Color, texture and layers of flavor will complete your plate tonight as you enjoy this satisfying dinner salad. It’s anchored with rich, earthy-flavored maroon-red beets while marinated garnet yams add a flavor nuance. The dinner salad is completed with a garden-fresh celebration of tender green lettuce, snapping fresh cucumber, thin-sliced red bell pepper and halved cherry tomatoes. The savory richness of thin-sliced hardboiled eggs and toasted sliced almonds add yet another dimension to round out the flavor and texture profile. The salad is dressed with a sweet and savory homemade honey/mustard dressing.
You may have roasted the beets and yam earlier so they’re just patiently waiting in your fridge. If not, allow an hour early in the day today to roast the beets and yam before you start making the salad. It’s worth the extra time.
Curried Kale and Pineapple with Bulgur and Lentils: Thursday, November 6, 2025
Another cold weather variation of kale awaits. These greens can be traced back 2,000 years to Austria/Hungary and they are a not-so-distant relative to broccoli and cauliflower. The villagers called it “capuzzo.” We call it kale.
Tonight, you’ll return to one of my favorite versions of kale preparation. It combines homemade Masala curry spice mix with pieces of sweet, fresh pineapple. It’s served over hearty bulgur with a scoop of savory lentils.
Potato Quesadillas with Mango Salsa: Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Here’s a meal that originated in the simplest of kitchens. Tonight you’ll experience time travel as you reach back to the 1500’s and transport quesadillas back to your dinner table. These potato and cheese delicacies feel pretty authentic as they’re served with new harvest potatoes and cheese as they might have been in the 16th century. Dress them up with some 21st century mango salsa and serve them with some chili-spiced beet greens.
Spiral Pasta with Mushroom Sauce: Tuesday, November 4, 2025
As the colder season continues to roll in, this comforting meal will be most welcome. Whole grain spiral pasta with mushroom sauce is on the menu. You’ll drop some sliced Chik’n strips into the sauce before bathing the pasta with these rich flavors. A side salad and sliced apple complete the meal.
Mushroom sauces present the opportunity to try some new varieties of mushrooms, or a mix of mushrooms. Try Chanterelles, Morel, Porcini or Shiitake mushrooms.
Sugar Snap Peas with Peanut Sauce: Monday, November 3, 2025
Tonight you’ll enjoy a tangy and rich stir-fry dinner production with sugar snap peas playing the leading role. A spicy peanut sauce will get the nod for best supporting role. It’ll be a meal that lingers in the memory as a great ensemble performance.
Asian Pan Stew: Sunday, November 2, 2025
East meets west tonight in this terrific Western-style stew with an Asian accent. Lots of plentiful root vegetables: sweet potatoes, carrots, yam, rutabaga and onion will dazzle your tastebuds. Fresh cilantro and basil, with citrus overtones are also worked into this European-style brown gravy. You’ll make some delicious and hearty marinated/grilled tofu to finish the Asian flair of this meal. Make the stew early in the day.
If using homemade Marinated Grilled Tofu, go to “Tips and Timesavers” and make it before starting this recipe.