Cool Website

So it's not a recipe, but you could get some good ideas from it: www.supercook.com is a website where you enter in the ingredients you already have in your house and it gives you all the dishes you can make from them. Give it a try if you're short on ideas, then share the good ones you end up finding!

Summertime Broccoli Salad

This is a perfect (and easy) summer salad. I think it's best to make the night before to let it set and really soak up the flavor. If you do make the night before I'd recommend holding back a little broccoli and a few cranberries to mix in and freshen it up just before serving.

Ingredients:

• 1 head broccoli, stems removed and florets cut into pieces
• 4 slices cooked turkey bacon, crumbled
• 1/2 cup red onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 3/4 cup  light or olive oil mayonnaise (I know, I know - I hate mayo, too but really - you can't taste it once it's in)
• 2 tbsp white vinegar
• 1 1/2 tbsp honey
• 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish (this is optional but really adds a nice kick)
• 1/4 cup roasted no salt added sunflower seed kernels
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

 Preparation:

1. In a small bowl combine mayo, vinegar, horseradish, honey, salt and pepper.  Mix well and set aside.
2. In a large bowl combine broccoli, bacon, onion and cranberries.  Gently stir in the mayo dressing.
3. Add sunflower seeds just before serving.

Served best in the sunshine with a nice cold, adult beverage.

No, but really. This is probably one of my favorites so call me when you make it.

Adapted from A Chick Who Can Cook

Sweet Potato Burgers

So... I started with a recipe on this one but I strayed pretty far from it. The big thing to remember is that you're going to need a lot of seasoning in the burger mixture - otherwise it'll just taste like sweet potatoes on a bun.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups peeled, cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• 1/2 cup dry roasted pecans, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (plus a sprinkle for the onion topping)
• sprinkle of fresh ground black pepper
• Bread crumbs 
• Egg whites
• 1 tablespoon olive oil spread 
• goat's cheese
• 1 sweet onion

To start, microwave your sweet potatoes until soft. Peel and Mash in a medium bowl. Mix in breadcrumbs, olive oil spread, pecans, egg whites, seasonings until thick.

Pat into rounds and place in freezer to firm.

I have a stove top griddle that worked perfectly for cooking these but I imagine they'd do great baking in the oven at about 400 degrees. Either way you go you'll need olive oil or cooking spray to keep these from sticking.

Even though the potatoes are already cooked you'll still need to cook these about 40 minutes, turning once halfway.

While the burgers are cooking, grill or saute your onions.

Top your burgers with the onion and goat's cheese and enjoy! 

Baked Zucchini Chips

These are an easy way to make a great appetizer or side dish. I love serving mine with marinara sauce to dip. Don't feel like you have to stick to the recipe - feel free to improvise with the seasonings.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup dry breadcrumbs (Italian breadcrumbs work great)
• 1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmesan cheese (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fat-free milk 
• Egg whites
• 2 1/2 cups (1/4-inch-thick) slices zucchini (about 2 small) 
• Cooking spray 

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 425°.
2. Combine first 5 ingredients in a ziplock bag and mix well
3. Place milk and egg whites in a shallow bowl. 
4. Dip zucchini slices in milk and egg mixture and place in ziplock bag 
5. Shake well until evenly coated
6. Place coated slices on an ovenproof wire rack coated with cooking spray; place rack on a baking sheet. Bake at 425° for 30 minutes or until browned and crisp. Serve immediately.

The thinner you slice the zucchini, the crispier the chips will be. I normally slice mine as rounds but wedges would work too.

Enjoy!!

Adapted from Cooking Light

Cole's Law

hi friends,

we got a big ol' head of cabbage in our CSA this week. we don't eat cabbage. who wants it? anybody?

also, am i posting this at 10pm on a friday night? yes. yes i am.

finally, someone please tell me what in the world i can do with kohlrabi.

thanks!

Yummy Beets

It seems you other love or despise beets...but this recipe you are sure to love! Very simple and quick!

First you need to steam the beets. I have had much better luck with steaming than with roasting. Cut the greens off and save them for later. If they are small you don't need to cut the beet at all, but if they are larger beets it is best to cut them in half. Steam them until they are easily poked with a fork. Time will vary with size. Run them under cold water and the skin will rub off in your hands! Cube them into 1 inch pieces.

Combine 3 tbs brown sugar, 2 tbs orange juice and 1 tbs butter in a sauce pan. Cook over medium heat until it bubbles. Add in the beets. Cook until the liquid is mostly gone and the beets have a nice glaze. Usually 6-8 mins. Then they are ready to serve!

This can work for many other veggies like carrots, parnsips, and turnips. You can also replace the brown sugar with honey.

Yummy!!

*don't forget about the color changes you may experience the next day ;)

Sweet Potato Fries

This one is pretty basic but I know there'd been a few questions about how to get them just right. By just right I mean crispy around the edges and soft on the inside. My sweet potato fries couldn't get any easier.

Depending on the size of the potato I normally try to get about 8 wedges (cut length wise) from my potatoes. If you think a wedge is too big - slice it in half again. Just make sure all your wedges are about even in thickness.

Here's where it get really tricky:

• Preheat the oven to 425
• Lay your wedges out on the pan (baking stone preferred)
• Drizzle with olive oil
• Sprinkle with Kosher or Coarse Sea Salt and Pepper
• Flip and or shake to make sure every wedge is well coated
• Bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping after 15 minutes

Although I tend to stick with the classic, you can get really creative with the seasonings. Here are some interesting ones I've seen: Chipotle powder, smoked paprika, Chinese five-spice, pumpkin pie spice, Cajun seasoning, Old Bay or Sugar.

Enjoy!