If anyone knows how to cook a mean burger, it's my mother. She makes them once a week and they can be described as nothing less than works of art. Living with her, it’s hard for me to make my own version of the “Clara Burger” – as she so affectionately calls them (after her grandmother Clara's infamous burger recipe) – but when I saw the Mediterranean burger on the menu at Busboys and Poets, I knew I had to give this one a whirl for myself. As an ode to my mother’s deliciously mouth-watering burgers, combined with a new spin on our Greek roots, this Mediterranean burger transforms your greasy…

Old love of mine, meet new love of mine. With the help of a friend’s suggestion (I can’t believe I didn’t come up with this sooner), I have combined two of my favorite foods ,cupcakes and Chai, into one spicy masterpiece that is: the Chai-Spiced Cupcake. If you’re not a fan of cinnamon, this cupcake might not be for you. And actually, if you’ve never even tried Chai before, you still have a great chance of liking (heck—loving) this cupcake. It has the rich, smooth taste of French vanilla, paired with a tiny pop of spice and cinnamon. The perfect cupcake if you feel like branching out and …

It's officially grillin' season, kids! I've actually participated in a whopping four cookouts since last Saturday, if you can believe it. And how can we forget what else is happening simultaneously with Spring's merry arrival -- March Madness! This may or may not require you to throw together some quick side dishes for all the brats, peppers, dogs, and burgers that your man or woman is grilling out in preparation for the game. This sweet and light pasta salad will not only utilize all the extra veggies in your fridge, but also incorporates homemade dressing to go with it that you can also use…

Growing up with both Greek and Southern-infused cooking from my mom, rice dishes were kind of a rare thing. Usually orzo would serve as our substitute for rice, so when it came down to trying dishes with rice myself, I found cooking rice or cooking with rice to be a bit of a challenge. Regardless of that fact, I still take upon myself to try. This dish has an interesting flavor to say the least, and fills you up without leaving you buckled over in pain from over-eating. With warm days teasing us and the cold ones still lingering about, this dish is a great bridge between the seasons. (*Author…

Now, I apologize for digressing from my "healthy" streak of recipes and ideas to give you one of the all-time classics in delicious dishes: a big fat, cheeeeeesy Pizza. I have what one might call an unhealthy obsession and infatuation with Pizza. I love going out for Gourmet Pizzas (Liberty Tavern and Faccia Luna are a few of my go-to places), as well as eating the not-so-gourmet style of a good and greasy Dominos or Papa John's Pizza; I can eat Pizza at any time of any day; I love trying new Pizzas; and no matter what mood I'm in, it's always a sure-fire pick-me-up -- an ultimate comfort …

In keeping with my 'stay healthy/salad' theme from last week, I thought the next appropriate (and fun) do-it-yourself recipe would be how to make your own salad dressings. My older sister is not only an amazing chef, super eco-conscious and green-friendly, but she is even better at creating and making up her very own completely organic and super healthy dishes from scratch. She was the brains behind this clever do-it-yourself operation. (*Please note: you definitely need either a food processor or a blender to make these.) Carrot-Ginger Dressing (makes 3 cups) 1/4 cup minced fresh ginger2 …

With the new year came new years resolutions. Naturally, at the top of my list were eating right and exercising more. It's not as easy as it sounds, especially when it's just six weeks into the year and you realize you're already tired of drinking water with lemon and you're in a rut of making the same salad over and over again. Here's one quick fix for both of these problems that will help you stay on the right track and get you experimenting in the kitchen: try adding Mint to your dish. Maybe mint toothpaste and air freshener have made you wary of the green stuff. Not to worry -- using mint…

I present to you a college classic. Created by my old school roomies and I (with a few tweaks over the years), our super sensational Stir Fry was a collective effort and made for roomie bonding time in the kitchen. This dish is not only easy to throw together if you're in a rush or don't feel like taking the time to prepare a big meal, but it's great for vegetarian friends. It's a pretty 'light' dish in general, especially if you're recovering from an overdose of too many Super Bowl snacks. The already cooked lime pilaf is a perfect choice to make this dish even easier and faster (in college …

Are you suffering from cabin fever brought on by the latest snow storm? Or are you just one of those die-hard Peanut Butter fans like my mom and my college roommate, obsessed with everything Peanut Butter flavored? Well, then you’ve got to try baking these super easy, rich and delicious, Soft Baked Peanut Butter Cookies that only calls for four ingredients that you definitely, most-likely, almost positively already have in your kitchen. 1 cup peanut butter 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract Wah-Bam! Easy, right? Not only are they easy, but they’re gluten-free and take only 10 minutes to …

I promise this recipe isn’t because I just returned from Miami where the Cuban and Latin infused flavor and foods are everywhere. I actually found it on a lifestyle blog that I follow daily (though it originally ran on Food.com) and it looked so delicious and perfect for my vegetarian boyfriend, that I couldn't resist. Plus I have a sweet spot for Latin foods. It’s super easy to make and literally takes about 10 minutes. You’ll need: 1 zucchini;  1 can black beans;  2 tortillas;  your favorite cheese;  olive oil Begin by opening your can of black beans and straining the juice/water into the …