Different Yet Delectable

One of my favorite bitches recently told me that she is getting sick of eating the same foods every night. She is too tired to cook something complicated when she gets home. In fact, she's basically too tired to cook. And as funny as my post about cooking a whole fish was, she's not going to be making a whole fish anytime soon, and therefore needs some posts about quick, easy, nutritious, and tasty recipes. No problem. Here are two dishes I made this week, each of which took fewer than 30 minutes to prep and cook, and both of which are insanely yummy. They may look and sound different, but trust me, they're quite delectable: 

Fennel, Orange, & Beet Salad
Serving size: 1 salad
Ingredients:
-two handfuls of spring salad mix (or any other salad greens you like)
-1/4 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
-1/2 orange (any kind you like), thinly sliced
-1/4 avocado, cut into chunks
-1/2 cup canned sliced beets (no salt added), drained, rinsed, and cut into half moons
-1/4 cup hothouse cucumber, thinly sliced
-2 tablespoons roasted pecan halves, chopped
-2 tablespoons crumbled feta or goat cheese
-fresh cracked black pepper
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl together. Top with homemade balsamic vinaigrette (recipe below). Mix well. Devour and enjoy!


Homemade Honey-Balsamic Vinaigrette 
Serving size: enough for 1 salad
Ingredients:
-2 teaspoons dijon mustard
-1 teaspoon honey
-1/2 tablespoon baslamic vinegar
-1/2 tablespoon olive oil
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in small bowl. Whisk together. Drizzle over salad.


Pasta and Eggplant with Ricotta Sauce 
Serving size: 1
Ingredients:
-1/4 -1/2 cup pasta (any shape you want!)
-1/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
-2 tablespoons parsley, minced
-1 tablespoon olive oil
-1/2 onion, chopped
-1 cup eggplant, diced into chunks
-2 garlic cloves, minced
Optional ingredients:
-1/4 cup silken tofu (can't even taste it!)
-1 tablespoon sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
-parmesan cheese, grated
Directions
1. Cook pasta according to package. Reserve 1/8 cup of pasta water.
2. Combine ricotta cheese, parsley, silken tofu (if using), and fresh cracked pepper in a small bowl. Mix until ingredients are well blended. Set aside.
3. Heat skillet on medium, and add olive oil once skillet is hot. Add onions and cook for 5 minutes, until onions are browned.
4. Add eggplant, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes (if using) to skillet. Cook for another 5-8 minutes (if eggplant is sticking to pan, add about 2 tablespoons of water to the skillet), until eggplant is browned.
5. Add pasta to skillet, cook for about 30 seconds.
6. Add ricotta mixture to pan and combine all ingredients. Cook for about 1 more minute, to make sure sauce is heated through. 
7. Serve and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese. Eat. Enjoy!

Show Some Love

Why is cooking so enjoyable? Obviously, there is the fact that the end result of cooking is a delicious array of food you get to eat. But why else? Well...perhaps because cooking is a way of expressing your feelings. If you are having a bad day, cooking can help you decompress, release some frustration, and (sometimes) give you that sense of accomplishment you've been craving all day long. If you're feeling creative, cooking is a great outlet to experiment with new ideas and unleash your imagination - sure, the dishes may not always come out great, but at least you're trying. And most importantly, when you want to show people that you love and care about them, then make them a meal. Cooking involves time, effort, and energy, so it is a fabulous way of saying "you're worth it" to whomever  - be it your family, friends, significant other, or you. 


You don't need to be a professional in order to cook for others; and at this point you should know that it is O.K. to make mistakes. Whether the menu is as easy as scrambled eggs with toast, or as complicated as handmade pasta with five-herb pesto, the important thing is the simple act of cooking  - it shows that you care.  Everyone will be grateful for, and impressed by, the effort you put into cooking even if the dish comes out of the oven in flames. Sure, you could skip this minor embarrassment by just going to a restaurant; but, nothing says "i love you", "you're a great friend" or "thanks for always being there for me" like a homemade meal.


This weekend I had some love to show. I was reunited with a couple of dance friends from Bates, and rather than spend an excessive amount of money at a crowded restaurant, we made a stellar three-course meal together. Everyone contributed to the menu: Sarah made a decadent cheese platter with crackers to start; Kate brought angel food cake with fresh blueberries, strawberries, and whipped cream for dessert; and I was in charge of the main course - handmade sweet potato gnocchi, a veggie side dish, and a salad. Though I was the primary "chef" in the kitchen, I was assisted by two wonderful sous chefs, without whom the meal would not have been possible. We washed down each course with a glass of wine - white to start and red to finish. Not only did we have a wonderful time catching up on life, but we also had a fun, intimate, and superbly flavorful night because of the food we cooked and ate.  


The next time you step into your kitchen or have plans to see someone special, make sure you show some love. Cook something...anything. Below is the main course from my dinner this weekend (with links to some of the recipes). It was a wonderful meal and certainly showed how much we all care about each other. Feel free to use the recipes during your next dinner date. But in the meantime, what is a dish that you usually make when you want to show someone some love?  

Sweet Potato Gnocchi from the blog Kath Eats Real Food

*I used dried rosemary instead of fresh and I added about 1 tablespoon of maple syrup to the gnocchi while they sauteed in the pan

Roasted Cauliflower, Raisins, and Vinaigrette from Mark Bittman's book How to Cook Everything Vegetarian 

*the recipe I used does NOT include anchovies, so just ignore that part of the directions from the link above

Side Salad: a few handfuls of leafy greens (you choose) + 1 cup chickpeas + 1 orange (sliced) + 1/4 cup gorgonzola cheese + 1/4 red onion (sliced) + whatever vinaigrette you like!