Side Dishes

Spinach Salad with Persimmons, Roasted Beets, Goat Cheese and a Toasted Hazelnut Vinaigrette

November 22, 2010
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Every year we try to change it up somewhat when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner. But there are so many “traditional” dishes that we have to make (turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes…) that the options for change really only come within the green-vegetable-side-dish category. This year I thought a salad might be a nice, lighter choice to counterbalance the heavy (but oh-so-good) starches that dominate the traditional sides.

I have a persimmon tree, and this year have a surplus of fruit as those of you with fruit trees know how that happens. I thought that perhaps people would be looking for something to make with those persimmons other than the typical cookies, or even my own Persimmon Cranberry Bread. I’ve set some of my Fuyus aside in the refrigerator to keep them firm until Thanksgiving day because rather than ripe soft fruit, this salad needs to be made with the firm …

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Fresh Three Bean Salad

August 30, 2010
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A couple of months ago a friend emailed me and asked what she could do with a case of canned green beans. Never mind why she had a case of canned green beans in the first place, I was stumped. Beyond the typical Thanksgiving green bean casserole (made with condensed soup and topped with canned fried onions), I had no idea because I never eat them. I just don’t like their typically limp and soggy texture.

So while I wasn’t able to help with her quandary, I’d like to share a recipe of what I don’t make with canned green beans, this Fresh Three Bean Salad. Yes, I am using canned kidney and garbanzo beans, and if you have access to fresh, you could use those too, but the quality of the canned ones are usually pretty good and much easier to find. Fresh green beans on the other hand, are almost always available so …

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Midsummer’s Garden Vegetable Ratatouille

July 28, 2010
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Is there such a thing as too much zucchini?
Oh yes, there is.
We went away for a week and our garden went crazy. It was scorching hot at home while we were in Panama and the garden responded as if breathing its last breath; it pumped out extra vegetables in a last ditch effort to get all its children off a sinking ship.

So what to do with all this bounty? Well, besides cooking up many of the other garden inspired recipes I have, I like to make a simple and fresh ratatouille. This dish is not only versatile, but freezes well for later when all the fresh vegetables are gone. See the end of the post for some ideas on what to do with extra ratatouille.

The vegetables are cooked in stages in this recipe. I did it this way for two reasons; first because I could not fit everything in my …

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Pesto Macaroni Salad with Tomatoes, Corn and Fresh Mozzarella

June 29, 2010
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My mother and I are a lot alike. People often confuse our voices on the phone, we’ve been known to (independently of one another) buy the same shoes, and we share the same Sicilian temper which flares up on occasion.

But I am not my mother and this is not her justifiably famous macaroni salad. I can’t compete, so I won’t even try. In fact, I still don’t know exactly what she puts in it, so I simply made up my own, and the two salads can stand proudly side by side, as individuals, just as we do.

This salad is a twist on the traditional, adding in some old world flavors and the sweetness of fresh corn so readily available in summer. It’s an easy side salad for a summer BBQ or picnic and makes enough for a crowd.

Tell me, do you have a family recipe which you’ve tweaked or updated?

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Grilled Asparagus with Blood Orange Vinaigrette

April 13, 2010
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This fast and easy recipe exemplifies “spring” to me. There’s no story behind it, just a classic combination of fresh spring asparagus and sweet blood oranges. The flavors compliment each other and the colors are beautiful together on the plate.

If you’re not familiar with blood oranges they have a dark red color and taste almost like berries mixed with oranges. Sweeter than the typical orange, they are commonly found in the Southern Mediterranean, but it’s not uncommon to find them in the markets here in California. If you want, you can steam the asparagus but grilling it gives a slightly charred taste which balances well with the acidity of the vinaigrette and the sweetness in the blood oranges.

Before you start, get your grill ready or use a grill pan like this one; All-Clad 11-Inch Square Grill Pan. I don’t want to debate the merits of charcoal vs gas, so let’s just leave it …

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Spicy Long Beans with Cashews

December 28, 2009

 

Spicy Long Beans with Cashews

I’m back! I know I’ve been gone longer than usual and I’m sorry for that, but the past few weeks have been difficult and busy to say the least. Without going into too much detail, I’ve spent some time focusing on my other web site, created a 116 page blurb book (which had to be done in time for Christmas), and dealt with a family member’s serious illness. In the process, I learned more about the current state of US hospitals and the medical system than I ever wanted to know. Suffice it to say, here’s to hoping 2010 will be a less chaotic and stressful year!

 This recipe is a quick and easy side vegetable for many Asian themed meals. The last time I made it, served it alongside some thai curry with shrimp, but it could easily go with a Chinese style stir-fry.

Long beans are also known as “Chinese …

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