Recently, I was looking for carrot recipes and ran across this one for Caramelized Carrot Risotto. Since roasted carrots are one of my favorite winter side dishes and risotto is my favorite rice dish, I knew I had to make this recipe. While not a quick dish to make, it is definitely comfort food. The flavors are simple, mild and perfect for springtime. Husband called it Creamy Goodness…I totally agree!

Caramelized Carrot Risotto
-recipe from Sunset Magazine

It’s made the traditional way, but this risotto hits some extraordinary flavor notes, mainly because of two not-so-common risotto ingredients. One is creamy sweet mascarpone cheese. The other is carrots, slow cooked in a butter-oil bath until their sugars caramelize.

Note: To make this risotto even prettier, you can cut the carrots into 1/4-in. dice (it’s time-consuming, but makes the carrots look like little jewels). Mascarpone — a rich Italian-style cream cheese available at specialty, gourmet, and Whole Foods stores — can be replaced with an equal amount of heavy cream.

Yield: Makes 6 to 8 servings as a side dish or first course

2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
6 medium carrots, peeled and chopped as finely and evenly as possible (about 3 cups; see Notes)
About 1/2 tsp. salt
1 teaspoon sugar
5 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/3 cup minced onion
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup mascarpone cheese (I used heavy cream)
1/4 cup freshly shredded parmesan cheese, plus 1/2 cup for garnish
1 tablespoon finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, plus 1 tbsp. for garnish
1 teaspoon roughly chopped fresh thyme
1/8 teaspoon white pepper

Heat 1 tbsp. oil and 1 tbsp. butter over medium heat in a medium heavy-bottomed pot; add carrots and stir with a wooden spoon until well coated. Add 1/2 cup water, 1/2 tsp. salt, and the sugar; cover and cook 5 minutes, or until tender. Uncover and cook, stirring occasionally, until water evaporates and carrots are just starting to brown, a few minutes more. Reserve half of the carrots. In a blender, purée other half with 3/4 cup hot water.

Bring chicken broth to a simmer and keep at a simmer, covered, over low heat.

Heat remaining oil and butter over medium heat in same (unwashed) pot used for carrots. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add rice, stirring with a wooden spoon to coat rice with oil, 1 minute. Add wine and cook, stirring, until wine evaporates. Add carrot purée and cook, stirring, until mixture no longer looks soupy.

Add 1/2 cup hot broth, stirring often, until rice absorbs most of the liquid. Repeat process, adding 1/2 cup broth at a time and stirring often till each addition is absorbed before adding the next, until rice is al dente (about 20 minutes; at least 1 cup broth will remain).

Fold in reserved carrots (save 2 tbsp. for garnish), mascarpone, 1/4 cup parmesan, 1 tbsp. parsley, and the thyme. Add up to 1 cup broth (1/4 cup at a time) to loosen the risotto. Season with salt and white pepper to taste.

Sprinkle each bowl of risotto with some of remaining 1/2 cup parmesan, remaining 1 tbsp. parsley, and reserved carrots. Serve immediately.

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Tags: Arborio rice, caramelized carrots, Italian, rice, risotto, vegetarian

Mashed potatoes are one of my favorite comfort foods, and it’s hard to improve on this classic dish. I made a new recipe the other night that just might be my new standard mashed potato recipe: Turnip and Potato Mash. Now before you turn up your nose (okay, bad joke), hear me out on this one. These mashed potatoes have personality! The mashed turnip is a great secret ingredient in this dish that adds another layer of flavor and a little oomph.

In case you’ve never bought them, turnips are round and white-purplish in color, and are a good source of Vitamin C and fiber. Choose small to medium turnips for the mildest flavor.

For the smoothest possible mash, use a potato ricer. Serve the Turnip and Potato Mash with anything you’d normally serve mashed potatoes with (chicken, turkey, beef, pork). Enjoy!

Turnip and Potato Mash
-recipe from Martha Stewart Everyday Food Magazine (Dec. 2010)

Serve this peppery replacement for mashed potatoes alongside seared steak. Serves 4 to 6.

1 pound turnips (about 2 medium), peeled and diced large
1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes (about 2 medium), peeled and diced large
1 dried bay leaf
Coarse salt and ground pepper
3 tablespoons sour cream
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

In a medium saucepan, bring turnips, potatoes, and bay leaf to a boil in salted water over high; cook until vegetables are tender when pierced with a knife, 20 minutes. Drain, discard bay leaf, and return vegetables to pan. Add sour cream and butter, and mash until mostly smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Tags: Comfort Food, mashed potatoes, mashed turnips, Turnip and Potato Mash, turnips

I ran across this recipe for Chinese Noodle and Chicken Salad the other day and thought it would be a great pasta salad dish to make for the weekend: tender noodles, crunchy snow peas and a creamy, peanutty Asian-inspired dressing. Yumm! Husband loved it, too. 

You’ll notice that this recipe serves 20 people, which is great for a potluck or when feeding a crowd. I didn’t need to serve that many so I made half a recipe. Heck, you could even make a 1/4 recipe if you wanted to (you’re on your own with the math).

For the salad, feel free to roast your own chicken or buy one at the grocery store (I used a Costco roasted chicken). Also,  I wanted to bump up the veggie content of the salad so I added about a half bag of shredded cole slaw mix (cabbage and carrots). If you can’t find snow peas or they’re expensive, you could substitute a whole bag of shredded coleslaw mix (for a half recipe of the noodle salad) and some thinly sliced red bell pepper.

For the dressing, I added a tablespoon or so of chopped fresh ginger to the other ingredients and processed until smooth. I liked the extra flavor and zing that the nobby root added. 

Chinese Noodle and Chicken or Turkey Salad
-recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine

Leftover roasted chicken or turkey makes this rendition of a popular salad a snap to prepare. It’s made spicy by combining chilies with linguine, green onions, snow peas, cilantro and a peanut dressing.

Yield: Serves 20

Salad
2 pounds linguine
1/4 cup oriental sesame oil
2 2 1/2-pound roasted chickens, skinned, boned, shredded or 12 cups cooked turkey
4 bunches green onions, sliced
2 bunches fresh cilantro, chopped
4 jalapeño chilies, seeded, deveined, minced
1 1/4 pounds snow peas, stringed, thinly sliced lengthwise

Dressing
1 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (do not use old-fashioned style or freshly ground)
1/2 cup rice vinegar
1/2 cup oriental sesame oil
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped

Napa cabbage leaves

For salad:
Cook linguine in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain. Rinse with cold water to cool; drain well. Transfer to large bowl. Add sesame oil; toss to blend. Mix in chicken or turkey, onions, cilantro and chilies.

Cook snow peas in medium saucepan of boiling salted water until just crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Drain. Rinse with cold water to cool; drain well. Mix into salad.

For dressing:
Combine soy sauce, peanut butter, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar and ginger in processor; blend until smooth.

Pour dressing over salad and mix with hands to blend well. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Line large platter with Napa cabbage leaves. Mound salad over and serve.

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Tags: Chinese Noodle and Chicken or Turkey Salad, cilantro, feeding a crowd, green onions peanut butter, jalapeno chilies, Pasta, potluck, rice vinegar, sesame oil, snow peas, soy sauce

This green bean dish is a far cry from the traditional green bean casserole that we all grew up with. Here, the green beans are crisp tender and topped with a sauteed mushroom and caramelized onion mixture. The combination is excellent and makes a perfect holiday side dish.

If you don’t like mushrooms then skip ‘em and double up on the caramelized onions. The dish will still be great! The caramelized onion and mushroom topping can be made a day ahead of serving…always a bonus for the busy holiday cook! Enjoy!

Green Beans with Caramelized Red Onion and Mushroom Topping
-recipe from Seriously Simple Holidays by Diane Rossen Worthington

Green beans seem to be a family favorite. I like to serve this simple yet flavorful side dish instead of the creamy green bean classic. It is perfect for Thanksgiving dinner since it can be doubled easily and transports well. Advance preparation: Make 1 day ahead through step 1, cover, and refrigerate. Reheat the topping in a skillet before serving. Serves 8 to 10.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 red onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 pounds tender green beans, ends removed

In a medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat. Saute the mushrooms for 3 to 4 minutes, or until they change color and soften. Remove to a bowl.

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter. Saute the onion for 7 to 10 minutes, or until it is soft and begins to caramelize. Add the vinegar and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add the mushrooms, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat.

Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Salt the water, immerse the beans in the boiling water, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, or until tender but slightly resistant. Drain and place in a serving dish. Toss with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle evenly with the topping and serve immediately.

Tags: caramelized onions, Christmas, green beans, holidays, mushrooms, parsley, red onions, Side Dish, Thanksgiving

I’m all about using up leftovers and finding creative uses for them. Potato Pancakes (or patties) are a great way to use up mashed potatoes. Even my Picky Eater liked these because he thought they tasted like french fries: crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside.

I used 1 large green onion (sliced) instead of the grated onion and 1 to 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley instead of the dried marjoram.

It took a few tries until I got the consistency and size of the pancakes perfect. I had the best luck with using a rounded soup spoon-full of potato mixture (about 2 tablespoons). Also, my mashed potatoes were very creamy so I had to add a few more tablespoons of flour to get a stiff enough texture…the first few were too mushy. Garnish each serving with a dollop of sour cream and you’re in business!

Mashed-Potato Pancakes
-recipe from Gourmet Magazine

Yield: Serves 6 to 8

2 cups mashed potatoes
1 large egg, beaten lightly
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoons grated onion
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram, crumbled
1/3 cup chopped turkey liver if desired (I didn’t use)
vegetable oil for frying the pancakes

In a bowl combine well the potatoes and the egg, stir in the flour thoroughly, and stir in the onion, the marjoram, the liver, and salt and pepper to taste. In a large heavy skillet heat 1/8 inch of the oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking and in it fry heaping tablespoons of the potato mixture, flattening them slightly with the back of the spoon, for 1 minute on each side, or until they are golden brown. Transfer the pancakes as they are cooked to paper towels to drain and if desired keep them warm on a rack set on a baking sheet in a preheated 250°F. Serve the pancakes as an accompaniment to meat, poultry, or eggs.

Tags: egg, flour, leftovers, mashed potatoes, onion, potato pancakes, Thanksgiving leftovers

I love roasted veggies! It’s amazing what a little time in a hot oven will do to humble root vegetables! Roasted veggies can be prepared a day ahead of time and reheated before serving, making them a perfect side dish for the holidays!

The recipe calls for cutting the carrots and parsnips into 3″x1/2″ pieces. I didn’t get out the ruler to measure my veggie chunks but I did try to keep them all about the same size so they’d cook evenly. The cooking time will depend on the size of the vegetable sticks/chunks. Once the roasted veggies are tender, if they need a little extra color, sometimes I turn the oven to broil for a minute or two to get those brown, caramelized spots. If you do this, stay at the oven to watch the veggies or you’ll end up with a burnt mess.

At the store, choose small to medium parsnips that are firm; larger ones can be tough and have a woody core that needs to be removed.

Roasted Carrots and Parsnips with Fresh Herbs
-recipe from The New Thanksgiving Table by Diane Morgan

Here’s one vegetable dish that doesn’t need any last minute attention from the busy Thanksgiving cook—and I’m thankful for that. These orange and ivory root vegetables, flecked with fresh herbs, complement turkey and are a colorful addition to the holiday table. Parsnips are woefully underused; once most people try them, they are surprised by how sweet and pleasantly complex they taste. Look for medium-sized, well-shaped parsnips that are firm. Avoid ones that are limp or spotted. Store them wrapped in paper towels inside a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. They are also terrific combined with potatoes for a pureed winter soup. Serves 8 to 10.

7 medium parsnips (about 2 1/2 pounds), peeled, trimmed, and cut into 3-inch-by-1/2-inch sticks
1 1/2 pounds tender carrots, peeled, trimmed, and cut into 3-inch-by-1/2-inch sticks
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 teaspoons kosher or sea salt

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

In a large roasting pan or 9-by-13-inch baking dish, toss the parsnips and carrots with the olive oil, dill, parsley, pepper, and salt. Roast, stirring once or twice, for about 45 minutes until the vegetables are tender when pierced with a knife and lightly caramelized in spots. Serve immediately, or cover and keep warm for up to 1 hour before serving.

Do Ahead: The roasted vegetables can be made up to 1 day in advance. Refrigerate, covered, and bring to room temperature 2 hours before reheating.

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Tags: carrots, Christmas, fresh dill, fresh parsley, holiday, olive oil, parsnips, roasted, roasting, root vegetable, Side Dish, Thanksgiving

I love broccoli but sometimes I want to serve something a little fancier than the plain ol’ steamed version. This recipe takes only a few minutes to prepare and makes a nice side dish to many other meals. I served it most recently with Really Good Lasagna.

This recipe is good as is but sometimes I add in a pinch or two of crushed red chili pepper flakes for a little kick. To keep the broccoli bright green, serve it right after cooking. Enjoy!

Broccoli with Caramelized Onions and Pine Nuts
Recipe courtesy EatingWell.com

Broccoli’s impressive nutritional profile (think folate, vitamins C and A, fiber, phytochemicals) puts it high on the list of foods to eat more of, an inviting task when you toss it with crunchy pine nuts, soft, sweet onions and tangy balsamic vinegar.

 Serves: 4 servings, 3/4 cup each.

3 tablespoons pine nuts or chopped slivered almonds
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup chopped onion (about 1 medium)
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
4 cups broccoli florets
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Toast pine nuts (or almonds) in a medium dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until lightly browned and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl to cool.

Add oil to the pan and heat over medium heat. Add onion and salt; cook, stirring occasionally, adjusting heat as necessary, until soft and golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, steam broccoli until just tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the nuts, onion, vinegar and pepper; toss to coat. Serve immediately.

Tags: balsamic vinegar, broccoli, caramelized onions, pine nuts, Side Dish, Vegetable

If you like mushrooms, you’re going to LOVE this risotto! Like all risotto recipes, it does take some effort but, boy, is it worth it: it’s hearty, earthy and delicious!

I basically followed the recipe with a few minor substitutions. I used turkey Italian sausage and substituted Marsala wine for the Madeira. For the mushrooms, I used 6 oz. portobello, 8 oz. crimini and 4 oz. shiitake…a total of 18 ounces. I sauteed the onion and garlic in 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) of butter instead of a whole stick. If you can’t find Asiago cheese, just use Parmesan. A drizzle of truffle oil would put this risotto over the top!

Italian Sausage and Wild Mushroom Risotto
-recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine from Tuscany, Salt Lake City, UT

At the restaurant, this dish is served as a starter. It would also make a great main course for four. Makes 8 first-course servings.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound Italian sweet sausage, casings removed, crumbled into 1/2-inch pieces
8 ounces portobello mushrooms, stemmed, dark gills scraped out, caps diced
10 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, diced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
1 1/2 cups Madeira (I used Marsala)

6 cups chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter (I used 1/2 stick, or 4 tablespoons)
1 large onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups arborio rice or other medium-grain rice (about 13 ounces)
1 cup freshly grated Asiago cheese

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and sauté until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add all mushrooms, thyme, and oregano and sauté until mushrooms are tender, about 10 minutes. Add 1/2 cup Madeira; boil until almost absorbed, about 1 minute. Set aside.

Bring stock to simmer in large saucepan; remove from heat and cover to keep hot. Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add rice; stir 2 minutes. Add remaining 1 cup Madeira; simmer until absorbed, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup hot stock; simmer until almost absorbed, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Continue to cook until rice is just tender and mixture is creamy, adding more stock by cupfuls, stirring often and allowing most stock to be absorbed before adding more, about 25 minutes. Stir in sausage mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to serving bowl. Pass cheese separately.

Tags: arborio, Asiago cheese, chicken broth, Italian, italian sausage, Madeira, Main Dish, Marsala, onion, oregano, portobello mushrooms, rice, risotto, shiitake mushrooms, Side Dish, thyme, wild mushrooms

If you’re looking for a way to use up some of that summer zucchini, try this recipe for Zucchini Caponata. The combo of zucchini, tomatoes and olives makes a great topping for grilled bread or a quick, fresh sauce for cooked pasta. I bet it would also be really good as a topping for grilled chicken or pork.

The recipe calls for adding 2 teaspoons of sugar to the cooked zucchini mixture but next time I’d only use one teaspoon. For a little oomph, I added a few dashes of crushed red pepper and a splash of red wine vinegar. A garnish of freshly grated Parmesan cheese or crumbled feta or goat cheese would also be a great addition to the caponata. Enjoy!

Zucchini Caponata
-recipe from kingarthurflour.com

You can also add diced grilled slices of eggplant for an extra-smoky twist. Makes about 3 cups.

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups chopped zucchini
1 cup chopped onion
2 large garlic cloves, peeled and chopped or minced
1 1/2 cups chopped tomato
2 to 3 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 cup halved grape or cherry tomatoes
1 to 2 tablespoons drained capers
1/4 cup pitted halved black olives, preferably oil-cured
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, parsley, or oregano (optional)

Heat the oil, and fry the zucchini, onion, garlic, and tomatoes for 30 minutes, covered.

Remove the cover, and cook an additional 10 to 15 minutes to evaporate any extra liquid.

Add the sugar, salt, and pepper; stir and remove from heat. When lukewarm, stir in the cherry tomatoes, capers, and olives. Store covered and refrigerated until ready to use.

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Tags: basil, black olives, capers, caponata, garlic, onions, parsley, tomatoes, zucchini

This simple yet tasty recipe is a great way to dress up humble green beans. And, it’s perfect for summer entertaining because the recipe can easily be doubled and made ahead of time.

The original recipe calls for cooking the green beans in boiling water for 8-10 minutes but I think that is WAY too long so I changed the cooking time to 4-5 minutes*. Have a bowl of ice water ready to put the cooked and drained beans into (this stops the cooking process). For the dressing, I use regular soy sauce and reduce the salt a bit. Make sure to toss the green beans a few times in the dressing so they’re evenly coated. Enjoy!

Sesame Green Bean Salad
-recipe from Taste of Home Magazine

Makes 5 Servings.

1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons canola oil
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sesame seeds, toasted

Place beans in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Cook, uncovered, for 4-5 minutes* or until crisp-tender. Drain and rinse in cold water; pat dry. Place in a serving bowl.

In a small bowl, whisk the soy sauce, canola oil, sugar, vinegar, sesame oil and salt. Pour over beans and toss to coat. Sprinkle with sesame seeds; toss again. Serve at room temperature. Yield: 5 servings.

Tags: canola oil, cider vinegar, green beans, sesame oil, sesame seeds, soy sauce, sugar