Ra-ta-tat-touille

One of the most nostalgic food scents for me is onion frying in olive oil. I think the reason why it’s so nostalgic is because it’s the base for most, if not all of my favorite things to eat. There are very few dishes I make that doesn’t include sautéed onion as its base ingredient. I believe a truly great dish begins with onion and goes on to reveal endless layers of fragrance and flavors. Adding the first burst of aromatic, woodsy herbs and garlic to the onion gets a flavor party set in motion that really won’t stop until it hits your palate. In the end, the onion gets to be the thing that holds the entire dish together. If you’re a fan of onion and layers of stewed vegetables and herbs, try today’s recipe. This is Ratatouille and Parsley Pesto Crusted Mahi Mahi.

The Best Way to Peel Red Pepper for Soup

I’m a little obsessed with my site summaries. I love to see where my readers originate and I’m always interested in the things people search for when they stumble upon my blog. Today’s tiny post will be  a sort of “Ask Meeganism” section where I’d like to help resolve some of those queries. This is the Best Way to Peel Red Pepper for Soup.

Positively Pot Stickers

I love to cook but there are many times when I cringe at the thought of turning on the stove or making a huge mess prepping ingredients. Sometimes the effort of cooking doesn’t seem to be worth the resulting dish–which even I’ll admit doesn’t always taste as good as it looks. Yesterday I had one of those moments. In fact, I almost considered grabbing some Chinese food just so I didn’t have to cook. Naturally the guilt of ordering take-out kicked in and I decided to fight my lethargy and make something anyway. I love any food that’s both fun to make and eat so if I was going to make the effort to cook,  it had to be something interesting. Cue to the cute little pot sticker wrappers sitting on the grocery shelf just begging to be taken home. 

Summer Eating From the Roots Up

I grew up in a country where every meal features ingredients directly sourced from a home garden, so it’s no surprise I get absolutely giddy during farmers market season. But it’s not just the freshness that I enjoy–it’s the entire process. Snapping sprigs of fresh thyme from a sturdy branch, plucking little round peppers away from leaves, the smell of tomatoes fresh off the vine. While all the snapping and plucking is already done for greenmarket patrons, I relish the times I can get into a garden and retrieve the ingredients on my own.

My favorite coffee shop is on the verge of change…

I never gave much thought to scones. At least not until I discovered Inwood’s Darling Coffee and their incredible line-up of pastries and local brew. Now I’m hitting withdrawal if it’s been a few days sans scones, I’m head-over-mouth in love with them! They’re soft, and sweet and covered with magic pixie dust–or coarse pieces of brown sugar, whatever.

Sushi Roll of Seduction

“Bonjour, mon beau! You had me at wakame.” This gal is a charmer, and with no rice she’s a waistline pleaser! This is raw sushi with zucchini, cucumber, green leaf lettuce, tomato, and avocado.

Sour Cherry Compote

When life gives you sour cherries, what do you do with them? Drown them in spiced rum and throw it on some ice-cream, of course! This is Sour Cherry Compote on Non-fat Vanilla Frozen Yogurt from my neighborhood Fro-Yo joint.

One Extraordinary Ingredient

Black Bean and Chili Stir-fry Noodles

Sometimes all it takes is one ingredient to elevate an otherwise ordinary dish. That ingredient could stand alone or be part of a whole–like Herbs de Provence to roasted poultry or green mango to a West Indian fish curry. When you’re eating it, you just know. I’ve discovered that everlasting ingredient for possibly every Asian dish I plan to make from now on. Black Bean Chili Paste. It’s so freaking good I could spread it on toast and eat it for breakfast! This is Chinese Stir-fry Noodles enhanced with the best chili bean paste I’ve ever had.

Balsamic Roasted Fingerling Potato with Lemon Aioli

Courtesy of Wikipedia

I found this recipe in my list of drafts and realize that I don’t have a photo for it. I had to resort to “borrowing” one from wikipedia. It’s a simple, delicious recipe that I think you’ll enjoy. Since it’s way too hot to turn on the oven, try parboiling and grilling them instead. This is Balsamic Roasted Fingerling Potato with Lemon Aioli.

I swear I’ve Been Cooking…Look!

Click on any of the images below for a larger, more appetizing slideshow!

 

 

Tacos made with Stage-4 organic, grass-fed, pasture-raised beef, organic blue corn taco shells and my super-awesome guacamole

Lemon-Caper Spread with Vegenaise, Cream Cheese and Dill

Flounder and Oyster Mushroom and Mesclun salad with a Sesame Shitake Vinaigrette

Pala’s Arribiata Gluten-Free Pizza

New York City’s Pala

Smoked Salmon, Radish and Clover Sprouts, Asparagus and Lemon-Caper Spread on Grilled Toast

Quinoa, Carrot and Kale Soup