turn on your oven - it's FALL!!!! roasted red potatoes and asparagus

it's cooling off soooooo much where i am, and i couldn't be happier about it.  unless my husband was home more to eat what i'm cooking.  then i'd be happier of course! 

i've made this recipe numerous times and always forget to post it.  its a wonderful side dish to any meal.  i didn't used to love asparagus, but things have changed around here, folks.  i'll post another great way to eat asparagus soon.  one even non-asparagus lovers will love.

oven roasted red potatoes and asparagus

6 side dish servings 

from allrecipes.com

1 1/2 pounds red potatoes, cut into chunks
2 tablespoons olive oil
8 cloves of garlic, minced
3 teaspoons dried rosemary
3 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons sea salt
1 bunch fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
cracked black pepper to taste

1. preheat oven to 425 degrees f.
2. in a large baking dish, toss the red potatoes with 1/2 the olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, and 1/2 the kosher salt. cover with aluminum foil.
3. bake 20 minutes in the preheated oven. mix in the asparagus, remaining olive oil, and remaining salt. cover, and continue cooking 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees f. remove foil, and continue cooking 5 to 10 minutes, until potatoes are lightly browned. season with pepper to serve.

crispy black bean tacos with southwest cabbage slaw

have you ever been to perry's plate?  if you're a veggie-lover like i am you owe it to yourself to click on over there.  she has some really great recipes with some amazing flavor.  she's the one that got me hooked on roasting veggies.
here's another perry's plate recipe that we love.  this cabbage slaw is fantastic (and fantastically simple, which makes it even better) and goes great on pretty much any taco you can think of - chicken, fish, steak... or these black bean ones.  you know me - i love a good vegetarian meal.  and this was a great one.

i loved how the crispiness gave them that taco stand feel without sticking the whole thing in a bit vat of oil.  and don't doubt the feta.  it totally makes them. 

crispy black bean tacos with southwest cabbage slaw

from perry's plate (originally from bon appetite magazine)

makes about 6 tacos (so i double or triple the beans and tortillas and feta - there's plenty of slaw)

1 15-ounce can black beans, drained

1/2 tsp ground cumin

5 tsp olive oil, divided

1 T fresh lime juice

2 c coleslaw mix or thinly sliced cabbage

2 green onions, chopped

1/3 c chopped fresh cilantro

6 white or yellow corn tortillas

1/3 c crumbled feta cheese

Bottled chipotle hot sauce or other hot sauce

1.  partially mash beans and cumin together in a small bowl. in a medium bowl combine 2 tsp olive oil and lime juice; add coleslaw, green onions, and cilantro and toss to coat. season to taste with some salt and pepper.

2.  heat remaining 3 teaspoons of olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. add tortillas in a single layer (doing batches if necessary). spoon 2 or 3 heaping tablespoons of bean mixture onto half of each tortilla. cook for one minute, then fold the tacos in half. cook until golden brown and tortilla begins to stiffen, about 1-2 minutes per side. fill tacos with feta and slaw. add hot sauce or pico de gallo if desired.  

secret spaghetti and parmesan crusted meatballs

a few weeks ago my 3-year-old surprised me by requesting spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.  my 1st reaction... "that's boring... not to mention a lot of plain carbs and not enough vegetables..."  and my 2nd thought... "unless i fix that problem..."

so here is the skinny bovine's version of spaghetti and meatballs.  there are 4 very tightly packed cups of spinach and 1 whole zucchini in this meal.  that's a whole lot of good for you in a traditionally non veggie-packed meal.   they were the yummiest spaghetti and meatballs our family of 4 has ever had and my kids were none the wiser. 

secret spaghetti and parmesan crusted meatballs

6 servings

1 pound whole wheat spaghetti/linguine

1/2 pound lean ground beef

1/2 pound ground turkey (or all one or the other - it's up to you)

1 egg

1 slice of wheat bread - toasted and turned into crumbs in your blender

1 tablespoon parsley

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon basil

dash pepper

1 medium zucchini, grated

2 tightly packed cups spinach, chopped

1/2 cup chopped onion

3 cloves garlic

1/3 cup kraft-style parmesan cheese

1 cup panko bread crumbs

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce

2 tightly packed cups spinach, chopped

fresh grated parmesan cheese (optional)

 1.  cook spaghetti according to package directions.  preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
2.  in a sauce pan, heat a dash of olive oil over medium heat.  add onion and garlic.  cook until onion is translucent.  add zucchini and 2 cups spinach and sprinkle with salt.  cook til veggies are soft.  remove from stove and let cool a bit. 
3.  in a large bowl, combine raw meat, egg, bread crumbs, parsley, oregano, basil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a dash of pepper.  stir til combined.  add onion, zucchini, spinach mixture.  stir til combined. 
4.  grease a mini muffin tin.  in a shallow dish, combine parmesan cheese, panko bread crumbs and 1/4 teaspoon salt.  use a small cookie scoop to form meatballs and then roll each meatball in the cheese/crumb mixture, pressing the crumbs into the meatball until well coated.  place each meatball into a slot in the mini muffin tin.  (i made 30 meatballs so i used a whole mini muffin tin + a few slots in a regular muffin tin.)
5.  bake meatballs at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. 
6.  while meatballs are baking, combine a jar of pasta sauce and 2 tightly cups packed spinach, chopped, in a pot.  heat over medium until sauce is hot and spinach is cooked. 
7.  combine spaghetti and sauce, stirring to coat.  dish up servings and top each serving with meatballs.  sprinkle with parmesan cheese if desired. 
8.  smile because you just ate all those veggies in your spaghetti and meatballs.

chipotle roasted vegetable layered salad

here's another delicious way to eat some roasted veggies. i love cafe rio-style salads more than almost any food on this earth (except cheeseburgers, i've made that confession before). mexi-style salads with beans, rice, lettuce, salsa, guacamole, cilantro lime ranch dressing.... and now chipotle roasted veggies - all over a warm, toasted, cheesy tortilla.

i may even like this better than the meat in these salads. and when you roll up the tortilla at the end with the leftovers still in the tortilla after the lettuce is gone, the flavors are just perfect.

chipotle roasted vegetable layered salad

cilantro lime rice
ala a friend of the skinny bovine

3 cups cooked white rice (1 1/2 cups uncooked)
1 cup loosely packed cilantro
1/2 cup chopped white onion
1/4 cup chopped green onion
1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon olive oil

pulse cilantro, onions, lime juice, salt and oil in blender, scrapping down the sides as needed, until well combined. fold mixture into warm rice.

chipotle roasted veggies
from perry's plate

1 red bell pepper, cut into matchsticks
1 poblano pepper, cut into matchsticks (i used green here once and it was great!)
1 medium zucchini, cut into matchsticks
1 medium onion, halved and sliced very thinly
1 cup fresh or frozen corn
3 T olive oil
1-2 tsp minced or pureed chipotles in adobo sauce (see note here)
1 tsp ground cumin
salt and pepper, to taste

place all sliced vegetables on a large rimmed baking sheet. in a small bowl whisk together the oil, chipotles, and cumin. pour over the vegetables and sprinkle a pinch or two of salt and pepper, to taste. using your hands, toss the vegetables in the oil mixture and ensure that everything is coated well. spread evenly in the pan and roast for 35-40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so and shaking the pan to redistribute the vegetables evenly.

black beans
from perry's plate

1 15-ounce can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 tsp ground cumin
pinch of salt
1/2 cup salsa or pico de gallo

to prepare the beans, place the drained and rinsed beans in a small saucepan with about 2-3 tablespoons of water. stir in cumin, salsa, and season to taste. let them simmer over medium heat until they're heated through.


i posted this dressing below a few years ago, but i've since refined it a bit by thinning it with salsa verde and milk. i've tried a few of the tomatillo-based cafe rio-style dressings and still like this one better!

cilantro lime ranch dressing
ala skinny bovine

1 1/3 cup fat free sour cream
3/4 cup low fat mayo
1 bunch cilantro
1 package ranch dressing mix
4 tablespoons salsa verde (green salsa)
1 clove garlic
1/8 teaspoon tabasco sauce (or more to taste if you want it spicier)
juice of 1 lime

blend all ingredients in blender until smooth. thin to your liking with milk and more salsa verde and blend again.

putting it all together...
toast a tortilla on your stove top in a pan. flip the tortilla and spread cheese to melt on the other side. when cheese is melted remove from heat.

on the tortilla, place a spoonful of rice, beans and roasted veggies. top with lettuce to your liking. add cilantro lime ranch dressing and any other toppings you desire - sour cream, guacamole, tortilla strips, etc.

let's roast some veggies: stacked roasted vegetable enchiladas

let's roast some veggies! i've been roasting everything around here. i never thought i'd find a reason good enough to turn on my oven when it's so hot outside (my my typical summer-type cooking here), but i have! ooooh, the flavor.

the only veggie i'd roasted previously is tomatoes (for this heavenly roasted tomato soup), which i'd recommend doing for almost any recipe. i always want my tomatoes roasted now. and yes, i know tomatoes aren't technically a veggie. :)

turns out roasted anything is amazing.

we'll start with these, even though they are pretty far off the beaten enchilada path. i found them on perry's plate and i love what she said about them - "I love ooey-gooey, cheesy enchiladas, but I thought this fresher, lighter version was great as well." i completely agree. these were a fun, healthy way to change it up.

stacked roasted vegetable enchiladas
from perry's plate

find the recipe here!

my only changes were to use more salsa and tortillas, only 1 red bell pepper, less onions, and to spread it in a 13x9" pan.

more roasted veggies to come!

comfort food makeover

the season for comfort food is quickly coming to a close. we were at 80 degrees yesterday!

while that is wonderful i find myself a little sad this year, not having made as much comfort food as i would have liked with hubby eating dinner at work most of the winter.

so we're trying to squeeze a few more in.

i love that creamy casserole thing with chicken and broccoli and lots of cheese. i recently figured out it's called broccoli chicken divan.

the problem with it is the problem with most comfort food - the veggies are an afterthought and the main show is the butter and cheese. same with this dish - it's mostly cheese and butter, negating all the good of the broccoli and chicken.

so i fixed it. lots more broccoli. lots less cheese and butter. delicious result and much better for you. just ask my little monsters who both pounded through their huge servings of it last night. :) (for those of you who know my little guy - don't tell him there was cheese in it! ahhh! bad mom award!)

and it uses my new favorite seasoning - kirkland's no salt seasoning, available at costco. it's a little pricey so ask for it for easter or something! :) it's great on everything i've put it on.

healthier broccoli chicken divan
6 main dish servings

3-4+ cups steamed broccoli florets (i filled 1/2 of my 13x9 with broccoli, adjust on if your family is iffy on broccoli; less if they are, more if they aren't)
1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
salt, pepper, no salt seasoning
1 can 98% fat free cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup milk
1/4-1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (adjust to your liking)
1/4-1/2 teaspoon coriander (adjust to your liking)
2 cups (approximately) grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 heaping cup crushed reduced fat ritz crackers
2 tablespoons butter, melted

1. cook chicken seasoned with salt, pepper and no salt seasoning. set aside.
2. combine soup, milk, garlic powder, coriander and a few dashes of no salt seasoning. stir well.
3. place broccoli into a 13x9 glass baking dish. top with chicken. pour soup mixture evenly over the top. top with cheddar cheese to your liking.
4. combine crushed crackers and melted butter in a bowl. sprinkle evenly over casserole in baking dish.
5. bake at 350 for 12 minutes, the turn up oven to 450 and continue baking until browned on top to your liking. watch it carefully so you don't burn the crackers!
6. serve over brown rice or mashed potatoes, or eat it plain and let the crackers on top be your carb for the meal! (i ate mine plain and it was awesome.)

bbq pulled pork and magic coleslaw sandwiches

okay.... here it is! the magic cole slaw. this stuff has changed my life.

let me start from the beginning. back in may when we moved a friend from my church offered to bring us dinner one night while we were getting settled in. she showed up with bbq pulled pork (yum), trader joe's ciabatta buns (yum), sun chips (yum), fruit salad (yum) and cole slaw (yikes!)... to put on the sandwiches (double yikes!).

since it would be rude not to try it, i decided i'd better.and wow! am i glad i did!

so i asked her what she put on the magical cole slaw (that's a direct quote). "girard's apple poppyseed dressing," she said.
problem: my budget doesn't do salad dressings that cost $4.99 (on my budget i have $7 total per day to feed my family. $5 for salad dressing doesn't work.)

solution: replicate the dressing. done! it's close enough to give the same effect on the sandwiches and hubby likes it better than girard's. so ha!

this really is a great, tasty, well-balanced meal when you add the coleslaw. cabbage is amazing for you.

bbq pulled pork and magic coleslaw sandwiches
enough coleslaw for 6 sandwiches

pulled pork:
a lean pork roast (size of your choosing)
your favorite bbq sauce (we love sweet baby rays - you can find it at walmart)

trim pork roast of excess fat and place in crock pot. smother with tons of bbq sauce (if you're not sure about how much to add, just make sure to check it a couple of times throughout the day and add more if it's looking dry). cook 8-10 hours on low. shred at the end and add more bbq sauce if it needs more.

magic coleslaw:
1 bag of prepared coleslaw
1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cup apple poppyseed dressing (recipe below)

mix coleslaw and dressing together in a bowl.

the bovine's apple poppyseed dressing:
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons frozen apple juice concentrate
3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons light tasting olive oil
1/3 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon molasses (optional)
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons dried onion flakes
4 to 6 dashes salt, or to taste
1 tablespoon poppyseeds

combine all ingredients but poppyseeds in a blender. mix well until blended. add poppyseeds. mix well. refrigerate 4+ hours to let onions rehydrate and flavors meld.

put the sandwich together:

toast ciabatta buns (we like walmart's). top with pulled pork and more coleslaw than you think you'll want. serve with lots of napkins. :)

freeze leftover bbq pulled pork for [the following week] when you crave the sandwiches again. thaw in fridge over night. heat and serve.

------------------

you'll have extra dressing. what should you do with it? an apple poppy seed spinach salad up next to use it up! stay tuned!

five ingredient fridays: your perfect halloween sidedish

tomorrow night i'm hosting a small halloween harvest dinner. here's our very orange menu:

• jamaican chicken breasts (not festive, but we needed a main dish - i'll post these soon as they are amazing!)
• sweet potato fries
• bones and blood (bone-shaped breadsticks and marinara - idea from our best bites)
• amazing orange jello (again, recipe to come)
• pumpkin and bat sugar cookies cut and decorated by my 2 year old
• carrot puree

okay... the carrot puree sounds scary, right? let me tell you right now, it's not. my friend carole served it at a fabulous lunch at her house last month and we're all still drooling. and it's the star of five ingredient fridays because it's sooooo easy!

carrot puree
from martha stewart

picture from martha stewart

2 pounds carrots, cut into 2-inch lengths
coarse ground salt and pepper
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream

1. cover carrots with water by 1 inch in a sauce pan. add salt. bring to a boil and then simmer for 25-30 minutes or until carrots are very tender.
2. drain carrots and transfer to a food processor or blender. add butter and sour cream. season with salt and pepper. process until smooth, scraping the bowl/blender when needed. serve.

are you doing a festive dinner? what are you serving?

discovering your dollar store

when i moved less than a year ago some other frugal ladies from church introduced me to something i now rely on weekly for my cooking ventures: the 99 cents only store. this amazing dollar store sells nothing for more than 99c and they have some great fresh produce, some of which i definitely can't find cheaper anywhere else. here's a list of some of the things i've found there (over the course of time - not all in one trip):

• 2 pack of red/orange/yellow bell peppers
• container of mini bell peppers - multi colored and just red
• 3 pack of green bell peppers
• 2 lb bag of peaches/plums/nectarines
• 2 lb bag of dole bananas
• 6-8oz container of raspberries/blackberries/blueberries
• 3 pack hearts of romaine lettuce
• 5 lb bag of potatoes
• 3 pack of mangoes
• 3 pack of avocados
• 3 lb bag red/yellow/white onions
• 2 lb bunch broccoli/cauliflower
• 2 pack of large cucumbers
• 8 oz package of brown/white/baby bella mushrooms
• 2 pack of portobello mushrooms
• 2 lb bag carrots
• 6 pack roma tomatoes
• 1 pint cherry/grape tomatoes
• bagged organic spinach
• 4 pack large bunches of cilantro
• bag of green onions

i've also found some other non-produce items that i've been happy to find there too:

• 1 lb lasagna noodles
• bottle of oyster sauce (for asian cooking... see my asian label for more)
• 4 pack unsweetened applesauce/berry applesauce (good baby food to go)
• gerber meals for toddlers - 3 for $1
• boxed gerber granola bars - 3 boxes for $1
• wheaties fuel cereal
• large bag twizzlers nibs (confession - i love these)
• jelly flops (real jelly belly jelly beans that are funny shaped or stuck together)
• 6 pack large pita breads

i've been really happy with the quality of nearly everything i've bought from my dollar store. my hearts of romaine are even fresher and last longer than the ones i buy at other stores.

and of course i love that shopping at my dollar store makes meals like the one below possible. we loved this salad at our house - and it is as beautiful as it was delicious. packed full of beautiful (and usually) expensive veggies, this one is a keeper as long as my dollar store keeps providing bell peppers. :)

thai peanut noodle salad

find recipe here at our best bites

(i left out about 1/3 cup olive oil, though!)

just for fun, a few other great non-food items i've found at the dollar store:

• halloween costume stuff (including really cute wings - usually so expensive!)
• nick jr and disney books (like diego, backyardigans, disney princesses, etc.)
• awesome coloring books (discovery channel, disney)
• silk flowers
• picture frames

so discover what dollar stores are near you - you never know what you'll find!!

homemade baby food

big sister who likes to eat watermelon in the back yard = happy little brother who sneaks it while mom isn't looking :)

i make my kids' baby food when they start eating solids. it isn't difficult in the slightest, but it is certainly more time consuming than pulling it off the shelf and dumping it in your cart.
so is it worth it? here are a few numbers that will prove just how worth it it is:

• with my $200 a month food budget (+$40 for longer term storage/bulk items) i have $7/day to feed my family. a very cheap 4 oz jar of baby food costs $0.42. my 7 month old could easily cost me $2.52/day to feed. ahhh!!! imagine when he's pushing a year. i once calculated that my daughter would be costing me $4/day in baby food at her peak if i bought it.
• my baby food jar equivalents: i can make 4 0z of carrots for $0.10, 4 oz of peas, green beans or sweet potatoes for $0.22, 4 oz acorn squash for $0.26 and that isn't even with sale prices. during peach season when peaches are on sale for $0.50/lb you can make peaches for pennies.
• it's really easy to mash a banana yourself with a fork. why buy it in a tiny cute bottle? my buddy happily downs a banana every day for breakfast.
• oatmeal cereal: $1.50 for a box of oatmeal cereal? just put some oats through your blender.

stuff i don't make:

• applesauce: there is nothing magical about baby applesauce. it's just apples. and why make your own? wal-mart brand unsweetened applesauce is $1.86 for 50 oz. that's $0.15 for your 1 jar equivalent.
  
• rice cereal: i don't have a grinder and i can't "iron fortify" it at home so this is the one true baby food item i buy.

so how do you do it? it's easy - i just use www.wholesomebabyfood.com as my home base and go from there. i feel like a baby chef when i whip up a little dessert for my little man to follow his peas (applesauce + sweet potatoes + cinnamon + rice cereal = dessert!) - it's so fun and he loves it! use their recipes and freeze in ice cube trays. each cube is 1+ ounce. cover with saran wrap and then put the cubes into big freezer bags when frozen solid. and don't forget to reuse your freezer bags!




and here's my funny little squash face. this was the the mad face he made if we didn't get the squash in his mouth fast enough!!


i also make my own baby wipes... but that isn't a food recipe! i swear by them. want my recipe? email me at skinnybovineskitchen@gmail.com!

spicy pasta with broccoli

here's a quick and easy meal i made a few weeks ago. it was delicious - and even without the parmesan!

spicy pasta with broccoli
adapted from culinary in the country
4 servings

12-15 ounces dry short pasta (i used penne)
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 head broccoli (roughly 1.5 pounds), florets sliced into bite-size pieces
1/3 cup water + a little more (i used 1/2 lb more broccoli than the original recipe...)
salt and fresh ground black pepper
2 ounces (about 1/2 cup) fresh grated Parmesan, divided (optional)
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, seasoned and cooked according to your liking

in a large pot of boiling salted water, add pasta and cook according to package directions. reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid, then drain and place back into the pot off heat.

meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium. stir in garlic and crushed red pepper - cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. add broccoli and 1/3+ cup water - season with salt and pepper. cover skillet and cook until broccoli just begins to soften, about 5 to 8 minutes. uncover and continue to cook until the excess water has evaporated and the broccoli is crisp-tender, about 1 to 2 additional minutes.

scoop broccoli mixture into the pot with the pasta and add 1 ounce (about 1/4 cup) parmesan and enough of the reserved pasta water to create a thin sauce. serve with the remaining parmesan scattered on top. serve with chicken on top.

rainy day vegetable soup

happy national soup month (my only excuse for so many soup posts, i guess)! the skinny bovine's kitchen is a part of a new website/parenting forum called babble. i'm honored to be a part of it such a great group of bloggers (food and otherwise) and it really is a great resource for parents.

the folks at babble reminded me today that it's national soup month which fit perfectly with this soup i made last night for dinner. it's been so rainy all week here and i think i'm in good company with the rest of your westerners who are experiencing similar conditions. make this simple soup with a great loaf of homemade bread (i'll post the one i made soon) and you'll feel warm, toasty and satisfied in no time - for a ridiculously low-cal and low-budget dinner.

babble posted an article on soups for kids. here was my commenter's input on getting kids to like soup:
"a trick i used to get my 2 year old to like soup was to strain out the soupy part. then all that's left is the beans, noodles, mushy veggies, etc - all kid friendly and coated in a delicious broth that sooner or later they'll want to try too. i think soup can be intimidating for kids because it's hard to eat - so make it easy!"

and forgive me for no pictures - they turned out terrible for some reason!

rainy day vegetable soup
6 large servings

a dash of olive oil
1/3 of a medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
8 cups chicken broth
1 15 oz can petite diced tomatoes
1 15 oz can french style sliced green beans
1 large or 2 small russet potatoes, peeled and diced
1 zucchini, chopped
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1 large pinch rosemary
1 large pinch thyme
a dash of black pepper
salt to taste

1. heat olive oil in large pot. add onions, garlic and carrots. cook until onions are soft - about 5 minutes.
2. add remaining ingredients, except zucchini. bring to a boil. reduce heat and cover, simmer 20 minutes or until potatoes are soft. add zucchini 5 minutes before serving.

delicious pitas ala mom and a baby

i'm back. i have a beautiful baby boy and i'm feeling great. here he is. i love him.


my mom was here all week spoiling us and playing with my daughter while we were at the hospital. she was amazing. she spoiled me with feta cheese the other night with the most delicious pitas. they were fabulous, so here's the [approximate] recipe. they are a little on the pricey side, so have a splurge night! i should have taken a picture, but i ate them too fast.

sun dried tomato pesto and veggie pitas

whole wheat pita breads
sun dried tomato pesto (the classico brand at my wal-mart is $1.96)
fresh spinach
portabello mushrooms, sliced
roma tomatoes, sliced
sliced black olives
feta cheese
parmesan cheese

spread the pesto on the pitas. cover with spinach and then the other veggies. top with the cheeses. heat in the oven at 350 until veggies cook flat, cheese melts and pita is slightly crispy.

i definitely loved my return to eating feta after being pregnant. thanks for the treat mom!!

our favorite easy crookneck squash

no matter what delicious thing i try and do to crookneck (yellow) squash, this is always our favorite way to eat it. i know its just squash, but its soooo good. give it a chance. i guess its a good reminder to me that sometimes simple is the most delicious.

easy cheesy crookneck squash

small crookneck squashes, sliced in half as shown above (the little ones from your neighborhood garden are the best)
salt and fresh cracked black pepper
grated cheese

1. boil sliced squash in a pan in just enough water to almost cover it until fork tender.
2. remove squash from water with fork. sprinkle with salt and pepper and grated cheese.

enjoy!

and do share - do you have a squash secret that could oust this one as our favorite??

using your garden: roasted tomato soup and soft garlic knots

i'm only speaking from semi-vicarious experience here since my garden consists of a fairly prolific basil plant and a zucchini plant that is finally yielding its 1st two fruits - and they are both in pots on my front porch (yeah apartment living!). but i do occasionally yield the fruits of my mother-in-law's garden when i visit her. she last sent me home with 3 bags of tomatoes, a bunch of zucchini and some crookneck. clearly i had to make something yummy with all of those tomatoes (okay, everything i made last week had tomatoes) so thanks, meghan from you're gonna bake it afterall, for posting this delicious soup and the garlic knots that i made with them. i seriously felt like i was eating in a restaurant. too good for words.

so if you have a garden, please, use it. i'm jealous. do it for me.

next time i'm going to try it with half milk and half chicken broth to see if a creamy version is just as good. i bet it will be. mmmm....

roasted tomato soup and soft garlic knots
from you're gonna bake it, my changes included
6 servings

3 lbs. vine-ripened tomatoes, cut in half and insides removed

2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 1/2 teaspoons pepper

1 1/2 cups chopped onions

6 garlic cloves

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

2 cups fresh basil leaves

2 pinches dried thyme

4 cups chicken stock

1. preheat oven to 400F. toss tomatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. spread the tomatoes in 1 layer on a baking sheet covered in foil and roast in the oven for 45 minutes.

2. in a large stockpot over medium heat, saute the onions and garlic with 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, butter, and red pepper flakes for 10 minutes until the onions start to brown. add the canned tomatoes, roasted tomatoes, basil, thyme, and chicken stock. bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 40 minutes.

3. use an immersion blender (or food processor) to puree the soup. serve with garlic knots below.

soft garlic knots

for the dough:

3 cups bread flour

1 tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons instant yeast (AKA rapid rise)

1 1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons olive oil (i used a little less - probably 1)

1/4 cup milk

1 cup + 2 tablespoons lukewarm water

For the glaze:

2 cloves garlic

2 tablespoons melted butter

1/2 teaspoon italian seasoning

1. Make the dough: combine the dry ingredients in the bowl of a large food processor. process for a few seconds to mix. add the olive oil, milk and water and turn on until ingredients have formed a ball (it won't take long, maybe 30 seconds). (can also do in a kitchenaid stand mixer or the like - here's the link)

2. knead the dough on a lightly floured surface to form a smooth, elastic dough, adding additional water or flour as needed.

3. place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, turn to coat, and cover with lightly oiled/sprayed plastic wrap. allow to rise for about 1 hour, until it has doubled in bulk.

4. divide the dough into 10 equal pieces. roll each into a 10-inch long rope and tie into a knot. take the end lying underneath the knot and bring it over the top, tucking it into the center. take the end lying over the knot and tuck it underneath and into the center.

5. transfer the shaped rolls to a baking stone or a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise for 45 minutes, until puffy. meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350F.

6. make the glaze: finely mince the garlic (or use a garlic press). mix the melted butter and italian seasoning.

7. brush the glaze onto the shaped rolls. bake until set and lightly browned, about 15-18 minutes.

reposting a favorite

i made this for my parents a few weeks ago and then for our little family again last night with a bunch of fresh veggies from my in-laws' garden. mmm.... it reminded me just how yummy it is and that i never posted a picture last time. hope you enjoy this one as much as we do!

and thanks to my husband for working some magic on the pics - they look pretty good, eh? maybe he has a future as a food photographer! :)

no-cream pasta primavera
4 servings

1 (12 ounce) package penne pasta (sometimes i use the whole 16 oz and just add a bit more sauce)
1 yellow squash, chopped
1 zucchini, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, julienned (pricey! use green pepper or leave out! - or splurge)
1-2 tomatoes, chopped
1 cup fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
5 spears asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons lemon zest (i like it better with a little less, but use your judgement!)
1-1 1/2 tablespoons dried basil (originally called for 1/3 cup fresh, but dried is cheap!)
1-1 1/2 tablespoons dried parsley (same as above - use fresh if you want to splurge!)
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

directions

1. preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

2. bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. add penne pasta and cook for 10 to 12 minutes or until al dente; drain.

3. in a bowl, toss squash, zucchini, red bell pepper, tomatoes, green beans, and asparagus with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and Italian seasoning. arrange vegetables on the baking sheet, and roast 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until tender.

4. heat butter in a large skillet. stir in the onion and garlic, and cook until tender. mix in cooked pasta, lemon zest, basil, parsley, and balsamic vinegar. gently toss and cook until heated through. remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl. toss with roasted vegetables and sprinkle with cheese to serve.

what made this happy, messy face?

fresh basil of course!

okay, maybe not. it was pastor ryan's homemade bolognese sauce (from the pioneer woman cooks, with a few changes of course) and mommy's homemade noodles. but the fresh basil rocked. i'm growing it in a pot outside my front door and it's fabulous. do yourself a favor. grow some. here's mine. and i kill everything. i call it my "black thumb". apparently basil is easy!

i can't even tell you how good this sauce was. please make some. please.

ryan’s bolognese
from the pioneer woman cooks
makes tons

1 1/2 cups grated carrots

1 zucchini, grated
1 large red onion, diced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef (i want to try ground turkey next time)
2 tablespoons dried oregano flakes
2 tablespoons dried basil flakes (i used fresh because i'm growing it - soooo yummy!
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 to 2 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
salt
pepper
2 28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes
1 cup milk
fresh Parmesan cheese

heat oil in a large dutch oven or skillet over medium heat. add grated carrots, zucchini and onions and cook for a few minutes.
make a well in the center of the mixture, then add in the ground beef. cook for a few minutes until brown, gradually stirring it into the carrot mixture.
throw in oregano and basil. use fresh if you have it; if you don’t, it’s fine.
when the meat is browned and combined with other ingredients, make another well. add tomato paste and let it heat.
add garlic and stir to combine.
aake a well in the center of the mixture and add chicken broth. stir together.
add worcestershire and stir.
add canned tomatoes.
finally, pour in milk, stir, and let simmer for 30 minutes to 2 hours—however long you need.

serve with pasta and a generous sprinkling of parmesan cheese.

homemade noodles

ala better homes and gardens' red checker cook book

makes 1 lb (normal size box of pasta)

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 beaten egg yolks

1 beaten egg

1/3 cup water

1 teaspoon olive oil

1. in a large bowl stir together 1 3/4 cup of the flour and the salt. make a well in the center of the flour mixture. in a small bowl stir together egg yolks, whole egg and oil. add egg mixture to flour mixture; mix well.

2. sprinkle kneading surface with the remaining 1/4 cup flour. turn dough out onto floured surface. knead until dough is smooth and elastic (8 to 10 minutes total). cover and let dough rest for 10 minutes.

3. divide dough into 4 equal portions. on a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough into a 12x9-inch rectangle (about 1/16 inch thick). let stand, uncovered, for 20 minutes. lightly dust dough with flour. loosely roll dough into a spiral; cut into 1/4-inch-wide strips. shake the strands to separate; cut into 2-3-inch lengths.

4. to serve immediately, cook for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until tender but still firm, allowing 1 to 2 more minutes for dried or frozen noodles. drain.

5. to store cut noodles, spread them on a wire cooling rack. let noodles dryu about 1 hour or until completely dry. place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. ot dry noodles for at least 1 hour and place them in a freezer bag or freezer container; freeze up to 8 months.

don't be intimidated by this make-your-own-noodles gig. it's easier than it seems - i promise.

the recipe makes about 1 lb - the size of a normal box of pasta which usually makes leftovers for our 3 the following day. we have no leftovers with these. soooooo good. enjoy!

the rating system

fairly early in our marriage, we instituted a rating system for my cooking at my request. now, this may sound masochistic to some of you who aren't confident in your cooking yet, but i wasn't confident in my cooking at that point either. consider the following benefits of instituting your own rating system:

• it can help your cooking confidence - it will help you realize your strengths and your weaknesses in cooking so you can magnify the 1st and work on the latter.
  
• you'll never make anything (twice) your husband doesn't like - i would hate to love something and find out after years of making it once a month that my husband only thought it was a 5 out of 10. bummer.
  
• it gives you a goal - it's no fun to just cook day after day and never have any feedback or anywhere to improve or anywhere to go. i had a week of all 9's once. it was amazing!! what a cooking rush. i felt totally motivated to keep creating.
  

in addition to the benefits above, here are a few tips for creating a rating system:

• have tough skin - just because your husband didn't love something you cooked doesn't mean he doesn't love you. he just didn't like that dish. it's okay - just make something different tomorrow!
  
• make your system consistent - my husbands 1 to 10 system is based not just on taste, but on how often he'd like to eat it. sushi is a 10 for him and he'd eat it every day (and no, i've never gotten a ten - he's totally obsessed with sushi), but i've gotten lots of 9's that i think hold their own against sushi. :)
• ask for the rating, and then for feedback - it helps you learn to take constructive criticism. i love to ask my husband what i could do to make an 8 into a 9.

i've been really craving asian food for some reason (making my hubby thrilled to say the least), but i've never really cooked anything authentically asian until this. it was so worth the extra ingredients i bought (and will definitely keep using - i'm hooked!). this one got a 9!!

chicken lo mein
mostly based on recipes here and here
4-6 servings

marinate 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast sliced into small pieces in the following for at least 1 hour:
3/4 tablespoon rice vinegar
1/8 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons white sugar
1 tablespoon chicken broth

sauce:
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 1/4 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

3/4 lb linguini pasta, cooked
2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic
crushed red pepper (optional)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups broccoli florets
1 red/orange bell pepper, chopped
4 green onions, sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
(change up the veggies according to what you have - you can use anything that sounds good. mushrooms and snow peas are two others i'd suggest)
1 1/2 tablespoons oyster sauce
cornstarch
1 teaspoon sesame oil


1. after marinating chicken as instructed above, combine all sauce ingredients in a medium bowl. in a separate small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch with some of this mixture and slowly add to the bulk of the mixture, stirring well. set aside.
2. heat 1 tablespoon olive oil with a dash of crushed red pepper (optional - may leave out or adjust depending on how spicy you want it) in a wok or large saucepan over high heat until it starts to smoke. add the marinated chicken and leftover marinade from chicken and stir-fry for 4 to 5 minutes, or until browned. add your garlic and veggies (the ones above or your choice) to wok. mix well and then stir fry veggies for a few minutes.
3. add the reserved sauce mixture and oyster sauce. simmer until the sauce begins to thicken and veggies are steamed to your liking (i like them crisp tender, about 3+ minutes). when veggies are done, you may add a few teaspoonfuls of cornstarch to thicken sauce.
4. add the cooked pasta and 1 teaspoon of sesame seed oil over the top of the pasta. toss gently, coating everything well with the sauce.

sneaky meatballs

i love to sneak things into meatballs because you can't even taste it and then you're getting a delicious extra veggie. try these! one my mom used to make and one of the only homemade meals i made when i was single in college. ha!

porcupine meatballs

i used spinach in the sauce this time and actually didn't like it! just put it inside the meatballs.

1 lb ground turkey (or lean ground beef)
1/3 cup uncooked white rice (add a small extra handful if you're using ground turkey to help it stick together better
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
a few dashes of pepper
some grated zucchini or finely chopped spinach (how much depends on you!)
2 cans condensed tomato soup
1 cup water
chili powder, garlic salt and cumin to taste

1. combine turkey, rice, onion, 1/4 cup water, salt and pepper. mix well. add spinach or zucchini and mix again.
2. shape this mixture into 1 inch meatballs. you should have 15 to 20.
3. combine tomato soup, 1 cup water and seasonings to taste in a large pot.
4. add meatballs to pot. bring to a boil. reduce heat and simmer (covered or almost covered - depends on if covering it makes it crazy boil for you like it sometimes does for me) for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
5. serve over a yummy grain - i like to serve it over rice, but it would probably be yummy over egg noddles as well.

recipe of the week: pasta e fagioli

i totally love this soup. i never loved olive garden's version so i thought i didn't like it at all. i was oh so wrong. yummm..... and i do it meatless too, so it's crazy cheap!! :)

pasta e fagioli
modified from here
8+ servings

1/2 an onion, chopped

2 carrots, chopped
1 zucchini, cut into small pieces
2 large cloves garlic, minced
a dash of olive oil
6 cups chicken broth (or veggie broth if you're vegetarian)
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 tablespoon dried parsley
2 teaspoons dried basil
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons white sugar
salt and pepper to taste
1 16 oz package ditalini or small shell pasta
parmesan cheese for topping

1. in a large pot, saute onions, carrots and garlic in a splash of olive oil.
2. add broth, tomatoes, beans, parsley, basil, cayenne pepper, vinegar, sugar and salt and pepper. simmer for 1 hour.
3. cook pasta in a separate pot according to package directions. serve soup and add desired amount of pasta to each bowl. top with parmesan cheese.

serve with a crusty bread and yummy green salad! mmm.....