Zesty Bean Dip

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Christina

We’re getting down to the wire for the Superbowl; T-minus 6 days!  Considering the Patriots aren’t in it this year, I’m really just looking forward to the food :) .  You might already have your appetizer line-up, but may I suggest a healthier addition?  This bean dip is nothing like you’ve had before; it’s creamy, zesty and really addictive!  Made mostly from black beans and served with whole wheat pita chips, it’s a tasty break from the typical fried and cheese-laden Football snacks.  Big shout out to Miss Angela Russo for the recipe – thanks for  sharing and letting me post on the blog!!  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • 1 15 oz. can of black beans, drained & rinsed
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

Directions:

  1. Combine in a food processor and blend until smooth.
  2. Serve with pita chips & enjoy!

Bon appetit!

-Christina

Posted in Appetizer, Vegetarian | 1 Comment

Eggplant Fries

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Christina

What is it about French Fries that always keep you coming back for “just one more…?”  Is it the crispy shell?  The soft potato-y center?  Or just the fact that you know they’re not good for you and you swear this is your last one ;) .  Like many girlfriends (warning: stereotype), I used to order my entree with a side salad, waiting patiently for my boyfriend to order the burger and friends…then proceed to devour 60% of them.  Unfortunately/fortunately(?) for me, he caught on pretty quickly.  There’s nothing wrong with a few fries every now and then, but when the craving strikes, know you have many more options; the ever popular homemade baked sweet potato fries (no, the ones in the restaurant still aren’t good for you) and baked eggplant fries, amongst others.  Never heard of eggplant fries?  Well, welcome back to snack time :) .

I toyed with calling these ‘Eggplant Parm Fries” or “Eggplant Parm Sticks” because I was planning on only serving them with marinara sauce, but, like most other things, they go perfectly with ketchup – so “Eggplant Fries” they’ll remain.  I used Japanese panko instead of Italian bread crumbs, giving the fries an extra crunch without actualyl frying.  Start to finish, the recipe takes less than 20 minutes, giving you ample time to indulge in your fry craving.  While I’m no a dietition, I know these Eggplant Fries fall somewhere in between a raw carrot stick and your traditional pubs fries, so take your pick :) .  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • Medium eggplant
  • 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 3/4 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flake (I used 1/2 teaspoon – they had a nice kick, so add for or less based on your preference)
  • 1 egg & 1 egg white

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 465 degrees and spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Cut the eggplant in half, peel and cut the flesh into 1 inch-wide sticks.
  3. On a dinner-sized plate, combine the panko, parmesan cheese and spices.  Combine the egg and egg white in a small bowl, whisking to combine.
  4. Set up the plates like an assembly line; dip an eggplant stick into the egg mixture, roll in the bread crumb mixture and lay on the baking sheet.  Repeat for all of the eggplant sticks.
  5. Spray the top of the coated sticks with non-stick cooking spray and bake for 10 minutes; 5 minutes on each side.
  6. Broil for 1 minute on each side.  Note: stay by the oven for this, turn on the light, watch the clock…if you take your eyes off they’ll burn.
  7. Serve with marinara sauce or ketchup. (A day later these are on my salad chopped up as “croutons”)

Bon appetit!

-Christina

Posted in Appetizer, Vegetarian | 12 Comments

Orange & Red Onion Salad

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Christina

TGIF!  I don’t know about you, but this week FLEW by!  Maybe because it was my first full week back after vacation, maybe because everyone is still getting back into the swing of things – regardless, Friday, I welcome you :) .

I hate the cold.  I go skiing once a year and partake in no other ‘winter sport’ (when watching me try to ice skate, fits of laughter will ensue).  Jackets are bulky.  Heat costs go through the roof.  I’m shocked shoveling wasn’t used as torture in the middle ages.  No, winter and I are not the best of friends, but until my nearest and dearest move south or west, I’m kickin’ here.  Like many New Englanders, all I want to do in the coldest of months is eat mac ‘n cheese, drink hot chocolate and indulge in the latest Jersey Shore marathon, couch-side.  It can definitely be hard to remember to eat veggies (especially ones that aren’t covered in cheese, cream or bread crumbs).  So here’s to making vegetables more exciting in early 2011! :)   To accompany my turkey chili over the weekend, I made a simple orange and red onion salad, bursting with freshness.  Spicy red onion coupled with zesty citrus flavors kept me coming back for seconds and thirds.  This salad is just as lovely on a cold winter night as it is on a summer’s day.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 head romaine lettuce, washed and chopped
  • 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 large orange, peeled and segmented; zest 1/2 of peel (great tutorial on segmenting citrus from Our Best Bites)
  • 2 tablespoons EVOO
  • Juice of 1/2 lime
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, combine lettuce, segmented orange and red onion slices.
  2. In a separate bowl or dressing container, combine orange zest, lime juice and S&P.  Stream in EVOO, whisking to emulsify.
  3. Pour dressing over salad, toss and serve.

Bon appetit!

-Christina

Posted in Salad | Leave a comment

Turkey Chili

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Christina

Second post of the week – I’m on track! (and I even have something planned for Friday :) ).  I guess that’s the key to resolutions – always keeping tabs on where you stand.

The weather has been up and down in Boston over the past few weeks.  We started with a blizzard and it ended up being just about 50 degrees this past Saturday – no, I don’t get it either.  The cold weather is back in full force this week and nothing warms those bones like a heaping bowl of filling (but rather healthy!) turkey chili.  I made a huge batch this past weekend for New Years, loving that the leftovers have lasted a few extra days.

I scoured my favorite sites for the perfect recipe and just ended up throwing what I wanted into the pot – a little mix of everything.  The beer was a nice addition but you can leave that out and add extra chicken stock if you’re counting calories.  On that note, you can substitute a sour cream topping with plain Greek yogurt (the individual serving size).  The consistency is about the same and the flavor is pretty close.  It saves a few extra calories and you don’t end up with a whole tub of sour cream sitting in your fridge for weeks.  Making those little substitutions is what January should be about.  Forget what you can’t eat and figure out how you can.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 1/2 cups diced white onion
  • 1 1/2 cups diced green pepper
  • 4 cloves garlic, diced
  • 1/2 cup diced celery
  • 1 jalapeno, diced (seed & de-rib if you’re not a fan of the heat)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon garlic salt
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flake
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon Frank’s hot sauce
  • 2 1/2 lbs. ground turkey (97/3 lean)
  • 2 15 oz. cans petite diced tomatoes, with juice
  • 1 bottle Mexican-style lager beer
  • 1 15 oz. can cannelloni beans
  • 1 15 oz. can red kidney beans
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 1/3 cup chopped cilantro

For garnish/topping:

  • Plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Tortilla chips

Directions:

  1. In a large Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat and add onions and peppers.  Sautee for 4 minutes.
  2. Add garlic, jalapeno and celery.  Sautee for 3 minutes.
  3. Add the salts & spices and tomato paste.  Stir and cook for 5 minutes.
  4. Push the vegetables to the side and add the ground turkey to let it brown.  Break up with a spoon.  I had to brown the turkey in a separate pan for 7 minutes because there wasn’t enough room in my larger Dutch oven – feel free to do this if necessary and transfer browned turkey back to the pot.  The turkey will break up further as the chili continues to cook.
  5. Pour in diced tomatoes (with their juice) and beer.  Stir and simmer over medium-high heat for 5 minutes.
  6. Add beans and chicken stock.  Feel free to add more or less stock depending on desired thickness.  Cover and cook for 15 minutes.
  7. Cook uncovered for 30 minutes.  Add chopped cilantro at last 10 minutes.
  8. Serve with tortilla chips, sour cream/Greek yogurt and cheese.

Bon appetit!

-Christina

Posted in Soup | 1 Comment

2011 To-Do’s

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Christina

HELLO 2011!!!  I cannot believe we’re here.

Well, it’s now the 3rd day of January as we all prepare for the onslaught of resolutions, both our own and others’.  While winning the lottery has always been at the top of my list, I figured it might make sense to offer a few more “realistic” resolutions, of a food-related nature.  Now I must preface this post with the fact that I absolutely love ‘To-Do’ lists.  There’s something about writing everything down and crossing off each complete item that thrills me (I’m easy to please).  I make lists for work, the grocery store, packing, cleaning my room, daily/week/weekend to-do’s…you get the picture.  So resolutions shouldn’t be any different right?  Wrong-o.  Like my fellow resolution-makers, I often forget my personal ‘promises’ by February 1st.  But this year will be different; like my precious ‘To-Do’ lists, I’ll write my resolutions here on the blog, waiting to be crossed off with each completion.

Every day I read fantastic food blogs and captivating cookbooks, each with recipes that jump off the page and spark my imagination for kitchen creation.  Then they remain hidden, bookmarked or otherwise, only to remind me when I reopen the dusty pages or hit the ‘Recipe’ category in Gmail.  The first week of January 2011 is the perfect opportunity to breakdown the dam and let the food fly, so to speak.  As such, here are my 2011 food-related & blogging resolutions:

  • Post at least twice a week, every week – Neither busy work weeks nor vacation nor snow nor sleet nor hail shall keep me from posting at least twice a week.
  • Take better pictures – I don’t know about you, but if something looks good, I’m probably more likely to make/eat it .
  • Attend three cooking classes – The Cambridge School of Culinary Arts and The Boston Center for Adult Education are just two of the many venues offering cooking classes in the Boston area.
  • Make more meat – Beef, chicken or pork, there’s a serious lack of meat on my blog.  While I’m all for veggies, and lots of ‘em, adding protein to my diet keeps me fuller longer and adds diversity to my meals.  Brownie points if I nab organic selections :) .
  • Same goes for fish – Omega 3′s, vitamins and minerals; seafood makes for happy, healthy people.
  • Bake and construct a 3 layer cake – Fun, impressive and sweet – you gotta have balance right??
  • Hit up two food festivals – Last year I went to the Phantom Gourmet Wine & Food Fest and the Boston Local Food Festival.  There’s no shortage of food fun in the Bean.
  • Volunteer – Find at least two volunteering opportunities where I can offer my time or cooking to help others.

A few more ‘to-make’ specifics:

  • Scones
  • Cheesecake
  • Salmorejo
  • Ravioli
  • Braised short ribs
  • Kibbeh
  • Stuffed grape leaves
  • Gnocchi

So there we have it, my 2011 resolutions for cooking/baking and this blog :) .  Here’s to a prosperous new year and and a very active kitchen.

- Christina

What are your 2011 resolutions?  Is there something you’d like to see on Bon Appetit Beantown this year?

Posted in Lifestyle | 6 Comments

Favorite Recipes of 2010

Posted on December 31, 2010 by Christina

T-minus 13 hours until 2011 – can you believe it?  2010 flew by but it was filled with many wonderful trips, experiences and a heck of a lotta good food :) .  In 2010 I started this blog :) , celebrated a few fun holidays, weekended in ME, had a blast at my family reunion in Canada, entered a Salsa Showdown and a Cookie Bake-off, hiked & stayed in the White Mountains, N.H., learned about organics and sustainable food at the Boston Local Food Fest, saw Bobby Flay cook live in Washington, D.C. and thoroughly enjoyed cooking & baking for family and friends…what a year!

Of those that I’ve posted (yes, some just don’t make it on here for one reason or another), here are my top five favorite recipes for 2010…in no particular order:

Carrot & Black Bean Salad with Mint & Feta

Grilled Pineapple & Mango Salsa

Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Blueberry Muffins

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

It’s been a wonderful year cooking & eating!  Here’s to a great 2011!

What was your favorite recipe of 2010?

- Christina

Posted in Appetizer, Chicken, Dessert, Holiday, Lifestyle, Salad | 1 Comment

Hummus

Posted on December 29, 2010 by Christina

Hummus: an all time favorite meal, dip, condiment, topper and roll-up; perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner :) .  With a mother of Lebanese decent, I ate hummus like most kids ate apple sauce.  Sitting at the lunch table, other middle schoolers would turn out PB&J’s and I’d have pita bread, stuffed grape leaves and hummus.  Have you seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding?  Yea, I’ve been there ;) .

Whether you like a little hummus here and there or as much as the Zohan, this recipe is sure to please.  It’s been passed down from Sittou (grandmother) to mother to me, and has a creamy texture, lots of lemon and a little cumin.  While you might not think you like hummus (my father refers to it as wallpaper paste), this could just make you a convert.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • 2 cans of chickpeas/garbanzo beans (Progresso is the best)
  • 1 heaping tablespoon of tahini (I use a large breakfast spoon and Sittoo’s Tahini is my favorite)
  • Juice of 1 lemon & 1/2 lemon zest
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt, more to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil & paprika for garnish

Directions:

  1. Drain the liquid of the chickpeas into a bowl.
  2. In a large blender, puree the chickpeas, lemon juice & zest, quarter cup of the chickpea liquid, tahini and garlic salt.
  3. Now taste it – does it need more lemon?  A little more garlic salt?  Want it thinner?  Now’s you’re chance to add a little extra salt, lemon or liquid.  Blend until smooth.
  4. Garnish with a swirl of extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of paprika.
  5. Serve with pita chips, vegetable crudites or anything your heart desires :) .

Bon appetit!

- Christina

Posted in Appetizer | 3 Comments

Christmas 2010

Posted on December 28, 2010 by Christina

Hope everyone had a lovely holiday!

I had a great time celebrating with my own family in CT and MA, and am back home on vacation for the week :) .  Santa was very good to this girl and I’m so excited to try out some of my new gifts.  For the kitchen, I received a  cheese grater, pretty trivets and pot holders, fun cookbooks, an apron, a subscription to Cooking Light and a garlic peeler/grater, amongst other things :) .

One of the neatest gifts I received was this platter and mug set:

So fun!!! :)

For my family in CT, Christmas Eve is the big holiday to celebrate together.  There’s 21 of us and we all dine around one awesomely large, square table:

It’s the perfect shape for everyone to see each other, talk (make toasts, sing carols (Kelly ;) ) and enjoy each other’s company.  Oh, and to eat!  There was so much delicious food!  From cranberry stuffed pork to persimmon salad, chocolate cake to crema (flan) we all left will full stomachs.  I of course wanted to contribute a little something, so I made chocolate and cinnamon dipped pretzels – perfect for holiday snacking :) .

The whole holiday (3 days of family & friends) was wonderful, spent with some of my favorite people in the world.

With only a few days left until the New Year, I’m spending this week relaxing, reacquainting myself with the gym, cooking and reflecting on the wonderful people and experiences in my life.

How was your holiday?

Posted in Holiday | 3 Comments

Gingerbread Cookies

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Christina

T-minus 3.5 days until Christmas!  Wait, wasn’t it just Thanksgiving?  The season has certainly flown by, but I feel good knowing I’ve indulged in a few of my favorite holiday festivities: a few Christmas parties, decorating the tree with the fam and a lovely ugly sweater pub crawl (legen – wait for it – dary).

I even made sure to bake up some yummy Gingerbread Cookies to decorate with the bf :) .  I nabbed this recipe from Paula Dean on FoodNetwork.com.  The whole process is quite easy, but you do need to refrigerate the dough for about an hour and then let it rest table-side for another 15 minutes – definitely something to keep in mind if you’re planning to make these at the last minute (which I was, obviously).

Another thing to keep in mind is to stick to the ¼ inch rolling (too thin and you’ll burn them…… which I learned after two trays) and skimp on the flour in the recipe.  After reading the comments, which you should always do before getting started, it sounded like most people ended up with dough that was too dry and later paired down the amount of flour.  The recipe below reflects that change.

Decorating is of course the best part :) .  I made stockings, stars, snow men, candy canes and gingerbread men.  Two favorites:

Shane?? :)

Green Man :)

These cookies are perfect for curling up next to a fire (or Yankee candle) and watching an old school Christmas movie (or the Patriots game ;) ).

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

For the cookies:

  • 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 stick salted butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting work surface
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the icing:

  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
  • Food coloring
  • Assorted Christmas sprinkles

Directions:

  1. Using a hand mixer, cream the brown sugar and butter in a large bowl until thoroughly combined.
  2. Mix in the eggs and molasses.
  3. Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a separate large bowl.  Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix with a spoon.
  4. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until firm, about 1 hour.
  5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Let the dough sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes, until pliable.
  6. Line 3 cookies sheets with parchment paper or a Silpat.  Take about 1/2 cup dough at a time and roll on a floured surface until – to 1/4-inch thick.
  7. Cut out shapes with  cookie cutters. Re-roll the scraps and roll out more dough; repeat.
  8. Using a spatula, transfer the cookies to the prepared cookie sheets, leaving space between them.
  9. Refrigerate the cookies for 20 minutes, then bake until they just begin to brown at the edges, 11 to 15 minutes.
  10. Cool slightly, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
  11. Meanwhile, you can begin the icing :) .  Combine the confectioners’ sugar and milk in a bowl.
  12. Leave white or divide among bowls and add food coloring.
  13. Decorate the cooled cookies with icing – you can use a pastry bag for precise features or lining or use a knife yo spread.  Top with sprinkle and enjoy!

Bon appetit!

Posted in Dessert, Holiday | 1 Comment

Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

Posted on December 15, 2010 by Christina

Oh hi!  Did you miss me?  Where have I been?  Well, it’s been a whole lot of:

  • work
  • holiday festivities
  • trying to make it to the gym
  • errands & chores
  • adjusting to NE’s “lovely” winter season
  • cooking/baking (no, that hasn’t stopped :) )
  • …and doing my best to stay sane.

Oh, that’s what you’ve been up to as well?  Glad to know we’re all in the same boat :) .

Like I said, I have been cooking & baking over the past few weeks, I just haven’t had time to blog about it.  So here we go, the first of many new posts.  Best way to start it off?  Peanut Butter Cookies. Yes, friends, there’s no better way to jump start your day then thinking of sugar.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped peanuts

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees with the rack in the middle slot.
  2. In a large bowl with a hand mixer, cream together the peanut butter, butter and brown sugar until well combined.
  3. One at a time, beat in the egg, milk and vanilla.
  4. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; stir into the wet ingredients.
  5. Fold the chopped peanuts into the dough.
  6. Place plastic wrap over the dough, making sure the wrap touches the dough, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  7. Remove from the refrigerator and roll tablespoons of dough into balls and place 2 inches apart on an ungreased backing sheet.
  8. Press each dough ball with a fork twice in opposite ways.
  9. Bake for 8-10 minutes until the edges are lightly browned.
  10. Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then move to a cooling rack for 15 minutes.

Bon appetit!

Posted in Dessert | 1 Comment