This is a great side dish. A particularly mouthwatering combination of flavors, it makes a perfect accompaniment to grilled meat, fish or seafood. Leftovers make a delicious filling for an omelet.
Category Archives: Recipes
Fennel Braised with Tomatoes
Here’s a perfectly luscious side dish that makes a great companion for grilled or roasted fish and meats or a splendid topping for hot whole grains such as wheat berries, barley or brown rice. The gratin variation, which adds a fancy finish and nice texture, is particularly attractive on a buffet table.
Lamb Shanks Braised in Tomato Sauce with Lemon Gremolata
Braised in a light tomato sauce and finished with lemon gremolata, these lamb shanks have Mediterranean overtones, which is why I like to serve them with polenta. That said, a bed of mashed potatoes is pretty good, too.
Beer-Braised Chile
If you’re tired of beef-based chilies with red beans, try this equally delicious but lighter version. It makes a great potluck dish or the centerpiece for a casual evening with friends. For a special occasion, serve with hot cornbread.
Moroccan-Style Lemon Chicken with Olives
This is a great dish for a Friday night dinner with friends. Serve the chicken over whole-grain couscous, or cooked millet or quinoa for a gluten-free alternative. Accompany it with a green vegetable such as steamed beans or sautéed spinach.
Leek and Green Pea Soup with Macarpone and Mint
This delicious soup has a mild flavor but is very substantial. Serve it as a light main course or the centerpiece of a soup-and-salad dinner, or serve smaller portions as a prelude to an elegant meal. If you’re serving this soup to guests and want to dress it up, top with garlic croutons or bacon bits.
Oat Groats or Steel Cut Oats
Groats are the whole oat kernel that hasn’t been cut or flattened in any way. Steel-cut oats, also known as Irish or Scottish oatmeal, are whole oat groats cut into smaller pieces. These are the most nutritious versions of the grain. They are flavorful and nicely chewy and can be eaten with your favorite finish – milk or a non-dairy alternative, sugar or honey, raisins, chopped bananas, toasted nuts or seeds – almost anything that strikes your fancy will work.
Coconut-Laced Black Sticky Rice Pudding
Rice pudding is a dessert I love and this is one of my favorite versions. It’s exotic and delicious. You can serve it if you’re looking for a Wow! factor but it’s so easy to make you can also prepare it for a personal treat.
Oranges in Cointreau
This delightfully different dessert is so easy to make, yet sumptuous enough to satisfy even the most sophisticated palate. It’s delicious topped with whipped cream, but I love to serve it as an oh-so-chic sundae, over vanilla ice cream or a complementary sorbet. Yum!