tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021802337194190412024-02-19T07:55:10.916-08:00Your Health Care ChoiceAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.comBlogger150125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-4368636572391881502012-10-04T15:10:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.229-07:00Spiced Cucumbers and Coconut MilkRecipes that use cucumbers as a main ingredient are pretty hard to find. I almost overlooked this one in a BonAppetit issues. My husband pointed it out and wanted me to make it. It is easy to prepare and absolutely tasty. The cucumbers are cooked for just a couple of minutes and combined with tomatoes and green onions. The dish finishes by cooking in coconut milk and gets a nice splash of lime Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-5206021272789515592012-10-01T06:06:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.236-07:00Zucchini Fritters Light and crispy, these zucchini fritters are a great way to use up any zucchinis you need to cook before they go bad. In order to get the right consistency, you need to get rid of the excess water in the zucchinis by sprinkling them with salt and then pressing out the liquid. They are a little bit like potatoe latkes but without the potatoes. Serve them with a light yoghurt Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-81465117080886423372012-09-23T06:38:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.264-07:00Carrot CakeEven something so simple as a carrot cake can become a very elegant and festive dessert when someone like the White House Executive Pastry Chef shows us how he decorates it. The frosting is delicious and the cake is moist and fruity because he adds mandarine oranges to the batter. Try it yourself and tell me what you think.Carrot Cake:3 cups light brown sugar, packed (16 oz, 454 g)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-56148834493065518532012-09-15T10:08:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.239-07:00Salmon for a CrowdMost people like Salmon which makes it the perfect fish for a party or get together. In this recipe the fish is covered with a mustard, tarragon, and chive cream sauce and then roasted in the oven.The dish can then sit in the fridge for a day and be served with some more sauce at room temperature. I wanted to see on which day the salmon tasted better, so I tried it right as I took it out of the Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-33723070452185858862012-09-11T05:14:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.215-07:00Homemade Pita Chips with Olive Tapenade and Greek SaladCrunchy little Pita Chips are fun to make yourself. Buy some pita bread, cut it in wedges, brush it with olive oil and sprinkle with your favorite seasoning (thyme, sea salt, majoram, paprika, etc). Bake it at 375 for 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown. Serve the pita chips with Olive Tapenade, Hummus or a fabulous greek salad and you'll have a great snack, or lunch, or dinner....Greek Salad(Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-43621120423402412662012-09-04T10:29:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.225-07:00Eggplant, Mozzarella and Saffron Rice BakeThis casserole has a beautiful Paella taste. However, I do admit that it takes several steps to assemble this dish. The rice has to be cooked and the eggplant needs to be baked. Other than that it is an easy to make dish that can be assembled in advance and then baked when you need it. The texture of the rice was just perfect, not too soft, and the combination of the cheeses, the tomato sauce andAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-85214935896982011452012-08-27T15:05:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.269-07:00Beaumes-de-Venise CakeHave you ever had a cake that was made with grapes? If not, this recipe is a must. It is a wonderful, elegant yet rustic cake. It is easy to make and incredibly moist. It has a subtle citrus flavor with a slight taste of grapes. The batter contains olive oil and butter which gives the cake a very complex aroma. Try it for yourself, you will not be disapointed.Beaumes-de-Venise Cake(Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-67638259323695305062012-08-15T04:15:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.257-07:00Melon, Cucumber and Tomato SaladSince it is so hot here in Chicago, we have been eating a lot of salads, cold soups and smoothies. I saw this recipe in the New York Times and thought it was perfect for the current weather. Although it might seem unusual to combine melons and cucumbers, they go very well together as this salad proves. To make it more filling, I added some Israelian couscous and we had a Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-21167105074902755412012-08-01T00:18:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.204-07:00Pasta alla NormaPasta alla Norma is a classic Sicilian Pasta dish. It is made with tomatoes, eggplant, grated ricotta cheese and basil. Supposedly it is named after the opera Norma by Vincenzo Bellini. It is a satisfying weeknight meal that the whole family will love.Most recipes call for frying the eggplant, but Cooks Illustrated cooks the eggplant in the microwave first in order to draw moisture from it and Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-88700182921476810772012-07-21T15:17:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.272-07:00Marinated Poached Fresh Tuna with Caper and Anchovy SauceAre you familiar with vitello tonnato? It is composed of cold, poached veal that is thinly sliced. Then it is layered with a sauce made of canned tuna, mayonnaise, anchovies and capers. It has to marinate for at least 24 hours, during which time the flavors of tuna and veal melt and produce something that is like no other dish of meat or fish in tenderness with a sweet and tangy taste.This dish Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-59537364363294651312012-07-12T09:48:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.250-07:00Two Cold Summer SoupsToday I have two cold soups for you. The first one is a White Gazpacho.I have always wanted to try a White Gazpacho and my first attempt was a great success with my family. It is so rare that all four of us love a recipe equally but it was just the case with this soup. Light and refreshing, this soup makes a great dish on hot summer days. My soup turned out not to be white, but light green Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-11081159790961762742012-07-03T16:48:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.185-07:00Poppy Seed Buckwheat WafersThe texture of this cookie is sandy, almost like a sable or shortbread. The flavor is nutty and earthy from the buckwheat flour but at the same time it is rich and buttery. Once the cookies are shaped, they are rolled in sugar and poppy seed and then sliced. I usually slice and bake only as many cookies as we will eat that day and then leave the rest of the dough in the fridge so that we can haveAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-3716526787154365882012-06-29T04:47:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.218-07:00Mexican Chocolate Tofu PuddingNow, these puddings are made out of Tofu, so keep an open mind! This dessert is more like a mousse, incredibly soft, rich and creamy. I saw Mark Bittman make them on TV and wanted to give it a shot myself.The first time I stuck to the recipe but I ended up not liking the combination of chocolate, cinnamon and chile, but that's just me. I prefer a pure chocolate flavor. I did like the consistency Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-58915556466602232322012-06-26T12:00:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.246-07:00Saffron Chicken, Boiled Lemon and Green Bean SaladI know that I have been posting a lot of salads lately, and yet I have one more that I need to share.. This one is absolutely incredible. One of the ingredients is a cooked lemon peel which is absolutely great with the saffron flavored chicken. Additionally, there are green beans in this salad, but no other ingredients really. Make this salad for your next party and it will for sure be a Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-2964043943705975722012-06-19T16:21:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.213-07:00Asparagus FrittataWhen the temperatures hit almost 100 degrees here the other day I wanted something light for dinner. Our supermarket had just gotten a delivery of very fresh asparagus and as the season is almost over I decided to make an asparagus frittata. The original recipe calls for boiling the vegetables. I like them better roasted, so I baked them for 15 minutes in the oven to intensify the flavor Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-65863486523438394402012-06-07T05:08:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.254-07:00Lentil Mango SaladSupermarkets are filled with ripe mangos right now and since this recipe paired them with lentils I had to try it. In Germany, lentils are usually eaten during the winter time, most commonly as soup, stew or maybe as a side dish. I love lentils and I like that you can buy them precooked and ready to serve at many grocery stores. This way you can use them anytime and don't have to wait for Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-18861258470922654932012-06-01T15:06:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.201-07:00Summer Blueberry Corn SaladEvery year I look forward to summer in order to try all the new recipes that I collected over the winter. This one was on my 'to make' list for almost a year until finally I got to make it.I tweaked the recipe a little in order to intensify the flavors. The recipe calls for the cooking of corn in water, but I baked it in the oven in foil with a little butter, salt, and pepper. It turned out to beAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-16359078470583088052012-05-27T05:06:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.193-07:00Spaghetti NizzaWhen I was looking for an easy and quick pasta sauce that didn't require too much preparation and that I hadn't made already a couple of times I stumbled upon this recipe from "On top of Spaghetti..."Fresh tomatoes are combined with tuna, black olives, capers and herbs and the mixture is tossed with olive oil and lemon juice. The preparation was done in a couple of minutes and it tasted Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-15009174624573491862012-05-15T17:18:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.188-07:00Mango and Buttermilk Panna CottaPanna Cotta is one of my favorite desserts, it is incredibly delicious! It is easy to prepare and you can even make it a day in advance. This version is made with buttermilk and cream, and the bottom of the glasses are filled with mango puree. I crumbled pistachios and cantuccinis on top of the panna cotta to have a nice, crunchy contrast and the buttermilk gave the panna cotta a veryAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-25458252132796503822012-05-09T04:05:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.208-07:00Black Beauty CupcakesI know cupcakes are a big deal in the US. However, I have never really liked then, as they are usually boring. Overly sweet cake mixes are topped with even sweeter frosting. These babies however are totally different!!Rich chocolate flavor in a slightly dense chocolate cake is topped with a velvety bittersweet ganache. This is how a cupcake should taste!Ingredients:Cupcakes½ cup of Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-56306680372168080862012-05-01T12:42:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.242-07:00Roast Carrot and Avocado Salad with Orange and Lemon DressingWhen I saw a bunch of beautiful multicolored carrots at the grocery store the other day, I immediately thought of Jamie Oliver's baked Moroccan style carrot salad. I just had to buy them as I had made this salad last year and absolutely loved it. Baked carrots are incredible tasty and the juices of the orange and lemon gives it a wonderful light and fresh tasteRoast Carrot and Avocado Salad with Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-44571210751913441392012-04-24T16:49:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.233-07:005 Layer Mexican DipThis 5-Layer Mexican Dip is great for parties or Potluck's. It has a wonderful taste and is so easy to make. It can be prepared ahead of time and will feed a crowd. It is much healthier and much lighter than the regular dips (especially store bought ones) because it doesn't contain all the fatty ingredients found in most of them.5-Layer Mexican Dip(from Ellie Krieger)Ingredients2 teaspoons&Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-43482152885269416072012-04-16T17:34:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.221-07:00Pasta and fried Zucchini SaladAre you bored with your usual pasta salad recipes or looking for a fresh new idea? Try this pasta salad from Yotam Ottolenghi.It is a light salad, perfect for the spring and summer. The pasta is combined with Zucchini, Edamame and an unusual combination of herbs.Tossed with only a little olive oil and garnished with fresh and juicy Mozzarella this salad makes a great addition to a barbecue or a Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-76992001478972289432012-04-04T17:04:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.261-07:00The perfekt dunking Hazelnut BiscuitOne of my favorite cookies of all times right after this one is this Hazelnut Cookie. It is a crispy and crunchy cookie filled with whole hazelnuts as well as hazelnut pieces. It is perfect for dunking into your coffee or milk! Even though I have a hazelnut allergy, I can't resist these cookies. The dough is very crumbly and for this reason I like to put it on foil and press it Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902180233719419041.post-1748482503749907752012-03-29T16:52:00.000-07:002012-10-08T03:51:01.198-07:00Green CouscousSince it seems that spring has already arrived in Chicago (something very unusual here at this time of the year), the time for stews and heavy soups came to an end...In order to welcome this early arrival of spring I decided to make this recipe from Yotam Ottolenghi. It is a simple couscous dish with lots of different herbs. The savory component of spring onion and green chile is balanced with Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247836648385688230noreply@blogger.com0