

Steak Salad with Herb Roasted Potatoes

April 29, 2022

Bowl with steak salad with herbed potatoes, red onions, cherry tomatoes, and gorgonzola. Small container with balsamic vinaigrette dressing

This Steak Salad with Herb Roasted Potatoes is my version of the best salad out there. One of my favorite salads, EVER, is the Knife and Fork Salad from The Mixx in Kansas City. It is so comforting and filling but light and fresh at the same time. I used to eat this salad all the time during college because there was a Mixx conveniently located blocks from school. If you’re from Kansas City and enjoy fresh salads, sandwiches, etc, you know about The Mixx and you probably even know about this salad! It’s got delicious and tender steak, sautéed onions, herb-roasted potatoes, tomatoes, and gorgonzola all on top of greens and drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette. YOU GUYS…it is so dang good!

Sausage Spinach and Gnocchi Soup

December 10, 2021

White bowl sausage, gnocchi, tomato, and spinach soup. Parmesan cheese garnish

This is seriously one of the easiest and quickest soups you’ll ever make! Best thing about this Sausage Spinach and Gnocchi soup, (besides the delicious flavor), is the fact that it’s a 5-ingredient recipe. Yup, 5 ingredients, easy, and delicious? Win, win, win! Sometimes after a long day of work I want something comforting and easy and this recipe fits right in. The “hardest” part is cooking the sausage so if that’s about as complicated as it gets for dinner, I’d say we are good. The cooked sausage is what brings the flavor to a whole new level because you’re going to want to make sure you use the same pot to cook it all in. Oh, did I forget to mention it’s also a one-pot meal? Seriously so convenient and simple.

Salsa Verde Chicken Chili

October 22, 2021

This minimal ingredient Salsa Verde Chicken Chili is so easy and incredibly delicious. It’s perfect to make a big batch of and have on hand for the week. Perfect for a rainy, cold, or any good ol’ day! Working full-time I always want to make sure I have something prepped for my lunches or at least have super easy meals on the menu for the week. Let’s be real, I am not about to make some kind of elaborate meal after a long day of work. This is perfect to throw in the crock pot, instant pot, or a regular pot and leave to simmer for a while. The salsa verde gives this hearty chili tons of flavor and, as I always do, I highly recommend you make the salsa verde from scratch. Makes the biggest difference in flavor!

Chicken Chile Verde

September 3, 2021

This Chicken Chile Verde, or Salsa Verde Chicken, (you call it what you want), is so easy to make and so flavorful. I 100% recommend you make this with homemade Salsa Verde. Trust me when I say it is a game changer! Try it with my Salsa Verde, recipe can be found here, and make sure you make a double batch because you’ll want it on everything! The nice thing about this recipe is that you can make this in the Instant Pot or slow cooker and have lunch or dinner for days. Working full-time I always need recipes that will make batches for the week so I can just grab it and go for lunch or having something prepped and ready for dinner. This Chicken Chile Verde is perfect for meal prep or batch prep for the week and reheats well.

Chili Lime Shrimp

July 30, 2021

Need a flavorful shrimp recipe to grill this summer? Look no further! This Chili Lime Shrimp is so simple but full of flavor. It is perfect to make for entertaining this summer along with some grilled veggies. The marinade is easy to put together and also easy to customize. Add a little more cayenne or chipotle powder for more heat. Squeeze a little extra lime juice for a little more tang. The world is your oyster, (or shrimp?!).