December 18th, 2011
Sweet, Spicy, Crunchy and Smokey
Besides packing an incredible protein punch in a portable package, nuts are incredibly and deliciously versatile.
You can eat them raw, toasted, salted, smoked and steamed, throw them on top of salads, into stir fries and of course, bake with them. They make a great “anytime” snack and are perfect for tucking into gift baskets and setting on display as part of an appetizer or wine and cheese tray.
Sweet and spicy is a nearly perfect taste combination. Lace this with a wisp of smoke, and now you’re talking a piquant flavor explosion.
Because they are both soooo good, and I wasn’t able to choose just one to post, I am sharing two quick, easy and fun-tasting spiced nut recipes with you.
The pecans in the “Smokey Paprika Toasted Pecans” are the perfect platform to absorb the simple, yet delicious combination of butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, smoked paprika and sea salt. The hot smoked paprika takes center stage, offering a deep, earthy flavor that is tempered by the sweeter components and complimented by a sprinkling of lovely, sparkling, coarse sea salt.
The pungent spiciness of chipotle chile powder is softened by the subtle sweetness of the honey in the “Honey-Glazed Almonds.” These nuts are glistening and gorgeous and the crunch is superb.
I promise, whether you choose to make one or both of these recipes, prepare to make another few batches, because you won’t be able to stop popping them into your mouth.
Read more »
December 10th, 2011
Black Bean and Butternut Chili
I recently received a very enthusiastic text message from a friend saying that she had just tasted the best chili and that it won a chili cook-off she and her husband attended. Having known her for years, and trusting her taste in chili, I asked her to email the recipe to me. I wasn’t sorry.
October 15th, 2011
Coconut Ginger Sweet Potato Soup
I can’t quite get enough of fall. The weather is perfect, not too hot and not too cold, the colors are bold and the fresh tastes of the harvest tempt the palate.
When I woke up this morning, it was 48 degrees Fahrenheit outside, cool enough to justify my spending a few more minutes wrapped up in the toasty warmth of the down comforter.
Crisp, clear autumn days like this are perfect for settling in and simmering a pot of soup on the stove.
October 2nd, 2011
Pumpkin and Za’atar Hummus
It’s hard to believe, but fall is definitely here. Can you smell it in the air? Crisp, cool nights with just a hint of wood smoke drifting through the air coupled with golden yellow, deep red and fiery orange leaves bringing brilliant bursts of color to the landscape.
If you had to choose just one word to represent fall, what would it be? There are so many wonderful choices: apples, gourds, ghosts, cider, leaves and many more. For me, the word that singlehandedly describes fall is: pumpkin!!
There are so many sweet and savory dishes that can made from this soothingly orange squash. Pie, bread and soup immediately come to mind, but the possibilities are endless. Before breaking out the loaf pans and the pie plates, I decided that that I wanted to use the first fresh pumpkin of the season in a more non-traditional recipe.
As I paged through a recently acquired cookbook, the gorgeous “Purple Citrus and Sweet Perfume” by Silvena Rowe, a recipe for Pumpkin and Za’atar Hummus caught my attention. The following is my adaptation of the recipe. I serve it with pita chips and roasted pumpkin seeds. Read more »
September 19th, 2011
Tasting Time: Foodzie Unboxed
I don’t know about you, but I still get as excited as a little kid when a package arrives in the mail. Whether large or small, square, round or rectangular, I feel that sweet, sharp rush of anticipation every time I find a box waiting for me on the patio.
Since I’ve subscribed to the Foodzie Tasting Box, it’s like celebrating my birthday and Christmas each month. Delivered directly to my doorstep every month, is a box packed filled with tasty, hand-curated treats, which introduces my palate to a mélange of different tastes and flavors and fun new foodie products.
September 12th, 2011
