Here in California, we’re fortunate to have an abundance of fresh produce in markets year round and we food bloggers like to make the most of it! If you are hosting the biggest eating day of the year, you want to create a memorable feast, and one sure way to do that is using fresh, […]
vegetarian recipes
Pasta with Red Chard and Chickpeas
Lately, I’ve been posting recipes highlighting green beans, peppers, eggplant, and lettuce from our garden. But what I was craving was some greens, like swiss chard – specifically, red chard, because of its beautiful color – very visually appealing with its shiny green ribbed leaves in colorful contrast to the brilliant red stems, I remembered my […]
Greek-style Eggplant Spread
New readers (thank you!) may not know what a big fan of eggplant I am. In fact, one of my signature recipes is a lower-calorie version of eggplant parmesan, which I have aptly named Eggplant Parmesan “My Way”. The Western (Globe) eggplant is your common grocery store variety – they are typically large with glossy dark […]
Fried Rice with Spinach, Peppers, and Smoked Paprika
With fresh spinach from our garden, some chopped yellow peppers, and smoked paprika for an aromatic smoky flavor, extra containers of steamed rice from the previous night’s Chinese takeout is transformed into a delicious vegetarian meal. Grilled peaches add a touch of summer sweetness and a lovely contrast to the spicy warmth of the paprika. […]
Zucchini and Sundried Tomato Tart
For my first ever professional photo shoot I prepared two entrees: one was a Mediterranean-inspired Zucchini and Sundried Tomato Tart, the perfect dish for a spring garden party or brunch. With summer nearly here, I decided on Grilled Lamb Kebabs for the second dish. Brochettes or kabobs are a lighter alternative to grilled steak or […]
Bucatini with Spinach and Mushrooms
This is another “No Recipe” dinner that I created from what I had in the fridge that needed using and a half-used package of pasta in pantry. Of course, to have anything in the fridge you have to go grocery shopping now and then, and most of you do. Also, a decently-stocked pantry of essentials […]
Unbelievable Vegan Stuffed Shells
Even though there’s years of research and information published about how unhealthy the typical American diet is, I feel as if the increased publicity of Food, Inc. and Michael Pollan’s books are reaching mainstream America and more families are taking action: eating more fruits and vegetables, less meat, closer to the source, etc. I’ve been […]
Meatless Monday – Roasted Veggie Lasagna
One day, while surfing Foodbuzz’s “Daily 9”, a photo called the Greatest Vegetable Lasagna in the World caught my eye. I clicked on it and scanned the recipe, the blogger was from Iceland (if I remember correctly) and linked to two sites that inspired her adaptation. The photos resulted in a Pavlovian response of instantaneous […]
Eggplant Parmesan “My Way”
Eggplant parmesan and I have had a long love-hate relationship. I rarely order it in restaurants any more because it’s usually the heavily-breaded, deep-fried eggplant smothered in cheese that I detest. Over the years, I’ve experimented at home to arrive at a version that is lower calorie, lower in fat, and less cheesy to please […]
Sassy Sausage & Peppers
Sausage and peppers is a classic comfort food and it’s so easy to make. Sometimes I add chopped tomatoes to have more juice that soaks into the roll, mmmm. This time I added tiny portabella mushrooms because I had them in the fridge and they add a “meatier” taste – you know, cuz I’m trying […]