Creamy Ramp + Lemon Pasta

Posted by: Nicole Dula on May 3 2016

My week was made when Shoko shared this link to what’s in Prince’s fridge. He had 5 pounds of DUNKAROOS in his fridge! #GOALS He also had Usinger’s braunschweiger, which I grew up eating on thick and hearty pumpernickel bread because my Oma was very German. I HAVE THINGS IN COMMON WITH PRINCE. I highly recommend the link. Now let’s talk ramps. How are they so pretty?? I just can’t resist them in the spring, even though some people are over them. It’s the one time where the people of California are jealous of our midwest produce. I foraged these at… Continue reading ≻

Bacon + Kimchi Cauliflower Fried Rice

Posted by: Nicole Dula on Apr 26 2016

As you may have seen on Instagram/Snapchat last week, I tried Goop’s nutritious kimchi cauliflower rice with her buddy Cameron Diaz’s addition of lean beef and a fried egg, but it didn’t capture the magic of our first cauliflower fried rice experience. It was a bit watery and needed more kick. I did some more homework and looked at several recipes, including my favorite kimchi fried rice and the original Nom Nom Paleo recipe we tried during whole 30. The resulting recipe was a success and I may have high-fived Marc over it. I grew up on rice and will always love it,… Continue reading ≻

Easiest Blender Cauliflower Rice

Posted by: Nicole Dula on Apr 19 2016

Last June during Whole 30, I found myself poring over grain-free recipes. The diet never left me hungry, but I did miss certain textures and seriously craved comfort food. Cauliflower rice sounded odd, but fried rice for dinner sounded like a lifesaver. It turned out to be one of my favorite meals. The only problem is that making cauliflower rice is typically a real pain. Most recipes call for it to be blitz up in a food processor and I really hate cleaning my food processor. However, now I’ve discovered this blender method and YOU MUST MAKE ALL OF YOUR CAULIFLOWER… Continue reading ≻

Shrimp Salad

Posted by: Nicole Dula on Apr 12 2016

Sometimes you just want to eat something that makes you think of warmer weather and maybe sitting on a porch in Charleston. Marc and I spent 3 days there in 2009 (whoa) and it was 100 degrees every day. Unseasonably warm for that part of June they said. We stayed at a bed and breakfast and each day at 4:30, they’d have tea time (iced tea for us) with light snacks. A spread of tiny sandwiches and tarts and crackers and dip. It was so lovely. We felt young and like we were pretending to be grown-ups. We kind of were. Whether… Continue reading ≻

Napa Cabbage Slaw

Posted by: Nicole Dula on Apr 5 2016

This salad is famous in Marc’s family. His grandpa and grandma make it, his aunts make it, his mom and sister make it. I haven’t met a person who can resist it. It’s essentially shredded napa cabbage with toasted crunchy bits and a sweet vinaigrette. I did the unthinkable and altered the recipe a wee bit. While I love the original, I always thought the dressing was too sweet, so I kicked the sugar back by half. I also added more almonds and seeds to the crunchy bits because, as Marc reminded me, it’s the best part. I love this… Continue reading ≻

Vegetarian Black Bean, Kale and Quinoa Enchilada Bake

Posted by: Nicole Dula on Feb 23 2016

You’re going to like this one. It’s hearty comfort food made with nutritious ingredients for a cozy meal you can feel good about. I’ve been all about comfort food this winter, but it sadly can’t always be carbs, carbs, carbs. This casserole comes together easily and will impress your vegetarian and non-vegetarian friends alike. It’s a great dish to bring to a friend, new mom or anyone who could use a meal hug. It freezes great, too. Remove the cheddar cheese and you have a full-flavored vegan meal. Marc said this filling would be great on nachos and I say… Continue reading ≻

Quick Diner-Style Cheeseburgers

Posted by: Nicole Dula on Feb 16 2016

We’ve been making these quick burgers for a year now and I’m always impressed with how quickly they come together and with so little effort. Ah, my favorite kind of recipe. Most of us probably have a favorite burger dive or the proximity to a Five Guys, Shake Shack or In-N-Out, but sometimes you just want to eat really good, messy, burgers at home in comfy pants. I first heard about this recipe from Sarah Jessica Parker, of all people, when she tweeted that her family loves them. I don’t follow SJP on Twitter, but someone else mentioned the tweet. SJP… Continue reading ≻

Dutch Oven Mississippi Roast

Posted by: Nicole Dula on Feb 2 2016

This Mississippi Roast recipe has become an internet sensation. The original recipe calls for a chuck roast, a stick of butter, pepperoncini and a packet of ranch dressing in a slow cooker. Sam Sifton from The New York Times reworked the recipe to decrease the butter, increase the pepperoncini and make a quick ranch dressing from scratch out of pantry staples. I was drawn to the recipe because my husband loves beef and this recipe only required that I pick up a roast and some pepperoncini. Plus, I really, really love pepperoncini. I planned the meal for last Sunday, cooking away while… Continue reading ≻

Slow Cooker Pork Ragù with Gnocchi

Posted by: Nicole Dula on Dec 15 2015

You may have noticed on social media that I’m a big fan of the Great British Baking Show on PBS. My girls Cindy, Emily, Sarah and Megan love it, too. The first American season aired a while ago and is now available on Netflix, if you want to catch up. I believe it’s called the Great British Bake Off in the UK and has been on the air for several years. I read that the first season on PBS is actually season 4 of the UK version or something like that. The show is a refreshing take on a baking competition because each person… Continue reading ≻

Thanksgiving Recipes + what I’m eating this year

Posted by: Nicole Dula on Nov 24 2015

This morning I washed the cranberries and tonight I’ll make the cranberry sauce and prep my kale gratin. Last year we started a new tradition of the whole family gathering in Holland for Thanksgiving at my brother and sister-in-law’s house. A few weeks before last year’s event, I sent a slew of recipes over to my sister-in-law so we could pick the perfect inaugural menu. She added a couple of her favorite recipes and soon we had a great menu. This year, we’ve adjusted it slightly, learning the limits of oven and stovetop space. Here’s what we’re eating! Turkey – My Mom was never… Continue reading ≻

Dula Notes

Seasonal recipes and adventures from Michigan with love

Posts in the category: Main Dish