Grilled Eggplant & Scallions with Parsley Pesto
All too often, vegetable side dishes play second fiddle to a show-stopping main course. Not this time! These grilled vegetables served with a vibrant green pesto will add a whole new level of pizzazz to your dinner table. This eye-catching dish is quite simple to prepare. But don’t give yourself away – let your guests think you toiled away in the … Read More...
Mini Courgettes & Carrots with Lemon Caper Dressing
Okay, I guess the title of this recipe sounds a tad pretentious, but it seemed to roll off the tongue a bit easier than "baby zucchini and carrots". I picked up a package of these sweet, tender little veggies at Trader Joes. They are wonderful raw as a snack, but I felt the need for something cooked. This is an easy dish to toss together quickly. … Read More...
Roasted Red Pepper Soup
This is a mid-winter treat that I owe to my in-laws. I mentioned previously that they roast a big load of red peppers at the end of the summer and freeze to have on hand all winter. They gave us much as we could cram into our ice box and we've gone through nearly all of them. Note to self – buy larger freezer. If you can't convince your parents to do … Read More...
Wild Rice Stuffed Mushrooms
One of my culinary missions is to make healthier versions of my favorite foods. Stuffed mushrooms usually have ingredients such as butter, multiples types of cheese in large quantities, mayonnaise, salt, oil and greasy bacon or sausage. My recipe still has the flavor you seek in a stuffed mushroom, but it uses less than 2 teaspoons of oil, 1 ounce of … Read More...
Thai Noodles with Broccoli Zucchini Peppers & Tofu
While shopping at Trader Joe’s the other day, their new products shelf had Organic Brown Rice & Quinoa Pasta. It’s gluten free and has 5 grams of protein per serving so I decided to give it a try. I’ve been in the mood for Thai recently, but rather than going my usual spicy route, I decided to make a mild sauce using almond butter instead … Read More...
Grilled Romaine Tomato & Onion Salad with Toasted Pepitas
On a chilly day, there are times when I don’t feel like eating a big, delicious, nutritious salad because it’s ….. well, cold! There’s no need to skip the salad when you can grill everything. I received a George Foreman grill for Christmas and decided to put it to good use. Even though I associate this appliance with grilled meat, it works really … Read More...
Ethiopian Spiced Chickpeas
I remember the first time I had Ethiopian food. My husband (then boyfriend) took me to the Blue Nile in Detroit’s Greektown neighborhood. I was intrigued by the intoxicating aromas wafting through the entrance. I never smelled anything quite like it – a combination of cayenne, clove, cinnamon, ginger, and coriander with other spices I wasn’t familiar … Read More...
Kiwi & Mint Salad with Pineapple Dressing
When I presented this to my husband for a taste test, he looked at me quizzically and asked, “Shouldn’t you be cooking something hot?” Then he ate it and asked for a second plate. So why am I making a tropical fruit dish when it’s -18 degrees outside? Because somewhere in the world there are people on the beach running their toes through the piping hot … Read More...
Blueberry Buckwheat & Banana Breakfast Bowl
No, I didn't plan out the name of this recipe. All of those B's were an accident. A delicious one! I mentioned in the Black Eye Peas & Buckwheat Vegetable Soup post that I developed a crush on buckwheat and I mean it. It seems to be working its way into almost every breakfast, lunch and dinner I have lately. Try using buckwheat … Read More...
Black Eye Peas & Buckwheat Vegetable Soup
After a nice, long holiday, I should be eager to jump back into work. It’s not happening. The weather this month has been uncharacteristically pleasant and I’m spending as much time outside as possible before the inevitable deep freeze sets in. I’m easing myself back into a productive schedule, and this soup is about as easy as it gets. Just … Read More...