Salads · Vegetables

Baked Salad

Delicata squash is a favorite, which I’ve grown in my garden for the past few years. The feeling of fall is in the air and this salad was calling my name. I made 1/2 of a recipe, 4 servings. The salad kept well in the frig for a quick meal, although I heated each serving for 30 seconds in the microwave just to take the chill off.

I added grilled chicken breast for a bit of protein. Next time, I would double the amount of chopped apple. The sweet and tart crunch of the apple truly makes the salad!

Baked Salad

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1-2 small delicata squash seeded and chopped
  • 2 bunches kale dinosaur/lacinato preferred, thinly shredded, about 8 cups
  • 1 lb Brussel Sprouts shredded, about 6 cups
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp mirin
  • 2 tbsp neutral oil
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1 cucumber sliced
  • 1 apple fuji preferred, cut into matchsticks
  • 1 carrot shredded
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Heat your oven (or air fryer) to 400°F. Toss the cubes of delicata with a bit of oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread out on a large parchment paper lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes then remove from the oven.
  2. Turn the oven (or air fryer) up to 450°F. Toss the kale and sprouts in a bowl with a drizzle of oil. Season with salt and pepper. Push the delicata to one side of the baking sheet and add the kale and sprouts. Bake for 10 minutes or until the kale and sprouts are warm and wilted and the delicata is tender. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
  3. While the vegetables are roasting, make the dressing. In a liquid measuring cup or bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients, taste, and adjust.
  4. In a large bowl, toss together the squash, kale, sprouts, cucumber, fuji apple, and carrots. Dress evenly to taste and top with sliced almonds. Enjoy!
  5. Optional: Add chopped or sliced, cooked chicken breast for more protein.

Recipe from Iamafoodblog

Soups and Stews

Carrot Ginger Soup

My daughter, Megan, made several smooth soups for me after abdominal surgery. Initially, I ate the soup in it’s mild form and frozen some of the leftovers. Now that I’m fully recovered, I decided to spice it up a bit and added sour cream and chili crunch. Yum! Spice it up however you desire!

Carrot Ginger Soup

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 3 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 1 pound carrots, roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 3 cups vegetable broth
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup, optional
  • coconut milk for garnish, optional
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, salt and pepper and cook until softened, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add the smashed garlic cloves (they’ll get blended later) and carrots to the pot and cook 8 minutes more, stirring occasionally.
  2. Stir in the ginger, apple cider vinegar, and broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
  3. Let cool slightly and transfer to a blender. Blend until smooth. If your soup is too thick, add a little water. If you would like your soup a little sweeter, add the maple syrup.
  4. Serve with a drizzle of coconut milk, if desired.

Recipe from LoveandLemons

Appetizers · Asian Dishes

Thai Peanut Sauce

My first visit to a Thai restaurant includied Thai Peanut Sauce with fresh carrots, similar to chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant. I loved it! It’s easy to make and keeps well in a refrigerator for a few days. I used chunky peanut butter, because I was out of smooth, and blended it. It was delicious. Perhaps this is a healthy snack that kids/grandkids would enjoy.

Thai Peanut Sauce

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1/3 cup natural peanut butter, if your peanut butter is thick, microwave is for about 15 seconds first
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, or 1/2 teaspoon freshly minced ginger
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds
  • 2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup hot water
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Whisk all the ingredients (minus 2 tablespoons of the hot water) together in a bowl, a jar with a lid (shake vigorously) or a small blender or food processor until smooth.
  2. Add the extra water a little at a time depending on whether you need this for a sauce, dip or a dressing to your desired consistency.
  3.  This can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge, or used immediately!

Recipe from Jessicainthekitchen

Cookies and Bars · Family

Golden Carrot Cookies

My Mother gave me the Betty Crocker Cooky Book for Christmas 1967, when I was 14 years old. I have used this book for a ‘few years’ and for the first time I noticed how Cooky was spelled. I have always spelled these delights as cookie but Merriam Webster says it can be cooky or cookie.

Golden Carrot Cookies are like a carrot cake in a cookie with a delightful orange glaze on top. While some of the children and grandchildren were hesitant to try carrot cookys, they all agreed they were good. 

If you ever see this Cooky Book at a garage sale or Goodwill, it’s worth adding to your collection!

Golden Carrot Cookies

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 cup shortening (part butter or margarine)
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup mashed cooked carrots
  • 2 cups Gold Medal flour
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 3/4 cup shredded coconut
  • Orange Butter Icing:
    • 2 tbsp. soft butter
    • 1 1/2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
    • 1 1/2 tbsp. orange juice
    • 2 tsp. grated orange rind
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Mix shortening, sugar, eggs and carrots.
  3. Measure flour by dipping method or by sifting. Blend flour, baking powder, and salt into shortening mixture. Mix in coconut.
  4. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls about 2″ apart on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until no imprint remains when touched lightly. Frost cooled cookies with Icing. Makes 4 dozen.

Recipe from Betty Crocker’s COOKY BOOK Copyright 1963

Salads · Vegetables

Roasted Radish and Carrot Salad with Orange-Honey Whipped Goat Cheese

Roasted Vegetables are divine and when I saw this recipe, I had to try it! It’s very tasty and the orange flavor was perfect when served immediately. It would be a special side dish for the Thanksgiving table this year! Megan and I were chatting about the recipe and decided next time we will try roasting carrots, onion and fennel. Mix it up!

Note: I saved leftovers for the next day and the goat cheese mixture was very strong with orange flavor. Perhaps a sprinkle of orange zest on the top only, would be enough.

Roasted Radish and Carrot Salad with Orange-Honey Whipped Goat Cheese

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 lb. carrots, peeled and chopped into 1.5 inch pieces
  • 1 lb. radishes, trimmed and halved
  • 1 small red onion, halved, then thickly sliced
  • 2 T. olive oil
  • 1/2 T. sugar
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • 3/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  • 3 T. fresh parsley (or 1 T. dried parsley)

Topping:

  • 2 oz. goat cheese
  • 3/4 cup Greek yogurt, full fat
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp. dried thyme)
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • .1/2 of orange zest
  • 2 tsp. honey

Garnishes:

  • 2 T. fresh parsley (or 1-2 tsp. dried parsley)
  • 1/4 c. pecans, roasted & chopped
  • sprinkle of orange zest
  • honey drizzle
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  2. Add the carrots, radishes, onion, sugar, oregano, salt, pepper and parsley to a sheet pan or roasting pan. Toss to combine then place in the oven and roast for about 35-40 minutes until the veggies are tender.
  3. While the veggies roast, make the goat cheese. Add the goat cheese, yogurt, thyme, salt, pepper, orange zest and honey to a food processor, Process until smooth.
  4. When veggies are done, spread the whipped goat cheese onto a plate/platter. Top with the veggies. Garish with parsley, orange zest, pecans and honey drizzle.

Recipe from TikTok: StarInfiniteFood

New Traditions

Baked Risotto with Bacon and Kale…comfort food

Baked Risotto with Bacon and Kale (and many other yummy ingredients) is a comfort dish to love. My gal pal, Jan, told me about this dish and I had to try it.  It also helped that I had many of the ingredients on the ready.

I rarely make Risotto because I don’t enjoy standing over the stove, constantly stirring and adding liquid to the Arborio rice. This recipe eliminates that hassle. There is some prep work chopping, roasting, grating, etc. but I did that early in the day which made the final preparation a breeze.

Add this is the list…comfort food!

RISOTTO WITH BACON AND KALE

4 slices bacon, chopped coarsely
1 large onion, chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup Arborio rice
3 cups low-salt chicken broth (plus 1/2 cup+ to add later in preparation)
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)
3 medium curly kale leaves, stemmed and chopped into 1-inch pieces (about 3 cups)
1 roasted carrot
1 roasted parsnip
1 roasted shallot
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Peel and chop the carrot, parsnip and shallot. Place on baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.  Roast for 10 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from oven and set aside.
  • Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees.
  • In a large, heavy saucepan or braising pan, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until crisp.  Drain on paper towels.
  • Add the chopped onions, salt and pepper.  Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.  Add the rice and stir for 2 minutes.  Add 3 cups broth and the lemon juice. Increase the heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally.
  • Cover with a tight lid and bake in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes.  (Note: my dish was done at 20 minutes so watch closely.)
  • Remove the pan from the oven and return it to the stove, over medium-low heat. Remove the lid and stir in the chicken, kale, roasted vegetables and 1/2 cup chicken broth.  Stir until the kale is wilted, about 5 minutes, adding extra broth, as needed, until the Risotto is creamy.  Stir in the cooked bacon and cheese.  Ladle into bowls and serve.

Recipe slightly adapted from Giada De Laurentiis Risotto with Bacon and Kale