Homemade Sushi

There is certainly no shortage of great sushi spots in NYC.  Whether dining at the acclaimed and renowned Nobu (which I do not frequent) or grabbing take-out from the hole-in-the-wall spot down the street from my apartment, I think it's safe to say I would willingly eat sushi at least 5 days a week. 

Flashback to State College, PA, home of my alma mater Penn State, where sushi was not quite as prevalent and the pure logistics of being in the middle of nowhere left me slightly uneasy about consuming anything aside from vegetable rolls! This inspired me to try my hand at making my own sushi and it has been a fun project to take on every now and then ever since. Although it can sometimes be a time consuming process, it is not that difficult of a culinary feat when you keep things simple as I like to. 

On a recent trip home, the sheer sight of ample counter space sparked my culinary inspiration and making sushi for my family was just one of the outcomes of escaping from my shoebox NYC kitchen. 

The recipe:

You will need:

Sushi mat and paddle

Nori

Short grained rice (they sell specific sushi rice in stores, but any short grained rice will work)

Rice vinegar

Sugar

Salt

Sushi fillings (suggested - tuna, salmon, avocado, cucumber, red pepper, green onion, cream cheese)

Sesame seeds, wasabi, pickled ginger (optional)

Preparing the rice

Rice aka kome (vinegared rice) 

- 2 cups kome + 2 cups water --> 3 3/4 cups cooked kome

Measure out the rice and wash in water to remove the excess starch. Drain, rinse and repeat until the water comes clear. Once clean, soak the rice for 15-20 minutes and then drain a final time.

Add to a saucepan with water (1 cup of water for each cup of rice). Cover and heat on medium until boiling, then simmer until water is almost all absorbed - about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally with scraping paddle (shamoji). Remove from heat and let it sit for 10 minutes, then transfer to a separate dish (if necessary, dip paddle in rice vinegar solution, below, and use to help release rice from saucepan).

Sushi Su - rice seasoning 

Combine 1/3 c. rice vinegar, 3 tbsp. sugar and 1 tsp salt in saucepan and cook until sugar is dissolved. Set aside. 

Rice vinegar solution - use this to prevent the rice from sticking to fingers and paddle. Do not mix into rice. 

Combine 1/2 c. vinegar and 1 1/2 c. water

Mix the Sushi Su/rice seasoning into the rice (to taste). Fan to cool the rice - you will need to bring it to room temperature before rolling the sushi. Remember to dip the paddle and fingers in the rice vinegar solution as you go to remove the stickiness.  

Rolling the sushi

Slice all ingredients to desired size. If using sushi grade fish you will want to slice the pieces of fish against the grain.

Cover your rolling mat in plastic wrap. Lay piece of Nori, rough side up, on the mat. Using the paddle, scoop rice onto the Nori and spread around to make a thin layer. If rolling rice on the inside, leave ~1/2 inch at the top with no rice; if rolling rice on the outside, cover the Nori entirely with rice then flip over.

Sprinkle with sesame seeds and then layer toppings about 1/2 inch from the end as desired. Start rolling the nori over the ingredients, ensuring that they stay in place. Continue to roll and release mat, squeezing into the shape of a roll or log. 

Allow the roll to set for a few minutes. Using a sharp knife, slice sushi into pieces. Clean knife with rice vinegar solution to make slicing easier. 

Enjoy sushi with wasabi and soy sauce. 

Baked Burrata

I'm all for balanced meals, but cheese for dinner is totally warranted when that cheese happens to be burrata...wrapped in phyllo dough...with roasted tomatoes. Swoon.

A quick ingredient lesson: Burrata means buttered in Italian. Buttery cheese - think about THAT one for a second. Although it's technically not the same as mozzarella, the easiest way to describe Burrata is essentially as a ball of mozzarella with a creamy-velvety-cheesy interior. I'm still trying to figure out exactly how this twist on Baked Brie made it's way into Cooking Light magazine, but I am pretty thrilled that it did.

As is probably evident from my posts, most of my cooking is for my own benefit with the occasional dinner guest(s) to partake in the end product, so you can imagine my excitement when I had a good friend to conjure up a new creation with. Yet in all the excitement, following some of the directions went a bit out the window. Case in point: the phyllo dough. Dough might be a bit of a generous term for these paper thin sheets. Nonetheless, we improvised on the de-frosting process and never turned back - we couldn't risk having to wait any longer to dig into our Saturday night treat, ahem, I mean dinner.

Because I'm a seasoning junkie, I would recommend a few tweaks to the original recipe, but on the whole, I applaud you Cooking Light for highlighting this fabulous ingredient that somehow manages to fly under the radar.

The recipe
(Adapted from Cooking Light)
Notes on prep work: you will need to freeze the burrata ahead of time and defrost the phyllo dough ahead of time


1 (8-ounce) ball burrata or 2 - 4 oz (my preference)
Olive oil
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme, divided
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
4 large garlic cloves, chopped and divided
3 large ripe plum tomatoes, halved
6 (14 x 9—inch) sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed
Cooking spray

Unwrap burrata; gently pat dry. Wrap burrata in several layers of plastic wrap to preserve the "ball" shape. Freeze 8 hours or until completely frozen.

Preheat oven to 425°.

Combine 2 tsp oil and next 5 ingredients, using half of the quantities listed for thyme through garlic; toss to combine. Arrange tomatoes, cut sides up, on a foil-lined baking sheet and pour the mixture over top. Bake at 425° for 35-40 minutes or until blistered and liquid almost evaporates. Cool. Chop tomato mixture.

Reduce oven temperature to 350°.

Working with 1 phyllo sheet at a time (cover remaining phyllo to prevent it from drying), lay 1 sheet on a flat surface, and coat with cooking spray. Stack another phyllo sheet at a slight angle over the first, and coat with cooking spray. Repeat the procedure with remaining phyllo and cooking spray, angling each phyllo sheet slightly over the previous sheet. Note: if you do use the 2 4-oz burrata balls, you can improvise a bit/use your judgement on the phyllo - half sheets might suffice.

Using a slotted spoon, spoon tomato mixture in center of phyllo stack, and discard any liquid. Unwrap burrata, and place frozen burrata on tomato mixture.

Sprinkle remaining half of each of the seasonings directly onto the burrata.

Fold the phyllo edges over to enclose cheese and tomato mixture, pressing to seal. Turn ball over with tomato mixture on top, and place on a foil-lined baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Brush phyllo with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Remove from oven.

Preheat broiler to high. Broil cheese ball 2 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately.

Thyme for Root Vegetable Fries!

It's the season of change. Changing leaves, changing weather, changing wardrobes and changing vegetables. Ok, sure, some might be not as jazzed up about the last one, but the way I see it, it means a whole new line-up of vegetables to experiment with. Among my fall favorites are the members of the root vegetable family, including parsnips, sweet potatoes, beets and carrots. What better way to enjoy these veggies than to channel your inner child and treat yourself to some "fries"... 

Root vegetable "bakes" doesn't have quite the same ring to it, but no need to break out a vat of frying oil for this recipe when you have a perfectly functional oven at your disposal. Feel free to get creative with your seasonings, whether a cajun-inspired blend speaks to your palate or you want to put an italian twist on the flavors, you really can't go wrong. I thought sesame and thyme was an interesting combination and would definitely take it for a test drive again.

The recipe:

2 parsnips
2 carrots
1 large sweet potato
1 beet
1 tbsp sesame seeds
1/4 c. fresh thyme, finely chopped
1/4 c. olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Peel and cut the vegetables into uniform matchstick-like shapes. Warning: beets tend to "bleed" a bit so I like to keep them separate from the rest of the vegetables.

In a measuring cup, measure out 1/4c. of olive oil and add in thyme and sesame seeds. Add vegetables (parsnip, carrot, sweet potato) to a bowl and drizzle with the oil mixture. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheet. Add beets to the bowl and use residual oil to coat beets. Add to baking pan.

Bake for ~40 minutes, turning the vegetables half way through. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Hot Crab Dip

Luckily for me, Friendsgiving is becoming an annual tradition, so not only do I get to spend quality time with my best friends, but I also get to chow down on Thanksgiving dinner more than once...Jackpot! 

In the presence of great cooks this meant there was no empty space on my plate to start the meal or in my stomach by the end of the night. Although the 40lb turkey got vetoed immediately, the spread of mouth watering side dishes were the real stars of the evening.  

My contributions to the meal started with the appetizer round. Though I can't claim to have been the genius behind the amazing pear, prosciutto and goat cheese app that kicked off the evening, I went with a hot crab dip that is a family favorite at our holiday celebrations. Usually I scoff at the sight of mayo in a recipe, but all bets are off when this delicious appetizer is in front of my face.   

The recipe:

1 lb lump crab meat

1 can artichoke hearts, drained

1 c reduced-fat mayonnaise (start with 3/4 cup and add in the final 1/4 cup as necessary)

1 c shredded parmesan cheese

1/4 c green onion

Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400. Make sure there are no shells in the lump crab meat. Chop up the artichoke hearts and combine all the ingredients into a baking dish (I used about a 10x7 sized dish). Bake for about 20 minutes until the dip is heated through and starting to bubble.

Easy as pie! Serve with celery stalks or your favorite crackers.

Moroccan Eggplant & Tomato Salad

Standing in front of a pay-by-the-pound gourmet lunch buffet is probably not the best time to discover (and embrace) that you do in fact actually like eggplant, but naturally that is what happened to me. Dishes to Go by work has some great eggplant side dishes - usually middle eastern inspired. Given that the weight adds up, I figured it was about time to enjoy the dish on my own terms. 

During my recipe hunt, I was thrilled to stumble upon this recipe by the Shiska in the Kitchen. Just a few tweaks, a bit of patience and then I was able to enjoy this new gem over and over again!

The recipe:
1 large eggplant
3 tbsp olive oil
1 red or yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into chunks
1/2 onion, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (14.5 oz) fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 cup water
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt (or to taste)
1 tsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp black pepper

Paritally peel the eggplant in stripes, keeping strips of skin intact so they run down the sides of the eggplant vertically. I like the idea of leaving more of the skin on because it adds flavor and structure, so I only peeled off a few strips.

Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium. Cut the eggplant into 1-inch chunks. Put half of the chunks into the skillet and saute for about 10 minutes.

When the cubes begin to turn golden brown, transfer them to a larger pot. Add 1 tbsp of olive oil to the skillet and saute the second batch of eggplant chunks the same way, for about 10 minutes till golden brown. Transfer the chunks to the large pot.

Add 1 tbsp of olive oil to the skillet and add the bell pepper chunks and onion. Let them saute for about 3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and continue to cook for 2 more minutes, until the garlic is fragrant.

Transfer peppers and garlic to the large pot.

Add in the diced tomatoes, water, cumin, salt, sugar, paprika, crushed red pepper flakes and black pepper and bring all ingredients to a boil.

Reduce heat to a medium-low simmer and cover the pot, leaving a small gap open to vent. Let the mixture slowly simmer for 1 hour till sauce is thickened and reduced. Remove from heat.

Serve over quinoa or enjoy by itself!

Loaded Veggie Egg White Frittata

Not many would argue that brunch is a staple in New York - for both social and sustenance-related reasons.

I have had the pleasure of trying different brunch spots around the city and while Friedman's Lunch remains hands down my favorite (eggs with style; poached, chicken sausage, sub potato hash), some of my fondest memories are from homemade brunches enjoyed on the rooftops of my favorite Brooklyn dwellers. While my mom (of course) has always been up on the frittata scene, this recipe was introduced to me during one of the rooftop brunch gatherings. Love at first bite - I knew this was a recipe to request from the lovely hostess. Only a few minor adjustments to the cooking technique/ingredients.

It seems that regardless of the time that I make my way to brunch, I tend to exhibit familiar behavior...selecting eggs to start my day. So - this vegeful frittata is a great way to load up on veggies while still fueling the morning with some eggs. It packs a lot of flavor, not to mention nutrients.

The recipe:

1 tbsp. olive oil
2 small potatoes (like Trader Joe' potato medley), washed and thinly sliced
Broccoli, 1 cup
Cauliflower, 1 cup
½ cup carrots, thinly sliced
1/2 onion, thinly sliced
1 10 ounce pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
Trader’s Joe’s Everyday Seasoning (or your favorite seasoning blend)
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped
1 16oz. carton egg whites (you may need to add some additional egg whites depending on how generous you are with the veggies)
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1 cup shredded cheese (I used a 3 cheese blend)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a 12 inch skillet, bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Add broccoli, cauliflower, potato, carrot, and onion. Cover an simmer 6-8 minutes until vegetables are tender-crisp and water is evaporated.

Add ~1 tbsp of oil to the skillet, add in garlic along with some Everyday Seasoning (~1tsp) and saute for about 1-2 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine egg whites, cheese, basil, salt, pepper, everyday seasoning (~1 tsp). Pour over the vegetables. Allow the mixture to begin to set, about 2 minutes. Transfer to the oven to finish cooking. This will likely take somewhere around 15 minutes, but could take longer so be patient (this will depend somwhat on the positioning of the oven rack).

If necessary, continue cooking longer than 15 minutes - until almost set but still glossy. Cut into wedges to serve.

Balsamic Fig & Brie Panini

I guess we can go ahead and clear up the name of this post right away. My roommate was kind enough to question my so called panini, which in the absence of a panini press, is really just a glorified grilled cheese. Valid point, but I still like the fancy name. Let's proceed.

There are few foods as comforting as grilled cheese and tomato soup, particularly on a cold/rainy day. So I guess the fact that this is an American classic makes it easy to understand how grilled cheese has earned its rightful place in the food truck craze. In fact, the tradition of a Thursday trip to Morris Grilled Cheese Truck has evolved among several of my desk mates aka food truck enthusiasts. While at times they stray from the Classic melt, I have yet to hear of anyone returning with figs and brie in their sandwich (shocker). 

Seeing as it was love at first Fig Newton for me, I have been desperately trying to think of a fig recipe to feature before they cease to be available in the produce section. But the wait is over - this seasonally appropriate grilled cheese variety is quickly melting my heart... and the use of the balsamic glaze really elevates the flavors to leave a memorable/pleasant after taste.

While some might show their fig love by purchasing Costco sized flats of fresh figs (ahem, Katie/GF Blondie), many grocery stores do carry this delicate fruit while in season during late summer - early fall. A few caveats though: figs are fragile and won't keep for too long so be sure to use them within a day or two of purchase. 

I had a whole host of other ideas for what could go into this panini, but ultimately decided to keep it simple. However, in the spirit of full disclosure, here are a few more twists you could take:

- Caramelized onions
- Thinly sliced turkey breast or ham
- Honey drizzle
- Nothing beats fresh figs, but fig butter/jam is prettttty tasty too


The recipe (single serving):
- 2 pieces of multi-grain bread
- 2 fresh figs, sliced
- Balsamic glaze, estimated ~1 tsp.
- Brie cheese, enough to mostly cover the slice of bread
(Note: I recommend cutting the brie into smaller pieces than pictured above or at least making slices in the long strip to assist in the melting process)


Heat a skillet over medium heat.

Lightly spread the tops of each slice of bread with butter (I used light). On the bottom half of the bread, layer the cheese, add a drizzle of balsamic glaze, then top with the figs, add an additional drizzle of balsamic glaze. Top with the other slice of bread.

Add a few drops of oil to the skillet and then add the sandwich. Cook until bottom is golden, about 4 minutes. Flip sandwich over, and repeat with opposite side. It helps to apply pressure along the way to the top of the bread slice to help the ingredients congeal. Cut and serve immediately.

Semi-Homemade: Black & White Cookies

I have an embarrassing confession. As I sit here preparing this post, on one tab I have open the recipe page for the Paleo diet and on the other tab, the wiki page for black and white cookies. I guess this perfectly exemplifies the dichotomy that is my diet. 

Prior to becoming a resident New Yorker, and one who can now tell you we have Jerry Seinfeld to thank in part for making thse cookies famous, I spent a summer soaking up my final weeks of freedom. Naturally, this allowed for plenty of down time, so in between trips to ikea, I discovered that Betty knows the secret for transforming a plain jane bag of sugar cookie mix into a mean Black and White cookie.

So whether you eat the chocolate or vanilla side first, or head straight to the middle to get the best of both worlds, these treats don't disappoint. The sweetest part about it - the simplicity of the batter.

The recipe (Thanks Betty)

Cookie
1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
2 eggs

Icing
3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup dark chocolate chips (2 oz)
1 tablespoon whipping cream

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir cookie ingredients until batter-like dough forms.

With medium cookie scoop or heaping tablespoon, scoop dough 3 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 5 minutes; remove from cookie sheets. Cool completely.

Place powdered sugar in large bowl; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave 1/4 cup cream and 2 tablespoons butter on High about 1 minute; stir until butter is melted. Add butter mixture and vanilla to powdered sugar; stir until mixture is smooth.

In medium microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon cream on High 1 minute; or until melted. Stir half of vanilla icing into melted chocolate mixture until smooth and well blended. If necessary, add additional cream to thin both vanilla and chocolate icing.

For each cookie, turn cookie flat side up; spread chocolate icing in thin layer on half of cookie. Spread other half with white icing. Store covered at room temperature.

Green Dream Smoothie

Well, before the season for refreshing smoothies is officially replaced by the season for warming soups, I feel compelled to share this palate pleasing blend. I first tasted the combination at a little vegan cafe called Terri that is connected to my gym. Quite honestly, it now takes just about all the will power I have to not fork over $6 on a daily basis for this green treat.  

I think my rendition and the resulting ingredient proportions replicated the flavor of the Terri smoothie very well, so give it a try, you won't be disappointed. You also won't be disappointed in the simplicity of the preparation.

The recipe (serves 1):

1 c. almond milk
3/4 c. frozen kale (they now sell at Trader Joes!)
1/4 pear, skin removed and sliced (I used Bartlett)
1/2 banana, sliced
1 tsp. almond butter

Add to blender in the order above. Blend. Add a few ice cubes. Blend again. Enjoy!

Baked Plantain Chips & Guac

Whenever I am in need of some cooking inspiration, a visit to a new restaurant or at the very least, studying the menu, usually does the trick. So, no, I can't claim to be the mastermind behind this tasty snack - truth be told, even vending machines these days boast their own (far less fresh) versions of plantain chips. 

I first really started to enjoy plantains after a trip to Costa Rica on a self-declared  spring break during my first year of working in the real world. Often times for lunch or dinner, I would order a dish called "Casado", which included rice, beans, sweet plantains, meat, and veggies - quite a meal packed on a plate! Anyhow, sweet plantains are delicious, but interestingly enough require using overripe (yellow or black) plantains, as opposed to the underripe (green) plantains used for making chips.

I have included some loose guidelines below in the quest to execute the recipe to perfection! There is no exact science to making the chips and guac so get in there and taste test as you go. 

The "Recipe"... if you can call it that
Green Plantains, peeled and thinly sliced
Olive oil
Salt (Jane's Crazy Salt if you can get your hands on it)
Pepper
Seasonings: I used - Cumin, Paprika, Garlic powder, Cayenne (I would warn against being too heavy handed on this one)

Guacamole:
2-3 medium RIPE avocados, reserve at least one pit
1/2 lime
2 cloves garlic (use more if you wish!)
salt (about 1 tsp as a starting point)
pepper (about 1 tsp as a starting point)
cumin (about 1/2 tsp is a good starting point)
red pepper flakes (depends how much kick you want, try starting with 1/4 tsp)

1/2 tomato, diced

1/2 red onion, diced

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Slice off the skin of the plantain (peeling does not work particularly well). Then I would recommend cutting in half horizontally so you can stand the plantain up and ultimately have a better shot at achieving the desired thing slices. 

Toss the thinly sliced plantains in some olive oil and desired seasonings then placed on a foil-lined cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes to start (might require more time to crisp depending on how thin the slices are), remove from oven and turn over, return to oven and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes. If this doesn't achieve a desired crispy-ness, continue baking for additional time. 

While the chips are baking, begin on the guac by slicing each avocado in half vertically and scooping out the avocado (reserve one pit). Add the juice of half a lime and then mash into the desired consistency. Mix in garlic and spices, then fold in  tomato and onion. Taste test and add additional spices as necessary.

If by chance you find yourself with leftover guac, use the reserved pit to store and prevent the guac from browning. 

Steak & Veggies a la Chickpea Crêpe

Well three nights in a row of sauteed zucchini and onions probably warrants some real estate on the blog. I must say, multiple bouts of food envy collided to produce this wonderful concoction of a dish.

Envy #1 - Mom's grilled zucchini and onions. Yum! Nothing quite compares to the nostalgia of being at home and eating dinner (fresh off the grill) outside on the screen porch with mom and dad.

Envy #2 - Bar Suzette Crêperie. A Sunday stroll through Chelsea Market wouldn't be complete without visiting the sample sale of the weekend or more importantly some of the market mainstays - for example Bar Suzette . However, when the crêperie closes early for a special event...food envy ensues.

Envy #3 - Carnivorous cravings. Every now and then who doesn't love a good steak, even if it is in the form of thinly sliced strips!

Ultimately the crepe provided a bit of a smoky spice, while the veggies and steak offered a savory balance, reminiscent of an herbes de provence blend. All in all providing a full range of tasting experience for an eager palate.

The recipe:
Crepe (makes 2):
1/4 c. chickpea flour
1/4 c. almond milk
2 tbsp. water (maybe a little more)
dash of cayenne
dash of cumin
1/4 tsp. salt

Filling:
1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced
1/2 large zucchini (or 1 medium), cut in match sticks
1 ear medium sweet corn, kernels sliced off
1 tbsp basil, chopped
2 cloves garlic, fine chop
1/3 lb. top sirloin (or another lean cut of beef)
2 tsp rosemary, fine chop
Salt
Pepper
Olive oil
Plain greek yogurt for garnish

Begin by slicing up the vegetables/herbs. Add ~1/2 tsp olive oil to a saute pan and add onions. After about 3 minutes add in zucchini, corn and garlic (using additional oil/cooking spray as necessary to prevent burning). Cook for another 3 minutes, add desired amount of salt and pepper along with fresh basil.

Meanwhile mix together ingredients for crepes until a liquid consistency is achieved. Pour batter into a 9 inch pan and spread to cover the full pan. Cook over low-med heat. Flip once the edges start to curl.

Moving on to the steak, season with salt and pepper and press chopped rosemary into the meat. If using thin sliced meat, you will only need to cook for about 30-60 seconds on either side.

Transfer the crepe to a plate and top with all the ingredients + a dollop of plain greek yogurt. 

Purely Granola

As far as summer discoveries go, here's one for the books; Purely Elizabeth = Pure Bliss. Allow me to explain. Having two close friends with celiac has turned me on to many things gluten-free. So when I noticed Purely Elizabeth Original Ancient  Grain granola on the shelf at Whole Foods (of course) I couldn't resist picking up a bag for one of my favorite glutards...and later I returned to get one for myself. 

This amazing product is not only gluten-free, but also made with coconut oil, which gives it standout flavor; quinoa; and chia seeds - a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and antioxidants. 

Chia seeds may sound familiar - and even cause you to subconsciously sing the "ch-ch-ch-chia pet" jingle. After some quick googling to get to the bottom of the similarities, hit #2 revealed, "Don't eat your chia pet, but chia seeds are proving healthy." Bottom line, chia seeds are used to make chia pets, sans FDA standards. In addition to the benefits above, chia seeds actually prove to be energy and endurance enhancing - great news for a wannabe runner such as myself.

As I eyed up the final few grains in my first bag of Purely Elizabeth, on sale  for a not so budget friendly $6, I was determined to get my hands on a cheaper version. With this in mind, I made another important discovery - granola is incredibly straightforward to make at home. One quick trip to the grocery store and I was ready to tackle a new food project.

I offered the first test run of granola to one of my coworkers, a fellow Purely Elizabeth enthusiast. She keenly picked out that mine contained more cinnamon flavor and moisture than the original. I tried a few different variations and encourage you to dial ingredient amounts up and down to your liking. For a more cluster-y granola, try using some additional honey - drizzle on the granola once it is spread on the pan.

The recipe:
2 cups multi grain oats (for the gluten free version use gluten free oats)
3 tbsp coconut oil
¼ cup honey
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp uncooked quinoa
2 tbsp chia seeds
1 tbsp cinnamon
½ tsp salt
1 tbsp Sunflower seeds

Preheat oven to 300°. In a large bowl, stir together coconut oil, honey, cinnamon, salt, oats, quinoa, chia, and sunflower seeds . Mix until evenly coated.

Spread in an even layer on a foil or parchment-paper-lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, stir and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Cool completely before serving or storing in an airtight container.

Note: cooking times may vary by oven so be sure to keep an eye (and nose) on the granola.

Tomato Layer Salad

Living up to its name as the Garden State, Jersey certainly doesn't disappoint with its tomatoes. During the several weekends this summer that I have spent at the Jersey shore, I have made a point to land the juicy red ripe tomatoes on my plate - breakfast, lunch and dinner - I don't discriminate.

 This past weekend was no different.  In between water activities, episodes of TLC's Honey Boo Boo and eating enough to grow a food baby, I managed to sneak to Jerry's Farm Market situated one long block away from the ocean in Ortley Beach to pick up my own supply of tomatoes. Jerry's is a cute little stand that is a great one stop shop for produce - as GlutenFreeBlondie's family can attest to.

With tomatoes in hand, it was a no brainer to take full advantage and make this Cooking Light recipe. With the icing on the cake being that the recipe also incorporates sweet summer corn and avocado. Oh and did I mention the buttermilk dressing bursting with fresh herb flavor adds an amazing element of contrast that is melt in your mouth good!!

In the absence of a grill, my brand new pots and pans (woo!!!) were a perfect way to apply a little pseudo-grill to the corn.

The recipe:
(Adapted and slightly modified from Cooking Light)

2 ears shucked corn
1/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives
2 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons plain greek yogurt
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided

Actual tomato quantity and variety is up to you, but here is the recommendation:
2 large beefsteak tomatoes, cut into 8 (1/2-inch-thick) slices total
2 globe tomatoes, cut into 8 (1/2-inch-thick) slices total

1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 ripe peeled avocado, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

Slice kernels off the corn and add to a pan with 1 tsp olive oil.Saute over medium heat until browned.

Combine buttermilk and next 5 ingredients (through garlic), stirring with a whisk. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

Sprinkle tomato slices evenly with salt. Alternate layers of tomato and avocado. Scatter corn evenly onto plates. Drizzle each tomato stack with about 1 1/2 tablespoons dressing and a drizzle of oil.

Sprinkle remaining 1/4 teaspoon black pepper over salads.

Spinach Artichoke & White Bean "Endive Dippers"

As healthy as endive spears are, tortilla chips are fun too... (featured - Trader Joes Veggie & Flax Seed Chips)

Last week while standing in line for salad at one of my favorite grab-and-go lunch spots, I couldn’t help but overhear a woman crafting her own salad packed with vegetables and…cannoli beans. Clearly she had Italian desert and not healthy salad fixings on the brain. While fighting back the giggles, I got to thinking about other ways I could incorporate white beans, or cannellini beans, into recipes.

One thing led to another and here we are with endive dippers in one hand and spinach artichoke and cannellini bean dip in the other.

The artichoke added a nice creaminess to the dip, while the spinach provided the green boost; white beans injected fiber and protein and rosemary the nice flavor. I guess it shouldn't come as much of a surprise, but the dip did remind me somewhat of hummus.

This recipe can be as simple as a quick rinse of the beans and a toss of everything in the blender, or it can involve some light sautéing before combining. Either way, it is destined to be a hit. Pita chips, tortilla chips or crackers work for serving too.

The recipe: 

3  large garlic cloves, chopped

1/4 c. red onion

4 cups baby spinach

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 can artichoke hearts, drained and rinsed

1 can white beans, drained and rinsed

2 tbsp fresh rosemary

3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon olive oil + oil for cooking

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

In a large nonstick skillet, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add 1/2 of the spinach and cook for 2 minutes until wilted. Repeat with the remaining spinach. Let the mixture cool for a few minutes.

Place the spinach mixture, a tbsp of olive oil, cannelloni beans, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, parmesan and pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Transfer to a small serving bowl. Serve with endive spears.

Nectarine, Prosciutto and Arugula Flatbread

In the age-old battle of battle of toe-may-toe, toe-mah-toe, we have some new contenders: pro-shoot and pro-shoo-toe. Today' story is of Fruit and Pro-shoot (rhymes!). A quick google search informs me that some italians have taken it upon themselves to drop the last syllable of the word, but regardless of the pronunciation, this recipe brings together the salty and the sweet in perfect harmony to create a little something savory. 

I will be the first to admit that I constantly find myself brainstorming ways to incorporate fruits into recipes other than desserts, but when we're talking sweet, juicy nectarines it is 100% warranted. Nectarines are the long lost cousin of the peach and in my experience; the pros - no "peach fuzz", the cons - they can be very difficult to cut around the pit. I have often had more luck finding flavor-packed nectarines...there have been one too many times I ended up with a bland peach. But my new rule to live by for peaches is: if you can smell the flavor you'll be able to taste it. So regardless, either variation will work for this recipe. Especially because when paired with the prosciutto (something I always consider a treat) and other ingredients, this flatbread becomes a prime candidate for a dinner party appetizer that won't go unnoticed. 

Another great way to elevate the flatbread is to add a drizzle of balsamic glaze on top. But whatever you do...

I guarantee this won't last long!

The recipe:

Flatbreads (like Trader Joe's Middle Eastern Whole Wheat Flatbread)

1/4 c. Parmesan Cheese, divided

Prosciutto (about 1.5 thick slices or 3 thin strips per flatbread, enough to mostly cover)

Nectarine, sliced

1 tbsp chopped basil

1/3 c. arugula

Olive oil

Pepper

Oregano

Preheat broiler. Drizzle olive oil over the flatbread and spread around to lightly coat. Sprinkle with

pepper and oregano. Sprinkle half of shaved parmesan over the flatbread. Place in the broiler for 1 minute to melt the cheese.

Remove and drape prosciutto slices over (about 3 thin slices), arrange nectarine slices atop prosciutto.

Return to broiler for 3-4 minutes. Meanwhile mix together basil and arugula and drizzle with a tiny bit of

olive oil (<1tsp). Remove pizza from oven and top with arugula mixture.

Top with remaining parmesan (if you wish). Cut into pieces and serve. (Also - try drizzling with balsamic glaze for some additional contrast!)

Another note: After melting the cheese you could skip any return to the broiler for more of a cool and refreshing nectarine/prosciutto combination, while still maintaining the crispy crust.

Speculoos Rice Krispie Treats with White Chocolate Drizzle

Discovering new ingredients can be both a blessing and a curse. Take for example Trader Joe's Cookie Butter - a take on Speculoos spread (which essentially tastes like teddy grahams in spread form). I have officially proved that I am incapable of exercising enough self control to keep a jar of this magical spread around my apartment. 

While I would be perfectly content to just eat spoonfulls of cookie butter (come on, who hasn't eaten a spoonful of straight peanut butter at some point - same thing), I don't think it ranks too high on the scale of socially acceptable actions.

My solution was to instead keep a container at work for both myself and my colleagues to enjoy (I figured judging eyes - within 3 ft on either side of me - would prevent overindulgence). Despite this solution, I still knew I wanted to craft a Speculoos dessert; one fateful day the skies parted and it dawned on me, SPECULOOS RICE KRISPIES! While it turns out I wasn't the first one to come up with this brilliant combination, I was nonethless still excited to try it.

I think these treats received the coworker stamp of approval, as proven by the empty plate sitting on my desk!

The recipe:
4 tablespoons butter
1 bag (10.5 ounces) miniature marshmallows
½ cup cookie butter
5 cups Rice Krispies cereal
½ cup white chocolate chips + ¼ cup for drizzle
1 tsp. milk or cream

Line a 9inch baking pan with parchment paper and coat with non-stick spray; set aside ( I used about a 6x12 pan which worked fine as well). 

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until completely melted - be patient. Stir in the cookie butter until melted. Remove from heat.

Add the Rice Krispies cereal and 1/2 cup white chocolate chips. Stir until well coated. Spread the rice krispies into the pan and using a piece of wax paper, evenly press the mixture into the pan. 

Meanwhile, add 1/4 cup white chocolate chips and milk/cream to a dish and melt in the microwave. Drizzle over top of the rice krispies. Allow to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes, or until set. Cut into squares and serve.

Cucumber Watermelon Gazpacho

We celebrated America's birthday this year with soaring temperatures and fireworks; luckily in NYC our fireworks consisted of more than one marvel of an explosion (whoopsie, San Diego). As I sat on my rooftop, enjoying the random middle-of-the-week break from work, I was soon  greeted by my neighbor carrying a large speaker that easily surpassed him in girth, almost in height. After our brief exchange about his soon to begin party, I decided this would be my queue to relocate my sunbathing to the West Side Highway. 

As the day progressed, my previously non-existent evening plans evolved and before I knew it, I had a last minute 4th of July potluck dinner to attend. This sure beat my original plan of hoping I could see the fireworks from my roof, hah. So, potluck, what to bring? On days when it's a challenge to even stand idle outside without breaking a sweat, it's sometimes hard to be motivated to crank up the oven and test out new recipes. With several of the good old classics already covered for the evening, I knew I wanted to bring something light and refreshing to the table (sorry, I love puns). The solution: a refreshing new take on gazpacho. Cucumber Watermelon Gazpacho to be exact.

I adapted the recipe from epicurious, so a few things to point out that I changed: used only 1 orange pepper in place of the 2 peppers originally called for; substituted basil for the mint; did not use jalapeno (mostly because I didn't have one); left off the vinegar. I also blended everything instead of leaving large chunks in the soup. Despite the changes, I still loved the outcome, though I think the jalapeno would have added a nice kick...next time.

The recipe:

5 cups (approx) seedless watermelon, diced

1 cup cucumber, peeled, seeded, diced

1 cup red bell pepper, seeded, diced (I used orange because Trader Joes was out of red, but red will better preserve the color)

3 pale green inner celery stalks, diced (about 1/2 cup)

1/2 small onion, diced (about 1 cup)

1/4 cup chopped basil

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup greek yogurt

Puree 4 cups watermelon in blender until smooth. Transfer puree to large bowl. Blend remaining 1 cup diced watermelon and all ingredients (except yogurt) to desired consistency. Then stir with previously blended watermelon to combine. (Or if you have room in the blender, puree the first batch of watermelon then add in other ingredients into the blender and pulse to desired consistency).

Cover gazpacho and refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours. Dollop greek yogurt on top before serving. 

Sip, slurp, or spoon and be refreshed!