Mustard-Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

I can tell the seasons are changing just by what I am wanting to cook. Last night I made meatloaf, and wanted something other than mashed potatoes as a side, so I made these yummy roasted potatoes instead.



1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
1 tsp Paprika
1/2 tsp Dry Thyme
Salt and Pepper to Taste
2 Medium Yukon Gold Potatoes, cut into 1/2 - 3/4 inch chunks
1 - 2 Sprigs Fresh Rosemary, broken into 1 1/2 inch pieces

Preheat Oven to 400 Degrees

Spray an 8 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Whisk olive oil, mustard, paprika, thyme and salt and pepper in a medium mixing bowl. Add the potatoes and stir to coat evenly. Spread the potatoes in the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the fresh rosemary. Roast in the oven about 25 minutes until nicely brown on the outside and soft in the middle, stirring at least once during cooking.

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Padron Peppers

This one is super quick and easy, not even a recipe, so I am not going to bother with a printer-friendly version. We got padron peppers in our CSA share 2 or 3 times this summer, and it was a new veggie to us. After researching online, I found out that they are originally from Galicia, Spain, and are commonly served as tapas. Or is that a tapa? Anyway, no matter. Also, they are mostly mild, but a few spicy ones turn up here and there. You can't tell which will be spicy, so it is a surprise! There is even a saying : "Pementos de Padrón: uns pican e outros non." (Padron peppers, some are spicy some are not.)

The preparation is super simple and delicious. Simply heat a cast iron skillet or griddle over high heat, and cook the peppers until they are blackening. Remove to a plate or platter, drizzle with good olive oil, and sprinkle with salt. That's it. Yum!

Stir-Fry Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce and Veggies

Okay, it's been forever. I know. I have been sick ALL summer, but despite that did manage to cook a few things, just never got around to posting.

My sweetie is not a big fan of peanut sauce, so I made this one in July when he was on a business trip to the East Coast. I have tried many times to make peanut sauce, and this was by far my best effort to date. I listed the vegetables I used this time, but, as always, you can use whatever you have on hand. Just try to have about 3 cups or so of vegetables.

For the Sauce :

1/3 Cup plus 1 TBSP Creamy Peanut Butter
1 Clove Garlic, Minced or Pressed
1/2 tsp Fresh Ginger, Minced
1 TBSP Brown Sugar
1/4 Cup Rice Vinegar
1/2 tsp Chili Garlic Sauce
1 tsp Sesame Oil



For the Stir-Fry

2 tsp Canola or Peanut Oil
1 Cup Green Beans, about 1 inch long
1/2 Cup Sliced Summer Squash
1/2 Cup Sliced Radishes
1/2 Cup Sliced Carrots
1 Cup Chopped Cabbage
1/4 - 1/2 Cup Chopped Fresh Cilantro
One 9 oz. Package of Fresh Asian Noodles, or Dried Linguine or Spaghetti


To make the sauce, combine all of the sauce ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth. Set aside.

Cook the noodles according to the package directions and set aside.

To make the stir-fry, heat the oil in a wok over high heat, add the vegetables and stir-fry until they just begin to soften, about 3 or 4 minutes. Add the sauce and the cooked noodles. Stir to coat everything thoroughly and cook until hot, about another 3 minutes or so. Stir in the chopped cilantro, serve and enjoy!

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Veggie Stir Fry : remodel dinner #42

This is the second time veggie stir fry appears as a remodel dinner. Again, I used the sauce from this pork stir fry recipe. This time I used onions, carrots, radishes, green beans and bok choy. My sweetie cooked up some frozen pot stickers and steamed rice completed the meal. Yum!

And if all goes according plan (like THAT ever happens), tonight I will be cooking dinner on our new range!

Farfalle with Summer Squash : remodel dinner #15

The veggies are beginning to pile up. I'm finding it's really hard to use them all when I am not cooking lunch. And it's really hard to cook lunch with a houseful of construction workers. Oh well, the remodel is moving along swimmingly. Anyway, in an effort to use up some veg, I made this pasta with summer squash.

Just cooked up some pasta on the burner on the side of the grill.

I also sauteed some onions and garlic in the electric skillet, when they were soft I added in a big summer squash that I had quartered lengthwise then sliced. Then I added a few pinches of crushed red pepper. When the pasta was done, I drained it and added it straight to the skillet along with a few splashed of chicken broth (veggie broth would make this a vegan dish). I let the broth cook off and sprinkled on a few handfuls of grated parmesan cheese and some fresh basil.

My sweetie made some garlic "bread" (English Muffin)


Voila! Dinner.

Veggie Stir Fry : remodel dinner #8

The electric skillet we bought sure is getting a workout! Last night I used it to make a veggie stir fry. I used the sauce from the spicy pork stir fry to season the veggies : broccoli, carrots, onions and oyster mushrooms. I also used a bit of my favorite chili garlic sauce to spice it up a bit.

Tortellini Salad and Roasted Beets : remodel dinner #4

Tonight's dinner was pretty simple, while still using up a fair amount of CSA veggies. While looking through the fridge and freezer for inspiration, I spied a pack of tortellini from Costco in the freezer, and this is where that led.

I put a 'steamer ' pot to boil on the extra grill burner, then chopped up about 1/2 a summer squash, one carrot, a spring onion, and roughly 1 cup or so broccoli florets. When the tortellini were done cooking (I cooked about 2 1/2 cups) , I drained them then put them back in the pot with the vegetables and about 2 Tbsp of Italian dressing and a small handful of shredded Parmesan cheese. I also added about 1 1/2 Tbsp of fresh basil from the garden, then tossed it all together and set it aside.

For the beets: I cut 3 smallish beets into roughly 1 inch chunks. Then put them on foil and tossed with olive oil, salt and pepper. I added a few sprigs of fresh rosemary from the garden and roasted them in the toaster oven at 450 for about 30 minutes. So aromatic! My sweetie kept saying "It smells like rosemary". : )

Braised Celery and Leeks

Last spring or summer I went on a soup kick, where I was eating soup for breakfast every day. This year, I seem to be on a 'veggie sides for breakfast kick'. I am over the rutabagas and carrots that I have been eating so much of, so today for a change of pace I tried this braised celery.

I will admit, again, that this is not your normal breakfast, but I did find it to be pretty satisfying with a big glass of milk. If you're not into weird veggie breakfasts, this dish would make a nice side to any sort of roast or grilled meat or fish.

Braised Celery and Leeks

1/2 tsp Butter
1/2 tsp Olive Oil
1 Small Leek, White and Light Green Parts Only, Halved Lengthwise and Thinly Sliced
4 - 5 Stalks Celery, Cut in 1-inch Pieces
1/4 Cup Broth, Stock, or Water (if you use water, add a pinch of salt)
1/2 tsp Corn Starch
1 Tbsp Broth, Stock, or Water
Freshly Grated Black Pepper

Heat the butter and olive oil in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Add the leeks and saute until beginning to soften, 3-4 minutes. Add the celery and saute another 5 minutes or so. Add the broth, stock, or water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until the celery is somewhat soft, but still retains some crunch, 5-7 minutes.

Stir together the corn starch and 1 Tbsp of broth, stock or water. Stir into the celery and cook for 1-2 minutes until the liquid is thickened and coats the celery nicely. Serve with plenty of fresh ground black pepper.


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Glazed Rutabagas and Carrots

I made this for dinner one night last week, and as odd as this may sound, I can't get enough of it. Like, I have eaten it for breakfast nearly every day since, can't get enough of it. Perhaps I had been experiencing some sort of weird rutabaga shortage in my system.

Well, whatever the reason, I am still loving this recipe. It would make a great side dish with just about anything, or even a nice salad course on top of either spinach, or as in the picture, sunflower sprouts. (Or if you're weird like me, you can have it for breakfast!)

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Glazed Rutabagas and Carrots

2 Small Rutabagas, peeled and cut into 'sticks' (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 Cup Baby Carrots, or larger carrots cut into 'sticks'
1/2 Cup Water (more as needed)

Glaze Option #1

2-3 tsp Brown Sugar
2-3 tsp Butter

Glaze Option #2

1 Tbsp Apricot Preserves
Squeeze of Fresh Lemon Juice


Sunflower Sprouts or Baby Spinach for serving (Optional)

Put the rutabagas, carrots, and water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. When the water boils, reduce to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the vegetables are soft, 10-15 minutes. If the pot gets too dry, add more water.

When the vegetables are done there should be just a little bit of water left. If there is a lot, go ahead and raise the heat a bit to boil it off.

For option #1:

With just a little bit of water left in the pot, add in the brown sugar and butter. Continue cooking over low heat until a glaze has formed on the vegetables.

For option #2

With just a little bit of water left in the pot, add in the apricot preserves and stir to coat. Squeeze in a bit of lemon juice and cook about one more minute.



If desired, serve over a bed of sunflower sprouts or baby spinach. The heat from the rutabagas and carrots will wilt the greens.


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Roasted Leeks with Parmesan Cheese

Yesterday was my sweetie's birthday, and I made one of his favorite dishes, this Chicken with White Wine and Mushroom Sauce. I also wanted to make a tasty appetizer for us to eat while the chicken was braising, and the leeks in my CSA share inspired me to try something new. Roasting the leeks really made them sweet and delicious, and I thought the Parmesan cheese added a nice nutty note to them.

I served this as an appetizer, but it would also make a great side dish for any roasted or grilled meats.

Roasted Leeks with Parmesan Cheese


3 Large Leeks, White and Light Green Parts Only
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
Salt
1 Tbsp Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Preheat oven to 350

Cut the leeks into 2-3 inch pieces, then halve them lengthwise. Put them cut-side down in a bowl of cold water to clean out all the dirt from between the layers. Go ahead and let them soak awhile, 10 minutes or more. Move them around in the water as necessary to get the dirt out. You can also slightly separate the layers and run them under cold water if you need to.

Pat the leeks dry and rub them with olive oil. (You may not need the whole tablespoon) Place them on a baking sheet cut-side up and sprinkle with salt. Roast until very soft and nice and brown, 30-45 minutes. Turn over (carefully) about half way through cooking time.

Remove to a serving bowl or platter and sprinkle with the parmesan cheese.

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Balsamic Beet Salad

Continuing with the Valentine's Day theme, here is a very red side dish that can be served with any number of things, including roasted chicken.

1 Bunch Beets (about 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 pounds)
2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
2 tsp Olive Oil
1 tsp Dried Oregano
Salt and Pepper to Taste

Scrub the beets well. No need to peel yet, we will get to that later. If your beets are small, you can cook them whole. If they are larger, you will want to cut them into smaller pieces for quicker cooking. Mine were about medium and I quartered them lengthwise.

Put the beets in a medium pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until the beets are tender. This will take about 30-45 minutes depending on the size of the beets. When the beets are tender (stab one with a fork or the tip of a knife to test for doneness), remove them from the heat and drain. Put some cold water in the pot with the beets to cool them down a bit and pull the skins off. They should slip right off. I like to do this with the pot in the sink.

Drain the beets and put them in a salad bowl. Cut them into slices or bite-sized chunks and pour the balsamic vinegar over them. Stir to coat with the vinegar, then add the remaining ingredients and stir again. Adjust seasonings as needed. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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Crispy Kale Chips

I learned how to make these kale chips last year after seeing many recipes for them online. It is one of those recipes that is almost too simple to call a recipe. These kale chips are so interesting. Delicious, salty and crispy. A great starter to a meal, or addition to any snack spread. Hrm....the Superbowl is coming up.

This is a basic recipe with salt as the only seasoning, and it is quite good, but feel free to experiment with other flavor combinations. I have made them with chili powder and cumin for a Mexican feel, or you could use curry powder, or just spice them up a bit more by adding a pinch of cayenne....

Crispy Kale Chips

1 Bunch Kale
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 tsp Salt


Preheat Oven to 350

Clean and dry the kale. Cut away any course stems, and cut the leaves into roughly 3-inch pieces. Toss the kale with the olive oil and salt. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray. Place the kale on the baking sheet in an even layer. Bake for about 10 minutes, turn with a spatula or tongs and bake 10 minutes more, until crisp and beginning to brown on the edges. Remove from the oven to a plate or platter. Or, if you are uncouth like me, eat straight off the baking sheet while the fried chicken cooks.

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Roasted Brussells Sprouts

This is a super-quick but super-tasty veggie side. Make it when you have something else in the oven (meatloaf, perhaps?) for a practically worry free accompaniment.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts, cut in half
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper

No quantities are listed because you can make as many or as few as you need.

Preheat the oven to 375

Toss all ingredients on a foil-lined baking sheet. Roast in the 375 degree oven until nicely caramelized and soft, but not mushy. 15-20 minutes. Stir at least once during roasting for more even cooking.

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Cole Slaw with a Mexican Twist

I got this recipe while perusing recipes on line a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, I can't remember where I saw it, so sadly I can't give due credit. But this is another easy and tasty recipe!

Mexican-Inspired Cole Slaw

1/2 Head Green Cabbage, Thinly Sliced
2 Slice Green Onions
1/4 Chopped Fresh Cilantro
2 Tbsp Mayonnaise
1/2 tsp (or more to taste) Tapatio or Comparable Hot Sauce
2 tsp Fresh Lime Juice (More or less to taste)


Combine the cabbage, green onions, and cilantro in a salad bowl. Whisk together the remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Taste and adjust with more juice or hot sauce as desired.

Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss to combine. Refrigerate or serve immediately.

Roasted Beets

As a CSA member, there are a lot of beets in my house. I have to admit, for about the first two years of my membership I was deathly afraid of the things. Never ate them. I gave them all away. But then, one year, I got brave and made this recipe. And boy am I glad I finally did! It did the trick for both my husband and me. We became beet fans, and now eat them pretty regularly in a variety of ways. But this preparation is super simple and brings out the sweetness quite nicely!

Roasted Beets



Beets, cut into chunks or wedges if they are big
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
Fresh Rosemary Sprigs

I didn't list quantities because you can make as many or as few as you want. Put the beets in a bowl (or directly on a foil-lined baking sheet - less clean up) and drizzle with some olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste and toss well with your hands to get all of the beets coated with a bit of the oil. Now spread the beets out on the baking sheet and tuck sprigs of rosemary among them. Roast in the oven until nice and tender and beginning to caramelize, 40-60 minutes depending on the size of your beets and the oven temperature. If I am only roasting beets, I go pretty high at about 425. But if you are cooking something else at the same time that requires a lower temperature, no problem. The beets will just take a little longer to cook. I cooked these at 350, and they took about 50 minutes.

Kale in Puff Pastry

I bought some frozen puff pastry at the beginning of the holiday season believing I would surely create something delicious with it over the holidays. But here it is January 3, and there the puff pastry was still sitting in my freezer, tasking me. So I decided to make this Kale in Puff Pastry for breakfast. It turned out pretty good!

I've seen similar recipes to this one that use spinach, but I don't always have spinach on hand and I almost always have kale, so I decided to give it a go. Today I used lacinato kale, but any type of kale would be great. You could use chard or spinach in this recipe, as well.

Kale in Puff Pastry

Preheat oven to 375

One Sheet Frozen Puff Pastry

Remove the puff pastry from the freezer and allow to thaw at room temperature while you prepare the kale and sauce.

For the Kale

1/2 Small Onion, Fine Dice
1 Clove Garlic, Minced or Pressed
2 tsp Olive Oil
1 Bunch Kale, Cleaned Stemmed and Coarsely Choppped (Do not dry, the water on the leaves will aid in cooking)
Salt and Pepper
Pinch Cayenne Pepper (Optional)

Heat the olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium low heat. Add the onion and saute until beginning to brown, 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook about one more minute. Add the kale, in batches if needed, and cook until very tender. Season to taste with salt, pepper and the optional cayenne. If you opt for the cayenne, go easy, I used a bit too much for my taste. Remove the skillet from the heat and set aside while you make the sauce.

For the Sauce

1 Tbsp Butter
1 1/2 Tbsp Flour
1 Cup Milk (I used 2%)
2 Ounces Neuchatel Cheese
1/4 Cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
Pepper
Nutmeg
One Egg beaten with 1 tsp Water

Melt the butter in a sauce pan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and continue whisking for about a minute to cook the raw flour taste away. Slowly add the milk while constantly whisking to avoid lumps. Once all of the milk had been incorporated, heat it to a gentle simmer. Add the neuchatel cheese, one ounce at a time, stirring to incorporate completely before adding the second ounce. Then add in the parmesan cheese and stir until completely melted. Season the sauce to taste with pepper and nutmeg. You can use white pepper if you don't like black specks in your sauce.

Combine the sauce and the kale in either the skillet or the sauce pan, whichever seems to make more sense to you.

The puff pastry should be thawed by now. Carefully unroll it and place it on a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet, pressing the seems together if necessary. Spoon the kale onto the puff pastry, leaving about a 1 inch border. Fold in the corners of the puff pastry so that they meet in the middle. (As the pastry bakes, it will move apart revealing the tasty kale inside.) Brush the tops of the pastry with the egg wash. Bake at 375 until puffy and brown, 25-30 minutes.

White Bean and Kale Soup with Roasted Garlic

This has been one of our favorite soups for years. The roasted garlic adds a wonderful richness, as well as making the whole house smell of garlic as it roasts. If you don't like the smell of garlic, this one's probably not for you!

This recipe came from Cooking Light Magazine many, many moons ago. Here is my version.

White Bean Soup with Kale and Roasted Garlic

1 Whole Head of Garlic
2 tsp Olive Oil
1 Onion, Diced
Large Pinch of Salt
1/2 Cup Chopped Carrot
1/2 Finely Chopped Potato (red or yellow)
1/4 Cup Chopped Celery
1 Tbsp Finely Chopped Fresh Rosemary
2 Tbsp Tomato Paste
6 Cups Veggie or Chicken Broth
1 16 Ounce Can Cannellini Beans, Rinsed and Drained
One Bunch Chopped Kale (Or Chard, or Collard Greens - Cook longer if you are using Collards

Preheat Oven or Toaster Oven to 350

Remove the papery skin from the garlic but keep the head in tact. Wrap it tightly in foil and roast in the oven for one hour. Unwrap carefully and let cool for about 10 minutes. Separate the cloves and squeeze to extract the garlic pulp.

Heat the oil in large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and salt and saute for 5 minutes. Add the carrot, potato, celery, rosemary and tomato paste. Cook 5 more minutes, stirring often. Add the broth and the beans and bring to a boil. Simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Stir in the garlic and kale and simmer 10 minutes or until the kale is tender.

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Print White Bean and Kale Soup with Roasted Garlic.

Simple Roasted Cauliflower

I got this beautiful cauliflower from the farm last week. I was inspired with many great ideas about how to use it. Sadly, I had neither great amounts of time nor energy, so opted for a simple preparation instead. Not that it turned out to be a bad thing! This roasted cauliflower is delicious. Sweet and nutty. Make some today!

Simple Roasted Cauliflower

Preheat oven to 400

Cauliflower Florets
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

That's it. Toss the cauliflower in a bowl with olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. A lining of foil or parchment makes clean up super easy. Roast in a 400 degree oven until beginning to caramelize, but still retaining some crunch, 15-20 minutes. Stir 2 or 3 times during roasting for even cooking.

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots

Over the past few years I have been experimenting with new ways to cook Brussels sprouts. Thanks to Tequilarista for giving me the idea to try cooking them with bacon! These were delicious.

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots

1 Slice Bacon
1 Small Shallot, sliced
1/4 Cup Water
Pinch Sugar
Salt and Pepper
Brussels Sprouts, whole, halved, or quartered depending on size. (I forgot to weigh my brussels sprouts before I started, but I had about 3 cups or so.)

Chop/slice the bacon and cook it over medium-low to medium heat until crispy. Remove from the pan to drain on a paper towel. Drain off all but about 2 tsp of fat from the pan. Add the shallots and cook until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes, add in the brussels sprouts, sugar, salt and pepper and sautee for about 5 minutes to get some color going. Add in the water and cook until it has evaporated, stirring occasionally. At this point the sprouts should be cooked through. Just continue cooking until they are as nicely browned as you like them, sprinkle with the reserved bacon and enjoy.

Rutabaga and Carrot Puree

Wow, this was surprisingly good! I really, really loved it. Rutabagas are a relatively new addition to my repertoire, and this is the first recipe I've tried that turned out really great. The original recipe is from Gourmet Magazine. The main changes I made were to cut the sugar way down (The original recipe called for 3 packed Tbsp of brown sugar!), and the addition of the half and half.

Rutabaga and Carrot Puree

1 1/2 lb Rutabagas
3 Carrots
1/2 tsp Salt
2 tsp (or more to taste) Brown Sugar
1-2 Tbsp Butter
2-3 Tbsp Half and Half
Pinch Nutmeg

Peel the rutabagas and cut them into one-inch pieces. Use knife to peel them: Slice off the top and the bottom. Stand the rutabaga on a cutting board and use your knife to peel the skin away. Be sure to get it all, the skins are rather thick.
Cut the carrots into one-inch pieces and add to a pot with the rutabagas. Fill the pot to cover the vegetables by one inch with water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the vegetables are very tender, about 30 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a food processor with a slotted spoon. Add the butter, nutmeg, salt, and brown sugar and process until smooth. Add enough half and half to get the consistency you like. Return it to the pot and re-heat if needed.