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Beef Stew with Rosemary
Here is a recipe I made recently for a hearty and filling homemade beef stew. The stew is made with good quality stewing steak and plenty of red wine and rosemary for depth and flavor. Instead of starchy potatoes, I used onions, carrots, parsnips and green peas to add texture and volume. Parsnips are root vegetables, closely resembling carrots, and are a great substitute for potatoes if you are watching your carbs. Choosing a good quality red wine is key – I used a nice Vredenhof Cabernet Sauvignon, which made the stew a lovely dark burgundy color. After simmering for 2 1/2 hours+, the meat was tender and soft, and all of the flavors melded together perfectly. It’s my favorite beef stew recipe and can’t be beat for a simple yet satisfying dinner served with crusty bread (or on its own!) on a cool autumn night.
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Curried Dhal with Grilled Eggplant
I had some extra red lentils leftover from when I made my Red Lentil, Carrot & Cumin Soup, so I decided to make another dish featuring these much-loved legumes. Prior to this recent lentil kick, I didn’t realize how high in protein lentils are. In fact, they contain 26 grams of protein per 100 grams and are also low in fat and a good source of fiber. All the more reason to enjoy lentils more often. Anyway, this is a delightfully tasty recipe for curried lentils topped with grilled eggplant. The lentils are cooked in turmeric and tamarind paste and then finished off with a healthy dose of curry powder, onions, garlic and ginger. The result is a sweet and sour taste with plenty of kick. The lentils are good on their own, but adding some grilled eggplant slices on top makes it a nice light meal. Enjoy!!
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Red Lentil, Carrot & Cumin Soup
Here is a lovely recipe for a healthy Red Lentil, Carrot & Cumin Soup. This soup is full of warm, spicy flavors and quite simple to make. I always like to cook a few healthy dinners during the week to balance out some indulgent ones frequently consumed on the weekends (see here and here), and this fit the bill perfectly. The only (fairly) time consuming part is the shredding of the carrots, however, if you have a food processor with a grating attachment, the process is very quick! (Purchasing a high quality food processor is a life-changing addition to any kitchen as many of you know!) This soup doesn’t contain any butter, milk, or cream,
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Secret Chicken Noodle Soup
There is nothing more comforting and warming than a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup. I have a secret recipe that will change how you make chicken soup forever (promise!). The ingredient list may seem ordinary and pretty straightforward, but it’s the method that will create the most richly colored and full flavored soup. The key is to
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Chicken Saltimbocca
Chicken Saltimbocca is an old-school Italian dish with a ton of flavor and pizazz. Saltimbocca translates to “jump in the mouth” and it’s easy to understand how this meal got its name once you take your first bite. You may think Chicken Saltimbocca is only something to enjoy at your favorite Italian restaurant, but my at-home recipe is easy and makes for one delicious meal.
The essential elements of Chicken Saltimbocca include prosciutto, fresh sage leaves and a white wine sauce. It can be made using
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Frittata with Bacon & Fresh Ricotta
Frittatas are famous for being quick and easy to make and for that reason I find myself baking them quite often whenever I am in need of a simple, weeknight dinner. In the past I have experimented with many different combinations of ingredients, one of my favorites being asparagus and gruyere. Your creativity as a cook is really allowed to shine because there are essentially no rules in frittata-making and the possibilities are pretty much endless. Another great thing is that it’s just as good at room temperature as it is straight out of the oven, so it can be made in advance if necessary.
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Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic
Last night I made the classic Provençal recipe, “Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic.” This recipe has been around for decades and I’m determined to make it trendy again. I love garlic, so I knew I’d enjoy any sort of recipe that features it in a large quantity, but you really don’t have to be a die-hard garlic lover to fancy this dish. The garlic is slow-roasted and softened during the cooking process, so the usually strong flavor is mellowed and smooth as butter.
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Authentic French Cassoulet
It’s quite possible that making a cassoulet has been my greatest culinary achievement to date. A cassoulet is a rustic, slow-cooked stew hailing from the southwest region of France, full of hearty beans, herbs, and rich, juicy meats. Whenever my husband and I are in Paris, we stop at our favorite bistro smack dab in the middle of the 7ème, Fontaine de Mars, to enjoy this special meal. Fontaine de Mars is a quintessential French bistro complete with brusque waiters, tables too close together, checked linens, flowing Sancerre, and some of the best French cuisine we’ve ever tasted. It’s location is second to none, and many nights we have found ourselves leaving the restaurant late at night and stumbling upon the illuminated Eiffel Tower
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New England Baked Cod with Ritz Cracker Crumbs
My recipe for Baked Cod is a tried and true family favorite perfect to enjoy year round. The secret to the crunchy, golden crumb topping is
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Grilled Tandoori Chicken
This past weekend I set out to make one of my favorite Indian dishes, the hugely popular Tandoori chicken. There are many different variations on tandoori chicken, but I wanted to recreate the most authentic one possible based on some great dinners I have had at top Indian restaurants. It was a scorching hot Sunday here in London, so we grilled the chicken on skewers along with some summer vegetables. The chicken is marinated in a thick sauce made of yogurt and spices, which creates
