Grandma's Gravy

Remember that time I told you the story about the silly little Irish girl who went to college and smothered her pasta in Prego? Well that same silly girl also thought gravy was what you put on a turkey at Thanksgiving (yes, she used to eat turkey—I told you she was silly). Turns out when you are Italian, gravy is way more than a condiment. It is a way of life. It runs through your veins, pores seeping with basil and garlic. It is stashed by the pound in your freezer, for impromptu family get-togethers, which most certainly call for trays of ravioli and red sauce. If you are not lucky enough to be born Italian, you will have to do the next best thing—marry the cutest Italian boy you can find. If you are lucky like me, you husband will have a sweet grandma who doesn’t know just how good her cooking is, but is always willing to share.

Part two of this story, goes something like this…About a month back, I made this gravy one Sunday afternoon. I didn’t look at the recipe card, as I knew it by heart—garlic, tomatoes, olive oil and basil. We enjoyed it that night and my husband proclaimed, “this might be better than grandma’s gravy”. Proud, that I could finally live up to the family name, I didn’t realize until later that I had left the can of water out of the original recipe. Now I am not saying one recipe is better than the other, I am much smarter than that, and wouldn’t want to lose my status as favorite daughter-in-law (yes, I am the only one). But I will say one thing—the Irish girl can whip up a mean batch of gravy.

Grandma’s Gravy
serves one big Italian family

3 T olive oil
5 garlic cloves, minced
2 28-oz cans Pastene Kitchen-Ready peeled tomatoes
1 can water (optional)
1 bunch basil, coarsely chopped
salt and pepper, to taste

In large sauce pan, heat olive oil over medium. Add garlic, and sauté 3-4 minutes, until garlic begins to brown. Add tomatoes, water (if using) and basil. Cover and simmer at least 2 hours. Season, to taste.

Pan-Roasted Cauliflower

December is one of my favorite times of the year. My birthday, a handful of friends birthdays, Christmas, vacation days, visiting with friends who are in town, snowboarding and a lot of shopping, will all be crammed into the next 3 weeks. Yes it is packed, and I feel a bit stressed, but instead of complaining about the jammed parking lots and inevitable snow, I have decided to take a different approach. I am smiling at the twinkling lights, cranking the holiday tunes, and planning gifts I know will bring smiles to my families faces. I am enjoying every minute.

And speaking of enjoyment, let’s talk cauliflower. Perhaps a few of you are thinking, ehh, cauliflower, but there is something special, magical even, that happens to this unassuming vegetable when it is roasted. Unlike most others, it holds its structure, while the edges brown into a magnificent color and caramelized flavor. It is barely breakfast right now, but I am day-dreaming about my lunch leftovers. I hope my excitement is contagious for cauliflower, and well, December. Because they both can be so wonderful—just give them a chance.

Pan-Roasted Cauliflower
serves 4 as a side dish

1/4 c pine nuts
1 large head cauliflower, cut into tiny florets
2 T olive oil
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 t ground mustard
1/2 t salt
pepper, to taste
2 T chopped chives

In a large sauté pan, add pine nuts over medium heat, and cook, stirring often, 5-7 minutes, until toasted. Transfer pine nuts to a serving bowl. Place pan back on heat and add cauliflower, olive oil, lemon juice, ground mustard and salt. Cook, 10-12 minutes, shaking or stirring every few minutes, until cauliflower is golden brown. Transfer cauliflower to the serving bowl with pine nuts. Season to taste with pepper, and top with chives.

Harvest Hummus

I made this hummus a few weeks ago with the end (sniff, sniff) of my CSA goodies. I received a huge bunch of carrots and was looking for a unique way to enjoy them. Carrot hummus it was! While the carrot flavor is mild, I love the fact that this hummus is jam-packed with nutrients. And the color is just amazing—perfect for fall. A Thanksgiving appetizer perhaps?

I am so looking forward to next week’s holiday. We will be celebrating with my family and it is sure to be a relaxing day with a lot of laughs. Truthfully, I am most looking forward to mashed potatoes and stuffing smothered in mushroom gravy. I will share my favorite gravy recipe with you early next week, but if you are planning your feast this weekend, these Asiago Sweet Potatoes are a sure to please menu addition.

Harvest Hummus
serves 6-8 as an appetizer

4 large carrots, scrubbed and coarsely chopped
2 14-oz cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 large garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 c extra-virgin olive oil, plus additional for garnish
2 T tahini
juice of 1/2 a lemon
1 1/2 t salt
1/2 t crushed red pepper flakes
1 small bunch cilantro, chopped

Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add carrots, and boil 4-6 minutes, until tender. Transfer carrots to food processor, reserving 1 c boiling liquid. Add chickpeas (holding a handful aside for garnish), garlic, olive oil, tahini, lemon juice, salt, red pepper flakes and 1/2 c boiling liquid. Puree until smooth, adding additional liquid as needed to reach desired consistency (I am usually generous, since hummus tends to dry out). Add cilantro (holding a bit aside for garnish), and pulse for three seconds. Season to taste, with additional salt or red pepper flakes. Transfer hummus to a serving platter and garnish with a drizzle of olive oil, chickpeas, and cilantro.

Mexican Tortilla Salad

I feel like I’ve gone a bit off track in the past few months with my eating habits. Usually, I eat quite healthy during the week and stay away from sugars and flours. However, I have gone through more sugar and flour in the past few months than I have in the past few years. Ugh. In part it is due to the change of seasons and my craving for comfort food, and in part it is due to my wanting to add variety to the recipes posted here and work on my kitchen skills. But, I can confidently say that I am no longer afraid of dough! So let’s just consider it is success.

I do feel the need to veer myself back on track, especially as the holidays approach and I will confronted with amazingly delicious, but probably not so healthy foods at every turn. I believe in indulgence. But I also believe in balance. Twice a week, I liked to prepare a healthy, but hearty, salad. This tortilla salad is the kind of meal that leaves you full and satisfied. But in a good kind of way. I can see it coming into heavy rotation in the coming months.

Mexican Tortilla Salad
serves 4

salad
8 c red lettuce
15.5-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 c frozen corn kernels, thawed to room temperature
1 red bell pepper, sliced thin
1/4 small red onion, finely chopped
1 avocado, peeled, pit removed and sliced
2 tortillas, cut into thin slices and toasted (or tortilla chips)
1/4 c fresh cilantro leaves
prepared salsa, to taste

dressing
3 T extra virgin olive oil
3 T red wine vinegar
juice of 1 lime
1 T honey or agave nectar
1/2 t Dijon mustard
1 t salt
1 small garlic clove, minced
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeds discarded, minced

Arrange lettuce, divided among four serving plates. Top each plate with black beans, corn, red pepper, onion, avocado, tortillas, cilantro and salsa. In a small bowl, combine all dressing ingredients. Whisk until well combined. Drizzle dressing over plated salad, to taste. Serve immediately.

Black Bean & Sweet Potato Quesadillas

Yesterday was my last CSA pickup and while I am quite sad to see the season end, I left with three huge bags of goodies that should keep me busy for a few weeks. I have a few unusual vegetables to get creative with—celeriac and parsnips, some of the usual fall suspects—Chinese cabbage and greens, and a butternut squash that doesn’t stand a chance to make it through the weekend.

But this week, I am on a sweet potato kick. They pair so nicely with both the sweet and savory, which provides a wealth of possibilities. This recipe I had made over a year ago and it just stuck in my mind. With the amount of recipes I go through, and the amount of blogs, books and magazines I constantly draw inspiration from, that says something.

Black Bean & Sweet Potato Quesadillas
adapted from Vegan Planet . serves 4

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2" cubes
2 T olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 small jalapenos, finely chopped
14-oz can diced tomatoes
15.5-oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
juice of 1 lime
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1 large handful fresh cilantro, leaves chopped
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
1 c crumbled feta cheese (optional)8 whole-wheat tortillas
1 c salsa

Preheat oven to 400F. On a baking sheet, arrange sweet potato cubes in a single layer. Bake 20 minutes, until tender. Remove from oven and set aside, leaving oven on. In a large pan, heat olive oil, over medium heat, and add garlic and jalapenos. Sauté 3-5 minutes, until garlic just begins to brown. Add diced tomatoes, black beans, lime juice, salt, pepper and cilantro. Cook 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until well heated. Turn off heat, stir in red onion, feta (if using) and sweet potato. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Arrange four tortillas on a baking sheet. Transfer to oven, and bake 2 minutes. Remove from oven, and top each tortilla with sweet potato mixture and an additional tortilla. Transfer to oven, and cook 6 minutes, until tortillas are golden brown. To serve, cut each tortilla into quarters and top with salsa.

Baked Tofu

I sometimes overlook the simplest meals when I come to share my recipes here. I often want to present something so enticing, that you will think oh-my-god-I-must-make-this-now. And that’s all well and good, but often not reality. I know I am personally struck with at least a few nights each week where I am so thoroughly exhausted and need to make something healthy yet mindless. So, if this baked tofu helps at least one of you today, I consider my work here a success.

Feel free to add this to rice, salads, soups or just munch on it as a snack. It stays reasonably crunchy in the fridge for a few days also. Last night I added it to this delicious Asian Coconut Noodle Soup from Dana. So good!

Baked Tofu
serves 2-4

14 oz firm tofu, cut into 1/2" cubes (no need to press out water)
2 T soy sauce
1 t sesame oil

Preheat oven to 500F. Arrange tofu cubes on a baking sheet, in a single layer. In a small bowl, combine soy sauce and sesame oil. With a pastry brush, generously coat tofu with sauce. Bake 30 minutes, flipping tofu every 10 minutes, with a spatula, to ensure an even crunch. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Tomatillo Soup

I love coming across new, interesting produce. Tomatillos, or husk cherries, have been on my radar for some time now. I was patiently waiting for their season to come, and was excited to see a row growing at my CSA this year. Unlike many CSAs where boxes are delivered or available for pick up once a week, we are invited to go directly to the fields and pick some of the produce, such as beans or tomatoes. I have a love hate relationship with this. On one hand, it is satisfying to know I had a hand in harvesting. Yet, since it is an organic farm, no matter how much bug spray I spray myself with, it is inevitable that my arms and legs will be covered with bites when I arrive home.

This past week, when the blackboard directed us to the tomatillos, I could not contain my excitement. I guess I am a bit crazy, since the highlight of my week is tomatillos, but I have accepted my fate. I was planning this tangy, Mexican-inspired soup for months, so the last step was getting my hand on some fresh tomatillos. Hand-picked by me, this soup was even more special. And, oh yes, it was worth the bug bites.



Tomatillo Soup
serves 4

2 T olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 large garlic cloves, minced
2 ears fresh corn, husked
2 jalapenos, seeded and minced
10-15 medium tomatillos, husked and chopped
2 c water
juice of 2 limes
1 t honey or agave nectar
2 t salt
1 t cumin
1/2 c chopped cilantro
1 c cooked rice (I used basmati)
1 avocado, peeled, pitted and cut into slices

In a large sauté pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic, stirring, and sauté 5 minutes, until onion is translucent. With a serrated knife, cut kernels from the ears of corn, directly into pan. Stirring, add jalapenos and sauté 2 minutes. Add tomatillos, water, lime juice, honey, salt, cumin and cilantro. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in cooked rice, and simmer, 5 minutes. Season to taste. Remove from heat and ladle into soup bowls. Top with avocado slices.

Note: I also topped the soup with sliced wheat tortillas, drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with salt, and broiled until golden brown. mmm.

Blueberry Sauce

Speaking of blueberries...The lovely Zoe of ZOMTBAKES put me up to the challenge of creating a healthy sweet. I’ve had blueberries on the brain recently, so I decided on a delicious naturally sweetened blueberry sauce.

The recipe and additional photos can be viewed here. And don’t forget to check out Zoe’s other delicious treats—this Pear & Ricotta Tart is one of my favorites.

Tomato Panzanella

I personally have a love affair with panzanella. In spring, I enjoyed this version, all the while dreaming about tomato season and a summer variety. It’s here! It’s here! If you come to my house for dinner in July or August, chances are a tomato panzanella will be on the menu. Partly because it is my favorite summer dish, and partly because it pleases everyone. A vegetarian feeding a crowd of meat eaters isn’t always an easy challenge. Instead of putting the focus on meat vs vegi, I choose to focus on healthy, seasonal food that will leave everyone satisfied and not wondering where the meat is. The idea is about good food, and that’s that.

A panzanella is an excellent go-to meal for any time of the year. It is a snap to whip up and flexible for throwing in what you have on hand. Try adding in or substituting other summer favorites such as arugula, roasted tomatoes, corn or green beans. Just keep it simple and remember the basics: homemade croutons, a simple vinaigrette, seasonal vegis and herbs.

Tomato Panzanella
serves 4

croutons
3 c Italian bread, cut or torn into 1” pieces
olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste

salad
4 large tomatoes, cut into wedges
14-oz can artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped*
1 c pitted kalamata olives, coarsely chopped
1/2 c coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves
3 T coarsely chopped fresh mint

dressing
1/3 c olive oil
1/4 c white wine vinegar
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper

Place the bread on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil 2-4 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from oven, and transfer to a large bowl. Add the tomatoes, artichokes, olives and basil. Toss to combine.

In a small bowl, combine all dressing ingredients. Stir well, and drizzle over the salad. Toss, and season to taste with salt and pepper. (Dish can be prepared ahead of time, with croutons added just before serving).

*substitution: 15.5-oz can cannelloni beans, drained and rinsed

Asian Crunch Salad

I would like to introduce you to my favorite green salad. It is perfection in every bite. The crisp vegis. The juicy oranges. The flavorful herbs. And of course, the crunch. If you find yourself with a huge head of cabbage this year, skip the coleslaw and make this instead. You can thank me later.

Asian Crunch Salad
inspired by Gourmet . serves 4

1/2 lb snow peas
4 c cabbage, cut into long, thin strips
4 c romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
1 c mandarian orange segments
1/8 c soy sauce
1/8 c fresh lemon juice (apx 1 lemon)
1/2 T white vinegar
1/2 T Asian sesame oil
1/8 c vegetable oil
1 T sugar (or agave nectar)
1 t salt
1/2 t black pepper
4 scallions, chopped
1/2 c chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 c sliced almonds, toasted (or chow mein noodles)
2 T sesame seeds, toasted

Bring a small pot of salted water to a boil. Add snow peas and cook until just tender, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a colander and rinse with cold water to stop cooking. Drain well. Place in a large bowl and add cabbage, lettuce, oranges, scallions and cilantro.

In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, lemon juice, vinegar, sesame oil, vegetable oil, sugar, salt, and pepper. Add to salad and toss well. To serve, sprinkle with sesame seeds and almonds or chow mein noodles.

Spicy Garlic Greens with Cannellini Beans

I completely underestimated this simple, nutritious dish, thinking my husband would never eat it. He grilled chicken and opted to try this as a side, but within minutes, he was up for seconds, and then eying my plate as I finished up the last few bites. Go figure.

Yes, greens do get a bad rap for being boring and tasteless, but sauteed with a few simple ingredients, these greens shine. The best part is, you probably already have dinner-worthy greens in your fridge without even realizing it. You know the "tops" of the beets or radishes you cut off and throw away when preparing the vegis? Those greens are perfect for this dish. I used beet greens, turnip greens and spinach, but feel free to experiment with kale, mustard greens or broccoli rabe. Excluding parsnip greens, every vegetable green is edible and an excellent way to get another meal out of your fresh vegis.

Spicy Garlic Greens with Cannellini Beans
adapted from Bon Appétit . serves 4

4-5 T olive oil
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1/2 t crushed red pepper flakes
8-10 c packed greens, stems removed, large pieces coarsely chopped
1 c vegetable broth
15-oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 t Sherry wine vinegar
salt and pepper, to taste

Heat 4 T oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, stirring until garlic is golden brown, 2-3 minutes. Add greens, stirring to coat with oil, until greens begin to wilt. Add vegi broth and simmer until greens are tender, 5-7 minutes. Add beans, simmer until beans are heated through and liquid is almost absorbed, about 2 minutes. Stir in vinegar. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with remaining 1 T oil, if desired.

Asian Inspired Noodles

Any recipe with noodles and crisp vegis tossed in a peanut-Asian sauce has my name written all over it. But, in addition to being particularly tasty, this recipe can easily be made ahead which is perfect for summer entertaining. I like to chop the vegis and make the dressing the night before, storing in the fridge. Shortly before guests arrive, I boil the pasta then toss it all together, sprinkling with peanuts. It can be served warm, room temp or cold (mmm…leftovers), so it’s nearly infallible! It does look like a lot of ingredients, but upon further inspection you will see that over half of them are used to make the dressing—so don’t get nervous! If you find yourself with different vegis on hand, feel free to mix and match. Slivered carrots, snow or snap peas would be great additions. Or try a bit of pan-fried tofu for added protein!

Asian Inspired Noodles
adapted from Bon Appétit . serves 4

dressing
1/3 c fresh orange juice
the zest of 1 orange
2 T fresh lime juice
the zest of 1 lime
1/3 c creamy peanut butter
2 T rice vinegar
1 t sesame oil
1 t soy sauce
2 T chopped peeled fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, peeled
2 t crushed red pepper flakes, divided
1/4 c canola oil (or vegetable oil)

noodles
8 oz noodles (I used thin spaghetti)
2 c (loosely packed) mixed baby greens
1 small head of bok choy, coarsely chopped
1 small cucumber, coarsely chopped
1 red pepper, cut into thin strips
3 scallions, chopped
1/3 c chopped fresh cilantro
2 T chopped fresh mint
1/2 c roasted salted peanuts
salt and pepper, to taste

In a blender, add all dressing ingredients (including 1 t crushed red pepper), except oil. Puree until smooth. With blender running, slowly add oil through opening in the lid. Can be made up to one day ahead (store in the fridge).

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add noodles and cook until al dente. Transfer to a colander and rinse with cold water to stop cooking. Drain well. Cut noodles crosswise in 2 to 3 places.

In large bowl, add greens, bok choy, cucumber, red pepper, scallions, cilantro, and mint. Add 1 teaspoon red pepper, dressing and noodles, tossing to coat. Sprinkle with peanuts and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Stuffed Vidalia Onions

I have been waiting ever so patiently for Vidalia onions to arrive at the market. With their mild taste, I knew they would be perfect to stuff. And I was right. And I just love it when I’m right. I played off the sweet taste, by adding a tart green apple, salty toasted bread and of course pine nuts for an essential crunch. This is a great vegetarian main dish and a perfect way to enjoy the short season of Vidalias. And really, stuffed anything is quite fun!

Stuffed Vidalia Onions

serves 4

4 Vidalia onions
4 T olive oil
2 slices wheat bread, cut into 1/2" cubes
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1/4 c pine nuts
2 celery stocks, diced
1 green apple, peeled, cored and diced
1/4 c vegetable broth
2 c chopped spinach
1/4 t salt
1/8 t pepper

Preheat oven to 425F. Trim the root off each onion and a 1/2" from the top. Peel outer skins and wash. Using a melon baller, scoop out the inside of each onion, leaving at least a 1/4" wall. Discard of onion insides, or save for another use. Place the four onion shells upright in a square baking pan, add a 1/2" water to the bottom of the pan, and cover with tin foil. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven, carefully take off tin foil, and pour water out of bottom of pan/shells.

In a large frying pan, heat oil. Add bread and stir well, coating with oil. Cook, 3-4 minutes until bread begins to brown. Add garlic and pine nuts, stirring 2 minutes. Add more olive oil if needed and stir in celery and apple. Cook 2 minutes and add vegetable broth, spinach, salt and pepper. Stir 1-2 minutes until spinach begins to wilt and broth is absorbed.

Spoon filling into each onion shell. Return to oven and cook 10-15 minutes, until heated through.

Vegetable Cashew Stir Fry

I want to share with you one of my favorite simple recipes, this Vegi Cashew Stir Fry. I have made it a countless number of times and turn to it whenever I am at a loss for what to cook, which does happen more than I would like to admit. It is colorful and comes together quickly (just do your prep work beforehand). The best part is, it is pretty hard to mess it up. I have been out of vegetable broth (used water and more salt). Forgotten the cornstarch (oops!). And swear I bought snow peas, only to find them “missing” come dinnertime (threw in some carrots instead). But if you are going to forget anything, try not to overlook the cashews. They add a wonderful crunch and are what really makes this stir fry stand out over others.

Vegetable Cashew Stir-fry
adapted from Gourmet, May 2007 . serves 4

3 T vegetable oil
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 small head broccoli, chopped
1/4 lb snow peas (apx 2 c)
1 bunch scallions, chopped (white and green parts separated)
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 T grated peeled fresh ginger
1/4 t dried red-pepper flakes
3/4 c vegetable broth
1 1/2 T soy sauce
1 1/2 t cornstarch
1 t sugar
1/2 t salt
1/4 t black pepper
1/2 c salted roasted cashews
1 T sesame seeds

Heat a wok or large skillet over high heat until a drop of water evaporates immediately. Add oil, then stir fry bell pepper, broccoli, peapods, garlic, ginger, red-pepper flakes, and scallion whites until vegetables are just tender, 5 to 6 minutes. In a small bowl, stir together broth, soy sauce, cornstarch, sugar, salt and pepper. Add to vegis in wok. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in scallion greens, cashews and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Mini Carrot Loaves with Pineapple Cream Cheese Spread

I would certainly categorize myself as a “cook” not a “baker”. I tend to find baking annoying since you must be very precise and measure everything. Most of the time I can’t be bothered with measuring—because really who wants to wash all those measuring cups? With cooking, I can taste the dish as I go along and adjust as needed. But, taste flour, sugar and water? Eh, I’ll pass. However, I do make exceptions. Like for miniature loaf pans, so cute I just couldn’t pass them up. I had been thinking about making carrot cupcakes with pineapple cream cheese frosting, but plans changed when I came across the mini loaf pans. And beside the fact that they are adorable, they are egg less and contain less than half the sugar than many recipes. Of course, I am not saying they are healthy (I mean, they are smothered in cream cheese), but they are healthier.

Mini Carrot Loaves with Pineapple Cream Cheese Spread
serves 6-8

1 c fresh pineapple, finely chopped
1 8-oz package cream cheese, room temperature
3 T fresh lemon juice
1 1/4 c milk (I used soymilk)
2/3 c vegetable oil
3 t vanilla extract
3/4 c packed brown sugar
1 1/2 c whole wheat flour
1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1 1/2 t baking powder
1 t ground cinnamon
1/2 t ground cloves
1/2 t salt
2 c grated carrots
1/2 c chopped hazelnuts

Preheat oven to 350F. In a small bowl, combine pineapple (without extra juices) and cream cheese. Stir well and refrigerate. In a large bowl combine lemon juice, milk, vegetable oil and vanilla. Whisk and then add the remaining ingredients. Stir until well combined.

Pour the batter into an four greased miniature loaf pans (about 5”x 3”x 2”) or one large. Bake for 50-60 minutes, until toothpick inserted comes out clean. You may need to bake longer if using only one loaf pan. Allow to cool, cut in 1/2” thick slices and spread with Pineapple Cream Cheese Spread.

Simple Fruit Salad with Lime & Ginger

For me, the best ending to a big meal is something light and sweet. I adore fruit-based desserts and this simple fruit salad is great on its own or over angel food or pound cake.

Simple Fruit Salad with Lime & Ginger
adapted from Gourmet, serves 6

juice and zest of 2 limes
1/8 c finely grated fresh ginger
4 T agave nectar
1 mango, peeled and cut into 1/2” cubes
1/2 pineapple (2 c), peeled, cored and cut into 1/2” cubes
1 c blueberries (or blackberries)

Combine lime zest, juice, ginger and agave nectar in a small bowl. Stir well. In a large serving bowl, combine mango, pineapple and blueberries. Add syrup and toss. Let sit 20 minutes for juices to combine.

Spicy Fava Bean Soup with Cilantro

It is unusual that twice in the past month I have prepared a puréed soup, when I normally enjoy soup with a little substance. I think it has to do with the freshness of spring vegis and how just one main ingredient can carry the entire dish. Here it is fava beans. This soup is light and works great with other dishes, so it is a perfect starter soup for Spring.

Spicy Fava Bean Soup with Cilantro
serves 6

2 T olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 leek, white and green parts only, chopped & washed
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 c fresh fava beans, washed (1-1 1/2 lbs)
2 large tomatoes, chopped
1/8 c cilantro leaves
2 c water
2 c vegetable broth
2 t salt
1 t red pepper flakes
olive oil, cilantro and red pepper flakes for garnish

Heat olive oil over medium-high in a large pot and add onion. Cook, stirring, 5 minutes, and add garlic. Stir 1 minute and add fava beans, tomato, cilantro, water, vegetable broth, salt and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer 45 minutes, until the beans are tender. With an immersion blender, purée the soup (can also be done with a blender in 2 batches). Season to taste with salt. Transfer to serving bowls and top with a drizzle of olive oil, slivered cilantro leaves and red pepper flakes.

Green Pea Pesto with Walnuts

I did not grow up eating pesto and I am not sure when I had my first taste, but pesto and I have had a love affair for years now. Prior to visiting Italy last August, my husband’s friend gave us directions to this tiny sandwich shop that was located close to the Duomo. Not knowing the name, the line out the door was indication enough that we had found the right place. We devoured our sandwiches in seconds, licking our fingers for every last drop. Not only was it the best pesto we had ever tasted, but it was the best meal we had in Italy hands down. And those Italian know how to cook. To say that I would go back to Florence just to visit this sandwich shop is by no means a stretch. And although they have got me beat when it comes to the standard basil pesto, I certainly love experimenting with pesto variations at home. There has been a sun-dried tomato version and one with collard greens and olives—just to name a few. So the thought of a green pea variety really piqued my interest. Unlike most pesto, it is completely vegan. And while you will not miss the cheese, the walnuts are essential. If you do not like walnuts or are allergic, try pine nuts or add a bit more salt.

Green Pea Pesto with Walnuts
adapted from Whole Foods . serves 4

1 lb penne (I used whole wheat)
1 1/2 c fresh green peas (or frozen)
3/4 c packed basil leaves
2 T lemon juice
1 T capers, drained
1/3 c olive oil
1/2 c chopped walnuts, toasted
salt and pepper, to taste

Bring a large stock pot of water to a boil and add penne. Cook 7-10 minutes, until al dente. Drain and transfer to a serving bowl.

In a food processor or blender, blend the peas, basil, lemon juice and capers. Add the olive oil in a slow stream, and blend until combined. Add to serving bowl with pasta and mix well. Add walnuts and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Salt & Pepper Tofu

Ahh...tofu. The official icon of vegetarian eating. Leaving meat-eaters everywhere to run and hide at the mention of it. Which is really too bad. Sure tofu is basically tasteless when not seasoned properly, but umm, so isn't chicken. And that is actually a GOOD thing. Tofu's porous qualities make it great for marinading and for dishes where you really want the spices to stand out. Like this one. It is spicy, and when cooked to a golden brown, leaves a crunchy exterior with a softer inside. And really, what more could you ask for?

Salt & Pepper Tofu
adapted from Secrets of the Red Lantern . serves 2

1 package extra-firm tofu (12-16 oz), drained
1 jalapeño pepper, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 t fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 T salt
1 t pepper
1 t sugar
1/2 t five-spice powder
2 T olive oil*
4 scallions, chopped

With a sharp knife, cut tofu, lengthwise into thirds. Place side-by-side on an absorbent towel and cover with an additional towel. Place a heavy pot on top of the towels (the heavier the better, as you are trying to extract as much water as possible from the tofu) and let sit 20-30 minutes. Cut tofu into 1" cubes.

In a large bowl, combine jalapeño, garlic, ginger, salt, pepper, sugar and five-spice powder. Stir well and add tofu cubes. Toss until tofu cubes are well coated on all sides. In a large skillet, heat oil and add tofu (and spices). Cook on medium-low heat, 8 minutes, turning cubes every 1-2 minutes. Add scallions and cook an additional 2 minutes, until tofu is golden brown.

* reader lizkat, uses peanut oil with great success