Here are my dinner recommendations (and salads!) for next week (Mar.17-23, 2025). I just spent the last 7 days in New Orleans, attending a food blogger conference and exploring the city's incredible food and culture. I provide a quick recap (plus photos!) at the end of this newsletter! And wishing you all a beery and cheery St. Patrick's Day!☘️💚

DAY 1: Creamy Tuscan Shrimp in 30 minutes! (featuring spinach, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic. It's low-carb, high in protein, and gluten-free)

DAY 2: Thai Basil Beef with Bell Peppers, Spinach, and Cashews (30 minutes, one-pan meal. Serve with brown rice, ramen noodles, or quinoa. Or, keep it low-carb by serving it as is or with lettuce wraps.)

DAY 3: Garlic Thyme Baked Chicken Thighs (made with 20 fresh garlic cloves, 35 minutes from start to finish)

DAY 4: Flank Steak with Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato & Spinach Orzo (one-pan, 30 minutes! You can use flank steak, skirt steak, or other thinly sliced steak).

DAY 5: Easy Baked Mozzarella Chicken with Mushrooms and Tomato Sauce (low-carb, protein-rich. Serve this with pasta, ravioli, tortellini, rice, or roasted or blanched veggies (asparagus, green beans, or broccoli). For low-carb options, serve it with cauliflower "rice," roasted asparagus, or spiralized zucchini noodles)

DAY 6: Sheet Pan Salmon and Broccoli with Garlic and Parmesan (healthy, low-carb, keto, and gluten-free dinner packed with protein, fiber, and Omega-3's! Made in just 30 minutes!)

DAY 7: Feta Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes and Spinach (with other traditional Mediterranean diet ingredients such as lemon, garlic, olive oil, and paprika. Serve it as a vegetarian meal or a meatless side with grilled meats, rotisserie chicken, salmon, or shrimp.)

SALAD 1: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Mandarin Oranges, Walnuts, Cranberries, and Balsamic Glaze (it's a perfect recipe for candied or spicy nuts of any kind, not just walnuts)

SALAD 2: Avocado Corn Tomato Salad with Creamy Cilantro-Lime Dressing (make it with canned, fresh, or frozen corn)​​

SALAD 3: Arugula Salad with Apples, Dried Cranberries, Pecans, and Balsamic Dressing (use your favorite greens instead of arugula. Arugula/spinach mix works well, too!)

Hello from New Orleans!

I just spent an incredible week in New Orleans, where the weather was downright perfect—not too hot, not too cold, just right. The first three days were spent at a food blogger conference, connecting and socializing with fellow bloggers. Food blogging can feel isolating at times (since I work by myself and don't have co-workers, so to speak), so it was fun to meet lots of like-minded people!

We visited Mardi Gras World, where artists and craftsmen create massive, over-the-top parade floats and elaborate attractions each season. Seeing the behind-the-scenes magic made me want to experience Mardi Gras in full swing one day!

Another highlight was an evening at The Sazerac House—part museum, part distillery, and 100% worth the visit. We got a front-row seat to New Orleans’ rich cocktail history, watched whiskey being made, and, of course, sampled some classic drinks. Research, right? In fact, we are still in New Orleans and will be flying back home today, on Sunday, March 16! I'm excited to get back into the rhythm and share the new recipes I worked on before this trip!

I'd love to hear from you!

If you try any of these recipes, I would love your feedback in the comments section for each recipe on my website. Please do not respond to this e-mail (I might miss it!). If you have questions, feedback, or any other concerns, please use the comments section for a particular recipe on JuliasAlbum.com or leave a message on my ABOUT page. I always check the comments shared on my website. If you would like to share a photo of what you made, tag me #juliasalbum or @juliasalbumblog on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliasalbumblog/​