colorful baked rice with mint, feta and pomegranate :: by radish*rose

colorful baked rice with mint, feta and pomegranate

Sometimes a recipe just catches your fancy and you want to make it immediately. I saw this baked rice recipe on bonappetit.com and added everything to my shopping list right away so I could make it that same night! It’s so colorful and has many flavors I love – salty, sweet, tangy, minty. Oh, and there’s some butter. That always increases the deliciousness factor! I also was curious about this baking method for rice. It worked perfectly and now I plan to try it using other herbs – like maybe some dill, and then you could serve it with some delicious salmon, and… I’m getting carried away. Continue reading

cucumber chickpea mint salad with hearts of palm :: by radish*rose

cucumber chickpea mint salad with hearts of palm

Here is a super-easy and refreshing summer salad with chickpeas, cucumber, and mint, as well as crisp hearts of palm, complimented by a smoky tahini dressing. Don’t hearts of palm automatically make everything more elegant? Also, I happen to agree with Mark Bittman of the New York Times that smoked paprika improves almost every savory dish. It really brings out the natural smokiness of the tahini (which is kind of like peanut butter, but made with sesame seeds instead of peanuts). If you don’t have any smoked paprika, though, just leave it out. But seriously, go buy some for next time, try it in a variety of savory dishes while you’re at it, and thank me later. A few years ago you had to special order it, but now it’s fairly readily available in supermarkets. Continue reading

pasta primavera with peas, asparagus and mint :: by radish*rose

pasta primavera with peas, asparagus and mint

Ever find yourself with some random veggies and no plan? That happens to me all the time. I think it’s a fun “problem” to have, because then you have to get creative. I was perusing the New York Times Cooking website, which I love, and came across a recipe for Pasta Primavera with Asparagus and Peas.  It looked so pretty! But I didn’t have everything that recipe required, so I invented my own. Here it is! It’s a light and refreshing summery take on pasta with crisp green veggies, just enough sherry-cream sauce and a little lift from fresh herbs. 

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chilled pea soup with mint, tarragon and basil :: by radish*rose

chilled green pea soup with mint, tarragon, basil, and goat cheese

This is one good-looking and delicious chilled soup. We could not stop eating it. A most excellent light and guilt-free appetizer for your summer nights. Serve it in martini glasses for guests – and it’s great for guests because there is a nice make-ahead trick. Also, you can pretend you’re in Spain because it’s from a super-awesome Spanish cookbook. What’s not to like? Continue reading