Penne with Kale, Feta, and Olives
March 5, 2012
LIfe is busy, no matter what, but this week everything seemed to be in turbo-drive. It was the kind of week that left me yearning for more quick meals. Meals that take only minutes to prepare, but still contain enough substance and flavor intensity to make an impact. More meals like this one.
Penne with Kale, Feta and Olives is no ho-hum vegetarian pasta dish. Kale itself is a flavorful green, but combining it with the briny olives and pungent feta make this dish a powerhouse. Parsley, garlic, and lemon zest scatter over the top adding even more dimension to this simple dish. The recipe entered our rotation a few years ago when it was featured in Bon Appetit. Any kind of kale works here, but I prefer Dinosaur or Lacinto Kale. I reduced the oil recommended in the original recipe. Feel free to drizzle olive oil over the top if you so desire.
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Lentil Bulgur Salad with Feta and Mint
April 13, 2011
Our garden harvest is in a bit of a lull these days. The profusion of kale and broccoli that feed us through the winter is done. While artichokes are beginning to grace our table, the peas and fresh greens of spring have not quite matured. The herbs however, jubilant in the rain-chasing sun, are thriving! We have piles of oregano, mint, parsley, and chives. I love adding combinations of them to just about any dish.
Lentil Bulgur Salad with Feta and Mint is similar to a tabouli, though heartier. The lentils and bulgur combine to form a complete protein. It is incredibly nourishing and satisfying. The mint, parsley, and lemon add bright flavors and beautiful color. The feta contributes a creamy, tangy element. In summertime, I would make this dish with fresh tomatoes. In springtime, why ruin a perfectly seasonal salad with mediocre tomatoes? I used up some dried tomatoes from last summer, but you could easily skip them altogether as well. Make this dish ahead for a nice light dinner or bring it along to a picnic or potluck. It travels well.
Roasted Beet and Hazelnut Salad with Feta
March 6, 2011
One winter while living in Eugene, Oregon, my roommates and I joined a local farm’s CSA (community-supported agriculture) for the winter. We wanted to support a family that was growing organic vegetables through the winter in the soggy Northwest. As it turned out, that winter was extremely harsh. Most above ground crops froze. Our weekly box from the farm consisted of only vegetables that could be stored in the cellar or the ground.
There was an abundance of potatoes, parsnips, burdock root, sunchokes, and beets. There really was not much else aside from a scant amount of winter squashes that were harvested in the late fall. Since we had spent the bulk of our food budget for the season on our CSA share, we were fully committed to making our meals from the food on hand. It was an education. We ate the roots boiled, pureed, and roasted with just about any flavor combinations you can imagine. Still as the months wore on, our creativity began to wane. It has taken me years to regain my affection for beets. I am still working on burdock…
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