savory roasted pumpkin wedges with crunchy parmesan herb topping

October 4, 2014 radish*rose 1 Comment

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

spicy garlic dilly beans

October 1, 2014 radish*rose 5 Comments

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.

crispy baked cauliflower croquettes

September 25, 2014 radish*rose 1 Comment

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.

baked eggs with pesto and parmesan

September 14, 2014 radish*rose 0 comment

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

September 8, 2014 radish*rose 1 Comment

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

September 1, 2014 radish*rose 4 Comments

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