This is a simple but classic dish. Make this at home in minutes and save lots of money from what you’d pay in a restaurant (but then you have to wash the pans and dishes). Anyhow, this is really simple and truly flavorful. If you’ve never made this recipe before I hope you give itContinue reading “Scampi!”
Category Archives: Culinary Freedom
Three Loaves and a Pie…
I haven’t posted this recipe in a while and I made it this morning so I thought I’d re-post it (as it is one of my favorites). It’s my basic whole wheat bread recipe with the addition of oats…delicious and nutritious. And is often the case, after the first rise of the dough (before IContinue reading “Three Loaves and a Pie…”
Sweet, Sour, and Spicy Pickles (in just five minutes)
This is a basic refrigerator pickle recipe that can be made in just a few minutes but is really delicious and will keep excess produce for months (if kept refrigerated). I make this nearly every year at summer’s end to store cucumbers still hanging on their vines. You can make it with just cucumbers orContinue reading “Sweet, Sour, and Spicy Pickles (in just five minutes)”
The Mother Loaf…
Ezekiel Bread; a meal in itself. I’ve posted this recipe a few times prior, but not in quite a while. It is my favorite bread (to eat and to make) and in fact is still the #1 reason people visit this blog. More than 500 people find their way to my little page each dayContinue reading “The Mother Loaf…”
New Orleans Red Beans-and Rice Burgers
These are a variation of a few different vegetarian/bean burgers I’ve made and posted somewhat recently, and a play on the classic New Orleans red beans-and-rice recipe. While this recipe is equally delicious it is a bit more labor intensive than my other vegetarian burger recipes (but not really) in that you have to cookContinue reading “New Orleans Red Beans-and Rice Burgers”
Pasta d’oro con fagioli
This is an easy and delicious variation on the classic pasta dish, pasta e fagioli (pasta with beans), which is often meatless but when it does contain meat it is usually pork. In this particular recipe I used smoked turkey which offers some of the smokiness of bacon or other pork products. I also addedContinue reading “Pasta d’oro con fagioli”
Chop This! (The easiest and likely the most nutritious and delicious salad you’ll ever make.)
Okay. So if you have a garden–or even if you don’t–now is the time to seize summer’s bounty. Whether you grow it yourself or purchase it at the store, the time is ripe for summer vegetables. And when the vegetables are as perfectly ripe as they are right now, eating them raw (or some lightlyContinue reading “Chop This! (The easiest and likely the most nutritious and delicious salad you’ll ever make.)”
The Spice is Right (two super flavorful and delicious recipes)…
Spices really are amazing aren’t they? Not only are some used for food preservation and medicinal purposes (not to mention preventative medicine) they also make even the blandest foods taste really incredible; these recipes are two examples of this. And both of these recipes, while delicious hot from the oven or skillet, are equally deliciousContinue reading “The Spice is Right (two super flavorful and delicious recipes)…”
Chicken-less Fingers…
Okay. So these are really good. These are a play on chicken fingers which of course are a knock off of chicken wings. In my continued effort to eat less meat I made these today as an alternative to the chicken fingers I cooked for staff lunch at work. And rather than tossing them inContinue reading “Chicken-less Fingers…”
Ratatouille!
Ratatouille is the perfect summer vegetable dish. The ingredients are at peak season, and are easily grown in a home victory garden…I in fact grew these. The main ingredients–zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, and basil–need very little tending, they almost grow like weeds. With its tongue-twisting title it may come off as a somewhat intimidating recipe,Continue reading “Ratatouille!”
Asparagi aglio e olio (and a few other ingredients)
Olive oil, garlic, hot pepper, and lemon. Brilliant. Yes, I know I’ve posted this recipe before (and those similar to it), but I can’t get enough of it. It is so easy to make and so delicious I’m going to keep posting it/them until you make a variation of it 🙂 Stove-Top Braised Asparagus withContinue reading “Asparagi aglio e olio (and a few other ingredients)”
Barbe à queue!
Food historians and etymologists generally claim two theories on the origin of the American barbecue. One is that it comes from the French barbe-a-queue, referring to cooking a whole animal on a spit “from beard to tail.” The other is that it’s derived from the Spanish barbacoa, a method they found indigenous Caribbeans using someContinue reading “Barbe à queue!”
Mediterranean Chickpea Burgers (yum!)
Crispy and super flavorful. So yes, these are as delicious as they look. They are really easy to make, and can be frozen, too. Eat them on a sandwich, place them on a salad, or nibble them straight from the pan…you won’t be sorry if you make this recipe. For a southwestern black bean-cheddar versionContinue reading “Mediterranean Chickpea Burgers (yum!)”
Tacos Multiculturales!
Okay. So first I have to say this…these tacos were freaking delicious (if I do say so myself). But what makes them so interesting are the ingredients; the finished recipe is like the United Nations on a plate. The main component, or at least one of the main components, is the chicken. It’s a variationContinue reading “Tacos Multiculturales!”
Cool as a cucumber (and avocado) soup recipe…
This soup is really delicious and really easy to make. I know…I say that all the time, right? Well, all you have to do is put the ingredients in a blender and puree them. Seriously. Easy, delicious, and healthy…what’s not to like. This is also a great recipe for the crazy heatwave that has grippedContinue reading “Cool as a cucumber (and avocado) soup recipe…”
Ice Ice Baby
“Ice is back with my brand new invention.” Vanilla Ice Ice Ice Baby So I’m not sure what part of the world you are viewing this from, or what your local weather is, but the forecast for Western New York is–as it has been and will continue to be for some time–is hot andContinue reading “Ice Ice Baby”
Rice-and-beans (#1); a few thoughts on a very humble dish…
Rice-and-beans (yum!)…what is not to like about this dish. It’s simple to make, it is made using one single pot, it is really inexpensive to produce even large quantities, variations are seemingly endless, and it is really good for you…some say it carries complete nutrition (this is an interesting but brief article at NPR). ForContinue reading “Rice-and-beans (#1); a few thoughts on a very humble dish…”
Onion, Pepper, and Garlic Confit
This is really a play on the classic confit d’ail, or preserved garlic (find that recipe here). It’s a simple recipe that–especially in the case of these peppers–really packs a punch. What it boils down to (yes, the pun was intended) is that you slowly poach the vegetables in olive oil until soft as butterContinue reading “Onion, Pepper, and Garlic Confit”
Chicken and Vegetable Ragout with Lebanese Seven (or Eight) Spice Seasoning
Okay, so this is good. Really good. Delicious (if I do say so my self). It’s easy to make (about 30 minutes once the vegetables are cut) and it’s likely pretty healthy, too. It’s a basic braised chicken and vegetable dish with Middle Eastern seasoning. This, like most of the recipes on this blog, isContinue reading “Chicken and Vegetable Ragout with Lebanese Seven (or Eight) Spice Seasoning”
Mulligatawny!
Before I talk about the recipe I have to make a few other comments. You may be wondering why on earth this guy would be posting a recipe for soup in the middle of summer, or at least early summer. Nonetheless, it’s hot outside. Well, the answer to this is twofold…one is that it wasContinue reading “Mulligatawny!”
Urban Simplicty 