Category Archives: Fall

Cauliflower Kale Soup

29 Tuesday Oct 2013

Posted by in Fall, Healthy, Lunch, Soups, Vegetables, Winter

≈ 13 Comments

Cauliflower kale Soup, kale soup, cauliflower soup, cauliflower, kale, kale chips, fall soupsI came across this recipe as I was perusing the latest Williams Sonoma catalog. They gave this recipe as a way to advertise the Vitamix blender, and it looked delicious. I usually don’t follow recipes to a T, but I couldn’t think of a thing I would change so I made it as directed. I was right; this soup recipe is perfection. It is so creamy and velvety, you would not believe there is no cream or butter used. Roasting the cauliflower gives a wonderful depth of flavor, and the kale makes for a beautiful green hue that confirms you are eating right.

IMG_0364

I hate to admit it, but I feel that using the Vitamix makes the difference in the silky texture. You can use a regular or immersion blender, of course, but if you can invest in a Vitamix I guarantee it’s worth every penny. Finished off with crispy kale chips and toasted pine nuts, this soup is one I will be enjoying all fall and winter.

Ingredients:

(Adapted from Williams Sonoma)
  • 1 large head cauliflower, trimmed and cut into florets
  • 5 Tbs. olive oil
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
  • 1 large bunch curly kale, stems removed, leaves torn into
      1-inch pieces
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 7 cups vegetable broth
  • 1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted

Preheat an oven to 450°F.

Toss the cauliflower with 2 Tbs. olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet and roast until the cauliflower is tender and the edges are browned and crisp, about 20 minutes. Reduce the oven to 300°. Toss a quarter of the kale bunch with 1 Tbs. of the olive oil and season with salt. Place on a baking sheet and roast until the kale is crispy, 10 – 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven over medium heat, add 2 Tbs. olive oil and cook the onion and celery, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Add the cauliflower and broth, increase the heat and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Stir in the remaining kale, increase the heat to medium and cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

Working in batches, puree the soup in a Vitamix blender until smooth. Return the soup to the pot and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper. Top with the crispy kale and pine nuts and serve immediately.

Chili Mango Bok Choy Slaw

10 Thursday Oct 2013

Posted by in Asian, Fall, Healthy, Lunch, Mains, Sides, Vegetable Mains, Vegetables

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bok choy, baby bok choy, bik choy slaw, mango, mango slaw, chili mango What a combination – the heat from the chili sauce, the sweetness from the mango, and the crunch from all the vegetables make for a texture and flavor explosion. The dressing has a hint of nutty sesame oil and tamari adds a wonderful depth of flavor. Baby bok choy is perfect for this slaw, as the larger variety is not as tender when raw and has a more distinct cabbage flavor.

bok choy, baby bok choy, bik choy slaw, mango, mango slaw, chili mangoThis is a great spin on traditional cole slaw; the Asian influences really shine here. Most varieties of bok choy are available year-round in Asian markets and specialty food stores; look for locally grown varieties in season at farmers’ markets.bok choy, baby bok choy, bik choy slaw, mango, mango slaw, chili mango

For the Slaw:

  • 3 cups baby bok choy, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup red cabbage, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 1 mango, cubed
  • 1/2 cup cilantro, roughly chopped

For the Dressing:

    • 2 tbsp. grapeseed oil
    • 1 tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar
    • 1 tbsp. chili garlic sauce
    • 1 tbsp. tamari
    • 1 tsp. sesame oil
    • salt and pepper to taste

IMG_3495In a large bowl, combine the bok choy, red cabbage, shredded carrots, cilantro, and mango. Toss to combine. In a small bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the dressing and pour over the slaw. Garnish with additional cilantro leaves.IMG_3462

Green Lentil Curry

27 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by in Fall, Healthy, Mains, Vegetable Mains, Vegetables, Winter

≈ 2 Comments

Everyone should make this. It’s easy, healthy, filling, inexpensive, and most importantly – delicious. Although it might not be the prettiest of dishes on here, it definitely contends for the tastiest. I love a good curry, and I guarantee once you make this you’ll make it again – I did!

  • 1 tblsp minced garlic
  • 2 tsp ground coriander IMG_1473
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/4 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 small shallot, minced
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 cup dried green lentils
  • 1/4 tsp ground turmeric
  • 4 ounces kale, stemmed and leaves finely chopped
  • 1 medium carrot, small dice
  • 1 cup finely chopped cilantro
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • Salt
    *adapted from Food&Wine’s Green-Lentil Curry

    In a small skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of canola oil until shimmering. Add the cumin seeds and cook over moderately high heat for 5 seconds, just until sizzling. Add the shallot and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Add the garlic, ginger, cumin and coriander and let cook about 2 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook until thick, about 1 minute longer.

    In a saucepan, combine the lentils with the turmeric and 4 cups of water; bring to a boil. Cover partially and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, until the lentils are barely tender. Add the kale, carrot, three-fourths of the cilantro and the cayenne and season with salt. Cook until the lentils and vegetables are tender, 15 minutes. Scrape in the spice paste and the remaining cilantro. Simmer for 5 minutes, then serve garnished with plain yogurt and basmati rice on the side.

Chocolate Stout Chili

13 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by in Fall, Mains, Soups, Winter

≈ 6 Comments

Chili is one of those recipes that can constantly be refined. The many variations of types of chili make picking a favorite recipe just as hard as picking a favorite song.

chocolate chili, chili, beer chili, chocolate stoutWhen I make chili, I tend to stick to whatever spices and ingredients I have on hand. I don’t usually go for unusual, “secret” ingredients like chocolate, coffee, or cinnamon.  Feeling slightly adventurous, and (as usual) striving for perfection, I decided to use chocolate beer as a “secret” ingredient. Rogue Chocolate Stout, which I picked up in the beer section of Whole Foods, was the perfect two-in-one ingredient in this recipe. The chocolate beer adds a mysterious full flavor, and a slight sweetness that is offset from the usual smoky spicy flavor of chili. I nailed this one – you can now call me a chili expert.

Ingredients:
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 red pepper, chopped
  • 1 fresh jalapeno, chopped
  • 1 small garlic clove
  • 2 lbs ground turkey (1 lb white meat, 1 lb dark meat)
  • 2 tblsp chili powder
  • 2 tblsp ground cumin
  • 1 tblsp ground coriander
  • 1 tbslp smoked paprika
  • 1 tblsp chipotle powder
  • 1/2 bottle (12 ounces) of Rogue Chocolate Stout , or any other chocolate flavored beer
  • 2 chipotle chili’s in adobo, chopped, plus 1 tbslp of the juice
  • 1 (15 oz) can of diced tomatoes
  • 1 (4 oz) can chopped green chilis
  • 1 (15 oz) can pinto beans
  • 1 (15 oz) can navy beans
  • 1/2 (15 oz) can black beans
  • salt, pepper, olive oil
  • sour cream, shredded cheese, and sliced jalapeno for garnish

In a large pot, sauté the onion, red pepper, and jalapeno until soft. Add the garlic, cook one minute longer and then push the mixture to the sides of the pan. Add the ground turkey, season generously with salt and pepper, and cook until the turkey is no longer pink. Add all the spices and stir everything together. Pour in the beer and let most of the alcohol cook off. Add in the tomatoes, chipotle chilis, green chilis, and all the beans. Bring everything up to almost a boil, and then simmer for about an hour, partially covered.

chocolate chili, chili, beer chili, chocolate stout
 
 
 

Pumpkin Risotto

05 Monday Nov 2012

Posted by in Fall, Mains, Vegetable Mains

≈ 2 Comments

Growing up, risotto was always red. We ate it on a plate. This was never one of my favorite Sunday dinners (shockingly I used to be the pickiest eater). To make it more fun my sister and I would use a fork and carve out the first initial of our names into the risotto, eat what we carved out, pile it all back together and do it again until it was gone. This pumpkin risotto does not need to be played with to be enjoyed.

Ingredients:
  • 1 sugar pumpkin, diced (seeds aside)
  • 1 medium onion – half diced, the other half finely chopped
  • 2 tblsp olive oil
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
  • 6-8 sage leaves
  • 2 tbslp butter
  • 1 cup arborio rice
  • 3 cups homemade chicken or vegetable stock
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • salt, pepper
For the Pumpkin Puree:

In a large saucepan, cook the diced pumpkin and the half diced onion in olive oil (season with salt and pepper) over medium heat until soft, about 10-12 minutes. Add the nutmeg, one sage leaf, and white wine – cook until the liquid is evaporated. Using a food processor or blender, purée the mixture and set aside. Roast the pumpkin seeds, coated in olive oil and salt, in a 400° oven. Fry the sage leaves in olive oil.

For the Risotto:

Bring the stock to a boil in a stockpot, then reduce heat to low. Meanwhile, in a heavy bottomed pot, heat the butter over medium and add the finely chopped onions. Cook until soft and translucent. Add the rice and stir to coat with the butter, about one minute. Add the first addition of stock, one ladle full, and continuously stir until most of the liquid is absorbed. Repeat this process until the mixture is creamy and still slightly loose, but the rice still has some chew to it. The entire process should take exactly 18 minutes. At this point add the pumpkin purée and cook 2 minutes longer.  Turn off the heat and add the parmesan cheese, season with salt and pepper.

 
 

Swiss Chard Tart

23 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by in Appetizers, Fall, Mains, Vegetables

≈ 6 Comments

Swiss chard is by far my favorite leafy green vegetable. Growing up in an Italian household with a backyard garden, swiss chard picked and cooked the same day was a common occurrence – lucky me! I love its earthy flavor, especially this time of year when the leaves and stems are particularly sweet and tender. This tart is a warm fall treat served alone as an appetizer, or as a simple supper alongside roasted beets and a small salad. Oh, and of course with a glass of wine!

Ingredients:
*Serves 6 for an appetizer, 4 as small side
  • 1 small bunch rainbow swiss chard, stems and leaves finely chopped
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tblsp butter
  • ½ tsp grated nutmeg
  • 2 whole eggs, 1 egg yolk
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup grated fontina cheese
  • 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry dough, thawed
  • Salt, pepper

Preheat oven to 425º. Place the sheet of puff pastry dough into a tart pan, pressing the dough up the sides. Cover and chill until ready to fill.

Melt the butter in a large saucepan, add the onion and cook until translucent and soft but not browned. Add the swiss chard and cook until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Season the mixture with the grated nutmeg, salt, and pepper, and set aside to cool.

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and cream. Add the cooled onion and swiss chard mixture, and half of the grated cheese. Pour the mixture over the puff pastry in the tart pan and top with the remaining cheese. Place in the oven for 15 minutes, then turn the oven down to 350º and cook 15 minutes longer until the filling is set and slightly browned on top. Bon appétit!

Butternut Squash Flatbread

17 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by in Fall, Mains

≈ 8 Comments

Which do you prefer – salty or sweet? You know, food preferences say a lot about you!

This flatbread is a perfect balance of salty-sweet. Roasted butternut squash and caramelized onions stand up to the contrast of the slight bitterness  and crunch of radicchio. Bits of prosciutto and nutty fontina cheese add the salty and savory element that make the flavors explode.

Ingredients
*this recipe makes 3 flatbreads about 12×9 each
  • 1 butternut squash, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 yellow onion, sliced
  • store-bought pizza dough, room temp, divided into 3 sections
  • 2 cups shredded fontina cheese
  • 1/4 lb prosciutto, torn into small pieces
  • 1 cup chopped radicchio
  • 2 sprigs of rosemary
  • olive oil, salt

Coat the butternut squash slices in olive oil and salt. Roast in a 400º oven until soft and slightly caramelized. At the same time caramelize the onions in olive oil a sauté pan.

Turn the oven up to 500º. Roll out and stretch the pizza dough as thinly as possible; I use a rolling-pin and my hands. Transfer the dough to an oiled 12×9 sheet pan. Top with butternut squash slices, caramelized onions, and shredded fontina. Sprinkle with the torn prosciutto, radicchio, and rosemary needles. Drizzle the entire flatbread with olive oil, and bake in the oven on the lowest rack for 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the bottom is browned and crisp.