Since I went to college near wine country in California, I became obsessed with picnicking shortly after turning 21. With their mature oak trees and captivating views, wineries are absolutely ideal for relaxing the afternoon away. Whenever we made the trip, our plan was usually the same: Leave at 10 am, arrive by 11 am, head to Winery 1, then Winery 2, then stop for a scenic picnic around 1 pm and if we weren't too tired (it's amazing how wine tasting and sunshine takes the energy right out of you), visit Winery 3 before heading back.
Part of the fun was always deciding what to pack in our picnic. This was one of the first salads I started with several yeas ago, and though I have a new affinity for Orzo with Grilled Shrimp and Pesto, I still rely on this salad for picnics. Besides, with all the picnics I tend to go on, the same salad at them all would get a bit boring. To ensure freshness, separate the salad from the dressing while you transport it, and toss just before serving.
In terms of picnic menus, I like to have a main dish (like this salad, or grilled steak with pesto dipping sauce, or Barley Salad with Roasted Tomatoes) to anchor the meal, several sides like cheese and crackers, fruit, pita chips and hummus, and something sweet like brownies for dessert. Aside from a bottle of your favorite wine (many wineries sell their bottles pre-chilled for just this occasion), it’s all you need for a perfect afternoon.
Tuna and Green Bean Salad
Recipe courtesy Giada de Laurentiis
1 1/2 pounds slender green beans, trimmed, halved crosswise
3 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
2 large red potatoes, diced
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
9 ounces canned tuna packed in oil, drained
Cook the green beans in a large pot of boiling water until crisp-tender, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Using a mesh strainer, transfer the green beans to a large bowl of ice water to cool completely. Drain the green beans and pat dry with a towel. Add 2 teaspoons of salt to the same cooking liquid and bring the liquid to a simmer. Add the potatoes to the simmering liquid and cook until they are just tender but still hold their shape, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the potatoes to the ice water to cool completely. Drain the potatoes and pat dry with a towel.
In a small bowl, whisk the lemon juice, garlic, oil, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Place the tomatoes, basil and parsley in a large serving bowl. Add the tuna and toss gently to combine. Add the green beans and potatoes and gently combine. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.
Pizza with Grilled Pear and Prosciutto
I stumbled upon the idea for this pizza while having lunch at one of my favorite Santa Barbara spots, Fresco. Their special pizza of the day was made with grilled pears and prosciutto, which sounded too delicious to pass up. I immediately wrote down the ingredients in my notebook so I could recreate it at home.
What sets this pizza apart is the cheese. I’ve made it several times now, but once accidentally grabbed Fontina cheese instead of Manchego – big mistake! Manchego cheese is essential for this pizza. Its mild flavor perfectly compliments the grilled pear and peppery arugula. Fontina (as I discovered) is way too salty for this dish. I’ve also made this pizza and forgotten the arugula. Yes, it tastes fine without it, but arugula not only adds a sharp bite, but beautiful color. Trust me, it’s much prettier with all the ingredients.
I also use honey to grill the pears and then drizzle a little bit over the hot, bubbly pizza when it comes out of the oven. I find the sweetness enhances every bite, and it’s the final touch that makes this pizza so, so good.
PIZZA WITH GRILLED PEAR AND PROSCIUTTO
Pizza dough (recipe here)
1 medium pear, thinly sliced and drizzled with honey
1 tbsp. honey
4 slices prosciutto
8 oz Manchego cheese, grated
½ cup arugula
Heat grill pan to medium and add prosciutto. After several minutes, turn and cook other side until it begins to crisp. Place on a paper towel to drain. When cooled, chop into small pieces and set aside.
In the same pan, add pears and grill for 3-5 minutes on each side, until grill marks form and pear is softened. Set aside.
To assemble pizza, place dough on a sheet pan or pizza stone and sprinkle with 6 oz. Manchego cheese. (When baking pizza, I always toss a small handful of cornmeal on the board to keep the pizza from sticking). Then add pears and sprinkle with prosciutto and arugula. Top with remaining cheese.
Bake at 450F for 8-10 minutes (cook time may vary depending on your oven), until cheese is melted and the edges begin to brown. Before slicing, drizzle with remaining honey.
Champagne Risotto
I love risotto! Here is another version of this versatile and delicious dish. Creamy Arborio rice is woken up with bits of salty prosciutto and crunchy asparagus. When I made this I pulled out our wedding china to make things extra special. I don't think fancy dinnerware should be saved for the holidays, so I try to use it several times a year "just because."
*Recipe note: This recipe makes a batch perfect for two when combined with another side like a fresh salad. If you're serving 4, or just want larger portions, double the amount of rice and liquid.
Champagne Risotto
Recipe courtesy Giada de Laurentiis
4 thin slices prosciutto
3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
12 asparagus spears, cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons butter, divided
1 shallot, finely chopped
¾ cup Arborio rice or medium-grain white rice
¾ cup Champagne
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
12 asparagus spears, cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons butter, divided
1 shallot, finely chopped
¾ cup Arborio rice or medium-grain white rice
¾ cup Champagne
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Place the slices of prosciutto on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake until the prosciutto slices are almost completely crisp, about 6 to 8 minutes. The slices will crisp up even more as they cool. Reserve for garnish.
In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken stock to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer. Blanch the asparagus in the chicken stock for 2 minutes. Remove the asparagus with a slotted spoon. Set the asparagus aside and keep the chicken stock at a low simmer.
In another medium saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter. Add the shallot and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Add the Arborio rice and stir to coat in the butter. Continue toasting the rice, stirring constantly, for about 3 minutes more. Add the Champagne and simmer until the liquid has almost evaporated, about 3 minutes. Add ½ cup of the simmering broth and stir until almost completely absorbed, about 2 minutes.
Continue cooking the rice, adding the broth ½ cup at a time, stirring constantly and allowing each addition of broth to absorb before adding the next, until the rice is tender but still firm to the bite and the mixture is creamy, about 20 minutes total. Remove from the heat. Gently stir in the asparagus, remaining butter, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Spoon the risotto into serving dishes and garnish by breaking the crisp prosciutto into smaller pieces over the top of the risotto. Serve immediately.
Arugula Salad with Warm Goat Cheese
I recently had some goat cheese left over from making Chicken with Goat Cheese and Basil and couldn't resist making this salad. The combination of creamy dessing with gooey, crunchy cheese is perfect as a light lunch or impressive side with something heavier like salmon or steak.
This recipe is for a lot of salad, so if you're only cooking for two you'll have plenty of leftover lettuce and dressing to make salads all week. And if you don't have arugula, any mixed greens will work wonderfully.
Arugula Salad with Warm Goat Cheese
Recipe adapted from Ina Garten
1 (11-ounce) log plain or herbed Montrachet
2 extra-large egg whites, beaten with 1 tablespoon water
Fresh white bread crumbs
For the dressing:
2 tablespoons good cider vinegar
2 tablespoons good Champagne vinegar
Pinch sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 extra-large egg yolk
1 cup good olive oil
Enough mixed salad greens for 6 servings
Olive oil and unsalted butter, for frying
Slice the Montrachet into 12 (1/2-inch-thick) slices. (The easiest way to slice goat cheese is to use a length of dental floss.) Dip each slice into the beaten egg whites, then the bread crumbs, being sure the cheese is thoroughly coated. Place the slices on a rack and chill them for at least 15 minutes.For the dressing, place the vinegars, sugar, salt, pepper, and egg yolk in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and blend for 1 minute. With the motor running, slowly pour the olive oil through the feed tube until the vinaigrette is thickened. Season, to taste.
Toss the salad greens with enough dressing to moisten, then divide them among 6 plates.
Melt 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a saute pan over medium-high heat until just under smoking. Cook the goat cheese rounds quickly on both sides until browned on the outside but not melted inside. Top each salad with 2 (or as many as you'd like!) warm rounds and serve.
Spaghetti Bolognese
I had high hopes for this sauce. This isn’t to say I was disappointed, but I hit some uncontrollable cooking snags along the way. The Gap Fire began on July 1. On July 6, the afternoon I attempted this recipe, the power went out twice while I was cooking. Since this recipe takes hours to complete, you can bet I was furious (although sympathetic to the fireman, evacuated families, etc.). But come on. The power had been going out for four days straight, usually beginning in the evening, between 6-7 pm. An outage at two o’clock in the afternoon was completely unexpected. When the first outage hit, I had just put the meat in the pan.
As the meat (and my electric stove) began cooling down, the lights returned so I continued browning the meat. By this time I had lost track of how long it had actually been in the pan so consequently this step was likely cut short. And as Anne will tell you, this step is REALLY important.
Just as I turned the meat to brown the other side, power was lost again. This time it was out for at least 45 minutes, and I was tabulating the lost minutes in my mind. 3 ½ hours of cooking pushes dinner back to 7:00 pm, wait, 7:30 pm. I was starting to give up hope when the power finally returned.
Eventually the tomato paste and wine were added. The mixture turns a beautiful burgundy color, and then it’s time for the “add water and wait” game. My only piece of advice with this recipe is to be patient. Don’t try making Bolognese unless you have time. During the “water and wait” step you will be very tempted to cut it short – don’t! The process of adding water and cooking it down is what creates a thick sauce that holds together instead of separating when it reaches the pasta. In the end, the meat wasn’t as brown as it should have been (translation: less flavor), but given the circumstances I’m very pleased with how this dish turned out.
Spaghetti Bolognese
Recipe courtesy Anne Burrell
1 large onion or 2 small, cut into 1-inch dice
2 large carrots, cut into 1/2-inch dice
3 ribs celery, cut into 1-inch dice
4 cloves garlic
Extra-virgin olive oil, for the pan
Kosher salt
3 pounds ground chuck, brisket or round or combination
2 cups tomato paste
3 cups hearty red wine
Water
3 bay leaves
1 bunch thyme, tied in a bundle
1 pound spaghetti
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
High quality extra-virgin olive oil, for finishing
In a food processor, puree onion, carrots, celery, and garlic into a coarse paste. In a large pan over medium heat, coat pan with oil. Add the pureed veggies and season generously with salt. Bring the pan to a medium-high heat and cook until all the water has evaporated and they become nice and brown, stirring frequently, about 15 to 20 minutes. Be patient, this is where the big flavors develop.
Add the ground beef and season again generously with salt. BROWN THE BEEF! Brown food tastes good. Don't rush this step. Cook another 15 to 20 minutes.
Add the tomato paste and cook until brown about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the red wine. Cook until the wine has reduced by half, another 4 to 5 minutes.
Add water to the pan until the water is about 1 inch above the meat. Toss in the bay leaves and the bundle of thyme and stir to combine everything. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, stirring occasionally. As the water evaporates you will gradually need to add more, about 2 to 3 cups at a time. Don't be shy about adding water during the cooking process, you can always cook it out. This is a game of reduce and add more water. This is where big rich flavors develop. If you try to add all the water in the beginning you will have boiled meat sauce rather than a rich, thick meaty sauce. Stir and TASTE frequently. Season with salt, if needed (you probably will). Simmer for 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
During the last 30 minutes of cooking, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat to cook the spaghetti. Pasta water should ALWAYS be well salted. Salty as the ocean! TASTE IT! If your pasta water is under seasoned it doesn't matter how good your sauce is, your complete dish will always taste under seasoned. When the water is at a rolling boil add the spaghetti and cook for 1 minute less than it calls for on the package. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water.
While the pasta is cooking remove 1/2 of the ragu from the pot and reserve.
Drain the pasta and add to the pot with the remaining ragu. Stir or toss the pasta to coat with the sauce. Add some of the reserved sauce, if needed, to make it about an even ratio between pasta and sauce. Add the reserved pasta cooking water and cook the pasta and sauce together over a medium heat until the water has reduced. Turn off the heat and give a big sprinkle of Parmigiano and a generous drizzle of the high quality finishing olive oil. Toss or stir vigorously. Divide the pasta and sauce into serving bowls or 1 big pasta bowl. Top with remaining grated Parmigiano. Serve immediately.
Blueberry Crumb Bars
Thanks again to Smitten Kitchen for these Blueberry Crumb Bars (recipe here). I made them for our apartment open house so guests could take one home along with an application. They were delicious and made the kitchen smell divine. Oh, and we also found someone to take over our lease. :-)
Lemon Spaghetti
This weekend my husband and I are moving ninety miles down the coast from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles, and our apartment is filled with boxes in preparation for loading the U-haul on Saturday. This means that our kitchen is down to the bare bones we need to survive – we’re already using plastic cups and plates, and tomorrow I’ll be packing up our pots and pans.
So, this will likely be my last post for at least a week (maybe two). But I will be back! Our computer won’t be set up for a bit, and as most of you know, moving is exhausting and leaves little time for home cooking.
We had one more meal before pulling the take-out menu’s from the drawer. It was chosen for its simplicity, and that it made use of the ingredients we had left in the kitchen - fresh lemon, spaghetti, a small block of Parmesan cheese, and fresh basil from the deteriorating little plant on our patio.
As much as I’ve complained about this kitchen I’ve cooked in for the past two and a half years, it’s been home. I’ve grown to at least appreciate – I can’t say love – our electric stove, and the building’s original avocado green oven that tends to burn the bottom of anything I bake. Yes, there’s a legitimate reason why you haven’t seen a lot of sweets yet.
I hope you can enjoy this dish whenever you’re a bit crazed too, or when you’re looking for something perfect in its simplicity. It might not look like much (the color of lemon juice and zest tends to blend into the beige spaghetti noodles), but the flavors will tell you otherwise.
The aromas of fresh lemon and nutty cheese will instantly calm you down. The pasta doesn’t need anything else to be delicious, but you could easily add toasted pine nuts or grilled shrimp for some extra pizzazz. It would also be wonderful with sides like stuffed peppers, asparagus and prosciutto, or a fresh green salad, but if you can’t muster anything but a big pot of pasta, you’re in luck – this dish is wildly comforting and requires minimal effort.
Recipe courtesy Giada de Laurentiis
1 pound spaghetti
2/3 cup olive oil
2/3 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 3 lemons)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the oil, Parmesan, and lemon juice in a large bowl to blend.
Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Toss the pasta with the lemon sauce, and the reserved cooking liquid, adding 1/4 cup at a time as needed to moisten. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with lemon zest and chopped basil.
Asian Grilled Salmon + Sautéed Asparagus and Snap Peas
With summer in full swing I've been trying to eat more fish and make good use of our outdoor grill. This marinade is incredibly simple, and gives the salmon a sweet, mild flavor. Crunchy vegetables with a bit of heat are a wonderful compliment to the tender fish.
Asian Grilled Salmon
Recipe courtesy Ina Garten
4 salmon filets
For the marinade:
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons good soy sauce
6 tablespoons good olive oil
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
Light charcoal briquettes in a grill and brush the grilling rack with oil to keep the salmon from sticking.
While the grill is heating, lay the salmon skin side down on a cutting board and cut it crosswise into 4 equal pieces. Whisk together the mustard, soy sauce, olive oil, and garlic in a small bowl. Drizzle half of the marinade onto the salmon and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.
Place the salmon skin side down on the hot grill; discard the marinade the fish was sitting in. Grill for 4 to 5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish. Turn carefully with a wide spatula and grill for another 4 to 5 minutes. The salmon will be slightly raw in the center, but don't worry; it will keep cooking as it sits.
Transfer the fish to a flat plate, skin side down, and spoon the reserved marinade on top. Allow the fish to rest for 10 minutes. Remove the skin and serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.
Sautéed Asparagus and Snap Peas
1 pound asparagus
3/4-pound sugar snap peas
2 tablespoons good olive oil
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Red pepper flakes, optional
Sea salt, for serving
Cut off the tough ends of the asparagus and slice the stalks diagonally into 2-inch pieces. Snap off the stem ends of the snap peas and pull the string down the length of the vegetable.
Warm the olive oil in a large saute pan over a medium heat and add the asparagus and snap peas. Add the salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, to taste, if desired. Cook for approximately 5 to10 minutes until al dente, tossing occasionally. Sprinkle with sea salt and serve hot.
Herbed Summer Squash and Potato Torte
Smitten Kitchen made this last week, and it looked like the perfect summer side. I went to the store after work to get a few of the ingredients I needed and was disappointed to find that the store was out of Yukon potatoes, so I took red ones in their place. Oh, and I also forgot to grab the fresh thyme and used dry instead. Doesn't that always happen? Even with my organized lists, I sometimes manage to forget one small item and by the time I get home don't even entertain the idea of going back. But, the great thing about this type of a recipe is you can easily adapt it to what's available.
Herbed Summer Squash and Potato Torte
Bon Appetit, June 2001
1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/8-inch-thick rounds
12 ounces yellow crookneck squash or regular yellow summer squash, cut into 1/8-inch-thick rounds
6 teaspoons olive oil
Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter two 8-inch-diameter cake pans. (I used an 8x8 square dish for a thicker torte). Set aside 1/4 cup sliced green onions. Toss remaining green onions, cheese, flour, thyme, salt and pepper in medium bowl to blend.
Layer 1/6 of potatoes in concentric circles in bottom of 1 prepared pan, overlapping slightly. Layer 1/4 of squash in concentric circles atop potatoes. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon oil. Sprinkle with 1/6 of cheese mixture. Repeat with 1/6 of potatoes, then 1/4 of squash and 1 teaspoon oil. Sprinkle with 1/6 of cheese mixture. Top with 1/6 of potatoes. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon oil. Sprinkle with 1/6 of cheese mixture and press gently to flatten. Repeat procedure with second cake pan and remaining potatoes, squash, oil, and cheese mixture.
Cover pans with foil. Bake until potatoes are almost tender, about 40 minutes. Remove foil; bake uncovered until tortes begin to brown and potatoes are tender, about 25 minutes longer. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cool. Cover with foil and chill. Rewarm, covered with foil, in 350°F oven until heated through, about 30 minutes.)
Cut each torte into wedges. Sprinkle wedges with 1/4 cup green onions; serve.
Pear and Brie Panini
This sandwich has a little bit of everything. It's sweet, creamy, salty, crunchy, and perfect if you're cooking for one. Of course, it's also great for a crowd, but whenever I have a night alone and don't want to make a fuss in the kitchen, this is what I love to make. Tonight I added prosciutto because I had some left over in the fridge, but it's just fine without. I've made this panini often with just the brie, pear, and arugula and it's an irresistible combination every time.
Pear and Brie Panini
Recipe serves 1
Ingredients
1 ciabatta roll
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 ounces sliced brie (recommended: Saint Andre’)
1 small Bosh pear, cored and cut into thin strips (for one panini you will only need about half the pear)
1 tsp. honey
Freshly ground black pepper
1 handful arugula or spinach
Directions
Preheat a grill pan to medium or panini machine. Cut the ciabatta roll in half and brush each side with olive oil. Place them on grill pan and heat until golden, about 3-4 minutes.
Cover the bottom half of the ciabatta roll with brie slices. Top cheese with pear slices and drizzle with honey and a sprinkle of freshly ground pepper. Top with a handful of arugula and grilled proscuito, if using. Place the warm top half of the bread over the arugula and return to the grill for 2-4 minutes more to melt the cheese.
Remove from grill, cut in half, and serve immediately.
Sprinkles Cupcakes - Part 2
I recently posted about using Sprinkles mix to make delicious cupcakes in a snap, and this weekend I had the pleasure of being in Los Angeles to experience the sheer bliss that is Sprinkles in Beverly Hills. There was a line out the frosted glass door, but the wait (a mere 10 minutes) was completely worth it.
I should briefly mention that other patrons thought I was from out of state due to my excessive picture taking, but I wasn’t about to leave this off my blog.
I like to think I’m somewhat of a cupcake connoisseur. At my office in Santa Barbara, my department has taken upon itself the task of discovering the best cupcakes in the region. As one of two lead cupcake testers, I’ve tasted my share of treats and found that most cupcakeries/bakeries excel at either frosting or cake, but not both. So when the first bite of my strawberry Sprinkles cupcake entered my mouth, every taste bud rejoiced.
I could easily detect the fresh strawberries used in the frosting, but the flavors were subtle, a nice surprise since it’s incredibly easy to have frosting that’s too sugary. But it doesn’t stop there. The cake underneath was moist and fluffy, making for a perfect bite every time. Married with a glass of cold, skim milk, I was in heaven for about fifteen minutes.
Sicilian-Style Spaghetti
You’ll see a lot of pasta on this blog – I love it and refuse to stay away. For many people, pasta congers images of mushy fettuccine drenched in white cream sauce or spaghetti smothered with Prego, but the Cooking After Five kitchen refuses to eat either of these. If my pasta has red sauce, it was made in my own stock pot, or I’ll use Bertoli’s organic sauce, one of the few canned marinara sauces I truly enjoy.
This is a dish with a fair amount of preparation. When the time comes to toss everything together, your counter will be filled with bowls of parsley, bread crumbs, pine nuts, and olive oil, but preparing these elements while the cauliflower is roasting will give you plenty of time to clean up before finishing the recipe. 20 minutes before the cauliflower finishes, begin boiling the water. This way the spaghetti will be ready at the same time as the cauliflower.
With my butternut squash “food phase” coming to an end after last year’s holiday season, I retired many of my new favorite recipes to their appropriate binders and moved on to new obsessions. My latest phase: cauliflower. I’ve made soup, cauliflower steaks (recipes coming), and eaten florets like popcorn after roasting them in the oven.
Tyler Florence’s Sicilian Spaghetti is one of my favorite dishes from my search for the most delicious ways to use cauliflower. I had to double the amount of cauliflower from one head to two (one just isn’t enough, maybe because I eat too many florets before they reach the serving bowl?).
I also made several other minor changes to the cooking process, but nothing that changes the essential flavors of the dish. I used Itailan-style bread crumbs instead of Panko, and substituted anchovy paste for filets - both ingredients I already had.
Sicilian-Style Spaghetti
Recipe adapted from Tyler Florence
2 heads cauliflower, cored and broken into small florets
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tsp. anchovy paste
½ cup toasted pine nuts
¾ panko (Japanese bread crumbs) or Italian-style bread crumbs
salt and freshly ground pepper
1 pound whole wheat spaghetti
¼ cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Juice of ½ a lemon
Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, for garnish
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. For the cauliflower, toss broken florets on a large roasting pan with ¼ cup olive oil, salt and pepper, and roast for 35-40 minutes, until florets are golden brown and tender. Toss florets halfway through.
In a small saucepan, heat ¾ cup olive oil over medium heat. Add anchovy paste and break apart with a spoon. Continue cooking on low heat for five minutes more, until olive oil is infused. Transfer to a glass bowl and set aside.
In a small saucepan, toast the bread crumbs for several minutes over medium heat until golden brown, set aside.
When the water comes to a boil, cook spaghetti for 8-10 minutes, until al dente. Drain the spaghetti and place it back into the cooking pot. Add cauliflower, parsley, olive oil, and lemon juice. Toss to combine, adding additional olive oil if the pasta is too dry.
To serve, arrange pasta on individual plates and toss evenly with bread crumbs and pine nuts. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Sprinkles Cupcakes - Part 1
For my birthday in May, my friends Jason and Erin surprised me with a box of Sprinkles Cupcake Mix from Williams-Sonoma. One word: delicious. It doesn't hurt that the cupcakes are also incredibly adorable. The mix comes with everything you need (except butter and chocolate for the icing), including their signature sugar dot.
Be sure to follow the cooking time directions and watch them so the cupcakes don't over bake. And talk about easy during the work week - gourmet cupcakes from a box are completely doable after five. No recipe this time - you'll find it in the box!
Orzo with Grilled Shrimp and Pesto
I know I recently said that this barley salad is perfect for summer picnics, but Orzo with Grilled Shrimp and Pesto is equally perfect. (Ok, it might be one of my favorite pasta salads of all time.) I scrambled to make this on my lunch break so it could chill before a picnic later that night, but most of the preparations can be done the day before.
To make things easier, I used frozen, pre-cooked shrimp I already had in the freezer. You'll get bonus points for making your own pesto (just blend basil, toasted pine nuts, salt, pepper, Parmesan cheese and garlic in a food processor; stream in olive oil), but using store bought pesto is completely acceptable. Also, don't be afraid of a little salt. Add some when you first combine the ingredients, then taste the mixture after it has had a few hours to chill and add salt accordingly. The flavors are greatly enhanced if it's salted properly. Just add slowly, combine, and taste. Repeat as needed.
Orzo with Grilled Shrimp and Pesto
Adapted from Bon Appétit | June 2008
3 cups orzo
6 ½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar, divided
2 medium zucchini or summer squash, cut lengthwise
1/4 cup store-bought pesto (or more/less, depending on your preference)
2 cups large shrimp (the recipe has you grill them, but I saved time and thawed pre-cooked shrimp)
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1 8-ounce ball fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into ½ inch cubes
1/3 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
Juice of 1 lemon
salt and pepper to taste
Cook orzo in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite (about 8 minutes), stirring occasionally. Drain. Rinse with cold water; drain well. Transfer to large bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon oil. Allow orzo to come to room temperature before tossing with other ingredients.
Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Whisk 2 tablespoons oil and 2 tablespoons vinegar in small bowl. Brush zucchini and bell pepper with oil mixture, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill for 3 minutes per side and let rest. Cut into ½ inch pieces and set aside.
If grilling shrimp, sprinkle with salt and pepper and brush with olive oil, then grill for 2-3 minutes per side. Otherwise, thaw frozen shrimp in warm water for 5 minutes. Cut off tail and cut shrimp into ½ inch pieces. Add shrimp to bowl with zucchini.
Add remaining vinaigrette, pesto, tomatoes, sliced basil, zucchini, shrimp (if using), lemon juice and mozzarella to orzo; toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Cover; chill.
Garnish with basil sprigs and serve cold or at room temperature.
Apricot and Nut Cookies with Amaretto Icing
When I made a batch of these cookies, half of them went to my office. People were curious - they aren't traditional chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies, and after one bite the most common response was "mmm." My supervisor felt better about eating them because they seemed healthy - you know, the pine nuts and almonds. Sure. But the first ingredient is butter, so don't let these cookies fool you. Enjoy!
Apricot and Nut Cookies with Amaretto Icing
Recipe courtesy Giada de Laurentiis
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 large egg
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup dried apricots, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
Icing: 1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar 5 to 7 tablespoons almond flavored liqueur (recommended: Amaretto)
For the Cookies: In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg. Stir in the flour until just blended. Mix in the apricots, almonds, and pine nuts.
Transfer the dough to a sheet of plastic wrap and shape into a log, about 12-inches long and 1 1/2-inches in diameter. Wrap the dough in the plastic and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 heavy baking sheets with parchment paper.
Cut the dough log crosswise into 1/4 to 1/2 inch-thick slices. Transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheets, spacing evenly apart. Bake until the cookies are golden around the edges, about 15 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before icing.
For the Icing: Place the confectioners' sugar in a medium mixing bowl. Gradually whisk in the almond flavored liqueur, until the mixture is of drizzling consistency.
Place the wire rack over a baking sheet. Using a spoon or fork, drizzle the cookies with the icing, allowing any excess icing to drip onto the baking sheet. Allow the icing to set before serving, about 30 minutes.
Hummus and Grilled Vegetable Wrap
This was easy night. I wanted to make something healthy and uncomplicated. Although this combination of terms can often mean boring, tonight I was pleasantly surprised to discover how delicious these wraps were. Smooth avocado and hummus alongside crunchy, sweet vegetables can’t go wrong – especially for a warm, summer night (and I know we’re having a LOT of those).
Don’t feel bound to the recipe – use what you have already or pick your favorite vegetables to grill. I glanced at Ellie Krieger’s version for inspiration, but ended up using arugula instead of spinach (because I already had some), adding the rest of my tomatoes to the grill, and omitting the onion and mint.
I decided to make my own hummus (recipe below), but store-bought makes this recipe even easier. The hummus is also perfect on its own with soft pita wedges.
For Wraps
2 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch slices
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/8 teaspoon salt
Pinch freshly ground black pepper
1 cup store-bought hummus
4 pieces whole-wheat wrap bread (about 9 inches in diameter)
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
1 medium red bell pepper, thinly sliced
2 ounces baby spinach leaves (2 cups lightly packed)
1/2 cup red onion thinly sliced into half moons
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
Preheat the grill or grill pan over medium heat. Brush both sides of the zucchini slices with the oil and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Grill until tender and slightly browned, about 4 minutes per side.
Spread 1/4 cup of the hummus over each piece of bread. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of pine nuts on top. Top with 3 slices of zucchini, 2 pieces of red pepper, 1/2 cup of the spinach, a few sliced onions, and 1 tablespoon of the mint. Roll each of them up and cut in half on a diagonal.
For Hummus
Recipe courtesy Ina Garten
4 garlic cloves
2 cups canned chickpeas, drained, liquid reserved
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/3 cup tahini (sesame paste) - Tahini paste was nowhere to be found in my kitchen, so I used a tablespoon or so of sesame oil instead
6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
2 tablespoons water or liquid from the chickpeas
8 dashes hot sauce
Turn on the food processor fitted with the steel blade and drop the garlic down the feed tube; process until it's minced. Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor and process until the hummus is coarsely pureed. Taste, for seasoning, and serve chilled or at room temperature.
Cayenne-Rubbed Chicken with Avocado Salsa
In honor of Independence Day, I had to post something perfect for an afternoon BBQ. Even if you don’t have an outdoor grill, I highly recommend putting this dish on your summer menu. The contrast of spicy cayenne with cool, smooth avocado is a zesty combination that will perk up your taste buds. The recipe below serves four, but one avocado isn't nearly enough. I recommend at least one avocado for every two people.
Cayenne-Rubbed Chicken with Avocado Salsa
Everyday Food
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (6 to 8 ounces each)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium red onion, finely diced
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 Hass avocado, pitted and cut into chunks
In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and cayenne; rub all over chicken.
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium. Add chicken, and cook until browned on the outside and opaque throughout, 8 to 10 minutes per side.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine onion and lime juice; set aside. Just before serving, fold avocado chunks into onion mixture; season with salt and pepper. Serve chicken topped with salsa.
Apple Muffins
These muffins are perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack. I eat them two at a time, and tuck them into my purse before heading to work.
Apple Muffins
Recipe adapted from Ellie Krieger
Ingredients
Cooking spray
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1 cup natural applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup lowfat buttermilk
1 apple, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a 12-capacity muffin pan with cooking spray.
In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar, the pecans and cinnamon; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the remaining 3/4 cup sugar and oil until combined. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, whisking well after each addition. Mix in the applesauce and vanilla.
Add the flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with the buttermilk. Blend just until combined. Gently stir in the apple chunks.
Pour the batter into the prepared muffin pan and sprinkle with the pecan mixture. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to remove any air bubbles. Bake for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of 1 of the muffins comes out clean.
Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the muffins to loosen them and unmold. Cool completely on the rack.
Butternut Squash Risotto with Sage Butter
When people ask me what my favorite meal is to cook, I always reply with risotto. It’s a dish that requires patience (risotto must be stirred continuously for 20-30 minutes) but the end result is worth every minute spent over the stove. Arborio rice is high in starch and the grain is small and rounded, like an oval. As it cooks, the grains become exceptionally creamy. It’s my version of curling up with a bowl of soup on a cold day – risotto is comfort food. Although traditionally served as a first course, I tend to offer it alongside meats like pork or turkey, or alone with an antipasto platter and a glass of wine.
I first made this recipe during my butternut squash "food phase." I define a “food phase” as a period of time when I go out of my way to find recipes that feature a particular ingredient I recently become obsessed with. About a year ago, at a corner table in the downtown Santa Barbara restaurant, Ca’ Dario, my butternut squash phase began. Before this meal I had rarely eaten butternut squash, but I was feeling adventurous and the sage butter sauce that would cover my ravioli sounded was extremely tempting.
(If you’ve never had sage butter, I urge you to make some immediately-scroll down for directions. Otherwise, please read on.)
I was officially enamored with butternut squash, and ready to attempt a recipe of my own. During a Food Network-filled afternoon, Michael Chiarello was making a butternut squash dish and I watched eagerly as he appeared to cut and chop the vegetable with ease, gently slicing off the skin and preparing the insides to be roasted. Off to the grocery store, I walked into the produce aisle spirited and confident, but my experience at home nearly turned me off from the vegetable all together. After hacking through the flesh with a butcher knife, and terrified at the force I needed to use in order to cut through the buff-colored skin, I wanted to give up.
Thankfully, the 2007 holiday season was nearly here, and I was saved by the Disneyland-for-consumers, members-only wholesaler that is…Costco! Here, you could buy bags of pre-cubed butternut squash. Jackpot! In order to save myself the certain disappointment of returning a week later to find them sold out, I made sure to take extra bags for the freezer. Problem solved. I could make risotto.
Since I adore many versions of risotto, it will certainly be featured more than once on this blog, but today we are starting with the subtle flavors of butternut squash and sage. I love this combination so much that I’ve gone out of my way to try them ("food phase" side effect) in every conceivable dish resulting in many successes (pizza and soup – posts pending) and several failures (chunky butternut squash puree is not appealing when tossed with penne, even if sage butter is involved). I can’t get enough.
Butternut squash and sage merry well. The smell of sage is so earthy and soft that it promotes a sense of relaxation. At a local restaurant called Sage & Onion (sadly it has closed), they wisely placed a single sage leaf on each customer’s napkin and I couldn’t help but bring it up to my nose and twist it between my fingers until the underside of my fingernails smelled of intoxicating sage.
Be confident that this recipe will make believers out of skeptics. If one of your friends has never tried butternut squash or is afraid of it for some reason, force them to take one bite and they will be craving seconds and/or asking you to make it again and again.
Butternut Squash Risotto
Recipe adapted from the Williams-Somona Kitchen
1 stick unsalted butter, plus 2 tablespoons
10 fresh sage leaves
6 cups vegetable or chicken stock
16 oz. butternut squash, cubed
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 medium onion
2 cups Arborio rice
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Steam butternut squash over boiling water until tender, about 12 minutes. Puree squash in a food processor and place in a large saucepan with chicken stock. Whisk together the stock and squash puree. Bring just to a simmer, 8 to 10 minutes; maintain over low heat.
While butternut squash steams, make the sage butter. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 1 stick butter. Rip sage leaves and add to butter. Heat until the butter browns, about 5 minutes. Strain the butter into a small bowl and place sage on a paper towel to drain, reserve. Cover bowl to keep warm.
In a large saucepan or risotto pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the caramelized onions and rice and stir until the grains are well coated with the oil and are nearly translucent with a white dot in the center, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and stir until it is absorbed.
Add the simmering stock mixture a ladleful at a time, stirring frequently after each addition. Wait until the stock is almost completely absorbed before adding more.
When the rice is tender to the bite but slightly firm in the center and looks creamy, after about 30 minutes, stir in the remaining 3 tbs. butter, the cheese, salt and pepper. Add more stock if needed so the rice is thick and creamy. Let stand for 2 minutes. Drizzle with the reserved sage butter and serve immediately.
Individual Cheesecakes
Baking requires commitment and counter space, neither of which I have. It’s also helpful to have an oven that bakes evenly and doesn’t burn the bottom of your cookies every time you make a batch.
I’ve dreamed surprising my husband, friends and co-workers with chocolaty, chewy, sweet and sugary creations, but have tabled my dreams for now. I still bake, just more carefully, and despite my setbacks, I’ve managed to discover at least a handful of recipes that my oven can't destroy. Cheesecake is one of them.
Let me be clear: I don't actually like cheesecake. I've never been a fan of cream cheese (I'm a butter on my bagel kind of girl), but I have family and friends that can't get enough of the stuff, so I'm happy to make their dessert dreams come true.
Recipe notes: The full recipe will make one 9-inch cheesecake or 4-mini cheesecakes. For the topping, I warmed seedless raspberry preserves in the microwave and drizzled it over the top of each cheesecake, along with some sifted powdered sugar.
Mascarpone Cheesecake
Recipe adapted from Giada de Laurentiis
Crust:
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
Filling:
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
2 (8-ounce) containers mascarpone cheese, room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 large eggs, room temperature
For the crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Tightly wrap the outside of a 9-inch diameter springform pan or 4 mini springform pans with 3 layers of heavy-duty foil. Finely grind the cracker crumbs, and sugar in a food processor. Add the butter and process until moist crumbs form. Press the mixture onto the bottom of the prepared pan(s). Bake the crust until it is set and beginning to brown, about 12 minutes. Cool. Decrease the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
For the filling: Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, and sugar in a large bowl until smooth, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat in the lemon juice and vanilla. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.
Pour the cheese mixture over the crust in the pan. Place the springform pan(s) in a large roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the springform pan(s).
Bake until the center of the cheesecake moves slightly when the pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour 5 minutes (the cake will become firm when it is cold). Transfer the cake to a rack; cool for 1 hour. Refrigerate until the cheesecake is cold, at least 8 hours and up to 2 days.
