Yesterday I picked up my CSA fruits and veggies, and among other things, there were peaches, a variety of tomatoes, the cutest little red onions, and basil in my box. Last week I remember seeing a panini somewhere that used peaches (not sure what else), which inspired me to make my own peach panini.

One of my favorite Italian restaurants around here has a peach, tomato, and red onion salad on their menu that I love. I know it may sound weird to some, but think of peach salsa – similar ingredients and oh so savory. So I popped by the store to pick up a loaf of French country bread (soft and larger than a baguette) and some fresh mozzarella. (more…)

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Dinner, Italian, Lunch, Sandwiches, Vegetarian by Courtney

While my garden is starting to produce the first harvestable crops, my CSA has been dumping the veggies of late winter/early spring on me for a while now, and I had more than a few items piling up in my fridge. So I decided to try a recipe from my CSA’s blog and use up the fava beans that had been sitting in my fridge for more than a week. It was a “sauce” that could be tossed with pasta or served with meats. While this would probably be out of this world with lamb, I happened to have chicken breasts on hand, and that turned out to be pretty out of this world too. I decided to add a little flavor to the chicken as well, giving it a hint of mustard and garlic before hitting the grill. (more…)

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Dairy free, Dinner, Gluten free, Lunch by Courtney

Last weekend we had some beautiful weather, and I thought it would be the perfect time to finally try out the recipe for pork barbecue sandwiches that it took me so long to procure from my dad. While I can’t give you that recipe (I’ve been sworn to secrecy), the sides are pretty darned awesome too. One of my favorites for barbecue is potato salad, but I do mine with a tangy twist. Instead of using mostly mayo as many recipes do, I use mostly mustard, and a good blend of them at that, and throw in a few savory seasonings that make this not your normal potato salad. The result will make your taste buds tingle and beg for more! (more…)

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Dairy free, Gluten free, Lunch, Quick and Easy, Salad, Side Dish, Vegetarian by Courtney

Looking for a dinner that transports you to the Caribbean, warms you up like comfort food, and is still healthy? Yeah, I didn’t think so — that would be an odd request to make of dinner. But, even if you weren’t looking, it’s a great feeling to have, and it’s exactly what Post Punk Kitchen’s Curried Black Eyed Peas delivers.

I’ve read about her book, Appetite for Reduction: 125 Fast and Filling Low-Fat Vegan Recipes, a couple of places, and I was intrigued. I’m the furthest thing you can find from a vegan, but once in a blue moon on accident I’ll make something vegan, and I like it. So it’s been an area I’ve thought about dabbling in. I just get scared off by recipes that include nutritional yeast and tempeh.

One day a friend of mine mentioned she had been using this cookbook and loved it, but then she pointed me toward the site. I spent the better half of the day trying to decide what I would cook that night. Did I want to go crazy and throw “gluten free” in the mix? Well, that’s what I ended up doing. (more…)

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Caribbean, Dairy free, Dinner, Gluten free, Lunch, Vegan, Vegetarian, World traveller by Courtney

One of the best parts of making the Spicy Cig Kofte is using the leftovers. Usually I buy a leg of lamb, so after portioning out the 3/4 pound I need for the kofte, I easily have a couple of pounds left over. What to do with all that lamb? Make lamb sliders!

This recipe was born from my love of the kofte. I wondered how the spicy mixture would taste grilled. So I altered the spices a bit, made a couple of substitutions given that there are certain ingredients I didn’t have left over, and one of my favorite burgers was born (and my husband’s favorite burger, and my friend’s favorite burger… they’re really good!). (more…)

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Cooking outdoors, Dinner, Gourmet, Lunch, Mid Eastern, Sandwiches, Wine pairings by Courtney