April 2013
1 post
Auntie Linda's Linguini with Clam Sauce
Even though Aunt Linda is an exceptional cook, I was pretty sure I would not be crazy in love with dinner this evening. Every time I have had clam sauce in the past, it was really pretty boring. She proved me wrong, and dinner was ten times better than eating out once again. Thank you auntie for sharing this recipe, it was the bomb dot com.
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Ingredients
1 box linguini (we prefer to...
January 2013
2 posts
5 tags
Ginger and Basil Chicken Soup
After a day on the mountain, this was a perfect warming and nourishing meal. I was craving a Thai coconut soup but didnt want to use a whole can of coconut milk. I sauteed the vegetables in coconut oil to keep that coconut flavor but it was less rich. The ginger, lime, and basil make it clean and light and very well balanced. I served the soup over brown rice noodles. which have a little more...
3 tags
Carrot and Parsnip Soup
I didn’t even know what a parsnip was until we got some in our farm share a few months ago. I haven’t cooked with them much, but loved the flavor they added to this soup. This recipe is easy to make, doesn’t take long, and is so creamy and rich with a little non-fat greek yogurt on top. I can’t wait to make this soup again, it was so good!
[[MORE]]Ingredients 1/2...
November 2012
3 posts
5 tags
One-Pot Shepherd's Pie
When I was first learning to cook, this was one of the first successes I had in the kitchen! I called my grandma and asked her for the recipe, and to this day I make it just like she did with a few added ingredients to make it my own. Living without a dishwasher has made me a little more careful about how many dishes I dirty when I cook. So when I thought of baking the shepherds pie in the same...
4 tags
Orange-Ginger Cranberry Sauce
Making your own cranberry sauce is easy to do, and it’s great to make the day before Thanksgiving — one less thing to do on the actual day. You can cut out some of the sugar by using orange juice as the liquid and the citrus and ginger round out the flavors of the cranberries.
[[MORE]] Ingredients 12 ounces cranberries 1/2 cup sugar 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1 cup orange juice 1...
5 tags
Kale, Sausage, and White Bean Soup
This flavorful and hearty soup is easy to make and works great as a main dish with some bread. These flavors bring me right back to my time in Tuscany!
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Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 3 carrots, 1/4 inch slices 2 stalks celery, 1/4 inch slices 1 large onion, chopped 1 pound or 4 links hot Italian sausage, removed from casing 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1...
October 2012
3 posts
“Soup is cuisine’s kindest course. It breathes reassurance; it steams...”
– Louis P. De Gouy
2 tags
Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
Green peppers were never my favorite, and usually when they come in our farm share I find a way to cook them up in something so I barely notice they are there. With so many this time of year, I just couldn’t keep up! So, I stuffed them with a mixture of veggies and quinoa, added ground beef and a little cheese, and baked them. This is a perfect week night meal — vegetables, quinoa, and meat...
4 tags
Mini Apple Pies
These sweet little individual pies are just the perfect size to eat with your hands, and what could be better than that? This recipe makes 12 mini pies, but it could easily be doubled to make 24.
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Ingredients
Dough 1 stick unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1/2 inch cubes 1 1/4 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons ice water Filling 6 or 7 apples, peeled and sliced (I used...
September 2012
3 posts
2 tags
Watermelon and Chevre Salad
Such a beautiful, refreshing, and well-balanced summer salad. It is also great with some toasted almonds or pecans, or even some chia seeds for a little texture.
[[MORE]]Ingredients Romaine lettuce, rinsed and cut into bit sized piece Watermelon, cut into 1/2 inch cubes Cucumber, halved and thinly sliced Crumbled chevre Scallions, thinly sliced
Directions Combine all ingredients in a large...
3 tags
Good-For-You Chocolate Truffles
Sugar-free, dairy-free, flour and gluten-free, and no eggs—you’re probably wondering how these can possibly taste good. The secret ingredient is DATES! They sweeten the chocolate, hold everything together, and give it a super smooth texture. Walnuts give the them a buttery flavor and cayenne pepper adds a little heat. Serve these with some fruit for a healthy and delicious treat.
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August 2012
4 posts
8 tags
Falafel Pitas with Tzatziki Sauce
My very favorite falafel came from street carts in Italy; they were so good I had to try to recreate them at home. I made the dough from scratch by putting chickpeas, onions, and spices in the food processor, refrigerating the mixture, then cooking them in a pan. I try to make a vegetarian meal once a week, and this is such a great option since chickpeas are a great source of protein and they are...
5 tags
Roasted Eggplant and Red Pepper Salad
Eggplant, roasted red peppers, and mozzarella simply belong together. In the past I have breaded and fried the eggplant for this salad, but last night I decided to be brave and try a healthier cooking method. Roasting the eggplant at a high heat for 15 minutes on each side gave it a crispy texture that added so much to the salad.
[[MORE]]Ingredients for 4 servings 1 eggplant, thinly sliced (a...
4 tags
Mexican Lasagna
I used corn tortillas, ancho chili spiced ground beef, and cheddar cheese, to reinvent the classic Italian dish. (Re-fried black beans would have been a great addition.) A few secrets to success: crisp the tortillas quick in a frying pan before baking, use dried ancho chiles for bold but not too spicy flavor, and use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream to complement the flavors.
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July 2012
4 posts
3 tags
Heavenly Deviled Eggs
This twist on deviled eggs was inspired by The Independent in Union Square. Cool cucumber + salty bacon + creamy filling sounds perfect enough. But I also healthy-ed up the recipe with no sacrifice to flavor. Don your halo and wings, friends. This is heavenly stuff.
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Ingredients
6 large eggs
2 Tablespoons light mayonnaise
2 Tablespoons non-fat plain yogurt
1-2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
½...
3 tags
Arugula, Sweet Potato, and Goat Cheese Salad
This salad was inspired by 3 Little Figs, an adorable coffee shop that just opened up near Davis Square. The ‘Market’ sandwich on their menu features sweet potato, goat cheese, arugula, and honey with all ingredients sourced locally. I love this place! I made my salad with roasted beets and sweet potatoes, prosciutto, goat cheese, and dried cranberries over a bed of red leaf lettuce...
6 tags
Greek Egg-Lemon Soup
This traditional Greek soup is delicious and very filling without being too calorie dense. It is really creamy without adding a drop of actual cream. It is the perfect comfort food. Enjoy!
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Ingredients 1/2 cup white long grain rice 6 cups chicken stock, the good stuff EVOO, just a swirl in the pan 1 white onion 2 cloves of garlic 2 cups cooked chicken (just pull everything off a...
Savory-Sweet Basil Corn
This is one of those recipes where the result is greater than the sum of the parts. It’s so delicious! And it’s a perfect way to use up extra corn. When I first made this dish I was trying to use up corn from earlier in the week. It was getting starchy and I didn’t have high hopes but sautéing brought the sweetness right back. I had Basil Corn with dinner…and polished off the bowl for dessert.
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June 2012
6 posts
4 tags
Steakhouse Tips
If you ever buy “steakhouse” tips from the store, give these a try. This is the easiest marinade imaginable and the tips taste exactly the same! I leave out the mustard seed that you find in most steakhouse marinades but feel free to add if you like. Then these would look AND taste like they came straight from the butcher case.
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Ingredients
1 lb sirloin steak tips
1/2 cup...
6 tags
Rhubarb-Jalapeno BBQ Sauce
This tangy homemade BBQ sauce was made with fresh rhubarb right out of the garden, onions, jalapenos, and garlic. Try it on chicken or pork, it is absolutely delicious!
[[MORE]]Ingredients 1 lb fresh rhubarb, chopped 1 large onion, chopped 3 cloves of garlic, minced 2 whole jalapenos, diced with seeds 2 cups cider vinegar 1 cup champagne vinegar 6 sprigs fresh thyme 1 cup ketchup 1 cup...
8 tags
Hoisin-Honey Glazed Pork Chops with Bok Choy,...
With the first week of my CSA filling the fridge with a variety of locally grown vegetables, its time to start getting creative in the kitchen! No more picking out a recipe, buying the ingredients, then making it. Freshly picked veggies are now delivered weekly and become the inspiration for planning every meal. There are still summer farm shares left at Enterprise Farm, this week we got kale,...
7 tags
Strawberry Rhubarb Cake
Light and fluffy cake covered with sweet and sour strawberries and rhubarb, all topped with brown sugar crumbles — makes for an absolutely perfect dessert. Make this cake gluten-free or use all-purpose flour; it will be delicious either way! (I was a little skeptical of how gluten-free flour would affect the flavor and texture, but it came out so good!) This is the perfect cake for early summer as...
5 tags
Gazpacho
It was rainy and cold this past weekend, and in no way felt like summer. So I’m not exactly sure what inspired a cold summer soup. Regardless, it was delicious, especially the second day. Make this soup ahead of time and give it at least 4 hours in the fridge to chill and let the flavors blend.
[[MORE]]Ingredients 3 large ripe tomatoes, cut into 1/4 inch cubes 2 roasted red peppers,...
4 tags
Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Just scoop out the inside of a zucchini, saute the inside parts up with hot Italian sausage, onions, garlic, and spices, then refill the hollowed out parts with the stuffing, top it with Parmesan cheese, and bake it. Simple as that! These little zucchini boats go very well with pasta on the side.
[[MORE]]Ingredients 4 zucchini, sliced in half lengthwise, with the inside part scooped out and...
May 2012
11 posts
2 tags
Pan Seared Salmon with Pineapple Salsa
Purple onions, pineapple, orange and red peppers, avocados, and jalapenos all diced and thrown together to make such a bright and flavorful salsa. The heat of the jalapeno is subdued slightly by the sweetness of the pineapple and the creaminess of the avocado, these flavors go so well together. The salmon was pan seared for 5 minutes on each side, and perfectly pink in the middle. Served with...
1 tag
Best Sunday Morning Bloody Mary
[[MORE]]Ingredients (makes 2 tall servings) 2 1/2 cups vegetable juice, or tomato juice if you prefer 2 tablespoons horseradish 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 clove garlic, minced 4 dashes worchestire sauce 4 dashes hot sauce (more if you like it hot) Juice from 1/2 lemon Juice from 1/2 lime Freshly ground pepper A pinch of salt 4 ounces vodka Ice cubes Celery for garnish
Directions Pour...
5 tags
Roasted Root Vegetables
Roasting vegetables brings out a mild sweetness and fragrance that will fill your house with goodness. I used carrots, parsnips, and beets here, but you can add turnips, sweet potatoes, celery root, or any other kind of root vegetable you like!
[[MORE]]Ingredients 3 carrots, peeled and cut into 1 inch slices 3 parsnips, peeled and cut into 1 inch slices 3 beets, peeled and cut into 1 inch...
8 tags
Spinach Salad with Garlic-Soy Dressing
This salad has bold flavors and such a great variety of textures! Its a perfect salad to make if you have some left over rice too. The garlic and soy dressing is a little bit salty and combines well with the sweet raisins. And, one of the best things about this salad is the leftovers make a great stir-fry!
[[MORE]]Ingredients 1 bag spinach 16 ounces mushrooms, thinly sliced 1 cup bean...
3 tags
Shitake, Oyster, Portabella Mushroom Risotto
I found these local mushrooms from Siena Farms in Sudbury, MA at the Copley Square Farmers Market one Friday after work. Decided they would be great in a traditional risotto. This rice dish requires constant stirring while slowly adding the broth little by little, but it is well worth it in the end.
[[MORE]]Ingredients 4 Tbsp EVOO 3 cloves garlic, chopped 1lb assorted mushrooms chopped 2...
7 tags
Polynesian Pork Ribs with Pineapple
Lately I have been trying to spend a little less time in the kitchen, its finally starting to feel like summer and I want to be outside! My time-saver tonight was the crock pot! I threw everything in this morning, and came home to a delicious smelling house and a meal waiting for me. The salad was made with romaine lettuce, baby spinach, red peppers, grated carrots and beets, cucumbers, cherry...
6 tags
Roasted Cauliflower with Leeks, Raisins, and Pine...
This is such a healthy and delicious cauliflower dish. The flavors and textures complement each other so well: the mild onion flavor of roasted leeks, the buttery flavor and crunchy texture of the roasted pine nuts, and the sweetness of the raisins.
[[MORE]]Serves 4 as a side dish. Recipe adapted from Cooking with Shelburne Farms.
Ingredients 1 head cauliflower, cored and broken into bite...
6 tags
Spaghetti Squash with Pesto and Meat Sauce
I made spaghetti squash last week for the first time and loved it! It is such a great alternative to pasta if you are trying to watch your carb intake or if you are simply trying to get more vegetables into your diet. And best of all you can load it up with whatever kind of healthy sauces you would normally put on pasta. I made both pesto and meat sauce to have with it because I couldn’t...
4 tags
Cajun Style Ribs
I bought these beautiful ribs from Stillman’s farm at the Saturday afternoon farmers market at the Armory in Somerville. I ground fresh spices to make a Cajun style rub, and glazed them with agave nectar at the very end. They were served over mashed turnips and sauteed Swiss chard with garlic.
[[MORE]]Ingredients 3 tablespoons Cajun Seasoning Blend Rack of ribs 3 tablespoons agave...
8 tags
Cajun and Italian Seasoning Blends and Citrus...
This past weekend was my sister’s graduation and mother’s day! I made my sister and mom each a gift bag containing these homemade spice blends, and salad dressing. Check out different uses for them below, and try the recipes I used them with!
[[MORE]]Cajun Seasoning Blend Use this flavorful spice blend as a rub for meat, poultry, or fish then grill, bake, broil, or fry. This Cajun...
11 tags
Fish Taco Lettuce Wraps with Cabbage Slaw
The flaky ocean perch in these lettuce wraps was so flavorful with the cilantro, citrus, and garlic marinade. The sweet heat in the cabbage slaw from the mango and jalapeno complemented the fish perfectly. I served the lettuce wraps with guacamole on the side, to add a creamy texture and cool the heat from the slaw a bit. What a summery and bright meal!
[[MORE]]Ingredients Marinade for the...
April 2012
10 posts
“Summer cooking implies a sense of immediacy, a capacity to capture the essence...”
– Elizabeth David
4 tags
Green Bean and Roasted Pepper Salad
The simplicity of this salad allows each of the ingredients to shine. The blanched green beans give it such a beautiful bright green color and crisp texture, and they contrast so well with the roasted red and yellow peppers and hard boiled eggs. The light dressing made with good olive oil and red wine vinegar ties everything together.
[[MORE]]Ingredients 1 pound green beans, with the ends...
5 tags
Catalan White Bean Salad with Fresh Mint
The mint and the cold temperature of this bean salad make it very refreshing and a great complement to spicy hot main dishes.
[[MORE]]Ingredients 2 15 ounce cans navy beans (cannellini beans, Lima beans, or fava beans will also work), rinsed well 4 oz prosciutto, finely shredded 1 head Romaine lettuce, finely shredded 10 large mint leaves, minced 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 3 tablespoons...
5 tags
Lemon Parsley Orzo
In cooking – as in life I suppose - simple is often best. This lemony wonder has just 7 ingredients, takes 10 minutes to make, and serves double duty as a side dish or salad base. Try it as a side for grilled chicken or fish at dinner. Then chop any leftovers and mix with the orzo. Ta-da! Tomorrow’s healthy lunch.
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Ingredients
½ package orzo (8 oz) Kosher salt Olive oil ½ small onion,...
5 tags
Catalan Eggplant and Zucchini Samfaina (Vegetable...
My Spanish tapas cooking class has become such a fun and tasty way to spend Wednesday evenings. The recipes are all so wholesome and filled with intense and delicious flavors, and the dishes we prepare complement each other so well. My favorite recipes have been the vegetable ones. This sauce is no exception, and served over bread, it is absolute heaven (and I am not even a huge fan of eggplant...
3 tags
Baked Onion Rings, Zucchini, and Mozzarella
These are crispy and delicious onion rings, mozzarella sticks, and breaded zucchini all baked to perfection and served with a simple marinara sauce. I was so surprised at how close these came to the fried versions I love so much. I will definitely be making these again!
[[MORE]] Adapted from Skinny Baked Mozzarella Sticks and Onion Rings. This recipe serves 6-8 people.
Ingredients 1 onion,...
3 tags
Deliciously Deviled Eggs
Creamy and light with a little spice, these deviled eggs are seriously good. This recipe can easily be doubled to serve a crowd. Make them for your next party or bring them to a potluck!
[[MORE]]Ingredients 6 eggs 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/4 teaspoon paprika (plus a bit more to sprinkle on top) 1/4...
3 tags
Simple Oven-Roasted Cauliflower
Another vegetable side dish… the smoky flavor and crunchy texture of these cauliflower florets is so delicious. With just a little crushed garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, and olive oil this recipe is so versatile, easy, and quick to make!
[[MORE]]Ingredients 1 head cauliflower, broken into florets 1 teaspoon olive oil 2 cloves crushed garlic 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground...
3 tags
Zucchini Cakes
These zucchini cakes are so light and crispy. They are made with just a few simple ingredients, but make a delicious addition to any meal.
[[MORE]]Ingredients 2 zucchinis, grated 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 small onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, minced or pressed 1 egg, beaten 1/2 cup whole wheat bread crumbs 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1 tablespoon canola oil
Directions Add the...
“When baking, follow directions. When cooking, go by your own taste.”
– Laiko Bahrs
March 2012
14 posts
Thai Red Curry Chicken with Peppers and Peas
Here is a healthy, quick, vegetable-packed meal - and you only have to clean one pot! Use light coconut milk to cut down on saturated fat and calories. You will still get the creamy texture and luscious coconut flavor.
[[MORE]]Ingredients 2 tsp olive oil 2-3 chicken breasts (about 1lb) sliced crosswise in 1/2 in pieces 1 small onion, 1/2 inch slices 1 each red, orange and yellow bell peppers,...
Kale, Mushroom and Cranberry Tart
This savory tart is so good! The creamy and strong flavor of the blue cheese combined so well with the sweetness of the cranberries, the freshness of the kale, and the meatiness of the mushrooms.
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Adapted from Giada De Laurentiis.
Ingredients Crust 1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting 3/4 cup whole wheat flour ½ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon baking soda ½ stick butter,...
5 tags
Eggs Benedict with Sun-Dried Tomato Hollandaise...
Too good not to post, this lighter version of Hollandaise sauce uses buttermilk and cornstarch to thicken it up. Normally this decadent sauce is made with a stick of butter and 5 egg yolks, yikes! Hollandaise is also great with vegetables and salmon.
[[MORE]]Ingredients 4 eggs 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons of vinegar 2 cups of spinach 6 slices of bacon 1 English muffins, split and toasted
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