We are still at the beach with a limited pantry. We tried this simple recipe using 1/2 lb string beans, 1.5 Tbsp canola oil, 1/4 tsp kosher salt, and juice from 1/2 a lime. As the recipe notes, the key is maintaining medium-high heat and letting the string beans sit, untouched, for a few mins.… Continue reading Blistered green beans
Tag: western
Simple summer melon salad
We are still at the beach. A local olive oil merchant recommended this simple recipe: peel and cut cantaloupe and watermelon into bite-sized pieces, then drizzle with peach-infused white balsamic vinegar and basil-infused olive oil (in a 4:3 ratio). Lightly toss, then serve. This was refreshing and delicious. If we were home with our full… Continue reading Simple summer melon salad
Simple powdered sugar icing
We are at the beach, without access to our normal pantry or kitchen tools. We baked a boxed devil's food cake, but we didn't want to use prepared frosting. We tried this simple recipe for icing: https://www.culinaryhill.com/powdered-sugar-icing/ We used 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 2.5 Tbsp half and half, and 1 Tbsp… Continue reading Simple powdered sugar icing
Cajun red beans and rice
We tried this Bon Appetit recipe: https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/red-beans-and-rice-recipe. Our chicken andouille sausage (a 6 oz link) was raw, so we sliced it and browned before adding to the stew. This yielded a well-seasoned stew, but the broth was too soupy. We added 1 1/4 cups frozen okra in an attempt to thicken it, and this helped… Continue reading Cajun red beans and rice
Vegetable and pasta soup with chicken broth
I am feeling under the weather, so we tried this soup: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/vegetable-noodle-soup-recipe-1928029 We made some modifications: first, we doubled the broth, aromatics, and pasta. Second, for the vegetables we supplemented the carrot and celery with a medium Yukon potato (diced) and 1/2 cup frozen sweet peas. Finally, we added juice from a large lemon, which…… Continue reading Vegetable and pasta soup with chicken broth
Easy pineapple sheet cake
We had a 20 oz can of crushed pineapple on hand, and we decided to try this recipe on a whim: https://www.spendwithpennies.com/easiest-ever-pineapple-cake/ Due to our pantry, we skipped the cream cheese frosting. We added 1/2 cup chopped walnuts to the batter. To avoid having the pieces sink to the bottom of the cake, we tossed…… Continue reading Easy pineapple sheet cake
Grilled salmon filet with Dijon mustard, soy, and herb marinade
We tried this recipe for 1.9 lb salmon filet: https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/grilled-salmon/ We followed the recipe verbatim in terms of ingredient proportions, but we purposely left the herbs intact instead of mincing them (see Outdoor grilling notes below). We also cut our filet in half to make it easier to flip on the grill (and to create… Continue reading Grilled salmon filet with Dijon mustard, soy, and herb marinade
Farro and vegetable soup with dried porcini mushrooms and Gruyere cheese
We have had our eye on Martha Rose Shulman's plant-forward soup recipe: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013428-farro-and-vegetable-soup?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share This was absolutely delicious. The depth of flavor and sprinkling of shredded Gruyere evoked French onion soup. We made minor modifications: first, for the liquid we used 2 quarts (8 cups) no-salt chicken broth plus 2 cups salted chicken broth (from Better… Continue reading Farro and vegetable soup with dried porcini mushrooms and Gruyere cheese
Black bean and sausage ragout
My stepMIL is an incredible cook, and she generously shared one of her signature recipes. First, grind 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1 tsp black peppercorns, and 2 whole cloves. (Shortcut option: using a mortar and pestle, manually crush 1 tsp cumin seeds along with 1 tsp ground black pepper and 1/4 tsp ground cloves). Set… Continue reading Black bean and sausage ragout
Puréed roasted winter vegetable soup with rosemary sourdough croutons
For the past few days we have searched for a pureed roasted vegetable soup, and we loosely followed this one: https://www.yakimaherald.com/explore_yakima/food_and_drink/salt-and-stone-roasted-vegetable-soup-hits-the-spot/article_13ce7e34-48fc-11ed-a0ff-0b1b8e6bbf79.html We took inspiration from the author's observation that this recipe is versatile and useful for any raw vegetables in one's fridge. First, prepare the following for roasting: 1 extremely large (or two medium) carrot,… Continue reading Puréed roasted winter vegetable soup with rosemary sourdough croutons
Cooking Adventures 