Tag: zucchini

Weeknight Wonderland – a Meatless Minestrone for Mondays and Beyond

Even though our nest is now empty, sitting down at the end of a day with good food,  good wine and good company is the best. I’ve shared my crazy split shift life before and how it impacts everything, even cooking. Just as I’ve learned to create in a small kitchen, I am learning to create dinner in stages, and weekends are my favorite secret weapon. A little time spent cooking ahead on the weekend eases the time crunch Monday through Friday.

This soup was a Meatless Monday dinner, but it got its start on Sunday. That’s when I thawed out some of my homemade vegetable stock. I heated my trusty soup pot and used  it to sweat onions and carrots in a little olive oil.DIGITAL CAMERASome Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, lots of garlic and a couple of bay leaves livened things up.DIGITAL CAMERAI added the thawed stock along with a can of fire roasted tomatoes and let everything get happy for twenty minutes or so.DIGITAL CAMERAOnce it cooled a bit, I stored it in the refrigerator until Monday night when I got home from work, An extra bonus here, the flavors had plenty of time to get well acquainted with each other at their sleepover in the fridge.

The vegetable medley that I chose included zucchini, green beans, and artichoke hearts. I decided to give the squash and hearts a little extra color so I lightly browned them. I liked the color it added and there was a richer depth of flavor that the quick saute imparted. I actually did this during my mid-day break so that they would be ready when I got home. The other late arrivals were a can of chickpeas and a little orzo pasta.DIGITAL CAMERAThe final cooking was easy peasy. Once the stock base came back to a simmer, I added the beans and pasta, followed shortly by the green beans, then the zucchini and artichokes. The whole process took about 20 minutes or so. I toasted slices of multigrain French bread and topped them with a blend of Italian cheeses. They made a lovely topping  for the soup.DIGITAL CAMERA

The short cooking time of the veggies kept them nice and crisp. I opted to cook the pasta directly in the soup. It added just the right amount of pasta to the soup. DIGITAL CAMERAIf you are going to make this farther ahead or plan on reheating it the next day, you may want to cook the pasta al dente in water, drain it and refrigerate it to add as the soup heats.  Pasta has a strong inclination to soak up as much liquid as it can hold, which is an amazingly large amount. What was soup the first time around becomes a much more pasta-centric dish after a day or two. I’m a “cook the pasta separately” kind of gal, but once in a while, I like to eat soup with a fork, but that’s me.

 

Meatless Minestrone for Mondays and Beyond
Print Recipe
Servings
4
Servings
4
Meatless Minestrone for Mondays and Beyond
Print Recipe
Servings
4
Servings
4
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Heat a large soup pot over medium high heat. Add the tablespoon of olive oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Add the onions and carrots and a pinch of salt. Cook for several minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
  2. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes and the bay leaves to the pot and cook another minute or two, stirring frequently.
  3. Pour in the can of tomatoes, juice and all and the vegetable stock. Bring up to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook covered for 20 minutes or so, stirring occasionally. At this point you can cool the stock and refrigerate until the next day. You can also complete the recipe at this time if you want.
  4. Coat a non-stick pan with olive oil cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add the artichoke hearts and cook for 5 - 6 minutes or so turning once until lightly browned on both sides. Remove from pan and set aside.
  5. Repeat the above process with the zucchini slices.
  6. When you are ready to complete cooking the soup, (re)heat the stock to a simmer. Add the chickpeas ans pasta and cook for 5 minutes, stirring it once or twice.
  7. Add the green beans and cook for 4 minutes or until they are the amount of tender crisp you like.
  8. Add the browned artichokes and zucchini and simmer everything gently until it is all heated through. This should only take a couple of minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
  9. Ladle into four soup bowls and top each with two of the toasted bead slices (recipe follows) and a drizzle of olive oil.
Cheese Toasts
  1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly coat the bread slices on both sides with olive oil cooking spray and place them on a foil lined baking sheet. Toast for 8 minutes, turning once. Top with the cheese and return to the oven set on broil and cook until the cheese is melted and slightly brown.
Share this Recipe
Powered byWP Ultimate Recipe

By now you should know that this recipe is just a guideline. Change up the beans, the pasta, and the vegetables too, for that matter. If you have the time, the whole soup can be made in one day…just continue the cooking steps once the stock is done. Monday will be here before you know it (damn it), so give this a try. Hey, live on the edge and make it on Tuesday or Thursday.

 

Mama D’s New Toy and Zucchini Pasta

When is zucchini not zucchini?Zucchini1

I don’t know, when is zucchini not zucchini?…. Why when it is turned into pasta.

ZucchiniNoodles2Vegetable pasta has become all the rage. It answers a need on many levels. Looking for gluten-free pasta that doesn’t stick to the roof of your mouth? Veggie pasta. Watching your carbs vegetti3especially those “evil” ones found in real pasta? Yup, veggie pasta fills the bill again. Want to do something different with vegetables? You guessed it, veggie pasta. Looking for a new kitchen toy? One that can help you create this new culinary sensation? There’s a tool for that. The Veggetti. Actually there are several tools that can create this new darling of the food world. There are “spiralizers” that can turn virtually anything into pasta simply by impaling your food of choice on the machine and turning the crank.They range in price from $20.00 to upwards of $50.00. The Veggetti comes in at $15.00 ( but I got mine for $10 at Ross). That is quite a price difference. To be honest, there are some foods that this little gem has a hard time with. My first attempt at sweet potato pasta was less than successful, but as I continue to play with it, I’m learning that size and shape do matter. Still for the price and the size (which actually fits in a drawer since shelf space in my kitchen is at a premium), it’s darned brilliant.DIGITAL CAMERA

DIGITAL CAMERAI decided to put it to use in recreating a pasta dish that is near and dear to my heart. Linguine with Salami and Zucchini. Laden with cream and salami along with a generous amount of pasta, it is a tight fit (think skinny jeans) for my healthier cooking style. While I didn’t give up everything; there’s still some salami, a little pasta and I just had to include some cream, it is a lighter version of the dish.DIGITAL CAMERA

Two good size zucchini yielded a generous 4 cups of pasta. I added about 3 ounces each of pasta and salami. I used a mixture of heavy cream and fat-free half & half. There was plenty of garlic and a bit of olive oil. This recipe feeds two or three quite nicely.DIGITAL CAMERAThe salami, zucchini and garlic sizzled together in a large fry pan that was lightly coated with olive oil.DIGITAL CAMERAThe pasta was cooked just shy of al dente.

DIGITAL CAMERAThe cream/half & half mixture was added along with the pasta.

DIGITAL CAMERAEverything bubbled together for a few minutes until it was perfect. A generous dose of fresh ground pepper and a hint of grated Parmesan and it was ready to eat.DIGITAL CAMERA

Zucchini Pasta with Salami and Pasta
Print Recipe
Servings
3
Servings
3
Zucchini Pasta with Salami and Pasta
Print Recipe
Servings
3
Servings
3
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until just a minute shy of al dente. Drain and set aside. While the pasta is cooking prepare the other ingredients.
  2. Using a Veggetti or spiralizer, turn the zucchini into thin ribbons.
  3. Stack the salami slices and cut into very thin strips.
  4. Heat a large fry pan. Add the olive oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Combine the zucchini, salami and garlic in the pan and cook stirring occasionally 5 - 7 minutes. The zucchini should be tender, the salami should be a little frizzled, and the garlic should smell wonderful.
  5. Add the cream and half & half to the pan and continue to cook another 5 minutes or so. The sauce should thicken slightly.
  6. Add the cooked pasta and cook until the pasta is heated through and the mixture is bubbly and fragrant.
  7. Add the freshly ground pepper to taste and spoon into individual pasta bowls. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired, and serve.
Share this Recipe
Powered byWP Ultimate Recipe

I’m sure I’ll be creating more “pastas” with my Veggetti. The lighter dishes that result are fun to make and eat. They are also healthier and definitely not light on the love.

 

Downsizing the Freezer and Stuffed Peppers

Our efforts to downsize are paying off. One garage sale has been held with respectable success. Closets are devoid of useless clothes and there are spaces were small pieces of furniture used to be. One of the tasks as we prepare to move is using up what is in the freezer and pantry. Of course our new digs will have a freezer and if I’m creative in space usage, a pantry, but it’s a good excuse to clean things out a bit. A recent exploration of the freezer revealed a small portion of Italian Meatloaf and a quart bag of Vegetable Stock. The recipes for both of these have appeared in earlier posts  You can access them on the RECIPES  page. Just search by the recipe title.

There wasn’t enough meatloaf (this made of ground turkey and turkey Italian sausage) to star in a meal, but it could become an integral part of an ensemble cast. This was my protein of choice/necessity. Any other protein you have on hand would be equally wonderful.DIGITAL CAMERAAs I pondered the contents of my vegetable bins, I found 2 lovely colored bell peppers and the inspiration to stuff them came to me. But to stuff them with, what? I had a few mushrooms that were a bit past their prime and a zucchini with more than a little life left in it.  In the back corner of the butter keeper I found a package of Sun-Dried Tomatoes. It is Mama D’s Kitchen, so of course there were onions and garlic on the counter. The cast, or most of it, was in place…DIGITAL CAMERARice is the traditional ingredient in stuffed peppers and I decided it was  a tradition that I liked, so Brown Rice cooked in some of my Vegetable Stock and was ready to join the players.DIGITAL CAMERAThe gathering was almost complete. There is usually a tomato sauce component to most stuffed peppers and a further search of the freezer turned up a small container of Marinara Sauce. Again, too little for a major role, but just enough to top the peppers once they were stuffed.

I sautéed the onions, mushrooms, zucchini, and garlic in a little olive oil before I added them to the rice and meatloaf. I raided my garden herbs and added a generous handful to the bowl.DIGITAL CAMERAThe sun-dried tomatoes were the dry kind so they were just snipped and added to the mixture. I moistened everything with more Vegetable Stock and let it sit in the refrigerator for several hours. An added bonus as the mixture got happy in the frig, the tomatoes plumped up and became tender and juicy.DIGITAL CAMERAFinally, it was time to stuff the peppers. I opted to cut them in half lengthwise to make four pepper boats. I filled them liberally since I had a lot of filling and liberally is how I roll. I topped them with some of the tomato sauce, covered them with foil and baked them for about 35 minutes.DIGITAL CAMERAI removed the foil and added some Romano Cheese. A few more minutes in the oven and they were ready to enjoy.DIGITAL CAMERAThey were delicious and a perfect meal for an evening that strongly hinted of Fall. They were a far cry from the 50’s stuffed peppers my mother made and a welcome addition to Mama D’s recipe collection.

Stuffed Peppers
Print Recipe
Servings
4
Servings
4
Stuffed Peppers
Print Recipe
Servings
4
Servings
4
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Heat the 1-3/4 cups of vegetable stock to boiling in a small sauce pan. Add the rice and stir. Return to boil and cover. Reduce heat and simmer for 35 - 45 minutes. Stock should be absorbed and rice should be fairly tender. Cool slightly and place in a large bowl.
  2. Quarter the zucchini lengthwise and slice thinly. Coarsely chop onion and mushrooms. Set aside with the minced garlic.
  3. Heat a medium fry pan and add the olive oil. Swirl to cover the bottom of the pan. Add the onion and cook and stir for about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook and stir for 2 minutes more.
  4. Add the zucchini and garlic to the pan and cook for 4 minutes or so. The vegetables should be slightly soft and just beginning to brown. Remove from the heat and add to the rice in the bowl.
  5. Slice the tomatoes into small pieces and add to the bowl.
  6. Roughly chop or crumble the meatloaf and add to the bowl. If you are using another protein, chop it into small bite-sized pieces. Add to the bowl. Stir the ingredients to mix. Add the 1/2 cup of stock and stir once more. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  7. Slice the peppers in half lengthwise. Remove the seeds and white membranes. Spray a medium casserole with non-stick spray. Place the pepper halves in the pan cut side up. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  8. Divide the mixture between the 4 pepper halves, packing lightly. Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon of the marinara on top of each filled pepper. Cover tightly with foil and place in the oven. Bake for 35 minutes.
  9. Remove the pan from the oven and remove the foil. Add another tablespoon or so of the marinara to each pepper and sprinkle with the cheese. Spoon any remaining marinara into the pan to coat the bottom,
  10. Return the pan to the oven uncovered and bake for 10 - 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and the peppers are a little brown. Serve.
Share this Recipe
Powered byWP Ultimate Recipe

We continue to sort through an astounding quantity of things that we have collected over the years. Closets and cabinets hold as much extra stuff as the freezer. At times the process is painful…we’ve become attached to many things. They are, as we are beginning to realize, just things. They represent memories that we can hold onto without a tangible souvenir. Our next chapter has plenty of room for those memories and newly found space for the memories and souvenirs to come.    Love, Mama D

Memories of the Wine Country and a Quick Pasta Dish

Note: This is a post from 9 years ago. I brought it up because I made the recipe this week and as it is almost Mothers Day, this dish reminds me of my sons. As the pictures show they were young, They are grown up now with homes and sons of their own ( about the ages they were in these pictures). When I made this I felt that I had to share it with them, photographically speaking. So as any good mother would I sent them a picture. They remembered it all, the trips, the good times, and the dish. A perfect Mother’s Day gift, in my opinion.

Another Note: I must give credit for this recipe to one of my favorite cookbooks, The Frugal Gourmet by Jeff Smith. His recipes featured on the television show of the same name were always tasty, easy, and yes, frugal.

Finally: Happy Mother’s Day to all the women who proudly share the title and job description of Mother. Hope you enjoy this post and your special day.

We were fortunate to live in Northern California for almost 20 years. We took advantage of all the things that the area offered, Trips into San Francisco, camping in the Redwoods, exploring tide pools and of course the Wine Country. All of this, and there was no snow to shovel…Why we came back to the Midwest is complicated. Suffice to say we had our reasons and we have not regretted it.

My sons were born and raised in California. We had no family around so our adventures were always immediate family affairs and that included trips to the Wine Country. Scan_Pic0013Sonoma County was about an hour and a half away. It was a great day trip destination. Back in the 80’s Sonoma was pretty rural. There were a few big wineries and lots of small ones. The small wineries were more like family run farms with the crop being grapes. That actually makes them vineyards, and Sonoma still has some of the best.Scan_Pic0017

Every few months we would take a day trip up to Wine Country. We always did this on the cheap. Back then tastings were free and a bottle of wine was under $10.00 (if we splurged and bought one).  We would visit 3 or 4 wineries and have a picnic lunch overlooking the vineyards.  Lunch was often salami, cheese and crackers; some fruit and cookies for dessert (parent and child friendly and easy to carry in a cooler).

Our sons always found something to do on these trips. They were very adaptable and quickly learned to make their own adventures. Sometimes we even joined in their fun. The time we rented a canoe and paddled the Russian River was memorable for all of usScan_Pic0012

Left to their own devices they always seemed to find something to do. Being treated toScan_Pic0011 some fresh grape juice, skipping stones, playing with the wine maker’s children or playing with the requisite “Vineyard Dog” that seemed to hold court at every winery. Looking back, they mostly remember the adventures and not the waiting for Mom and Dad to finish their wine. At least that’s the way I prefer to remember it; they may have a slightly different take.

The trip home was quiet. The boys would sleep and I would most likely doze off, Jeff, ever the good husband and father got us back across the bridge in one piece (He also took these amazing pictures of the Wine Country). Once home everyone was hungry and getting supper on the table was job number one. That’s how Salami and Zucchini Pasta came to be. It was quick, hearty and everyone liked it. The salami was left over from lunch and the zucchini was usually in the fridge. Pasta, olive oil and garlic…I’m Italian, of course it was in the house.

The most recent time that I made this dish we had been out running “errands” that included picking up our wine at Cooper’s Hawk Winery, so the wine tasting component was there. I used salami that I received in a gift basket from my son. It was made with Chianti so it seemed to fit right in with my the wine tasting memories. Still being Italian, the rest of the ingredients were, once again, already in the house.

DIGITAL CAMERA

The salami and zucchini get cut into match sticks, the garlic gets minced and it all goes into the pan with the olive oil.DIGITAL CAMERA

While the pasta is cooking the cream gets added to the pan, simmering to velvety thickness. DIGITAL CAMERAThis coats the pasta, salami and veggies, resulting in a rich and tasty supper. A little freshly ground pepper and some Romano cheese are all that it needs. We may be far from the Wine Country, but this pasta dish always brings back memories. It also is still a favorite and fast way to create a delicious ending to any busy day. 

 

Linguine with Salami and Zucchini
Print Recipe
A quick and easy pasta dish that you can whip up after a day in the (Wine) country or a long day of work.
Servings
4
Servings
4
Linguine with Salami and Zucchini
Print Recipe
A quick and easy pasta dish that you can whip up after a day in the (Wine) country or a long day of work.
Servings
4
Servings
4
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Cook linguine in salted boiling water until Al Dente. While the pasta is cooking, heat a large frying pan and add the salami, zucchini, and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently until the zucchini is soft and the salami is slightly frizzled. 7 minutes or so
  2. Add the cream and capers and bring to a hard simmer, stirring frequently. This will prevent scorching. Continue to simmer and stir until slightly reduced. 5 - 8 minutes.
  3. Reserve 1-2 ladles of the pasta water then drain the pasta. Add the drained pasta to the fry pan. Toss to combine the pasta and sauce. Cook for about 3 minutes until the sauce comes together. Add in some of the reserved pasta water if the sauce seems tight.
  4. Add pepper to taste and serve topped with the grated cheese.
Share this Recipe
Powered byWP Ultimate Recipe

The past holds so much for us. It got us to where we are now and in some small way it colors where we will go next. Reflecting on the memories leads to rediscovering good things, like pictures of happy times and pasta that still tastes like love. Mama D