Sunshine Soup

This weekend finally marked the official change of seasons for me: I dragged boxes of sweaters out from under my bed, I brought of my heaviest down blanket, and I almost had my first-of-many near death experiences by way of going to bed in my freezing apartment with shower hair.

In addition to waking up with a serious case of bed head and an even more serious neck cramp, I found myself seriously grateful for dusting off my soup pot while taking a break from being buried beneath fluffy knitwear.

I decided to kick the soup season off with one of my simplest but favorite recipes.

Reading through the ingredient list you may notice it sounds a little different compared to most soup recipes, and I'm more than certain you're questioning the use of OJ, but a recipe followed from an aged index card never lies!

Although the orange stands out on the ingredient list, it acts as more of a background player in the actual soup itself.  It creates a beautiful aroma to help draw your hand towards the spoon, then creates this platform of brightness on which a hint of smoky paprika and herby parsley play.  Although there is a definite sweetness from the tomato, potato, and juice, their varying levels of acidity complement each other laterally rather than building up and are balanced out by a subtle hint of peppery spice.

So trust me when I say this bowl is different in a good way!

Sunshine Soup

Author unknown

Ingredients

• 2-3 T olive oil
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 1/2 jalapeno or 1/2 t red pepper flakes
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 small sweet potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 can of diced tomatoes, with the juice
• 4 c water
• 3 t salt
• 1 t smoked paprika
• 1/2 t cumin
• 1/2 t black pepper
• 1 orange, juiced and zested
• 1 can black beans
• 1 c packed parsley leaves, roughly chopped

Combine

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat until it shimmers.  Add the onion and jalapeno and cook for 3 minutes.
2. Add the garlic and sweet potatoes and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the garlic is fragrant.
3. Add in the tomatoes with the juice, water, salt, and spices.  Bring to a boil for 10 minutes then simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Stir in the black beans, orange juice, and orange zest and simmer for another 10 minutes.
5. Mix in the parsley and enjoy!

Crispy Salmon Tabouleh

My apartment's semi-broken thermostat is finally reporting an all time low temp of eighty degrees.

If you read that thinking I'm going to enjoy a minute of the 'coolness' you're wrong.

It means I've finally been given reason to re-embrace the ovencentric life.

An end of summer oven meal should be made with caution however.

Balance between components is crucial.

A completely hot meal on a warm day is not refreshing, cold meal on a warm day leaves you wanting for something more, but a half hot and half cold meal is the perfect medley.

Aim for this balance by literally splitting your meal in half.

Here our meal's cool half boasts bulgur texturized with sweet snow peas, spicy radish, crispy cucumber, and fresh mint that cozy up to a steamy lemon salmon filet, in a perfect balance for a warm summer's day.

Lemon Salmon with Bulgur Salad

Ingredients

For the salmon:

• 1 -2 lemons, juiced
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 12-16 oz salmon filet, skin on or off
• Salt and pepper, as desired

For the bulgur:

• 1 c bulgur
• 2 1/2 c water
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• olive oil, as desired
• salt and pepper, as desired
• 1/2 c mint leaves, chiffonade
• 1/2 c cucumber, chopped
• 1/2 c snap peas, chopped
• 3 radish, chopped
• 1 sm shallot minced
• feta, crumbled, as desired

Combine

1. Soak the salmon in the lemon juice and garlic for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees, line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and bring the water to a boil in a four cup (or larger) pot.
3. Place the salmon on the middle of the baking sheet, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and bake for 15 minutes or until cooked to liking.
4. Also, when the water comes to a boil turn off the stove top, add the bulgur to the pot, and set aside for 15 minutes.
5. Meanwhile chop your veggies.
6. Drain any excess water off of the bulgur, toss with lemon, oil, salt, and pepper.
7. Gently toss with the other ingredients and top with the salmon.
8. Enjoy!

Jerk

Sometimes life throws a curve ball your way, causing you to lose a few steps backwards, to lose endless hours of sleep, and to take too many deep breaths to count.

Sometimes life is a jerk.

Lately, this is what life feels like: a series of extreme days, nights, and weeks, most of which seem to be countered by some strange and equally extreme blessings, but nonetheless, riding out a chunk of life on a roller coaster will most definitely earn you some grey hairs.

Although I'm not usually one to count my blessings, nor to dwell on my spites with life, getting dragged through the muck lately has lent cause for reminiscing on equally stressful but blessed times, like these same weeks last year, when I picked up life as I knew it, pulled out half my hair, and stumbled my way to a little Caribbean neighborhood in New York that instantly became second home.

Maybe it's because atop the list of life's latest stresses is the fact that I'm once again leaving the nest, but this jerk salmon dream bowl seemed like the perfect fit for a time like this.

It's not because I grew up eating jerk anything, it's because this is a small ode to what made Brooklyn taste as familiar as home - a plate full of flavor, texture, and freshness.

So soak some jalapeno in pineapple juice to kill it's kick, use whatever sauce spice level you can tolerate, let the jerky moments go, and absorb a little taste of what I call home.

Jerk Salmon With Green Rice and Pineapple Pico

Ingredients

For the pico:

• 1/2 c pineapple, diced, with extra juice from cutting board
• 1/2 jalapeno, minced
• 1 T shallot, minced
• salt, just a pinch

For the salmon:

• Salmon (2-4 portions), skin on or off
• Jerk marinade
• 2 T coconut oil
• a pinch of salt

For the rice:

• 3-5 T coconut oil
• 3 small cloves garlic, minced
• 1 T shallot, minced
• 1 c short-medium grain rice
• 1/2-1 t salt
• 1-2 lemons or limes, 1 juiced, 1 sliced (optional)
• Warm water as needed
• 1 c basil, finely chopped
• 2 c parsley, finely chopped
• 2 c spinach, finely chopped
• 1/4 c coconut milk, shaken well

Combine

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Combine the ingredients for the salsa in a small bowl and set aside for at least 20 minutes.
3. Stir the jerk, oil, and salt together in a separate bowl, then add the salmon to the dish and gently toss it so it is well covered in sauce, adding more if needed.  Let marinate while refrigerated for 30 minutes.
4. Heat the coconut oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat until just shimmering.
5. Add the garlic and shallot and saute for 1-2 minutes, stirring semi-often to avoid burning.
6. Add the rice and salt and saute for 3-4 minutes, stirring gently but well so the grains are well coated in oil.
7. Add the citrus juice, and citrus slices if using, cook until the juice is evaporated then turn the heat up to high and add 1 cup of water.
8. 
   
• Stir continuously as the water bubbles off, then add half a cup of water.  Continue this process for about 40 minutes.  Each time the water cooks off you'll notice that the water seems "thicker" as the starch from the rice meddles with it.  When the rice is ready it will be soft enough to eat but firm enough to not fall apart, and there should be enough "sauce" to hold the ingredients together.
• After you add two or three half-cups of water, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  This usually takes 10 minutes, after which you should place the salmon on the sheet and bake for 20 minutes - this is roughly how long it will take the rice to finish cooking.
9. Add 2 tablespoons of water, the coconut milk, and the greens, stirring as the water cooks off.
10. Add a large scoop of rice to a bowl, top with a piece of salmon, and a spoonful of salsa.
11. Enjoy!

They Say

Bad things come in threes so when I was crippled by a severe back injury, had my entire wallet stolen, and came down with that crazy flu induced sinus infection thing that's going around I knew a wave of bad luck had hit me.

I'm still not sure how I offended the universe to this extent, but one thing I do know is how to handle this kind of karma.

It's highly recommended to start by counting your blessings and letting the thankfulness for having health insurance, a super helpful bank, and a Neti Pot soak into your soul, and to end with some killer karma soup.

Okay so maybe that ending is most helpful if your third misery was being sick AF but still, this soup is delicious AF so I'm pretty sure it's a good ending anyways.

Why so good?

Because it's loaded with goodness like detoxing turmeric, cinnamon, and parsley, hearty chick peas and red daal, and of course coconut milk because every bitter heart needs a little sweetness.  All these little gems come together with enough strength to counter act a heavy dose of badness, or at least to fill a super hungry belly and make you feel royal AF while eating it!

Royal Karma Soup

Ingredients

• 1 T mustard seeds
• 2 T olive oil
• 1 jalapeno, diced, optional
• 1 inch red onion, diced
• 2-3 small carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1 can of diced tomatoes, with juice
• 1 can of chickpeas, rinsed well
• 1 c daal (red lentils)
• 1 t red pepper flakes
• 2 t turmeric
• 1 t cumin
• 1/2 t garlic powder
• 1/2 t cinnamon
• 1/2 t ginger
• 1-2 t salt
• 2 cans of water
• 1/2 c coconut milk
• 1 bunch parsley, chopped

Combine

1. Add the mustard seeds to a large pot over medium heat and toast for a minute or two before adding the oil.
2. When the oil is hot you will hear the mustard seeds snapping, at this point add in the jalapeno, red onion, and carrots and saute for 3-5 minutes until the pieces are just starting to soften.
3. Add in the rest of the ingredients except the coconut milk and the parsley.
4. Bring the liquid to a boil for 10 minutes, then reduce to a simmer and add in the coconut milk.
5. Continue to simmer for 20 minutes, stirring a few times before it is done.
6. Add in the parsley and serve immediately or store in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Note

At first the soup will look very broth-y but once the daal is cooked and coconut milk is added they will fill up the space and make a thick but not-too-thick soup.

Green Rice and Eggs

The memories we carry around with us over the years are a strange thing.  Why these certain instances, flavors, smells are the ones chosen to be a part of us, becoming some vivid but distorted badges of our sense of self is a puzzle.

Just like egg and pea fried rice.

I remember distinctly that this was a signature dish from my kindergarten cafeteria.  Why was this a signature dish? What did the other kids think of it?  How did I fall in love with it?

No idea.

But I do know for a fact that I was infatuated with the stuff to the point that I would beg my mom to re-create it at home.

Something about all the little pieces of oily rice, sweet peas, and sponge-y egg all jumbled together was infinitely appealing to my 5 year old self, and although I'm sure its not the worst thing a kid could've asked for dinner I've since learned it's not the healthiest choice.

Thus, in honor of the kindergarten me and spring green blooms, I offer a slightly cleaned up version.

The rice is short grain and cooked in a risotto-esque style to give it the same satisfying sauciness, tossed with leeks, kale, and (of course) peas to give it a healthy dose of veggies, then topped with sliced radish for a little crunch and a soft boiled egg for a little creaminess and protein.

Twenty years later and it still sings to my inner child - hope you enjoy!

Green Rice and Eggs

Ingredients

• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 jalapeno, minced (optional)
• 1 1/3 c medium or short grain rice
• 2 t salt
• black pepper as desired
• 4+ c water or broth
• Coconut oil as needed
• 1/2 c frozen green peas, thawed
• 1 c leeks, thinly sliced
• 2 c kale, finely chopped
• 1-2 T grated Parmesan (optional)

Toppings:

• 1 soft boiled egg per serving
• Radish, thinly sliced

Combine:

For the toppings and veggies:

1. Prep all of your ingredients so they are ready to go when you are ready to be mixed in right when you need them.
2. Fill a small pot 3/4 of the way with water, add a tablespoon of salt, place on a burner to the side for now.  Also keep a small skillet handy.
3. When the rice is almost done (softening but still a little hard in the center) bring the water to a boil and heat 1 tablespoon of oil in the skillet over medium-low heat.
4. Soft cook the eggs you are using.  Meanwhile cook the leeks for 1-2 minutes, then add the peas and kale and cook until the greens are just wilted and brightened in color.

For the rice:

1. Heat 2-3 tablespoons of oil in a separate large skillet over medium heat, then add the garlic and jalapeno when shimmering or bubbling respectively.
2. Saute them for a minute while using a medium-large spatula to stir them often and making sure they don't burn or brown at all.
3. Add the rice, salt, and pepper to the pan and continue to saute for 2-3 minutes while continuing to stir often.  Again you don't want the rice to stick to the pan or burn at all, you just want to make sure it is coated well with the oil and give the seasonings a chance to soak into the rice.
4. Add in 1/2 a cup of water or broth and stir while letting it evaporate - this will happen pretty quickly.
5. Add in 1 full cup of liquid.  Use the spatula to gently fold the rice into itself, when most of the liquid has cooked off add another 1/2 cup.
6. Add another two 1/2 cups in this method then test the texture of the rice.  It should be softening but still be a little hard in the center - this means you will have about 1 or 2 more additions of liquid until it is ready.
7. Add another 1/2 cup of liquid to the rice and let it cook off.  Test it again to see if it is to your liking, if not continue adding liquid half a cup at a time until it is ready.
8. When the rice is soft but sturdy and all of the liquid is cooked off, fold in the veggies and cheese (if using).
9. Top with a soft or medium boiled egg and slices of radish.
10. Enjoy!

Casserole Soup

What does soup have to do with casserole?

Obviously, that it's also the best way to use up your dwindling second-hand stockpile of ingredients.

So if you happen to be staring at the contents of your fridge wondering what to do with those few stalks of celery and half a head of cabbage, or even if you've just come back from the farmer's market with some spring potatoes and carrots, this recipe is for you.

I helped justify this wintery chicken soup as "spring" worthy by adding some red wine vinegar to the broth.  It may sound bold (read: strange), but the vinegar adds a little zing that cuts the salty weight of a typical chicken soup and gives it a borscht-like lightness making it a poor man's Progresso perfect for chasing away a lingering cold just in time to welcome warmer days.

Spring Chicken Soup with Red Wine and Cabbage

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces, brushed with oil, and lightly salted
• 3 T olive oil
• 1 large gold potato, diced
• 1/2 a sweet onion, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2-3 stalks of celery, sliced
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 t thyme
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• Water or Broth as needed
• 1/2 a cabbage, sliced and broken up

Combine

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat until it shimmers then add the chicken to the pan.
2. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side then mix in the potato, onion, garlic bay leaves, and thyme and cook for 5 minutes.
3. Mix in the carrots, celery, salt, and pepper and continue cooking for another 2 minutes.
4. Pour in the vinegar and enough broth to cover the saute by an inch.
5. Bring the liquid to a boil for 5 minutes then simmer for 15 minutes.
6. Add the cabbage and simmer for another 5 minutes.
7. Enjoy!

Fancy Ramen

Edited Version

When I announced my move to NYC a few months ago my decision was greeted with lots and lots and lots of warnings about how expensive New York can be.


Luckily, I had already spent the better part of a year thinking about saving up for the trip, had stripped away all of my delusions of a sex-in-the-city-esque apartment, and had prepared for a slew of opinions from the non-city-go-er peanut gallery.  I came anyways, prepared to be curling up with an empty piggy bank in a cardboard box on the side of the road sooner rather than later, and was shocked that I was actually saving money once I moved to BK.  The actual cost of living here is feasible for now, it's actually the choice of spending that adds up quickly.


Case in point: the fancy ramen craze that has literally taken over the city.


Yes, soup is great and yes, soup that is served with a plethora of toppings is even more greatly appreciated, but.... paying fifteen plus for soup that you could make on your own for a fraction of the cost?  Not great.


Luckily again, ramen is super easy to make and super cheap, even when you treat yourself to the marinated steak topping, so grab a bowl and start topping!

Steak and Eggs, Ramen Style

Ingredients

For the marinade:

• 2 inches of ginger, grated
• 3 large cloves garlic, minced
• 2 scallions
• 2 t chili
• 2 t cayenne
• 1 T sesame oil
• 1 T chili oil
• 1/2 c rice vinegar
• 1/2 c soy sauce
• 1 lime, juiced and zested
• 1+ lbs flank steak, with any extra fat trimmed off

For the broth:

• 3 t ginger, grated
• 1/4 jalapeno, finely minced
• 3 lg cloves garlic, minced
• 4 c low sodium chicken broth
• 1/4-1/2 c soy sauce
• 1 packet of ramen noodles, with the seasoning discarded
• 1-2 lg handfuls collard greens, chopped

Toppings:

• 1 scallion
• 1-2 ribs celery
• 1-2 radish, thinly sliced
• 1-2 eggs, boiled separately to preference

Combine

For the Ramen:

1. Stir together the ingredients for the marinade in a small-medium mixing bowl.
2. Add the steak, pushing it under the marinade so it is well covered, cover the bowl with saran wrap, refrigerate for 30 mins to an hour.
3. In a small pot, bring salted water to a boil to cook the eggs.
4. In a separate large pot, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over high heat.  The steak I used was approximately 1/2 inch thick so I cooked it only for 2 minutes on each side, if that.  When the steak is cooked to your liking pull it out of the pan, cut into strips, and set aside.
5. Add the garlic, ginger, and jalapeno to the pot and cook until fragrant.
6. Add the broth and soy sauce and boil for 15 minutes.
7. Add the ramen noodles and collard greens and cook for 2 minutes.  Add the strips of steak and cook for 1 more minute.
8. Ladle some broth, noodles, steak, and greens into a bowl.  Top with an egg, slices of radish, scallions, celery, and an extra drizzle of sesame oil.
9. Enjoy!

For the leftovers:

1. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Toast several corn tortillas until browned.
3. Meanwhile nuke some leftover steak strips in the microwave.
4. Fill the tortillas with steak, radish, scallions or cilantro, and cheddar cheese.
5. Squeeze lots of lime juice on each before enjoying!

Keeping it weird

The best 5 minute dinner hack is to rub your meat of choice with your favorite spices of the moment, add some sides, and call it a meal.

Of course, the best spice blends are full of flavor and border on a little weird, because life is too short to have a boring dinner!

This particular blend is like a mole cheat in which a cocoa base is blended with herbs and heat to create warm, intricate layers of flavor that wrap around the chicken as it bakes.


If you're nervous about how well chocolate and spice go with chicken, don't worry, it's not as different as it sounds!  The cocoa flavor is really mild and acts as a blanket to help the spices stand out, but isn't overwhelming in the recipe.  Top it with mango pico and quick-pickled onions, and serve with some cheesy, chile polenta for the perfect week-night meal when you're looking for a delicious sort of different.

Recipe notes:  This was a one tissue meal for me, but if you don't have a high spice tolerance try reducing the chipotle to 1/2 a teaspoon, adding 1 1/2 teaspoons of smoked paprika, and omitting the cayenne completely.  For the chile polenta, cooking the chiles a little longer will ensure that their heat is reduced keeping it enjoyable.

Chocolate Blackened Chicken

Ingredients

For the chicken:

• 1.5 lbs of chicken breasts
• 1 1/2 T light, unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 t onion powder
• 2 t chipotle, see notes.
• 1 t oregano
• 1 t chili
• 1/2 t cumin
• 1/4 t cayenne, see notes.
• 1/4 t coriander
• 1 T olive oil
• Salt as needed

For the salsa:

• 1 mango, diced
• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
• 1/4 c cilantro leaves
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 lime, juiced

For the pickled shallots:

• 3 small shallots, thinly sliced
• White vinegar to cover
• 1 t salt
• boiling water

For the polenta:

• 2 small poblano peppers
• 2 large cloves garlic
• 3/4 c polenta
• 2  T oil
• 3 T cotija
• 1 can of red beans, rinsed well

Combine

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Bring water to a boil.  Put the shallots in a small glass container with the salt, cover with vinegar, then add about 1/2 cup of boiling water and set aside.
3. Toss together the ingredients for the salsa and set aside.
4. Stir together the spices for the chicken.  Clean the chicken, drizzle with just enough oil to lightly coat, sprinkle with a little salt on each side, then coat liberally with the spice mix.
5. Bake the chicken for 15 to 20 minutes until the internal temperature is 155 degrees Fahrenheit, then remove from the oven and let sit for 1-2 minutes.
6. While the chicken cooks, heat the oil in a small pot with tall sides until in shimmers then add the garlic and peppers and saute for 5 minutes.  Add the polenta to the pot and 3 cups of water, bring to a boil while whisking constantly then reduce to a simmer until most of the water is absorbed.  Stir in the cheese and continue whisking until cooked through adding more water if needed.  Note: the raw polenta will look distinctly spotted, when it is done cooking it will be more uniform in texture and color.
7. Plate a scoop of the polenta, top with red beans, top with a piece of chicken, garnish with mango salsa and pickled onions, and enjoy!

Not Your Momma's Tuna Salad

Maybe it's the winter blues that have me dreaming of the ocean, but lately topping the list of things I'm craving is everything and anything seafood.

Sure there are many ways to get your fix but this tuna salad will also satisfy the lazy cook in all of us.

Keep this low fat by using artichokes and olives that are stored in water and vinegar or add some extra flavor by opting for marinated versions but either way keep the fennel slices as thin as possible to match the light greens.


The end result is a perfect mix of salty, sweet, and seafood goodness that's far from the mayo mess you're used to and spot on for a lazy, late afternoon lunch.


Enjoy!

Lemony Greens with Tuna, Artichokes, Fennel, and Olives

Ingredients

• 10 garlic stuffed green olives
• 6 artichoke hearts, in water or oil
• 1/2 sm. bulb of fennel, very thinly sliced
• 1 can of tuna, brand of preference
• 1 T oil or mayo
• 2-3 large handfuls of mixed greens
• 1 lemon, juiced
• black pepper, to garnish

Combine

1. Quarter the olives and break apart the artichokes.
2. Toss the tuna in just enough oil or mayo so it is barely coated to keep it from drying.
3. Toss the mixed greens in lemon juice.
4. Toss all ingredients together.
5. Garnish with freshly cracked black pepper and enjoy!

Note: This can be packed for lunch on-the-go but be sure to keep the tuna separate so the flavors don't over-mix.

Accidental Soup

In a Freudian slip of the mind, I maladjusted the temperature dial in my fridge.  Although I gained the extra freezer space I've always dreamed of, I subsequently gained a fridge full of fruit and vegetable ice cubes that I have never wanted...

As I reset the temperature, shut the door, and tried to ignore the now oddly textured baby carrots melting on the shelf, one word slipped into my mind: SOUP!

Spicy, sweet, dairy-free bisque to be exact.

 There is no better way to transform your freshly frozen fresh ingredients into a meal worth looking forward to, and even if you don't have a frosty fridge I think we can agree that the weekend's snowpocalypse left everyone in need of a delicious way to warm up!

Carrot Apple Bisque


Ingredients

• 3 T olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 2 inches of fresh ginger, grated
• 2 red apples, chopped, with skin left on
• 1 lb of baby carrots
• 2 t turmeric
• 1 t cumin
• 1/2 t crushed red pepper
• 1 t sage
• 2 salt and pepper
• 2 T soy sauce
• 2 T lemon juice
• Water as needed

Directions

1. In a large pot, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat.  When the oil shimmers, toss in the onions and saute for 3-5 minutes.
2. Add in the ginger and saute for about 2 minutes or until you can smell it.
3. Add in the apples, carrots, and spices and cook for another 10-15 minutes until they are just starting to soften.
4. Add in the soy sauce, lemon juice, and enough water to just cover the ingredients - it's okay if the end of a carrot of two sticks out.
5. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat for 5 minutes, then simmer for 30-45 minutes until the ingredients are completely softened and the colors have blended.
6. Ladle the soup mix into your blender and puree until smooth.
7. Drizzle the bowls with any leftover liquid to feel fancy, crack some pepper over it to make it extra spicy, and enjoy!

Counting Down

Now that November is here let the countdown to Thanksgiving begin!

I know all of you totally can't wait for this food-famous holiday either, and this dinner is a great way to get an early but health-conscious start to the festivities.

Start by picking your favorite turkey-day-style herbs and coating some chicken breast in them.  While the chicken is baking saute some ingredients that are reminiscent of your favorite turkey-day-sides.  My checklist includes cranberries, mushrooms, onions, greens, apples, and feta.  Put the two together, close your eyes, and sink your teeth into all of the best flavors of Thanksgiving.

This chicken dinner doesn't include the heavier dishes of cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, or apple pie, but it does come with the satisfaction of knowing that it won't be hitting your waistline as hard as the actual big day!

Herb-Crusted Chicken and Cran-Apple Sauteed Kale

Ingredients

For the chicken:

• 1 lb chicken breasts, lightly olive oiled
• 1/2 t red pepper
• 1 t sage
• 1 t rosemary
• 1 t garlic powder
• 1/2 t salt

For the salad:

• 3 T oil
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 c  mushrooms, sliced
• 6 cups of kale, chopped
• 1/4 c cranberries
• 1 T balsalmic vinegar
• 1 honey crisp apple, match-sticked
• 3 T feta, crumbled

Combine

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Trim the excess fat off the chicken, coat it with a little oil, then coat it with herbs and bake for 20 minutes or until cooked through.
3. Meanwhile, place the oil in a large skillet over medium heat and saute the onion and garlic for 2-3 minutes.
4. Add the mushrooms and saute until the mushrooms are cooked as desired: at some point during cooking you will notice that all of a sudden there is a lot of extra liquid in the pan.  This is coming from the mushrooms and it's great because it adds extra flavor to the whole dish: at this point the mushrooms will be juicy but still have a texture similar to their raw form.  I like to keep cooking so the juices get reduced and the mushrooms are browned/darkened, feel free to try one or two along the way to make sure they are too your liking!
5. Add the kale, cranberries, and vinegar and toss all of the ingredients together.
6. Cover the pan for 2-3 minutes until the kale is just wilted then toss in the apple.
7. Plate the salad, crumble on some feta, top with a piece of chicken and enjoy!

Apricot Arugula Salad

It's great if you went out and bought all the ingredients to make my Apricot and Cream scones, but now I'm sure you have a bits of left-over ingredients that you don't know what to do with!

While tossing some chopped apricots on your granola or oatmeal is always a great way to utilize them, if you are looking for a more creative way to incorporate them into another meal this salad is an ever greater way to utilize them.

One of my fall favorites, this salad is full of warm, strong flavors that welcome a little sweetness.  It's a perfect meal for these weird, warm fall days we are having in NY but still savory enough to enjoy in colder weather.

Of course, as with most meals I make, this salad can be served two ways:

1. For dinner, served with a nice, big glass of red wine to make you feel fancy and sophisticated.
2. Packed for lunch starting with a base layer of balsamic, then chicken, then mushrooms and onions, apricots, blue cheese, and arugula to make you feel like you totally have your life together.

So many wins here, so get cooking!

Apricot Arugula and Balsamic Chicken Salad

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb chicken
• 1-2 T Olive oil, plus more as needed
• 1-2 T balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 onion, sliced
• 6 mushrooms, sliced
• large handfuls of arugula
• balsamic vinaigrette
• 6 apricots, chopped
• blue cheese crumbles, as desired
• Salt and pepper

Combine

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Trim the fat off the chicken, let marinate in balsamic vinegar for ~20 minutes, then lightly oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
3. Bake the chicken for 15-20 minutes or until cooked through, then cut into slices.
4. Meanwhile, heat a little oil in a large skillet, then saute the onions and mushrooms until the mushrooms are juicy and the onions are golden.
5. Toss arugula with a little balsamic vinaigrette then top with onions, mushrooms, chopped apricots, chicken, and blue cheese crumbles.
6. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and enjoy!

The Almost Salmonella Story

Almost, but not quite.


This story is not really about salmonella.  It's about a signature saute, one that I've enjoyed countless times with numerous variations including the vegetarian version that started it all, that somehow came out... a little different.


The delicious flavors were there but something was very wrong.


I started to slow down as I chewed, started to inspect the meat for traces of pink: was it overcooked? Undercooked?  Although I was in denial that my trusty thermometer - the one I use for temp checks every time I cook meat - could have lead me astray, I tossed out the remainder of my plate then bravely placed the rest of the baked chicken back in the oven.  Several extra degrees later the now dry and rock solid chicken was most certainly overcooked... but still.... wrong.


A week of paranoia ensued, and as I waited for salmonella, or bird flu, or something to hit I desperately researched possible explanations of my weird chicken experience.  The paranoia quickly evaporated: this chicken was plumped.


My vegetarian past-life flashed before my eyes: I was equally grossed out about eating a half-fake chicken and ashamed at having purchased such a sad thing so naively.  Although I still eat a majorly vegetarian diet, meat has become a welcome part of my diet again too.  It's made recovering from workouts easier, absorbing vitamins more possible, and honestly, it's made meals more exciting and enjoyable.


So this may not be a story about salmonella and the moral of the story isn't that I'm going to cut meat out of my diet again, but it's more of a story about how we're not always getting what we think we're buying.  I don't think it's a sustainable solution to cut everything scary or questionable out of my diet so I am determined to find a middle ground.  Technically saline is "not really" a harmful additive, but the knowledge that my chicken needed a saline-botox to look healthy and edible is really gross!  Luckily, I've discovered companies have to mark altered products, so in addition to checking for notes about use of hormones, additives, preservatives, and dyes we can also check the label for notes about salt content, or use of brine or broth.  I've had a lot of luck with  both the quality and price of Stop and Shop's in house organic and natural brands as well as Halal butchers and will probably stick to them for "safer" purchases, especially after finding that Whole Foods plumps too.


Be aware of what you're buying but don't give up - you can find un-altered chicken and once you do you can make this recipe.  Sounds like a moral to the story and a reward!

Balsamic Chicken and Chard with Polenta

Ingredients

• 1 lb of chicken breasts
• Olive oil, salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar
• 4 cl garlic, roughly chopped
• 1/2 onion, sliced
• 1 bunch chard, chopped
• 1/2 c olives, sliced
• 1 c sundried tomatoes, chopped
• 1 c polenta + 4 c water + a pinch of salt

Combine

1. Cut any extra fat off the chicken, let marinate in balsamic vinegar for ~20 minutes, then drain, lightly oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
2. While you wait preheat your over to 350 degrees, line a baking sheet with parchment paper, prep your veggies, bring 4 cups of salted water to boil in a small pot with tall sides, and heat a little oil in a skillet.
3. Toss the chicken in the oven and let bake for 20 minutes or until cooked through.
4. Saute the onion in a pan for 5-7 minutes until turning translucent and golden.
5. Add the garlic and saute for another 2 minutes.
6. Add the chard, olives, and sun-dried tomatoes and saute until the chard is just wilted.
7. Meanwhile bring 4 cups of salted water to a boil and add the polenta.  Stir constantly as it thickens and add more water if necessary until it is pale yellow and thickened throughout.
8. Top a bed of the cooked polenta with chard and chicken.  Drizzle with extra balsamic if desired and enjoy!

Tomato Lentils with Goat cheese polenta

Lately the temperature in NY has been changing.   Oh, beautiful, super cute fall weather you think?

Wrong.

There is nothing cute about weather that is as humid as the summer months but as cold as the coming autumn.  You know, weather that makes you want to stay in bed all day but it's actually hot still so you can't use blankets yet?

A good way to get your fill of cozy is to have a comfort-food meal that is still light enough to not weigh you down.  Enter lentils: the perfect base.  This particular recipe was inspired by The Kitchn and its carries just enough herbs and spice to help cure the rainy day blues while having the bright tomato flavor to help you ignore summer's weird leftover humidity.  They paired perfectly with my favorite ghetto-fab goat cheese polenta and a simple side of greens - yum!

Tomato Lentils with Goat Cheese Polenta

Ingredients

For the Lentils (inspired by The Kitchn)

• 2 T oil
• 1/2 vidalia onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 t red pepper
• 1 t smoked paprika
• 1/2 t oregano
• salt and pepper
• pinch of crushed saffron
• 2 lg bay leaves
• 1 can of tomatoes (including the juice)
• 1 c lentils
• 1 1/2 cans water

For the Polenta

• 1 c polenta
• 4 c water
• salt
• 2-3 ounces goat cheese

Optional: Arugula drizzled with balsamic vinegar; roasted broccoli

Combine

1. Heat the oil in a pot over medium heat until it shimmers, add the onion and garlic, and cook until starting to caramelize but not burn.
2. Add the pepper, paprika, oregano, salt, pepper, saffron, and bay leaves and cook for 1 minute to open the spices.
3. Add the tomatoes including the juice, lentils, and 1 1/2 cans of water.
4. Raise the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil for 10 minutes.
5. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for another 20-30 minutes until the lentils are cooked but not mushy and the liquid is reduced.
6. Meanwhile, add the polenta, water, and salt to a small pot and bring to a boil.  Stir the polenta continuously to keep it from burning and add splashes of water as needed.  When the polenta has turned a light yellow color consistently throughout the mixture it is ready.
7. Stir the goat cheese into the polenta until melted.
8. Plate the polenta, top with lentils, and enjoy!

A Southern Salmon

Although salmon is northern native, this particular fishy decided to rock a little southern flair!


After being rubbed with chipotle for a smokey, spicy bang, drizzled with lime juice, then topped with roasted corn and black bean salsa - how could you not be a fan of it's change in regional inspiration?

Note: if you don't handle heat well, I recommend going easy on the red pepper flakes or adding a little bit of a creamy dressing to the spinach to balance out the spice!

Chipotle Salmon with Black Bean and Corn Salsa

Ingredients

For the Salmon

• 12 ounces salmon
• Lime juice
• Pinch of salt and pepper
• 1/2 t garlic powder
• 1/2 t cumin
• 1/4 t chipotle powder
• 1/4 t red pepper flakes

For the Salsa

• 1 c cilantro, roughly chopped and loosely packed
• 1 can black beans, rinsed very well
• 1 small shallot, diced
• 1 ear of corn, roasted and kernelled
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1-2 T olive oil

For the Meal

• Large handful of spinach
• Feta crumbles
• limes

Combine

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Drizzle the salmon with lime juice then sprinkle with spices.
3. Toss in the oven for 15-20 minutes until cooked to your liking.
4. While you wait toss the ingredients for the salsa together.
5. Top a bed of spinach with a serving of salmon, then sprinkle with salsa, feta, and extra lime juice and enjoy!