Chipotle Black Bean Burgers and Chili Sweet Potato Fries
Speaking of burgers…here is another tasty one. It’s budget friendly and it’s the perfect pantry meal for the end of “grocery week.” Simply keep roasted red pepper, black beans, corn (frozen or canned) and chipotle peppers on hand and you can have dinner in a flash! If you want a complete meal, try a side of Chili … Read more
Sweet Potatoes with Roasted Grapes, Goat Cheese & Honey
Roasting fruit is unexplored territory. Until now. I must say that it was worth the venture. Roasting grapes changes them a bit. They become sweeter and softer when roasted. They would be a great yogurt topping or snack when paired with cheese. If you do a web search you’ll see that there are lots of … Read more
Thanksgiving Keepers: Recipes for the Archives
Happy Thanksgiving! Today we had the pleasure of hosting Thanksgiving for the first time. I had a blast in the kitchen. I tried roasting my first turkey without a turkey bag. I was listening to Splendid Table, my favorite nerdy cooking radio show on NPR. They host a call-in show on Thanksgiving and I heard the … Read more
Recipe-On-The-Box Trilogy: Part I – Crispy Rosemary Chicken with Grape Nuts
Recently I found myself saying in disbelief, “Thanksgiving? NEXT week already?” This is one of those rare occasions where we find ourselves hosting Thanksgiving – how fun! The challenge will be paring down the menu & time management. In the meantime, I present the “Recipe-On-The-Box Trilogy.” A compilation of my favorite recipes found on the box. … Read more
Asian Chicken Meatballs with Peanut Sauce, Red Curry Couscous and Zucchini
We don’t have many meatball fans in this house, so once I found this Williams Sonoma recipe, I had high hopes for some meatball converts. Rather than beef, the meatballs are made out of chicken and incorporate these Asian flavors: ginger, lemongrass, cilantro, soy sauce, and garlic. The original recipe is an appetizer–pretty little meatballs served on lettuce leaves. I want … Read more
Roasted Balsamic Parmesan Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts “peak” season begins in September! This is one of my favorites, roasted brussels sprouts. Roasting brings out a rich flavor because of the caramelization that occurs. You can roast them whole, but I slice them, which means a shorter cook time and more surface area which browns. The flavors of this dish include balsamic vinegar and … Read more
Warm Butternut and Chickpea Salad with Tahini Dressing
I love squash, especially butternut. This wonderful warm squash salad includes chickpeas, garlic, red onions, and cilantro, though I substituted cilantro for fresh chives. It’s coated in an acidic & nutty dressing featuring lemon, garlic and tahini. (Tahini is sesame seed paste used in Middle Eastern foods, like hummus.) This dish is so delicious, it’s … Read more
Pork Tenderloin with Figs, Apricots, and Shitake Mushrooms & Barley Mushroom Risotto
I wanted to make a special meal for my family so I settled on a Pork Tenderloin with Figs, Apricots and Shitake Mushrooms. And it’s from crockpot.com. This dish is simple, only eight ingredients and it cooks in three hours. I served it with Barley-Mushroom Risotto and No-Knead Rosemary Parmesan Peasant Loaves. Enjoy! Pork Tenderloin with Figs, … Read more
Roasted Sweet-Potato Fries
Roasting is one of my favorite methods of cooking vegetables. It’s easy and the flavor that develops is unmatched. These “no fry” Roasted Sweet-Potato Fries are a hit. I’ve even tried it with carrots; the kids love it! Also, here’s a useful list from Eating Well about cooking veggies (scroll down to the alphabetical list). Roasted Sweet-Potato … Read more
