This spring vegetable dish can be called either a frittata or a crustless quiche, for those of us too lazy to make crust or simply wanting the delicious innards of a quiche without the extra starch from a pastry shell.
My sister and I were reminiscing about mom’s home baked treats. Gingerbread, with a light veneer of lemon glaze, was always a favorite and spoiled us for any other, homemade or purchased. We don’t think she even used a recipe but rather created by instinct. She had excellent instincts.
Hearty comfort food is the norm these days. Lasagna is the one dish meal I think of for an explosion of flavor and texture that appeals to my sense of comfort. In my quest to reduce red meat consumption, there is one champion and that is Beyond Meat. Earlier incarnations of vegan meat substitutes were riddled with soy and wheat, both allergens for me and many others, but these delicious burgers, crumbles and link sausages are made with pea protein. They are damn good.
Must be my Irish heritage. I could eat potatoes three times a day, every day. Daydreaming of food when hungry, I used to make a list of ten things to take to a desert island.Potatoes, cheese and chocolate were always on the list. Now chocolate is something I crave on occasion but could do without. Potatoes, especially when paired with cheese? That combination goes onto the essentials list.
Here is a confession of sorts, although I feel no guilt in admitting that I cannot wait until summer to enjoy the taste and texture of fresh tomatoes. They are enjoyed raw in salads and roasted with garlic and olive oil. Grape tomatoes, cocktail tomatoes, Campari tomatoes—whatever name they are given, they taste lovely to me.
Sweets for the sweet during St. Valentine’s month, or maybe not. If your tastes run more to bitter, tart or just plain less sweet when you enjoy desserts, or breakfast, you will like this Greek yogurt based pudding with maple sweetened blood oranges and chia seeds.
The enjoyment of eating soup can be likened to the development of a good friendship. Things are lovely in the beginning and as time passes the relationship takes on depth from shared experiences. You would not immediately bond with most potential friends and you would not fully appreciate the complex flavors of soup until some time has passed and the taste blooms into something wonderful. Continue reading
Torn between having a nice hot cup of tea, because it’s winter, and a refreshing cold beverage, because it’s 60-something degrees for days on end, I decided to celebrate both drinks with a cocktail using fragrant jasmine tea, pomegranate juice and gin, shaken over ice. Continue reading
Love me some pancakes, but not fond of the sleepy state that ensues. Carby sugar rush is a given unless there’s a hefty side or two of protein to keep me from snoozing. I think I’ll just add some high quality protein to my buttermilk pancakes with chewy bits of cooked quinoa and call that an eye opening breakfast. Continue reading
One of the easiest appetizers to serve for impromptu gatherings, pre-dinner nibbles and large crowds is a good spread for crackers and crisp vegetables. This is why hummus is so very popular. If it’s not homemade, there will be various flavors to consider at your local market. This cheese and walnut spread is like hummus for those who don’t fancy hummus. The consistency is similar and the versatility is similar in that you can use this make-ahead spread with crispy things, schmear it on on sandwiches and wraps and use it to add creamy cheesiness to mashed potatoes and polenta. Continue reading