Category Archives: Vegetables

Spaghetti Squash Alfredo with Spinach

Posted in “Keto” friendly, Keto, Low Carb, Spaghetti Squash, Uncategorized, Vegetables by

This is so yummy, “keto” friendly and gluten free. Inspired by a TikTok recipe we saw.

Ingredients

  • 1 spaghetti squash halved and seeded
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups shredded pizza cheese blend or mozzarella – 1 cup for the base & 1 cup for on top
  • 1 cup shredded parmesan
  • 1 cup whole milk or heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Crushed red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 cups spinach chiffonade – cut thinly

In a casserole dish place the squash skin side down so the hollowed out center is up. Drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and equally put the parmesan and 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella in each half.

Season the milk or cream with the seasonings and pour half into each squash. Add a cup of spinach to each half and mix with a fork. Top with the rest of the cheese and bake in 400 degree oven covered with tin foil for 30 minutes.

Remove foil and bake 10-15 more minutes to brown the top. Remove and with a fork scrape the squash into strands while mixing with the cheesy spinach sauce. Enjoy!

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PUMPKINS…Fun to decorate & Fun to Cook with!!!

Posted in Entertaining, Fall/Cold Weather Recipes, Pumpkin bread, Pumpkin Soup, Recipes, Ride Side Dish, Soup, Vegetables by

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Pumpkin’s…It’s that time of year again

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Simple Pumpkin Bread or Muffins

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Pumpkin Soup with Curry

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Roasted Pumpkin & Wild Rice

Pumpkins are a symbol of Autumn they are great to decorate and fun to cook with this time of year…

Easy Pumpkin Bread (or muffins)

Preheat oven to 350°F. (bake 50-60 minutes for loaf or 20-25 minutes for muffins)

  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 water
  • 1/2 teaspoon of each (cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice)
  • walnuts (optional)
    Sift together flour, salt, sugar, and baking soda.
    In a separate bowl combine pumpkin, oil, eggs, water, and 1/2 teaspoon each of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice.
    Combine all the ingredients but, do not mix too thoroughly. Stir in 1/2 cup walnuts (optional).
    Pour into a well-buttered 9x5x3 inch loaf pan or in muffin cups & bake.

Curried Pumpkin Soup- serves 6-8

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons curry powder
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 (29 ounce can) pumpkin
  • 1 1/2 cups half and half
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds (optional)

Melt butter over medium heat, stir in curry & flour and stir until smooth & bubbling. slowly whisk in broth and cook until soup thickens. Stir in pumpkin & half and half. Season with soy sauce, sugar, salt & pepper.

if adding the pumpkin seeds- Bake at 375 for 10 minutes or until brown then sprinkle over soup

Roasted Pumpkin and Wild Rice-serves 6

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees

  • 3 cups peeled, seeded and diced pumpkin cubes
  • 12 small red onions peeled or 6 large ones
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • salt & pepper to taste

In a baking sheet toss the above ingredients & roast for about 45 minutes until pumpkin is soft. Set aside to cool.

  • Wild Rice- make 2 cups according to package & mix in pumpkin and onions

The Dressing- put the below in a food processor & blend then pour over rice & pumpkins & serve warm

  • 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/3 cup cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 tablespoon water
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • salt & pepper to taste

Enjoy!!

Simple & Delicious Ways to Enjoy Butternut Squash…

Posted in Appetizers, Butternut Squash, Entertaining, Fall/Cold Weather Recipes, Recipes, Soup, Vegetables by

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Butternut Squash Soup

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Roasted Butternut Squash with Cranberries & Walnuts

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Roasted Butternut Squash with Brown Sugar

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Butternut Squash is healthy and delicious!

Our favorite is roasted or puréed into a soup.  Here are a few recipes for you to try this fall.

Enjoy and keep it chic and carefree!

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH CRANBERRIES AND WALNUTS (serves 4-6)

  • Pre heat the oven to 375
  • Butternut Squash (about 2 pounds)
  • Walnuts (1/2 cup chopped)
  • Dried Cranberries (1/2 cup)
  • 2 Tbsp Maple Syrup
  • 1 Tbsp Butter
  • Olive Oil, Salt & Pepper

Peel, seed and cube the butternut squash. Place on baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.  Toss to coat all the pieces and roast for about 30 minutes until the squash is fork tender.  Bigger pieces may take longer.

In a sauté pan melt 1 Tbsp butter and add 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts and cook for two minutes.  Remove from heat and toss in 1/2 cup dried cranberries and 2 Tbsp maple syrup.

Toss all all ingredients in a large bowl together…enjoy

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH THYME AND BROWN SUGAR (serves 4-6)

  • Preheat Oven to 375.
  • Butternut Squash (one large one cut into strips…you could also used cubed squash if easier to work with)
  • 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
  • 8 Thyme Sprigs
  • Olive Oil, Salt & Pepper

Slice butternut squash down the center and seed.  Place in a baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. Take the thyme sprigs and remove the leaves onto the squash, leave some whole sprigs because it looks so pretty.  Sprinkle brown sugar over the squash and roast for about 45 minutes or until squash is fork tender.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP (serves 4-6)

  • 4 cups Butternut Squash cubed
  • 1 cup diced Onion
  • 3/4 Cups diced carrots
  • 1/2 cup diced celery
  • 4 cups chicken stock (can use vegetarian stock if you are vegetarian…some flavor will be lost)
  • Parsley for garnish
  • optional marscarpone cheese

In a large soup pot heat 1 Tbsp olive oil.  Add diced butternut squash, carrots, celery & onion.  Toss to coat in the oil and cook until onions start to turn clear.  Season with salt and pepper.  Add 4 cups chicken stock and on a medium low heat, cook down until all the vegetables are tender enough to purée about 45 minutes.  With an emulsion blender puree the soup.  If you like a thicker soup use less stock.  Serve with a garnish of parsley and/or serve with a dollop of marscapone cheese if you want something creamy.

Enjoy!!

Simple & Delicious Meal Paired with White Wine

Posted in Appetizers, Cheese Plate, Entertaining, Recipes, Recipes Great for Warm Weather, Vegetables by

The Perfect Cheese Plate with our favorite Chardonnay (Grgich Hills Estate)

Lobster always delicious with Chardonnay

zucchini

Zucchini wrapped with Prosciutto & Parmesan Cheese

potato asparagus

Baked Potato Bites

On a recent trip to Cape Cod we prepared a meal around a delicious bottle of Chardonnay…Pick your favorite bottle & enjoy! we love Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay (from Napa Valley).

Cheese that Pairs well with White Wine….

  • A “Fresh Cheese” such as Goat Cheese
  • A “Funky or Smelly Cheese” such a Blue Cheese
  • A “Creamy Cheese” such as Brie, St. Andre or Tallegio
  • Meat…add at least one …Prosciutto, Sausage or Salami
  • Fruit, fresh fruit or dried fruit (both work) lets face it no one seems to eat it but it looks pretty
  • Nuts, we love Marcona Almonds from Spain

Lobster…you can buy them already steamed but if you want to do it yourself read below

Lobster is great with potatoes (baked or boiled) & vegetables (corn is usually served but asparagus, zucchini or a nice salad is also delicious).

  • Choose a pot that is large enough for them (you don’t want to crowd them)
  • Bring 2 inches of salted water to a rapid boil in a pot with a steaming basket
  • Place Lobsters into pot & cover
  • Shake or Stir the Lobsters occasionally
  • a 2 pound Lobster should be ready in roughly 15-18 minutes, a 3/4-1 pound lobster in 10 minutes (the shell should be bright red)
  • Remove Lobsters and set aside for a few minutes to cool before cracking them
  • Serve with melted butter (don’t skimp on the butter it’s my favorite part)

Baked Potato Bites (from Cookthestory.com) serves 6-8

  • Preheat oven to 450
  • 9-10 small yellow Potatoes, cut in half
  • 2 tsp olive oil, salt and pepper
  • 1 slice of Bacon
  • 6 spears of Asparagus (trimmed)
  • 4 1/2 tsp sour cream
  • mix Potatoes with 1tsp olive oil & place in baking dish cut side up ( cooks in 15-20 minutes)
  • place 1 slice of bacon in pan to cook at same time (a thin slice of bacon should cook faster then potatoes- take out when crisp, roughly 10 minutes)
  • Asparagus, mix with remaining Olive oil salt & pepper & place in pan should cook in 4-7 minutes
  • You can cook everything in the same dish and take out items as ready
  • let everything cool (these can be served at room temperature)
  • place Sour Cream on Potato, then chopped Bacon, then Asparagus & enjoy
  • If you prefer to serve these straight out of the oven substitute sour cream for cheese (your choice but cheddar is always good and comes shredded)

Zucchini wrapped with Prosciutto & Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese (serves 6-8)

  • 4 Zucchini-sliced length wise
  • 1/2 pound Prosciutto (We use San Danielle but any type can be used)
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • Olive oil, salt & pepper
  • Preheat oven to 400
  • In fry pan saute zucchini with olive oil until tender (about 6 minutes) remove & let it cool enough so you can touch it
  • Wrap Prosciutto around Zucchini & place in baking dish
  • Sprinkle Zucchini with Cheese, salt & pepper
  • bake for 10-15 minutes, serve warm

Enjoy!

Easy BBQ Recipes: Grilled Corn with a twist & Delicious Grilled Vegetables

Posted in BBQ, Recipes, Vegetables by

Recipes: Serves @ 6 (we suggest fresh herbs but if you are feeling lazy or tight on time hit your spice rack)

Grilled Corn Toppings! (you can cook the corn in a pot as usual if you don’t want to grill it and STILL use these delicious toppings!

To Grill corn leave on BBQ medium to high heat for about 15 minutes until tender.

  • Truffle Oil, Garlic and Parmesan Corn:
  • Combine 2 garlic cloves (grated or finely chopped)
  • 2 table spoons olive oil
  • 1 table spoon lemon juice
  • Combine the above in a bowl and baste corn the last 15 minutes of grilling. (if not grilling pour on corn when cooked)
  • 3 table spoons white truffle oil
  • 1/2 cup (2 ounces) Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
  • When corn is ready sprinkle with Truffle oil and cheese and enjoy
  • Classic Herbed Butter Corn
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped sage
  • 1/4 teasppon sea salt or kosher salt
  • combine the above in bowl and pour over corn when finished cooking.
  • Barbecue Glazed Corn
  • 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
  • 3 tablespoon finely chopped onion
  • 2 tablespoon honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
  • combine in bowl and baste corn the last 3 minutes of grilling (or pour over corn when finished)
  • Grilled Mixed Vegetables-Veggies even the guys will like!
  • 3 Red Bell Peppers-seeded and halved (cooks in 8-10 minutes)
  • 3 Yellow or Green Squash-sliced length wise (cooks in 8-10 minutes)
  • 3 Eggplant sliced length wise (cooks in 8-10 minutes)
  • 12 Cremini Mushrooms (cooks in 8-10 minutes)
  • 1 Bunch Asparagus (cooks in 4 minutes)
  • 12 Green Onions (cooks in 4 minutes)
  • Brush the Veggies with 1/4 cup Olive Oil and salt/Pepper to taste before grilling
  • The vegetables taste great as is but if you want to add a dressing here are some good ones below!

Dressing (pour on after Vegetables are grilled)

  • 3 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
  • 2 Garlic Cloves Minced
  • 1 Teaspoon Parsley Finely Chopped
  • 1 Teaspoon Basil Finely Chopped
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Rosemary Finely Chopped

Easier Dressing Options:

  • Use your favorite store bought dressing (place in a pretty bowl or dispenser)
  • Tzaziki Yogurt Dip (store bought placed in a bowl)
  • Pesto sauce or Olive Dip (store bought placed in a bowl)

Enjoy!