All posts filed under: gourmet cooking

thanksgiving recipe: french onion green bean casserole

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I love green beans and since it’s on the healthy eating list, I try to at least make a dish once a week with green beans. But, I have always been too intimidated to make a green bean casserole dish for Thanksgiving, so I simply stir fry the beans and put them on the table to eat with a touch of butter. (Boring) This is I am utterly and completely determined to include a green bean casserole into my menu, so I searched high and low, online of course and found the perfect one to make: Here is the recipe for your viewing pleasure and click here  for the video on how to make the casserole. It looks simple and down right delicious. For the onions: 2 tablespoons butter 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced lengthwise salt and ground black pepper to taste 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar For the white sauce: 2 tablespoons butter 2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 1/2 cups milk 1 pinch ground nutmeg cayenne pepper to taste(optional) 1/4 teaspoon ground thyme For the topping: 2 tablespoons melted butter 2/3 cup panko bread …

healthy recipe: fig, ricotta and hazelnut hors d’oeuvres

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There are evenings, when I come home from work, I don’t necessarily want to have dinner or even bother with making one, so I open a bottle of red wine and put together something quick to pair it up with and voila it’s dinner. (I don’t recommend this if you have small children in the house 🙂 ) Anyway, here is an easy recipe I found here and I must say it is heavenly and a wonderful pairing with a bottle of red wine on those evenings when you need to have an out of the norm experience. Grilled Fig, Hazelnut and Ricotta Crostinis Ingredients: 1 cup part skim ricotta 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon hazelnuts, lightly toasted 1/2 cup honey, divided 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 10-12 fresh figs (mission or kadota or whatever is local), cut in half lengthwise 1/2 French or sourdough baguette, sliced into ½ inch slices and lightly toasted 1. Place ricotta, hazelnuts, 1/4 cup honey, and ground cinnamon in a food processor and process …

healthy recipe: beet salad

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I love beets and will eat anything made with beets, which means mostly all salads. I actually think I have turned everyone around me into appreciating the vegetable. There are of course health benefits to them and although I was forced to eat them as a child because of the fact and of course because my father loved them,  I now make a conscious effort to include them in my weekly diet plan without any parental threats ;). Here is yet another recipe I found and have tried t and love it as usual, so I wanted to share it with you ladies and hopefully some gents. Hope you enjoy and let me know what you think? The only thing I changed was the blue cheese, I am not a fan so I used Greek cheese, it works just as well French Roasted Beet Salad Consider serving this as a first course. And if you don’t think you like beets, try them roasted. You may just change your mind. Ingredients 1 1/2 pounds beets (4 …

holiday decorative table setting

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I love the holiday season and truly do not mind walking through different stores to gather ideas for the buffet table setting. However, in the past I had always avoided the color red because I hated the orange hues visible in the tone, so I stuck to golds and silver to play it safe. This year, since the color has been perfected to a vibrant red, I can’t help but lean towards a more red, white and silver theme.  Check out some of my favorites from here: 1. Red Bridge Tea Kettle 2. Peppermint Dish Towel 3. Flatware Stockings 4. Matte Metal Red Pillars 5. Antique Red Votive 6. Diaz Red Candleholders 7. Tasmin Dessert Platter (my favorite) 8. Ombre Red table mat 9. Happy Holidays Tumbler

comfort food – lasagna with caramelized onions

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Eating healthy is a challenge during the colder months of the year, and although I maintain a pretty regimented meal plan on a weekly basis, once in a while I crave the greasiest, the fattiest meal and no matter how much I fight the crave, I give in to it, once a week. Here is a recipe I found, as usual from my favorite site here, which I cannot wait to try over the weekend and of course share with everyone, who is very loyal to my blog. Let me know what you think? Ground Beef, Caramelized Onion, and Spinach Lasagna: Recipe and photos by For the Love of Cooking.net 1 tbsp olive oil, more if needed 2 sweet yellow onions, sliced thickly 1 pound of lean ground beef (I used 93/7) 1 tsp dried basil 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 tsp dried oregano 1/4 tsp onion powder 1 pinch of red pepper flakes Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste 5 cloves garlic, minced 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese 1 egg 1 …

chasing french and italian countryside in napa

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Over the weekend I needed to get away from the cold and the fog and find some sun. So what  better way to do that then to take a trip to Napa and emerse myself in a  mini replica French and Italian countryside escape, while taking in the sun. We got an early start because we wanted to stop off  for breakfast in Sausalito before the town was packed with tourists. We usually eat at my favorite breakfast place, Sausalito Bakery and Cafe  (I don’t care if it’s touristy spot) because of the ambiance, a great cup of coffee and a slice of blueberry and cottage cheese strudel made with filo dough. (It’s actually really delicious and much lighter than the typical strudel made with regular dough). While we sipped coffee we discussed our course of action for Napa, knowing very well we would end up at our usual favorite wineries. Finally or actually after forty five minutes of sipping coffee and watching the restaurants and shops open up and prepare for business, we head …

healthy cooking: greek pasta

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Although I have my own rolodex of recipes I follow and some I learn as I watch my mother cook, I often times borrow recipes from some of my favorite bloggers. Here’s one I absolutely love and of course found here. But just in case you don’t really want to click away from my blog, I have detailed the recipe below for you to consider trying. Greek Pasta: Recipe and photos by For the Love of Cooking.net 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts Angel hair pasta, cooked per instructions 1 tbsp olive oil 1/4 small red onion, diced Handful of grape tomatoes 1/4 tsp oregano 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste 3 cloves of garlic, minced Handful of kalamata olives, halved 1/2 cup of chicken broth 1 cup of baby spinach Feta cheese Toast the pine nuts in a DRY skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Set aside. Cook the pasta per instructions. While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in …

healthy eating: chocolate zucchini cake

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Baking is a chore for me believe it or not, but once in a while I get the urge to bake my own cake and last night I decided I needed a chocolate cake which contained some healthy ingredients and so I found one here and figured I better share: 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup cocoa 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 2 eggs 1/3 cup canola oil 1/2 cup plain yogurt 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 teaspoons grated orange peel 1 1/2 cups grated zucchini Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 8×8” cake pan or 8” round spring form pan. In medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, soda, salt and cinnamon. In large mixing bowl, beat eggs and stir in canola oil. Beat dry ingredients into egg mixture alternately with yogurt. Stir in vanilla, orange peel and zucchini. Pour batter in baking pan and bake 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes …

healthy eating: protein shakes

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I must admit I live by protein shakes, almost on a daily basis. But buying one made from Starbucks, Jamba Juice and other healthy drink bars can be expensive, even though they are delicious and hastle-free. Just recently I decided to purchase my very first industrial strength blender and some good old fashioned Whey protein powder from a health food store, as well as found some recipes here which I think are pretty easy to follow in order to make my very own shakes at home. The wonderful thing about making shakes at home is that, you can actually add fresh fruits rather than the frozen ones from the specialty stores. Not to mention the fact, Springtime  is also the best time of the year to mix and match different fruits as they are in season and more available in your local supermarket. Here are a few of my favorites: Wild Berry Boost Ingredients: 2 scoops Vanilla Whey Powder 8 raspberries 4 strawberries 15 blueberries 16 ounces nonfat milk 1/2 cup ice cubes Pineapple Power …

recipe: panna cotta perfected

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Yes I am going to start the week off with a recipe because I feel as if I need a pick me up and usually sensual – yes food can be sensual – dessert recipes will do the trick, that is only if I cannot travel to Europe at the particular time. Anyway, I found this recipe here and in my opinion it is one of the best Panna Cotta I have ever tasted, well, outside of my “late” chef cousin who used to make them for me. So here it goes and if you try it, please let me know how you liked it. One piece of advice, get creative with the toppings. Also, if you are on a strict diet or a healthy eating kick, this recipe is not one to follow. Panna Cotta Eight servings Adapted from Secrets From My Tuscan Kitchen by Judy Witts I love this dessert and the great thing about Panna Cotta is that it demands to be made in advance. You can make them up to two days …