Monthly Archives: October 2014

Salad: Apple and Fennel with Pistachios and Apricot

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Salads and tagged with , , , , ,
Salad: Apple+Fennel+Arugula+Apricots+Pistachios

Salad: Apple+Fennel+Arugula+Apricots+Pistachios

How strange it is!   It’s not quite over, but it’s over.  Is it the same where you are?  Here where I live, September should have felt like the soft days at the end of summer, but instead it’s gotten cool way too soon.   Mornings have been down right chilly–sweater and jacket chilly.   I’m hoping that Mother Nature will change her mind (just like a woman does), and bring back some warmth.

But now that October is here, we’re in the middle of things;  in a transition period, when we have to put away the bathing suits, shorts and flip flops, and maybe bring out that infinity scarf.  A pumpkin spice latte tastes really good.  Seasons don’t change in a snap, there’s always a transition period, a time to settle in, take a deep breath, absorb the last of warm breezes, and get ready for crisp, cool nights, apples and cider, and the world around us bursting with vibrant color.

This salad feels like a lovely transition.  Fresh apples and fennel make it easy to move into Autumn.  Add some arugula for its peppery notes, salty roasted pistachios, sweet dried apricots, and some salty Parmesan.  It’s all about balance–sweet, salty, and spicy!

Pretty colors go into this salad.

Pretty colors go into this salad.

It’s also very versatile!   Substitute currants or dried cranberries for the apricots.  Add spinach and parsley instead of arugula.  Try a balsamic vinaigrette instead of lemon juice.  This salad can be exactly what you want it to be.IMG_8138

What’s also great about this salad is that most of it can be assembled long before it’s served.  Everything but the greens can be tossed together and left covered in the refrigerator for a day and then tossed with the arugula ( or your preferred greens), just before serving.    Easy breezy as we transition into Autumn.

SALAD:  APPLE + FENNEL+PISTACHIOS+ APRICOT

Yield:  Serves 4   Adjust ingredients accordingly to make more.

Ingredients:

  • 1 large Fuji or Golden Delicious apple, cored and thinly slicedIMG_8139
  • 1 large fennel bulb, thinly sliced
  • 2 large handfuls arugula, coarsely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons finely diced red onions
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/3 cup finely diced dried apricots
  • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pistachios
  • 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1.  In a large bowl toss together the thinly sliced apples, fennel, arugula, and red onions.  Drizzle with lemon juice, vinegar, and olive oil.  Add the dried apricot pieces, pistachios and cheese.  Toss to incorporate.  Season with salt and pepper and toss just before serving.   Serve soon after assembling.

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SOURCE:  All Recipes

Orzo, Spinach and Tomatoes

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Side Dish and tagged with , , , , , , , ,
Orzo with tomatoes, (but not the spinach).

Orzo with tomatoes, (but not the spinach).

Every once in a while you need a dinner that’s especially man-pleasing without going the whole steak and potatoes route.  This is it!

Grilled steak and green beans with orzo mixture.

Grilled steak and green beans with orzo mixture.

If you’re queen in your kitchen, as I am,  give yourself the smaller steak and load up on the orzo mixture and green beans.  Everyone will be well pleased.  Guaranteed!!   And if there should be any leftover steak,  slice it up and and serve it over the remains of this orzo side dish for the next day’s lunch or a deja-vue dinner.

I’m well-known for making a big pot of something-or-other and eating it (sometimes begrudgingly) for several days.   Usually it’s soups—they’re always good for on-going consumption, especially if you keep adding a little something like an extra pat of butter or a few left over veggies after each reheating.  Soups can get more delicious the longer they last.  Did you know this?

Since Monday is staring us in the face, I thought I’d start off the week with this last-all-week staple.  Something savory and healthy to help us get through the week with a smiley face.    This dish will taste best if the spinach and tomatoes are on sale!!!

 

ORZO, SPINACH AND TOMATOES

Please note:   I decided to make this dish without the spinach this timeIMG_8113

Yield:   Serves 4

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 pound orzo, cooked according to package directions
  • 1/2 pound baby spinach, or larger-leafed spinach, torn into smaller pieces
  • 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 large shallot, chopped
  • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • fine kosher or sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

1.  In a large sauce pan, melt the butter.  Add the shallot and sauté to soften.  Add the tomatoes and continue to sauté them until they start to release their liquid, and they soften.

Saute the shallots and tomatoes till they soften.

Saute the shallots and tomatoes till they soften.

2.  Add the cooked orzo to the pan along with the spinach, and toss to coat and integrate all the ingredients.   Transfer to a large serving bowl.

Add the cooked orzo and stir to combine.

Add the cooked orzo and stir to combine.

3.  In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice and minced garlic, plus salt and pepper to taste.  Pour over the orzo mixture and stir to mix well.  Crumble the feta cheese over the top.

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TIP:   Double the batch of orzo and serve as a cold side dish later in the week.  Just toss with a little additional olive oil before storing in the refrigerator in an airtight container.   Adding some chopped kalamata olives really perks up this dish also.   This is delicious hot or cold.

SOURCE:   Week Night Grilling with the BBQ Queens

Pumpkin Spice Blondies

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Bars and Cookies, Carolyn's Originals and tagged with , , , ,
Pumpkin Spice Blondies

Pumpkin Spice Blondies

Do you ever play the “what if” game?  It goes like this…..”What if I use a different kind of flour here?”    What if I use all butter instead of shortening in this cake?”

Today’s recipe came about when I asked ” what if I used a cookie mix to make some squares”?    Yes, I know there are a gazillion recipes out there that use cake mixes to make cookies, but what I had on hand was a boxed pumpkin spice cookie mix, but I didn’t really want to make cookies.  This is how I changed the directions to make blondies with all the flavors you would expect in a pumpkin square, and then some!!

Soooo Good!

Soooo Good!

These came out chewy, and chunky because of the extra add-ins.  I found that by using miniature marshmallows, they melt while baking leaving an extra gooey spot in the bar.   I also used caramel bits and dried cranberries in these and all the flavors combined will remind you of fall.  To make the glaze on top I used about a cup of powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice mixed with about 4 teaspoons of water.  This was spread on after the bars had cooled completely.     Today’s game of “what if”  was successful…. my experiments don’t always turn out as well.  So I invite you to try them for yourself.  Any brand of pumpkin cookie mix will work, using the amount of butter and egg specified on the package.

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PUMPKIN BLONDIES

Yield:  Makes 16 barsIMG_8053

Ingredients:

  • 1 package ( 16.5-oz.) pumpkin spice cookie mix
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup ( 1-stick) butter, softened at room temperature
  • 1/3 cup each caramel bits, mini marshmallows, and dried cranberries
Disregard the can of pumpkin…I didn't use it.

Disregard the can of pumpkin…I didn’t use it.

Directions:

1.   Preheat oven to 350*F.  Lightly grease an 8x8x2-inch pan.

2.  In a medium bowl, stir together the cookie mix, egg and butter until a dough forms.

3.  Stir in the caramel bits, mini marshmallows, and dried cranberries until well incorporated.

4.  Scrape dough into prepared pan and press in evenly.

5.  Bake for 28-32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool completely before topping with glaze.

Cool the baked squares before adding glaze.

Cool the baked squares before adding glaze.

6.  Glaze:  1 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice,  3-4 teaspoons water.  Whisk together to form a loose glaze that you can spread on top of the blondies.

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SOURCE:    a Carolyn’s Original