What's Cooking?!?

This summer I've been on a mission to experiment with new recipes, cook/eat more healthy, use fresh/real ingredients more instead of packages, use what I have in the fridge before it goes bad and avoid eating out as much as possible.  I also wanted to get better at making my own marinades/dressings.  It's been fun and I think we've all enjoyed trying new things!

These pictures don't really do the meals justice- how do they get such good pictures in books and on the web?!?  

Here are some of our favorites so far!

This was good- whole wheat spaghetti with a homemade chicken sausage spaghetti sauce.  The big chunks of tomatoes were yummy!  

I am by no means a chef, but I can follow a recipe pretty well if it is relatively simple enough.  I also cook what I like and what I think the kids will try... Richard is great because he'll try anything!  Pinterest scares me sometimes because sometimes it's good and other times it's a flop!!

We grilled up carne asada (from Sprouts- delish) and served it over cilantro rice and grilled onions and peppers.  

I also try to always have fresh fruit or a veggie side, and always a big salad with whatever I cook.  

I've been doing a lot of grilling to avoid heating up our kitchen but this was a great veggie casserole I served with a squash/zucchini/onion side and grilled chicken- which never gets old.  It made a ton and it was really yummy!  4 cheese rotini bake was its name, I think!

This could have been a meal by itself... It's a chunky salsa lightly stirred not mashed made with avocado (love), fresh diced red and orange tomatoes, cilantro, roasted corn, black beans, fresh minced garlic, and onions. We ate it with blue corn tortilla chips... to.die.for!!

We also have been branching out with seafood... 

I made grilled salmon for the first time ever over long grain rice... Sooo good and Grady ate three pieces!

My favorite though was grilled shrimp marinated in a sweet garlic/honey/lime sauce.  No picture- typical, probably because I couldn't wait to eat it up!!  

Here is some baked kale... we all liked this and will make it again.  (It's kind of a lot of work for not much though).

Grady loved it- he's the most adventurous of all of us... except for melted cheese.  LOL

Now these are yummy- Chocolate Shakeology balls!  They have honey, chocolate Shakeology powder, peanut butter, quick oats- Richard loves these!!

(Forgive the pic and the name...)

What are some of your favorite healthy dishes and/or snacks?!?