Tradition with a twist was the theme for my Hanukkah menu. I knew it wouldn’t be traditional without Matzo Ball Soup and Latkes so, true to my character, I had to add some variation to my standard recipes. That meant that instead of plain matzo balls, I made them with ginger, fresh grated nutmeg and parsley. Additionally, over the last few years I have been trying out … Read more First Night of Hanukkah Feast!
Looking for something a little different for your Thanksgiving vegetable side dish? Well look no further. This amazing casserole of roasted vegetables and bacon are covered with a succulent, creamy blue cheese sauce which creates a side dish that pairs wonderfully with roast turkey! If you are hosting a small gathering, you can serve it in individual casseroles or ramekins. For a large group, assemble it … Read more A Creamy Blue Cheese Sauce with Brussels Sprouts, Fennel and Bacon
There is something so earthy and satisfying about dishes containing squash and root vegetables. They are extremely versatile and can be used in soups, gratins, pasta dishes, mashes, and even desserts! The options are endless for these jewels from nature. Although they are often subtle in flavor, they benefit greatly from enhancers like spices and fresh herbs. This recipe from Yotam Ottolenghi combines squash with several root vegetables in … Read more Fall’s Best Bounty – Squash and Root Vegetables!
Nothing wakes up the flavor of a mild tasting squash like a little Sriracha yogurt and some Cilantro sauce! Yotam Ottolenghi, the king of vegetables, does it again with his creative combinations of flavors and spices. The squash is nicely roasted with a cinnamon mixture basted on the outside. A little Sriracha mixed with yogurt serves the base for this side dish. Everything is then topped with … Read more A Delicata Squash side dish with Pizazz!
As a kid, one of the only vegetables I liked was string beans. We ate wax beans (the yellow ones) and green beans out of a can. Yuck! I can’t even imagine doing that any more, however I still love string beans. Just as long as they are the fresh variety. Well fresh is what they are when you get them from Talley Farms CSA! … Read more A new String Bean recipe that you’ll want to Gobble Up!
My tomato garden, this year was better than last but still not fantastic. The tomatoes were sparse and smaller than they should have been. However, they were juicy, sweet and scrumptious so I am thrilled about that. I tried to use them in recipes where I could showcase their wonderful taste and beauty since they were lacking in abundance. This savory tart adapted from Yotam Ottolenghi allowed … Read more A Savory Tart makes a Great Side Dish!
I’ve been trying to make the most of the last of my summer bounty. With beautiful Roma tomatoes and Fresh non-GMO bi-color corn from Talley Farms, I decided to combine some processes for using them together. I have been committed to finding ways to keep the most nutritional value in my fresh produce while cooking and preparing meals. This means using them as close as possible to … Read more The End of Summer’s Bounty
The original corn from years ago had twice as much protein as our modern corn and significantly less starch. Over the years, it has been transformed through several mutations, hundreds of generations of human selection and genetic manipulation resulting into a modern super sweet variety that can contain up to 40% sugar. It is also much lower in phytonutrients than earlier corn. Nowadays, stores advertise … Read more A Simple Sauce transforms an Ear of Corn
A small tweak to roasted carrots can open up a whole new world of flavor. If you are used to making balsamic roasted carrots, (and love them!) take a look at this recipe for Harissa and Maple Roasted Carrots from Bon Appetit. It will make a heavenly side dish for your meal. Even the roasted lemons are edible and utterly scrumptious! One of the keys … Read more Sweet & Spicy; these Carrots make a Great Side Dish!
I had a great time at the Inspired Home Expo of Paso Robles last week. I was one of the featured chefs in the Idler Demonstration Kitchen introducing some of Talley Farms incredible fresh produce. For my demonstration, I selected a recipe to showcase their bicolor non-GMA corn, yellow summer squash and heirloom tomatoes. The dish I created was Squash Corn Fritters with an Heirloom Tomato Concasse. One … Read more Getting Creative with Corn in these Squash Corn Fritters!
