get your yummy back

musings from a health supportive culinary artist

Special Turkey Day Edition! November 16, 2012

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 6:45 pm
Tags: , , , , , , ,

It’s Friday and I imagine most of us are shopping or planning to shop for Thanksgiving next week. I thought I’d share some of my turkey day favorites from the GYYB archives.

As you know, I always brine and grill my turkey. It’s delicious and it keeps the oven free all day for everything else!

The thing I love most about Thanksgiving is the side dishes (and time with family and the bubbly). Some recommendations for different and delicious side dishes include Warm Corn Salad, Kale and Apple Salad with Spiced Pecans, Wheat Berry Waldorf Salad, Brussels Sprouts with Walnuts and Dried Cranberries, Spiced Pumpkin Dinner Rolls, Thyme-Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Rosemary Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Shallots.

If you are hosting family, make chili, soup, quick breads or Mini Fritattas to have around. They freeze well, make great snacks, or can feed a crowd. There are lots of recipes from which to choose. I also like to make a batch of Birchermusli (Swiss-style oats) for breakfast.

Once the main event is over, use your leftover turkey to make Chunky Turkey-Barley Soup or this great Turkey and Wild Rice Salad. But most of all, be thankful for the bounty our Earth provides and be well!

 

Fall = Butternut Squash! November 4, 2012

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 1:15 pm
Tags: , , , , ,

Before I start this post ~ first thing’s first ~ a big shout out to everyone on the East Coast recovering from Sandy. Our hearts and thoughts are with you…

This week I bought my first butternut squash of the season. I love it – it’s so versatile. It’s great roasted on its own, tossed with a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper. I also love it in soup, like in this Butternut Apple Bisque or this Moroccan Chicken and Butternut Squash Soup. It also works really well as a vegetarian main dish or as a hearty side dish in Bulgur Pilaf with Roasted Squash and Mint or in this week’s recipe ~ Butternut Barley Pilaf. Barley gets tossed with roasted red onions and butternut squash. Add some fresh chopped parsley, toasted walnuts and then toss in a bit of walnut oil, and wow – it’s delicious.

Barley is a good whole grain to keep in your pantry. It’s a great addition to soup. It can substitute for rice in salads and it makes a nice hot breakfast mixed with some maple syrup, raisins and sliced banana. Make extra!

 

Marinated Market Vegetables September 16, 2012

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 2:05 pm
Tags: , , , , ,

Marinades aren’t just for meat, you know. Take, for example, this recipe for Marinated White Bean Salad. It’s a simple, old school treatment for beans and boy is it tasty!

This weekend, I learned about another recipe for Marinated Market Vegetables  from my step mom. It’s a keeper! A variety of crunchy, colorful vegetables are marinated in a Dijon vinaigrette spiked with Italian seasoning. Fresh and delicious, it’s even better the next day. Enjoy!

 

Celebrate Something New! July 1, 2012

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 1:39 pm
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

I love it when July 4th falls on a Wednesday. A day off in the middle of the week – what’s not to love about that?! It’s like a bonus vacation day without the pressure of making some grand plan for a 3-day weekend. And, of course, there are the fireworks at the beach. Need I say more?

Whether you’re putting burgers on the grill, cooking over the campfire, or beating the heat with no-cook summer meals – it’s time to try something new!

Some of my seasonal favorites include Watermelon Tomato Salad, Haricot Vert and Red Onion Salad with Pistou and Basil-Blackberry Crumble. Visit the Recipe Index and let me know if you try something new.  I’ll do the same. Happy 4th!

 

Quinoa and Corn Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette May 6, 2012

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 5:20 pm
Tags: , , , , ,

We’re having dinner with family tonight and I got assigned a quinoa salad. I came up with this recipe for Quinoa and Corn Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette on the fly, using what I had on hand, and like it enough to share here. It’s herb-y and citrus-y, perfect for this warm May day we’re having. If you don’t use all of the dressing for the salad, save it for mixed greens during the week or as a dipping sauce for grilled chicken or fish.

In fact, while you’re at it, why not make a double batch of quinoa? Use half of it for this salad and set the rest aside for later this week in Herbed Quinoa and Chickpea Salad, Curried Quinoa Salad, or in place of barley in this delicious Halibut with Artichokes, Tomatoes and White Beans. Good stuff!

 

Fantastic Party Menu for Cinco de Mayo April 22, 2012

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 3:58 pm
Tags: , , , ,

I created this menu for an engagement party where the hosts wanted to feature my tamales. As a party menu, it worked really well. Many of the elements can be made ahead of time and reheated or refrigerated until go-time. I am really pleased with how it all turned out – and so were they. I thought I’d share the menu with you as I think it would be great for a Cinco de Mayo party. Many of the recipes came from my recipe index. Enjoy!

Appetizers:

~ Mango Gazpacho Shooters

~ Seared Coriander-Crusted Tuna and Crunchy Slaw on Crisps

~ Grilled Cheddar Cornmeal Cakes with Avocado Mousse and Pico de Gallo

Main Buffet:

~ Green Chili Chicken Tamales with Chipotle Crema, Salsa Verde and Pico de Gallo

~ Wild Mushroom Quesadillas

~ Shredded Pork Tacos

~ Farro Salad with Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette

~ Jicama, Radish and Pepita Salad with Citrus Herb Vinaigrette

Dessert Buffet:

~ Coconut Layer Cake

~ Tequila Lime Tartlets

 

Hungry yet?

 

Quick Three Bean Chili! January 22, 2012

Filed under: Uncategorized — chezdesblog @ 1:26 am
Tags: , , , , , ,

On Saturday, after a day out and about, we got home later than expected and I was without a dinner plan. Thankfully, I had been to the store earlier and had stocked up on staples, among them a variety of beans, diced tomatoes, fresh vegetables, plain yogurt and maple syrup.

Upon scanning my pantry, I immediately envisioned a pot of Three Bean Chili, with Maple Corn Bread and Zesty Coleslaw. Within an hour, I had a delicious homemade meal on the table. This vegetarian chili is hearty, satisfying and packs some heat. (Just the way I like it!) I always use my Le Creuset Dutch Oven for soups and stews. Made of enameled cast iron, it distributes and retains heat well, is oven-proof and cleans up easily. I love it.

Back to the chili. I set aside some aside for another meal this week and froze the remainder for that emergency meal I don’t yet know I need. I made the Maple Corn Bread into muffins because the leftovers freeze easily and can be thawed for breakfast, lunch, dinner or breadcrumbs. As for the coleslaw, well, I’ll crunch on that until it’s gone. Tangy and mayo-free, it doesn’t last long around here…

 

Pumpkin-Peanut Soup January 1, 2012

Filed under: Uncategorized — chezdesblog @ 12:17 pm
Tags: , , , , , , ,

If you’re like me, you still have pumpkin puree in your pantry leftover from Thanksgiving. Don’t let it go to waste! This delicious Pumpkin-Peanut Soup is a great way to use it and other pantry staples for a healthy, quick and delicious mid-week meal.

Last week, I enjoyed my Farro with Winter Fruit, Pistachios and Ginger for breakfast over plain yogurt. Um – yum!

We’ve got friends and family coming in for the weekend, so I’ve got happy hours in my future. In preparation, I’ve made Crushed Peas with Feta and Scallions to spread on crostini. I’ve also made some Cranberry Nut Bread to put out with breakfast. I’m also trying a few new things, and if they go well, you’ll see them here in the weeks to come. Happy New Year!

 

Marinated White Bean Salad September 4, 2011

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 2:47 pm
Tags: , , ,

Over the weekend, I found some of my Mom’s old recipe boxes. She had several, organized by category – appetizer, salads, desserts, etc. I’ve been clinging to these over the years since she passed away. I love sifting through the recipe cards, seeing her hand writing, discovering what she found worthy of clipping, deciphering her notes, additions, and substitutions.

I came across this recipe for Marinated White Bean Salad, hand-written by one of her best friends. I imagine Mom loving this salad at some event and asking for her friend for the recipe. Remember recipe cards? Mom’s friend transcribed the recipe onto a card – “For: Barb,” “From the Kitchen of: Susan,” “Serves: 12 for a party.”

I can see why she wanted this recipe – these beans are simply delicious! They make a wonderful and versatile side dish. Make them for yourself, and then share the recipe with a friend!

 

Pluots+Toasted Pistachios+Feta=New Summer Salad! July 27, 2011

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 7:48 pm
Tags: , , ,

Pluots are a hybrid of plums and apricots resulting in a variety of colors and flavors. Some pluots are deep red, others black, and some a mottled green. Their flesh ranges in color from magenta to pale yellow. No matter how you slice them – they’re delicious!

Savory Pluot Salad is a refreshing way to use them in a dish suitable for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The combination of fruit with toasted nuts, feta cheese, onions, and tomatoes is surprising and delightful. For best results, choose fruit on the firm side, suitable for chopping.

Of course, pluots are a delicious snack on their own. And once you’ve entered the land of pluots, you are bound to encounter apriums, peacotums, plumcots, and many other fun varieties to try. These fruits also make a nice and healthy addition to Stone Fruit Salad. Enjoy!

 

 
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 58 other followers