Recipe Reviewed: Bacon Broccoli Rice Bowl

A favorite special occasion recipe in our house is Bibimpop – a Korean dish.  We love this Cooking Light version.  The Bacon Broccoli Rice Bowl can become the quick, easy version. The kids loved it because bacon, rice, stir fried broccoli, and fried eggs are some of their favorites.   I read a couple of reviews of this recipe.  Two valuable suggestions – add avocado as one of the toppings and substitute tofu for bacon to make it vegetarian.
 
Bacon Broccoli Rice Bowl is a keeper!

Week Sixteen of 2013

We got...

Arugula, Broccoli, Carmen Peppers, Garlic, Leeks, Plum Tomatoes, Potatoes, Salad Mix, Tomatoes (Slicing), Tomatoes (small)
 
Fruit: Pears
 
My ideas....
 
Arugula and Carmen Peppers – The peppers will need roasted, but this Chickpea, RedPepper, Arugula salad looks tasty.
 
Broccoli – This Broccoli Cheese Soup looks so easy I might even make it for lunch one day.
 
Garlic, Potatoes, Salad Mix – This fairly quick recipe for Garlic Chicken and Potatoes and a Salad and you’ve got dinner.
 
Leeks – I told MyRecipes.com that I had Leeks and Peppers in my pantry and it told me about this Pasta with Leek, Pepper,and Chive Sauce.  It’s on this week’s menu.
 
Tomatoes – How about Chicken Parmesan?  This Chicken Parmesan with Oven Roasted Tomato Sauce uses Grape Tomatoes and GrilledChicken Parmesan calls for Plum Tomatoes.

Recipe Reviewed: Ricotta Pizza with Fresh and Roasted Tomatoes

Ever so rarely the tomatoes come in such abundance that they just don’t get used up by the next CSA pick up.  I couldn’t believe we hadn’t even touched the Ping Pong tomatoes we got Week Fourteen.  That was okay with me because I have wanted to try Cooking Light’s Aromatic Slow Roasted Tomatoes for years and in the October 2013 issue they have updated the recipe as SlowRoasted Grape Tomatoes.  The updated version is quicker.  I roasted myself some Ping Pong Tomatoes.
 
Then I didn’t know what to do with them.  That’s when I found the recipe for Ricotta Pizza with Fresh and Roasted Tomatoes.  YUM!
 
Other uses for Roasted Tomato:
 
Crostini with Ricotta and Roasted Tomato
Mix with Olive Oil and Serve with Crusty Bread
Pasta and Roasted Tomatoes
Add to Salad or Scrambled Eggs

Links:
Aromatic Slow Roasted Tomatoes
Slow Roasted Grape Tomatoes
Ricotta Pizza with Fresh and Roasted Tomatoes

Recipe Reviewed: Sausages with Squash and Onions

So Simple!  My husband ate separately from us last night.  He came to find me to tell me how delicious this dish was.  You can’t beat a delicious and simple meal for a busy weeknight.
 

Wednesday Menu – Sausages with Acorn Squash and Onions, Orzo Pilaf
Farm Share Food – Delicata Squash, Sweet Dumpling Squash
 
Sausages with Squash and Onions
 
The original recipe uses Acorn Squash.  I used both Delicata Squash and both Sweet Dumpling Squash from the CSA share to make this dish.  They were all small and I appreciate leftovers for lunch the next day.  You can eat the skins of these small squash.  If roasted well, the skins just melt in your mouth.
 
I used chicken sausage.  The links were already cooked.  I added them to the tray after the squash had been cooking for 9-10 minutes at 475 degrees.
 

I used Parmesan cheese, dried Sage and Craisins instead of Asiago cheese and dried cherries.  If using dried Sage I would use ½ T. 

Week Fifteen of 2013

We got...

Bell Peppers, Broccoli, Broccoli Rabe, Carmen Peppers, Cauliflower, Garlic, Green Beans, Leeks, Salad Mix, Tomatoes (Slicing), Tomatoes (Small)

Fruit: Plums
 
My ideas....
 
Peppers (Bell and Carmen) – School has started and evenings are busy, this Slow Simmered Seafood Stew made in the crock pot will make sure dinner is ready for us when we get home from practice. 
 
Broccoli and Cauliflower – I’ve been waiting for years to get Broccoli and Cauliflower the same week to suggest this party pleasing salad that I’ve made many times, Parmesan Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad.
 
Broccoli Rabe and Garlic – Broccoli Rabe with Garlic and Golden Raisins would make a great side dish.  Follow the link for the recipe and find 3 additional variations on this recipe. 
 
Green Beans and Small Tomatoes – Greek Green Beans will be a great way to pair up Green Beans and the Small Tomatoes in this flavorful dish.
 
Leeks – This Sweet Leek Ricotta and Tomato Lasagne is so versatile.  You can make it in individual ramekins or in one large dish.  You can also freeze the individual or large group portions for later.
 
Slicing Tomatoes and Salad Mix– I’m serving these Crispy Grilled Chicken Thighs that include grilled Tomatoes in the recipe with a Salad and Crusty Bread.

Reader Suggested Recipe: Peach Crisp with Maple Cream Sauce

Peach Crisp with Maple Cream Sauce
 
A friend of mine suggested this peach crisp several weeks ago.  I promised to try it if I got peaches one more time in the CSA share.  As luck would have it we got some last week and I was hosting a meeting at my house Monday night.  Snacks should be served at this meeting and I knew this crisp would be perfect.
 
There are few items in the CSA share sacred to my husband – Corn on the Cob, Slicing Tomatoes, and Peaches.  With these items I am to do the bare minimum and let him enjoy them.  This makes up for the items that are not his favorites – bitter greens.  So last week’s peaches were maybe not well advertised.  Come Saturday he finds them and says “You didn’t tell me we got peaches!” and proclaims them delicious.  Shoot!  I still had enough on Monday to make the crisp.  He comes home from work, searches out a peach and says “Are the peaches in the oven?”  I had to admit that they were.  So, no more peaches for him, but all the ladies at my meeting proclaimed the crisp well worth it.

Arugula Salad with Mock Caesar Vinaigrette

I saw an idea for a Caesar Arugula Salad.  I was intrigued and always on the look for something to do with Arugula – one of the tougher greens to sell at our dinner table due to the bitterness.  While we love Caesar Salad, I don’t love buying anchovy fillets or a tube of anchovy paste because I just don’t use enough to make it worth it.  I combined two Caesar Salad recipes to come up with this Mock Caesar Vinaigrette.

 
Sunday Menu – Parmesan Crusted Grilled Cheese, Arugula Salad with Mock Caesar Vinaigrette, Corn on the Cob
Farm Share Food – Arugula, Garlic, Corn

 

Arugula Salad with Mock Caesar Vinaigrette
 
printable version

2 T plus 2 t olive oil, divided
¾ t favorite spice blend (Old Bay, Cajun Season)
2 clove garlic minced, divided
2 cups bread cubes (from leftover crusty bread)
2 t Dijon mustard
2 t Worcestershire sauce
½ t lemon zest
1 t lemon juice
1/8 t ground black pepper
4 cup Arugula
2 T parmesan cheese
 
Combine 2 t of olive oil with spice blend and half of the minced garlic.  Microwave for 20 seconds.  Add bread cubes and toss to coat.  Spread bread cubes on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes until golden.
 
In small bowl combine the other half of the garlic, Dijon, Worcestershire, lemon zest and juice, and black pepper.  Add 2 T of olive oil slowly to create vinaigrette.
 
Toss Arugula, bread cubes, vinaigrette, and parmesan cheese to create salad.
 
This recipe was created by combining the recipes Creamy Caesar Salad with Spicy Croutons and Arugula Salad with Caesar Vinaigrette.
 
NOTE: The Parmesan Crusted Grilled Cheese sandwiches also use Arugula.  Follow the link above in the menu for the recipe.