This light and delicious pasta is packed with good for you veggies like asparagus, kale, zucchini and leeks and is the perfect healthy weeknight dinner. With a touch of garlic and black pepper and topped with Parmesan cheese, this simple pasta tastes outstanding, and even takes care of the veggie quota for the evening. Continue reading Rigatoni with Asparagus Leeks Zucchini and Kale
Tag Archives: herbs
Panzanella. Fresh Tomato and Bread Salad
Every August and September we are swimming in garden fresh tomatoes from the garden, from multiple tomato deliveries from my neighbor, and abundance of tomatoes at the Farmer’s Markets. All this tomato bounty really forces me to get creative with tomato recipes especially ones that use fresh off the vine garden tomatoes. This Italian salad called panzanella is one of those recipes that is made with lots of fresh tomatoes and crusty bread. Add a bit of garlic, some onions, olive oil and balsamic vinegar and toss in some good sourdough bread and you have a delicious tomato salad with the added feel goodness of bread. The bread soaks up all the juices from the tomatoes and flavors the bread so beautifully that one can eat multiple bowls of this delicious salad. Continue reading Panzanella. Fresh Tomato and Bread Salad
Broccolini Salad with Mint and Chive Greek Yogurt Dressing
Broccolini Salad with Mint and Chive Greek Yogurt Dressing
serves 6-8
Ingredients:
- 8 cups salad greens or baby spinach
- 8 cups broccolini
- 1/4 of a small onion cut into thin slices
- 2-4 tbsp Pecorino Romano cheese
- 2-4 cloves garlic
- Ingredients for Dressing:
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 4 tbsp milk
- 2 tbsp finely chopped chives
- 2 tbsp finely chopped mint leaves – about 8 mint leaves
- 4 tbsp white balsamic vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 6 tbsp olive oil
- 1 clove garlic finely minced
- Salt and pepper
Continue reading Broccolini Salad with Mint and Chive Greek Yogurt Dressing
Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing with Mint and Chives.
If you like ranch dressing, try this Greek yogurt salad dressing with mint and chives. Mint adds a nice refreshing flavor while the chives and fresh garlic give this dressing a sharp edgy bite. If you don’t have chives growing in the garden, substitute with green onions or finely chopped shallot. Continue reading Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing with Mint and Chives.
Rose Geranium Spritzer
Looking for an alluring avant-garde drink that is cool and refreshing? Then this rose geranium spritzer is the one. Mrs. Iyengar who is my dear friend Rahika’s Mom came over for tea one Sunday afternoon some time back and Aunty who loves flowers and gardening noticed my rose geranium plant as she was leaving and casually gave me a quick recipe for rose geranium syrup. I thought why not try and make her rose geranium syrup? I must admit I was pleasantly surprised how wonderful it turned out. The syrup has the enticing flavor of rose essence similar to what you find in Middle Eastern desserts with an edgy herb flavor. Try this rose geranium syrup in a spritzer for a refreshingly unique and artsy drink that is perfect on a warm summer evening. Continue reading Rose Geranium Spritzer
Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts & Shishito Pepper Hash
I made this combination of vegetables as a topping for soft tacos, and when I asked my daughter Anjali to taste it, she asked me “Mom, can I have this by itself, it’s so good.” I told her “No, I am saving it for the soft tacos.” But then I thought, “When was the last time a kid asked if she could just eat just the vegetables?” It occured to me that this would make an outstanding side dish in addition to being a stuffing in a taco. It’s the shishito peppers that makes the vegetable hash taste so good. These peppers add a little heat while also providing a nice green chili pepper flavor. Continue reading Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts & Shishito Pepper Hash
Ratatouille
I had just received a batch of garden fresh zucchinis from my neighbor Jim and I was wondering what to make with them – something different you know. I’ve made soup, curries, cakes, and even zuccchini fritters but I was in the mood for something I haven’t made before. Ratatouille is the dish that came to mind because my friend Iya had been talking to me about how she made ratatouille recently and how her husband absolutely loved it. Continue reading Ratatouille
Feta Mozzarella Caprese Salad
I wanted this caprese salad to be the kind where one gets a surprise with the first bite and maybe even the second bite – like a surprise in the palate. When I made this feta/mozzarella combination in a caprese salad I was thinking that Feta with its briny tangy fresh flavor would make the perfect accompaniment to the milder fresh mozzarella cheese. The caprese is unexpected in that you don’t know what you are getting when you take a piece – since both fresh feta and fresh mozzarella are the same color and look similar, its hard to tell them apart creating an unexpected flavor surprise when eaten. Continue reading Feta Mozzarella Caprese Salad
Eggplant Tomato Pasta
This is a quick and easy recipe for a delicious tender eggplant pasta that takes just minutes to prepare. But before I share this pasta recipe let me share these beautiful and I mean BEAUTIFUL photos that one of my twins Rani took this week from guess where? La Dolce Vita!! Italy!! The twins Anjali and Rani are on a school trip to Italy this week! Why didn’t we go along? We tried, believe me!! But their school was very clear – only for students please! So here we are in California enjoying Italy vicariously through our kids. Rani texted these photos from Florence on day two of their trip and the pictures are just gorgeous! Continue reading Eggplant Tomato Pasta
Fresh Herbs Herbal Tea
Fresh herbs herbal tea is a refreshing drink that has no caffeine, no sugar, all the goodness of herbs, plus antioxidants to boot. My sister Banu makes a delicious herbal tea from freshly picked herbs from her garden in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and keeps a bottle of it ready to drink in the refrigerator all summer long. Continue reading Fresh Herbs Herbal Tea
