Grilled corn w/ Parmesan herb butter

To me, corn screams summer. Literally.

When I was little, my mom used to take my sister and I – often accompanied by other neighborhood kids – to the beach. Every day, of every summer, of the first nine years of my life (while we still lived in Odessa). And everyday, there were ladies walking up and down the beach, screaming, “Hot corn! Hot corn!” (in Russian, of course). When you called for one of these ladies, they would come over and present you with a steaming hot cob of corn, along with a salt shaker for you to season to your liking. So no, we did not eat fruit roll-ups or Lay’s chips as snacks. We ate corn. The bursting sweet corn make us all giddy, and between that, the warm sand, the gentle sea breeze and my angel of a mother, I could not have asked for better summers.

This corn, however, is something I would not have even thought possible back then. It is an exciting, jazzed up version of one of my favorite childhood foods, and it is so good and easy to make. It makes for a great snack, or side dish at a barbecue or weeknight dinner.

From an aesthetic point of view, it would be best to leave the cheese out of the herb butter and just sprinkle it on afterwards, but I decided to mix it in. You can use whichever method you prefer.

(Yield: 8 pieces)

Ingredients:

4 ears of corn, husked

1 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp butter, at room temp.

1 garlic clove, crushed

2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro

2 tbsp Parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Cayenne pepper, to taste

Procedure: Start by making the herb butter – place the butter, garlic, cilantro, cheese, salt and peppers into a dish with a flat bottom and mash together with a fork. (If you can avoid eating all of it at this point, I applaud you).

Heat a grill pan over high heat. Lightly brush the corn with olive oil and place on grill. Cook for 15-20 min, turning occasionally, until the corn is evenly charred throughout. Remove from grill and place on a cutting board. Working with one piece at a time, hold down corn with an oven mitt and cut in two pieces. Then place corn onto a platter and divide the butter evenly among the pieces, using a butter knife to spread it. Serve immediately.

What to do with frozen peas

Apr25

We all have that sad, lonely, dejected bag of peas in the freezer, right? They’re right next to that half-empty pint of rainbow sorbet from two summers ago. We buy the peas with good intent but somehow the damn things always get overshadowed by pasta, chicken or even canned tuna – basically any other kitchen staple that’s not peas. As far as I’m concerned, their only real purpose is as an ice pack, for handsome men like Ryan Gosling who happen to have been punched in the face. I mean, we could just add them to our soups, stews, rice, etc. but we forget they’re even there.

Below is a recipe for what to do with a large quantity of peas that’s so easy, it literally consists of three ingredients (not counting salt and pepper). The peas turn out flavorful and dare I say desirable, and make a fantastic side dish for just about anything.

Sauteed Garlic Peas

(Yield: 4-6 servings)

Ingredients:

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

2 c frozen green peas

A pinch of salt and freshly grated black pepper

Procedure: Heat the oil in a large, high-sided skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic and saute for 1 min, just until fragrant. Add peas, stir and cook until softened and warmed through, stirring frequently, 7-8 min. Taste and re-season if necessary. Serve hot or at room temperature.

How do you like to use frozen peas?

Have your greens and drink them too.

Mar14

As I previously mentioned, my Parisian cousin is a devout juicer and smoothie-drinker, and is also on her way to full on veganism. During my visit, we spent a lot of time talking about this way of life and its benefits, and she introduced me to a book called Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr (published by Skirt!, 2011). I’ve purchased a copy since my return but unfortunately haven’t found the time to read it cover to cover yet. I have flipped through some of it though and feel smarter already!

The author was diagnosed with a rare and incurable form of cancer some years ago and decided to adopt a healthy lifestyle to help her deal with the condition. The focus of her diet (and here the word Diet refers to a lifetime commitment, not a two-week ritual) is plant-based and her motto is “Make juice not war.” It’s all about making greens your best friend.

Of course we’ve all heard that eating spinach is good (thanks, Popeye) but rarely are we actually explained why. Well, think back to 7th grade science. Remember something called chlorophyll? Chlorophyll is the molecule that makes plants green and Carr calls it liquid sunshine. Chlorophyll is what lets plants absorb sunlight and turn it energy. And just as it is good for plants, it is good for humans. Chlorophyll can heal and detoxify the blood. Specifically, it “increases red blood cell production and enhances the cells’ ability to carry oxygen. It strengthens the immune system, improves circulation, eases inflammation and counteracts harmful free radicals.” What this means is less joint/muscle pain, less colds and less skin imperfections. Sounds pretty good, eh? The author places a bigger emphasis on juicing as opposed to blending greens, as juice instantly alkalizes the blood while a smoothie takes a little time for the body to process. However, smoothies get to keep their fiber and that’s also very important.

I know this may be a shocker to some of you (I mean the pork buns, the Russian doughnuts, the stews!) but I actually don’t indulge as much as this blog may suggest. After all, I only document the memorable, document-worthy meals. And ever since learning of this book, I’ve been cutting down on things like meat and caffeine. But not forcefully – I don’t really miss them! I guess that’s because my body doesn’t need them as much as I previously thought and because I enjoy knowing that I’m paying closer attention to the things my body tells me. And I’ve been drinking smoothies every day! I highly doubt that my love for burgers, pulled pork and otherworldly New York pizzas will ever go away, but making small changes is actually a huge deal.

As much as I believe in the comforting power of poundcake, I now believe in the healing power of this lifestyle, too. I highly recommend that you too read this book, pay closer attention to your body and raise a green glass to your health. Here’s my favorite green creation so far.

(Yield: 1 cup)

Ingredients:

1 c baby arugula

1 handful of parsley

2 tbsp lemon juice

1 ripe kiwi, peeled and chopped

1/2 c water

Procedure: Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Serve in a chilled glass.

Talking about green smoothies is just scratching the surface but when I’m finally done reading the book, I plan to share more of her advice with you

Curried sweet potato hash

Feb10

Ever since I had my first breakfast hash at brunch in District Commons, I realized that hash is one of the greatest things to ever happen to breakfast. Caramelized vegetables studded with bits of salty meat and topped with a runny egg – I mean, it’s completely irresistible.

This recipe is meat-less but it’s so flavorful that it doesn’t feel like anything’s missing. The way the sweetness of the sweet potatoes, carrots and onion mixes with the fragrance of curry is divine and unique, and I foresee myself returning to this flavor combination again and again in the future.

It is also important to point out that sweet potatoes are a power food. They are a low calorie food that is high in fiber and potassium, but most notably in Vitamin A, which acts as a powerful antioxidant and aids in preserving eyesight. They are very versatile so they’re easy to incorporate into any diet.

(Yield: 4 servings)

Ingredients:

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 3/4″ cubes

1 yellow onion, diced

1 portobello mushroom, diced

1 large carrot, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp yellow curry powder

1-2 (to taste) tsp red curry paste

Salt + pepper

1 tbsp chopped cilantro

1 tbsp Butter

4 eggs

Procedure: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add oil. Add all vegetables and cook, stirring frequently, for about 10 min.

Then season with a generous pinch of salt and add garlic and curries. Stir and cook for a few more min, until potatoes are fork tender. Turn heat off, stir in cilantro, taste and re-season if necessary, and keep warm on the stove. Meanwhile, heat a griddle or skillet over medium-high heat. Melt butter on griddle. Gently break eggs onto griddle and season with salt and pepper. Cook until edges are browned and middle is set. Divide hash amongst four plates and top each one with an egg. Serve hot.

What is your favorite way to cook sweet potatoes?

Anticipation & garlic roasted Brussels sprouts

Jan21

I was going to write an elaborate review of a renown pizza restaurant that I recently visited as today’s post but couldn’t bring myself to do it. My mind is a bit preoccupied right now because I’m flying out to Paris – which is like, my favorite place in the world – tomorrow night. I know, I know, I should be jumping-up-and-down, can’t-keep-my-pants-on, bragging-like-an-***hole, excited right now. But instead, I am nervous and a little scared. This is the first time I’ll be flying by myself, and to a foreign country, at that. Hopefully my nerves will calm as soon as I land across the ocean and this turns out to be as fantastic a trip as I originally anticipated.

There will be no new posts for the next 12 days or so, but follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for updates!

Here is a simple, healthy, vegan recipe for Brussels sprouts that is inspired by, oddly enough, the Provencal-style roasted potatoes at Home/made in Red Hook.

(Yield: 4 servings)

Ingredients:

1 lb Brussels sprouts

3 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp dried thyme

8 garlic cloves with skins intact

1/2 tsp salt + 1/2 tsp pepper

Procedure: Heat oven to 400F. Wash sprouts and pat dry. Trim bottoms, peel off outer layer and cut in half lenghtwise. Scatter onto baking sheet and toss with remaining ingredients. Roast 35-40 min, flipping twice while roasting, until sprouts are brown on the outside and mushy on the inside. Serve hot.

Potato and squash frittata

Jan2

Hello, readers. Happy new year!

Although I hope that you all have enjoyed a bountiful holiday season, along with the basted birds, creamy casseroles, grandma’s pies, and neighbors’ cookies, the holidays are O-V-E-R. The time has come for us to stop stuffing our faces and consider what’s happening inside our bodies. I’m sure I speak for more than myself when I say that January is the month when I want to put the indulgence on hold and bring my waistline back to the way it was before November 22nd. Here is a healthy, vegetarian, and might I add beautiful, dish to get us on the right track for this month.

Here is a healthy, vegetarian, and might I add beautiful, dish to get us on the right track for this month.

(Yield: 6 servings)

Ingredients:

1 large russet potato, sliced 1/8″-thick

1 small green squash, sliced 1/8″-thick

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tbsp butter

4 eggs

1/4 c milk

1/3 c grated Parmesan cheese, plus 2 tbsp

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 chopped scallion for garnish

Procedure: Preheat oven to 375F. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, 1/3 c cheese and a pinch of salt and pepper. In another bowl, toss together potato, squash and thyme and a pinch of salt and pepper.

Grease pie dish with butter. Evenly layer vegetables into dish and pour egg mixture over the top.

Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 25 min. Then, uncover, sprinkle with remaining cheese, and bake for another 10-15 min, until the top is golden brown.

Let stand for 10 min before slicing. Garnish with scallions.

Broccoli pesto pasta

Dec20

Those of you who follow me on instagram might have seen a photo from this series a loooong time ago. Alas, here is the recipe.

This broccoli pesto is a tried and true recipe that both my mom and I have been making for years. The pesto is one of the few pasta accompaniments I know of that goes as well with long-cut pastas as with short-cut ones. It’s also a relatively healthy alternative to, say, a cheese sauce. And it’s vegetarian. Try it for your next pasta night! You won’t regret it – I promise.

(Yield: 6 servings)

Ingredients:

3 c broccoli florets

1 garlic clove, roughly chopped

1/2 c parmesan cheese

1/4 c olive oil

1/2 c toasted walnuts

1 tbsp lemon juice

3/4 lb pasta any kind, cooked al dente in salted water according to package directions

Salt, freshly ground black pepper

Procedure: Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Season with 1 tbsp of salt and add broccoli. Cook for exactly 3 min. Drain broccoli and place into food processor along with garlic and nuts. Pulse until pureed, occasionally scraping down sides. With the motor running, add lemon juice, a pinch of salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper, and stream in oil. When incorporated, remove blade and stir in cheese by hand. Taste and re-season if necessary. Combine with hot pasta and 2 tbsp of pasta cooking water. Stir until incorporated. Serve hot; garnish with more cheese if desired. (Reheat leftovers in a skillet with butter and cook with a beaten egg for a quick, carbonara-style dish).

Easy Asian-style vegetables for hard times.

Dec4

Dearest readers: Please note that in the coming weeks, new blog posts will probably be scarce. There are about three weeks left of this semester (finals included) and if all goes well, I will be a college graduate come January. But until that day comes, I have to focus as much as possible on my schoolwork. I have so many papers due that I’ve lost count of them, and I haven’t even thought about cracking a book to study for final exams yet. I also have to start applying to big girl jobs soon and the mere idea of it is simply paralyzing.

If I survive this whole ordeal, I will re-commence blogging at full speed as soon as I can – you have my word. So please don’t forget about me and my baby (…ahem, this blog) in the meantime.

This recipe is for times when you need to eat something good, fast, and refuse to succumb to take-out.

(Yield: 4 servings)

Ingredients:

1 tbsp veg oil

1 tbsp sesame oil

8 oz baby bella mushrooms, trimmed and sliced

3 bulbs baby bok choy

1/4 c low sodium soy sauce

1 tsp corn starch

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tbsp freshly grated ginger root

Procedure: (Cut off 1″ from the bottom of bok choy bulbs and separate leaves. Rinse and dry). In a bowl, combine soy sauce, corn starch, garlic and ginger. Stir until starch is dissolved and set aside. Heat both oils in a sauté pan or wok over high heat. Add mushrooms and cook until browned, about 3 min. Then add bok choy. Cook until wilted while continually stirring, 1-2 min. Then stir in soy sauce mixture; cook until sauce is thickened and bok choy is fork tender, about 1 min. Serve immediately; over rice, if preferred.

Vegetable pancakes

Nov7

I am currently in the last semester of my undergraduate education, and with each day, I care about schoolwork less and less. Some of you are probably thinking, “Oh no! But school is so important.” While I agree, I also believe that tending to that which makes one’s heart smile is equally as important (unless it’s killing babies/cooking drugs, in which case one should seek help). That is why on the first day of my Sandy “staycation”, I was ecstatic – no school, no work, can’t go outside, nothing to do but make love to my kitchen. Seriously, at this point, all I want to do is explore new recipes, work on my photography, choose my words, and hit “Publish”.

These pancakes are just one of the scrumptious things I made that day.

This is another one of my mom’s recipes. The outside crisps up while the inside stays delicate and soft – topped with cold sour cream, these little guys kick ass. Warning: next day fridge leftovers will not be good so I urge you to eat these fast, with which I don’t foresee you having a problem.

(Yield: about 20 little pancakes)

Ingredients:

2 medium russet potatoes, peeled

1 green squash, peeled

1 large carrot, peeled

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 c all-purpose flour

Salt + freshly ground black pepper

Vegetable oil for frying

Sour cream for serving

Procedure: Shred vegetables (preferably using a food processor).

Working with a handful of vegetables at a time, squeeze out as much liquid from vegetables as possible with your hands. Then combine vegetables with garlic, eggs and flour in a bowl. Season with 3/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper.

Heat a skillet/griddle pan over medium heat and add enough oil to cover the bottom. When hot, spoon batter onto skillet and press down on each pancake with spoon to flatten. Pancakes should be 2-3″ in diameter.

Cook about 4 min per side, flipping once, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve immediately, topped with sour cream.

What would you be doing if you didn’t have to study/work?

Crispy breaded cauliflower

Oct17

Cauliflower is a hard vegetable to like, because let’s face it – it smells kind of funky. But, it’s very low in calories while being a great source of B-group vitamins, vitamin K, and one serving of it provides almost the full daily recommended dose of vitamin C. Cauliflower is a super food and if seasoned and cooked properly, it can be quite tasty and a nice addition into a boring vegetable repertoire. So learn to like it.

We have my mom to thank for this recipe.

(Yield: 6-8 servings)

Ingredients:

1 head of cauliflower

2 eggs

1/3 tsp salt + 1/3 tsp pepper

3/4 tsp garlic powder

About 1 c seasoned bread crumbs

Olive oil for frying

Grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley for garnish

Procedure: Trim cauliflower and slice into about ½”-thick pieces (there will be some odd-shaped pieces as well but they can come too!) Beat eggs with salt, pepper and garlic in a shallow dish and add cauliflower. Toss until coated evenly. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add just enough oil to cover the bottom. Dredge cauliflower in bread crumbs and place into skillet. It should sizzle gently – if it is not, the oil is not hot enough yet. Cook 3-4 min per side, until golden brown, flipping once. Using tongs, transfer cooked cauliflower to platter covered with paper towels to drain. Sprinkle with cheese while hot, garnish with parsley just before serving. Cauliflower will need to be cooked in several batches.