smoky butternut squash and black bean ragout with pepitas and feta :: by radish*rose

smoky butternut squash and black bean ragout with pepitas and feta

Ah, fall. Don’t you just want to curl up with a fuzzy blanket, a fluffy pillow, maybe a cat on your lap if that’s your thing, and a bowl of yum? Smooth butternut, smoky chipotle, savory beans, crunchy pepitas, salty feta, and bright lime make a savory combination of flavors that will make your taste buds *pop*. Thanks Vegetarian Times! One thing I’ve always wondered about using chipotles in adobo – what the heck do I do with the leftovers? Chipotles are smoked jalapenos. What?! Keep reading – I’ll post about ways to use the remaining smoky spicy goodness next. Continue reading

roasted pumpkin wedges with parmesan sage rosemary and thyme :: by radish*rose

savory roasted pumpkin wedges with crunchy parmesan herb topping

Creamy pumpkin topped by crunchy parmesan-herb topping….parmesan, sage, rosemary and thyme… yes please! Sometimes we think of pumpkin as being a sweet thing (which it is) but it’s so nice to mix it up and try a savory preparation. Bonus: your home will smell heavenly as these are roasting. Thanks to the geniuses at Ottolenghi – every one of their recipes I’ve tried has been outstanding (check out this post for chilled soba noodles with mango, eggplant, and basil, as well as the cookbook, for more Ottolenghi goodness!). One day maybe I’ll make it to their restaurant in London. Continue reading

dilly beans :: by radish*rose

spicy garlic dilly beans

Do you love green beans? Me too! These are a crunchy fresh green bean flavor bomb of garlicy, vinegary, dilly goodness – yet they are low in fat and salt. Healthy eating does not have to be boring! The first time I made these, I had a handful and my husband ate the rest of A WHOLE POUND of beans, he loved them so much! (A pound of green beans is kiiiind of a lot for one person. LOL. He’s awesome.) The nice thing is, you can make these ahead and/or make a ton, because the longer they sit in the marinade, the more imbued with flavor they become. A great addition to your fresh appetizer, picnic, or tapas table, or to accompany a healthy wrap or sandwich! Or just eat ’em standing up in the kitchen. They’re that good.

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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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