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

salty sweet maple granola

December 7, 2015 radish*rose 0 comment

Granola. What’s your favorite kind? It might be this one, once you give it a try – and a mason jar of it would make a really cute homemade gift for the holidays! What makes it so great? It’s kind of hard to describe how super-good this is, but I will try, because you really should make it, even if you’ve never made granola before (I hadn’t). First of all, it has an amazing balance of flavors – sweet and salty in just the right way. Secondly, it is almost half nuts, so it is extremely hearty and will keep you going all morning. Thirdly, you can change it up to suit yourself – just keep to the proportion of oats to nuts, but you could use any kind of nuts you want, or add herbs and spices. I might try a little rosemary next time.
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sesame kabocha soup with crunchy maple topping

November 29, 2015 radish*rose 0 comment

Feeling like making something a little lighter, yet still comforting? Soup is your friend! Or maybe you’re looking for something to do with a random squash, like a kabocha, in your possession, and you’re ready to go beyond simple roasting. Here is a lovely and light, low-fat yet filling soup for your winter nights. Don’t skip making this topping – it is SO GOOD. It kind of reminds me of those little Asian sesame stick snacks which are my absolute favorite snack of all time – in fact, I can’t keep them in the house! And it does all this while being naturally vegan, darling. We had this with avocado toast on the side. (For avocado toast: Take a slice of hearty, whole grain toast, mash 1/2 avocado on top, and lightly salt & pepper to taste. Eat with everything!) Continue reading

pumpkin casserole with crunchy pecan topping

November 15, 2015 radish*rose 0 comment

I love savory pumpkin dishes. Also, anything involving Ritz crackers is likely to be delicious. Perhaps not slenderizing, but delicious, especially when also featuring a savory blend of pumpkin, red pepper, onion, and garlic, with some smoked paprika and chipotle for pizzazz, topped with crunchy pecans and panko, and baked until slightly puffed and golden brown. The original recipe from The New York Times uses yellow summer squash, which one steams and purees for inclusion in the dish, but I didn’t have enough squash so I substituted a can of pumpkin for half the squash puree; you can make the whole casserole with all pumpkin instead of squash. Plus, it’s less work that way since you needn’t steam and puree the squash. Win! You can bake this in a casserole (2 1/2 quarts), or small ramekins or cocottes for a cute presentation (just bake it for less time). We had this as a main dish, but it would also be great as a side for a holiday meal such as Thanksgiving. Yay!

whole roasted celeriac

November 9, 2015 radish*rose 0 comment

Celeriac? What’s that? I confess, the first time I saw one, I was completely baffled by this brown, rough sphere with tendrilly roots still attached. Approximately the size of a large grapefruit, it was kind of intimidating, reminding me of a creature from Doctor Who. But now we are friends! Do not judge a vegetable by its cover. Why should you get to know it? Well, celeriac has a very mild celery flavor and is crisp when raw, and creamy and soft when cooked. It is much lower in calories than potato – 42 calories per 100 grams, versus 322 calories per 100 grams for potato, but when you roast it, you feel as if you are enjoying a very large, slightly celery flavored baked potato, with a creamy interior and crispy skin. Prep is extremely quick, but roasting it takes a while, so make it on a Sunday afternoon and enjoy the delicious aroma wafting through your home. This got two thumbs up from my husband! Continue reading