Cassie DeNisco

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My BBQ Chicken Salad Recipe

As we head further into summer, I am all about a light and easy dinner. This BBQ chicken salad recipe is delicious and so easy to recreate. This not only is a great dinner, but it’s also easy to prep for lunches for the week. By spending a little time prepping everything on a Sunday, you can have healthy salads all week long that you can mix and match ingredients. Keep on reading for how to make my favorite BBQ chicken salad recipe.

Ingredients:

bbq chicken salad recipe

1 Red Onion

2 Tomatoes on the Vine

1 Can Corn (I roast mine on top of the stove until blackened)

2 Cups Rotisserie Chicken

2 Hard Boiled Eggs

1 Cucumber

1/2 Cup Shredded carrots

Greens of your choice

Barbecue Sauce

Ranch Dressing (I love this Boathouse Greek Yogurt one!)

Assembly:

I love to grab a big bowl and put my greens down first. I always pick a mixed greens with baby spinach but that is totally up to you. Next, I just throw everything in the bowl and finish off with a drizzle of barbecue sauce and then some ranch dressing. My top trick is to cover your giant bowl and give everything a good shake so it all gets covered.

As you can see, this BBQ chicken salad recipe is so quick and delicious. It makes the perfect summer dinner or lunch recipe and is great for meal prep. Salads aren’t always my top choice but when you have so many yummy toppings, it helps you not even realize you have greens in it!

Let me know your favorite salad combo below!

Click here to check out my other salad recipes.

My Yummy Shrimp Taco Recipe

As many of you know, I’m not the biggest meat or fish eater but I am trying to incorporate more into my diet. I recently was craving a taco and decided to create this yummy shrimp taco recipe that came out so great. It is a great twist on the traditional recipe and has so much flavor!

Ingredients:

shrimp taco recipe

1 lb. of Shrimp

Chile Lime Seasoning from Trader Joes

Tortillas

1 Red Onion

3 Tomatoes

1 Japepeño

1 Lime

Fresh Cilantro

Taco Toppings of your choice ie. sour cream, cheese, hot sauce

  • shrimp taco recipe

Directions:

  1. The first thing I like to do for this recipe is make my fresh topping. I finely dice the onion, tomatoes, cilantro and jalapeño. I add them to a container and then squeeze half of the lime in it. Salt & Pepper it and let it sit in the fridge while you prep everything else.
  2. Clean and take off the tails of you shrimp. Sprinkle the chile lime seasoning on it (or seasoning of your choice) and let it marinate for 20 minutes.
  3. Add your shrimp to a pan and cook thoroughly.
  4. While they are cooking, you can warm your tortillas in the oven by broiling for 2 minutes.
  5. Once shrimp are finished, assemble your tacos, top & enjoy!

This yummy shrimp taco recipe is seriously delicious! It was so easy to make and is a great lighter meal option for spring. I love stepping out of my comfort zone with recipes and this one was so easy to make!

Let me know if you try this recipe! I have my latest recipes linked here and make sure you’re following me on Pinterest @cassiedeniscofor more of my favorite recipes!

My Summer Pasta Salad Recipe

Pasta salads are a summer staple in my house but I don’t always want to eat pasta with it. This recipe is a twist on a pasta salad that uses a different kind of grain but is still delicious. I love this combo of flavors and I think you will too. Make sure you’re following me on Pinterest so you don’t miss any of my recipes. My summer pasta salad recipe is refreshing and perfect for a summer day!

summer pasta salad recipe

Ingredients

Salad:

1 1/2 c Pearl Couscous or Farro

2 tomatoes

1 red onion

1/2 of a cucumber

feta cheese

Dressing:

1/2 c Olive oil

1/4 c red wine vinegar

1 tbsp garlic powder

1/2 tbsp dried basil

salt

pepper

Directions

  1. First cook the couscous or farro according to the package. Allow plenty of time for it to cool.
  2. Chop the tomatoes, onion, and cucumber into bite size pieces and set aside.
  3. Mix together the dressing and then add to the cooled couscous. Add in the rest of the produce and mix well.
  4. Finish off with adding the feta on top. I like a lot so I would use a whole block or container but add as much or as little as you would like.

This recipe is seriously the best because its a twist on a traditional summer pasta salad recipe. I feel like by the end of summer I am so over real pasta salads that I love switching it up with different grains. I also find this version to be a bit healthier because couscous and farro are so good for you.

Let me know in the comments below your summer pasta salad recipe! You can check out more recipes like this one here.

My Favorite Vegan Mac and Cheese Recipe

One of my major New Years’ resolutions was to go dairy free. This hasn’t been too hard but I definitely needed to find ways to make my favorite recipes. Mac and cheese has always been one of my favorite comfort foods and this vegan mac and cheese recipe is so good. With only 5 ingredients, this recipe is fast and vegan!

Ingredients

2 tbsp Vegan Butter

2 tbsp flour

Box of shells (or pasta shape of your choice)

1 cup unsweetened dairy free milk

8oz bag of plant based cheese

Directions

  1. Start by adding the butter to the pan to melt. Once melted add in the flour and continue to stir. It will get clumpy so slowly start adding in the milk to break up the flour mixture. Mix until smooth.
  2. Once smooth, add the plant based cheese. This will take a bit to melt completely but don’t give up until it’s smooth and creamy.
  3. Cook the pasta based on the instructions on the box and then drain the water.
  4. Add the pasta to the cheese sauce and mix!

I was not kidding when I said this recipe is so easy! I love to top vegan my mac and cheese with bread crumbs and some red pepper flakes for a kick. This recipe would also be good with some buffalo sauce in it.

One thing I’ve learned on my dairy free journey is that you don’t have to give up on your favorite recipes. Get creative and find ways to continue to make them with your own twist.

If you liked this recipe, don’t forget to like this post and check out other recipes from me here!

My Go to Healthy Salmon Recipe

Recently, I have been experimenting with proteins and found that I love salmon. I use to stray away from meat and fish but salmon has instantly become my favorite. I love using my go to healthy salmon recipe because it’s sweet and spicy. The recipe is so easy and doesn’t take more than 20 minutes, which is always a plus. Here’s how to make my honey Sriracha healthy salmon recipe!

Ingredients:

1.5 lbs of Salmon

2 tbsp Olive Oil

2 tbsp fresh Garlic

4 tbsp Soy Sauce

2 tbsp Rice Vinegar

1.5 tbsp Sriracha (more or less depending on how spicy you like it)

3 tbsp Honey

2 tsp Sesame Oil

Parchment Paper

Baking Sheet

Directions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment and place your salmon on top of it. Then place another piece of parchment on top of the salmon and lightly press down. Bake for 10 minutes.
  3. While the salmon is baking, prepare the glaze in a sauce pan.
  4. Start with warming the olive oil and garlic, and cook until fragrant.
  5. Add the rest of the ingredients except the sesame oil. Cook until the mixture is darker in color and slightly thicker.
  6. Remove from heat and add the sesame oil.
  7. At this point, the salmon should have baked for 10 minutes so pull it out and brush the glaze on it.
  8. Put it back in the oven for 12 minutes and you are all set!

This healthy salmon recipe is so yummy and literally only takes like 22 minutes. I love to serve it with white rice and broccoli. Occasionally, I’ll add sesame seeds on top or even red pepper flakes for an extra kick.

Cooking has instantly became a favorite hobby of mine since the pandemic. I love trying out new recipes so I hope you love this one! If you make it at home tag me on Instagram @cassiedenisco and use the #cookwithcass!

You can see more of my favorite recipes here.

My Simple Pizza Recipe

If you’re anything like me, pizza is one of your favorite meals. I swear I could eat pizza for almost any meal and this makes it so easy. I was in search of a pizza recipe a little less carb heavy and I stumbled on the pita in my fridge. Using these as a crust leaves the pizza almost like a flatbread. The size of the pita also makes it perfect for personal pizzas or to mix and match the toppings. In this post, I’m sharing my go to pita pizza recipe.

Ingredients:

Pita Bread

Olive Oil

Tomato

Fresh Mozzarella

Basil

Balsamic glaze

Directions:

  1. Start by putting the 1 teaspoon of olive oil all over your pita
  2. Thinly slice your tomatoes and layer them around your pizza
  3. Add your fresh mozzarella & basil to the top
  4. Bake at 350 for about 8-9 minutes or until cheese is melted
  5. Once out and cooled sprinkle balsamic glaze over

This pizza recipe is seriously so good. I love how healthy it makes pizza night and makes it quick and easy to make. Some other toppings that I love to use are ricotta cheese, zucchini and even red onions and barbecue sauce. Pizza night is awesome with pita because you can make everyone their own flavor and don’t have to worry about trying to find one everyone loves.

Another really yummy way to make pizza is with flatbreads. I buy mine at my local stores and its similar to the pita. Of course it has more carbs but sometimes you just really want that great slice of pizza.

What are some of your favorite pizza toppings?

If you liked this recipe, be sure to check out my others here! Follow me on Pinterest for more recipes!

Plant Base Meat that I Love

I definitely don’t like food labels however I generally live by a plant based diet. With that being said. I enjoy not eating too much dairy or animal products but I like to have plant base meats to supplement that. I have been eating this way for awhile now with my mom so we both have brands and plant base meat products that we love. This guide I hope is interesting and helpful to share with you so let’s dive in!

Morning Star Farms Veggie Hot Dogs
plant base meat

These are so yummy and I love them so much! They definitely taste similar to a hot dog and are a great option to have. Regular hot dogs somewhat gross me out in reading all of the ingredients but these are so good and a much healthier option. I like these with a bun and a little ketchup and you are good to do.

Morning Star Chicken Patties

I love having these patties with a little vegan mayo, vegan cheese, and a hamburger bun. It is like a fast food sandwich but so much healthier. These do not really remind me of breaded chicken but to be honest, they have a better flavor. I know Morning Star also makes veggie chicken nuggets which have a similar texture and are also great!

Gardein Veggie Burgers

So this is one of my newer favorites. I used to love the Morning Start Farms veggie burgers but I realized the patties were just so thin. These patties are thick and seriously give off a beef burger vibe. I love these veggie burgers so much. They remind me of an Impossible burger but to be honest, might even taste better!

Gardein Veggie Meatballs

I can’t say enough about these Meatballs!! They have so much more flavor than a regular meatball could ever have and my boyfriend most of the time can’t even tell the difference. These are great in red sauce with pasta for dinner or even a roll for a sandwich. Highly, highly recommend these meatballs!

Boca Meatless Ground Beef

This is seriously game changing. I had never realized you can get meatless ground beef and now my chili is seriously elevated. It’s awesome way to sneak in even more veggies to your chili because you really can’t tell the difference once everything is seasoned. This is a really great meat alternative product.

If you notice there’s on thing I didn’t add to my list and that is the Impossible brand. I think their burgers are great when I go out to eat but I haven’t been able to cook them successfully for myself at home. Let me know if you have any tips because I definitely want to like them, but they just fall apart when I cook.

I hope this list of my favorite plant base meat products is helpful whether you are plant base or just looking to supplement in some healthier alternatives to meat in your diet. I plan to do some recipes with these products so that you can see how I cook with them so be on the lookout for that.

Be sure to check out my last blog post here and follow me on Instagram!

My Healthier Chipotle Bowl Recipe

One of my favorite fast food restaurants is Chipotle because I love their bowls. After eating them for so long, I realized I could probably make my own version that is a much healthier Chipotle bowl. Not to mention, I wouldn’t be eating out so much or even spending money. My healthier Chipotle bowl is so easy and great to make for a family. Here’s the recipe!

Ingredients

1 can of black beans

1 can of corn

1 tomato

1 yellow onion

1 jalapeño

1 avocado

1 cup rice

1 lb chicken

1 tablespoon paprika

1/2 tablespoon cumin

Directions
  1. Rinse and drain the can of corn and can of black beans, then mix to combine and place in a container together. Start cooking the rice however you normally would.
  2. Cut up the tomato, yellow onion, jalapeño and place in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper and let sit for a few hours so that the flavors all get to mix together.
  3. Season the chicken with the paprika and cumin and then grill it until cooked. Let cool and then cube it.
  4. Once the tomato mixture has sat and is fragrant, you’re ready to eat so start with the rice in your bowl. Then add chicken, tomato mixture and corn and beans. Top with sliced avocado or sour cream and cheese and you are good to go!

This seriously is such a healthier Chipotle bowl recipe. I love to prep this the morning of so that it’s ready to go whenever we want to eat. The recipe is simple enough that anyone can make it but also great because you can really mix and match. Meals like this are great for families because there’s something for everyone!

Let me know below if you have an Chipotle hacks and be sure to follow me on Pinterest for more recipes @cassiedenisco. Check out my last post here!

Breakfast Recipes for Back to School

I cannot believe the time has come to go back to school. I have put together some breakfast recipes for back to school whether you are going virtually or in person. These recipes are so delicious and easy to make as breakfast recipes.

Check out my latest post here!

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Green Juice Recipe You Need to Try

I have been on my fresh green juice game these past few weeks so I am so excited to share my recipe with you. This green juice recipe is so good and just leaves you feeling great. There are so many health benefits to getting your greens in everyday and the perfect way to do that is through this green juice recipe. To create these juices, I use my NutriBullet. I don’t have a juicer and just found that even though it takes a little longer because of straining, this works just as well as a juicer would’ve.

Ingredients:

1 Celery Stalk

Handful of Greens

1/2 a lemon

1 inch chunk of ginger

1/2 a cucumber

Handful of Carrots

Directions:

This is seriously so simple! Just add everything into your NutriBullet and blend. Depending on the day, sometimes I add a little water just to thin it out if it’s too thick. Next comes the straining. I just take very fine holed strainer and start to pour the juice through it into another container. I do this again, but this time straining it into whatever I plan to drink it out of. I love these reusable cups from Amazon!

I’ve been really working hard to get my greens in everyday during quarantine and making a juice has seriously helped. When I started making juices, I literally almost couldn’t drink them because I thought they were so gross. I would add apple or watermelon to them to sweeten them up and make them interesting to eat. Now, I am literally obsessed! I have this juice every. single. day!

Let me know in the comments below if you try this and be sure to follow me on Instagram @cassiedenisco!