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Category Archives: side dishes

Strawberry and Goat Cheese Crostini

Rapini served with Crostini

Rapini served with Crostini

1 cup strawberries, hulled and diced

1 teaspoon sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

One baguette, sliced on the bias

2 tablespoons thick, aged balsamic vinegar

4 oz. goat cheese, room temperature

¼ cup fresh basil, julienne cut

Black pepper

  • In a small bowl combine strawberries, sugar and salt. Marinate at least one hour.
  • Lightly toast bread slices under the broiler
  • Spread a thin layer of softened goat cheese over bread.
  • Spoon strawberry mixture over goat cheese.
  • Drizzle balsamic over berries
  • Layer basil over berries
  • Sprinkle pepper on top
  • Serves 6 as a tapas alone or with Rapini with Balsamic

Roasted Peppers with Anchovies

4 anchovy fillets, preserved in salt

3 red or orange bell peppers

1 tablespoon fresh oregano, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tablespoon capers, drained & finely chopped

¼ cup olive oil

  • Wash anchovy fillets under running water for several minutes to rid them of their salt. Bone them and finely chop.
  • In a small bowl combine anchovy, oregano, garlic and capers. Set aside.
  • Wash, dry and stem peppers; cut into quarters and remove ribs and seeds.
  • Place on a baking sheet cut side down and sprinkle with olive oil. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 F for 20 minutes or until slightly tender.
  • Cool and then cut into smaller strips.
  • Spoon anchovy mixture onto strips.
  • Let stand 2 hours for flavors to blend before serving.

Nutrition Notes: Colorful peppers are rich in the antioxidants Vitamin C & carotenoids which help protect us from the cell damage of free radicals. Anchovies and capers are high in salt, so it’s best to balance these with lower salt foods in your day.

Baby Potatoes with Aioli

Thank you Mary Ann Anschutz for this recipe!

There are two methods of making the Aioli here. The first is using mayonnaise and adding ingredients. The 2nd is the traditional method which uses raw egg.

1 lb baby or small red potatoes

½ cup Hellmann’s mayonnaise or 1 egg yolk & 5 tablespoons olive oil & 5 tablespoons corn oil

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 cloves garlic

Salt & pepper

Olive oil

1 tablespoon chopped flat leaf parsley

Aioli 1st method: In a small bowl combine mayonnaise, lemon juice and garlic with a whisk. Thin it out with a little olive oil.

Aioli 2nd method: In a food processor with a metal blade combine the egg yolk, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper. Blend well. With the motor running add the olive oil & then the corn oil first by drops & then in a slow steady stream until the sauce is thick and smooth. You can also do this by hand with a bowl and whisk.

Set the Aioli aside. It should be the consistency of a sauce so it can coat the potatoes. Quickly add 1 tablespoon water to thin the sauce.

To prepare the potatoes, cut them in half or quarters to make bite size pieces. If they are very small, leave them whole. Place them in a pan of cold water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 7 minutes or just until tender. Do not overcook. Drain and place into a large bowl. While the potatoes are still warm add the sauce and toss well. Let stand 20 minutes to allow potatoes to marinate in the sauce.  Transfer to a warmed serving dish and sprinkle with parsley. Alternatively the Aioli can be served separately, allowing diners to dip potatoes themselves.

Nutrition Note: Vit C rich potatoes with skins retain more fiber & nutrients.

Pasta with Chickpea-Tomato Sauce

Thank you to Mary Ann Anschutz for this recipe!

1 Tablespoon olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

3 cups cooked chickpeas

Coarse salt, optional

1-28 oz can crushed tomatoes

1-14.5 oz can reduced sodium chicken broth

1 sprig fresh basil, plus torn leaves for garnish

12 oz medium pasta shells

Grated Parmesan for serving

  • In a medium sauce pan heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook 30 seconds or until fragrant. Do not brown
  • Add chickpeas, season with salt (optional) and cook 5 minutes.
  • Add tomatoes and broth and bring to a boil. Simmer about 20 minutes or until sauce has reduced slightly.
  • Add basil and cook 5 minutes. Remove basil.
  • While sauce is cooking, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water till al dente; drain and return to same pot.
  • Add sauce to pasta and toss. Serve with Parmesan and garnish with torn basil.

Nutrition Notes: Chickpeas/Garbonzo beans are a high fiber, low fat, and high protein substitute for meat. They also contain phytoestrogens  which  may protect against breast and prostate cancers. Tomatoes are rich in antioxidants which protect from harmful free radicals.

Cantaloupe & Arugula Salad with Spanish Jamon & Cheese

Per each salad layer the following on a serving plate:

5 bite size pieces of cantaloupe

A small handful of arugula that has been tossed with 1 teaspoon olive oil and ½ teaspoon white wine vinegar

1 or 2 small thin slices of Spanish jamon

1 or 2 thin slices, shaved with a vegetable peeler, of Spanish cheese such as Cabra de Murcia

Drizzle with ½ teaspoon honey (you can also mix the honey with equal parts olive oil)

Sprinkle entire salad with ground black pepper

Nutrition Notes: Arugula is one of the dark green leafy vegetables very rich in many antioxidants, phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals. Cantaloupe is an orange colored food also rich in these nutrients. The more color, the more the nutrients! The jamon and cheese is high in salt, but the quantity used is very small. No other salt is added here. Jamon is a dry cured ham, similar to proscuitto. This is a small portion that can be used as a tapas. Increase as desirserving size ed for a side salad or entree.

Pan con Tomate or Pa amb Tomaquet or Tomato Rubbed Bread

This Catalan dish has Mediterranean links to Italian bruschetta. Pan con Tomate lies close to the heart of the Catalan way of life. They have a passion for this simple food which is unrivaled. It is often the first thing brought to the table and is a classic served with ham, cheeses and pickles or with barbecued foods.  Famous Catalan chefs have made their own versions from Carles Gaig’s fresh tomato pulp in a cone of crispy bread to Ferran Adria’s tomato ice cream with a wafer-thin bubble of pastry. I served this with a toothpick of serrano jamon, manchego cheese & a grape tomato!

1/2 lb. ciabatta or coarse country white bread, preferably sourdough

4 cloves garlic, halved, optional

4 small ripe tomatoes, about 1/3 lb

Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling

Salt, optional or used flaked sea salt

  • Preheat grill or broiler to high
  • Slice the bread on an angle about 1/2 inch thick or less
  • Grill or broil the bread on a baking sheet on both sides until light golden brown
  • While warm, rub one side of the bread with the garlic, if using.
  • Cut each tomato in half. Rub the cut sides of the tomato on top of the toasts until only the skins are left. Discard skins.
  • Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt if desired.
  • Pile the toasts on a serving platter and serve

Nutrition Note: Tomato contains the carotenoid antioxidant lycopene which helps prevent gastrointestinal cancers. When finishing, use flaked sea salt because you can visualize & limit it more easily.

Easy Roasted Red Bell Pepper Sauce

Combine all ingredients in a food processor or with a stick emersion blender in a medium bowl. Process until smooth. Serve warm as a sauce over pasta or quinoa and cold as a condiment as you would use ketchup. Quinoa is a seed which is similar to couscous. Cook as you would rice. Rinse well before cooking to remove any bitter taste. It is pronounced Keen-wah and originates in South America.  Yield: 2 cups

1 -12 oz jar or 1 1/2 cups bottled roasted & peeled red peppers, drained (packed without oil)

1/2 cup tomato juice

1 Tablespoon aged thick and flavorful balsamic vinegar

2 Tablespoons tomato paste

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 cloves garlic

Nutrition Notes: Red peppers and tomatoes are rich in the antioxidants Vitamins C and A, other carotenoids and other antioxidants which help protect healthy cells from damage caused by free radicals which attack healthy cells. Weakened cells are more susceptible to cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancers. Quinoa is rich in fiber and gluten free.

 

Broccoli Slaw with Oranges and Crunchy Noodles

Dry ramen noodles are crumbled and toasted before adding to this napa cabbage slaw with fruit. As the ramen are mixed and allowed to marinate into the slaw, they rehydrate into soft noodles. I use canned mandarin oranges or the refrigerated oranges in a glass jar.

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/broccoli-slaw-with-oranges-50400000107429/

Napa Cabbage and Snow Pea Slaw

A delicious fresh Asian style salad from Cooking Light.com

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/napa-cabbage-snow-pea-slaw-10000000630177/

And here is a simpler version! Nina’s Napa Cabbage and Snow Pea Slaw

Nina’s Napa Cabbage Snow Pea Slaw

Here is another variation to this salad I made this week. So fresh! Serve it immediately and use it within 2 days to insure crispness!

1 medium head Napa cabbage, sliced thin horizontally

2 bunches green onion, sliced thin horizontally

1 quart snow peas, string removed, sliced in strips lenghwise, 4 or 5 strips per pod

2 red bell peppers, sliced thin horizontally and cut in half crosswise

1 small bunch cilantro, chopped

Dressing:

2-4 tablespoons grated fresh ginger

6 tablespoons sugar

6 tablespoons fresh lime juice

4 tablespoons fish sauce

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Whisk together dressing ingredients. In a very large bowl combine vegetables. Toss in dressing just before serving. Delish!

Curry Dip

A recipe from Strongbow’s Turkey Inn, where I worked in the buffet and catering kitchen during my college years at Valparaiso University. This veggie dip has a beautiful brilliant yellow color! Thank you Chuggie!

2 cups mayonnaise (I prefer Hellman’s)

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 teaspoon tumeric

1 Tablespoon curry powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

4 teaspoons sugar

2 teaspoons lemon juice or lemosa from the bar

Whisk together and serve with fresh veggies! You can substitute light mayonnaise and Greek style yogurt for the mayo and sour cream. I prefer a 50:50 ratio. I also like the Madras style curry powder.