easy spinach garlic frittata

January 10, 2016 radish*rose 0 comment

A confession: The art of frittata-making eluded me for a very long time. This spinach garlic frittata is a hard-won victory for me. Every recipe I tried went like this: In an oven-proof skillet, sauté the fillings on the stovetop, pour in beaten eggs, continue to cook on the stovetop until almost done, then broil until puffed and brown. Sounds easy, right? Except… mine never worked. Ever! It would always burn either top or bottom, possibly both, and it would stick to the pan, requiring a long soak to clean up. Sigh. I had almost given it up for lost, until I came across this easy frittata recipe for kids, using a simple baking method. I thought to myself: Surely I can make this if kids can make this. Right?! Right! Guess what – this method totally works. No burning, no sticking to the pan. Hurrah! The great thing about frittatas is that you can use any veggies you have on hand, so feel to modify to your needs. Go ahead, use that asparagus, kale, or whatever you have. And if you have leftover frittata, it is delicious in a sandwich the next day. Continue reading

kimchi soba noodles

January 3, 2016 radish*rose 1 Comment

Helloooo! Did you miss me? I took a wee holiday break from blogging, due to all the end-of-year craziness and celebration, and I am back all bright-eyed and bouncy! Speaking of celebration, did you know that many Asian cultures ring in the New Year by eating noodles, which represent long life? My good friend described to me how to make kimchi soba noodles – not just for New Year’s, but as a simple everyday one-pot dinner using ingredients that are easy to keep on hand. Soba noodles are made from buckwheat, and have a hearty, nutty flavor which is perfect with the strong garlicky flavor of the kimchi. I’ve added tofu and spinach for extra goodness, and you should feel free to add whatever vegetables and protein you like as well. Continue reading

garlic spinach soup

October 12, 2015 radish*rose 0 comment

This garlic spinach soup is my new favorite thing for a fall weeknight. It uses ingredients I almost always have on hand – garlic, bread, eggs, spinach – plus some dried herbs and grated Parmesan or Gruyere cheese. I run in the door, put the water on to boil, change my clothes, and proceed with the recipe. It doesn’t seem like something so simple would be good, but it is simply delicious! You simmer rather a lot of garlic plus some dried herbs to make a clean broth, add some small pasta such as orzo, toss in some spinach or frozen peas, then swirl in some eggs to add protein and body. To serve, ladle it over some hearty, garlicky toasted bread in the bottom of each bowl. Voilá! Continue reading

smoky chickpea farro salad with olives, capers, and pine nuts

May 25, 2015 radish*rose 3 Comments

Smoked paprika, olives, pine nuts and golden raisins combine with garlic seared chickpeas and capers as well as fresh spinach and chewy farro to make an unforgettable Spanish-influenced hearty salad. This dish is vegan, but my best taste-tester husband actually thought (hoped?) there might be bacon in it due to the smoky flavors. Nope. Just a bunch of veg and nuts! Interesting how one can make things taste kinda bacon-y without actual bacon, isn’t it? Must investigate further.

mini crustless spinach feta quiches

March 8, 2015 radish*rose 4 Comments

These easy mini crustless quiches work very well for a weekday breakfast (make ahead on Sunday, then grab and go) or lazy weekend brunch (with bloody Marys or mimosas, am I right?). But it also works for dinner. You could make the 9-inch pie version, then serve a wedge with a simple green salad on the side, a glass of crisp white wine, and a happy sigh. To make the mini version, you use something you probably already have: a muffin tin. That’s right. Mini or regular. Your choice! The recipe magically makes exactly 12 mini-quiches or one 9-inch pie. Continue reading

spinach lemon pasta with toasted almonds

January 19, 2015 radish*rose 0 comment

Want a super easy way to get your greens and whole grains in? This spinach-lemon pasta comes together so quickly, yet is an elegant way to enjoy healthy spinach, almonds, and whole wheat pasta. I really like the Barilla Plus pasta, which not only includes whole grains, but also 17g of protein per serving. And it’s delicious! I have made this vegetarian recipe for years and it even makes my carnivorous mother happy. Continue reading