Caprese pasta salad

Consider: it's too hot to cook, but you have all of these beautiful tomatoes available in your garden/farmer's market/grocery store and they actually have amazing flavor. This situation will be non-existent by October 1. This should of course be the excuse for a meal, right?

Toss equal parts chopped fresh tomato, chopped fresh mozarella, and short pasta shape. I used oricchiette here, and the cheese is from a container of fresh mozarella pearls.  Make sure everything is about the same size. 

Chop a generous amount of fresh basil into thin slices (chiffonade) and dress with a couple glugs of olive oil, half that amount of balsamic vinegar, and season with kosher salt and red pepper flakes. Optional stir-ins: crispy bacon, capers. Dinner is served!

PAIRS WITH:

dry rose, dry lambrusco

You got Mexican Corn in my Pasta!

I don't know when this whole "Mexican Street Corn" thing started, but it's delicious, so screw authenticity. Also, I love pasta. PS, you can eat this hot or cold.

Mexican Corn Pasta

Serves 6

For the Dressing:
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt

1/2 cup mayonnaise
juice and zest of one lime
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon hot sauce (I use Tapatio)
salt and pepper, to taste

For the Pasta Salad:
8 oz. farfalle or rotini pasta

2 teaspoons olive oil
4 cups corn (frozen and thawed, fresh removed from cob, or canned and drained)

1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced finely
4 green onions, green parts only, thinly sliced
4 oz. crumbled goat cheese (or queso fresco, or a combo)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish


Mix all ingredients for dressing in a large bowl. Set aside.

Cook pasta according to directions in well-salted, boiling water. Drain and set aside.

Heat a skillet with the olive oil and add the corn kernels and peppers. Cook over medium-high heat until starting to brown- don’t stir too often. You should get nice dark color on some pieces.

Combine all ingredients together in a serving bowl. Stir to combine.

  

Kimchi noods with miso butter

This is a probiotic bomb, and it will leave you pleasantly full and satisfied for hours. Plus it's super tasty, fast, and you can eat it hot, cold, or at room temperature. 

Kimchi Noodles with Miso Butter

Serves 4

8 oz. stick pasta (anything--buccatini, angel hair, soba, etc. etc. Soba is pictured above.)
1 cup kimchi, drained
1 tablespoon miso butter
2 cups broccoli florets or packed baby spinach
toasted sesame seeds for garnish (optional)

In well-salted boiling water, cook the pasta to al dente.  In the last 2-3 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli (if using spinach, add in the last 60 seconds). Drain, stir in the miso butter until completely melted, then toss in the kimchi and sprinkle with sesame seeds if using.

Stuffed pasta shells for when you're feelin' fancy (and have some times on your hands)

Why is stuffed pasta so fun? Why is baked pasta always so amazing?  It's a pain in the posterior to make (only in time involved, not skill level), but sometimes you just have to pull on some sweatpants, cue up the Pandora Summer Hits of the 80s playlist, and throw together some

Nicole's Jumbo A-1 Stuffed Pasta Shells

Serves 6

12ounces jumbo pasta shells
1 1⁄4cups mozzarella cheese, shredded (Reserve 1/4 cup)
1cup parmesan cheese, grated
2 lbs ricotta cheese
2 large eggs, lightly beaten and 2 egg yolks
1 pinch nutmeg
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 8-oz. jar marinated artichoke hearts (reserve the liquid)
6 roma tomatoes, thinly sliced

olive oil

salt and crushed red pepper flakes
fresh basil, chopped, for garnish

In an 8 quart pot, bring water to a boil and cook shells for 8 minutes or until very al dente. Drain and cool immediately with cold water. Drain and place open side down on paper towels.

In a medium bowl, combine the rest of ingredients except the tomatoes and artichoke hearts. Season with salt. Reserve the 1/4 cup of mozzarella.

Place a thin layer of the liquid from the marinated artichoke hearts plus a generous drizzle of olive oil into the bottom of a 12 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish. Preheat oven to 375F.

Spoon the cheese mixture into each pasta shell and place open side up, in a single layer, in prepared pan.
Scatter the artichoke hearts in between the shells and cover everything with overlapping sliced of tomato.  Season with salt and red pepper flakes to taste. Loosely cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes.

During last 5 minutes of baking, remove foil and sprinkle remaining Mozzarella cheese on top.
Bake 5 more minutes. Garnish with fresh chopped basil.

Pasta and spring things

This dish came about from various little tubs of leftovers; the steamed green beans and asparagus from the garden that had served as a side to grilled steaks, the last bit of yogurt-and-mustard sauce used for dipping grilled potatoes, and some of Alison Roman's glorious savory granola I always keep around. You can make all of these things fresh, or substitute your own steamed veggies and creamy sauce here, and I'm sure it will be glorious. 

Springy Leftover Pasta

Serves 4

4 cups steamed green veggies (peas, asparagus, green beans, broccoli, whatevs)
1/2 pound whole grain farfalle pasta
salt, red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt + 2 tablespoons grainy mustard
garnishes: lemon wedges, a bowl of savory granola or roasted nuts/seeds of your choice (toasted groats would also be good)

In a small bowl, combine the yogurt and mustard. Set aside.

In a well-salted pot of boiling water, cook the pasta according to package directions.  If you don't already have steamed veggies on hand, you could throw them in for the last 3-4 minutes of cooking time. Drain pasta and, if you're using leftover veggies, toss together to take the chill off. Season with crushed red pepper, drizzle with some of the yogurt sauce, and garnish with a spritz of lemon and a generous sprinkle or granola. Eat hot or at room temperature.

Green-and-white chili for summer

As a Midwestern girl, I had never touched a roasted green chile until I moved out to Colorado in the early 00s.  I'm not sure I even knew they existed.  Now they are my absolute favorite, and I can't wait until late summer when my local farmer's market is packed with roasters all morning.  The good news is, those frozen bags/tubs at the grocery store are pretty OK, so you can enjoy spicy, fresh stews all summer long. I use a pressure cooker to do my beans, which slows down the process and heats up the house a bit more, but I wrote this recipe for canned beans to be a little more user-friendly. Don't cheat on grilling the chicken, though--it makes a huge difference, especially when your chiles have been frozen! Just plan ahead and do it the next time you have a cookout, then wrap it in foil until you're ready to make this stew; it'll keep for a week. 

Green and White Chili

Serves 6

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 small yellow onion, chopped

2 large garlic cloves, minced

2-3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

6-8 oz. of grilled chicken (no skin, chopped)

2 15-oz. cans of white beans (any type, do not drain)

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper (optional)

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 24-oz. bag frozen, chopped green chiles, mild or hot

1 tablespoon lime juice

shredded cheese or queso, lime wedges, sour cream, and more chopped fresh cilantro to serve

First, you must thaw the chiles in the refrigerator and save their liquid; I just toss the whole bag on a plate and throw it in the fridge for a couple of days. 

In a stock pot or Dutch oven,. heat the oil over medium heat.  Add the onion, garlic, and cilantro and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant.  Add the cooked chicken, white beans with their liquid, salt, pepper, cumin, chiles, and lime juice, stir, cover, and heat through.  Serve with garnishes listed above and hot fresh tortillas to clean the bowl. 

Magic Sauce and two ways to use it

I can't get enough of this simple tahini-miso concoction, and I've been keeping a big jar of it in the fridge for otherwise uninspired last-minute lunches:

Miso-Tahini Magic Sauce

1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1/4 cup tahini
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon shiro (white) miso
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon mirin
1 teaspoon maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon warm water (add slowly until you get the consistency you prefer)

Place everything in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously until mixed.  If tahini remains clumpy, just stick a spoon in there and break it up.

You can use it as a salad dressing, and I particularly like is as a dressing for coleslaw.  Just toss some cabbage or Brussels sprouts in the food processor with carrot and cilantro and finely chop, add sliced scallions and toasted sesame seeds if you like, and add enough Magic Sauce to coat.

You can also toss it with soba noodles you've boiled along with vegetables (love broccoli) and a little reserved cooking water, then sprinkle chopped peanuts and squirt a little lime juice on top. 

And you could drizzle this sauce over any grain/tofu/veggie bowl you've put together.  Wait, is that three things?And what if you spiked your egg salad with it?...the possibilities might be almost endless. 

Reliving Crawfish Monica from NoLa's Jazzfest

It's in no way good for you (is any recipe that comes out of New Orleans ever good for you?), but I always crave it when I get close to the Gulf.  After a little reading, I understand why this is the official dish of Jazzfest in New Orleans--it's super fast and easy (and very 80s, which is when it was invented). I can't find decent crawdad tails here in the Rockies so I use shrimp, but you can easily adjust if you're luckier than I (and use a pound of tails instead of the 1/2 pound of shrimp I call for, as they're tiny).

A shot of the real deal at New Orleans' Jazzfest

Shrimp Monica

Serves 6-8

1/2 pound small shrimp, shelled, tails off, and deveined
1 stick unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
6-8 fresh chives, chopped
1 cup plain milk (any flavor)

1 tablespoon Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning (this should be a staple in your kitchen, anyway)
1 pound rotini pasta + a little pasta water


Set salted water to boil in a large pasta pot. In a large saute pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and chives and cook 2-3 minutes, until softened. Add shrimp and saute for 2-3 minutes until cooked. Stir in milk, then add Creole seasoning to taste. Cook for 10 minutes until sauce starts to thicken. Cook pasta according to package directions, then drain (but reserve a little of the water). Stir pasta into the sauce, adding cooking water a tablespoon at a time if needed. Cook for another 5 minutes on low, stirring often, and allowing pasta to soak up the sauce.

What's for lunch?: Salmon, Greens, and Grains

I love sushi bowls and poke when I'm in L.A., but I don't trust our Rocky Mountain fish counter at Safeway for that quality of tuna or salmon.  This tasty lunch bowl gets around to a similar concept and level of healthiness without the risk of tapeworms...

Salmon, Greens, and Grains

Serves 2

1 4 oz. fillet salmon, thawed if frozen
1 teaspoon mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Sriracha
1 teaspoon sesame oil
3 cups chopped greens (spinach, kale, mustard, or any combination thereof)
1 cup cooked barley (I like to make a big pot and keep some in the freezer for quick reheating)
1/2 cup cooked, shelled edamame
a few thin slices of raw red onion
ripe avocado, sliced
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon mirin
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
toasted sesame seeds and lemon wedges for garnish, optional

Line a broiler-safe tray with foil.  Rinse the salmon and pat dry.  Rub a thin layer of sesame or other neutral oil all over the fish and place skin-side down on the lined tray.  Combine the mayonnaise and Sriracha in a small bowl and slather over the top of the salmon.  Broil 4-6 inches away from the heat for 6-8-minutes (check for your preferred level of doneness). When cooked to your liking, remove the skin and cut into strips, pictured above.

In a medium skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of sesame oil over medium heat.  Add the greens and a pinch of salt to taste and saute until wilted.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the barley and edamame.  Heat gently if it's cold.

Build your bowl: Dividing all ingredients equally, spread barley-edamame mixture across the bottom of each of two bowls.  Top with cooked greens, salmon, avocado slices, and onion slices.  In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, mirin, and toasted sesame oil and drizzle evenly over the top.  Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and/or lemon on top if desired.

Pasta with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

This is a great way to use up a jar of roasted red peppers (or roast your own in the oven), and it might be the fastest sauce I've ever made.

Pasta with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Serves 4

½ lb. rigatoni or other tubular pasta

2 cups broccoli florets

1 tablespoon olive oil

½ yellow onion, diced

1 large garlic clove, minced

1 8 oz. jar roasted red peppers, drained and roughly chopped

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning or dried oregano

Salt and crushed red pepper flakes to taste

¼ cup plain yogurt

¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to boil.  Cook pasta according to package directions, adding the broccoli in the last 4-5 minutes of cooking (if fresh, or the last 2 minutes if frozen).

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.  Add the onion and garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 2 minutes.   Add the roasted red peppers, about a teaspoon of salt, and Italian seasoning and cook another minute.  Transfer to a food processor or blender and puree, then return to the hot pan.  Stir in the yogurt and Parmesan cheese to make a creamy sauce. Season with salt and red pepper flakes.

Drain the pasta-broccoli combination and add to the sauce, stirring to coat evenly.  Serve hot!

Pasta with Alfredo Sauce, featuring a surprise ingredient!

You know I'm always freezing pureed summer squash at the end of the season, and then it just sits in the freezer getting freezer-y tasting.  You can use the same amount of any squash puree--canned pumpkin, butternut squash, whatever--to give this sauce some heft and an extra infusion of veggies.  Think of it as a cheesy smoothie for your pasta...or maybe not...

Squash Alfredo with Fettucine

Serves 4

12 oz box fettucine
2 tablespoons butter
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 cup pureed squash
1 cup plain almond (or other) milk
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2 cups pack baby spinach leaves

In large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta for about 8 minutes or until tender. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid, and set aside.

Meanwhile, in large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat and cook garlic for about 30 seconds.
Then, whisk to combine in the squash and milk. Add in the grated parmesan, salt and pepper. Let the sauce simmer for about 5 minutes. Stir in the spinach and continue to cook until leaves are wilted.

Add the pasta to the sauce and stir to coat.  If it's too thick to spread evenly through the pasta, you can add a little of the cooking liquid, a couple tablespoons at a time, until it's smooth. Top with fresh parley and parmesan for garnish.

Baked Rigatoni with Pumpkin Puree

This works just as well with any pureed squash that you preserved last fall (you crazy hippie, you) or canned pumpkin, which stands in for cream to hold things together in a much healthier way. Leftovers reheat beautifully, but this is also strangely delicious cold at, say, midnight. 

Baked Rigatoni with Pumpkin Puree

Serves 6-8
2 cups pumpkin puree or canned pumpkin
Salt
1 pound rigatoni or other medium-sized pasta (like large shells)
2cups heavy cream
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1 large garlic clove, minced

2 chipotles in adobo sauce, finely chopped

2 cups fresh spinach leaves, washed and torn
2 teaspoons dried oregano

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Prepare a baking dish with butter or cooking spray.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta for exactly 5 minutes, drain and run cool water over it for about 10 seconds. Set aside in the colander.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin  with the cheeses, salt, garlic. chipotles, spinach, and oregano. Add the pasta  and fold together just until combined.

Spread the pasta evenly in a casserole or baking dish. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes, until the top is browned and the bottom layer of pasta is just tender.

Red Beans and Rice, hold the meat (unless you want it)

I always forget how great canned chipotles in adobo sauce can be--smoky, earthy. and spicy--and how little I need meat if I put them in a dish.  (However, Field Roast's "Mexican chorizo" is also kinda the bomb if you're into vegetarian "sausages"...)

Vegetarian Red Beans and Rice

Serves 4-6

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, finely diced
6 cloves garlic, minced
5 celery stalks, finely diced
1 large green bell pepper, finely diced
1 pound dry red kidney beans, soaked in water overnight, drained, and rinsed
3 bay leaves
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
2 teaspoons hot sauce (I like Franks Red Hot), more to taste
6 cups vegetable broth or water
Salt, to taste
Cooked rice and sliced green onions, for serving

Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium high heat. Add in the onion and cook until very tender and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes.

Add the garlic, celery, and bell pepper, and continue to cook until just softened, about 3 minutes.
Add the soaked and drained kidney beans, bay leaves, thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, black pepper, chipotle peppers, red pepper sauce, and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for about two hours, or until the beans are very tender.

Season with additional salt and hot sauce. Serve with cooked rice and top with sliced green onions.

What to do with those terrible neon cheese balls at Safeway

You know those cheap cheese balls in the grocery store, the ones that are bright orange and covered in ground up nuts, stored next to the Sabre hummus and other things you really should just make yourself? In a rare moment of optimism, we picked one up at the beginning of the holiday season. It wasn't good.  It didn't cause any gastro-intestinal distress, but that's about all I can say for it.  So, we choked some down with crackers and beer one night and then shoved it to the back of the cheese drawer. TYhree weeks later, the thing was still edible, but not edible enough to actually put on any more crackers.  I hate to waste food, so I wondered what I could do with it.

If you have ever found yourself in this situation, I can highly recommend these two super-easy recipes that will also help you use up some other holiday meal leftovers shoved in the fridge. And if you'd like to try making a cheese ball you and your guests will actually enjoy for New Year's Eve, there's a recipe for that at the bottom, too.

Party Mac and Cheese

Serves 4

1/2 pound macaroni or pasta shape of your choice
4 oz. or so of your sad cheese ball
1/2 cup leftover vegetables (I leftover pesto peas from Christmas: pesto stirred into some thawed frozen peas and gently heated by Chef Mike while my dad carved the turkey)
2 tablespoons chopped sun-dried tomato (optional)
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
salt and crushed red pepper to taste

Bring a well-salted pot of water to boil.  Cook the pasta al dente and drain, reserving about 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. Stir in the cheese ball and Parmesan, if using, adding some of the cooking liquid if necessary (try a tablespoon at a time) to form a smooth sauce.  Stir in the cooked vegetables, sun dried-tomatoes, and season with salt and red pepper.  Serve hot.

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Cheese Ball Potatoes

Serves 8 as a side

4-6 cups leftover mashed potatoes
1/2 cup (4 oz) leftover cheese ball
2 eggs

Mash everything together and spread in an 8x8 pan. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
OR, to make it faster, reheat the mashed potatoes in the microwave before adding everything, bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes, then move it to the top rack in the oven. Broil for 2-4 minutes (check at two minutes), until browned on top.

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Edible Cheese Ball

Serves: depends on how drunk you are

16 oz softened cream cheese 

3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon (don't you dare use Bacon Bits)
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped pecans 

Whip the cream cheese and cheddar cheese together in a high power blender, food processor, or stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Form the cheese into a ball, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1-2 hours, until firm.

In a medium bowl, stir together the bacon bits, green onions, and pecans. Roll the cheese ball in the mixture.

Wrap the ball tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Roasted Pumpkin and Spinach with Whole Wheat Pasta

After Thanksgiving I cut and roasted my pumpkins, which had been serving as table dressing until then. I ended up with some some puree for making smoothies or baking and some cubed, which I used in the recipe below. It's a totally satisfying, yet not overly rich, pasta meal that can be whipped together quickly for lunch or dinner.  If your pumpkin is already cooked, I still recommend tossing it in the oven for a short time to get those brown marks you can only achieve through roasting. 

Roasted Pumpkin and Spinach with Whole Wheat Pasta

Serves 4

1 lb. whole wheat spaghetti
2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, finely diced
2 cups of cubed pumpkin
about 2 cups torn spinach
½-1 tsp chili flakes
½ lemon, zest and juice
salt and pepper, to taste
½ cup walnuts, finely chopped

Coat cubed pumpkin in 1 tbsp of olive oil and season with salt and some of the chili flakes. Bake in a hot oven (425º F) for about 40-50 minutes, until pumpkin turns soft and gets lightly caramelized. 

Heat up 2 tbsp of olive oil in a pan. Fry onion gently on a low-medium heat, stirring frequently so it doesn’t burn. Add chili flakes and garlic and cook for another minute or two stirring frequently.

Cook spaghetti for a minute shorter than you would normally.

Mash half the pumpkin with a fork or potato masher. Put both mashed and whole pumpkin chunks into the pan with onion mixture.

Add drained pasta and washed spinach into the pan. Incorporate them well into the pumpkin. Taste and season with pepper, a squeeze of lemon juice and additional salt and chili if needed.

Serve immediately with chopped walnuts and lemon zest on top. Shredded Parmesan on the side is also a nice garnish. 

Chick pea and cauliflower bowl with tahini sauce

I have been eating horribly, and the Christmas parties haven't even started yet. So I put this pile of things together for lunch today and already feel far superior to the rest of you. But now you, too, can know the secret of true righteousness.  You're welcome. 

Chick pea and cauliflower bowl with tahini sauce

Makes 4 servings

For the sauce:

1/3 cup tahini
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup lemon juice 

1 heaping tablespoon plain yogurt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp salt 

For the spiced chick peas:

2 cups (or a 15 oz. can) cooked chick peas

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon curry powder

For the cauliflower and kale:

1 head cauliflower, chopped into bite-sized pieces

1 bunch kale, roughly chopped (about 3 cups packed)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

About one cup cooked grain (rice, barley, quinoa, etc.) per bowl

1 tablespoon chopped tomato per bowl

To assemble:

Heat the oven to 425F. Toss the cauliflower and kale with all ingredients on a large baking sheet and spread out in one layer.  Roast until browned, stirring once during baking time (so, I pop it in the oven for 20 minutes, take it out and stir it around, then cook another 10 or so).

Meanwhile, combine all chick pea ingredients in a reusable container (you'll probably have leftovers to refrigerate).  Combine all sauce ingredients in a food processor or blender. 

In a large bowl, put in your cooked grain, then top with chick peas and roasted vegetables to your heart's desire.  Top with chopped tomato (that's optional, really) and drizzle sauce over the whole thing.  Can be eaten hot or at room temperature. 

Everything can be kept in separate containers in the refrigerator for a week, so you can keep making these until you run out.  Extra sauce makes a great salad dressing, too. 

Fake a fancy ramen for lunch

I got really excited about all the over priced, hipster noodle shops that opened up in Denver and NoCo a few years ago, and I was always disappointed. Even in L.A.'s Little Tokyo, the homemade ramen is hardly any different from a decent package at the store (whatever, I'm cool with Maruchan too). Now I just make it at home and eat it in my pajamas without having a 20-something get in my face and loudly explain the "concept" of their restaurant. Here we go...

Fancy-assed Ramen at Home

Serves 2 in giant bowls

1 teaspoon peanut oil

5-6 scallions, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 packages instant ramen (get a shrimp or chili flavor)

2 cups broccoli florets

1 teaspoon white vinegar

4 oz. (leftover) cooked meat of your choice (I like pulled pork or seared steak, but shrimp's nice too)

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 scant tablespoons brown sugar

2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil

1 teaspoon chili sauce like Sambal olek (optional)

handful fresh cilantro, chopped

In a large saucepan, heat the peanut oil on "high" and quickly stir-fry the scallions until you have some blackened bits on them.  Remove them from the pot and set on a plate or something. 

Add 5 cups of water to the pot and bring to a boil.  Cook the ramen with the seasoning packet until almost done (stir in some cayenne if you want), then add the broccoli for the last two minutes of cooking. When broccoli is crisp-tender, remove from heat and stir in the vinegar. 

Meanwhile, combine the sot sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and chili sauce in a small bowl. Add the cooked meat and stir to saturate.  Divide the meat / sauce mixture evenly between two large soup bowls.  Ladle the ramen soup into each bowl over the meat, then garnish with cilantro and the seared scallions. Eat immediately with loud slurping noises. 

This steak is not very Italian-o

When I was growing up, one of my favorite meals from my mom's treasure trove of recipes was a dish called "Round Steak Italiano".  It was round steak cooked in a gravy of tomato sauce and a packet of instant onion soup mix, and by Midwestern standards, it was Euro-delish. Mom would serve it over those "no yolk" curly noodles in the cellophane package.  By adding some spinach and using slightly less instant-y ingredients, this can become one of your staples, too. (PS, replace the beef with mixed mushrooms and the beef broth with a non-beef substitute, and you've got a tasty vegetarian option.)

Round Steak Italiano Reboot

Serves 4

1 pound pappardelle pasta, cooked al dente
olive oil
10 oz. flank steak, London Broil, or other lean cut
salt and black pepper
2 large shallots, minced
1/2 cup dry red wine
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 10 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 cup beef broth
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning (or dried oregano and a pinch dried basil)
1 tablespoon corn starch + 2 tablespoons cold water
2 packed cups torn spinach leaves

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to boil and cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, season the steak on both sides with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat about a tablespoon of olive oil over high heat.  Sear the flank steak on both sides and remove from the pan when the steak is edible but rare.  Allow to sit on a cutting board. 

Lower the heat to medium and add the shallots and garlic.  Saute until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat momentarily and add the red wine; it will smoke up a bit.  Scrape any brown bits off the bottom of the pan, then return to heat.  Add the tomatoes, beef broth, bay leaf, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. Lower to a simmer and cover.

Once the steak has cooled a bit, cut it into thin strips.  Scrape the steak and all juices into the pan, toss in the spinach, give it a stir, and replace cover, allowing to simmer for about 5 minutes or until the spinach is wilted. Bring to a boil and stir in the cornstarch mixture, whisking to thicken. Remove from heat and serve over the noodles.

Thai curry squash soup

It has turned to fall for reals here in NoCo, and we are swapping out our late summer dinner salads (bye-bye, fresh tomatoes) for some warming soups.  You can throw in whatever vegetables you want, but I think the most valuable thing here is that the broth will help you utilize some of that massive pile of summer squash, if you're starting to lose hope but still don't want to just throw it in the compost heap...

Thai Curry-Summer Squash Soup

Serves 4

2 cups roughly chopped summer squash
1 vegetable bouillon cube
3 cups water
1 tablespoon red (or green, or yellow) Thai curry paste
1 cup chopped frozen spinach
1/2 cup frozen corn
handful fresh cilantro, chopped
2 large fresh tomatoes, chopped
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/4 cup flaked coconut
1 cup cooked brown rice (optional)
salt and black pepper to taste
roasted, salted cashews as garnish
Bring the 3 cups of water to a boil in a large saucepan.  Add the bouillon cube and the squash, and cook until squash is tender, about 5 minutes.  Pour into a blender (careful to place a towel over the cover) or use an immersion blender to blend until smooth.

Replace this thick broth to the sauce pan and stir in the spinach, corn, and cilantro.  Cover and simmer until vegetables are hot about 5 minutes.  Stir in the tomatoes, coconut, lime juice, and rice and season with salt and pepper.  Continue to cook until heated through and serve in bowls topped with cashews.

Chicken and Rice revamp (Romanian style)

This is not actually Romanian, nor does it have rice.  It's very loosely based on a delicious, simple, and incredibly comforting dish that a Romanian friend, a talented filmmaker named Ouana, would make to take the chill off a snowy Wyoming night after shoveling the driveway clear.  The peppers, paprika, and sour cream (or my favorite substitute, yogurt) are pretty clearly Eastern European, and the pasta was just what she served with it.  But given the almost international tradition of chicken and rice (of some sort), I thought orzo would echo that nicely. 

Romanian Chicken and "Rice"

Serves 4

8 oz. whole wheat orzo
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 chicken breast, cut into 1/2-in strips
1 teaspoon paprika
1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 small green bell pepper, thinly sliced
2 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
12 cup dry white wine
salt and pepper to taste
generous handful of fresh basil leaves, chiffonaded
sour cream or plain yogurt for serving

Cook the pasta in well-salted water according to package directions.  Drain except for 1/2 cup of reserved cooking liquid. Set aside.

In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.  When it shimmers, add the chicken breast strips along with some salt and the paprika and stir fry until almost cooked through.  Remove to a plate with a slotted spoon.

Add the onion and peppers to the hot oil and lower the heat to medium-low. Season with salt and stir.  Allow to simmer until very soft, stirring occasionally, which should take about 20 minutes.  Add the wine, garlic, and chicken to the pan and stir to coat.  Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

When the garlic becomes fragrant and some of the wine has reduced, add the pasta and reserved water.  Stir thoroughly to mix and allow to simmer another 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld and liquid to reduce slightly.  Stir in the fresh chopped basil and serve in bowls topped with sour cream/yogurt.