Archive for the ‘vegetable side’ Category
|Roasted Beet and Green Bean Salad
Thursday, January 14th, 2010
Roasted Beet and Green Bean Salad
Thank you so much to everyone who left comments on my blog and facebook congratulating me on my anniversary! All the love…and the truffles, made it a great day. I am also enjoying hearing from all of the new readers who are enjoying Well Being in the Kitchen too!
For those of you who love salad even in the cold months, here is a great recipe that will keep the soul warm but not weigh down the belly. C. and I have made this salad in so many different versions over the years, but I think this is the most simple. I just wanted to pull together something healthy and delicious for lunch today, and shazam! Roasted Beet and Green Bean Salad. Apart from roasting the beets, it really takes very little time and effort to make.
Tags: beets, green beans, salad greens
Posted in dairy free, egg-free, gluten-free, vegan, vegetable side, vegetarian, wheat-free | No Comments »
Creamy Squash-Gingered Quinoa
Monday, November 30th, 2009
Butternut Squash "Quinotto"
Thanksgiving morning I woke up with a big chunk of time before joining my extended family for our Thanksgiving meal, and still no clear plan of what I wanted to “bring to the table”. It is odd for me not to have a plan of what to cook…a recipe that I have been looking forward to testing out on just the right occasion. I guess I was a bit preoccupied though. Lots going on lately! Packing, moving, planning to move again soon after the first move. Living in cold weather, packing for warm weather, and who knows what else. So, in the mix of it all, I was sort of lost for inspiration on this Thanksgiving day.
The next thing that happened was a welcome distraction from it all. My neighbors invited me for a morning walk, and I was quite happy to have some company and get out of the house. A release from all of my worries for a 1 hour walk…which turned into more. By the time we got back, I realized that I had left myself very little time to actually come up with a recipe and prepare a dish to bring to my aunt’s house. So, I quickly googled up a few ideas and then decided to go with my own.
Quinoa is a very easy grain to cook. It is one of the fastest, and personally I find that it is pretty difficult to mess up. Perfect! Normally I make a simple “naked” quinoa to accompany other dishes, but this time I decided to be adventurous and try something new. A little ginger, and a creamy dollop of butternut squash, and voila – quinotto. (At first I thought I might be making up this term, but after googling it to be sure, of course someone else had come up with it first.) A creamy version of quinoa that resembles risotto.
This turned out to be so easy to make, and absolutely delicious. I was even surprised that everyone who tried it really liked it too. Even the ones who had never heard of/seen quinoa before! So, don’t be shy. Step up to the “plate” and try it yourself…and let me know what you think.
Tags: butternut squash, ginger, quinoa
Posted in alternative grain, dairy free, egg-free, gluten-free, grain side, vegan, vegetable side, vegetarian, wheat-free | No Comments »
Gingered Rice Stuffed Peppers
Sunday, August 30th, 2009
Color, flavor, crunch…these peppers have it all.
I have been making this gingered rice recipe from Vegetarian Times Magazine for a few years now. In my first few years in Key West I would purchase these magazines religiously. Always looking for new ideas on great vegetarian meals I definitely found my share. I have bookmarked numerous pages, and my collection of magazines has followed me from Key West to Boulder and now to Cape Cod. Who knows where I will take them next… I will keep you updated on where my next home will be, but in the meantime enjoy this fun summer rice dish.
Tags: bell pepper, corn, ginger, orange juice, rice
Posted in dairy free, egg-free, entree, gluten-free, grain side, vegan, vegetable side, vegetarian, wheat-free | 1 Comment »
Involtini di Melanzane (Eggplant Rolls)
Sunday, August 9th, 2009
My first homegrown eggplant!
Having a garden this summer has been really exciting! I am so grateful to my neighbors for sharing a little space in their sun-kissed yard with me. It has been fun to pretend that I know what I am doing, and just start planting, watering and harvesting. Every so often I get a tip from someone, or realize that I am doing something completely wrong, but for the most part I planted things and they are growing! What more do you want? It is a very rewarding practice and I am glad that I have finally had the opportunity to try it. I definitely hope that I will get the chance for even more next time the gardening season rolls around.
For now, I have some lovely tatsoi, some (swiss cheese) bok choy, some beautiful collard greens, cucumbers which were a big surprise because I was told they would be zucchini, and eggplant! As you can see from the above photo, my eggplant are looking pretty cute. I have lots of butterflies and bees buzzing around the eggplant flowers, and the new eggplants are shining beautifully. In honor of my little eggplants (and in anticipation of them growing to plumpness) I share this lovely recipe for Involtini di Melanzane which I have been enjoying for the past few years. This recipe also comes from Cucina Natuale and is really quite simple, and is great as an appetizer.
Tags: basil, eggplant, mint
Posted in egg-free, gluten-free, vegetable side, vegetarian, wheat-free | 2 Comments »
Oven Baked Fries
Friday, July 10th, 2009
Crisp and perfect!
French Fries…it is such a stereotype to think that all French people love French Fries…but I have to say my Frenchie fills that stereotype to a ‘T’. She is crazy about fries and it is a big craving food for her. How wonderful to have a healthy version of the French Fries to fill that desire.
Tags: potatoes
Posted in dairy free, egg-free, gluten-free, grain side, vegan, vegetable side, vegetarian, wheat-free | 2 Comments »
Roasted Vegetable Tart
Saturday, May 16th, 2009
A bite of goodness
The other night we had a dinner party with some of our friends here in Boulder. It was great to see them again as time seems to get away from us when it comes to socializing. When it comes to having a dinner party, I am always happy to create something that I don’t usually make for myself. A new recipe, or an old favorite becomes an opportunity for a new twist. I have been playing with tart recipes for a little while now, and thought that would be perfect for this crowd. A mix of gluten-free gourmets I knew that it would be a great opportunity to try out a gluten-free tart crust. Thankfully, the reviews were quite supportive of the outcome!
I made two different crusts because one friend also avoids flax and almonds, but I still wanted to see how the tart would taste with those ingredients…personally I think both were really good. I will list the variations below in case you want to try both as well. I will not mislead you by saying that this recipe is easy. It was a lengthy process, but it was totally worth it! And we just made sure to make extra so we would have leftovers to savor for the next few days. (I suggest you do so as well!)
Tags: almonds, amaranth, bell pepper, eggplant, flax seed, garlic, oat flour, oatmeal, tahini, tomato, yellow squash, zucchini
Posted in dairy free, egg-free, entree, gluten-free, vegan, vegetable side, vegetarian, wheat-free | 1 Comment »
2 Potato Gratin with Veggies
Monday, May 4th, 2009
Spring Blossoms
Spring is definitely in full swing. In Boulder the tulips are in full bloom, the daffodils are strong and healthy, and the buds on the apple trees, crab apples and more are in bloom. I have even see the lilacs and forsythia starting to tell their spring story.
Inspired by the fresh life of spring, C. and I have decided to do a mini cleanse to feel that freshness ourselves. We too are shedding the layers of winter, emotionally and physically, and are ready to feel a little lighter with the change that is coming for us this spring. Knowing that this month is going to be a big one for us with packing, moving and re-adjusting for the summer to our new living situations, we thought a cleanse would boost our energy for what is ahead.
Every year, and maybe more than once per year, we follow the Heart of Nourishment cleanse developed by Hale Sofia Schatz. This is a wonderful cleanse which we discovered while reading her book If the Buddha Came to Dinner. It is one of the most compassionate cleanses that I have experienced so far, and am happy to return to it every time I am ready for a cleanse. Her writing is beautiful, her stories are moving, and she presents a cleanse which is accessible, and flexible…an opportunity to offer yourself some personal time of self-care. I could go on and on really, but I think you get the idea. I like her approach and her cleanse.
The first phase of the cleanse is a time when you are consuming only fruit and vegetables, and not in combination with each other. So it is also a great time to be creative in your cooking skills and come up with some new recipes. Using what we had in the fridge, I came up with this yummy new recipe for 2 Potato Gratin with Veggies. C had caramelized some onions the day before, and using some spinach and mushrooms with the potato combination, we were ready for a yummy casserole. Whether you are on a cleanse or not, I definitely suggest you try this savory treat!
Tags: mushroom, onion, red potato, spinach, sweet potato
Posted in dairy free, egg-free, gluten-free, vegan, vegetable side, vegetarian, wheat-free | 2 Comments »