Never stop learning

Romanesco

I thought I got Madonna’s bra in my farm box. Turns out it’s called romanesco.

You can support the ASPCA by buying Walker’s Shortbread

California likes a little booze in their treats: Not sure about the beer infused ones, but the wine infused chocolates sound nummy.

Canada gets ketchup flavored Popchips and Nashville gets a donut food truck.

Why didn’t I think of this? Save time preheating your oven by turning on the broiler first. Men’s Health has this and 20 other handy kitchen tips.

Yikes! Yoplait has twice as much sugar per serving as Lucky Charms. The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food (New York Times Mag.)

Roasted Cauliflower with Curry and Lemon

Roasted Cauliflower

Hubby’s groan was intentionally loud when he saw me unpack the beige blob of cauliflower. He’s not a fan. I think of cauliflower as a vehicle for other flavors and I I remembered a recipe that fit his palate – tangy and spicy (but not hot).

Based on a roasted cauliflower salad that Chef Susan makes at work.

Preheat oven to 450F
Spray a jelly roll pan with olive oil spray

2 lbs cauliflower florets
1 lb small fingerling potatoes
1 tsp salt (divided)
1 Tbs chopped garlic
1 tsp sweet paperika
1 tsp sweet curry powder
freshly ground black pepper (about 4 cranks of the grinder)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

Place cauliflower florets into a large bowl. Cut potatoes into chunks no bigger than the larger florets. Add 1/2 tsp salt, garlic, paprika, and curry then stir. Pour in the olive oil, toss, then spread on the jelly roll pan sprayed with olive oil spray. Roast for 20 minutes at 450F, then furn with a spatula. Return pan to oven and roast for 10 more minutes. Cauliflower and potatoes will begin to brown and soften. Cool to room temperature.

While the vegetables are cooling whisk lemon juice with 1/2 tsp salt until salt dissolves (I just put it in a glass jar and shake it).

When ready to serve toss cauliflower and potatoes in a bowl with the lemon juice.

Roasted cauliflower and potato salad

Enjoy! Hubby sure did!

Speedy Southwestern Salad – Easy picnic salad recipe

SpeedySouthwestSalad

The credit for this “recipe” goes to @snbLeslie who brought a version of it as a dip to one of our knitting weekends.

3 ingredients for the salad

The hero of the 3 ingredients is the TJs Corn and Chile salsa which adds the spice and lovely southwestern flavor.

Easy avacado cubes

If you keep a can of black beans on hand and this salsa you can squee a little bit like I did when I got avocados in my CSA.

Beans, Avacado, corn salsa

After cubing the avocado, rinse and drain a can of black beans, and add the salsa.

Salad mix

And you’re done. Serve it in a bowl as a dip with tortilla chips.

salad bites

Or schmancy it up a bit and assemble a plate to pass it in little tortilla “cups”.

Salad toppings - Southwestern

I kept the mix in the fridge during the week and just tossed it with a bowl of greens for a quick “Big Salad” meal.

As a vegan dish you can’t go wrong bringing it along on a picnic or to a pot luck.

Looking for another picnic salad? Try the 4-ingredient “Perfect picnic potluck salad recipe