Seared Sea Scallops over Zucchini Ribbons with Goat Cheese

This is the first weekend we’ve had in Atlanta that really felt like spring, with temperatures warm enough to sit outside comfortably in the sunshine without shivering.  There are trees and flowers bursting out with blooms and things are getting greener by the day.  Nice time of year to be in the Southeast! These plump… Continue reading Seared Sea Scallops over Zucchini Ribbons with Goat Cheese

Spring Rolls with “No-Peanut” Sauce

Are there foods that you suddenly have an powerful desire for?  I’m sure this happens to us all, whether it is for chocolate fudge or Chex Mix (ahem).  I wonder what drives those cravings.  Is it simply the power of suggestion, or is there some physical or psychological need that is begging to be filled?… Continue reading Spring Rolls with “No-Peanut” Sauce

Eggs Caprese

Recipe from Fab Housewife Eggs with basil, mozzarella, and fresh tomatoes….I’m in! This classic recipe, from Fab Housewife, was perfect for our vacation. It met all my qualifications – which basically included being easy to make with little preparation, while allowing me to use these cute Le Creuset ramekins. The recipe was so pure and… Continue reading Eggs Caprese

Roasted Lima Beans with Italian Herbs

Modified from Wholefoods.com It was not shaping up to be an exciting day for vegetables.  There were slim pickings in the refrigerator, and I didn’t relish the idea of going out to the grocery store in the rain.  However, the ever-dependable lima beans were waiting in the freezer.  Waiting for a chance to be something… Continue reading Roasted Lima Beans with Italian Herbs

Chicken Sausage “Pasta” (with zucchini noodles)

Some days you just need a quick lunch or dinner idea that doesn’t involve much cooking.  This was one of those days!  I try to keep a package or two of pre-cooked sausages in the refrigerator for this very reason.  Whole foods, and some supermarkets, have a good selection of gluten-free, pre-cooked chicken sausages.  Some… Continue reading Chicken Sausage “Pasta” (with zucchini noodles)

Fresh Heirloom Tomato Sauce

Our neighbor, Mike, from across the road is always kind enough to share his bounty of tomatoes with us.  It’s nice to have someone who takes pity on those of us with “black thumbs” when it comes to gardening.   We have spent untold dollars for a cumulative harvest of 4 or 5 eggplants and 3… Continue reading Fresh Heirloom Tomato Sauce

Chicken Satay with Grilled Vegetables and Basil

Loosely adapted from MarthaStewart.com Grilling outdoors in 90+ temperatures is a little brutal, but this simple meal will get you back into the air conditioning in no time!  We wished that we had grilled twice as much chicken, it was so good.  The flavors from the marinade really come through, and the grilled vegetables with… Continue reading Chicken Satay with Grilled Vegetables and Basil

Eggplant Sliders

When you think of sliders, I’m sure you think tasty morsels of meat between two tiny buns (unless you think of White Castle first, then leave out the “tasty” part).  Think of this as the no-bun, meatless alternative! In this version, herbed goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes are sandwiched between slices of oven-roasted eggplant and… Continue reading Eggplant Sliders

Salmon with Pesto Crust

According to Marcella Hazan, noted author of many books on classic Italian cuisine, pesto is the sauce invented by the Genoese as a vehicle for the fragrance of basil, and it has just ONE role – “to be the most seductive of all sauces for pasta”.  Does that mean that primal eaters have to forsake… Continue reading Salmon with Pesto Crust

Thai Chicken Curry

I admit, I probably could have taken a better photo of our Thai Chicken Curry.  The recipe itself was truly stellar….we mmm’d and exclaimed during the entire meal, exalting the symphony of flavors and textures.  The next morning I dutifully wrote down the ingredients while they were fresh in my memory, then viewed the memory… Continue reading Thai Chicken Curry

Eggplant Casserole

I’m not sure what to call this…it is based on moussaka, but is also similar to lasagna sans the noodles.  Instead of topping the casserole with a cheesy cream sauce, to avoid the use of flour I decided to include a Parmesan-ricotta layer between the eggplant layers.  Also in my version, the eggplant slices are… Continue reading Eggplant Casserole