Apricots w/ Basil Goat Cheese & Almonds
A long time ago I told my mom that I'd like to be a caterer and she immediately talked me out of it. I thought that my love for making food in assembly lines, piping things with pastry bags and my passion for all things filo dough & puff pastry would be enough. Then she reminded me of how I'd have to stand on my feet for 8+hours and then someone else told me how much packing up and moving was involved in the life of a caterer. Dang. Maybe I just want to be a catering company's quality assurance tester? Yeah! I'd be really good at it.
This recipe has been on my radar forever. I had a Christmas party to attend and whipped up these beauties in absolutely NO time. They're fun, colorful, bite sized and uber fancy. Don't you just love the sight of little appetizers lined up on a tray? I sure do...
Roasted Spaghetti Squash w/ Mushrooms
TEXT MESSAGE BETWEEN HUSBAND & WIFE:
Husband: What's for dinner?
Wife: Spaghetti squash w/ mushrooms
Husband: K. be home in 15.
After texting his wife, husband drives home with the thought of digging into a big bowl of creamy/carb dense spaghetti with mushrooms & a full glass of wine. When husband walks up to the kitchen table, he looks deflated after realizing he's been duped AGAIN with spaghetti squash! Why does his wife always try to pull a fast one? Doesn't she know he's not vegetarian?
Knowing this might be the case, wife plans ahead and makes a small batch of garlic bread to compensate for the lack of carbs. Turns out husband (a carb lover who doesn't love mushrooms) actually enjoys this Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Mushrooms recipe. Wife is satisfied with the dinner she concocted and is happy she is able get a huge bowl of vegetables into her husband's belly. Good wives know that the key to a man's heart is through garlic bread.
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Giardiniera
What the heck is Giardiniera? It's a spicy Italian pickled vegetable mixture that's mostly eaten as an antipasto. Sometimes it's included in salads and it's occasionally shoved into a delicious Italian sub. In my case, it's a healthy snack eaten directly out of the jar!
Ever since I had this simple salad at one of our favorite pizza places, I've been somewhat addicted to the taste of crunchy pickled carrots, tangy bites of cauliflower and red peppers with spicy slices of Serrano peppers. It's definitely a party in your mouth! When I wasn't able to find a reasonably priced jar of Giardiniera in my local grocery store, I figured I'd make my own. Turns out it's a cinch to make and the second you open the lid, one whiff will you transport you to that kitschy Italian restaurant from your childhood. Pickling your own vegetables is super fun! I highly recommend it.
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Strawberry Goat Cheese Bruschetta
Do NOT adjust your computer screen. That really IS strawberry & basil you see on a crostini. This bruschetta is a riff on the oh-so-fab Caprese salad, except we substitute fresh mozzarella with GOAT CHEESE and tomatoes with STRAWBERRIES! And what do we get?? Crazy deliciousness! The strawberries are mixed with a little bit of balsamic vinegar, which brings out their underlying tang & sweetness. Shreds of basil provide some greenery and a hint of sophistication! And the goat cheese...it's just pure decadence.
If you bring these bruschette to a party this will happen:
1. people will scratch their heads.
2. they'll eat a few.
3. guests will fight over the last one!
I like to call them The Unusual Suspects. No one suspects how good they are, and then they're all gone.
Artichoke & Basil Bruschetta
Friends! I'm teaching a cooking class with Digital Media Playground at Macy's (in Union Square) this Saturday. You should totally come! I'll be doing a little demo on one of my favorite summer foods, bruschetta! My friend Denise will also be teaching a lesson on food photography & how to take awesome shots indoors with tricky lighting. It's gonna be fun!
I've been testing bruschetta recipes this week and yesterday I came up with this scrumptious Artichoke & Basil Bruschetta for the class. On top of a grilled/garlic rubbed crostini you'll find creamy ricotta, basil, marinated artichoke hearts, a slice of Parmesan cheese with a squeeze of lemon. It's so good I made it for both lunch AND dinner yesterday. You are going to LOVE it! One bruschetta down, three more to go!
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Strawberry Lemon Basil Soda
Strawberries! I have an overwhelming amount of strawberries in my kitchen right now. There's definitely a reason for that, but I'll get to that later. Right now I'm thirsty and I want to do something with my loot. The current issue of Bon Appetit suggests I make a soda with them. Yes. Good call, Bon Appetit. I like you even more now.
So here I am drinking this soda. It's like grownup sparkling strawberry lemonade and it's super refreshing! I can definitely see a lot of these in my future....with a lot of gin. CHEERS!
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lessons in gardening…
The other morning Cooper & I were hanging out in the backyard and he kept running up to me saying "Green ones, green ones!" I assumed he was referring to his trucks so I brought them out for him to play with. My assumption was wrong. A few minutes later he turns the corner, runs back to me with a proud look on his face and yells, "GREEN ONES GREEN ONES!" It was then that I realized he was talking about my GREEN TOMATOES waiting patiently to ripen on the vine. Little bubbs then says "Grapes! grapes! grapes!" He proceeds to smoosh them in his hands and then runs away. Whoa. I was stunned. Goodbye green tomatoes. I worked hard all summer for you....I now see why my grandparents were super pissed when my brothers and I would pick off buds from their plants. GAHH!!!
So let's talk about the current status of my garden.... Continue reading→
Easy Peasy Tomato Basil Pasta
I'm happy to announce that Shutterbean is now a contributor at Modern Kiddo!
I'll be posting ideas quick meals/ideas/beverages! Perfect for parents of kiddos and people who are short on time!
Check out the recipe for this Easy Peasy Tomato Basil Pasta!
Let's put your tomato loot to good use!
