Chef’s Favorites

Pasta Prima Vera Aglio e Olio: Monday, March 4, 2024

Pasta Prima Vera Aglio e Olio: Monday, March 4, 2024

This time of year prima Vera vegetables are simply what you can find in the produce aisle. The mix in this recipe will probably be available in most stores.  We’re serving this pasta in garlic and olive oil which some call the “Mother Sauce.”   It is one of the most simple sauces to carry off and is fabulously delicious! You can substitute nearly endless variations of herbs and vegetables to this pasta dish if you wish.

Caesar Salad with Chicken Strips: Friday, March 1, 2024

Caesar Salad with Chicken Strips: Friday, March 1, 2024

You may have thought it was named after the emperor, but Chef Caesar Cardini invented the Caesar Salad on a busy 4th of July weekend in 1924 when he was running low on ingredients at his restaurant in Tijuana. The salad was so popular it became a regular menu item.
I offer this salad with a terrific eggless Caesar Dressing. We’ll throw some browned Chick’n strips (or optional sliced chicken) on the salads to add extra interest.

Chef’s Salad with Sweet Potato: Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Chef’s Salad with Sweet Potato: Wednesday, February 21, 2024

 Chef’s salad, which is considered one of the great American dinner salads, is presented tonight with the standard sliced deli meats and salad makings. You’ll also add bell peppers, cabbage, fennel and marinated sweet potato to this mix. If you prefer not to use the sweet potato, the salad stands just fine without it, but, this marinated sweet potato is really good.

This Chef’s version, also replaces the meats or cold cuts, normally associated with Chef’s Salad, with plant-based choices. The salad is dressed with a low-calorie Creamy Basil Dressing.

Stroganoff with Red Cabbage, Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Stroganoff with Red Cabbage, Tuesday, February 20, 2024

History suggests that this main course dish was designed by a French Chef in the employ of a wealthy Russian family in the 1890’s. It is thought that the thin strips of meat were part of the meal design because the head of the household had bad teeth. The guy with bad teeth is long gone but this recipe is a classic.

We’re adding a German version of Red Cabbage or Rotkohl (pronounced “wrote coal”) to round out this meal. Delicious food is one example of how cultures can happily come together.

Festive Enchiladas: Sunday, February 11, 2024

Festive Enchiladas: Sunday, February 11, 2024

This recipe was inspired by a recipe in Vegetarian Times. I’ve engineered some of the fat out of the recipe. It’s a great celebration meal for family or company.

This dish presents a festival of colors and flavors by combining rich orange garnet yam, tender zucchini, multicolored sweet bell peppers and bright yellow fresh mango. The flavor profile is finished with fresh cilantro, basil and lime juice. They’re served with homemade guacamole and low-sodium salsa. Buenos!

Hazelnut Tortellini, Friday, February 9, 2024

Hazelnut Tortellini, Friday, February 9, 2024

Something special is in store tonight. You’ll start with a simple cheese tortellini and then wrap it in a rich-tasting, toasted hazelnut sauce.

The dish is topped with chopped tomato and shredded Parmesan. Add dressed greens to the plate and this meal is finished. It’s easy, but it tastes like a complex gourmet meal.

Edamame Risotto with Cilantro/Lime Pesto: Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Edamame Risotto with Cilantro/Lime Pesto: Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Our meal tonight starts with rice, an ancient food of the Arabs and Spaniards. It was later adapted in the kitchens of Italy to become Arborio rice.

With Arborio rice in hand, we’ll make risotto. We’ll fold additional cultures into the meal as well. Mediterranean and North-African countries contribute to the plate with the use of a cilantro/lime pesto. The protein in the dish comes from edamame beans with roots in East Asia.

Hang out your United Nations flags and enjoy!

Asian-style Chard with Mandarin Oranges, Tofu and Quinoa: Thursday, January 25, 2024

Asian-style Chard with Mandarin Oranges, Tofu and Quinoa: Thursday, January 25, 2024

Tonight your dinner plate will feature chard. These dark leafy greens have been adopted and adapted as a food source by nearly every culture on earth.

You’ll serve it over quinoa, (pronounced “keen-wa”), an ancient grain from the Andes that is very high in protein.

This recipe also calls for Mandarin orange sections. Look for them under other aliases like Satsuma, tangerines or clementines making sure they’re the seedless variety. (You can also use canned Mandarin oranges.)

Smoked Salmon Pasta: Sunday, January 14, 2024

Smoked Salmon Pasta: Sunday, January 14, 2024

This kale dish is based on a favorite Hot n’ Sour Soup from a Seattle restaurant. Tonight we skip the soup part and add more vegetables, specifically kale. This cozy comfort-food version of stir-fry combines hot, savory, sweet and sour flavors with lots of texture.

As this is referred to as a Hot’n’ Sour dish, it uses cayenne pepper. The recipe calls for 1/8 tsp. to 1/4 tsp. cayenne. If you have a low tolerance for hot foods use 1/8 tsp!

Pasta with Scallops and Seared Fennel: Monday, December 11, 2023

Pasta with Scallops and Seared Fennel: Monday, December 11, 2023

Pasta with Scallops (not to be confused with Scalloped Pasta which would basically be mac ‘n’ cheese) is on the menu tonight.

You’ll appreciate the lovely flavors of this seafood pasta. Small scallops (or bay scallops) are paired with seared fennel and green peas. The pasta dish gets a little motherly love, as it’s tossed with a lemony Aglio e Olio sauce.

Greens ‘n” Beans with Seared Corn Salsa: Monday, November 22, 2024

Greens ‘n” Beans with Seared Corn Salsa: Monday, November 22, 2024

Terrific flavors abound tonight as you treat your body well before the upcoming Thanksgiving Feast. A plate of greens is served with pinto beans, seared corn and tomato salsa. It is served over a bed of nutritious bulgur and topped with shredded cheddar cheese.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Thanksgiving! However, eating nutritiously before the holiday just helps me love it even more.

Greens, Beans and Polenta with Mango Salsa: Wednesday, January 4, 2022

Greens, Beans and Polenta with Mango Salsa: Wednesday, January 4, 2022

It’s said that the Roman Legions lived on polenta. Use this ancient, cooked dish tonight as a base for your dinner of greens. The finish of homemade low-sodium mango salsa really tops this plate off with a flourish.



Making polenta takes no more time than cooking rice and It’s worth every second. And, you’ll have leftover polenta to use later in the week.

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