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

ginger soy butter mussels :: by radish*rose

ginger soy butter mussels

Ginger, soy sauce, and a touch of butter make an irresistible Japanese-influenced East-West broth for these mussels.  The original recipe was for clams, but I haven’t quite gotten the hang of cleaning those yet, so I substituted mussels since I know what to do with those (and so will you, read on!).  Also, did I mention that mussels are one of the most sustainable types of seafood?  Yay for mussels! Continue reading

fresh tomato and red onion salad :: by radish*rose

fresh tomato and red onion salad

Got tomatoes? Me too! Nothing tastes so much like summer as a beautiful, ripe tomato.  Now, I do love a caprese salad (tomato, basil, fresh mozzarella) as much as the next person, but you might not want all that cheese at times. (I know, I can’t believe I said that.  OK, maybe you just don’t have fresh mozzarella on hand right now. I bet you have an onion, though.)  Anyway, regardless of the reason, here’s a flavorful, healthy dairy-free option that will delight your tastebuds! Continue reading