Cut 1 lb eggplant (about 2 medium) into ½ inch rounds. Lightly spray a baking dish with olive oil, then place eggplant pieces on it, spray the pieces, and then broil for about 7 mins total (turning over the pieces midway) until each side is a browned. Cut each round into quarters. Toss the quartered… Continue reading Sri Lankan eggplant curry (vambotu curry)
Indian yellow squash curry
Wash 3 small yellow squash (1 lb), then cut into ¼ inch rounds. Separately, heat 3 Tbsp neutral oil in a Dutch oven on medium heat, then add ½ small onion (grated). Saute until onion is golden brown, then reduce heat to medium-low and add 1 small fully ripe tomato (halved and sliced). Cover the… Continue reading Indian yellow squash curry
Couscous with roasted cauliflower and dates
We followed this Food Network Kitchens recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/cauliflower-couscous-recipe-2105437.html?soc=itksocialshareSMS%7Cios%7Cp However, we made substantial modifications: first, instead of sautéing the cauliflower and shallots (which we increased from 1 to 3 shallots), we seasoned them with olive oil, salt, and black pepper and oven-roasted them at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes (we increased heat to 450 for… Continue reading Couscous with roasted cauliflower and dates
Greek chicken lemon soup with rice (avgolemono soupa)
Chef Cat Cora's recipe is here:http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cat-cora/avgolemono-chicken-soup-with-egg-lemon-sauce-recipe.html We didn’t have leeks, so we substituted with shallots, which we sauteed along with the onion before adding to the chicken stock. (July 2015)
Leftover steak and vegetable soup
We used our leftover strip steak from the steakhouse for this hearty soup. Recipe here: http://m.allrecipes.com/recipe/214556/steak-soup/. We sauteed the onion in butter and oil, then added the seasoned flour and then the cooked steak pieces. We then added the parsley, marjoram, celery leaves, and bay leaf to the same pot, sautéed for a minute, then… Continue reading Leftover steak and vegetable soup
Oven-roasted s’mores
Preheat oven to 450. Melt 1 tsp butter in a 6 inch cast iron pan, then place a single layer of semi-sweet chocolate chips, topped by a single layer of mini-marshmallows. Bake in oven until marshmallows are toasted (about 4 mins), then serve with graham crackers. Recipe athttp://www.thrillist.com/recipe/nation/skillet-s-mores-dip-thrillist-recipes (June 2015)
Polish stuffed cabbage leaves (galumpki)
Recipe here: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/stuffed-cabbage-with-tomato-sauce-recipe-2011549.amp We used red cabbage instead of savoy, which required us to parboil the head of cabbage in order to loosen the tightly wrapped leaves. Before parboiling the cabbage head, we cut off the base and then use a melon baller and a small knife to remove the core from the head; this… Continue reading Polish stuffed cabbage leaves (galumpki)
Japanese-style white miso marinated grilled salmon
Recipe from Bobby Flay here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/miso-ginger-marinated-grilled-salmon-recipe.html. We also heated the remaining marinade with a splash of sake and served the strained sauce on the side. (June 2015)
Simply dressed tomatoes
Slice tomatoes (any type will do), drizzle with Marukan seasoned rice vinegar or balsamic vinegar (here, pomegranate and quince-infused white balsamic) and olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Garnish with sliced, seeded jalapeños, if desired. Recipe inspired by my friend Amy. (Nov. 2014)
Bell pepper egg-in-a-hole
Recipe here: http://simmerandboil.cookinglight.com/2015/03/07/bell-pepper-egg-in-a-hole/ (June 2015)
Cooking Adventures 