Honey Roasted Carrots with Tarragon

Recently the husband and I attended a very grown-up party. The buffet table was piled with swanky things like miniature pieces of rye bread with herbed cream cheese and smoked salmon, teeny tiny crab cakes, and a crudites platter that included three—yes, THREE—colors of carrots. Orange, purple, and yellow. What the what!? I didn't even know carrots came in that many colors. So of course I created a little taste test for myself to see which was my favorite.

Although I won't turn down carrots of any hue, I determined that my preference is the yellow variety. They tasted just a little bit sweeter and milder than the traditional orange carrots—almost like a carrot crossed with a parsnip. They were delicious.

So you could imagine my glee when I stumbled upon yellow carrots at the farmers market. It seemed like a no-brainer to roast them with a drizzle of honey to bring out their natural sweetness. A little bit of tarragon added an herbal note that took these babies to the next level. The husband and I were fighting for the last carrot. (I let him have it because I'm a good wife. Or maybe it was because I knew I'd already eaten way more than he had. We'll never know.)

Let's get cooking!
Erin

Honey Roasted Carrots with Tarragon
Serves: 4

2 small bunches of carrots*, trimmed, peeled, and sliced 1/4"-1/2" thick (about 3 cups sliced)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried** tarragon leaf

Preheat oven to 425 degrees and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. (Since we're using honey in this recipe, the parchment will make clean-up easier. The honey tends to stick to the pan once it's cooked, and I don't want to spend all night scrubbing it off.)

Toss together carrots, oil, honey, salt, and tarragon so the carrots are evenly coated. Spread the carrots into a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 15-20 minutes, stirring halfway through, until carrots are tender and caramelized on the edges.


*If you can find yellow carrots, I heartily recommend giving them a try!

**If you happen to have fresh tarragon growing in your garden, by all means, use it here. Just keep in mind that you may need to use more when you're cooking with the fresh stuff.

Cucumber Sesame Salad

While visiting my sister and her family in balmy North Carolina two weeks ago, I was reminded of a cucumber salad I used to make, thanks to my nephew Connor. This 2-year-old will eat cukes at any meal, as long as they are sliced and served with a healthy sprinkle of pepper–onchi (that's ground pepper in toddler speak.)

When we got home I tried to find the recipe but struck out. So I did my best to recreate it.

This salad is so refreshing on a hot day. And I think the sesame seeds make it look pretty.

Mangia! Mangia!
Andrea

Cucumber Sesame Salad

3 cucumbers, English or traditional
1 bunch green onions, sliced or 1 medium white onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon white sugar
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar or rice vinegar
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, more to taste
1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
1 tablespoon black sesame seeds

Peel cucumbers, leaving a few stripes of green. Cut cucumbers in half lengthwise. Using a teaspoon, scrape out seeds.

Thinly slice each cucumber half. Mix cucumbers and green onions in medium bowl.

In a small bowl or cup, add sugar and rice vinegar. Stir until sugar dissolves. Pour over cucumbers and onions. Add sesame oil, black pepper and sesame seeds. Gently stir everything to combine flavors.

Serve immediately or chill for 30 minutes or more.

That's Connor enjoying a slice of cucumber.

Corn, Avocado & Tomato Salad

When the farmer's markets and grocery stores are bursting with fresh summer produce, this salad is pure perfection. Sweet corn, juicy tomatoes, and creamy avocado...what could be better?

And here's a plan-ahead tip. Next time you're making corn on the cob, cook up a few extra ears and make this salad with the leftovers. You won't regret it.

Let's get cooking!
Erin

Corn, Avocado & Tomato Salad
Inspired by Therese's Corn & Tomato Salad
Serves: 4

4 ears corn (or substitute 2 cups frozen corn, thawed)
2 avocados, diced
1 large tomato, diced (or substitute 1 1/2 cups halved grape tomatoes)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
Salt and pepper

Bring a large skillet of water to a boil. Add corn and cook for about 4 minutes, until it's just tender. Allow corn to cool and cut kernels off the cob.

In a large bowl, combine corn kernels, avocado, tomato, and basil. Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar and season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir gently to combine. Serve immediately.

P.S. Sometimes I have help taking pictures for the blog.

Grilled Nectarines

The fruits of summer are great to cook with. When we get overloaded with nectarines, I like to use my grill to add a touch of caramelized flavor. And as our own Erin points out, "This is the perfect way to use nectarines when you don't think they are juicy enough yet."

These gently cooked fruits make a luscious side to pork chops or a sweet dessert topping.

Grilling stone fruits couldn't be easier. All you need to add is a little oil to prevent the skins from sticking to the grill grates.

Be sure to use semi-firm nectarines. Very ripe fruit will fall apart on the grill.

I recommend trying this with peaches and plums, too.

Mangia! Mangia!
Andrea

Grilled Nectarines

6 to 8 semi-firm, yellow flesh nectarines
1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
Vanilla ice cream or pound cake (or any other dessert that needs a topping)

Heat your gas grill to medium. Prepare charcoal grill as you normally would.

Wash and dry nectarines. Cut each fruit in half and remove the pits. Place nectarine halves in bowl and toss with oil to coat fruit.

Put nectarines skin-side down on heated grill and cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Flip fruit and cook for another 5 minutes, or until fruit is soft.

Remove nectarines from grill and let cool in a bowl or on a deep plate to catch any juices. As the fruit cools, the juices will form a sweet, syrupy sauce.

Slide skins off nectarines and slice or dice fruit. Combine cut fruit with any juice from bowl and use as a dessert topping. Refrigerate any leftovers to use tomorrow!

Deviled Egg Sampler

I recently overbought on the egg front. What to do? Make deviled eggs, of course. Plenty of other good reasons to whip up deviled eggs, too. I love using my pretty deviled egg plate. Plus, my older daughter Lucy recently discovered a love of deviled eggs; she ate like six at a wedding reception.

What's better than deviled eggs? A deviled egg sampler, of course. In mine: traditional, poppy seed and curried.

Mmm. Mmm. Mmm.

At top: curried. On right: traditional. On left: poppy seed.

My favorite in this sampler: the curried. Anyone who knows me and my love of Indian food would  not be shocked. Lucy plopped two of the traditional style in her mouth in about five seconds. Penny went for poppy seed. The hubby tried them all and remains a traditionalist at heart.

I bet you will come up with varieties we haven't even thought of.

XOXO,
Amy

Deviled Egg Sampler
8 eggs, hard boiled (See directions below)
Salt
1 teaspoon ground mustard, divided in half
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds
3 tablespoons mayonnaise, divided in thirds

First, prepare the hard boiled eggs with this fool-proof method.

Take eggs out of fridge, so they start to come closer to room temperature. Add salt to a pot of water and boil. When water is boiling rapidly, use a slotted spoon to place each egg in the pot. Reduce to a moderate boil and cook eggs for 10 minutes. This timing is what ensures that the eggs are not overcooked; the yellow part of the eggs stays yellow and doesn't turn that gross green color around the edges.

Just before the egg time is up, fill a bowl with ice and cold water. When time is up, use a slotted spoon to gently remove each egg from the hot water and place in the bowl of ice and cold water. This last step ensures that  the eggs will stay nicely intact when you peel them.

Peel eggs immediately or drain water and place in fridge until you are ready to make your deviled eggs. I get better results if I peel immediately. I always make eight eggs to yield 12 deviled egg halves. By making eight eggs, I have enough eggs yolks to fill 12 halves and if I wreck two of the egg whites it's no big deal.

After you peel the eggs, slice in half and scoop out the insides. Divide the yolks evenly into three bowls. Add a bit of salt (to taste) to each bowl.

For traditional deviled eggs, add half a teaspoon of ground mustard and one tablespoon of mayonnaise to one bowl with egg yolk and salt. Combine/mash with a fork. Fill four eggs and top with paprika.

For poppy seed deviled eggs, prepare the a bowl as you did for traditional eggs and add half a teaspoon of poppy seeds. Combine ingredients. Fill four eggs.

For curried deviled eggs, add half a teaspoon of curry powder and a tablespoon of mayonnaise to  the third bowl with egg yolks and salt. Combine ingredients. Fill  four eggs and top with garam masala.

Eat immediately.

PS: A word on the mayonnaise. If you are using store-bought and you live in the South, you use Duke's. All other brands are lame.

Mediterranean Lamb Chops

Well hello from the west coast! As I mentioned, my boys and I packed up our junk and moved across the country to Seattle. We've been here about two weeks, and things are starting to feel like home. I mean, we still have box tunnels set up for Danny in the living room and all, but my kitchen is ready for action.

Recently we were sick of unpacking, so we decided to invite the husband's cousin and his wife over for dinner. (They promised they didn't mind climbing over the box tunnel.) When we were discussing the menu, we wanted something easy and delicious. Mediterranean Lamb Chops were just the ticket.

Mouth-watering, tender lamb loin chops are marinated with Middle Eastern-inspired flavors and charred on a hot grill. The marinade includes za'atar, a spice my mother-in-law introduced me to. It's a blend of oregano, thyme, basil, sesame seeds, sumac, and other spices. We are big fans. If you don't find it at your local supermarket, you can order za'atar from Amazon or through Penzey's Spices. It has a unique flavor, and it's worth seeking out.

Next time you fire up the grill, change it up from your usual steak and give these Mediterranean Lamb Chops a try.

Let's get cooking!
Erin

Mediterranean Lamb Chops
Serves: 4

1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons za'atar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 pounds lamb loin chops (about 8 bone-in chops)
Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)

In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, za'atar, salt, and pepper. Place lamb chops in a baking dish or a gallon-sized ziploc baggie and pour marinade over the top, turning to coat. Marinate lamb at least 2 hours or up to overnight.

When you're ready to cook, allow lamb chops to come to room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your grill to medium high and oil the grates. (If you have a charcoal grill, build a fire that's hot on one side and cooler on the other.)

Grill the lamb chops for about 4 minutes on each side, until they're nicely charred. Then turn the heat down to low (or move the chops to the cooler side of your charcoal grill), and continue grilling for an additional 5 minutes or until lamb reaches desired doneness in the center. Remove the lamb chops to a plate and cover with foil. Allow them to rest for 5-10 minutes so the juices can redistribute. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve.

Packet Potatoes

It's finally starting to feel like summer here in Illinois: hot and humid. That means the last thing I want to do for dinner is turn on the oven. Thank goodness for my grill.

These potatoes come out tender and mellow with just a little bit of crispness around the edges. The combination of garlic and rosemary is a savory favorite of mine and milk adds sweetness that tastes so good with the onions.

This is an ideal side for a main dish like grilled chicken or London broil. The leftovers hold up well and can be turned into breakfast after a quick toss in a skillet with some chopped red or green bell peppers to freshen them up. Serve alongside some fried or scrambled eggs.

Mangia! Mangia!
Andrea

Packet Potatoes
Inspired by Guy Fieri

3 pounds potatoes (Yukon or Russet or Idaho), thinly sliced into rounds
1 small to medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
3/4 cup milk (2% or whole)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried or fresh rosemary leaves, crushed or chopped

Heat grill to medium.

Mix all ingredients in large bowl.

Take a 20-inch sheet of aluminum foil and fold it in half. Place half of the potato mixture on foil and fold up edges about a 1/2 inch. Repeat for the remaining potatoes.

Top with another piece of foil and crimp around all edges, wrapping bottom foil up.

Place foil packets on heated grill and cook for 15 to 20 minutes.

Wearing oven mitts, use a large flat spatula to remove foil packets from grill and place on a cookie sheet. Let sit for 5 minutes.

Remove top piece of foil and serve — straight from the packet or after you transfer potatoes to a serving dish for a nicer presentation.

Open-Grill Brussels Sprouts

You know how I mentioned in last week's post on Chili Lime Corn Salad how we Georges are eating simply -- because of our kitchen renovation? Well, the kitchen work continues and so do our challenges putting dinner on the table. But thank goodness it's summer and we can grill. So the other day the hubby was again grilling sausages and I whipped up these Brussels sprouts based on what I had on hand that was also easily accessible (i.e. not packed up in some box stacked in the dining room).

The results? Delicious. The hubby and I were fighting over the grilled onions, which weren't even the main event in this yummy side dish.

Also, BTW, I tend to make Brussels sprouts entirely on the fly. For example, check out my Roasted (Kitchen Sink) Brussels Sprouts.

XOXO,
Amy


Open-Grill Brussels Sprouts
16 ounces Brussels sprouts trimmed
1 red onion, cut into big hunks
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and ground pepper, to taste

Toss all ingredients and then put veggies into grill basket. Grill over open flame for about 10 minutes. Shake occasionally. Veggies are done and ready to be removed from grill when Brussels sprouts are browned on some sides and  onions are turning translucent.

PS: I've mentioned grilling sausages in my last two posts. If you live in Northern Ohio,  check out Hasselbach Meats in Fremont. When visiting my family at Lake Erie, we stop by the award-winning family-owned Hasselbach meat shop and  fill up a cooler of brats, Italian sausages and what are called "fresh sausages" to bring home to Charlotte. Below is a pic of our grill with Brussels sprouts and Hasselbach's fresh sausages.

Herbed Pork with Fig Glaze

You guys, I am crazy for fig jam. I eat a Mozzarella & Fig Jam Panini for lunch almost every day. One of my other favorites? Herbes de Provence. I sprinkle that business on roasted vegetables, chicken...just about anything.

When I read a recipe from the Pioneer Woman that combined the two, I had to give it a whirl. Good gracious, this Herbed Pork with Fig Glaze knocked my socks off. I kept going back for more. And more. And more. Then I cleaned up after dinner, and tried a few more bites. The next day, I snuck cold slices straight from the fridge.

Seriously, you have to give this one a try. In addition to being ridiculously delicious, it's hands-off. After you season the pork and top it with fig jam, just pop that baby in the oven, and you're off to the races. Or the dinner table, as the case may be.

Let's get cooking!
Erin

Herbed Pork with Fig Glaze
Adapted from The Pioneer Woman
Serves: 6

2 pork tenderloins, about 2 pounds total
2 1/2 teaspoons Herbes de Provence
Salt and Pepper
1/3 cup fig jam

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy clean up.

Sprinkle pork on all sides with Herbes de Provence and salt and pepper, pressing to help the herbs adhere. Place pork on prepared baking sheet. Schmear fig jam over the top of the pork so it's evenly covered.

Bake in preheated oven for about 15-18 minutes, until pork is rosy pink in the center and reaches and internal temperature of 140 degrees. Tent with foil and allow pork to rest for 10 minutes. This will allow the juices to redistribute, and the meat will continue to come up in temperature to around 145-150 degrees. Slice and serve.

Green Rice

Summer is a great time to have fun with fresh herbs from the garden. When fellow mother-of-two-boys Molly W. gave me a big bunch of cilantro, I got to thinking about some new ways to use it. Enter this rice dish, which is inspired by the many recipes I've seen for cilantro rice.

As I've said before, we love Latin-inspired meals in our house. And my boys enjoy a little spicy kick, too.

I combined a poblano pepper with the cilantro, some flat-leaf parsley and green onions. The result is quite tasty. I served it with grilled pork tenderloin, but it would also go perfectly with tacos of any variety, especially — steak, fish, DIY or slow-cooker pork. A little guacamole on the side would be nice, too.

Mangia! Mangia!
Andrea

Green Rice

1 poblano pepper, seeded and sliced into thin strips
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh flat leaf parsley
2 to 4 green onions, cut into chunks (depending on how much you like onions)
1 or 2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 cups chicken stock 
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup uncooked medium or long grain rice

Place first six ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse until pureed. Set aside.

Heat oil over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan or skillet with lid. Add uncooked rice and saute until lightly browned.

Stir in puree and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, until all liquid is absorbed.

Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff rice with fork and serve.

Chili Lime Corn Salad

We have been eating pretty simply this summer -- when we've been eating at home, that is. You see, we are remodeling our kitchen. It is exciting. It is stressful. In our upstairs main kitchen, we have use of our new dual-fuel range, but no sink. Luckily, we have a partial kitchen downstairs with a sink. At least I'm getting a workout while I cook.

So, anyhow, the other night while the hubby grilled sausages, the kids and I whipped up this corn salad that I just made up in my head as we went along. (For their part, the kids gathered the ingredients, spread  the corn and peppers on the cookie sheet and, otherwise, just kept me company.)

The kids were so-so on the dish, but hubby and I enjoyed it. I will make it again and will plan ahead to have fresh cilantro on hand. Cilantro would be a nice finishing touch -- taste wise and visually.

XOXO,
Amy

Chili Lime Corn Salad

16 ounces of corn (fresh or frozen)
1 red pepper, diced
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt, pepper
1/4 medium to large red onion, diced finely
1 lime
1 teaspoon chili powder
Fresh cilantro, to taste (optional)

Spread corn and diced red pepper on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle the olive oil over the corn and peppers. Give the pan a light coat of salt and ground pepper. Roast at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until some kernels change to a nice caramel brown.

Combine into one bowl the corn, peppers and onion. Stir in the juice of one lime and one teaspoon of chili powder. Top with fresh cilantro if desired.

Fan Friday - July 3, 2015 edition

Time for another Fan Friday post. Thank you, dear readers, for not only tuning in but for giving our recipes a whirl and adding your own tweaks along the way.

xoxo,
The Ladies

Kerri made Spring on Toast (featuring eggs and asparagus).

Kerri made it her own by roasting some cherry tomatoes along with the asparagus and cooking her egg over easy, which she prefers to sunnyside-up. This is what Kerri had to say: "It's delicious! Also made it for lunch the other day over hashbrowns, rather than toast, for a light lunch along with a salad." 

Jamie made Turkey Feta Spinach Burgers.

As soon as Jamie read our recipe for Turkey Feta Spinach Burgers, she started thawing some ground turkey. Here’s how she tweaked her burgers, which she served with a side a asparagus:

“To make these turkey burgers, I first sauteed onion, garlic, and fresh basil from my garden. Next I added spinach to the saute pan until wilted. I then chopped up several pepperoncinis and added the onion, garlic, basil, spinach, peppers and feta to the ground turkey to mix and make into patties. I cooked them in a skillet on the stove for 6 minutes on each side. Once cooked, I topped them with some of the pepperocini juice and sliced tomato vs. using a bun!"

The verdict?

"Srumpdillyicious! Even my picky daughter decided to give them a try and liked them. Total thumbs up in my book!"

Turkey Feta Spinach Burgers with Pepperoncini Sauce

These are my all-time favorite burgers because of the way the briny feta cheese, earthy spinach and mellow onions combine with the zing from the sauce. It's a pleasure party for the palate.

If you're looking for a different take on July 4 fare, give these a try.

Mixing the feta and spinach with the turkey keeps the burgers super moist and flavorful. The creamy and spicy pepperoncini sauce delivers a refreshingly cool topper for this casual dinner.

I used to only cook these on the stovetop with my grill pan, but I've been toying with variations to keep the burgers from falling apart on my outdoor grill. Thanks to some collaboration with my nutritionist sister-in-law Karen S., this recipe ensures success with either cooking method!

Mangia! Mangia!
Andrea

Turkey Feta Spinach Burgers with Pepperoncini Sauce
Inspired by chef Sara Moulton

For the burgers
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/2 cup chopped white or yellow onion
5 oz baby spinach
Salt and pepper to taste
3 ounces feta cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
1 pound lean ground turkey
1 egg
1/4 cup or more of old fashioned oats, optional

For the sauce:
1/4 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
1/4 cup low fat mayo
2 tablespoons seeded and chopped pepperoncini peppers (from a jar)
1 tablespoon pepperoncini liquid from the jar
1 or 2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon minced garlic
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until it begins to brown, about 5 or 6 minutes.  Add spinach and stir until wilted. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a colander and let spinach and onion drain off excess liquid.

As spinach cools, you can mix up the creamy pepperoncini burger topper. In a small bowl, combine all ingredients for the sauce. Stir well and set aside.

Now you are ready to form your burgers. Mix together ground turkey, egg, spinach and onion, feta cheese, oregano, salt and pepper. If mixture seems too moist and loose, add oats to help add form. Shape into patties. You'll get four large or six to eight slider-sized burgers. Use whatever size makes sense for your family.

Spray burgers with cooking spray and grill over medium heat for about six minutes on each side.

If using buns, spread some pepperoncini sauce on the bottom buns and add the burgers. Spoon more  sauce over the burgers and top with bun. Or go bun-less and just use the sauce.