Broccoli Raisin Salad. Quite possibly my favorite "cold vegetable" salad. When thinking about trying a new way to fix broccoli, I kept going back to my favorite cold version of broccoli raisin salad. But it didn't sound right as I thought about it. Maybe it's the chili weather, or mourning the loss of summer (yes, I am in mourning. Not a winter person here.), or all the … [Read more...]
Balsamic Tomatoes with Feta and Fresh Herbs
This could be my most favorite flavor combination from this summer. From the bold balsamic to the tangy feta to the sweet basil and the perfect taste of vine ripened tomatoes. It's so raw. And fresh. And delicious! A few weeks ago (before the squirrels took over), I made this recipe with the striped tigerella tomatoes...a new variety for me this year, thanks to my friend … [Read more...]
Tomato Eggplant Frittata
As we head into this holiday weekend, I thought I'd leave you with a simple breakfast for dinner recipe. Or it would be perfect for breakfast this weekend, as you hang out with family and friends! This may in fact be the most flavorful frittata that I've ever made. This is not to put a damper on the other frittata recipes featured here or in my Breakfast and Lunch cookbook. … [Read more...]
Oven Roasted Garlic Green Beans
If vegetables could taste like candy, these might be the Reese's of all cooked vegetables. The oven roasting gives the green beans a bit of a caramelized flavor...and the boldness and sweetness from the roasted garlic...and it's almost like they are candied vegetables. Almost. (Even though that's a ridiculous claim, you have to try them and decide for yourself.) This … [Read more...]
Early August Garden Harvest
Cucumbers and tomatoes (5 different varieties pictured here...Golden Girl, Big Boy, Tigerella, and I forget the other 2! Plus the mini-mini tomatoes that I snack on while watering the garden!)...that's what's mainly coming out of my garden right now. I'm also picking herb leaves, just about everyday for whatever concoction I have happening in the kitchen that day. And I've also … [Read more...]
Grilled Pizza with Chicken, Avocado and Tomatoes
I made this pizza on Wednesday afternoon. The same afternoon I made some whole wheat, sugar free muffins (I will share the recipe as soon as I can make them again...I need to get my hands on some more sucanat first!). The afternoon I was feeling pioneer-ish! My neighbor was over and our kids were playing around the yard. We were catching up, talking about the upcoming school … [Read more...]
Grilled Chicken with Cucumber-Pineapple Salsa
Up next on the Grow. Eat. $ave. calendar for this year is cucumbers. I've had more cucumbers in my kitchen in the last 2 weeks than I know what to do with...both from my garden, and from a friend's garden. I've been enjoying them on salads, as well as soaked in balsamic vinegar with some kosher salt and pepper (nom, nom, nom!). And last night I tried this cucumber pineapple … [Read more...]
How to Seed and Dice a Cucumber
I like cucumbers. I like their crisp. Their crunch. Sometimes I like the seeds...say, for sliced cucumbers on top of a salad. Other times, I don't like the seeds. For those times when the seeds have got to go, this is what it looks like! Cut off the ends. Slice in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, run it down the middle, scooping out the seeds. Slice the … [Read more...]
Squash Calzone
My oldest son saw me chopping up squash and said, "Are we having squash again?" My husband told him to get used to it, "Your mother will be making squash for breakfast, squash for lunch, squash for dinner, crunch, crunch, crunch". The cheer did nothing to alleviate my son's concern and he walked out of the kitchen with a panicked look on his face. But after he tasted the Squash … [Read more...]
Mediterranean Quinoa
It's we're on a bit of a quinoa roll these days! I have a number of recipes on One Dish Dinners using quinoa (with another coming next week!), Lisa shared her Cilantro-Lime Quinoa last week and we've made a number of different quinoa recipes here on $5 Dinners! If you haven't heard of quinoa (keen-wa), it's a gluten free grain from Peru that is gaining popularity quickly … [Read more...]