Sweet and Sour Stuffed Onions

Before I moved to Israel, the extent of my experience with stuffed vegetables was peppers and cabbage, and it was limited even at that. Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine has opened me up to a whole world of vegetables that can be stuffed with a variety of meat or vegetarian fillings and simmered in any number of sauces. Stuffed peppers and cabbages appear, but not nearly as often as stuffed zucchini, eggplant, artichokes, and even carrots. And onions – what a revelation stuffed onions are! They’re not stuffed whole. Instead, the entire, skinned onion is simmered until tender, and the individual layers are separated and wrapped around a savory filling.

Sweet and Sour Stuffed Onions

Continue reading “Sweet and Sour Stuffed Onions”

Saffron Lasagna ~ Lasagna alla Zafferano from A Family Farm in Tuscany

As an Italian-American, I’ve eaten plenty of lasagna in my day. But none like this. I’m used to layers of noodles and sauce that are cemented with mounds of cheese. This authentic Italian lasagna, however, relies primarily on a saffron-hued béchamel sauce to act as the glue. There’s no mozzarella, no ricotta. Just grated Parmesan, meat sauce, and a luscious besciamella made with butter, flour, milk and saffron. It’s as decadent and comforting as any lasagna you’ll encounter, and the addition of saffron makes it special enough for any holiday or occasion.

Lasagna alla Zatterano ~ Saffron Lasagna

Continue reading “Saffron Lasagna ~ Lasagna alla Zafferano from A Family Farm in Tuscany”

Potato Leek Soup

Potato Leek SoupAs the weather starts to cool down (yes, even in the Middle East), it’s only appropriate that the theme for this month’s World on a Plate is soup. I love soup in all its comforting glory, and immediately began considering what variety I would make. It didn’t take me long to settle on potato leek soup. I know it’s not technically American (I represent the good ‘ol USA in this global community project), but it’s so ubiquitous in the United States today that I think we can safely say we’ve claimed it as our own, along with the Irish, British and French. Continue reading “Potato Leek Soup”

Vegetarian Fajita Wraps

Vegetarian Fajita Wraps

Whether you’re looking for simple lunch recipes, vegetarian lunch, or a light supper, these fajita wraps fit the bill. They’re perfect for when you want to quickly throw something together that’s light yet filling, healthy yet delicious. I make variations on this easy lunch recipe often, sometimes adding chicken or tofu, throwing in some avocado or salsa, or even topping it with cheese and making it a quesadilla. Fresh lime, chopped cilantro, chili peppers and tomatoes would all be great additions as well. The charred sweet peppers and onions work perfectly with the rich, almost creamy black beans and a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt brings the whole thing together.

Continue reading “Vegetarian Fajita Wraps”

Beef Rendang and a Beef Blog Hop

Ingredients for Beef Rendang ~ Malaysian Beef Curry

You know those recipes that immediately pop out at you, that you bookmark or pin on Pinterest and you just can’t forget? Beef Rendang – a Malaysian beef curry – was one such recipe for me. I pinned two different recipes for this tempting, coconut-infused beef curry on my Asian Inspiration board, each with a slightly different method and equally enticing result. It’s just that kind of dish. It had a similar effect on Manu of Manu’s Menu: “When I saw this recipe at Not Quite Nigella’s website,” she wrote in her post, “I knew I HAD to make it.” And so when I saw it over at Manu’s Menu and No Recipes, well, I also knew I HAD to make it. Continue reading “Beef Rendang and a Beef Blog Hop”

Easy Homemade Pizza and a Pizza Blog Hop

As soon as I saw this no rise, practically no knead pizza dough recipe on the web I knew I had to try it out (you’ve probably seen it too – it’s got over 84,000 pins on Pinterest!). This easy pizza seemed too good to be true and had an intriguing secret ingredient: Yogurt. I love adding yogurt to everything from baked goods to pasta dishes, and from salad dressings to sauces to make them creamier, healthier, and tastier. But in pizza crust? But wait. It gets better. Besides the yogurt there’s only one other ingredient: Self-rising flour. Two ingredients and five minutes. I had to make it to believe it.

Easy Homemade Pizza with Fresh Mozzarella, Roasted Garlic and Sweet Potatoes

Continue reading “Easy Homemade Pizza and a Pizza Blog Hop”

Chicken on Rice and a Tribute to Daniel of The Haggis and the Herring

I’ve mentioned that one of my favorite parts about blogging has been the incredible community that comes with it. Through interesting groups, eye-opening forums, and commenting on posts I’ve met some amazing people who are equally as passionate about food. Together we share knowledge, tips, and, of course, recipes. I feel connected to these individuals, even if we’ve never met and live an ocean apart. Which is why I was so saddened to hear about the passing of Daniel Saraga, the man behind The Haggis and the Herring. I first “met” him through a food blogger yahoo group that we both belong(ed) to, and he was always a vocal member, piping up with opinions and helpful advice at every exchange. We are also both part of the Secret Recipe Club, and today we as a group have come together for a special edition of SRC in tribute to Daniel.

Chicken on Rice from The Haggis and the Herring

Continue reading “Chicken on Rice and a Tribute to Daniel of The Haggis and the Herring”

Classic Daiquiri for #SundaySupper

The theme of this week’s #SundaySupper is Beat the Heat – and I don’t know about you, but when I think about cooling off in summer a cold, refreshing cocktail is one of the first things that comes to mind. This classic daiquiri recipe fits the bill. With only three ingredients (rum, lime juice, and simple syrup) it’s clean and fresh, and oh so simple to make.

If you’re looking for a sugary, frozen, flavored concoction then this is not the drink for you. This is a daiquiri in its purest form, favored by luminaries like Hemingway. It is believed to have been concocted in the late 19th century in a Cuban mining town.. According to Rob Chirico on Chow.com, “Although the locals had probably been knocking back rum and lime for years, in 1886 an American engineer, James Cox, and a Cuban engineer named Pagliuchi refined the rum and lime drink by adding cane sugar. When Admiral Lucius Johnson introduced the recipe to the Army Navy Club in DC, in 1909, the daiquiri was becoming one of the world’s most popular drinks.”

Daiquiri Recipe from KatherineMartinelli.com

Continue reading “Classic Daiquiri for #SundaySupper”

Taco Salad with Skinny Chipotle Ranch Dressing + a Skinny Blog Hop

I wasn’t sure whether to call this a Southwestern salad, a taco salad, a tortilla salad, or some combination of the three – a Southwestern taco tortilla salad? Whatever you want to call it, it is dee-licious. The tortilla bowl is optional, but who doesn’t love a good tortilla bowl? There’s something fun and playful about getting to the end of your meal and eating your bowl. They’re super easy to make and don’t require any special equipment (of course they sell tortilla bowl makers, but why?!).

Southwestern Taco Salad with Skinny Chipotle Ranch Dressing from KatherineMartinelli.com

Continue reading “Taco Salad with Skinny Chipotle Ranch Dressing + a Skinny Blog Hop”

Guest Post: Strawberry Mint Corn Bread from Cafe Terra

Today I have a wonderful treat for you: A guest post from one of my favorite blogs, Cafe Terra Blog. By day Terra is a food safety auditor who travels around the country checking up on kitchens from high end restaurants to jails. She has an amazing resource on her blog called the Food Safety Corner, where you can ask her any nagging questions you have, like at what temperature butter should be stored. And, of course, there’s also the amazing food on Terra’s blog. Watermelon Lime Sorbet, Gluten Free Ice Cream Sandwiches, Lime Posset with Strawberry Gelee – I swear every one of her recipes is better than the last! Today she’s sharing an inspiring recipe that I can’t wait to try. I’ll let Terra take it from here:

Hi everybody my name is Terra from CafeTerraBlog, a site where there is a recipe for everyone! I enjoy creating new recipes, and sharing old family favorites. If you have not had a chance to stop by my site, please come on over and say hi! When I was trying to decide what to make, I was inspired by a visit to a local farmers market. Who doesn’t like fresh AND local treats, right?

Continue reading “Guest Post: Strawberry Mint Corn Bread from Cafe Terra”