Posted on

Kale Salad with Balsamic Dressing

Kale Salad with Balsamic Dressing

Kale Salad for Autumn


Adam took pleasure in the new life. When autumn touched the trees he had got as far as Omaha, and without question or reason or thought he hurried west and south, fled through the mountains and arrived with relief in Southern California.”
East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Kale wasn’t served, Brussels sprouts were cooked until mushy and sauerkraut came from a can. Don’t get me started on what happened to broccoli. Some childhood food memories are best forgotten. Learning to cook vegetables with strong flavors is worth the effort. Of course brassicas are healthy, paired with the right ingredients they are scrumptious too. I’m on my way to finding the best raw kale salad. Kale Salad with Balsamic Dressing is really good, the best so far.

Kale Salad with Balsamic Dressing is super easy to make. The kale salad comes together quickly in one bowl. Even the balsamic dressing is tossed in with the kale, no separate bowl required. What makes the Kale Salad with Balsamic Dressing special is the layers of flavor and textures. To a base of softened kale the tangy and sweet Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is tossed with olive oil to dress the greens. After that it’s all about adding pops of flavor and texture with persimmon, pecans, dried cranberries and parmesan cheese. Because it’s a kale salad, it can be made ahead of time. I can confirm leftovers make an excellent lunch. READ MORE . . .

Posted on

Chard and Pancetta Lasagna with Sage

Chard Pancetta Lasagna

A Decadent Lasagna


The wind whistled over the settlements in the afternoon, and the farmers began to set out mile-long windbreaks of eucalyptus to keep the plowed topsoil from blowing away. And this is about the way the Salinas Valley was when my grandfather brought his wife and settled in the foothills to the east of King City.
East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Growing a summer vegetable garden is something I always want to do. I give it a try and usually have more fails than wins. Tomatoes are always a priority, but between the summer fog and our mostly shaded backyard thriving is random. Still, I’ve planted three tomato plants again this spring, Sun Gold, Celebrity and Giant Red Cherry. (I’ve given up on Early Girl.) We’re trying a different spot, but 6-8 hours of direct sun is more of a desire than a reality. Herbs do thrive. I’m thankful for parsley, thyme, sage, oregano and rosemary. The best part of last summer’s vegetable garden was the Swiss chard. I planted a six-pack of plants that faithfully gave dinner worthy chard for an entire year. I even forgot about them during this year’s rain. Now they are bolting, going to seed. Before I say goodbye I’m harvesting the tender leaves that are growing along the stalks for salad greens and sharing this recipe from the Williams Sonoma Test Kitchen for Chard and Pancetta Lasagna with Sage.

If you like Swiss chard this is a recipe to try, if you could care less about chard but like lasagna (and think about adding more greens to your diet) this is a recipe to try. Or if you have an abundance of chard and another serving of sautéed greens is stifling, you must make this recipe. However, this is a lasagna recipe, the healthy part is the chard and onion, after that we’re talking cheese, béchamel and noodles. Oh, and pancetta! Not too much, just enough to add that wow flavor that makes this recipe irresistible. READ MORE . . .

Posted on

Spicy Egg Topped Stuffed Bell Peppers

Spicy Egg Topped Bell Peppers

Dinner Made Easy

“Lee had kept Adam’s eggs warm and had fried two for Cal. Aron walked through the dining room on his way to school. Want me to wait for you?”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

All the sweet flavors of multi-colored bells mingle with your favorite salsa for a spicy update to the classic recipe in Spicy Egg Topped Stuffed Bell Peppers. The rice stuffing cooks inside the peppers that are nestled in a tomato based sauce. Topping these Spicy Stuffed Bell Peppers with an egg adds a boost of protein which could be dinner, lunch or brunch. The Spicy Egg Topped Stuffed Bell Peppers can be served with chips and salsa but warmed tortillas would be wonderful too. Temper the spiciness of the recipe by varying the type of salsa and amount of red pepper flakes. READ MORE . . .

Posted on

Date Yogurt Shake

Date Yogurt Shake

Summer Shake Fantasy

“Before the inland sea the valley must have been a forest. And those things happened right under our feet. And it seemed to me sometimes at night that I could feel both the sea and the redwood forest before it.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

This is everything I want in a summer shake, just sweet enough, creamy and very cold and hydrating. It has the look and taste of decadence while filled with energizing protein from yogurt and walnuts. With four dates per serving it is not too sweet. I’ve been doing tons of gardening, succulents, herbs, vegetables and then we worked on our massive front yard. When I stop for my morning break the Date Yogurt Shake quenches my thirst and hunger. I am nourished and pampered too. READ MORE . . .

Posted on

Spicy Sweet Broccoli with Roasted Lemon and Feta

Sweet Broccoli with Roasted Lemon and Feta

Almost Spring

“Well, you know the railroads built those fruit cars. I went down and had a look at them. They’re pretty good. Do you know we could ship lettuce right to the east coast in the middle of winter?”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

The massive El Nino storms have paused. It has been warm, which feels like spring. I was looking ahead to early spring with the first harvest of local produce when I learned that Tanimura and Antle grows Artisan Sweet Broccoli year round in the Salinas Valley. To grow a perishable commodity like broccoli, year round in the same place is amazing! The day I went to take photos of the Artisan Sweet Broccoli fields in Spreckels, the sun was shining and it felt like spring had already arrived. Next month the harvest of lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, celery and other produce will bring the Salinas Valley alive from it’s short winter slumber. READ MORE . . .