Pizza Primavera

This pizza begs for spring with its ingredients but can accommodate the harsh realities of March by using pantry items. If you would like to gussy it up a bit, use the optional asparagus and prosciutto. Sauce Olive oil 6 cloves of garlic, smashed Crushed red pepper flakes to taste ½ c white wine 2…

Ratatouille pasta salad

The pasta serves as another ingredient in this salad, not the predominant one.  The vegetables can be grilled or roasted over high heat. ¼ c olive oil 1 red onion 2 red peppers 1 zucchini, halved 1 eggplant, sliced into half-inch rounds ½ a basket (4oz) heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved 1 medium sized beefsteak or…

Peanut noodles with soy salmon

Many of us have random sauces stocking up our fridge.  This dinner offers the opportunity to use some of them interchangeably. Douse leftover meat in the sauce and the dish is complete. 1 block of tofu 4T peanut, safflower or canola oil 3T oyster sauce, hoisin sauce or a combo 4T soy sauce 2T rice…

Pan friend oysters with braised chard and rice

This recipe has a number of optional items carried over from the original incarnation.  I happened to have garlic spears and dinner rolls and used them.  You can omit the garlic spear and use bread for the breadcrumbs but I did find the breadcrumbs made from the roll ground up to the perfect texture.  If…

Pasta Pillows with Seafood

Since some may sneer at the idea of cheese mingling with fish, I call these pasta pillows rather than ravioli. They do resemble pillows in shape and due to the citrus involved in the sauce, have a lightness that compliments the seafood, despite their ricotta filling. Olive oil or Olive oil infused with hot chili…

Thai inspired chicken noodle salad

This salad can be made with or without the chicken and can be served hot, at room temperature, or cold. Note that the consistency differs as the noodles absorb the liquid the longer it sits to cool. 2 ¼ inch slices of galingale A handful of lime leaves 2 stalks of lemongrass, chopped into 2…

Mediterranean dinner salad

So you have a big appetite and want to chow down.  Have you considered a salad?  Salads can fill that craving to stuff your gullet without packing on the extra padding.  Go big, toss something family size and settle in for seconds.  You won’t hate yourself in the morning if you follow these guidelines: Don’t…

Mussels allium

This dish may be prepared a la minute, chopping ingredients as you go.  If you have especially hairy mussels that need a lot of attention you may want to clean them before beginning the preparation.  Otherwise, they can be cleaned while the sauce is simmering.  Hardcore onion lovers should not strain out the solids. You…

Mock mole

This ‘mole’ certainly lacks the complexity of traditional mole, but it serves as a decent substitute when you lack the ingredients, time and patience to complete all the steps required of most mole recipes.  You can choose how healthy to make it.  For a richer mole, sauté the onions in vegetable oil before adding the…

Hearty marinated meal salad

Most Italian cold cuts would also compliment this salad nicely. 1C dried white beans 2 celery stalks chopped fine 4 green onions, sliced, whites and greens divided on 2 of the scallions 2 chili peppers, divided 1 garlic clove, grated 1T butter 1T dill, chopped fine 1t mint, chopped fine ½ a lime 1/2C mayo…