Featured Recipe
Ancho Chili Black Bean Potato Skins
Serves 4 Ingredients 2 dried ancho chilies 1 C. boiling water 2 T. olive oil 1 small yellow onion, minced 1/4 C. minced fresh cilantro 1 t. ground coriander 2 T. tomato paste 2 C. cooked, drained black beans salt to taste Place the ancho chilies in a pie pan,…
Korean BBQ Tofu Tacos
Serves 4 Gochujang Roasted Tofu Filling 2 T. gochujang (Korean chili paste) 3 T. sesame oil 2 T. maple syrup 1 lb. extra firm tofu Preheat Oven to 400 degrees. Line a pan with parchment paper and lightly oil it’s surface. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the gochujang,…
Cold Pea Soup with Shrimp and Carrot Salad
Cold soups generally leave me cold. They just seem like an excuse for a cold drink. But this one is an exception. Prepared with all the prescribed accoutrements, curried shrimp, shredded carrots, and toasted nuts, this dish is a perfectly refreshing warm-weather meal. Makes 4 servings Hands-on time: 25 minutes…
Homemade Beer Bread with Pulled Chicken Barbecue and Quick Cucumber Pickles
Makes 4 Servings Hands-On Time: 20 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 20 Minutes Suggested Accompaniment Cole slaw Ingredients 1 recipe Beer Bread (recipe below) or use 4 large rolls or hamburger buns 1 recipe Basic Barbeque Sauce (recipe below) or 2 cups store-bought sauce 1 recipe Dill Pickle Cucumber Slices (recipe…
Two-Melon, Proscuitto and Feta Salad
Melon and prosciutto is such a refreshing summertime appetizer that I wondered if there was a way to make it entree-hearty without ruining its essential appeal. I did it by adding watermelon and feta cheese to the lineup. These two play together beautifully – the sweet watermelon and the salty…
Bruschetta al Tonno
Everyone loves Italian food, especially The Husband. When we go out to eat, Italian is his number one choice and one of his favorite Italian spots is Tre Dici, a tiny little neighborhood spot with a terrific chef, Giuseppe Fanelli. We love Giuseppe’s gutsy down to earth food. It is…
Watermelon Screwdrivers
Serves 4 to 6 Hands-on time: 20 minutes Total preparation time: 4 1/2 hours (Due to freezing) Ingredients 1 pound cubed watermelon flesh, about 5 cups 1 quart orange juice, preferably fresh 3/4 cup vodka or to taste Directions Remove all the seeds from the watermelon and place in a…
Asian Chicken Salad with Carrot Ginger Sauce
This recipe was an excuse for me to repurpose the super-refreshing carrot salad dressing served at sushi restaurants. You’re welcome to substitute peanuts for the almonds, and cooked broccoli for the sugar snap peas. The “uncooked” ramen noodles add crunch, sort of like an Asian crouton. Many people don’t know…
Peach and Blackberry Dessert Tamales
This is a brilliant recipe invented by Suzie Trivisonno, my new friend from Charlotte, North Carolina who entered our locavore competition last summer and submitted what we felt was the most original recipe using ingredients from 50 miles near her home. I was so happy to visit Charlotte and her…
Mushroom Enchiladas
Makes 4 Servings Hands-On Time: 25 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 40 Minutes Ingredients 1 1/2 pounds portobello mushrooms (about 6 medium to large) 3 T fresh lime juice 2 t ground cumin Kosher salt 1/4 c plus 1 T vegetable oil 3 garlic cloves, 2 unpeeled 3/4 pound plum tomatoes…
Grilled Salmon, Arugula & Grilled Corn Salad, Sweet Pea & Avocado Crostini
Makes 4 servings Suggested Accompaniment Serve with a Chardonnay Ingredients Four 6-ounce boneless, skinless filets of salmon seasoned with extra virgin olive oil to coat and a liberal sprinkling of salt and pepper Sweet Pea Hummus (recipe below) Crostini (recipe below) 2 ears of fresh corn shucked, grilled and cut…
Spicy Greens Ravioli
Servings: 4 Start to finish: 40 minutes Hands on time: 30 minutes 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 9 cups packed spicy or bitter greens, such as arugula, escarole, watercress or, mustard, chopped fine 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons homemade ricotta cheese (see recipe below) or store bought ricotta 3 tablespoons…
Kentucky Lemonade
Hands-on-time: 10 minutes Total prep time: 55 minutes There are two secrets to making great lemonade: Secret #1 – Roast your lemons. Secret #2 – Bourbon. Fortunately, this recipe incorporates both those tips to deliver one of the greatest summer taste sensations of them all: Kentucky Lemonade. You can use…
Toasted Pasta Spanish-Style with Shrimp and Chorizo
Start to finish: 1 hour 20 minutes Hands on time: 1 hour Servings: 4 1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp 3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon minced garlic, divided Kosher salt 8 ounces fideos, spaghettini or thin spaghetti, broken into 1 to 2-inch lengths 6…
Zucchini and Pasta Noodles with Garlicky Yogurt Sauce
Serves 4 Hands-on-time: 15 minutes Total prep time: 30 minutes 4 cups baby zucchini 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Pinch of saffron 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 1/2 cups labneh 8 cups zucchini spiral noodles 4 cups cooked angel hair pasta 1/4 cup minced cilantro 1/4…
Baby Egg Rolls with Soy Dipping Sauce
For the Egg Rolls: 1/4 cup olive oil One 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced 1 garlic clove, minced One 1/2-pound boneless pork chop, cut into thin strips 2 scallions, white and 1 inch of the green parts, thinly sliced 1 carrot, julienned 1 large red bell pepper, julienned…
Chinese-Burmese Chili Chicken
Serves 3 as a main dish with rice, or 4 as part of a multi-course meal Ingredients 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thigh or breast, cut crosswise into ½-inch-thick large slices 2 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 2…
Sauteed Lemon Chicken with Fried Capers
Start to finish: 45 minutes Hands on time: 45 minutes Servings: 4 1 pound chicken breast cutlets, preferably thin sliced 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, divided 3 tablespoons rinsed, drained and dried capers Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper All-purpose flour (preferably wondra) for dredging the chicken…
Yellow Squash Soup with Zucchini Crisps
Makes about 10 cups, 4 – 6 servings Hands on time: 50 minutes Total preparation time: 60 minutes Suggested Accompaniment Tomato and Frisée Salad Ingredients 2 pounds yellow summer squash (about 6 medium) 1 large yellow bell pepper 4 medium carrots 1/2 pound Yukon gold potatoes (about 2 medium) 1…
Yellow Squash Soup with Zucchini Crisps
Makes about 10 cups, 4 – 6 servings Hands on time: 50 minutes Total preparation time: 60 minutes Suggested Accompaniment Tomato and Frisée Salad Ingredients 2 pounds yellow summer squash (about 6 medium) 1 large yellow bell pepper 4 medium carrots 1/2 pound Yukon gold potatoes (about 2 medium) 1…
Grilled Southwestern Pizza
Makes 2 medium pizzas Hands-on time: 15 minutes Total preparation time: 30 minutes plus rising time 1 recipe Food Processor Pizza Dough, divided into 3 balls Olive oil for brushing and drizzling 3 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese 3 scallions, white and 1 inch of the green parts, thinly sliced 1 fresh or…
BLT and Egg Pie
Makes 6 Servings Hands-On Time: 30 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 65 Minutes Suggested Accompaniments sautéed summer squash or corn on the cob Basic Butter Pastry (recipe follows) or store-bought pastry for a single-crust pie Ingredients 1 pound small ripe tomatoes Kosher salt 8 slices bacon (see Cooks Notes) 1 medium…
Sparkling Watermelon Lemonade
Makes 6 drinks Ingredients 4 cups cubed fresh watermelon (seeds removed) 5 to 6 tablespoons superfine sugar or to taste 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice seltzer, well chilled Fresh mint sprigs for garnish Directions In a blender combine the watermelon, sugar and lemon juice. Puree until very smooth. Taste and…
Roasted Red Pepper and Prosciutto Lasagna
Wonton skins, which can be found in the frozen food section of your supermarket, cook up beautifully, just like fresh Italian pasta, and I see no reason not to stock them in your freezer at home and thaw them out whenever you want to make “homemade” ravioli or lasagna. Your…