Tag Archives: lunch

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Zucchini Boats – 3 Cheese and Roasted Tomato

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While I love warm, sunshiney summer days…I am a total fool for drizzly, overcast, cool weather. I blame the foolishness on so many dry, cloudless years in the desert. This weekend was a welcome (to me!) respite from heat and humidity in Michigan. It was rainy and a little cool, there were clouds and a bit of thunder, and just the teensiest hint of fall in the air.

As a fool for cool, autumnal days, I always eagerly anticipate the change of the season as summer winds down. I (prematurely) switch my candles, bust out a pumpkin or two, and begin to bake and cook with fall in mind. This recipe takes the late summer bounty of zucchini and tomatoes, and pairs it with plenty of baked and bubbly cheese–making this dish a transition from fresh summer fare to baked, cheesy, comfort.

Zucchini Boats with 3 Cheeses and Roasted Tomatoes

Not only does this dish pair fresh, summer vegetables with a warm, casserole situation, it’s super easy and meatless main or side dish. PS, there’s a lot of cheese in this dish…I just like it that way. 

1 pint grape tomatoes, or other small tomatoes

3 medium zucchinis

salt/pepper

1/2 cup ricotta

1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

1/2 cup grated mozzarella

1-2 teaspoons finely chopped basil

1 1/2 cups prepared marinara–homemade or storebought

Preheat oven to 400*F.

Spread tomatoes evenly on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake tomatoes in the oven for 15-20 minutes until tomatoes begin to burst, release juices, and start to caramelize around the bottom. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

In a medium bowl mix together ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella, and basil, season lightly with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Halve zucchinis, scrape out the seeds with a spoon creating a well–being sure to leave 1/4 inch or so of flesh around the edges, ends, and bottoms. Season zucchini boats with salt and pepper. Spread the marinara sauce evenly in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Nestle the zucchini boats into the sauce. Gently fold the cooled, roasted tomatoes into the cheese mixture. Generously fill each zucchini boat with the cheese and tomato filling. Bake in the 400*F oven for 20-30 minutes until zucchini become tender and the cheese is bubbling and starting to brown in spots. Remove from oven and cool 5 minutes before serving.

 

 

 

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Recipe: White Bean Salad

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Today, I have for you, a salad.

What the heck?

Indeed, a salad.

Yeah…sometimes…I gotta eat stuff that’s relatively good for me.

I can’t just eat cookies.

I want to, but I can’t.

Also, I just like to eat lots of different stuff.

That’s okay right?

This salad has been making weekly appearences in our dinner rotation.

It’s mighty tasty, bright, and fresh.

At it’s simplest it’s just white beans, a little onion, and a homemade vinaigrette. Sometimes I add basil, or parsley, or cilantro. Sometimes I add some Israeli couscous and it becomes a salad with carbs.

My favorite.

I’ve even added roasted red peppers and/or tomatoes.

Those are both lovely additions.

Basically, you can add whatever you fancy.

This salad is totally adaptable that way.

It’s nice as a side to some grilled protein or perfect for lunch. Sean loves this homely little salad. It actually shocked him how good it was. I like when I shock him with my humble cooking skills. Makes me feel like a champion.

I like that.

White Bean Salad

This time I added spinach to the mix. I suggest adding the spinach right before serving as the dressing will make it all wilt-y. I used a combination of lemon juice and cider vinegar for the acid part of the dressing. I just really like those two things and always have lemons and cider vinegar lying around. The dressing, like the salad, is totally adaptable to your taste. I like to grate the garlic and let it mingle with the acid so the raw edge is tamed a bit…or else you might just have highly corrosive garlicky dragon breath, as opposed to the regular kind of garlicky dragon breath.

1 can drained, rinsed white beans, such as cannelini or great northern

1/4 cup finely chopped onion (I used white, red or sweet are nice too)

1 small clove garlic

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1-2 teaspoons maple syrup or honey

1 tablespoon dijon mustard

salt and pepper to taste

3 tablespoons olive oil

2+ tablespoons fresh herbs, if you have them

1 cup washed, baby spinach leaves

Place beans and chopped onion in a medium bowl. Set aside and make the dressing

Grate garlic with a microplane or mince finely, place in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Add lemon, vinegar, maple syrup/honey, dijon, salt and pepper, and olive oil. Screw on lid and shake it up! Taste the dressing and adjust seasoning as necessary.

Pour the vinaigrette over the beans, mix well. Fold in the herbs (if using) and spinach leaves. Serve. If you don’t use the spinach or don’t add it in at this point this salad is wonderful after it has had time to chill in the refrigerator–anywhere from a few hours to 2-3 days.