Recent Recipes
Pasta Puttanesca: Monday, Sept 15, 2025
There are a number of versions of how this classic pasta dish originated. Some say that Puttanesca was first made in the Spanish Quarter brothels of Naples. Other stories include chef Sandro Petti of Ischia (just west of Naples) creating the recipe when asked to cook for friends late one night. His pantry was a bit exhausted from a busy weekend and he only had olives, capers and sauce ingredients remaining. He created Pasta Aulive et Chiapparielle (pasta with olives and capers), or Puttanesca.
Wherever it originated, this dish is a favorite in my home kitchen. It works with any combination of vegetables you have on hand.
Koftas and Jeweled Rice: Sunday, September 14, 2025
While reading a mystery set in India recently, I was introduced to koftas: spiced ground meat served as a kabob. I decided to learn how to make them using plant-based product. For your dining convenience, I offer this recipe on Sunday to allow time for chilling.
Holy smoke – these things are good! When making these Asian/Middle-Eastern “meatballs,” it’s all about the spices!
Serve koftas with a nice yogurt dipping sauce and some Persian-style jeweled rice. Serve koftas with a nice yogurt dipping sauce and some Persian-style jeweled rice. An East-Indian style salad will finish the meal. “Bhojan ka aanand len!” (Enjoy the meal.)
It’s Saturday, September 13th, 2025. The fall harvest is at its peak!
It’s Saturday, September 13th!
We’re still celebrating the harvest!
Menus and shopping lists for September 14 – 19 and 21 – 26
Another great week of dining awaits. It’s time to make some plans and go grocery shopping.
Falafel Rice Bowl: Friday, September 12, 2025
It’s Friday! Here’s a super quick supper utilizing the falafel saved from Sunday. This bowl will use bulgur instead of rice combined with crisp lettuce, cucumber, cabbage, and tomato. Finish the bowl by dressing it with leftover tzatziki and a drizzle of dressing made from tahini sauce.
Give those leftovers a makeover and call it a Falafel “Rice” Bowl. Your diners will call it satisfying and delicious.
Chicken and Mushrooms over Rice: Wednesday, September 10, 2025
It’s time for some old-fashioned comfort food. When I was a kid, this dish was fairly common in my middle-class home. My mother made it with chicken thighs and used cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup to make the sauce. Every bite was a salt bomb bonanza and we loved it! However, we’ll skip the salty canned soups tonight and make our own yogurt-based white sauce. We’ll also substitute plant-based Chick’n Strips for chicken thighs. Browned mushrooms will anchor the mushroom sauce. This version is still packed with flavor but has a fraction of the fat and salt.
Beet Salad, Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Tonight we’ll feature the miraculous beet, While they’re at the peak of the season. For additional texture, we’ll surround them with an ensemble of lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, tree-ripened apple, plant-based tenders and toasted walnuts.
Beets, a root vegetable food source, originated in the Mediterranean and dates back to prehistoric times. High in antioxidants, beets were often used for medicinal purposes, but by the 18th century they became a popular food item.
If you haven’t already roasted beets, roast some during the day today.
*A note of caution, beet juice has been used as a natural dye (even a hair dye) for centuries, so be sure to wear latex gloves as you handle the cooked beets.