Good Clean Kitchen: The Original GreenPan Venice Pro Cookware

I’m so excited to share a brand that I’ve been using for a few months now that has completely changed my cooking game—meet GreenPan. You might have seen this beautiful cookware make an appearance quite a few times on my Instagram and Stories if you’ve been following along with my quarantine cooking adventures. But I assure you, these beautiful pots and pans are as easy to use as they are on the eyes.

I had been looking for a really great cookware set to add to our wedding registry for quite some time and had a long list of musts. Non-stick (for easy cleanup), Teflon-free (because traditional non-stick cookware is bad for you and the environment), and of course, aesthetically pleasing.

This beautiful set from GreenPan fit the bill. It’s coated in a durable ceramic that won’t deposit harmful chemicals like lead, cadmium, nickel, or toxic metals in your food. And they are truly non-stick! Cleanup has been an absolute breeze with these pans, whether I’m cooking a lemon roasted chicken on Sunday nights or a light and healthy soup to enjoy throughout week.

Another great thing I love about the GreenPan Venice Pro Set is that it includes all of the essentials you could need—a frying pan, a sauté pan, a steamer pan and more. Unless you are a professional chef or entertain often, the chances that you will need more pans than this is slim. As someone who mostly cooks for two (three if you count Teddy), these pans are absolutely perfect for our small city kitchen. They also stack easily and tuck neatly away in my cabinets. You know how much I love to stay organized and declutter!

GreenPan has so many beautiful sets, so you can mix and match your favorites. I especially love this pink set and this modern black set. If you’re looking for something to brighten up your kitchen, these certainly fit the bill.

With that in mind, I’ve rounded up my favorite pieces from the GreenPan collection below!

SimmerLite Dutch Oven

A true kitchen workhorse! I use it for everything from pastas and stew to roasting a whole chicken.

Venice Pro Set

The complete collection—everything you need to cook great meals at home. (And beautiful to boot!)

Venice Pro Sauté Pan

Aromatic stir-fries and slow-simmering sauces clean up easily in this perfectly-sized pan.

Padova Frypan Set

Eggs! Stir-fry! The perfect go-to, everyday set. A versatile, functional set of pans.

Light, Easy Summer Recipes

Summer is my favorite season for cooking—the produce is fresh and local, the drinks are cold andtemperatures are perfect for al fresco dining. In the spirit of the season, I've rounded up my go-to Summer recipes that I like to rotate throughout the week or bring to a family gathering. They're light on calories and the bad stuff (like dairy and gluten), but big on flavor:

1. Moroccan Spiced Hummus

I love the flavors of this bold dip and spread. It's perfect with tortilla chips or as a spread on wraps and sandwiches. It's easy, fresh and takes minimal prep time.

2. Roasted Cauliflower Bowl

I'm really into the concept of bowls right now, considering how easy it is to use up all of the leftovers I pick up from the farmer's market and throw them all into one tasty, filling bowl of goodness. This recipe features some of my favorites, like cauliflower, chickpeas and lemon dijon dressing.

3. Paloma

My favorite Summer drink! A Paloma is a classier twist on a margarita, pairing silver tequila with bubbly grapefruit soda and lime. Make a pitcher of these for your next dinner party or barbecue and it's sure to be a hit.

4. Queso Stuffed Poblanos

I absolutely adore stuffed peppers, but my favorite would be hands down be poblano. I like to stuff mine with quinoa, sweet potato and chickpea for a vegetarian take. I'll also make a batch with chicken, feta and tomato for a Greek spin. It's fun to experiment with different fillings, as you can't really go wrong. Try this Mexican-inspired version as a healthy alternative on taco night.

5. Yogurt with Cherry Compote and Pistachio

This flavor combination is so unique, but extremely satisfying. I love the tartness of the cherries paired with the salty crunch of pistachio. I like to use an almond milk-based yogurt, like Kite Hill, for a non-dairy base. This would also taste great with coconut milk ice cream.

What are your go-to Summer recipes?

A Delicious Summer Seafood Pasta

Not to toot my own horn, but this recipe is restaurant-quality! There’s just something about using fresh, sweet tomatoes that makes a sauce so much better.

I am so excited to share this goodness with you. It’s not only delicious but super healthy and easy to prep. The shrimp and calamari needs to be prepped first, as the marinade helps it absorb all of the flavor. I like to give it at least 30 minutes before I start cooking.

Note that you can mix and match whatever seafood additions you’d like, but this sauce is perfectly delicious on its own. I plan to make it again with clams, but you could add mushrooms or cauliflower to make it vegetarian-friendly or chickpea or brown rice pasta for a gluten-free version.

Pro tip: You’ll want to double the sauce and reserve half before you throw in the seafood—it can last in the fridge for up to 4 days for a quick (and delicious) lunch or dinner.

SUMMER SEAFOD PASTA

for the cherry tomato shallot sauce

4 whole shallots, sliced thin
2 cups ripe cherry tomatoes, halved
1 tbsp. tomato paste
4 garlic cloves, crushed and minced
1/2 c. white wine
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. sea salt or to taste
Dried oregano, basil, parsley to taste
Optional: crushed red pepper flakes

for the pasta

1 lb. shrimp, tail on
2 tubes calamari, cut into rings
Parmesan cheese, for grating
1/4 c. basil, torn into pieces
Optional: Mussels, scallops, clams, or other seafood of choice

directions

1. Rinse and pat dry shrimp and calamari (or other seafood, if using). Toss in a bowl with olive oil, salt, and crushed red pepper (optional). Let marinade in fridge, covered, for at least 30 mins. or up to 8 hours.
2. Heat lug of olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add sliced shallots to pan. Cook for about 5 minutes until they softens and become fragrant. Add garlic and cook for a minute longer.
3. Add the halved cherry tomatoes, white wine, spices, and tomato paste to the pan. Simmer until slightly boiling, then turn it down to medium heat and add a big pinch of sea salt. Let it cook down to a nice sauce, stirring frequently.
4. Add uncooked shrimp to sauce until cooked throughly. Add more white wine to thin the sauce if needed, or more tomato paste to thicken.
5. Serve over pasta with grated parmesan, torn basil, and freshly cracked black pepper.

My Favorite Cookbooks

I love to cook and create new recipes, but there's always been something I admired about cookbooks. The glossy photos, chef's notes and inspiration that comes from that connection to food. Sometimes I'll add my own spin to the recipe, which makes it even better.

I've owned and started to collect countless cookbooks over the years. Whenever I travel, I love to pick one up that features recipes that originated from the location. It's a cool way to take a bit of the culture home with me. 

Here are the seven that I turn to time and again for countless recipe ideas:

1. The Kinfolk Table—This cookbook puts the emphasis on the relationships that surround eating, rather than focusing on the food itself. It's filled with the gorgeous, magazine-like photography you're used to seeing in a Kinfolk publication. It's an eclectic mix of recipes and stories collected from around the world.

2. Tacos: Recipes and Provocations—I adore Mexican food and tacos are one of the most quick and easy things to make for a weeknight dinner. This cookbook takes the art of the taco one step deeper. Highlighting innovative ways to create the perfect tortilla, how to master the perfect salsa and eclectic flavor profiles, this cookbook proves that tacos can be more versatile than you think.

3. It's All Good—This happens to be my favorite of the list. Every recipe is filled with good-for-you ingredients and is so simple to make. I absolutely love everything I've made from this book. It's perfect if you're looking for healthier alternatives to your favorites, without sacrificing flavor. (And it's Gwyneth-approved, naturally.)

4. Twenty Dinners—This cookbook is all about gathering at the table with friends and family. (Are you noticing a trend here?) I love the family-style portions, crisp photography and how every recipe is divided into seasons so you can make the most of what's fresh.

5. Mexico from the Inside Out—A sophisticated take on traditional Mexican recipes, this cookbook is fueled by the country's culture and history. It has over 65 recipes from easy to more advanced and is perfect for people who enjoy cooking and consuming Mexican cuisine. 

6. Hartwood—Another Mexican-inspired favorite, Hartwood takes recipes from the famed Tulum restaurant and brings them into your home. It's perfect for those who are gluten- and dairy-free, as the recipes don't rely heavily on those ingredients but are still full of flavor. 

7. Everything I Want to Eat: Squirl and the New California Cooking—Squirl's Jessica Koslow is another restauranteur turned author. Her famous Southern California spot is the best place to grab a healthy meal with exciting flavor combinations. She only uses real food, nothing processed, to make her vibrant creations. This cookbook is quirky, unique and bold—just like Squirl.

Shop more of my favorite cookbooks and tools: