I never thought I could love a meatless burger so dang much, but these Chickpea Burgers with Mint Tahini Carrot Slaw have stolen my heart. But, in the words of Chandler Bing: Could the name of this dish BE any longer?!? Sheesh. This book-inspired recipe is a bit of a wild card for me. If you've been following my blog for awhile, you'll have noticed that vegetarian meals aren't my go-to cuisine, despite a few recent additions. But I really wanted...
We only have a few more days until it's officially fall, so I'm squeezing in one last summery recipe with this Chickpea Shepherd's Salad. Although Beautiful Bad was a DNF for me, it definitely delivered in one aspect: FOOD. Maddie and Joanna were often meeting up to share a meal, even though they lived in different countries, and they made sure to sample all the delicacies their local cuisines had to offer. Crisp, fresh salads with a...
As I was making this Greek Chicken Orzo Salad, I realized something: for someone who doesn't really like mint, I sure am making a lot of recipes with mint these days. Mint is just so fresh tasting. It brightens up any savory dish with an unexpected zip, and it imparts a refreshing coolness to sweet desserts. Can you really blame me for over-using it this summer? Nope. I didn't think so. Spoiler alert: this Greek Chicken Orzo Salad contains...
One of the reasons that Tranquillum House in Nine Perfect Strangers seems so ideal for transforming your life is that guests are encouraged (forced?) to eat healthy and clean. Although I love my carbs and cream sauces, there definitely comes a point (usually right after Christmas) when I simply crave lighter meals filled with fresh, green ingredients. Tranquillum House guests have a limited diet: they aren’t allowed sugar, carbs, alcohol, or...
Holy. FREAKIN. Cow. These cheese scones are amazing. Jenny Colgan is the woman who inspired me to make scones. I had been smack in the middle of The Café by the Sea, reading about how Flora was making scones from her mother’s recipe book, when I was suddenly overcome with the need to make scones myself. From scratch. For the first time. At 6AM on a Saturday. That is what this woman’s writing does to you. Colgan’s wonderfully descriptive...
It’s good to challenge yourself, right? Every now and then? Well. If you’re in agreement with me, you’ve come to the right post. Prepare yourself, dear reader, because this Moroccan Chicken B’stilla Pie is quite the challenging recipe. At least, if you’re not used to working with phyllo dough. *Raises hand* Full disclosure: this is nowhere near an original recipe. Since the author of The Perfect Nanny is the first Moroccan woman to...
You guys, this is a fancy recipe. So, break out the company plates 'cause you’re gonna want to show this one off with your best china. I'm sure some of you are already drifting away from this post because you think "fancy" means "difficult," but that is NOT true. Stay with me. I promise that this is not going to be scary. Just really, really pretty. And tasty. The main character of Daughters of the Lake, Kate, goes to stay with her cousin...
This Cioppino may be the best meal I've made all year. For reals. Seafood lovers, you are in for a TREAT. Even before I decided that I was going to keep reading The Immortalists, I knew I wanted to make a dish that related to San Francisco. Simon is the first sibling you meet in The Immortalists, and his story quickly takes him to The City by the Bay. His love of SF and the freedom he experiences there is what made me fall in love with this...
In my last post, I recommended some perfect books for summer reading. I'm now pairing that list with the perfect summer salad. Does anyone else barely cook on the stove during summer? Because that’s me. While I love firing up the oven or having a bubbling pot on the stove during the cooler months, I loath being cooped up in the kitchen during warm weather. For one thing, our Cottage kitchen is adorable but poorly ventilated, so even with the...
What's the book-inspired recipe for Stray City? The recipe I’m pairing with Stray City, which is about the lesbian who has an affair with a man, is Roasted Acorn Squash with a Turkey Sausage, Craisin, and Brown Rice Stuffing. I chose it because it’s mainly a vegetarian recipe. But, like main character Andy, it sneaks a little meat in there. (HA! Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.) Since the book is set in a city full of vegetarians and...
