crispy baked cauliflower croquettes :: by radish*rose

crispy baked cauliflower croquettes

Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside – yet light and healthy – totally guilt-free. You’d almost think they’d been fried, but guess what – they’re baked! Croquettes are typically deep-fried breaded treats – but these are WAY lower in carbs and fat than fried potato croquettes with traditional breading, because they are made of cauliflower and baked instead of fried. I used panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) for breading, but take note – you need some oil to make the panko turn brown and crisp in the oven (it will stay dead white if you don’t use any oil – I learned this the hard way for all of us. You’re welcome.). A blast of olive oil cooking spray before baking does the trick!
 
If you want to get fancy, you could add a bit of filling to the middle (like a small cube of cheese or ham, if you’re into that sort of thing) – just form the croquette around it.

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cauliflower mash with parmesan, garlic and butter :: by radish*rose

cauliflower mash with parmesan, garlic, and butter

Fluffy, buttery, cheesy goodness with no carbs?! What?! I had heard rumors about this magical rainbow unicorn situation and finally decided to try it for myself. I am thoroughly delighted with the results, and you will be too. It is 15 minutes to easy cheesy goodness! Yes, there is some butter, but let’s face it, if you had made mashed potatoes you would be eating at least this much butter and probably more (and it makes a LOT so you will not be eating the whole thing yourself in one sitting… we tried.. it doesn’t seem possible). Does it taste like cauliflower? Yes, a little bit, but not overwhelmingly. You will almost believe it’s mashed potatoes, really! I may bust this out at Thanksgiving. Hmmm *tenting fingers*. Continue reading

baked eggs with pesto and parmesan :: by radish*rose

baked eggs with pesto and parmesan

Want to impress your friends (or just yourself) with a fun and glamorous brunch dish, such as a perfectly cooked egg nestled in a little cup with a hint of basil, garlic, and parmesan? Secretly, it’s super duper easy. Presentation is easy since hello, ramekins!  Those are little dishes that can go in the oven – you’ll need one per egg. Don’t worry, ramekins aren’t a one-use wonder – you can use them for all sorts of things since they can double as a small container for pretty much anything. Also, I had never made anything in a water bath before – and I’m here to testify it’s a lot easier than it seems. It’s a method used to make custards and puddings as well – it protects the little guys from dry heat that might be too harsh for their delicate and small contents – and it was perfectly easy. Continue reading

beet, walnut, and blue cheese kale salad :: by radish*rose

beet, walnut, and blue cheese kale salad

Beets are just about the pinkest of pink foods. I mean, that deep, deep pink magenta color is just gorgeous. Anyone who knows me personally knows I’m crazy about PINK! The pinkness of beets is just so vibrant, it makes me happy.

However… have you ever noticed that when you buy a bunch of beets, they are all different sizes, which is annoying because they cook at different rates? Like one tiny one and two huge ones. That’s what I got in my CSA box, but I like a vegetable challenge, so never fear, we have the technology. (Steam!)

I’d only roasted beets (which takes about an hour and half) and never steamed them before but I’m quite delighted with this new technique. The skins come right off after, and you can remove the little ones when they’re done and keep going with the others. (Harder to do with roasting. Maybe it’s all that foil.)

Of course you can use any crumbly or grated cheese you like for this, or eliminate it altogether. I like blue cheese because it stands up to the earthiness of the beets. Restaurants often use goat cheese which is also nicely assertive. But you be you. Whatever you like. Continue reading

stuffed peppers with parmesan and olives :: by radish*rose

stuffed peppers with parmesan and olives

Crispy topping and savory filling surrounded by sweet roasted peppers. When you’ve just received a CSA (community-supported agriculture) box containing giant beautiful peppers, what better use for them? I had never stuffed a pepper before, but if I can, you can too! These are so pretty, they would be great for company.

I’m becoming a huge fan of Rose Elliot, who is very well known in Britain for vegetarian cooking. Her recipes are simple yet inventive. As you may know, European recipes often put things in terms of weight, so it’s handy to have a food scale. Mine is tiny and cost $15; it is well worth the added confidence it gives. Continue reading

three days in paris

Well hello there!  Or should I say Bonjour? In case you’ve been wondering where I’ve been: PARIS. Also London. Lucky me!! This is a bit of a departure (pun intended) from my usual posts but you’ll see, THERE’S FOOD.

radish*rose and mr. rose at eiffel tower!
radish*rose and mr. rose at eiffel tower!

My husband had business in London, so we decided to add on a few days of fun, and took the EuroStar train from London to Paris – only two and half hours away.  We stayed at the Hotel Chopin, which is an utterly charming and very reasonable boutique hotel located in a shopping arcade. The only potential issue was that it is SO charming and old fashioned that there is no air conditioning, although there are large, beautiful windows to open (screenless). The weather was unseasonably cool during our visit, so this was not a problem, although I was a bit worried beforehand since I know it can get quite hot there. Also: pigeons could totally fly in. But that didn’t happen. They just cooed around adorably outside. Continue reading