Perfect Meatless Monday Meal: Cappellacci Pasta with Broccoli Rabe & Meyer Lemon Juice

I love carbohydrates. Bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, give it all to me!! When I was shopping at Home Goods earlier this month, I saw a bag of pretty Cappellacci shaped pasta and decided to pick it up. Paired with broccoli rabe, Meyer lemon from Limoneira and a few other simple ingredients, this is a perfectly beautiful and delicious dish for Meatless Monday or any day of the week.

I love carbohydrates. Bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, give it all to me!! When I was shopping at Home Goods earlier this month, I saw a bag of pretty Cappellacci shaped pasta and decided to pick it up. Paired with broccoli rabe, Meyer lemon from Limoneira and a few other simple ingredients, this is a perfectly beautiful and delicious dish for Meatless Monday or any day of the week.

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Eight Days of Hanukkah Giveaway: Day 4. Lindsay Olives & A Recipe for Super Easy Bruschetta

Today I would like to introduce you to Lindsay Olives. As the name implies, they sell olives. But that's not all: they also have a variety of roasted peppers, pepperoncini, capers, and sweet banana peppers, just to name a few. The company has been in business for over than 100 years, so they clearly know what they are doing.

For more than 100 years, Bell-Carter has been bringing fun and

Today I would like to introduce you to Lindsay Olives. As the name implies, they sell olives. But that's not all: they also have a variety of roasted peppers, pepperoncini, capers, and sweet banana peppers, just to name a few. The company has been in business for over than 100 years, so they clearly know what they are doing.

For more than 100 years, Bell-Carter has been bringing fun and

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Butternut Squash Soup with Aleppo Peppers, Chickpeas & Pepitas

Oh butternut! Sometimes you remind me of myself. Hard on the outside, but shiny and gorgeous on the inside. I'm not even kidding :) Also, just like me, butternut squash is incredibly versatile and is so good for you!

Last week I picked up a butternut squash at the grocery store and decided to make soup. But I wanted to make this butternut squash soup different from the other ones I've made.

Oh butternut! Sometimes you remind me of myself. Hard on the outside, but shiny and gorgeous on the inside. I'm not even kidding :) Also, just like me, butternut squash is incredibly versatile and is so good for you!

Last week I picked up a butternut squash at the grocery store and decided to make soup. But I wanted to make this butternut squash soup different from the other ones I've made.

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Accidental Snack: Crispy Chickpeas & Pepitas with Za'atar

This Crispy Chickpeas & Pepitas with Za'atar idea came accidentally. I was making a butternut squash soup and wanted something crunchy to add to the otherwise smooth recipe. Don't worry, I'll share the recipe next week. I happened to have a container of home cooked chickpeas in my refrigerator and another container of pepitas left over from the Sweet Potatoes with Black Beans, Avocado & Feta I

This Crispy Chickpeas & Pepitas with Za'atar idea came accidentally. I was making a butternut squash soup and wanted something crunchy to add to the otherwise smooth recipe. Don't worry, I'll share the recipe next week. I happened to have a container of home cooked chickpeas in my refrigerator and another container of pepitas left over from the Sweet Potatoes with Black Beans, Avocado & Feta I

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Shutdown Pasta: Wholewheat Spaghetti with Sundried Tomatoes, Peas & Capers

Well, the government shutdown is continuing. So if you are trying to save money by eating from your pantry, freezer, this Shutdown Wholewheat Spaghetti with Sundried Tomatoes, Peas & Capers dish is for you. It's also a great versatile recipe that will fill you up but that most likely will not require a trip to the grocery store if you've just returned from vacation. And finally, this

Well, the government shutdown is continuing. So if you are trying to save money by eating from your pantry, freezer, this Shutdown Wholewheat Spaghetti with Sundried Tomatoes, Peas & Capers dish is for you. It's also a great versatile recipe that will fill you up but that most likely will not require a trip to the grocery store if you've just returned from vacation. And finally, this

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Peachy Mango Salsa Recipe Inspired by Diamond Candles

What does Peachy Mango Salsa have to do with candles?? Well, there is a back story to this recipe.

Last month I received an email asking if I'd like to try out one of the Diamond Candles and write about them. I'll be honest: my first thought was what do candles have to do with a food blog? But then I decided to check out Diamond Candles website and found beautiful soy candles with fun names

What does Peachy Mango Salsa have to do with candles?? Well, there is a back story to this recipe.

Last month I received an email asking if I'd like to try out one of the Diamond Candles and write about them. I'll be honest: my first thought was what do candles have to do with a food blog? But then I decided to check out Diamond Candles website and found beautiful soy candles with fun names

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Mayonnaise Free Potato Salad: Cast Iron Potato Salad with Vegetables & Tahini Dressing

I love potato salads, don't you? I usually make my potato salad with mayonnaise, but this time I decided to make a mayonnaise free potato salad: variety is good, yes?

In the Summer I love using small red potatoes in my salads because they cook quickly and don't need to be peeled. For something different, I decided to crisp up the potatoes in an iron skillet after partially cooking them. This

I love potato salads, don't you? I usually make my potato salad with mayonnaise, but this time I decided to make a mayonnaise free potato salad: variety is good, yes?

In the Summer I love using small red potatoes in my salads because they cook quickly and don't need to be peeled. For something different, I decided to crisp up the potatoes in an iron skillet after partially cooking them. This

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What to do with an Eggplant? Charred Eggplant Salad & Childhood Memories

The smell of charred eggplant makes me think of my grandparents. They would always cook a whole eggplant directly on the flame of the gas stove and then mix the flesh of the eggplant with marinated (at home!) tomatoes, chopped white onion and sunflower oil.

Sometime last week I did something similar with my own spin on it and decided to take a few photos not just with my phone, but also with

The smell of charred eggplant makes me think of my grandparents. They would always cook a whole eggplant directly on the flame of the gas stove and then mix the flesh of the eggplant with marinated (at home!) tomatoes, chopped white onion and sunflower oil.

Sometime last week I did something similar with my own spin on it and decided to take a few photos not just with my phone, but also with

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Quick, Nutritious & Delicious Breakfast: Load Me Up Oatmeal

If you've met me, or have been reading my blog for a while, it would come as no surprise to you that oatmeal is not my favorite option for breakfast. I prefer savory dishes, especially those topped with a poached egg.

But that would not be something that can easily be done in a cubicle at work. So this weekend I decided to experiment with oatmeal and make something that's good for me and

If you've met me, or have been reading my blog for a while, it would come as no surprise to you that oatmeal is not my favorite option for breakfast. I prefer savory dishes, especially those topped with a poached egg.

But that would not be something that can easily be done in a cubicle at work. So this weekend I decided to experiment with oatmeal and make something that's good for me and

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Perfect Picnic Dish: Bulgur Salad with Vegetables

Whether you need a new picnic dish, a Meatless Monday meal, or just something to take to work for lunch, you will love this Bulgur Salad with Vegetables.

Bulgur cooks pretty quickly in salted boiling water and is good for you because it's whole wheat!

There are no specific amounts for this salad: use as much of each ingredient as you wish. Personally, I prefer to have the same amount of

Whether you need a new picnic dish, a Meatless Monday meal, or just something to take to work for lunch, you will love this Bulgur Salad with Vegetables.

Bulgur cooks pretty quickly in salted boiling water and is good for you because it's whole wheat!

There are no specific amounts for this salad: use as much of each ingredient as you wish. Personally, I prefer to have the same amount of

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What to do with Dates: Spinach Salad with Dates, Summer Berries & Almonds

Who wants dates!? If this wasn't a food blog, I bet you'd think I'm talking about the dates of romantic type. Alas, those have been quite rare over here, but there is always hope, right?

Ok, let's get back to the food.

Earlier this month I received four huge boxes courtesy of Bard Valley Natural Delights which contained organic Medjool dates, pitted dates, chili lime date rolls, almond

Who wants dates!? If this wasn't a food blog, I bet you'd think I'm talking about the dates of romantic type. Alas, those have been quite rare over here, but there is always hope, right?

Ok, let's get back to the food.

Earlier this month I received four huge boxes courtesy of Bard Valley Natural Delights which contained organic Medjool dates, pitted dates, chili lime date rolls, almond

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Two Tone Popsicles & New Oxo Tools

Earlier this month I received a fun gift from OXO company: a bunch of different tools to make fruit prep easier. Since I already have and LOVE their cherry pitter, I gave my old one to my friend Cindy and am keeping the pretty red one.

I decided to try out the strawberry huller, mango splitter and the smaller of the fruit scoops to make popsicles!!!

These are not just your regular popsicles,

Earlier this month I received a fun gift from OXO company: a bunch of different tools to make fruit prep easier. Since I already have and LOVE their cherry pitter, I gave my old one to my friend Cindy and am keeping the pretty red one.

I decided to try out the strawberry huller, mango splitter and the smaller of the fruit scoops to make popsicles!!!

These are not just your regular popsicles,

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Vegan Quinoa Salad with Asparagus, Avocado, Arugula & Marcona Almonds

This Vegan Quinoa Salad with Asparagus, Avocado, Arugula & Marcona Almonds came about as many of my other creations. I had random ingredients in my pantry and refrigerator and needed to make something out of them without going to the grocery store.

As the title indicates, the recipe is vegan. It's also pretty darn healthy and filling. And you can eat it hot, at room temperature or cold.

This Vegan Quinoa Salad with Asparagus, Avocado, Arugula & Marcona Almonds came about as many of my other creations. I had random ingredients in my pantry and refrigerator and needed to make something out of them without going to the grocery store.

As the title indicates, the recipe is vegan. It's also pretty darn healthy and filling. And you can eat it hot, at room temperature or cold.

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Mango, Tomato & Black Bean Salad (or Salsa)

Happy almost weekend! Are you doing anything exciting? I'm going to Philadelphia for a day tomorrow with a few friends and spending Sunday cooking and photographing and hopefully cleaning my condo. {Don't forget to call your mom for Mother's Day!!!}

This Mango, Tomato & Black Bean Salad recipe came about after I saw Bonnie Benwick's tweet last week:





But of course I had to add my own

Happy almost weekend! Are you doing anything exciting? I'm going to Philadelphia for a day tomorrow with a few friends and spending Sunday cooking and photographing and hopefully cleaning my condo. {Don't forget to call your mom for Mother's Day!!!}

This Mango, Tomato & Black Bean Salad recipe came about after I saw Bonnie Benwick's tweet last week:





But of course I had to add my own

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What to do with Carrots: Whole Roasted Carrots with Fresh Fig Balsamic Vinegar

Over the weekend I did a TON of cooking for the blog. You've already seen the beautiful (if I say so myself) Mango Tart with Crystallized Ginger and Pistachios. Another recipe I made was Chilled Carrot Soup from Deborah Madison's latest cookbook: I will publish it either this Friday or next week.

The Chilled Carrot Soup called for 3 cups of sliced carrots, but I wasn't sure how many pounds

Over the weekend I did a TON of cooking for the blog. You've already seen the beautiful (if I say so myself) Mango Tart with Crystallized Ginger and Pistachios. Another recipe I made was Chilled Carrot Soup from Deborah Madison's latest cookbook: I will publish it either this Friday or next week.

The Chilled Carrot Soup called for 3 cups of sliced carrots, but I wasn't sure how many pounds

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Love Hummus? Then Make This Roasted Sweet Potato Hummus!

I ♥ hummus. It's great as a dip or a spread on a sandwich, or just eaten with a spoon. This weekend I had a friend over for some girl time (champagne drinking, nail painting, reality TV watching) and wanted to make a few snacks.

Instead of buying or making a plain hummus, I ended up using roasted sweet potatoes from a dinner I made earlier in the week. Originally I roasted sweet potatoes and

I ♥ hummus. It's great as a dip or a spread on a sandwich, or just eaten with a spoon. This weekend I had a friend over for some girl time (champagne drinking, nail painting, reality TV watching) and wanted to make a few snacks.

Instead of buying or making a plain hummus, I ended up using roasted sweet potatoes from a dinner I made earlier in the week. Originally I roasted sweet potatoes and

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Russian Salted Cabbage with Carrots, Garlic & Apples: Russian Recipes Revisited

February is almost over, so it means it's time for another Russian Recipes Revisited post. This time I decided to copy my twin sister Anna and make Russian Salted Cabbage with Carrots, Garlic & Apples. My parents have been salting/pickling cabbage for as long as I remember, but this was the first time I gave this technique a try.

Russian Salted Cabbage with Carrots, Garlic & Apples
Adapted

February is almost over, so it means it's time for another Russian Recipes Revisited post. This time I decided to copy my twin sister Anna and make Russian Salted Cabbage with Carrots, Garlic & Apples. My parents have been salting/pickling cabbage for as long as I remember, but this was the first time I gave this technique a try.

Russian Salted Cabbage with Carrots, Garlic & Apples
Adapted

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Burnt Eggplant with Tahini: Recipe from Plenty Cookbook

This Burnt Eggplant with Tahini is the second recipe I've made from Plenty Cookbook {the first one was Two-Potato Vindaloo}.

Growing up in Russia, I ate eggplant plenty {ha, ha, ha}. My parents and grandparents often made an eggplant dish in which eggplant was either burned directly on top of the gas stove or roasted in the oven and then finely chopped and mixed together with home made

This Burnt Eggplant with Tahini is the second recipe I've made from Plenty Cookbook {the first one was Two-Potato Vindaloo}.

Growing up in Russia, I ate eggplant plenty {ha, ha, ha}. My parents and grandparents often made an eggplant dish in which eggplant was either burned directly on top of the gas stove or roasted in the oven and then finely chopped and mixed together with home made

reade more... Résuméabuiyad