Fresh Dill and Parsley

Quick and Easy Bean Stew

 

There are times when I value expediency over wholesomeness.  Busy season is in full swing at work leaving little time for elaborate, time-consuming dished.  I do realize that the words "quick" and "stew" don't belong together but what makes this dish quick is the use of canned pinto beans instead of dried beans which need to be soacked overnight and take much long  to cook than canned beans. Shortcuts are necessary at times and I am not afraid to use them especially when work gets busy.

Polenta with veal sauce

 

 

No matter how hard it struggles, the sun can't warm us up, leaving no doubt about fall's arrival.  It is lunchtime on a Friday  and I feel depleted, in desperate need for comfort. Luckily, I work close to Sportello , a chic Italian lunch counter style restaurant in the Fort Point area of Boston. From salad to desert, everything I've eaten there has been outstanding. One time I ate a chocolate tart like no other. Rich intense chocolate topped with a few grains of salt and drizzled with olive oil. It was mind blowing! However, my  reason for going there on this Friday is their polenta. It is the only dish I want.

Lentils and Brown Rice Recipe

When the sky is grey, the days are shorter, and it’s rainy, one has no other choice but to seek comfort, comfort food to be exact. Lentils are one of my comfort foods. Usually comfort foods and healthy foods can’t stand each other but lentils and brown rice seem to be an exception. I find lentils to be flavorful and very satisfying. If you are vegetarian or simply want to reduce the amount of meat you consume, lentils are the perfect choice as they are one of the best vegetable sources for iron.  In fact, lentils are popular in many parts of the world for those who adhere to a strict vegetarian diet or cannot afford meat.

In addition to iron, these little green wonders are a good source of protein when paired with rice, grains or nuts, as well as fiber potassium, folate, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, vitamin B3, copper, vitamin A, vitamin B6, calcium, and phosphorus.  Fiber is important  for the health of the digestive system and for lowering cholesterol.  All the more reason to cook up this easy-to-make, hearty, stew-like dish!

Romanian Stuffed Peppers- The Best Stuffed Peppers Ever!

These stuffed peppers are like a warm blanket hugging me on a cold evening. They are my # 1 comfort food and very much needed now that temperatures are heading south. The thing is, that it's not just about eating these peppers, it's also about cooking them. My entire 350 or so square foot apartment is filled with the most delicious smell while these stuffed peppers are cooking. There's something about peppers, meat, and tomato sauce boiling together that makes such a sweet smell.

I've made this dish countless times and occasionally even forgot to add onion.  I guess when you are too confident in your skill and knowledge you stop paying attention. Oh, yeah, I know how to make these so I'll just turn off my brain. At times, overconfidence can be as dangerous as low confidence.

The measurements are just a guideline so feel free to add more onion, less rice, more dill etc. I love the dill in this recipe so I don't suggest using parsley or another herb. In any case, don't forget the onion!

Green Beans and Chicken

In the summer my grandma would make green beans cooked with garlic, dill, tomatoes and chicken. This summer I was obsessed with this dish.  Even though the taste of it was as clear in my mind as if I had eaten this yesterday, the cooking method was definitely foggy.  Luckily, for any questions on cooking and baking, I have my aunt who is the most talented cook and baker I know.