Chicken Tagine with Baby Artichokes, Green Olives, Apricots & Preserved Lemon

Chicken Tagine with Baby Artichokes, Green Olives, Apricots & Preserved Lemon

On the LunaCafe Facebook page recently, I bemoaned the fact that this is an atypically chilly and dreadfully dreary May in the Northwest. By chilly, I mean most days are in the 50’s, which forces me to put on three layers of everything just to step out the door. This is not the kind of weather that makes me all dreamy-eyed about eating cold, composed salads, no matter how much I will crave them once summer finally kicks in.

Instead, I find myself jotting down ideas for Moroccan tagines. Why? Because they are hot, spicy, succulent, and so damn delicious that not even the weather can bring me down when I’m eating one.

Filed Under: Meat & Poultry, Spring Fever Tagged With: , , , , , ,
May 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Lemon & Thyme Marinated Artichoke, Tiger Prawn & Strawberry Salad

Shrimp combo

I think of myself as a component kind of cook. Just as I prefer a wardrobe full of separates that I can mix and match as fancy strikes, I also like to mix and match culinary components. What I learn from one dish always has ramifications to another dish later.

Take this new salad for instance. I am in the lingering thrall of the Lemon & Thyme Marinated Artichokes posted last week. They were so good that I can’t get them out of my mind. We had barely finished the first batch of artichokes, and I had another batch marinating in the fig.

Filed Under: Recipes, Salads, Seafood, Spring Fever, Strawberries Tagged With: , , , ,
May 15, 2011 By 9 Comments

Lemon & Thyme Marinated Artichokes with Garlic Bread Crumbs & Toasted Hazelnuts

Lemon & Thyme Artichokes, Ready to Eat

Years ago in Sedona, Arizona, a dish titled Fire-Smoked Lemon and Herb Marinated Artichoke caught my attention. I asked the server how it was prepared, and she said the artichokes were marinated for days in a lemon, garlic, olive oil, and fresh herb vinaigrette, then grilled over mesquite. She said they were to die for. They weren’t. In fact, I could barely discern the marinade at all.

Filed Under: Appetizers, Recipes, Side Dishes, Spring Fever, Vegetables Tagged With: , , , , ,
May 13, 2011 By 5 Comments

Spicy Sorrel Chive Pesto

Spicy Sorrel and Chive Pesto

Pesto season is upon us once again. Hallelujah! Last year, I hit the test kitchen for several days and developed a balanced, sure-fire formula and five wonderful pestos: Rosemary Hazelnut Pesto, Cilantro Ginger Pesto, Herb Garden Pesto, Basil Arugula Pesto, and Basil Olive Pesto. I thought those recipes would suffice for years. Silly me.

Filed Under: Sauces, Spring Fever Tagged With: , ,
April 28, 2011 By 10 Comments

Lime-Marinated Steak Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce, Tomatoes, Onions, Feta & Mint

Lime-Marinated Steak Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce, Tomatoes, Onions, Feta & Mint

Can you say Tzatziki (za-ZEE-kee)? Honestly, it’s more difficult to say it than to make it. Which is a good thing, because it’s the magic potion that sends this Greek-inspired sandwich into the flavor stratosphere. And I promise, after one bite, no one will care if you bungle the pronunciation.

Filed Under: Meat & Poultry, Recipes, Sandwiches, Spring Fever, Summer Sizzle Tagged With: , , , , , ,
April 11, 2011 By 10 Comments

Strozzapreti with Spicy Italian Sausage, Broccolini & Garlic Crema

Strozzapreti with Spicy Italian Sausage, Broccolini & Garlic Crema

I know the first day of spring is just around the corner and Daylight Saving Time launches in the Pacific Northwest next week, but it’s still hanging in the low 40’s most days, so until the sun actually returns, creamy, rich pasta dishes are still keeping me warm.

And for whatever reason, I have a mad crush on strozzapreti (stroh-tzuh-PRAY-tee) lately, and it’s getting star billing in the OtherWorldly Kitchen. I even found this cool post at Y Len Ate that shows one way to shape fresh strozzapreti (twisted). And then another cool post at Eat with a Spoon that shows a very different shaping method (wrapped over a skewer). Both look wonderful.

Filed Under: All Season, Pasta | Rice | Grains, Recipes, Spring Fever Tagged With: , , , ,
March 11, 2011 By 11 Comments

Pasta Carbonara Perfecta Mundo

Pasta Carbonara with Strozzapreti Pasta

I can still remember my first dreamy mouthful of Spaghetti Carbonara. It was later in life, because my family knew jack squat about pasta. Meat sauce (made with the help of a seasoning packet) heaped over spaghetti was the only pasta dish I ever ate as a kid, and it was a very occasional treat. And later, when I began to cook professionally, I gravitated toward the French country classics. It took me a while to make my way to Cucina Italia.

Filed Under: All Season, Pasta | Rice | Grains, Spring Fever Tagged With: , , , , ,
March 6, 2011 By 13 Comments

Breast of Chicken with Goat Cheese, Basil & Mint

Breast of Chicken Stuffed with Goat Cheese, Basil & Mint on Luncheon Plate

It’s picnic season once again—hallelujah!–and I’m perusing my culinary files for dishes that lend themselves to packing into a cooler and heading to the beach or mountains. This is one of those dishes.

I also love having it on hand in the frig for everyday snacking. Thinly sliced, it makes a fantastic sandwich. But perhaps its most glamorous role is as the star of a composed luncheon plate or the centerpiece of an appetizer buffet.

Filed Under: Appetizers, Meat & Poultry, Recipes, Spring Fever Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
May 21, 2010 By 16 Comments
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