Pesto, Broccoli and White Bean Pasta

I love this one pot dish! Filling and flavorful! Anytime you put a bean (legume) and grain together you get a complete protein making this vegetarian main dish all you need for dinner with a side salad!

Recipe

1 package of whole wheat angel hair pasta

16 oz. bottle of homemade or store bought pesto (I like Kirkland brand if I’m not making it myself)

4 cups frozen broccoli

15 oz. can white beans, rinsed and drained

Cook pasta in a large pot until almost cooked through. Add the broccoli for the last few minutes until slightly softened but still crisp. Drain and place back into the large pot. Add the pesto and beans. Check for seasonings and serve with a large green salad.

May 20, 2014

Sun-dried Tomato, Feta and Avocado Pasta

This is by far my favorite pasta salad! It’s full of so much flavor! Take this one to your next summer outing for a big hit!

Recipe

16 oz. package of penne or spiral pasta, cooked

olive oil

balsamic vinegar

sea salt and pepper

4-6 cloves garlic, chopped

1 small red onion, finely chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

16 oz. jar of sun-dried tomatoes with oil

8 oz. feta cheese, crumbled

1/4 c. fresh parsley, chopped

2 avocados, chopped

juice of 1 lemon

Once the pasta is finished cooking and strained, place on large bowl. While still warm drizzle about 1/4 c. olive oil and 3 T. baslamic vinegar on top. Add the salt and pepper, garlic and red onion. Mix well and check for seasonings. Add the pepper, tomatoes, feta and parsley. Just before serving add the avocado and lemon. Serves 10-12 as a side.

May 1, 2014May 1, 2014

Fresh Herb Fruit Salad

This salad is to die for! Seriously, it is so good and simple! Take it to a party or eat all by yourself, it won’t go to waste!

Recipe

10 pounds of your favorite fruit such as:

pineapple

cantoloupe

kiwi

strawberries

raspberries

blueberries

blackberries

peaches

Dressing:

2 tablespoons raw honey

2 limes zested and juiced

1/4 cup fresh chopped peppermint, spearmint or lemon balm/verbena

Chop fruit into bite sized pieces and place in large bowl. Mix together the dressing and drizzle on top. Gently toss and serve immediately.

April 4, 2014

Caprese Salad

Fresh, Simple, Beautiful and delicious!

Recipe

2 pounds fresh tomatoes, sliced

1 loaf soft mozzarella cheese, sliced

1 bunch fresh basil leaves

olive oil

balsamic vinegar

kosher sea salt and fresh ground pepper

Arrange the tomato, basil and cheese in rows as shown above. Drizzle olive oil and vinegar lightly over the rows and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

April 4, 2014

Creamy Vegan Cauliflower Soup

Cauliflower has this amazing creaminess about it when it is cooked and pureed! You won’t even know there isn’t any cream in this! With fresh herbs and a drizzle of olive oil you may want to double the recipe! It’s so good!

Recipe

1 tablespoon good olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 cup white wine

1 large head cauliflower, chopped

4 cups chicken or vegetable broth

fresh ground pepper

4 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons minced chives

2 tablespoons minced parsley

Cook onions, salt and oil in a large dutch oven on med high heat until softened. Add garlic and wine, cook until liquid is almost gone (about 5 minutes). Add cauliflower and broth. Bring to a boil with the lid on the pot and then lower the heat to simmer 20-25 minutes until veggies are soft. Blend in blender until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle the olive oil and mix in the herbs. Serve warm.

October 21, 2013

Rosemary Honey Pound Cake

I would have to say rosemary is one of my most favorite herbs. It’s right up there with butter in making just about any dish better! This rich dense pound cake is lovely all by itself, but is also very good with an extra drizzle of honey and herbal tea.

Recipe

Rosemary Honey

1 cup honey

3 sprigs fresh rosemary

In a small sauce pan heat the honey and rosemary on very low heat. Bring to a gentle simmer for 5 minutes and set aside.

If you have two weeks before you plan on making the pound cake try making your rosemary honey in the warmth of a south facing window seal by placing the sprigs of rosemary in honey.

Pound Cake

1/2 pound butter (2 sticks), softened

1 1/4 cups organic sugar

4 large eggs

2 tablespoons rosemary honey

2 tablespoons fresh rosemary chopped finely

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Zest of one lemon

2 cups cake flour or (7/8 cup + 2 tablespoons corn starch (per cup))

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a bread loaf pan with Pam spray or grease with butter.

In an electric bowl fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar. Add the eggs, honey, vanilla, rosemary and zest and beat until combined. Add the flour, salt and powder. Mix until combined and pour into the loaf pan, smoothing the top. Bake for 50-60 minutes. Make sure the cake is done by inserting a toothpick or knife and make sure it pulls out clean. Cool for 15 minutes and then invert onto a baking rack. While still warm, pour the remainder of the rosemary honey on top of the cake. Allow to completely cool and serve with your favorite herbal tea.

October 17, 2013October 17, 2013

Crockpot Chicken Stew

I love really good comfort food that isn’t too fattening. Especially if I don’t have to slave over it for hours. This is healthy, hearty and full of flavor! You’ll love the way your house smells with this simmering all day in the crock-pot.

Recipe

2 organic chicken breasts (about 2-3 pounds)

olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

6 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon tomato paste

2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried

1/3 cup flour

1/2 cup white wine

4 cups organic chicken stock

3-4 medium red potatoes, scrubbed and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

4 carrots, peeled and chopped

2 bay leaves

1 cup frozen peas

1/4 cup parsley, chopped

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the onion, garlic, tomato paste and thyme until softened. Add the flour and cook for one minute. Add the wine and cook for another minute. Add 1 cup chicken broth and stir until blended well. Add onion mixture to the crock-pot along with the remaining 3 cups broth, potatoes, carrots, bay leaves and chicken. Cook on high for 4hrs. or low for 6-8hrs. Shred the chicken and add the peas and parsley at the end for the last 10 minutes to heat through. Serve with your favorite rolls and green salad.

October 17, 2013

Sourdough Rosemary Flatbread

This flat bread is so good! It has the perfect combination of tartness from the sourdough, savory from the rosemary and saltiness from the sea salt. It’s simple to make and you don’t have to worry about making pretty loaves. This bread goes perfectly with any soup!

Recipe

1/2 cup sourdough starter

2 cups lukewarm water

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons chopped rosemary

2 tsp. salt

5-6 cups whole wheat flour

Combine the starter, water, oil and salt in mixer. Add 5 cups flour, then continue adding more flour until the dough “cleans” the sides of the bowl. Knead for 10 minutes. Transfer the dough to a glass bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to rise for 6-10 hours. (I usually do this at night and then make the bread in the morning). Once the dough has risen, divide in half. Prepare 2 jelly roll pans with Pam spray. Pat one half of the dough into a rectangular shape inside the pan with your hands.

Press fingertips into the dough to make divets. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle coarse sea salt and freshly ground pepper onto the dough. Let raise for an hour and bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.

October 5, 2013

Homemade Garden Tomato Soup with Garlic Parmesan Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

As the weather begins to get colder and the nights closer to freezing we have started to gather the rest of our tomatoes for the year. It’s a bitter sweet feeling not to have fresh garden tomatoes anymore, however this time of the year comes and I am pretty much ready for a break from it all. The cold sends me indoors and I am happy to crawl under a warm blanket and read a good book! This recipe is so good and very comforting! It warms body and soul and your kids will love it too!

Homemade Garden Tomato Soup

20 medium to large tomatoes, quartered

1/4 cup olive oil

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1-2 tablespoons Italian seasoning (or fresh basil)

Sea salt and fresh ground pepper

1-2 cups your choice half and half, milk, almond milk, soy milk

Fresh avocado slices

Place tomatoes on a jelly roll pan. Drizzle olive oil, vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper on the tomatoes and roast in the oven. You can do it one of two ways. Bake over night at 200 degrees or at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes depending on your preference, flipping them once half way through. Once the tomatoes are roasted and browned take them out of them oven and puree them in a blender. Add to large sauce pan over medium heat. Add your cream or milk and bring to a simmer. Serve warm with fresh avocado slices and with grilled cheese sandwiches!

Garlic Parmesan Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Whole grain sliced bread

Good sharp cheddar cheese

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 tablespoon Parmesan

1 clove garlic, crushed

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

Mix together the butter, Parmesan, garlic and oregano in a small bowl. Place slices of cheese in between the bread slices and then spread the butter onto the outside of the sandwich. Grill over medium high heat and serve warm with soup.

September 23, 2013

Growing and Using Rosemary

Rosemary is one of my most favorite herbs! I love the smell and flavor in many sweet and savory dishes! I throw it into loaves of bread, Sunday roast and even into stone fruit rustic pies! Not only does rosemary have many culinary purposes, but it also has medicinal properties too!

Growing Rosemary

Rosemary doesn’t like really dry soil or really wet soil. However it does do well with moist soil as it grows naturally in places close to the coast with a constant mist of water. If you can keep the soil in between the extremes you will have success. I like growing the variety of rosemary called “Arp”. It is supposed to get through our cold Utah winters in the northern region. I have had some plants die on me though so be sure to plant it next to a fence or house or boulder for added protection. In dry winters it may need to be watered once a month. Rosemary loves fertile soil and full sunlight, although it can tolerate some shade. Rosemary will do well in a pot brought indoors during the winter if placed in a sunny window and misted with a spray bottle and an oscillating fan blown occasionally to prevent fungus growth. If you already have a plant outside, try taking a root and stem cutting and planting in a pot to bring indoors.

Medicinal Uses

Rosemary has been used for centuries to help improve concentration and memory.

Eases headaches, including migraines.

Rosemary is a moderate stimulant because it enhances red blood cell uptake of oxygen increasing a persons energy.

It has anti-inflammatory properties that allow relief for joint arthritis pain and muscle pain.

It can be used fresh or dried as a good digestive aid to assimilate digestive fats and carbohydrates.

Try making a tea with rosemary and lemon thyme instead of coffee or soda to boost energy!

Solar Infused Rosemary Oil

Go to any grocery store that sells infused oils with all kinds of gourmet flavors and you may spend a pretty penny for a small bottle. Try making your own! It is so easy and inexpensive! Rosemary among many other herbs like garlic, basil, sage, thyme and even lemon or orange peel infuse into olive oil very well.

Place herb in bottle and make sure the olive oil covers it completely. Set in a sunny window seal for 2-4 weeks and then use it as dipping oil for a rustic loaf of bread. You can also do this over the stove top if you need the oil sooner. Just warm the oil on low heat for 30 minutes with your herb of choice.