Winter Salad with Pear and Pomegranate

When I'm planning my week's lunches, I often shy away from salads because I convince myself that it won't be enough food, or that they won't be as good as I want them to be.  A few years ago, I threw this salad together and it proves both of the above fears unfounded. It also shows that winter salads can be a dream, not just a sad echo of summertime.  It's my favorite desk lunch for this time of year, a welcome contrast to holiday potlucks and winter's more carb-heavy offerings.

Spinach
Pear (I've happily substituted apple as well)
Pomegranate Arils
Pecan Pieces
Cooked Quinoa (I use red here)
Feta
Olive Oil
Balsamic

I unfortunately don't have exact measurements for you, because I think most of us like different proportions in our salad and I tend to just make one serving.  I wash my spinach and cut it with clean kitchen shears into small pieces.  Then I cube the pear and remove the arils from pomegranate before adding them, the pecans, and the quinoa.  Last, I crumble the feta over the salad and drizzle it with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Stuffed Chicken with Pesto, Mozzarella, and Tomatoes

I am about to post a recipe that *gasp* I do not have photos of, but as I've gone nearly a year without posting, I am making an exception for myself (mostly because I am the one who cares the most about our blog having photos with the recipes).  I feel fairly sad about that, because I will note that this chicken turns out quite aesthetically pleasing.

I have a semi-part-time job which involves cooking nice dinners for small groups of people, and it's highly enjoyable, particularly when I get to choose the dish.  I forgot how much I enjoy the challenge of creating a meal that many people enjoy regardless of differing tastes and dietary requirements.  Here's what I made tonight, an easy crowd-pleaser:

Stuffed Chicken with Pesto, Mozzarella, and Tomatoes
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup pesto
1 lb mozzarella cheese
1/2 lb cherry tomatoes
Olive Oil
Bread Crumbs

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Grease a baking sheet or glass pan. Dredge outside only of chicken in olive oil, then breadcrumbs. Butterfly the chicken halves by slicing the long, thin side nearly all the way through (but leave enough to keep the pieces together).  Spread pesto evenly across all four pieces.  Slice mozzarella and spread evenly across all four pieces. Slice cherry tomatoes in half, place roughly 4 tomatoes on each open piece of chicken.  Fold chicken closed and securely fasten with toothpicks. (Pull sides of chicken as tightly together as possible, potentially using multiple toothpicks.  The risk is having some melted cheese and pesto drip out, not to worry if you do, just spoon back over the top of the chicken once cooked).  Slice the rest of the cherry tomatoes and place on top of chicken and in the pan.

Bake at 375 for 30-40 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.  These chicken breasts were quite large, so I cut them in half and found that this comfortably served 8 with sufficient side dishes, or you could make the chicken the focus of the meal with a small salad on the side.

note: I tried to include measurements here for those that prefer them, but you should follow your instincts and use less cheese, if you aren't a cheese fanatic like us sisters, or more tomatoes, if you have an abundance, etc. etc. I would consider stuffing some spinach leaves in there in the future, as well.  Could easily be gluten-free w/out breadcrumbs, or with gluten-free ones, so that's why it is tagged as such.

Kale & Chickpeas, Or, The Only Thing I Want To Eat

This is from Heidi Swanson's Super Natural Every Day cookbook, except she makes it with dandelion greens.  It's tasty that way too, but I love the texture of kale so much that I generally make it this way instead.  (And when I say generally, I mean "probably twice a week.")  It's divine with soup, over rice, over couscous, by itself....

2-3 bunches kale (any type), torn
1 can chickpeas, rinsed
Olive oil
Juice of 1-2 lemons
about 1 TB red pepper flakes
5-6 cloves garlic, chopped
salt

Heat the oil in a skillet.  Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until aromatic.  (Don't let the garlic get crispy or dark.)  Add chickpeas, cook until they start to darken.  Add lemon  juice and salt,   Add kale.  Eat when kale is cooked.

Thanksgiving Leftover Cornish Pasties

If you've never heard of a Cornish Pasty, well, it is high time you educate yourself because apparently there's even more excuses to wrap delicious food in pastry crust and eat it than pot pies and gallettes.  One of my favorite restaurants in Phoenix makes it their mission to do so to almost every food imaginable - chicken tikka masala, carne adovada, cajun chicken, you name it.  They also have one called "The Pilgrim", which is all the Thanksgiving joy you ever need in one convenient pie crust package.  If I ever had to spend a holiday at a restaurant, Cornish Pasty it would be.

I never considered the brilliance of attempting this at home, however, until one year in college when I was kindly invited over to my dear friend's family's home (where I gratefully spent many a college holiday) for Thanksgiving, and learned that they make pasties out of their leftovers each  year.  I ask you, did you ever believe that there was a way to make Thanksgiving leftovers, arguably one of the top 10 food genres on the planet, EVEN BETTER? Well, this surpasses it all, and is shockingly not going to require you spend too much more time in the kitchen the day after you've just churned out a feast that made you want to order takeout for three weeks after the leftovers run out.


Preheat oven to 375
2 single pie crusts (or one double), unbaked
Thanksgiving leftovers!
1 egg for egg wash

All need to do is make a few extra pie crusts when you are making your pies.  Last year, for six of us, my friends and I made two extra (single) pie crusts in preparation while we were in the Thanksgiving cooking craze, then threw them in the fridge.  On Friday, we rolled them out (keep it a little on the thicker side) and cut them into 6 equal circles (we traced the circles with a plate, whatever seems to work).  We then invited each guest into the kitchen to fill half of their circle of dough with whatever leftovers their heart desired.  A winning combination is definitely sweet potatoes and/or mashed potatoes, stuffing, and turkey. Be sure to leave space need the edge to seal the dough. Add a little gravy to keep it moist but be careful not to overdo the liquid- save the cranberry sauce and most of your gravy for dipping.  Fold the empty half of each circle of dough over the filling, creating a semi-circle pressing down on the edges with a fork to seal.  Be sure to mark each person's pasty - traditionally, Cornish pasties were marked with the individual initials of each family member to distinguish them.  Brush with an egg wash and place in the oven.  Check at 20 minutes, but they'll likely need longer.  Bake until crust begins to brown.  Enjoy with caution, as it may cause you to declare the leftovers BETTER than  your meal the day before.

Thinly Shaved Broccoli Salad with Feta & Burst Tomatoes

This has become a staple at the O'Parady house lately, mostly because it's delicious and holds up well for lunches. Top with a fried egg for lunch or serve with stuffed portabellas or a nice piece of salmon or steak for dinner.

Thinly Shaved Broccoli Salad with Feta & Burst Tomatoes

2-3 heads broccoli
Grape or cherry tomatoes
Nice block of feta
Olive oil
Lemon
Plain whole-milk or greek yogurt
Sea Salt
Pepper

Slice your tomatoes in half and saute over medium heat with a bit of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, and generous salt and pepper. I like to have a 2:1 broccoli:tomato ratio, but you can adjust accordingly. Normally I use somewhere between 1/2 and 1 container of tomatoes.

While those heat to bursting, wash and thinly slice your broccoli. I cut off the rough ends of the stem but leave as much of it as possible, then work almost in a shaving motion from stem to floret. Shave it as thinly as possible: you end up with almost one-dimensional little broccoli tree figures.

Chop up your feta into small crumbly cubes. Try to use a nice feta and be generous here. Toss with broccoli and tomatoes.

Now, time for dressing. In a bowl, whisk a big scoop of yogurt with a generous drizzle of olive oil, several squeezes of lemon juice, and possibly a touch of water to thin. Add salt and pepper to taste. You want this to be really tangy and a touch salty. Use enough to generously dress the salad, that's key.

Fold your dressing into the bowl with the broccoli, tomatoes, and feta, and enjoy.

Food allergies and ethics
Vegetarian and gluten free, with no fuss at all.

Corn & Purple Rice Dinner Salad

I have no idea what to call this, but it's soooo good:

The ingredients are just a good nutty rice (in this case, long grain purple rice, which is a thing! - one rice-cooker cup), the corn from 3 cobs (quickly boiled), and healthy doses of grated Gruyere, fresh chopped parsley, chopped dried cherries, olive oil, salt, and lemon juice or white balsamic vinegar - mixed together and served warm.  

Late Winter Meals: Eating Lately (Refried Beans with Veggie Hash and Eggs, Sausage Soup, and Polenta Bowls)

It's been a long winter here in Boston. This week we have a reprieve, but since the God of Prediction Nate Silver says we're probably gonna get more snow, well, I thought I'd better post our late winter staple meals. I'm starting to move onto lighter fare, but I'm sure that these three will make at least one more appearance each before it's really spring.

Sausage Soup
I've made soooo many variations of sausage soup this year. I took photos of none. But! Look! Someone else already did a better job than I ever could on the food photography and recipe development front! Lucky for you, Deb Perelman's version is delicious and hearty, with sausage, lentils, chard, and garlic. I subbed the carrots and celery for potatoes and red peppers and think it was the favorite attempt of the season.

Refried Beans with Veggie Hash and Eggs
A pretty standard improvised weeknight meal for us. I just pick my favorite veggies -- usually red peppers, potatoes, jalapenos, garlic, shallots, and kale -- chop 'em up and saute them in olive oil, with tons of salt and pepper.

Right before they're finished I clear two little spaces in the pan for my eggs, crack 'em and fry in a bit of butter while the veggies finish cooking. Serve it up with hot refried beans and either rice or warm corn tortillas. Sharp cheddar and avocado are always welcome additions, and spooning on some of this hot chili garlic sauce is a must.

Polenta Bowls
A long time ago, Annalise tried to sell me on Joy the Baker's Baked Polenta with Tomato and Basil. Ever the know-it-all, I assured her I wouldn't like it. Then I moved to Boston now I make my own version of it at least weekly. My apologies for the condescension, sweet sister. Clearly, you know what's up and what's good.

We skip the baking, preferring bowls of soft, cheesy stovetop-polenta made as per the instructions of the package, plus a little extra Parmesan and butter. I like to make a simple marinara from tomato paste for our bowls. So easy, so good, so damn cheap. Just dice some garlic and onions, cook in olive oil, add a 6 oz. can of tomato paste, Italian spices, 1 and 1/2 cups water, and a pinch of sugar. Then simmer. I sometimes throw in white beans, mushrooms, peppers, or whatever else for substance and nutrients.

Want to make a quick meal, and have no time for marinara? Just throw some grape tomatoes in when you add the polenta to the boiling water. They'll burst, and you can just serve it all up with some pesto. Or add a pat of butter and wilted greens.

Food Allergies and Ethics
All gluten free. Sausage soup - not vegetarian. But you got that, right? None of this is vegan. Sorry about that, but the theme of this winter was "it snowed and I ate cheese."

Za'atar Roasted Bone-In Chicken Thighs

This is by far the best chicken dish I have ever made and possibly the best chicken I've ever eaten. Bold claims, I know. The key here is to make a marinade that's full of flavor, then to roast at a high heat so the thighs get a crispy exterior but the meat is falling off the bone on the inside.

If you don't have za'atar, you can make your own following these instructions, or substitute a blend of thyme and oregano. The original recipe, from Deborah Krasner's unparalleled Good Meat, calls for fresh cardamom pods and wild greek oregano.

Za'atar Roasted Chicken Thighs
adapted from Good Meat, by Deborah Krasner

2-4 lbs bone-in chicken thighs (we found 3.5 pounds serves about 7 people)
1 whole lemon, zested
1/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons sesame seeds
5 cloves garlic, diced
4 tablespoons za'atar
1 teaspoon cardamom
1 teaspoon coriander
2 teaspoons whole black pepper pods
1 tablespoon sea salt

In a mortar and pestle, begin crushing pepper pods, diced garlic, and salt with a touch of olive oil. As pepper begins to break down, add sesame seeds and za'atar. Continue crushing. Add the juice of the lemon as well as its zest, cardamom, coriander, and, slowly, all of the olive oil. Crush until a mostly uniform paste is formed.

Brush each side of each chicken thigh with the paste and let marinate overnight, or for four hours at a minimum. It's easiest to let it marinate flesh side up directly in the baking dish you plan to cook the thighs in.

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake chicken on a rack placed on the very top rung of your oven for 45 minutes total -- again, flesh side up in a shallow glass or ceramic baking dish. Halfway through, flip the meat so the skin side is up and can get crispy during the final baking time.

We served this with mushroom risotto and kale salad for a lovely Sunday dinner. Would be great with plain rice and a bit of yogurt and spinach, with mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash...so many possibilities for something so easy and satisfying.

Food Allergies and Ethics
Gluten-free, just check your spice blends. Obviously, not vegetarian or vegan. We have been enjoying buying meat from Whole Foods and cuing from their five-step animal welfare rating system. Bone-in chicken thighs are a relatively affordable cut of meat and cost less than white chicken meat, which makes it easier to handle the prices that come with Whole Foods. Local butchers and local meat are a better way to go, as well, if you have access.

Simple Garlic Soup

I came home from a long holiday trip to Alaska with a terrible cold and little in the fridge. Faced with potatoes, garlic, and chicken and peppers that I knew were reserved for a dinner P wanted to make, I decided to try my hand at a simple garlic soup. The result was gorgeous: savory, warm, and perfect for a winter cold.

Simple Garlic Soup
adapted from recipes by The Splendid Table, Brooklyn Supper, and Serious Eats

3 heads garlic
3-4 medium yellow potatoes
1/4 yellow onion
1 box beef broth (if available: any kind of stock, or even water and wine, will do)
Olive Oil
Salt
Black Pepper
Thyme
Heavy Cream (optional)

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Chop the tops off of 2 heads of garlic and drizzle with olive oil. Roast in oven for 20 minutes or until fully soft. Remove from heat and let cool.

While your garlic is roasting, peel and smash the cloves from the remaining garlic head. Rinse and dice your potatoes, and dice your small piece of onion. Cover the bottom of a soup pot with a generous layer of olive oil and add garlic, potatoes, onion, pepper, salt, and thyme. Heat to medium-low and let saute slowly with the lid on. Check every five minutes to make sure nothing is getting too brown. After 15 minutes or so, add the beef broth and let simmer.

Once your roasted garlic heads are cool, remove the skin and add to your pot. After simmering for a bit longer, add a bit of water to thin things out (unless you weren't using stock to begin with), then use an immersion blender until smooth. Drizzle in heavy cream or milk if you have it on hand, stir and enjoy.

Serves two.

Food allergies and ethics
Gluten-free so long as you use gluten-free broth, I prefer Pacific Brand. To make vegetarian, substitute beef broth for a flavorful veggie stock. Vegan if you use veggie stock and skip the heavy cream.

Chopped Kale Turkey Salad with Pecans, Apples, and Curry Spiced Yogurt Dressing

A perfect Sunday lunch, especially after a Thanksgiving weekend with an abundance of rich food.

For the Salad

Kale, de-ribbed, roughly chopped

Pecan halves

Apple, chopped

Avocado, diced

Turkey, chopped and shredded

Lemon

Cranberry Relish (optional)

For the Dressing

Greek Yogurt

Olive Oil

Lemon

Curry Powder

Sea Salt

After de-ribbing and chopping your kale, massage with several squeeze of lemon and sea salt. Add chopped apple, turkey, and pecan pieces, and toss. Add avocado and gently toss again. I also stirred in just a few spoonfuls of leftover cranberry relish to brighten things up a bit.

In a separate bowl, mix several spoonfuls greek yogurt with a teaspoon or two of olive oil. Thin with several squeezes of lemon, and stir in a teaspoon or two of curry powder to taste, plus a few pinches sea salt. Drizzle over salad, toss again, and enjoy!

Food Allergies and Ethics
Gluten-free

Classic Turkey Soup

Nothing's better than a simple turkey soup in November. Bookmark this for Thanksgiving leftovers now, or do like I did and get started early using turkey breasts cooked in a crockpot. 

Ingredients
2 turkey breasts, combining to about 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of meat
2 ribs of celery
5-7 carrots
1 yellow or sweet onion
1 cup wild rice
8 cups veggie or turkey broth
Olive Oil
Sage
Salt
Pepper

Cook the turkey breasts ahead of time in the crockpot with 3 cups of your broth (more if needed to completely cover the meat), sage, pepper, and salt. You could do this the day before or the day of, just make sure you get it in at least four hours prior to cooking. I usually cook on high the entire time, but if you notice the meat is done in advance or cooking quickly switch to low for the duration.

Cover the bottom of a large soup pot with olive oil and place on burner turned to medium high heat. Add the full cup of wild rice and stir to coat with olive oil. While the rice and oil are heating, dice your onion finely. Add onion to heat and stir with rice.

Start chopping your carrots and celery. I like the celery chopped finely and the carrots with a little larger dice.

After the onions have softened a bit, add the broth that you left out of the crockpot, the celery, and the carrots. Bring to a low boil, then turn down just a bit. It typically takes the rice 30-40 minutes to cook through.

While soup is simmering, shred the turkey breasts using two forks. Add to the main soup pot along with the broth they cooked in, let simmer for another 10 minutes, and enjoy.

Depending on how your rice cooks, you may find you need a little more liquid: I added about 1/2 cup of water and that worked out fine. We ate this as a very hearty soup, almost a stew.

Food Allergies and Ethics
Gluten-free and dairy-free, just check your broth.

Roasted Red Pepper and Potato Soup

On Sunday, I came up with a vague plan to make a roasted red pepper soup this week. Mostly, the plan entailed buying red peppers and figuring out how to turn them into soup later. Here's the outcome: a lovely, creamy, potato-red pepper pairing that was filling and nutritious. I want to do a better job showcasing the regular food we eat around these parts, and this is tasty, relaxed, and very easy to make changes to depending on what you have on hand.

Ingredients
5 red peppers
6-8 yellow potatoes
Head of garlic
1 box vegetable stock
Milk
Olive oil

Fresh thyme
Paprika (smoked or regular, whatever you have on hand or prefer)
Salt
Pepper

White or red wine (optional)
Parmesan rind (optional)
Heavy cream or half and half (for a final drizzle, optional)

Assembly 
Preheat your oven to 400. Then, wash and de-seed your peppers. I typically slice off the top, then slice the pepper into thirds, removing the seeds from the middle. Arrange your clean pepper segments in a large glass baking dish, toss well with several glugs of olive oil, and put them into the oven to roast. This typically takes about 35-40 minutes. You want to keep them in until the skin is blackened and pulling in places.

While the peppers are roasting, peel most of the cloves of garlic from your garlic head. Toss them whole into a deep soup pot with a healthy covering of olive oil, and begin to cook on medium heat. Throw in some white or even red wine if you have it on hand...I poured right of the glass of Pinot I was drinking. Added some nice depth but totally isn't necessary.

Rinse your potatoes and puncture with a fork. Then, throw them in the microwave for 7 minutes, until they are mostly soft. Chop with the skins on and add to the garlic, oil, and wine already simmering.

Next, add your veggie broth and begin to season using salt, pepper, smoked or regular paprika, and thyme. If you have an old parmesan rind on hand, throw 'er in. If not, don't worry about it. Let simmer while your peppers finish.

Once your peppers have a decent blackening going, pull them out of the oven. This is where you really should let them steam in a covered bowl and then remove their peels. But who's got time for that, especially on a weekday? Throw them into the soup pot, peels, oil, and all.

It's time now for your immersion blender (or to do this in batches in a regular blender if that's what you have available). Pull out the parmesan rind if there's one in there, and then immersion blend away. Slowly add milk as you go, until you get the texture you want. I added a drizzle of organic half and half at the end, but again, this is an easy soup and that's not necessary.

Food Allergies & Ethics: Gluten-free, but check your vegetable broth of course. Vegetarian. Replace the milk with coconut milk to make this vegan, or leave it out all together and thin with a bit more broth, wine, or water.

Fancy Grilled Cheese, Autumn Edition (Grilled Cheese with Sharp White Cheddar, Caramelized Onions and Butternut Squash)

We're big fans of cheese around these parts, especially when it's melting between slices of toasty, buttered bread. Here's an October edition of what P and I like to call Fancy Grilled Cheese aka Grilled Cheese With Extras Like Mustard and Caramelized Onions and All Other Good Things.

Grilled Cheese with White Cheddar, Caramelized Onions and Butternut Squash

I used leftover roasted butternut squash here. If you're starting from the beginning, well, turn your oven to 425 or so and get to roasting. Or, to make it easier, just microwave the squash. I'm skeptical too, except that's how our Ma does it and it always works. Stab it with a fork, microwave for between 7-10 minutes or until that cute little squash is falling in on itself.

Once that's taken care of, assemble your grilled cheese components.

Bread (gluten-free if you need)
Sharp white cheddar cheese or gruyere, lots, thinly sliced
Yellow onion, thinly sliced
Butternut or acorn squash, roasted and de-seeded
Sharp mustard
Salt
Butter

1. Heat a little butter in a skillet, and cook your thinly sliced onion over medium-low heat with salt until it becomes extremely soft and begins to caramelize. Don't rush this, to properly caramelize I find onions need 30+ minutes.

2. In the meantime, spread butter and a nice sharp mustard on all sides of your bread.

3. Once the onions are ready, remove from the skillet and set aside.

4. Add a touch more butter to the same skillet, then lay your bread slices down.

5. Flip a few times, and once the bread is beginning to toast nicely, add your thinly sliced cheese.

6. As the cheese is melting, top with caramelized onions and a scoopful of squash.

7. Flip one slice onto the other and toast the whole thing in the skillet with a little more mustard. (Just put a bit down in the skillet like you would butter. This makes for a messy, messy skillet but a delightful, delightful sandwich.)

8. Remove from heat and enjoy.

Heidi's Zucchini Agrodolce

I just wanted to say that I made this and it was amazing.

I love that Heidi's recipes always have unique flavor profiles that you can still meddle with.  Besides her ingredients:

a dressing of vinegar, salt, garlic, honey and olive oil;
mandoline-sliced zucchini,
blanched red onion also thinly sliced on the mandoline,
toasted walnuts
toasted coconut flakes, and chopped dates...

...I also added:

mandoline-sliced carrots,
kernels of corn,
green beans chopped into tiny green bean coins,
finely chopped black olives, and
finely chopped parsley.

I served the resulting crispy salad on a bed of lightly dressed greens, just to give our jaws a break from chewing.  Take that, CSA box!  

Melon-Olive Skewers with Bread & Rosemary

I haven't snapped a picture of these skewers at any of the several summer barbeques for which I've made them, but besides being juicy and chewy and savory and sweet, they are also quite lovely, pale green and red and black.  You'll need:

One ripe green melon (really key that you get a good one, as we all know the horrors of unripe honeydew - cantaloupe would probably be nice too), cubed

Cherry or grape tomatoes 

Gemlik olives (mild, wrinkly black "breakfast olives"), pitted

Crusty bread, cubed

Skewer these items (all at a 1:1 ratio); drizzle them with a mixture of olive oil, something tart (lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, balsamic, apple cider vinegar, etc.), rosemary, and salt; and grill them.  Smaller cubes grill more nicely and are easier to eat.  You can serve people their own skewers, or unskewer everything, toss in a bowl, and serve as a salad.

Cotija Tacos

The main point of this post is to note that it's easy to make a delicious, salty, soft-and-chewy round of griddled cotija in the toaster oven.  Make some little piles of crumbled cotija on the metal toaster tray.... toast them.... et voila! Plunk each one on a warmed corn tortilla and top it as you please.  I used crema, pickled onion, and some corn and nopales (finely diced and browned in butter, lime juice, paprika, cayenne, cumin and salt).

Perfect Kale Breakfast Tacos

When P isn't around to make his famous scrambled eggs on corn tortillas, I like to make myself cheesy kale breakfast tacos. (Also fantastic served with tomato soup for dinner or lunch.)

I've written the recipe to serve one person; multiply accordingly.

2 corn tortillas
Several thin slices of a sharp white cheddar
1/4 bunch of kale (you can substitute spinach if you don't have kale on hand)
Olive oil or butter
Salt

Plain greek yogurt
Salsa

Place a skillet on your burner over medium heat, with a thin pat of butter or layer of olive oil in the bottom. Clean and de-stem your kale, then add torn pieces to the pan. Sprinkle salt and let cook until quite tender.

Add both corn tortillas to the bottom of the skillet. Let fry in the remaining butter or oil. Add thinly sliced cheddar to each, then place kale on top to melt cheese. Fold each tortilla over and let fry on each side until crispy. Serve with plain greek yogurt and a bit of salsa.


Food Allergies and Ethics: Vegetarian and gluten free.

Autumn Quinoa with Parsnip Puree

I have never made parsnips before!  I lurv them.  They are like... potatoes, but with flavor!

I served the puree over the quinoa, and it was nice and hearty.  Also, I failed to take a picture, but parnip puree is NOT exactly photogenic, so don't worry about it.

Puree:

Start with 4-5 large parsnips.  Remove the stringy cores as you chop them into dice. Toss them in melted butter, salt them, and roast in a pan for about 25-30 mins in a 400 degree oven, until pieces are easily cut through with a knife.

Throw the pieces in the blender (in batches if necessary), with about 2 cups total of milk, plus salt and freshly grated nutmeg to taste.  Blend until creamy adding more milk as needed.

Quinoa:

Cook  1 cup (dry) quinoa (rice cooker works great).  Finely chop 2 shallots.  Soften in butter in a small pan on stovetop, then add a small handful of walnuts, about 8 sage leaves, and a small green apple, all finely chopped, and cook till sage leaves are crispy.   Add to quinoa along with a bit of white balsamic or apple cider vinegar, salt, and olive oil.

Chopped Veggie Soup with Pepitas and Crema

We're still splitting the difference between summer and fall here in Phoenix, where daytime temps are in the 80s or 90s but the evenings are quite chilly, dropping into the 50s. (Cue laughing from my mother in Wyoming and my sister in Colorado.) This soup does the same, but readers who are already experiencing blustery days or snow may want to swap out the zucchini for butternut.

Chopped Veggie Soup with Pepitas and Crema
1 carton of good veggie broth (Pacific brand is gluten-free)
2 14oz cans fire-roasted tomatoes
2 zucchinis
1/2 bag frozen corn
1 can cannellini beans
Several small yellow or red potatoes
Several large handfuls spinach
1 head garlic
1 yellow onion
Parmesan rinds (optional)
Olive oil
Salt
Black pepper
Dill

Pepitas
Heavy cream
Chopped fresh herbs (optional but a lovely topping, I used basil)

Pour a generous glug of olive oil into your soup pot and begin to heat on a medium setting. Thickly slice your onion, mince the entire head of garlic, and cut your potatoes into small segments. Add to the pot. Stir in salt and pepper and let cook until onions and potatoes soften a bit. Next add your liquids: fire-roasted tomatoes, veggie broth, and water if necessary. Start with just one can of the tomatoes and add from the second can as you like. Thoroughly rinse the beans and stir those in as well.

At this point I throw in the Parmesan rinds, which will add a rich quality to your broth. Slice your zucchinis, add the corn, and simmer until done. Continue to add salt, pepper, dill, and squeezes of lemon juice to taste.

While the broth is simmering, heat your smallest frying pan with just a touch of olive oil. Add the pepitas, salt, and pepper and leave them on until toasted, stirring occasionally. Chop fresh herbs to use as a topping along with the pepitas.

Just before you take the soup off of the stove, stir in a few handfuls of torn spinach. Remove the Parmesan rinds, ladle into bowls, and sprinkle with toasted pepitas and chopped fresh herbs. Finally, add just a drizzle of heavy cream. If you don't have cream, thin a bit of plain yogurt with lemon juice as a substitute. I also grated some additional Parmesan on top, or you could add a bit of feta.

Food Allergies and Ethics:  Gluten free (but make sure to check your broth) and vegetarian. Could easily be vegan by omitting the Parmesan rinds and the drizzle of cream at the end.

Beet & Arugula Lunch Salad

Before going off on vacation, I'm trying to preserve veggies from CSA and garden however I can.  I had a few weeks worth of beautiful, multicolored CSA beets (about a dozen total!), so I roasted them in their skins with oil and salt, then peeled and chopped them.  Most, I threw in a tupperware with some oil and vinegar in the fridge for future use, but I took out about a cup and a half for this lunch.

Simple:  Just the chopped beets, some chopped mild white cheese (mine was basket cheese but whatever, really - mozzarella, goat, you name it), a few handfuls of roughly chopped arugula (CSA again!), lemon olive oil, white balsamic, and---this is key---plenty of salt .