Published by mel on July 31, 2009 in breakfast, dessert, recipe and sides & bites.
Every week I buy a bag of obscenely expensive granola from the grocery store. And every afternoon when my stomach begins to grumble, I have a some plain Greek yogurt with a good sprinkling of granola. It’s just the right amount of sweet, filling and crunchy for the afternoon and I’ve become completely addicted.
So, when I saw this recipe in the New York Times for Olive Oil Granola, I thought I’d give it try. I’ve been meaning to make my own granola for a long time and just never got around to it. And now I’m wondering what the hell took me so long! Homemade granola is amazing and probably half the price of that fancy stuff I buy.
I used slivered almonds and salted pumpkin seeds along with ginger-spiked sugar, cinnamon and cardamom. The olive oil gave everything a rich lushness and I was able to achieve a much more pleasant salty/sweet ratio than the over-sweetened stuff I buy. I am absolutely obsessed with it. In fact, I’m having a really hard time stopping myself from eating it all with a spoon.
Needless to say, I’ll not be buying granola anymore. This stuff is just too good and too easy.
Continue reading ‘Gingery Olive Oil Granola’
Published by mel on July 30, 2009 in entree and recipe.
This is another one of those quick and easy recipes that requires just 5 ingredients, tastes delicious and is just the thing for a quick lunch or a weeknight dinner. Just sear some chicken in olive oil, add onions, fire-roasted tomatoes and artichoke hearts and simmer for half an hour. Top with some capers and you’ve got a nice, saucy chicken to top polenta, rice, baked potatoes, or pretty much anything.
This is definitely going into the “lazy recipe file” to access whenever I don’t want to prep or stir anything.
Continue reading ‘Easy Artichoke Chicken’
Published by mel on July 29, 2009 in dessert, recipe and sides & bites.
Ah, figs. One of my favorite odd foods. They look so weird, but taste so good. I love them on pizza with prosciutto, in a salad with fennel and especially with cheese. Almost any kind of cheese. One of the best appetizers you’ll ever make is a mission fig stuffed with blue cheese and drizzled with honey. So simple, yet so delicious and exotic.
Last night I decided I wanted figs and cheese, but for dessert. I quickly caramelized some figs with vanilla sugar, then topped them off with a dollop of creamy mascarpone cheese and a drizzle of balsamic syrup (also known as balsamic reduction from my Summer Squash Caprese). You’d think the cheese and balsamic would mike it too strong and not sweet enough for dessert, but you’d be wrong. Very, very wrong. The vanilla sugar and natural sweetness of the figs were just emphasized by the mascarpone, and the balsamic syrup was perfectly tart and sweet.
When I popped it in my mouth, I was actually surprised by how much I liked it. Sweet, creamy, fruity and tangy all in one. It was so good that my husband thought the balsamic syrup was chocolate. Silly man. I’ll be making these again soon. And by soon, I mean tonight.
Continue reading ‘Vanilla Figs with Mascarpone and Balsamic Syrup’
Published by mel on July 24, 2009 in recipe and sides & bites.
Right around this time every year, people start scouring around for new zucchini recipes to get through what is usually an abundance of summer squash. Zucchini muffins, zucchini bread, ratatouille and zucchini pasta abound. Fortunately for me, I love the stuff and can’t get enough.
One of my favorite preparations is on the grill. Marinated and grilled summer vegetables are so good in pasta, salad or as a simple side. This time, I sliced some zucchini and yellow squash very thin, sprinkled with salt and pepper and quick-grilled them. Stacked with fat tomato slices and topped with a thick hunk of fresh mozzarella cheese, they made a very delicious and very pretty caprese salad.
But what really made it special was the good olive oil and and balsamic reduction I drizzled over the top. I’d never made a balsamic reduction and was pleasantly pleased by how utterly delicious and simple it was. I just simmered some aged balsamic vinegar in a little pot for awhile and it became an intense, slightly sweet syrup that’s insanely good with vegetables and creamy mozzarella.
A beautiful appetizer and an even better sandwich squished into a fresh baguette. Yum, yum and yum!
Continue reading ‘Grilled Summer Squash Caprese’
Published by mel on July 21, 2009 in breakfast, entree, recipe and sides & bites.
Romesco sauce is like the nerdy girl with glasses who sits quietly in the corner reading. No one pays her any attention. She’s just not one of the popular girls like Pesto and Aioli. Poor Romesco – why do people ignore her? Well anyway, it’s quite a shame that they do, because Romesco sauace is quick, easy and goes with just about anything from pork tenderloin to fried eggs to big turkey and avocado sandwiches.
You start by toasting almonds until they’re brown and aromatic, then blending them with roasted red peppers, olive oil, garlic, sweet paprika, sherry vinegar and red pepper flakes. It’s a little nutty, a little acidic and very very bold. So, go ahead – be bold! Use this sauce to dress a simple bowl of pasta, slather it on a sandwich or simply dip some pita into it. I’m sure you’ll find that you love it and, like me, you’ll wonder why it’s not part of the popular clique.
Continue reading ‘Turkey & Avocado Sandwich with Romesco Sauce’
Published by mel on July 17, 2009 in recipe and sides & bites.
Is there anything more refreshing than a cold, crisp Mojito when it it’s 200 degrees outside? I don’t think so. Nothing says summer like lime and ice and mint leaves. Roasted potatoes? Those are more like fall and winter. A summer potato is usually smothered in mayo and plopped on a picnic table. Delicious yes, but sometimes cold potato salad isn’t what I’m craving.
So, here’s my attempt to bring the refreshing summery-ness of a Mojito to the lowly potato. I roasted them with garlic, olive oil, lime zest and salt, then tossed them with lime juice and fresh mint. The caramelized potatoes and garlic added just the right amount of sweetness so that it really reminded me of a Mojito. The lime and mint brightened them up and added a good bite. They were really good and kind of addicting in that way that only roasted potatoes can be.
Although I loved them this way, I think I’ll try a cold, salad version of this recipe next time. Just boil the potatoes instead of roasting them and toss them with the rest of the ingredients once they’re cool. I bet that salad would be a big hit at my next BBQ!
Continue reading ‘Mojito Roasted Potatoes’
Published by mel on July 14, 2009 in entree and recipe.
Although I wish I could, I can’t take credit for this idea. My co-worker Omar was telling me about how he loves his mom’s Puerto Rican cooking and somehow we got on the subject of plantains. Because when a Cuban and Puerto Rican are talking about food, you somehow always end up on the subject of plantains, you know?
Omar explained how his mom makes a very delicious Plantain Pastelón, or plantain casserole. As soon as I heard those magical words – Plantain Casserole – I knew I had to make it as soon as possible! Ripe plantains are like nothing else. They’re sweet and starchy, like a tropical-flavored sweet potato. They mash up well and I knew they’d make the perfect base for a casserole.
I baked some ripe plantains and topped them with chicken sauteed with onions, peppers and garlic. And because this is a Latin American casserole, I threw in some beans. Finally, a casserole wouldn’t be a casserole without cheese on top. When it came out of the oven, it was gorgeous. Exactly what I was hoping for with it’s browned, crisp edges and melted cheesy crust. So, next time you see that big pile of ugly-looking plantains, grab a few for this casserole. You will thank me!
Continue reading ‘Cheesy Chicken & Plantain Casserole’
Published by mel on July 10, 2009 in recipe and sides & bites.
My parents took a trip to Tuscany not too long ago (I know. I’m still jealous and it was months ago.), and the first thing my dad said to me when he got back was, “I had the most delicious thing ever! Gorgonzola polenta! You have to make it.” And I thought to myself “Duh. Why didn’t I think of that?”
So, last night I finally got around to it. And oh my, was it good! Warm, creamy and full of pungent Gorgonzola cheese, this was just about the best imaginable side for a steak. Mashed potatoes and creamed spinach can step aside – it’s Gorgonzola polenta that will cuddle up with my skirt steaks and rib eyes.
Next time, I think I’ll add some pickled red onions or shallots sauteed in butter to balance the creaminess of the polenta. But honestly, it’s amazing just the way it is.
Continue reading ‘Gorgonzola Polenta’
Published by mel on July 8, 2009 in entree, recipe and sides & bites.
I live off of lentils. For someone who’s often too busy, too tired or too lazy to soak beans overnight, lentils are the perfect option. No overnight soaking and they cook up in just a half an hour. Not to mention that they’re some of the healthiest food around. Full good things like protein, fiber, iron and vitamins. They’re a veritable powerhouse of awesome.
And what better to pair this health food with than cured pork, aged cheese and flavored oil? Like bacon, everything is better with pancetta. It gives the lentils a subtle porky flavor. Onions and garlic add aroma. Lemon and sherry vinegar give the lentils a bite. Shaved Parmesan cheese and smoked paprika oil lend them a richness that balances everything out and makes this a meal. These lentils are hearty, deeply flavorful and delicious. One of my favorite quick lunches.
If your lentil experience is limited to soup, give these a try. You’ll be singing the praises of the lowly lentil in no time.
Continue reading ‘Pancetta Parmesan Lentils with Smoked Paprika Oil’
Published by mel on July 1, 2009 in entree, random, recipe and sides & bites.
Yes, another grilled salsa recipe. You have a problem with that? I didn’t think so…
Last week, my dad and I planned out dinner for some guests. We wanted something nice, but not too complicated – tt was a weeknight, after all. In the end we settled on grilled salmon because it’s kind of fancy, healthy and easy to make. My favorite salmon marinade is really simple – 2 parts olive oil, 1 part soy sauce and 1 part Dijon mustard. Just mix it up, pour it over your salmon and let it sit for as long as you’d like. Toss everything onto the grill (on some foil) or under the broiler for 15 minutes. It’s always delicious.
This time, we wanted to top it off with something a little more festive and I decided on grilled pineapple salsa. I charred some pineapple pieces on the grill, then tossed them with red onion, jalapeno peppers, cilantro and lime juice. The grilled pineapple was caramelized and sweet with a little of that BBQ char flavor, the onions and lime juice countered the sugar with some bite and the jalapenos added just the right amount of heat.
I loved the salsa on salmon, but also can’t wait to try it on grilled pork tenderloins, chicken and pretty much anything else. My dad tells me it’s one of the best things I’ve ever made for him. We ate the leftovers with some whole grain tortillas and it was pretty darn good that way too. I’d also recommend you pair it with your favorite Summer Ale :)
Continue reading ‘Grilled Pineapple Salsa’
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