It was a year ago this month that a conference for work landed me at a swanky hotel on the posh DC waterfront. The area was littered with charming eateries but I was craving sandwiches. Luckily, there was a specialty sandwich shop right around the corner with an excellent seasonal selection. The selection I went…
Twofer: Roasted Carrot and Red Lentil Ragout becomes Spiced Coconut Carrot Soup
Behold! A new category that I hope becomes a regular feature on this blog: “The Twofer.” Cook one delicious meal and reshape the leftovers into a substantially different, equally delicious meal. This inaugural entry starts with the New York Times’s delicious Roasted Carrot and Red Lentil Ragout tweaked to make it just a little faster to…
Vegetable Ratatouille
Colorful vegetables and fresh herbs cooked together to create a savory mix that is light and healthy but incredibly satisfying. Served with a side of crusty bread and a dollop of goat cheese, this may be my all-time favorite dish. The recipe below represents my favorite combination of vegetables but there are so many varieties…
Moroccan Red Lentil and Chickpea Stew
This colorful stew is rich with Moroccan flavors. The sweet apricot, creamy garbanzo and complex spices are all reminiscent of my favorite Moroccan chicken tagine but this vegan version is updated for a simplified, weekend-friendly preparation. The spice mix is key. Ras el Hanout is a traditional Moroccan spice blend which loosely translates to “top…
Roasted Butternut Squash and Burrata Salad
Fall is coming. Here in LA it may be in the triple digits but it’s dark when I go to work and the stores are stocked with pumpkin everything, so it’s clear that autumn is approaching. I love fall flavors but when it’s 102 outside it’s hard to get excited about anything heavy or labor…
Warm Lentil Salad with Burrata and Basil Vinaigrette
Creamy buratta and a fragrant basil vinaigrette melted into a fresh zucchini and lentil salad is the perfect dish to transition into fall. I first came across this dish in the kitchen of a friend. Brad and I had dropped by to spend a few hours with them over a bottle of wine. She started…
Lemony Orzo with Roasted Broccoli
Brad’s second most frequently requested dish is roasted broccoli. (Jones Home trivia: his most requested is tacos.) This recipe takes that often unappreciated side dish and makes it the star of the show. Tossing the broccoli with orzo and zesty lemon juice makes it into a light, summary meal or hearty side. Our love affair…
Crispy Tacos de Papa with Roasted Poblanos
Crunchy tacos are stuffed with creamy, cumin-scented potatoes and fiery hint of roasted poblanos in this addictively delicious dish. Traditionally vegetarian and gluten-free, these hearty tacos are built to please everyone. This is a price performer that is an excellent choice when you’re cooking for a crowd. The recipe below easily makes 40-50 tacos depending…
Thai Green Curry with Potatoes and Green Beans
Hearty potatoes and tender-crisp green beans in a fragrant, creamy Thai curry… this simple dish is so tasty you won’t believe it takes less than half an hour from pantry to table – or that it’s vegan and gluten free. Tasty it is. Authentic it is not. I know that. Please don’t yell at me…
Blueberry, Kale and Quinoa Salad
This has been our salad of the summer: simple and fresh but perfectly satisfying. Torn kale gets massaged with olive oil and lemon juice, tossed with sweet blueberries, hearty quinoa, sliced almonds and crumbled feta. I’ll sometimes use Trader Joe’s honey-roasted sliced almonds for an extra bit of sweetness. If you haven’t fallen in love…
