Category: recipes

Garden Bounty: Bring On The Heat

The garden is finally starting to release its bounty. But those jalapenos? I cannot believe how hot they are. I cut into one, planning on adding it to my Cucumber-Tomato Salad (I’ll post the recipe tomorrow) and the fumes about knocked me over. I actually removed the seeds and ribs – something I rarely do, because I love spicy –  and it was still muy caliente!

It’s been a slow start, but I think we are getting into peak harvest. I’m off to buy some Palisade Peaches – I have some great recipes for peach season that we will revisit.

Until then…

x-posted at What’s 4 Dinner Solutions

Farmer’s Market Week: Green Beans w/Red Peppers

The garden is starting to overflow with ready-to-pick goodies. Here are some new flavors to try with fresh green beans. Below are stovetop and instant pot instructions.

Photo: Betty Crocker

Green Beans w/Red Peppers:

  • 1 lb green beans, trimmed
  • 1 red pepper, seeded and sliced in strips
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 oz sliced black olives
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes

Stovetop:

Tools: steamer & saucepan

Place steamer, in saucepan, with just enough water to come to the bottom of the steamer and add beans.  Steam beans until tender-crisp, about 3 to 4 minutes. Drain beans and set aside. Heat oil in saucepan, sauté pepper & olives for 1 minute, toss with beans, lemon and pepper flakes.

Instant pot electric pressure cooker:

Tools: electric pressure cooker and steamer basket

Place steamer, in the electric pressure cooker, with just enough water to come to the bottom of the steamer and add beans.  Use the pressure cooker setting for about 3 minutes for crisp beans (my preference) or 7 minutes for super tender beans. Remove steamer and drain the water from the pan.

Add oil and use the sauté setting to heat the oil. Then add the pepper & olives and sauté for 1 minute, toss with beans, lemon and pepper flakes.

x-posted at What’s 4 Dinner Soutions

 

Cross-Posted: Food In Fiction, Underway Recipes

Cross-posted from What’s 4 Dinner Solutions.

One of my favorite things is recipes in fiction novels. I’ve featured quite a few of them here. 

So when I began to write my own fiction, I wanted to include recipes. Run Aground (Book 1 in the TJ Wilde Trilogy – for sale here) featured Smashed Potatoes and Lemon Piccata Chicken

My newest book, Underway (Book 2 in the TJ Wilde Trilogy) features two recipes.  Tahini Walnut Rolls (recipe here) and Sausage and Grapes below.

Underway is on sale now, here. You can read Chapters 1 and 2 here.

From 2015:

…I decided to experiment with flavors I would have never thought of on my own. Facebook and blog friend Michael F, shared a recipe on Facebook from Italy, in Italian no less, and the photo intrigued me. I let google translate the recipe (which was a hoot) and went about putting my touches into it.

It was so unusual, my most reliable recipe testers politely declined my dinner invite. Totally understandable. But I will tell you I was pleasantly surprised how well this turned out. If you like pork and apples, this has a similar flavor palate. It was also quick and easy to prepare. I’m glad I decided to experiment.

All right, if you’re up for something new and different, here you go, tonight’s featured recipe.

Sausage and Grapes

  • 8 links Italian sausage (I used spicy, but you could use any style sausage you favor)
  • 1/2 sweet onion, finely diced
  • 2 tsp fennel seeds
  • 1 cup green seedless grapes, washed, dried and halved lengthwise
  • 1 cup red seedless grapes, washed, dried and halved lengthwise
  • salt and pepper to taste (I used none, didn’t need it)
  • angel hair pasta
  • freshly grated Parmesan

skillet

Slice sausage links into four pieces each, add to skillet and fry on medium high for about 10 minutes. Add onion and fennel seeds, cook another 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent. Add grapes, stir until well mixed, cover and let simmer for an additional 10-15 minutes while pasta cooks.

Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.

You can toss with the sausage mixture, or serve separately. Serve with Parmesan.

The pasta was my addition. When I asked Michael what would be a good side, he suggested eggplant or roasted potatoes. Roasted zucchini spears would probably work well, too.

 

Novel Recipes: Italian Sausage and Grapes

So in Run Aground I had several recipes that I’ve linked to my recipe blog. I have continued the tradition with Underway.

First it was Tahini Walnut Rolls

Next up, Italian Sausage and Grapes:

It’s sounds unusual, but it has amazing flavor and so quick and easy to prepare.

The recipe is here.

Buon appetito!

Cookbook News: Summer Into Fall Edition Available Now!

From my cooking blog:

Order What’s 4 Dinner Solutions: Summer into Fall here!

What’s 4 Dinner Solutions actually started years before the blog, as a menu service for busy families. When it was time to move on from that, I started the blog to continue sharing recipes. But what that means is, I have in my arsenal, fifty-two weeks of menus, recipes and shopping lists.

A few years ago, a friend convinced me to turn it into a cookbook. I quickly realized it would be unmanageable as one cookbook, so I’ve created four: Summer into Fall, Fall into Winter, Winter into Spring and Spring into Summer.

Recipes and menus are seasonal, to take advantage of what is local and fresh when available.

Not ordinary cookbooks. These are more a weekday dinner menu guide, including menus, recipes, shopping lists, and helpful tips.  Most menus are thirty minutes or less.  Each menu is filled with fresh ingredients that complement each other.

What’s 4 Dinner Solutions: Summer into Fall is available now! Order here.

Over the coming months, I’ll post a recipe and menu from the cookbook each week.

Until then….