Mediterranean Diet Meal Prep | Quick Easy and Flexible Healthy Recipes for Spring

[@CarolineLFranco]

HAPPY SPRING!! 🌸🌿I really really hope you enjoy this recipe video! Let me know which recipe you want to try first and PLEASE let me know if there are any recipe requests you have! Thank you so so much! 🥰

[@sallieannwestbrook9769]

This fish looks amazing. Yum

[@CarolineLFranco]

Thank you so so much Sallie 😊 it was so full of flavor!

[@belwynne1386]

They all sound great!

[@CarolineLFranco]

Thank you so much!!!

[@patriciasozalac.4133]

My mouth is watering!

[@CarolineLFranco]

Ahhh! Yay, I was a bit nervous about the recipes in the video so I am SO happy to hear they sounded good! Thank you Patricia☺️

[@julligiles1249]

I had to watch but been in bed sick with covid since Fri. Well looks like you found your FOCUS haven't seen you this happy in a video in a while & I'm so happy for you! I'm gonna watch this again soon as I feel better but I will be makes some of the recipes for sure! Love ya girl! Great job Caroline!!

[@CarolineLFranco]

How terrible, I hope you feel much better very soon Julli! Thank you so much for noticing my creative light shine in this video, I did have a lot of joy creating it so you noticing means so much to me! Fingers crossed you're already feeling much better and can make some yummy food! Thank you sweet friend, love you! 🥰

[@nicholettemason7230]

Found your channel a few days ago. Love love love your recipes. Thank you

[@CarolineLFranco]

Made my day Nicholette 🤍thank YOU for your support!

[@ellenradford8582]

You are doing awesome!! Those are awesome recipes. You are really enjoying the cooking for sure! Thanks for the gluten-free comments too!

[@CarolineLFranco]

You're the best Ellen, i appreciate you so much - so happy you watched and enjoyed! 🥰

[@ellenradford8582]

@@CarolineLFranco oh of course I watched!!! 😍😘

[@sarikakitchenrecipe5466]

It's really so delicious and tempting👌👌 I am really enjoying this watching👍thanks for sharing 👍

[@CarolineLFranco]

Thank you so much Sarika, I really appreciate you watching and sharing with me how much you liked the video! Hopefully you might like the recipes too 😊

[@jojogorecki7405]

That salad was gorgeous! Excited to try all these recipes. Thanks!

[@CarolineLFranco]

I appreciate you so much Jojo, thank you for watching and hope you love the recipes as much as I did!

[@gaylekreer8904]

I enjoy how much you love food. Your recipes always sound so good. Can't wait to try some. Thank you for your videos.

[@CarolineLFranco]

Awe, thank you so much Gayle! I appreciate you watching and being so kind to leave a comment as well!

[@kellycrete9280]

That salad looks incredible. I will make it soon. I may eat the whole salad by myself as well. :)

[@CarolineLFranco]

I highly suggest you do because it will be hard to share lol I scarfed the whole thing down as soon as I finished filming that day 🤣I hope you love it as much as I did! Thank you Kelly

[@shinystar1781]

great tip about dressing the grains while still warm. i never do that. your meals are giving me some great ideas

[@CarolineLFranco]

Im so so happy to know that, thank you for sharing it with me! 😊

[@ellenradford8582]

Looking great!! I am so glad you are doing sauces!!!

[@CarolineLFranco]

Sauces are the BOMB 😋 🎉

[@flemaniamannino6453]

Yummo!!!! Ciao Bella ♥️ These recipes look 💣 Def trying the carrot and cashew soup and the pasta because I love mascarpone and peas!!!! I’m a huge fan of buddha bowls so I’d love a video dedicated to that!!! Every couple of months we go vegan for a month just to give us a break on the meat and cheese. Truthfully I always feel better when I do that… It helps with my fatigue and even my migraines! Have a good week 😘

[@CarolineLFranco]

Girlll you just fired off my brain with SO MANY possible "buddha bowl" variations i could come up with🔓💭thank you! I totally agree we need everything in moderation and sometimes moderation means breaks from some things and a little extra of others! Thank you bella, you are so so sweet and I hope you love the pasta, it was sooo yummy!

[@flemaniamannino6453]

@@CarolineLFranco 🤗🙌🏼 yay! Can’t wait to see what you come up with ♥️

[@angelamorehouse5315]

I'm so happy I found your channel! I'm trying to eat more mediterranean and your recipes look fantastic! It's crazy that you lived in columbus, I used to work there and I live about an hour west. Lots of great restaurants!!

[@CarolineLFranco]

This MAKES MY DAY! Thank you so so much Angela, I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to leave such a thoughtful comment! And yes, so many yummy places in cbus!

[@Laurie0113]

Omg the salad looks so good, I almost wanna do it but even if I absolutely hate endives😂

[@CarolineLFranco]

You can TOTALLY use any lettuce green you’d like :) just used endive for the color and bitter taste but you can use anything

[@gkrecipe]

keep sharing yum recipes, i must say perfectly presented 👍that is just awesome, amazing recipe, See you around, keep sharing wonderful recipes, 🤗, Stay connected, Cheers! New sub here 🤗 have a great day!

[@CarolineLFranco]

Thank you so so much for the kind words of encouragement! They are much needed and appreciated, you're amazing 😋

[@pamelamarie4930]

trying them all

[@CarolineLFranco]

That makes me so so happy to hear Pamela, thank you so much - I hope you enjoy them if you do try them!

[@joanneandrea7298]

I love how you had to do a pivot when the cucumbers didn't work for you. How often does that happen to everyone!?!?!?! You just carried on and it turned out awesome! You asked what we'd like to see, and personally, I was really intrigued by the preserved lemons! I'd love to see a video all about preserved lemons, how they're preserved, what they taste like, and then a few cool recipes using them! Can you use them in drinks? Desserts? or are they only for savory uses?

[@CarolineLFranco]

Awe Joanne, I really appreciate you noticing that little mishap in the video, so happy it was relatable - that's why I left that part in! Preserved lemons are such a fun and different ingredient and now that I have a jar of them you can expect more recipes to come using them very soon! They really are only used in savory dishes with the rind... they can be added to anything to bring some salt, brine-y, bright flavors to a dish!

[@Hensuniverse827]

These all look sooo good, definitely adding all of them to my list. I think the fish one first then the pea pasta. I like that they push me out of my normal way to eat and prepare food, so I thank you! 💕 I think it would be cool if you could do a series or few videos of different recipes from different regions. My family in Gaeta eats loads of seafood, olives, and rolled meats…not as much cheese and pasta as I felt like other areas we visited had. PS-love that sweater on you, gorgeous colors!

[@CarolineLFranco]

Hello Jessica!! Thank you so much, I glad these recipes looked delish to you! This is a fantastic suggestion and I would love to get really creative with this idea, adding it to the list! 😊 also, you're so sweet - thank you for the compliment!

[@kaylacarslake6122]

Such a good way to meal prep 👌🏻 got some beautiful carrots at the market so thanks for the soup idea definitely going to try that one! I’ve made a pea pesto that I love now I have to add mascarpone purely for the pastel green vibe 😅🤍👏🏼

[@CarolineLFranco]

Right?! I was like oh, green pasta 😳 people might think it looks weird but then the color was such a pretty pastel pistachio/matcha green so I'm glad i'm not the only one who liked it 😆 pea pesto and mascarpone together sound so good too! Thank so much for watching and I hope the recipes turn out delicious for you if you try them💚

[@kchristinecarr6320]

Hi Caroline! Made your mascarpone pea sauce this week and it was delicious! Definitely a keeper! Will be trying the carrot ginger soup next. Happy Spring! We just had a late snow storm here in Colorado, so soup will be great!

[@CarolineLFranco]

Hello Christine thank you so much for coming back to the video and taking the time to write such a wonderful comment! Made my day to know you enjoyed the pea sauce and hopefully that soup will keep you warm! I heard about the snow that came through there recently…hope you enjoy the other recipes 😊 I appreciate you so much!

[@jackiegermann9317]

Caroline, I love peas! I’m going to make the pea sauce and pasta for sure. The anchovy sauce looks tasty too. In fact everything looks tasty!

[@CarolineLFranco]

Awe Jackie that warms my heart to read, thank you thank you! So happy the recipes look tasty and I hope you enjoy the pea pasta, it hit the spot for me! 👌🏼

[@jeanniemurphy6167]

I just started watching your videos...they all sound so delicious!! I have a question about the recipes that contain cashues and pistashios. I'm allergic to both them them. I try to make sure they aren't included in any of the ingredients when I purchase food. I have now discovered that when food is being processed if it is cooked in either one of these ingredients I still get sick. Would substituting the cashues with walnuts and pistashios with pinenuts work with the recipes? Thanks!

[@CarolineLFranco]

Hello Jeannie, thank you so much for your kind words, so happy to hear the recipes look good to you 😋 for the pistachios I actually recommend substituting walnuts, they are both a very hearty nut that would work interchangeably in the recipe. Soaked cashews don’t really have a nut replacement unfortunately however instead of soaked cashews for the carrot sauce you could use either canned coconut milk or silken tofu to achieve that dairy free creaminess! I hope this was helpful, happy to explain further!

[@LiiBorossy]

Chao Caroline! 🍋☀️ I’m so glad I found your channel, I love your vibe. I never thought to add anchovies to my salsa verde but I’m definitely trying that next! Soups are definitely something I love to eat and carrots 🥕 are a favorite. Have you tried carrot, fresh orange and ginger soup? I think you can make it creamy with your cashews as well. 🤗 Much love from Spain. Besos

[@CarolineLFranco]

Ciao beautiful!!😊 Thank you so so much for your kind comment, I really appreciate you taking the time to watch and write such encouraging words! I think orange would have been delicious in the soup - I added quite a bit of zest but some juice would have added even more good flavor! 😋Sending love back 🥰😘

[@LiiBorossy]

@@CarolineLFranco You are welcome ❤️

[@KellyMacBart1985]

I love your channel! You should talk to some cardiologist and get them recommending you to patients. Also, it sounded like you said 'cat shoes' instead of cashews 😂😂

[@CarolineLFranco]

Lol i could totally see me accidently talking so quickly it comes out sounding that way - opps 🤭🤣thank you SO SO much Kelly, I really appreciate your kind words 🥰

[@andreap9952]

Damn Caroline talk about a recipe video comeback !! My mouth is literally watering lie crazy over every single recipe you made here ! The marscapone pea pasta looks incredible and I want to make the pomegranate (and agave syrup I think ?) nuts ! Actually I want to make it all and right now lol ..I’ve even started saving up jars to keep sauces and random make ahead marinated whatnots in lol . Amazing job, I’ll leave comments in the recipe on your website when I make them ! 💙oh , and thank you for making some non dairy options as well !!

[@CarolineLFranco]

Girl YOU are awesome🥰❤️ thank you for the patience on a recipe video, SO happy these recipes look good because I was a bit nervous… I forgot to post the recipe for the walnuts asap because they were one of my favorites for the whole video - date syrup, pomegranate molasses, olive oil, salt and rosemary! You and me both, I have a random jar collection and I justify is for being more eco-friendly and for all different recipes haha I truly hope you enjoy the recipes Andrea and of course, try my best to include as many options/variations as possible!! 🤗

[@andreap9952]

@@CarolineLFranco love it all, thank you so much ! Your videos make me feel so light and happy ☺️

[@allhealthbrokeloose]

Hello, I'm happy to have found your channel and I'm trying to move from WW to Mediterranean diet. I am pretty good at winging it if I know the basic amounts for recipes. I am wondering if I"m missing the actual recipe with amounts of the ingredients you are using and if so where I might find the amounts. Also on the lemon, did you squeeze the inside and cut up peel? Also was it Date Syrup and then Pomegranate molasses you used? It's hard for me to see the actual ingredients. Yes I'm old. LOL. thank you and I'm planning on trying these out asap,

[@CarolineLFranco]

Hello, sorry for the delayed response! I have a website with all the ingredients amount for each recipe listed, on carolinelfranco.com ! I hope that helps!

[@ireneterpstra1366]

First time commenting because this is the first time I have watched you on the same day you uploaded a video. I have watched a lot of your older videos, getting to know you, etc. I recently decided to change from WW diet to 100% Mediterranean diet. To me that means lots more EVOO, and no sugar substitutes. I watched a lot of videos on cooking this way and for some reason I don't really know why yet, I seem to like your videos the best. It's most likely because you are so comfortable with this diet since you are of Italian decent. I like the idea of the carrot cashew ginger soup best. But I also just like the idea of making sauces ahead of time and having them to put on veggies and fish, etc. Right now I have farro cooking in my rice cooker. I used to have sauteed mushrooms and kale with beaten eggs on top for lunch most days. But I love grains and beans, so I thought your grain bowl an excellent idea. I was going to make hummus, but found a very good price on it at a discount store and so now I can save my garbanzo beans for a dinner dish. Do you eat bread? and if so what kind is best for this diet? I also got salad shrimp at that discount store and think shrimp would be good atop the farro. I haven't tried radishes in vinegar yet, but my mom always had me cut up radishes for a green salad, so they seem to fit into my world. Loved your Italy videos, honestly, I would have loved to have your grandmother or aunt demonstrate something they make that you haven't tried making yourself. But of course, you might just know how to make every thing they have cooked. I'm very long winded because I have KZbin on my computer and can type at a real keyboard. Keep laughing at yourself when you make your videos. Don't worry about making them perfect. We like you just as you are.

[@CarolineLFranco]

Hello Irene! I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to not only watch my videos but leave SUCH a wonderful comment as well. Farro is one of my favorite grains and I very much agree that a bean and grain combo is always delicious! Your meal combinations sound great, balanced with protein, veggies, and variety! I do eat bread, almost everyday - any bread is a part of the Mediterranean diet, in my opinion, I would just strongly suggest very high quality, freshly made bread. I almost always skip packaged bread and look for a bakery either locally or in the grocery for bread. And I tried a few times to get my Nonna to cook with me but she was always so shy…when i go back this fall maybe I can try again because not only would that be a fun video but also a great documented memory for me! I appreciate all your support and kind words of encouragement Irene! Keep your ideas and questions coming :)

[@ireneterpstra1366]

@@CarolineLFrancoYes, I think you should tell your grandmother, and your own mother too, that you want to have them on video making their favorite dishes. I kept the tape my brother did for my mom and dad when they bought an answering machine. They had no clue how to do a greeting. When my brother passed away, I wanted that record of his voice to keep for posterity. One day I was cleaning up some unlabeled voice cassettes and I put one in the not so modern tape machine I own and there was my mom singing. I almost cried. Well maybe I actually did cry. I can't sing worth a darn, but my mom could sing like an opera star and I was shocked to find that she had taped her singing. So, yes, get your family members on video if you can. Your family won't regret it.

[@shinymommy]

Totally off topic but your nails are so stinking cute!

[@CarolineLFranco]

Girl 😍 thank you! I love my nails so much so I’m so glad it was noticed lol 🌞🍊

[@chanteldavidson4546]

I love you. Wish we were friends

[@CarolineLFranco]

We are!! Thank you Chantel 😊

[@jolarson4316]

The chatty, chatty style and repetition are distracting.

[@alexiabeslaiman3260]

You don’t explain well what you are using you used what for the wAlnut rosemary ? …..

[@CarolineLFranco]

I I had mentioned and showed each ingredient but it was rather quick. you can find the full recipe on my website - walnuts, fresh rosemary, pomegranate molasses, date syrup and salt!