Tagine inspired cod stew

After our Christmas dinner, the last thing I want to see is ham and cookies.  For a light meal that is still winter-worthy I've created a Mediterranean style fish dish using very few ingredients.
 

Steak with mushroom Valdeon topping

Valdeon is a pungent Spanish blue cheese that pairs extremely well with mushrooms and beef of course.  I don't know what to say besides, this recipe is craaaazy good.

Drunken chili

My chili is smoky, spicy and full of delicious meat and vegetables.  There's no way you can have just one bowl.  The secret is the cooking liquid....beer and nothing but beer.

Sausage stuffed bell peppers

 

A meal on their own, these peppers are packed with spicy sausage, rice, vegetables and salty pecorino romano.  Instead of using raw peppers, they are first roasted over the burner to add a smoky element to the dish.

 

Beef braised in red wine

There's just something magical about pairing red wine with beef.  When you combine the deep flavor of wine with a few hours of slow braising, you've got a mouth-watering dinner perfect for a cold winter night. 

Autumn minestrone soup

Everyone loves this classic Italian recipe.  My version is a hearty soup full of tender vegetables, and fully flavored with parmesan rinds and smoky bacon.  What more could you want?  Delicious.

Herbed rack of lamb

Though it looks like you've been cooking all day, this lamb recipe is surprisingly simple to prepare.  This is one of my favorite marinades for lamb.

Simple asparagus side

Here's a new way to enjoy your asparagus.  It's so simple to make, yet so delicious you won't believe it!

German roulade and cabbage with pan sauce!

It's officially Fall and for me that means it's time for roasted meats!  The apples are at their peak right now, so why not incorporate those into your dishes as well!  This is a simple meal that uses very few ingredients.  It just takes a little time and a little skill with kitchen twine.

Unstuffed cabbage. Grandma's style!

This is one of those recipes I begged my mom to make so much, I'm certain I drove her nuts.  I knew that when it started to get cold outside, I could once more enjoy one of my favorite comfort foods.  This is a quicker version of stuffed cabbage, and the sauce is a bit different from the Greek recipe.  Instead of a tangy tomato sauce, this recipe uses raisins for a little sweetness, and a little sour from lemon juice.  This is my Russian grandmother in a bowl, not in a morbid way though...

Holy Paprikash!

Smother chicken thighs in a perfect sauce and sop it up with delicious fried dumplings?  Yes please!  This recipe turned out so well, I couldn't stop myself from sneaking spoonfuls.  Hungarian paprika is a wonderful warm flavor that pairs so well with peppers, onions and the coolness of sour cream.  Serve this dish over rustic fried dumplings, and you've got a meal that is close to home.    

Vegetarian Curry

This is a delicious, healthy meal combining warm spices, a little heat and the tang of a bit of yogurt.  I went light tonight and used tofu, but this dish would also be wonderful with chicken, lamb or even fish.

Sweet and sour turkey saucy balls

Messy = good.  These turkey balls are irresistibly good according to my equation.  They're drenched in a sticky sweet and sour sauce that cannot be denied.  This is a lighter version of the popular beef sweet and sour meatball, so you can enjoy a few more than you normally would!

Quick little pizzas

I've been trying (and sometimes failing) to eat a little bit healthier lately.  Tonight I didn't really want to make a big deal out of dinner, so I made really simple little pizzas using what I had around the house.  A coworker of mine told me about these little sandwich flats which made really great low calorie crusts.  I topped them with delicious heirloom tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella to create a light satisfying meal.

Juicy Breasts....

OK.  I know it's not the best picture I've ever had on here, but there's a perfectly good reason why this chicken never got it's plated shot.  Elliott and I just about devoured the thing in ten seconds.  The secret? Brining!

Gourmet cooking for one: Pappardelle with wild mushroom ragout and truffle oil!

Who says you can't eat well when you're cooking for yourself?  Elliott's playing a show tonight which leaves me to fend for myself.  I had a lot of leftover parsley and tomato paste, so I concocted this delicious dish.  All I had to do was keep the portion size down to a minimum.  The mix of mushrooms give a lovely woody almost meaty flavor and texture without using any meat at all.

Spicy Seafood Fettucini

So, I wanted to make Fra Diavolo the other night, and found a million ways to do it.  I invented my own version and I think it turned out great.  This recipe makes a lot of pasta, so be prepared to eat nothing else for three days.  I suppose you could always cut the recipe in half like the mathematician I know you are.

Crunchy corn salad

Since my meal was so heavy last night, and I ate leftovers for lunch, I decided to lighten it up tonight.  This chilled salad incorporates lovely summer produce and a light dressing for a really fresh dish.   

Italian dressing mix

This is an easy way to have homemade dressing any time you want.  Simply blend a few herbs together and store it in your pantry until you're ready to mix up some dressing.  It also makes a great marinade for meat, fish and vegetables.  I know you'll find this dressing so much better than bottled or packaged stuff.

Pig-in-a-poke.

Egg-in-a-hole, Pirate's Eye, Eggy Bread, or whatever you want to call it you can.  When I was growing up, one of the few things my dad could cook was a "Pig-in-the-poke."  I don't know what a "poke" is, or why there is a pig in it, or why it's even called a pig because it's an egg and bread.  I wont try to understand the logistics of the dish, I just know that this is still one of my favorite things to eat for breakfast on a lazy weekend morning.

Everything Quiche

Here is a quiche recipe that is sort of a mish mash of a few different ones I saw.  It combines bacon, onion and roasted tomato with a great blend of cheeses.

Mmmm.... toasty......

Fish taco time!

Tonight was taco night.  I decided to make a light meal because it's about 80 degrees and the thought of beef tacos was sort of making me nauseous.  

Lebanese Stuffed Zucchini

Here is a delicious way to use zucchini which is particularly in season right now.  When I was little, my mom always grew zucchini in the garden.  She must have done a really good job, because there were always way too many for us to use.  So after my sister and I had our photos taken holding the one gigantic zucchini that seemed to grow every year, this was always waiting in the kitchen.