Spa meals that make you feel good!

I love to eat and to discover new recipes and restaurants. But, I have to admit. Most of the time I eat healthy meals that make me feel so good. Here are some spa meals that you can do at home!

To make this Greek Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes Pizza, start by cooking garlic and onions in a little bit of olive oil. Then add the spinach, the sun-dried tomatoes, and some red pepper flakes. Let it cool and add feta cheese. To assemble the tasty pizzas, put a layer of greek spinach filling, top it with grilled chicken breast, and finish it with shredded mozzarella cheese. After it has been baked, sprinkle small basil leaves. Then, enjoy it :)

Greek Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes Pizza

When you are eating healthy, the most important part is to eat a wholesome breakfast. These waffles are made with whole wheat flour, flaxseeds, and mashed banana. At the table, they are drizzled with wildflower honey and fresh banana slices. These are really nutty and chewy, just the way I like them!



Flaxseeds and banana waffles



Olive oil has important good-for-you fats. So, I always bake these ciabatta rolls with fruity, extra-virgin olive oil. They are very fragrant, soft, and they pair well with everything. I usually pack them for lunch :)

Olive oil ciabatta rolls

With the same dough I make the ciabatta rolls, I also make ciabatta loaves. I used them for sandwiches. The last delicious and spa-inspired sandwich I made was ciabatta with naufchatel spread, wild sockeye gravlax, and tiny capers. And it was for breakfast. Essential fats are giving me the power to work the entire day.



Olive oil ciabatta loaves

I made wild sockeye salmon gravlax. Then, I prepared sushi rice and make these Californian style rolls. They are filled with ripe avocado, neufchatel cheese, and super quality gravlax. Two rolls are good size for a spa-dinner or a light lunch!



Homemade gravlax sushi, Californian style: avocado and neufchatel

To start our sushi night, I made a refreshing romaine lettuce salad and I topped it with dried cranberries, feta cheese, and roasted pecans. Ciabatta is never out of place, so try to add it to your salads instead of croutons. Delicious start!



Pecan, Cranberries, Feta and Romaine Salad



To garnish my sushi plate, I made crispy sockeye skins. They taste like fried min fishes. I also prepared Ponzu Sauce. It is made with soy sauce, orange and lemon juice, and mirin. I think it is essential, because the citrus brings the flavors of the salmon just perfectly!!!

Avocado sushi with crispy skins and ponzu sauce



This is the best bark I have made so far. It is made with milk chocolate, dried cranberries, and roasted hazelnuts. A little sea salt on top give them deeper taste. I served them with my homemade tiramisu, but you can eat them as a snack or add them to any dessert.

Milk chocolate, cranberries, and hazelnuts bark over tiramisu



My husband loves chorizo, so I made homemade chorizo by mixing three different types of meat: lamb, beef, and pork. He said these are the best I have ever made. For breakfast, I sprinkle them with mozzarella cheese and bake them until it melts. A cup of orange juice adds the needed vitamins and voila: breakfast never tasted so good.

Melted cheese chorizo, ciabatta slices, and orange juice

Barley is a whole grain and therefore I try to add it very often to my salad. This week, I created this refreshing lunch salad. I cooked barley with onion and garlic. After that, I add green peas, yellow bell peppers, and chopped tomatoes. For vegetarians, add chunks of feta cheese. For all others, try with grilled chicken and even slices of cooked chorizo.



Barley, Green Peas, Yellow bell pepper salad with feta

Remember to always make your food colorful. The more colors your food have, the tastier and the healthier it is. By adding green, yellow, and red vegetables, I am getting a variety of minerals and vitamins. Not bad for lunch, right?



The barley salad is colorful, tasty, and super healthy

The second sushi night this week was even better! I served the salad with ripe Bosc pear. If you haven't tried pear and feta cheese pairing before, you should do it soon. The salty cheese complements so well the juicy and sweet fruit. It is outstanding!



Pecans, Bosc pear, and feta salad

This time, my sushi rolls are filled with cucumber, neufchatel cheese, and my own gravlax. I have to tell you, they are better with cucumber. It adds some crunch and also a refreshing taste. I think we will have sushi next week as well :)



Cucumber, wild sockeye gravlax, and neufchatel sushi

I baked profiterols last week. So, this week I made homemade honey gelato. It is so good and creamy. I filled the pastries with it and then decorated the plate with housemade chocolate sauce and bark. Summer treat that doesn't disappoint!!!



Homame profiterol filled with housemade honey gelato and topped with hazelnut bark

Today I bake a cake for dinner. This is only one layer cake and it is not difficult to make, but it is still light and super tasty. The batter has brown sugar, some chocolate shavings, eggs, and vanilla. It smells so good...



The cake layer for my salted chocolate ganache cake

The ganache for this cake is made with bittersweet chocolate. It is so fantastic! After that I add some sea salt on top and maybe a little creme anglaise on the bottom. Cake doesn't get better than this!!!



The ganache is made with bittersweet chocolate!

Even if you are eating spa-meals, dessert should be part of your menu. My chocolate cake is so good looking. I can't wait to eat it with a cup of tea. It has to taste good, because I made it with so much love and inspiration. Ok, I have to put the pretty table for our spa dinner tonight!!!



The salted chocolate ganache cake is looking good :)

Triumphs at the table

In this article, I would like to show you that you need to make just a little effort in the kitchen, in order to make big triumphs at the table.

I always have frozen handmade fettucine. So, when time is limited, I have a quick option for dinner: Chicken Puttanesca with kalamata olives, capers, red pepper flakes, and parmesan cheese. It is just delicious.



Chicken Puttanesca with Homemade fettucine and Parmesan Cheese

I like the crispy romaine lettuce, but honestly it can get really boring. So, to make it interesting for your family, try different toppings each night. For instance, my greek topping consists of kalamata olives, feta cheese, and fresh oregano. The variations are endless!



Romaine Lettuce with Greek Style Toppings

When blueberries are in season, I like to buy plenty of them. I add them to our yogurt parfaits, use them as a garnish for our breakfast platters, and most importantly, I mix them with my muffin batters for incredibly moist treats!

Lemon scented fresh blueberry muffins

This was the first time I made this mango-kiwi salsa and it was so good over wild Alaskan salmon! The salsa gets its kick from the jalapeno and the wild salmon get its high point from the crispy skin. The jasmine rice acts as the perfect bed for those tropical flavors.



Crispy-skin salmon topped with mango-kiwi salsa and served over jasmine rice

Sometimes we have savory breakfast. Most often, it is open faced sandwiches with different toppings. These ones are Margherita style: mozzarella cheese, sliced tomatoes, and fresh basil. Yummmmm.



Open-faced Margherita sandwiches for breakfast

Instead of throwing away the skins from the salmon, I used them to make salmon-skin-chips. Those are great for decorations and besides that, my husband likes to eat them. I crisp them in my small oven. It takes only 8 minutes, a little salt, and a little pepper. And voila! Another triumph!!!



Crispy salmon skins are an elegant decoration for my kiwi-mango topped fillet

I made individual tiramisu cups, but this time my bark is different. This one consists of semi-sweet chocolate, roasted cashews, dried cranberries, and sea salt. It is really fancy and easy to make!



My new bark: semi-sweet chocolate, cranberries, and cashews

These are so far my favorite hazelnut scones :) They are so soft, but crunchy at the same time. The chocolate ganache on top is the best indulgence ever. I like to split them in half and to spread some strawberry jam on top of each half. It is like a French pastry :)



My favorite hazelnut scones topped with chocolate ganache



My favorite thing to do for dinner are simple, yet flavorful pizzas. This week, I roasted onions, summer squash, zucchini, and red bell peppers. Then, I invented these Mediterranean pizzas: ricotta and parmesan cheese on the bottom. Top with the roasted vegetables. Add sun-dried tomatoes and chorizo (optional). At the end, add fresh basil from the closest garden :)

Grilled vegetables pizza two ways: with chorizo or vegetarian



 I have never tried rice bread before. But I was surprised how good it is. The texture is chewy and since it is made from Basmati rice, it is also very aromatic. We used it for sandwiches and it is a real keeper...

Basmati Rice Bread: the newest chewy treat in my repertoire

My husband grows beautiful sunflowers. I use them as a center piece. Very creative and colorful, isn't it?



If you have sunflowers in your garden, use them as a center piece

 I cooked together spinach, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta cheese. Then I used this mixture to stuff pork chops. I seared them in olive oil and finish them in the oven. It was so delicious!!!



Pork chops stuffed with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta cheese

Look at my sweet potatoes fries. They are served in this cone for a super restaurant quality experience!


My stuffed pork chops are serve with sweet potato fries, ketchup, and red wine!

I can not get enough of my sunflowers. They get better and better each day. The whole room is filled with joy :)

The sunflower gets prettier and prettier...

Finally, I used the same spinach filling to stuff chicken breast. The result was equally amazing and delicious. Try it at home, you will love it!!!



Makeover: chicken breasts stuffed with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta!



Comfort cooking

This week I had two unexpected visits, but I was able to cook very comfort dinners and everything went smooth! Besides, I cooked some delicious meals for my husbands, but all of them were made in an easy way. Check them out!!!

I like to announce the menu on my black chalk board. It looks like a French bistro at my home. Beside, it prepares my guests for an expected experience.

Mid-week dinner with a friend: NOT a problem, always ready!



 The table setting is casual. It uses rosemary from our garden as a centerpiece. It smells good, looks good, and you can also use it during the dinner! Even if I have unexpected guests, I like to place ironed napkins and pretty glasses on the table.

Using some fresh rosemary for the centerpiece



 Also, serving a whole bread is a great idea, because you don't limit your guests to a single dinner roll. In addition, I made compound butter with Herbs de Provence and served it in my new butter single-serving dish.

I made some compound butter with Herbs de Provence for the bread!

 Never forget to serve your favorite wine and water for dinner. When guests arrive, the first question should be: "What would you like to drink?" And be ready for different answers: red and white wine, beer, iced tea, and possibly tequila :)



What is better than some wine, bread, and the company of good friends?

After the dinner with our friend, we had leftover bread, so I served it for breakfast next morning. Hard-boiled eggs are nutritional powerhouses, so together with my cinnamon-honey compound butter, I created the perfect a.m. treat.



Breakfast: hard-boiled eggs, cinnamon-honey compound butter, walnut bread, and tea

Panzanella salad is supposed to be made with a day-old bread. And this is exactly what I did. I used my walnut bread and mixed it with juicy tomatoes, red bell peppers, feta cheese, and fresh oregano!



Panzanella Salad: torn pieces of walnut bread, peppers, tomatoes, and feta.

My new favorite way to eat salmon is to pan seared it in a non-stick pan with a little bit of olive oil. The skin becomes crispy, the fillet stays moist, and everybody is happy! I served it with green peas risotto, sprinkled with parmesan cheese and avocado green goddess aioli. Simply delicious!



Pan seared crispy salmon with avocado green goddess aioli and peas-parmesan risotto

I cooked some beets and thinly sliced them to create carpaccio. I topped it with garden arugula, goat cheese, and white balsamic dressing. The bread was essential to round up our salad.



Beet Carpaccio with graden arugula, goat cheese, and walnut bread

On next day, I made the same salmon, but I added some fresh dill and chives. It was much better. So, don't forget to use fresh herbs. They add clean and fresh flavor to any dish and also refresh our taste buds!!!



My crispy salmon is much better with fresh dill and chives!!!

I made this Simple White Bread for first time and I was pretty satisfied. The slices are great for sandwiches. We used them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Lovely!



Simple White Bread: super soft and great for sandwiches :)

Next day, I served the beets by themselves (no arugula) and I liked them even more. They are sweet, cool, and velvety! A slice of white bread is perfect pairing for that goat cheese...



Thinly shaved beets with almonds and goat cheese

 Yes, we love shrimps. In particular, the Florida Key Pink Shrimps. I made shrimp stock from the shells and then use it to flavor my risotto. The rice was cooked in a traditional way, but after that I added roasted cashews and dried cranberries. On the side, roasted brussel sprouts, very comforting and satisfying.



Pan-seared Florida Key Shrimps, served over cranberries-cashew rice and roasted sprouts

For breakfast, I made oatmeal pancakes. They are so soft and nutty. We topped them with fresh fruits and honey. The bananas, strawberries, and blackberries are a great combination!!!



Oatmeal pancakes with fresh fruit and honey. A great breakfast!

My shrimps were better served with Israeli couscous! I used the same additions: dried cranberries and cashews. But the pasta was so nutty and soft, yum!!!



Even better combo: Israeli couscous with cranberries and cashews, shrimps, and sprouts

For peanut butter lovers: these cookies are made only with peanut butter, chocolate chips, and egg. There is no flour in them. So, you can imagine the strong peanut butter taste they have. Very nice!



Crunchy peanut butter-chocolate chips cookies

Our goat cheese sandwich with poached eggs, prosciutto, and arugula is out-of-this-world delicious. I used my Simple White Bread and it was perfectly moist.



Goat cheese-herbs sandwich, topped with prosciutto, poached egg, arugula, and tomatoes

A new way to fold my napkins. Like a pocket, where I can place my silverware. Isn't this super fancy?



A new way to fold a dinner napkin. Make a pocket and place the silverware inside it

Another friend is coming for dinner with us. This time, I changed the napkins, the bread, and the butter spread. But I kept everything else pretty much the same.



For a week dinner with a friend, I folded the napkins in a casual way

This white bread is good for dinner. It is similar to French baguette, but wider and bigger :)



My white bread is also good with compound butter and wine :)

For lunch, I boiled some red rice and then mixed it with garbanzo beans, feta cheese, lots of vegetables, and grilled chicken. Healthy, delicious, comfort food!!!



Great lunch: red rice and garbanzos with feta, chicken, and herbs!

PIZZA NIGHT, my favorite time. This time: pesto topped with chicken, mozzarella, parmesan, and green grapes. Very very good combination.



Pesto, white grapes, chicken, parmesan, and mozzarella pizza!

For dessert, I made Creme Catalana. The milk was flavored with lemon zest and cinnamon stick. It is similar to Creme Brulee, but instead of cooking it in the oven, I cooked it over the stovetop. Fresh blueberries are very juicy addition.



Crema catalana with cinnamon and lemon zest scents!

Finally, I baked some profiterols. I froze them and I will fill them with ice cream next week. So, keep reading my blog and you will see the final product :)



I bake these profiterols, I will fill them with ice cream later :)