Mustard Garlic Salad Dressing

INGREDIENTS 
fresh lemon juice
olive oil half the amount of lemon juice used, but I prefer 1/4 of the lemon juice used 
dijon mustard 
garlic finely minced
salt
pepper
parmesan cheese coarsely grated
flax seeds optional, I am on a flax seed kick these days for the crunchiness and texture
whatever veggies you want


INSTRUCTIONS

1. Whisk all ingredients together (except for the parmesan and flax seeds).
2. Hand massage into lettuce, then add the cheese and flax seeds.

Love, J

Cabbage Soup

There are a million cabbage soup recipes out there. This is a healthy, easy, tasty version with minimal ingredients. You can keep it simple or add carrots, beef, rice, celery - go crazy. If you guys have a killer cabbage soup that you love, too, let me know! ...And just a warning - some  tummy bloating may ensue. It's that damn wonderful cabbage. But hey, if you eat more of it, your body will adapt. 


INGREDIENTS
olive oil
onion (1) diced
garlic cloves (4) chopped
chicken or vegetable stock (2 quarts) I have only used chicken stock
cabbage heads (1-2 depending on size and density preference) cored and chopped
stewed diced tomatoes (29 ounces)
salt
black pepper


INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat oil in a soup pot and saute onion and garlic until onion becomes transparent.
2. Stir in chicken stock a little at a time, bringing to a boil along the way.  Bring to a boil, add salt and pepper.
3. Stir in cabbage and simmer until cabbage wilts.
4. Add diced tomatoes, return to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 15-30 minutes.

Tip: The longer the soup sits, the better it tastes and the sweet flavor of the cabbage permeates the dish.  If you eat right off the heat, much of the flavor will be too hot and freshly combined to taste.  Letting it hang out for at least an hour goes a long way and it just gets better over the next couple days.

Love, J

Modern Ambrosia

I needed to find something to do with kiwi other than just eat it. And I always have these ingredients around (greek yogurt, vanilla extract, etc.), so it doesn't get easier.


INGREDIENTS
kiwi peeled, quartered lengthwise, and sliced crosswise*
mandarin oranges or nectarines separated and cut in half
fresh pineapple optional 
greek yogurt
vanilla extract
sliced almonds or shredded coconut
honey optional


INSTRUCTIONS

1. Measurements are intuitive - experiment and use as much as you want of anything.
2. Place all fruit and almonds or coconut into a bowl. Toss to combine.
3. Whisk yogurt, vanilla extract (and honey, optional) together and fold in the fruit.

*For easy kiwi peeling, cut off the top and bottom, make a slit lengthwise, shimmy a spoon between the flesh and peel, and work the skin off with the spoon.

Love, J

Roasted Chestnuts

Chestnuts are the most non-nut nuts there are! They are high in fiber, low in fat, low on the GI scale - and used to be the main source of carbohydrates around the world before potatoes and wheat. Justin and I had our very first one this winter, and they have since become a staple in our home. Plus, there is nothing prettier than having a bowl of chestnuts around.


INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Make an "x" across the flat belly of the chestnut (making sure to pierce both the outside shell and the furry layer underneath).
3. Place the nuts "x" side up in the oven for 10-15 minutes.
4. Peel and eat while still hot!

Tip: You can tell if the nut is bad if there is air between the skin and the flesh.

Love, J

Chicken Parmigiano

Chicken Parmigiano (Parmesan) is part of the wonderful category of food I like to call Italian Soul Food. The smell of garlic, tomato sauce and breaded chicken baking in the oven makes me feel happy. This simple Italian dish is delicious and truly hard to mess up. It's simple enough for weeknights and yummy enough for guests. I like to pair it with an Italian red wine like Chianti, Sangiovese or Barbera.


*These ingredients make enough for approximately 2-4 people.


INGREDIENTS, Chicken
chicken breast cutlets (2-4)
(Hint: I rarely see cutlets sold already pounded out in the store, but you can have your friendly meat counter easily pound them out for you OR you can pound them out yourself. WARNING: this is a bit tricky, it requires force without destroying the meat, practice on a small piece until you get it right.)
italian bread crumbs (approx 1/2-1 cup)
fresh or dried italian parsley (approx 4 Tbsp)
eggs (2) beaten
fresh parmigiano cheese (approx 1-1 1/2 cup) grated at home
salt
cracked black pepper


INGREDIENTS, Simple Marinara Sauce
canned tomato sauce (2)
cloves minced garlic (2)
olive oil (approx 1-1.5 Tbsp)
parsley fresh or dried
basil fresh or dried
salt
cracked black pepper


INSTRUCTIONS
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix bread crumbs, parsley, salt/pepper in mixing bowl. Coat cutlets in egg and dredge in bread crumb mixture until completely coated. Place chicken on olive oil coated baking dish, gently move chicken around to get some oil on both sides of cutlets. Bake for 20-25 minutes until just beginning to brown on edge. Remove from oven and increase heat to 400 degrees.


Meanwhile, in small/medium sauce pan saute garlic in olive oil, until you can really smell it, but before it begins to brown (garlic becomes bitter at that point), add tomato sauce, salt/pepper, parsley and basil, simmer for 20 minutes.


Sprinkle freshly grated cheese on top of chicken (as little or as much as you like), ladle sauce on top of cheese, then another thin layer of cheese, top with freshly chopped parsley, a final dash of salt and pepper and cook for approx. 5-10 minutes more, or until a little crispier on the edge. Serve immediately with a side of pasta and/or a nice salad.


(Hint: leftovers make great sandwiches!)


Bon Appetito! - Robyn

Orange Fizzy

Justin got us going on fresh grapefruit and orange juice. I've never done it because it's always seemed so decadent to me, but we buy big ol' bags of organic citrus from TJ's for real cheap and use an 80s informercial juicer (the whirring kind my grandparents had when I was a kid). But man, if you pour fizzy water into fresh juice, some crazy foamy Orangina / Orange Julius (from the Hot Dog on a Stick days) happens. And for people like me who don't fancy super sweet beverages, but love fizzy treats, this is an exciting discovery. 


INGREDIENTS
citrus as many as you want
fizzy water eyeball it


OPTIONS
mint
simple syrup
ginger simple syrup 
sugar
ice + vanilla + blender


Love, J