A Fresh Start

So...Happy New Year?

2015 had a rough start here. Hubs brought home some ugly bug, and before long, we both wanted to be down for the count. But, life doesn't work that way. There are always commitments and obligations and responsibilities. We tried to keep up as best we could while supplementing with cold meds and naps, but a lot of things lost priority and fell by the wayside.

3 weeks later, and we are finally shaking whatever virus attacked and getting back in the groove. I am still occasionally hacking up a lung, but overall am much better. I feel ready for the new year and a fresh start.

Let's start with breakfast. Do you like bacon? eggs? quesadillas? Bacon and Egg Quesadillas? Crispy tortillas filled with smokey bacon, fried eggs, black beans, pepper jack cheese, and served with guacamole and salsa? Any reason to have guacamole for breakfast sounds like a great start to me.

Bacon and Egg Quesadillas

(adapted from Every Day with Rachael Ray)

4 medium flour tortillas

1/2 pound of bacon

4 large eggs

salt and pepper

4 ounces shredded pepper jack cheese

1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed

guacamole

salsa

In a medium skillet, work in batches to cook bacon in batches until crisp. Drain on paper towels.
Remove all but 2 tablespoons of bacon fat from the skillet.
Fry the eggs over easy (or hard, if that is your thing) in the hot bacon fat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a platter and keep warm.
Meanwhile, heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat.
Place a tortilla in the (dry) skillet and sprinkle some cheese over half. Spread 1/4 cup black beans over cheese. Top with bacon and an egg. Add a bit more cheese and fold the other (bare) half of the tortilla over the fillings. Heat in skillet until tortilla become crispy and golden on the bottom. Flip and crisp the other side.
Repeat with each remaining tortilla to create 4 quesadillas.
Cut each quesadilla into wedges and serve with guacamole and salsa. (Serves 4)

Green Play-Doh

A friend sent me a text message last week.
It was a photo of his sushi lunch with an FYI that the green Play-Doh was spicy.

I.
was.
jealous.

I love sushi.
I want sushi.
I crave sushi.

The nearest sushi is a 3-hour drive away.

I need sushi.
...and the spicy green Play-Doh.

Wasabi Tuna Salad Rolls will have to do, for now.

 Wasabi Tuna Salad Rolls

(adapted from Everyday with Rachael Ray)

1/4 teaspoon wasabi paste

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon mayonnaise

2 green onions, chopped

1 6-ounce can tuna, drained and flaked

1 large flour tortilla (I like the spinach variety.)

1 cup fresh baby spinach

In a small bowl, combine the wasabi, soy sauce, and mayonnaise.
Stir in the green onion and tuna.
Top the tortilla with a layer of spinach leaves.
Spread the tuna salad evenly over the spinach.
Tightly roll the tortilla to enclose the salad.
Slice into 1-inch thick pinwheels. (Yield: 1 sandwich)

Just Peachy

Peaches.
Prosciutto.
A baguette.
A grill.

That's all you need.

Trust me.

It is just peachy.

Grilled Peaches with Prosciutto

peaches (choose ripe, but firm fruit)

olive oil

thinly sliced prosciutto

baguette

Prepare grill. (Gas or stove-top work, but charcoal instills a nice smokey flavor.)
Cut each peach in half and remove pit.
Slice the baguette.
Brush the slices of baguette and the cut side of the peaches with olive oil.
Grill 3-5 minutes until grill marks develop.
Arrange bread and peaches on platter with slices of prosciutto. 
Enjoy a slice of peach on a piece of the grilled bread with the salty prosciutto.

Frittatas for Mama

Oh my! I seem to have fallen far, far behind with updates of my South Dakota Magazine submissions. Did you catch the Mini Zucchini Frittatas that I shared for Mother's Day?

The zucchini plants in my garden have little 3-inch baby zucchinis growing from their blossoms. Soon, I should be able to make these little egg bites again. You should, too. They are delish.

Mini Zucchini Frittatas - Frittatas for Mama

I am David Copperfield.

I am a magician. Truly. I have found one recipe that can only be described as magic.

Wave the magic wand. Take some shrimp; toss them with some spices; saute them; cook up some corn, beans, and salsa together, and abracadabra! It's magic.

OK. You don't get it. I am sorry. The magic is that this simple, spicy, satisfying dish can be anything you want it to be.

Need a snack or appetizer? Chop up the shrimp and serve it all as a dip with crispy corn chips.

Feel like a roll up your shirt sleeves and dig in casual meal? Toast some corn or flour tortillas; slice an avocado; squeeze a lime; and devour some really delicious tacos.

Want a salad? Forget all those limp lettuces. Hot, cold, or room temperature, this.is.good. Really. (And, could be served on a bed of romaine.)

Need to feed a bigger group? Whip up some rice and guacamole as sides, and nobody will be able to keep their knife and fork away.

Magic Spicy Shrimp and Corn Salad answers every need you ever had...except maybe for cake...or chocolate...BUT, it is light enough that you should still have room for dessert.

I told you. Magic.

Magic Spicy Shrimp and Corn Salad

(adapted from Cooking Light)

1 tablespoon chili powder (I used Ancho Chile Powder)

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 1/2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

juice of a lime (divided)

2 ears sweet corn, kernels cut from cob

1 pint bottled salsa (I used my Basic Canned Salsa. This is where you will really adjust the spice of the dish to your taste. Use a mild salsa or heat it up, if you like.)

1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Combine the first 4 ingredients in a bowl.
Add shrimp and toss to coat.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add shrimp and saute until cooked through.
Add juice of half of the lime.
Remove the shrimp from the pan.
Add the corn; saute briefly.
Stir in salsa and beans and bring to a simmer.
Remove from heat and add the juice of the other half of the lime and the cilantro.
Depending on final dish desired, stir shrimp into corn and bean mixture or serve shrimp on top. (Serves 4.)

Blisters

Don't mow the lawn in flip-flops.
Aside from all of the safety issues,
there is another huge danger.
Blisters.
Between your toes.
Blisters.
That make all summer footwear choices painful.
Blisters.
Ouch.

So...anyway...
How about whipping a few eggs, some milk, flour, and green chiles together?
How about pouring that batter into a hot, cast iron skillet swimming with melted butter?
How about watching the Dutch Baby blister up around the edges as it bakes in the oven?
How about topping wedges of this egg-y, pancake-y, green chile delight with a fresh avocado salsa?
How about a scrumptious meal that is not painful at all?

Green Chile Dutch Baby with Fresh Avocado Salsa

(adapted from Sunset Magazine)

1/4 cup butter

3 large eggs

3/4 cup milk

3/4 cup flour

1 (4.5 ounce) can green chiles

1 cup avocado, chopped

1 cup tomato, chopped

1 tablespoon green onion, sliced

1 tablespoon lime juice

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

kosher salt

Heat oven to 425F.
Place butter in a medium or large cast iron skillet and pop into the oven to melt (but not brown).
Meanwhile, in a blender or food processor, whirl eggs and milk until blended.
Add flour and blend until smooth.
Add green chiles and stir just to combine.
Pour batter into hot skillet.
Bake until Dutch Baby is puffed and browned slightly, about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix avocado, tomato, green onion, lime juice, cayenne pepper, and salt.
Serve Dutch Baby cut into wedges with the avocado salsa. (Serves 4)

Let's Do Lunch

Let's do lunch.

On an average day, I have a list of at least a dozen things that I want to accomplish. At.Least. I usually start tackling them right away, and by noonish time, I am almost always elbow deep in something, or more likely, some things. I am a HUGE multitasker, but can't seem to manage lunch. Cooking lunch seems like a hassle. I don't want to stop what I am doing to eat.

If someone were to show up with a sandwich, or a salad, or some soup, I would stop whatever I am doing and welcome the break to eat. So...let's do lunch. How about open-faced Italian Tuna Melts? Toasted, garlic-rubbed bread; spinach; oil-packed tuna mixed with artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, red onion, and some celery for crunch; and topping the sandwich with a slice of Provolone before sliding it under the broiler to melty perfection. Let's do lunch.

Italian Tuna Melts

(adapted from Everyday with Rachael Ray)

2 cloves garlic

Juice of 1 lemon

1 small jar marinated artichoke hearts, chopped

1 12-ounce can oil-packed tuna, flaked

1/4 red onion, finely chopped

2 ribs celery, finely chopped

10 sun-dried tomatoes, chopped

freshly ground black pepper

4 slices crusty bread

1 cup baby spinach, chopped

4 slices Provolone cheese

Preheat the broiler.
Into a large bowl, grate 1 clove of garlic with a microplane.
Add the lemon juice and stir to combine.
Add the artichoke hearts, onion, celery, and tomatoes to the bowl and toss with dressing.
With a fork, lift the tuna from the can and add to other ingredients.
Toss lightly.
Add a bit of the oil from the tuna, if necessary.
Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Place the bread slices on a baking sheet and toast under the broiler (flipping to toast both sides).
Rub one side of each slice of bread with the other garlic clove.
Divide the spinach and tuna salad among the bread slices and top with the cheese.
Return to the broiler and melt the cheese until bubbly. (Serves 4)

A Healthy Start - NYC, volume 1

My recent trip to New York City was in the company of two great friends. One had Broadway stars in her eyes, and the other, like me, just wanted to go. Our agenda was clear: HAVE FUN. I am glad to report that it was accomplished in so many ways.

Our first morning found us headed in the direction of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Magnificent. There is so much to see and absorb. We spent some time viewing Egyptian Art and then took a tour of Old Master Paintings from the 13th through the 18th centuries. The collections are amazing; the works are impressive; and the amount of time needed to fully appreciate everything displayed is unimaginable. We had to concede that there was only time and energy for a small portion of the exhibits. (A common phrase during this first trip to NYC for us all became, "Next time...") We wandered and gazed and admired and realized how much earlier generations provided for nearly every aspect of our modern lives. It was remarkable, and honestly wore me out.

Thankfully, we had started our morning with a great breakfast. While one friend was less than inspired by the use of bowls for beverages at Le Pain Quotidien, the food (and coffee) was incredible. An apple danish and porridge with fruit made appearances at our table, but I chose a Roasted Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Frittata. It was served with a lightly-dressed mixed green salad and a couple of slices of hearty bread. There was so much food on the plate, but it was beautiful and all delicious. So delicious that I, of course, immediately knew that the butternut squash stored away from my garden's harvest had a new purpose when I returned home.

My version of the Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Frittata begins with roasting small cubes of the squash in a hot oven with salt and pepper. Red onions and spinach are sauteed, then pulled from the pan as creamy beaten eggs are poured in. The tender and flavorful squash is dropped in along with bits of earthy goat's cheese (substitute feta or even cubes of cream cheese, if the goat's cheese flavor is too pungent for you). Finally, the wilted onions and spinach are added on top, almost as a garnish. I have baked this in a large skillet and cut into wedges to serve and also did individual gratin dishes. Either way, it is a fairly simple breakfast, lunch, or dinner for us, even when I don't have a marathon visit to The Met on the agenda.

Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Frittata

(inspired by Le Pain Quotidien)

1-2 cups butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cubed into 1/2-3/4 inch dice

olive oil

kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup red onion, chopped

1/2 cup baby spinach, chopped

6-8 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup heavy cream

4-5 ounces crumbled goat's cheese (or feta or cubed cream cheese)

Preheat oven to 475F.
Toss cubed squash with olive oil, salt and pepper and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet.
Roast for 15-20 minutes, or until the squash is tender and beginning to caramelize.
Remove from the oven and set aside.
Reduce oven temperature to 375F.
Meanwhile, saute the chopped onion in a little olive oil in a large, heavy skillet.
When the onion is translucent, add the chopped spinach and stir to wilt slightly.
Remove the onion and spinach to a plate and set aside.
Beat the eggs with the heavy cream and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Pour egg mixture into the skillet used for sauteing onions and spinach (may need to add a little oil to keep eggs from sticking).
Drop cubes of roasted squash randomly into the pan with the eggs.
Repeat with the crumbled goat's cheese.
Top the eggs with the onion and spinach mixture.
Place skillet in oven and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until eggs are set.
To serve, slide frittata from pan and cut into wedges. (Serves 4-6)

Indulgent

This past weekend, I indulged in cupcakes and sushi. LOTS of cupcakes. LOTS of sushi. Red Velvet, Lemon Drop, and Triple Chocolate Meltdown dominated the cupcake scene. To counter the sweetness, I filled up on Rainbow Rolls, Eel Avocado Rolls, Red Dragon, Holiday Rolls, Tuna and Salmon Sashimi, Special Cucumber Rolls, and even threw in some fried tofu and squid tempura. Indulgent. Indeed.

Now, it is Monday. The weekend of pampering and fun is over. It's time to buckle down. This doesn't mean that what is On My Plate needs to be boring. I can still indulge in bright, beautiful flavors and textures. A Grapefruit Avocado Salad does just that. The citrus burst of the grapefruit melds well with the creaminess of the avocado and is highlighted by a drizzle of a vinegary dressing enhanced with shallots and chives. Indulgent. Indeed. 

Grapefruit Avocado Salad

(adapted from Food and Wine magazine and Alice Waters)

2 medium pink grapefruits
1 medium shallot, minced
2 tablespoons chives, chopped
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium avocados, sliced 1/4 inch thick
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper

With a sharp knife, cut the skin and all of the white pith off of the grapefruits.
Working over a bowl, cut between the membranes to release the sections; set them aside.
Squeeze the juice from the remaining membranes into the bowl. (You should have at least 2 tablespoons of juice.)
Add the shallot, chives, and vinegar to the juice.
Whisk in the olive oil.
Set aside and let stand for a few minutes to meld flavors.
Arrange the sliced avocado and grapefruit sections on plates.
Drizzle dressing over the salad.
Season with salt and pepper. (Serves 4)

Fridge Friday: Episode 21

Instead of opening my fridge today, I am going to take you back in time to Wedgie Wednesday. 

Yes. That is a brand new upright freezer. Yes. It is wedged into the stairs leading to the basement of my old house. After 3 hours of 2 delivery men straining and lifting and pushing and shoving, a 30 mile round trip to get different tools to remove the door, and my husband coming home from the farm to saw apart a portion of the stairs, the freezer was finally in place in my basement. Delivery complete. 

After the drama of my range purchase (I really need to blog about that some day), the tears with my washer and dryer, and the frustration of the new fridge, I don't know why I thought it would be easy to replace my old freezer. I think I am doomed to tragic appliance acquisitions.  

Let's just be glad that Wedgie Wednesday is behind us. A wedge of Tomato and Bleu Cheese Tart would be the perfect comfort to make me forget all about appliances. Topped with some of the first ripe Roma tomatoes from my garden and bursting with the earthy tang of bleu cheese, this tart is wonderful served with a lightly-dressed green salad and a glass of crisp white wine. Yes. The drama is forgotten already. Appliances? What appliances?

Tomato and Bleu Cheese Tart

(adapted from Every Day with Rachael Ray)

One Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crust

1 tablespoon olive oil

kosher salt

fresh ground black pepper

1 cup of cottage cheese (I used whole milk)

1 egg

1 cup bleu cheese, crumbled

3-4 medium tomatoes, sliced thinly

Preheat the oven to 400.
Unroll the pie crust and press into a 9-inch tart pan.
Prick the bottom of the dough with a fork, brush with the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
Bake for 10 minutes.
In the food processor, pulse the cottage cheese until it is smooth.
Add the egg and process until combined.
Remove the blade from the processor and crumble the bleu cheese into the creamy mixture.
Stir to combine.
Spoon the cheese mixture into the tart shell.
Top with the tomato slices.
Season with salt and pepper.
Bake for 25 minutes.
Allow to cook for 5-10 minutes before slicing. (Serves 4-6)

Go With the Flo

I had planned to make these rolls on Sunday (Mother's Day). No, I am not a mom...unless you count my two pups and a husband that often needs to be reminded to brush his teeth before bed...but, that doesn't mean that I couldn't enjoy a light brunch of Florentine Rolls, fruit salad, and fresh squeezed orange juice. However, a fitful night's sleep on Saturday night (full of lots of weird dreams involving guns, classrooms, and snow storms) left me exhausted on Sunday morning. When Hubs rose and headed to the farm for the never-ending daily chores, I stayed in bed and thankfully, blissfully slept the sleep of the dead. It was much needed.

So, the rolls didn't get baked on Sunday, but I knew that I still wanted to try them. They are much like the Spinach Puffs that I previously shared, but jazzed up just a bit by wilting the spinach with garlic and onions, and adding Feta and toasted pine nuts. Delish. Tonight, they are going to be a side with some Spinach and Asiago sausages and sauteed veggies. I think that they would be most awesome paired with soup. And, of course, I am planning to work them in as a hearty option for one of my appetizer parties. Nothing wrong with going with the flow and putting some Florentine Rolls On My Plate.

Florentine Rolls

(adapted from a recipe torn from Better Homes and Gardens)

6 green onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
12 ounces fresh baby spinach, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 13.8-ounce package refrigerated pizza dough
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
2-4 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/4 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Spray twelve muffin cups with non-stick cooking spray; set aside. 
In a large skillet cook green onions and garlic in 1 tablespoon of the oil until tender.
Add spinach; cook and stir over medium heat just until wilted.
Season with salt and pepper.
Drain off excess liquid. (This step took awhile for me. My spinach released A LOT of liquid. I pressed it down in a colander, but ended up wringing it out in handfuls.)
Set aside to cool.
On a well-floured surface, unroll pizza dough and shape into a 12x8-inch rectangle. 
Spread spinach mixture to within 1 inch of the edges of dough. 
Sprinkle with feta cheese and pine nuts. 
Starting with one of the long sides, roll dough into a spiral.
Slice roll into 12 pieces. 
Place cut side up in prepared muffin cups. 
Brush with butter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. 
Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. 
Let stand in muffin cups for 2 minutes. 
Carefully remove from cups and serve warm. (But, I thought they were good at room temp, too.)

What Do I Do With? ...part two

So...I made lemon curd that was absolutely sweet and tart and wonderfully...well, LEMON. Ha. :-) But after stirring 14 egg yolks into that mixture, I was left with 14 unmated egg whites in a bowl on the kitchen counter. Once again, I was facing the "what do I do with..." question, and once again, I crowdsourced for options. Omelets and Frittatas were the popular suggestions, and a Sausage, Spinach, and Egg White Frittata seemed like just the thing for a simple dinner that night. I paired it with toasted Asiago Bread (smeared with sweet, creamy butter) and a fresh fruit salad. Simple. Delicious. Filling. Possibly even slightly healthy. Awesome.

Sausage, Spinach and Egg White Frittata

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup onions, diced

1/4 cup red pepper, diced

1 cup of sliced sausage (I used a Lamb and Jalapeno ring sausage {about 1/4 of the ring, sliced into half moons}...you could use Polska Kielbasa, Chicken Sausages, Smoked Sausage, or whatever suits you.)

2 cups of baby spinach, chopped

14 egg whites, beaten (go ahead and adjust to use whole eggs, if you don't just have the egg white leftover from making lemon curd)

1/2-3/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350.
Heat oil in a large, oven-proof skillet.
Add onions and peppers and saute until almost tender.
Add the sausage and heat through. (My lamb sausage was pre-cooked & contained cheese that I didn't want to ooze out. Using another type of sausage, you may want to brown it first and then add the onions and peppers.)
Stir in the spinach and cook until spinach is wilted.
Remove pan from heat and pour in the beaten egg whites.
Sprinkle cheese over the frittata.
Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes, until egg whites are set.
Allow to cook 5 minutes before serving. (Serves 4-6)

Heaven

Those are chives. In my garden. Peeking up through the soil and screaming that IT. IS. FINALLY. SPRING

Finding those little green sprouts in my garden is heaven for me. I am so happy that I could...I don't know...sing? dance? pee my pants? Probably. How about if I just show my heavenly happiness by whipping up some of my most favoritest eggs in the whole world? This is a food/recipe/cooking blog, after all.

I love, love, love a good poached egg. Runny yolk is king, but The Original Pancake House (not IHOP; never IHOP; their pancakes are crumbly) won me over with a simple scrambled egg that I now crave. It isn't always on the menu, but sometimes, if you ask the staff nicely (and they have the cream cheese on hand...yes, CREAM CHEESE; doesn't that sound great?), you can still order them. And now, thanks to me sharing my extreme happiness, you won't have to wait until you are at The Original Pancake House and on your best behavior to get some Heavenly Scrambled Eggs. 

Heavenly Scrambled Eggs

(inspired by eggs eaten at The Original Pancake House and adapted from Alton Brown's Scrambled Egg technique)

2 eggs

1-2 tablespoons heavy cream (whole milk or half & half will work, but I prefer the cream)

kosher salt

fresh ground black pepper

1 tablespoon butter (optional...I DON'T use it with a non-stick pan)

1-2 ounces of cream cheese, cut into 1cm cubes

freshly snipped chives

In a small mixing bowl, combine eggs and cream with a fork or whisk.
In a non-stick skillet, melt the butter over medium-low heat until it bubbles OR just heat the non-stick skillet to medium-low without the butter...I seriously never use butter unless the pan isn't non-stick.
You NEED the pan to be hot before you add the eggs.
Add a little salt to the egg mixture, then pour into pan, stirring slowly with a heat resistant rubber spatula.
As soon as curds begin to form, add the cream cheese cubes and sprinkle in the chives.
Increase heat to high and instead of stirring, use the spatula to fold the eggs over themselves.
As soon as the cream cheese begins to melt (it won't all melt...there will be pockets of tangy, creamy goodness) and the eggs aren't liquidy, remove from the heat and serve.
Season with fresh black pepper and garnish with additional fresh chives, if desired.
I do recommend that you heed Alton's warning: "Remember: if they look done in the pan, they'll be over-done on the plate." (Serves 1...or 2, if you are better at sharing than I am)

Sunday Brunch

Hubs didn't get home from doing chores at the farm until 3pm today. No Sunday breakfast or lunch for us, but instead we had a very, very late brunch. It was a simple, but fabulous menu of Asparagus Popover, toasted Cinnamon Raisin Breakfast Bread (courtesy of Sara Lee), and fresh squeezed orange juice. Comfort food on a cold day On My Plate.

Asparagus Popover

(adapted from Every Day with Rachael Ray)

1 pound asparagus

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup milk

4 large eggs (room temperature are best)

1/2 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese (or Swiss)

Preheat oven to 425.
Bring about 2 inches of salted water to boil in a medium saucepan.
Trim the asparagus and cut into thirds.
Add the asparagus to the boiling water and cook about 3 minutes, until tender-crisp.
Drain and rinse with cold water; pat dry.
Meanwhile, in a medium cast-iron skillet add the butter.
Place the skillet into the oven to melt the butter.
In a medium bowl, microwave the milk on high for 30 seconds.
Whisk in the eggs, flour, salt, and pepper.
Arrange the asparagus in the hot cast-iron skillet and pour the batter over the top.
Sprinkle with half of the cheese.
Bake until puffed and golden, 18-20 minutes.
Top with the remaining cheese. (Serves 4)

Work It!

Raise your hand if one of your New Year's resolutions involves working out, getting in shape, exercise, or in any way, shape, or form simply moving your butt. OK, let me reword this...if you can lift your arms after all of those butterfly lifts with the dumbbells, raise your hand. :-)

Being physically active is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and I am also trying to be more dedicated to a routine. The treadmill isn't really my friend, but I am trying to become reacquainted with it. Hopefully, we can find a way to tolerate each other on a more regular basis because, frankly, I like food. (Shocker, huh?) If I am going to eat all of the wonderful things that tempt my taste buds on a daily basis, and still want to zip my jeans, I need to have a working relationship with some kind of fitness plan.

To fuel my workouts, I love digging into a bowl of Egg Whites with Avocado for breakfast, or even lunch. Yes, avocados are loaded with fat, but it *is* a good fat (monosaturated) and omitting the yolks cuts out the cholesterol. (Although, today, those lonely yolks mocked me until I ate them, too. Oops.) I won't pretend to know all of the nutritional facts for this dish; I will just tell you that if the creamy, buttery-ness of avocado is your thing, you have to try it paired with the lean protein of egg whites.

This is almost a non-recipe recipe. It's just a crack of fresh ground black pepper, a sprinkling of kosher salt, a drizzle of olive oil, and a squeeze of lemon over a bowl of egg white and avocado chunks, but it really satisfies those hunger pangs in an incredibly tasty way. Seriously. Sub a dash of champagne vinegar for the lemon, if you like. The tartness brings something exceptionally bright to the mild, nutty flavors. Egg Whites with Avocado is definitely worth a little treadmill time to land On My Plate.

Egg Whites with Avocado

(adapted from Martha Stewart)

8 eggs

2 avocados

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

fresh ground black pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil

fresh squeezed lemon juice

In a large saucepan, boil the eggs. (If you want some tips, check out goodLife {eats}.)
Peel eggs and separate yolks from whites (reserve yolks for another use...but trust me, if you leave them on the cutting board while you eat you lunch, they will mock you until you give in and eat them, too.)
Chop the whites into bite-sized pieces.
Half and pit the avocados; remove from skins.
Chop the avocados into similarly bite-sized pieces.
Divide the egg whites and avocados between 4 bowls.
Sprinkle with salt; season with pepper.
Drizzle with olive oil and top with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. (Serves 4)

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving weekend is winding down, and while I didn't have time to blog any hints or tips for that grand holiday meal, I would still like to take a moment to confirm my profound thankfulness.

It has been a difficult year full of tremendous losses, but we have withstood them all and are so much more thankful for what remains. We have been blessed beyond measure, even in times of struggle. I am thankful. Very thankful.

I could be true to my over-sharing, rambling nature and go into detail, but really do I need to? We all face challenges. We all face loss. We all have people in our lives that make them better (and some that don't). We are all human, and though our experiences may vary, at the end of the day, we are all thankful for what we have (and some of what we don't). Life isn't easy, but life is good. I am thankful. Very thankful.

And, on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, with my fridge still brimming with leftovers, I am thankful for leftover turkey to throw together a simple lunch during our day of chores and errands. Poblano, Ham, and Turkey Quesadillas, quite thankfully, rock. I served them today with some of the Basic Canned Salsa that I preserved from our summer garden. The roasted poblanos meld with the cheeses and the saltiness of the cured ham and really kick up the turkey. I give thanks for Poblano, Ham, and Turkey Quesadillas On My Plate.

Poblano, Ham, and Turkey Quesadilla

2 fresh poblano peppers

olive oil

mozzarella cheese, shredded (I used a mix of mozzarella and Monterrey Jack.) 

Queso Fresco, crumbled

thin sliced deli-style ham

sliced or shredded leftover Thanksgiving turkey

flour tortillas

unsalted butter

Preheat the oven to 500F.
Place the whole peppers on a sheet pan and drizzle with oil to cover.
Roast for 10-15 minutes until the skins are completely wrinkled and the peppers are charred, turning them occasionally.
Remove the pan from the oven.
Immediately place chiles in a medium bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let stand 10 minutes.
Peel and seed chiles; cut into strips.
On each flour tortilla, layer cheese(s), ham, turkey, and poblano strips equally over one half.
Fold the filled tortillas in half.
Heat butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat.
When the butter starts to bubble, add a folded tortilla and toast until the cheese melts and tortilla is crisp, flipping half-way through. (I covered skillet while first side was crisping to help hold in the heat to melt the cheese.)
Repeat with remaining tortillas, adding butter to the skillet as necessary.

I'll Get You, My Pretty

I am seeing green. Green tomatoes, that is. I wish that I could cast a spell and have them all ripen and be beautifully red...or maybe, I don't. That would mean that I would have to find yet another way to use the ripe ones...and I am running out of jars for canning...BUT...my complexion has never been more radiant from the steam of the pots of boiling water (don't you agree? bwahaha!).

So, instead of casting a Halloween spell, I will get a pretty Fried Green Tomato On My Plate. Fake Ginger made an incredibly beautiful Fried Green Tomato BLT. I love BLTs. Who doesn't? It.Is.Bacon. Need I say more? I whipped up this pretty little sandwich for lunch faster than lions, and tigers, and bears, Oh My! (OK, that doesn't make sense, but I love that line from the Wizard of Oz...sorry) There are no flying monkeys when I have a Fried Green Tomato BLT On My Plate.

Fried Green Tomato BLT

(adapted from Fake Ginger)

2 large green tomatoes, sliced
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
about 3/4 cup canola oil, for frying

Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat.
Whisk egg and milk together in a bowl. Set aside.
In another bowl, stir together flour, cornmeal, Panko, salt, and pepper.
Once oil is heated (test by dropping a morsel of the flour in and see if it sizzles), dip tomato slices one by one in egg and then flour. 
Make sure tomato is fully coated in flour mixture and then place in hot oil. 
Fry 3 or 4 at a time, making sure not to crowd the tomatoes. 
Fry for about 3 minutes or until the crust is a golden brown; flip and cook other side until golden.
Drain on paper towels.

Assemble your favorite BLT using the Fried Green Tomato instead of sliced, ripe tomatoes. 
I love toasted whole wheat or multi-grain bread, but the original recipe used a Kaiser Roll.
I used regular (Hellman's ) mayo, but I think that a pesto-mayo would be divine on this sandwich.
Iceberg is the traditional lettuce of choice for a BLT, but I used Romaine because that is what I always have on hand.
How do you like your bacon? Mine must be thin and crispy. Hubs like his thick and chewy.

Fridge Friday, episode 2

It is Friday! As promised, I am going to try to keep up with Fridge Friday photo shots. Here is my refrigerator today:

Two things have occurred since last Friday. 1) My basement refrigerator which is supposed to hold beverages and worms for fishing, but often holds overflow from the kitchen refrigerator died. (Note the surplus of butter now living in the bottom right corner of the kitchen fridge.) and 2) Hubs had a doctor's appointment in the big city, so we did some stock up of produce. My fridge runneth over. Therefore, today's focus will be using as many ingredients from the fridge as possible. Some are hidden in the crisper and deli drawers; others are out in plain sight. A simple Roasted Eggplant Sandwich should fit the bill nicely.

This quick and even pretty healthy sandwich will use up some of the enormous jar of Pesto that I picked up at Sam's Club. I love to make my own pesto, but it is too early for basil from my garden and purchasing the quantity of basil needed for pesto at the area groceries (if they even had it) would be horribly cost prohibitive even for a compulsive food shopper like me.

Other players pulled from the cold for this sandwich will include eggplants and peppers (to be roasted), baby greens, and goat cheese. I realize as I circle the goat cheese in the deli drawer that the Laughing Cow cheese would have made a great stand in if goat cheese wasn't available or wasn't to your taste. Both are flavorful and would spread easily on the toasted bread. I used a toasted sour dough hoagie roll for my Roasted Eggplant Sandwich, but any firm bread would be great.

So...what is in your fridge this Friday? What are you cooking up? Do you have the makings for a healthy and delicious Roasted Eggplant Sandwich On Your Plate?

Roasted Eggplant Sandwiches

8 (1/2-inch-thick) eggplant slices

2 teaspoons olive oil

kosher salt

fresh ground black pepper

1 large red pepper

2 Sour Dough Hoagie rolls

2 tablespoons pesto

1 cup baby greens

2 tablespoons soft goat cheese

Preheat broiler.
Arrange eggplant slices in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet. 
Brush both sides of eggplant with 1 teaspoon oil and season with salt and pepper. 
Cut bell pepper in half lengthwise; discard seeds and membrane. 
Arrange bell pepper halves, skin sides up, on baking sheet with eggplant; flatten with hand. 
Broil 4 minutes; turn eggplant over (do not turn bell pepper over). 
Broil an additional 4 minutes; remove eggplant from pan.
Broil bell pepper an additional 7 minutes or until blackened. 
Place bell pepper in a zip-top plastic bag; seal. 
Let stand for 15 minutes; peel and discard skin.
Toast bread or buns until lightly browned. 
Spread 1 tablespoon pesto on each of 2 bread slices. 
Layer each bread slice, pesto side up, with 2 eggplant slices, 1 bell pepper half, and 2 eggplant slices. 
Divide baby greens evenly between sandwiches. 
Spread goat cheese over each of 2 remaining bread slices; place, cheese side down, on sandwiches. (Makes 2 sandwiches)

Fridge Friday, episode 1

Remember how I said that I had an idea in the works to try to keep up my momentum with blog posting? Well, here it is. Awhile back, I stumbled upon the concept of Fridge Fridays through Twitter. At that time, we were just snapping quick phone pics of our fridges and posting for others to see and discuss. Most of us had a more than passing interest in food and cooking and liked to see what ingredients each had on hand. Later, a blogger (Maggie) took the idea and created a separate site just for Fridge Friday posts.

I have decided to add my own spin to Fridge Fridays and introduce it as a theme here On My Plate. I will snap a photo of my fridge, zero in on one ingredient, and share a recipe that includes it. There are no promises that this will be an every Friday occurrence, but I would like to try. This could be a fun addition to the blog.

Your input is very welcome. If you check out the fridge photo and see something in there that sparks your interest, let me know. Comment away. Ask questions. Tell me that you also have a love for Laughing Cow Cheese, or ask me what in the heck I am doing with that HUGE jar of marinated artichokes (and if you really must know, please see my confession at Enough to (Arti-)Choke a Horse). Play along with me. Let me know that I am not just talking to myself when I peck out these posts (although, truth be told, I do talk to myself ALL THE TIME).

So...did you check out the pic above? Did you see an ingredient that you thought deserved some time in the spotlight? This week, I have asparagus, salad greens, herbs, zucchini, mushrooms, strawberries, Greek yogurt, bacon, hot dogs, pickles, take-and-bake bread, and even crab meat in the fridge. However, it is the lowly tube of  refrigerator biscuits that gets to come out and play. I found something in the No Recipe Zone of Everyday with Rachael Ray that I knew Hubs would love, French Onion Soup Cups.

Hubs LOVES French Onion Soup; begs for it; orders it every time he has the opportunity. The only other soup that I have ever seen him eat more of is Clam Chowder...and that is an ugly story that I won't be repeating. French Onion Soup Cups bakes up refrigerator biscuits on the underside of greased muffin tins to create little "cups." Filled with caramelized onions and topped with a cheese sauce and more melted cheese, they are so simple and satisfying. I tossed together a salad with baby greens and a fresh vinaigrette as a side, and our meal was complete in no time. I don't need anything special in my fridge to put French Onion Soup Cups On My Plate.

 French Onion Soup Cups

2 tablespoons olive oil

One can refrigerator biscuits

8 cups thinly sliced onions

kosher salt

fresh ground black pepper

2 tablespoons butter

1 1/2 tablespoons flour

3/4 cup heavy cream

1 cup grated Gruyere cheese

1 teaspoon fresh thyme

Preheat to 400°.
Invert a muffin pan and lightly grease the back side of ten muffin cups. 
Pat a biscuit flat, place over a greased muffin cup and stretch the dough to cover the cup. 
Repeat with the remaining nine biscuits. 
(With the bigger Grands biscuits, I had to use every other muffin cup to keep from baking together. Regular sized biscuits could use all the muffin cups without problem.)
Bake until golden-brown, 7 minutes.
Allow to cool slightly, then remove the biscuit cups from the pan and place cup side up onto a baking sheet to cool completely.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a skillet and add the onions, salt, and pepper. 
Cook until the onions are softened and browned, about 15 minutes.
Divide the onion mixture among the biscuit cups.
In a small saucepan, melt the butter. 
Whisk in the flour until smooth. 
Whisk in the heavy cream and cook, stirring, until thickened, about 3 minutes. 
Remove from heat and stir in half of the cheese; season with salt and pepper. 
Spoon the cheese sauce over the onions.
Sprinkle the thyme and remaining cheese and on top and bake until the cheese is melted, 5 to 7 minutes. (Serves 6-8)

Greening Up

Early last month, I started this post. The grass was just starting to show spikes of green. The trees had tiny, little buds instead of leaves. Chives, oregano, thyme, and tarragon were all reemerging in the herb bed. My world was greening up with the promise of spring. Then, once again, life hit. It is so easy for me to let blogging fall aside whenever I am drowning in other stuff that has to be done. (Are you sick and tired of this excuse yet? I know that I am. If I am going to continue this blog, I really need to get a handle on regularly posting without excuses...and, I do have an idea to maintain my momentum, but that is all potential content for another post...)

Anyway, now, almost a full month later, I am finally back to plucking on the keyboard and pulling together the recipe for a very green Spinach Frittata (adapted from Everyday Food). My grass is a full emerald carpet that has been cut once, and will need it again in a few days. The lilacs not only form a leafy barrier along the property line, but also are just days away from scenting the air with their fragrant blossoms. And, the tarragon in my herb bed is already threatening to be out of control (hmm...anyone have tarragon recipes to share?). My world is green, and so is the food On My Plate.

If you have read more than a couple of the posts in this blog (and if you have, thank you!), you know it is not a secret that spinach is a frequent ingredient in my meals. We love it in any shape and form. Tossing wilted spinach with eggs and baking is such a simple solo meal (or double it and share) for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. Make it even greener by pairing with a fresh salad. It doesn't have to be spring for me to green up with Spinach Frittata On My Plate.

Spinach Frittata

1 egg, plus 2 egg whites
2 tablespoons Gruyere cheese
2 teaspoons milk
fresh ground black pepper
kosher salt
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 small shallot, minced
1 1/2 cups baby spinach

Place a 1-cup ramekin on a baking sheet in oven; preheat oven to 450 degrees.
While oven is heating, whisk together egg and egg whites, 1 tablespoon cheese, milk, teaspoon salt, and pinch of pepper.
In a small skillet, heat oil; add shallot and cook until softened.
Add spinach; cook until wilted.
Season with salt and pepper.
Stir spinach into egg mixture.
Remove heated dish from oven and coat with cooking spray.
Immediately pour in egg mixture and top with 1 tablespoon cheese.
Bake until frittata is puffed up and golden brown, about 15 minutes. (Serves 1)