Who doesn't love Bruschetta on a soft summer evening? To me, it conjures up the end of a leisurely day at the beach in Southern France where I grew up! It's usually served over little toasted baguette slices as an appetizer. Here, basically all I do is add canned tuna, and serve it over mixed greens. It's superb, it's festive and it's no fuss! Whats not to ... Read More »
Hearty Turkey Chili
This turkey chili is hearty and satisfying! It is filled with beans and uses a relatively small amount of extra lean ground turkey breast (with no skin or dark meat mixed in—check the package label) so it is not only luscious but heart-healthy as well. The hint of chipotle and balsamic vinegar give it a little "kick" that is just right! The addition of cornmeal at the very ... Read More »
Tuscan Shrimp with Beans over Polenta
A simple down-to-earth dish with a rich Tuscan flavor. The white wine, fresh tomatoes, baby spinach (you can also use kale, escarole or arugula) and cannellini beans are just delightful with shrimp served over polenta: Que c'est bon! It's so quick to make, you'll want to wait until just 20 minutes before dinner to throw it together, so that the shrimp is just perfectly ... Read More »
Beans
Beans are a great plant source of low-calorie lean protein, rich in fiber, minerals & antioxidants and offer many health benefits. I am featuring them on this page to show all the different ways I have incorporated them in a whole variety of recipes, from appetizers, to salads, to soups, to stews, to risotto and even to stuffed peppers! I 'll blog about the heartiness of ... Read More »
Turkey Bean Pot-au-Feu (leftover version)
A pot-au-feu is one of those French family favorite feel-good comfort stews that simmers slowly in the oven or in a slow-cooker for a long time and fills the whole house with wonderful smells. I have adapted it here from my original recipe to use with your leftover turkey from thanksgiving. What's so nice about it is that no matter what leftover turkey you have on hand, it ... Read More »
Creamy Farro White Bean Risotto
Farro is a whole grain that has long been used in Meditarreanean cooking. Its nutty richness blends beautifully with the white wine and small beans in this simple risotto and the addition of organic soy milk gives it a rich creaminess. I think of this risotto as a protein-rich side dish with Grilled Veggies or sautéed mushrooms, spinach, kale, red chard, butternut squash, the ... Read More »
Tuscan White Bean Soup
This may well be my very favorite soup. It's hard to just declare that because I love all my soups, but all right, I'll just say it--It's just perfect! That little touch of white wine just makes this soup divine! I have recently updated this recipe to include whatever favorite "greens" you like, right before you are about to serve it. I especially love this soup with fresh ... Read More »
Vegetarian Chili
This vegetarian (vegan, depending on the beer you use) chili has bold Southwestern flavors and is so heartwarming on a cold wintery night-- Perfect by a roaring fire with your honey...but also wonderful for the whole family! I like to use fresh grilled corn briefly roasted in a hot oven for this recipe. It gives the kernels that wonderful fire-roasted taste that adds a ... Read More »
Turkey Bean Pot-au-Feu
A pot-au-feu is one of those French family favorite feel-good comfort stews (typically made with beef) that simmers slowly in the oven or in a slow-cooker for a long time and fills the whole house with wonderful smells. I make mine with turkey (you can also make it with chicken, see my tip below) and lots of beans and it's absolutely divine! I love to cook it in a slow-cooker ... Read More »
Summer Salads!
Updated August 5th, 2017 Fresh salads are perfect on a hot sunny day. They are light and refreshing and you can make them so that they are a no-fuss complete meal in one bowl. All you need is a combination of some type of wholegrain, legume or bean, nuts or seeds and lots of veggies over mixed greens and you can dress up any table! For me, it brings me back to my ... Read More »
