Dinner Posts

Blood Orange Roasted Tofu and Asparagus

Spring is here!!! Which means asparagus is super cheap at the market. I dug and dug all over the internet for an asparagus recipe that wasn’t the same old same and came across this recipe from Eating Well. I loved that it had some of the asian flavors already in the recipe, but I thought it would be fun to add even more by upping the miso and swapping rice vinegar for balsamic. I had a blood orange in the fridge that I wanted to use up and it was SO amazing in this recipe. I don’t even know if I would make it with a regular navel orange. Ingredients juice from one blood orange 16 oz. extra firm tofu, cut into 1/2 inch-1 inch cubes 1 1/2 lbs. asparagus, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces 3 1/2 T. red miso 2 T. extra virgin olive oil 3 T. rice vinegar 1/4 cup fresh basil, finely sliced 2-3 teaspoons blood … Continue reading →
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Prosciutto, Grilled Fennel, & Grapefruit Salad

Thank you Martha Stewert for this amazing salad!!!! My husband is now hooked on grapefruit… and it used to be a struggle to get him to eat it. The salad we made was pretty similar to Martha’s but we made … Continue reading →
East Meets West Red Curry

East Meets West Red Curry

I made an AMAZING curry for Steve and I last week. He was craving braised beef short ribs and I was craving Thai curry and Indian curry…. I really couldn’t decide. So I decided to combine them all into one … Continue reading →
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Healthy Lentil Soup

I’ve gotta be honest. I haven’t been eating alot of meat lately and I’ve been feeling a bit tired. And the weather has been pretty shitty, so I made a GIANT batch of lentil soup hoping that it would give … Continue reading →
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Spicy Thai Yellow Curry

After two weeks of craving curry, we finally took a Sunday evening to make our own curry paste….why did we wait so long? Ingredients for Thai Yellow Curry Paste Serves 3. 4-5 dried chilies (soaked in water for 10-15 minutes) … Continue reading →
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Toasted Hazelnut and Cauliflower Soup

Steve and I are always trying to find ways to incorporate more veggies into our diet and we’ve been on a cauliflower kick lately. We’ve made a cauliflower pizza crust…yum; and now we’ve made this AMAZING soup…I think it’s just … Continue reading →
Hoi An Riverfront

Vietnamese Grilled Sesame Beef

When Steve and I were in Hoi An, Vietnam we took an amazing cooking class and this was one of our favorite dishes. If you ever find yourself in Hoi An and have some dong to spare take a class … Continue reading →

Chipotle Black Bean and Sweet Potato Tacos

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chipotle black bean and sweet potato tacos

Super quick and easy gluten free, vegetarian tacos!!!

Recipe

Serves 2-3.

1 can organic black beans, strained
2 small-medium sweet potatoes or yams, peeled and cubed
2-3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, diced
1 cup red cabbage, sliced into thin ribbons
1 avocado, sliced
cilantro
1/2 cup pico de gallo (diced tomato, red pepper, jalapeño,onion, lime, cilantro, salt and pepper toss them all together)
6 corn tortilla shells
2 teaspoons grapeseed oil (veg oil work too)
crumbled feta or cotija cheese
cumin
chili powder
salt and pepper
lime

 

 Instructions

1. In a small sauce pan combine black beans and chipotle and heat over low-medium heat.

2. In a saute pan heat the grapeseed oil over medium-high heat and add the sweet potatoes. Saute until tender and golden. Drain on a paper towel lined plate. Season with salt, pepper, chili powder and cumin.

3. Warm your tortillas and dress them the way you like.

 

 

Creamy Potato and Kale Soup with Parmesan Garlic Toasts

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creamy potato and kale soup

Yum…I can’t wait to eat the leftover soup!!!

Soup Recipe

Serves 6 as entree.

1 bunch of kale, rinsed, stems removed and chopped
5 medium potatoes, rinsed and cubed
1/2 cup half and half or cream (optional)
5 cups vegetable or chicken broth
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 smallish-medium onion, peeled and chopped
1 leek, rinsed, tough green parts removed, halved lengthwise and sliced into 1/4 inch pieces
1-2 teaspoons fresh thyme
1 teaspoon dried sage
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 pound italian sausage (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a medium sized soup pot and add onions and leeks (set aside 1/4 cup). Cook until tender and slightly translucent.

2. Add garlic for a couple of minutes, then spices, and broth. Bring to a boil and then add potatoes. Simmer for 20 minutes.

3. Add kale and simmer for another 10 minutes.

4. In a saute pan cook the italian sausage along with the remaining 1/4 cup of leeks until golden. Drain on paper towel and cover with foil to keep warm.

5. Add half and half or cream and then puree contents with an immersion blender until desired consistency

6. Ladle soup into soup bowls and garnish with the italian sausage and parmesan garlic toasts.

Toast Recipe

Baguette or artisan bread, sliced into 12 1/2 inch slices
olive oil
1 head of garlic
parmesan cheese, grated
dried basil
chili pepper flakes

Instructions

1. Cut off top of garlic head and drizzle with olive oil, wrap in foil and roast in the oven for about 30 minutes at 400°F.

2. Brush toasts with olive oil.

3. Remove garlic from foil and allow to cool. Once cooled enough to handle press the cloves out of the garlic and smash them into the bread toasts until evenly covered, about one clove per toast.

4. Add cheese, and sprinkle chili pepper flakes and dried basil.

5. Broil toasts a few minutes until edges are golden brown and cheese has melted.

 

Salmon Carrot Cauliflower Burger

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curried salmon burger

Our curried salmon burger with fried green tomatoes and baked sweet potato fries

The patty itself is gluten and dairy free and is AWESOME on a bed of arugula greens. Steve and I came across this recipe when trying to find a recipe for a friend with gluten and dairy intolerances and fell in love with it ourselves. This recipe from Sprout is one of many delicious ones on her site. She also has lots of info about eating healthier and about cleanses that are both healthy and safe.

Recipe

Makes 6-8 patties.

3 carrots, peeled
1/2 head cauliflower
1/2 cup almond Flour
1 1/2 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 pound salmon, cooked
1 tablespoon high heat coconut or grapeseed oil

Instructions

1. Pulse carrots and cauliflower in food processor until evenly grated.

2. Combine carrots, cauliflower, salmon, almond meal, curry, and cinnamon and stir well.

3. Heat oil in a medium saute pan on medium-high heat.

4. Form patties and cook in the pan, 8-10 minutes on the first side and 5-8 on the second side. These patties have a tendency to fall apart if handled too much, so make sure to not mess with them too much after they’ve been put in the pan.

5. Serve on a whole wheat or onion bun with fresh arugula, onion, and a dollop of lemon curry remoulade or on a bed of arugula with a simple lemon vinaigrette. We had a few green tomatoes in the garden and had gotten a few sweet potatoes in our Organics to You shipment, so we whipped up some fried green tomatoes and baked sweet potato fries.

Lemon Curry Remoulade

4 tablespoon mayo
2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
dash of paprika
1 garlic clove,minced
sea salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and season to taste.

 

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

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salmon_burger_sweet_potato_fries

Baked sweet potato fries served with a spicy dipping sauce and served alongside a curried salmon burger and fried green tomatoes.

Recipe

3 servings.

3 sweet potatoes, cut into 1/4 inch thick strips
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
cumin, paprika, cayenne, sea salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450°F.

2. Line baking sheet with parchment or Silpat.

3. Toss fries in olive oil and seasoning.

4. Spread fries evenly on baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes, take them out and mix them up, then bake for another 10 (or so) minutes.

5. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Spicy Dipping Sauce

1/4 cup mayo
1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons sriracha
1 garlic clove, minced
1 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
cayenne, curry, salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients and adjust to taste.

Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Pecans

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caramelized brussels sprouts with toasted pecans

caramelized brussels sprouts with toasted pecans

My first experience with a brussels sprout was steamed with a giant spoonful of mayo….YUCK!!! No wonder it took me nearly 20 years to try brussels sprouts again. Thankfully our organics to you shipment had brussels sprouts in it last winter, so I was forced to find a recipe. And now brussels sprouts are a regular occurrence in our house and we’ve turned plenty of friends into brussels sprout fans. This is one recipe that can get the pickiest eater begging for more brussels sprouts.

Recipe

Serves 3-4 as a side dish.

1 1/2 tablespoon butter or olive oil
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
15 brussel sprouts, sliced into thin ribbons
1/3 cup chopped, toasted pecans
1 garlic clove, minced
sea salt, to taste
dash chili pepper flakes

Instructions

1. Melt butter (or heat olive oil) in a large saute pan and add brussel sprouts and garlic. Saute until bright green then add the brown sugar, stir and let caramelize for a few minutes then toss in the toasted pecans and season with sea salt and chili pepper flakes.

Makes a great side dish for grilled salmon, steak or pork tenderloin. This would also make a great Thanksgiving or Christmas side dish…it’s delicious and it cooks so quickly!!!

Curried Pumpkin Soup

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Yep, I’m still on a pumpkin/squash kick….and I’ve been pretty lazy about posting, so I’ll go ahead and start with our Thai inspired curried pumpkin soup. This recipe is so versatile and can be made vegan and gluten free. We made ours with chicken broth, half and half, and butter because we had a little bit of each that we wanted to use before it turned bad, but I actually think the vegan version might be better. Also, this soup was super easy to make…the hardest part was peeling the fresh pumpkin, but with a little patience our OXO Peelerdid the trick.

curried pumpkin soup

A little comfort food for a cool fall day.

Recipe

Serves 6 as entree.

1 smallish-medium pie pumpkin, peeled, seeded, and cubed
1 onion, chopped
1 tablespoon vegetable oil or butter
1 1/4 teaspoon curry powder (I think you could use a curry paste if you don’t have powder)
1 teaspoon chili pepper flakes
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
8 cups of vegetable or chicken broth
1/2 cup coconut milk or half and half
3 tablespoons peanut butter
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce (optional, omit for vegan)
sour cream (optional)
cilantro, chopped, for garnish
salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. In a large soup pot bring your chicken broth to a boil on medium-high heat and add your pumpkin. Depending on how big/small your pumpkin chunks are it could take 15-20 minutes.

2. While your pumpkin is cooking, in a saute pan combine butter or oil, onion, garlic, curry powder and chili pepper flakes over medium heat and cook until onion is tender and translucent, probably 5-7 minutes.

3. Once your pumpkin is tender go ahead and add the onion mixture, peanut butter, nutmeg and Worcestershire sauce and simmer for 15 minutes.

4. Remove from heat and slowly add coconut milk or half and half to the mixture. Blend until creamy using your hand blender.

5. Garnish with a dollop of sour cream and cilantro.

Note: Toasted peanuts or pumpkin seeds would also be a nice addition.

For other great pumpkin and squash recipes I really like this book.

  

Ale and Cheddar Soup

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Earlier this week Steve and I took the dogs hiking up on Larch Mountain, just east of Portland in the Columbia River Gorge in the pouring rain just because we were getting antsy sitting around all day. Well it was pouring and it wasn’t particularly cold so we were soaked under our rain gear too. It was a pretty miserable hike and we turned around without completing the loop. On the plus side, we made an amazing Ale and Cheddar Soup from Kevin Lynch over at Closet Cooking, which is one of my new favorite blogs and I have got to share the recipe, so hop on over to his sight and take a look. YUM!!!

Ale and Cheddar Soup

Delicious!!! Bacon, Cheese, and Beer….

Apple Potato Soup

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apple potato soup

An apple a day keeps the doctor away! Homemade apple and potato soup with fresh thyme.

Recipe

Serves 4. 

2 apples, peeled, cored and diced, plus 1/2 an apple sliced into thin wedges
2 celery stalks, chopped in to 1/4 inch slices
1 small-medium onion, diced
1 leek (minus the tough greens), sliced thinly
5 small potatoes, peeled, and diced
2 1/2 cups milk
2 cups chicken broth
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper
crème fraîche or sour cream

Instructions

1. In a large saute pan combine leek, onion, apple, celery and olive oil over medium-low heat until tender, probably 15 minutes or so.

2. In a large soup pot combine milk and potatoes. Bring to a slow boil, careful to not scorch the milk and cook for about 20 minutes until the potatoes are tender.

3. While the potatoes are cooking add chicken broth, bay leaf and thyme to the apple mixture and simmer for about 20 minutes.

4. Remove the bay leaf and combine all ingredients in the large soup pot and use a Cuisinart Hand Blender to blend all the ingredients until smooth. You could also blend the soup in batches in your blender or food processor. Our Oster Blender does an awesome job with soups, but clean up is so much quicker with the Cuisinart, so inevitably the Cuisinart Hand Blender has been getting way more action lately.

5. You might need to add a little more chicken broth or milk to achieve desired consistency ours was pretty thick. Add salt and pepper to taste.

5. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with a dollop of crème fraîche or sour cream, a couple of apple slices and a sprinkling of thyme.

We served ours with baked brie, a whole wheat baguette and a dried cranberry, feta and candied pumpkin seed salad.

 

Roasted Acorn Squash Rigatoni with Arugula, Italian Sausage and Parmesan

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I’m on a squash kick right now, so this recipe was right up my alley. The acorn squash lends the rigatoni a subtle sweetness that is balanced by the savory flavors of the sausage and arugula; the toasted pumpkin seeds give it just enough nuttiness to round it out. I’ve seen recipes similar to this one all over then net, ours is adapted from Lesley Elliott’s recipe at Five O’Clock Food.

roasted acorn squash rigatoni with arugula, italian sausage and parmesan

roasted acorn squash rigatoni with arugula, italian sausage and parmesan

Recipe

1 acorn squash, quartered and seeded
olive oil
1/2 pound Italian sausage (spicy or sweet)
1 medium onion, chopped
4 cloves of garlic, minced (or roast a whole head of garlic with your squash and throw in the roasted cloves near the end)
1/4 cup dry white wine (we used Pinot Grigio)
2 large handfuls of arugula (kale would also be good, but I like the spiciness of arugula)
2 cups chicken broth
3 cups rigatoni pasta
Grated parmesan
Bob’s Red Mill Pumpkin Seeds toasted
1 teaspoon chili pepper flakes
Fresh ground sea salt and black pepper

Makes 4 servings.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

2. Arrange squash on a foil lined baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 45 minutes or until tender. Once finished roasting, allow to cool, and cut into cubes.

3. Boil salted water for your rigatoni and cook to al dente.

4. While your water is boiling cook the Italian sausage in a medium sauté pan until browned, about 10 minutes, then transfer to a paper towel lined plate.

5. In the same pan add 1 tablespoon olive oil and onions. Once the onions are softened add the garlic and stir. Add the white wine and reduce until nearly gone. Then add the chicken broth and reduce until about 1/3 is left, this takes a while. While the broth is reducing stir the arugula into the drained pasta to allow it to wilt.

6. After the broth is reduced add the squash, chili pepper flakes, and sausage to the pan, stir, and remove from heat. Combine rigatoni and squash mixture. Serve up and garnish with toasted pumpkin seeds and grated parmesan. I even stirred in about 1/3 cup of parmesan before serving to make it extra cheesy.

Notes: Next time I will omit the 4 cloves of minced garlic and I will roast an entire head of garlic with the squash and use some of that instead. Love roasted garlic, YUM!

We probably should have had a salad with this one, but we decided on baked baby bellas instead.

First of all, I am a total sucker for cookbooks, but if you’re also on a squash kick…get this book. It has so many amazing fall recipes!

Tomato Fennel Tart

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Tomato Fennel Tart

Tomato Fennel Tart

Tomatoes are taking over our lives!!! Our garden is spilling over, they’re arriving in our Organics to You shipments, and the farmers are selling the most amazing heirlooms right now. We’re eating tomatoes for breakfast, lunch and dinner and we’re getting creative with these juicy little suckers. This tomato fennel tart, inspired by a recipe from Sunset Magazine (Nov 2005) put a smallish dent in our ever growing tomato supply and allowed us to put the fennel from Organics to You to use too. As an added benefit this tart is perfect topped with a sunny-side up egg for breakfast.

Recipe

1 disk Cheese Pastry Dough (or if you’re lazy, one pre-made pie crust sprinkled with ½ cup shredded gruyere cheese)

1 head of fennel rinsed and sliced crosswise in to ¼ inch slices (discard the base and the green stalks)

7 shallots, peeled and sliced in to ¼ inch slices

½ cup chopped Italian parsley (or curly if you prefer the taste), plus one tablespoon for garnish

1 cup shredded parmesan

20 cherry tomatoes, rinsed and halved

Instructions

1. If you made your Cheese Pastry Dough roll it out so it’s atleast 12 inches diameter and transfer to your tart pan. If you’re using a pre-made pie crust simply unroll and transfer to your tart pan. Trim off any overhanging dough, poke holes in bottom of crust, cover with plastic wrap and put crust in the freezer for 30 minutes while you cook the fennel and shallots.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Heat medium sized frying pan on medium-low heat and add olive oil, fennel, and shallots. Stir frequently till fennel and shallots are a caramel colored brown, approximately 30 minutes.

4. Sprinkle veggie mix with 1/2 cup parsley, add salt and pepper to taste and remove from heat.

5. Pull your crust out of the freezer and bake in oven for 20 minutes. If you are using a pre-made crust sprinkle the crust with the gruyere before baking for 20 minutes.

6. Once crust is golden brown remove from the oven, layer the parmesan cheese on the bottom of the crust, then the fennel/shallot mix, and finally add the sliced cherry tomatoes.

7. Bake in the oven till cheese is golden brown, approx. 10 to 15 minutes.

8. Garnish by sprinkling with remaining Italian parsley.

Steve and I had leftovers, so for breakfast we added a sunny-side up egg to the top of the reheated tart and it was delicious!!!

Tomato Fennel Tart with Sunny-Side Up Egg

Breakfast: Tomato Fennel Tart with sunny-side up egg

This tart is excellent served with a simple arugula salad tossed in a homemade lemon vinaigrette.