At Home with Natalie

January 15, 2018
Today Show anchor and internet cooking series host Morales takes readers inside her kitchen with 125 easy-to-assemble recipes inspired by her family’s Brazilian and Puerto Rican heritage. Combining her passion for Latin food with healthy, flavorful family fare, Morales presents mealtime staples perfect for busy moms. Breakfasts include protein-packed shakes, overnight oats, and burritos with beans, eggs, and Canadian bacon. Grain bowls and salads use farro, quinoa, salmon, and tofu for healthy lunch “quickies.” Appetizers feature her grandmother’s chicken empanadas and a tapas platter of manchego, Serrano ham, and fig jam. Slow-cooker shredded beef and sweet-pepper ropa vieja is a true one-pot “people-pleaser.” A section titled “All Things Flan” showcases coconut and pumpkin variations. Not all recipes have a Latin twist; there are burger, pasta, and pizza offerings along with many kid-friendly meals. And Morales “skinnies” recipes with healthy substitutions: ground turkey for beef and honey or agave for sugar. Her supermarket shortcuts include frozen doughs, packaged tortillas or seasonings, and canned beans. Home cooks will find solid, comforting, and familiar meal ideas in these uncomplicated, wholesome recipes.