50 Women Game Changers in Food - Sheila Lukins & Julee Rosso - Pasta Puttanesca

Puttanesca Sauce Served On Whole Grain Spelt Pasta

This is our first full week back at school, having been delayed a week due to Hurricane Irene passing through. It's been quite an adjustment so far as my oldest son is off to college this fall, and he was a huge help driving one of my other sons home everyday from school last year. I used to have dinner ready the minute they walked in the door. Now, every day, I am picking my son up right around dinner time (with over an hour commute) and often shuttling him or his other two brothers around in between, so getting dinner on the table has become a lot trickier. There are days when I start driving at 2PM and don't get settled at home until near 10PM (as I'm sure many of you are as well!). So, quick and easy dinners are essential for those busy nights.

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50 Women Game-Changers In Food - Rachel Ray - Tuna Marinara with Pasta

Tuna Marinara Sauce with Gluten-Free Pasta

Love her or hate her, Rachel Ray has skyrocketed from a no name to a well known brand name across all channels of media over the last decade.  According to Rachel Ray, she grew up on food, with her first vivid memory watching her mom in a restaurant kitchen. Not only has Rachel Ray hosted three Food Network series, but she has also syndicated her own talk and lifestyle show, Rachel Ray, authored 19 cookbooks, is the Founder and Editorial Director of her own lifestyle magazine, and founded the Yum-o! organization (a nonprofit organization to "empower kids and their families to develop healthy relationships with food and cooking." Her Rachel Ray television show has won two Daytime Emmy Awards.

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College Bound and An Easy Tomato Paste Pasta Sauce Recipe

"Tomato Paste Pasta"

This past weekend we dropped our oldest son off at college where he will be a freshman. I never thought it would be as hard as it was. A few days before we left, a friend called and asked if I was sad, and I replied, "not really." Well, I was dead wrong. I think between the jet-lag from our recent vacation, unpacking everything from that trip, and then packing up my son for college, I just didn't have time to really think about what was to come. 

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CSA Box #9: Pasta with Caramelized Onions, Wax Beans, Fresh Corn, Tomatoes and Jalapeno

Pasta with Caramelized Onions, Wax Beans, Fresh Corn, Tomatoes and Jalapeno

Each week, my CSA Box has been getting heavier and heavier, which is a good thing. I remember the very first box which was unexpectedly light. After a slow start, my CSA Box has been getting fuller by the week.

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50 Women Game-Changers in Food - Judith Jones - Penne with Tuna, Plum Tomatoes, and Black Olives

Gluten-Free Pasta with Tuna, Plum Tomatoes, and Black Olives

I don’t know about you, but it feels as if summer is flying by. When my kids were young and I had three toddlers under the age of 3, I thought I was busy, but looking back at the days when my little ones were happy just splashing in the little blow-up pool in the backyard, or jumping in the sprinkler on a hot day, I realize how much I miss those precious years where we just hung out in our backyard.

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CSA Box #6: Cold Kim Chi Cucumber Soba Noodle Salad Recipe

Cold Kim Chi Cucumber Soba Noodle Salad

With the weather so hot lately, I've been craving Asian cold noodles. Two of my favorite cold noodle dishes are Kim Chi Cucumber Soba Noodle Salad and Cold Sesame Noodles. Recently, I made homemade Kim Chi with Napa Cabbage from my CSA Box, and still had some left. I also got lots of farm fresh cucumbers in my most recent CSA Box -- perfect for making some Kim Chi Cucumber Soba Noodle Salad.

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CSA Box #5: Gluten-Free Pasta with Roasted Beets, Beet Greens and Pine Nuts

Gluten-Free Pasta with Roasted Beets, Beet Greens and Pine Nuts

This week's CSA Box #5 featured Bunched Beets with Greens, Broccoli Raab, Cucumbers, Lacinato Kale, White Salad Turnips (which look like white radishes), Purplette Onions, Romaine Lettuce, Broccoli, Baby Arugula, Summer Squash and Zucchini.

I was out of town this past week at my son's baseball tournament in Florida. We had a blast between watching all the ball games and riding the roller coasters at the amusement parks. Our team won Bronze - congratulations CT Fury!! 

Since we were away, I missed the CSA Box pick-up day, so by the time I retrieved my CSA Box, a few of the leaves on the Beet Greens and Broccoli Raab had turned a bit yellow and wilted. The broccoli looked a bit yellow too, but it was still firm. Overall, the vegetables were still very fresh and intact.

Cucumbers, Broccoli, White Salad Turnips, Beets, Purplette Onions, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Broccoli Rabe, Baby Arugula, Lacinato Kale and Romaine Lettuce were in my CSA Box this week.

According to the weekly CSA newsletter, "the biggest chunk of the farm is planted, and while trying to keep that weeded and watered, we have been trying to get the fall crops of cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and beets in the ground. The weather has been for the most part quite pleasant, and crops continue to grow nicely, but about 10 days behind last year's pace."

After a week away without farm fresh vegetables, I was anxious to dig right into the CSA Box (my kids actually acknowledged they were tired of the amusement park food, and needed to eat some fruits and vegetables after they got home, which I was more than happy to oblige!). I washed and cleaned all the vegetables, and stored them in my refrigerator. That way, I could quickly throw together a dish using these gorgeous fresh vegetables over the next several days.

So what did I make with all the fresh vegetables from my CSA Box this week? I made an Arugula, Peach and Nasturtiums Salad with Toasted Almonds and Orange Vinaigrette, Roasted Broccoli with Garlic Scape Pesto, Simple Sauteed Kale, Korean Lettuce Wraps, Summer Squash Banchan, and Korean Spicy Cucumber Salad. In addition, I also threw together a quick no-cook pasta sauce, made with Swiss Chard Garlic Scape Pesto, fresh tomatoes, fresh minced garlic, kalamata olives, extra virgin olive oil, arugula, and fresh ground pepper. Tossed with hot gluten-free pasta and a bit of pasta cooking liquid, this pasta dish was absolutely scrumptious!

Arugula, Peach and Nasturtiums Salad with Toasted Almonds and Orange Vinaigrette

Gluten-Free Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes, Kalamata Olives, Garlic, Swiss Chard Garlic Scape Pesto, and Arugula

A new dish I tried was Gluten-Free Pasta with Roasted Beets, Beet Greens and Pine Nuts as I wanted to be able to use the entire beet, including the greens before they went bad. 

Fresh Beets and Beet Greens Are Both Used In This Pasta Dish.

I found a lovely Bon Appetit recipe for Farfalle with Golden Beets, Beet Greens and Pine Nuts that sounded perfect. Although my beets were red, I didn't mind a bit of red staining on the pasta (I actually think it makes the pasta quite pretty). I also decided to roast the beets instead of just boiling them, to add deeper flavor and bring out the sweetness in these beets. For the gluten-free pasta, I chose Le Veneziane Farfalle, which is made in Italy. I recently discovered this gluten-free pasta (made with corn), and the quality is exceptional. Unlike brown rice pasta, Le Veneziane pastas are not gummy and I could not tell they were gluten-free.
My little guy and I enjoyed this Pasta with Roasted Beets, Beet Greens and Pine Nuts for lunch - a nice balance of flavors and textures. I got a big "thumbs up" from my little guy, the ultimate reward!

How To Roast Beets:

Roasted Red Beets from my CSA Box

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch of beets with greens
• water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Cut greens off of beets and reserve for later. Wash and trim beets, leaving a bit of the ends attached.
3. Place beets in a shallow pie pan with 1/4" inch of water.
4. Cover pan with aluminum foil.
5. Bake 40-60 minutes, until a knife pieces the beets easily. Roasting time depends on the size of the beets. I had small and medium size beets, and ended up baking them for 60 minutes.
6. Remove beets from oven and let cool.
7. Skin will peel off beets easily, either using a paring knife to gently scrape the skin off, or using your fingers.

Gluten-Free Pasta with Roasted Beets, Beet Greens and Pine Nuts

Adapted from Bon Appetit. I used red beets instead of yellow in the original recipe, and decided to roast them for a deeper, sweeter flavor profile. The caramelized onions are a must (although I adjusted the cooking time as it was too long in the original recipe). I also added a splash of raspberry balsamic vinegar to add a little bit of tang. A sprinkle of nutritional yeast on top (vegan version) or goat cheese would be nice. 

Gluten-Free Pasta with Roasted Beets, Beet Greens, Pine Nuts and Goat Cheese (for vegan version, use Nutritional Yeast)

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 bunch beets with greens
• 1 tablespoon raspberry balsamic vinegar
• 8 ounces gluten-free pasta (I used Le Veneziane farfalle or bow-tie pasta)
• nutritional yeast or goat cheese, optional
• salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
• fresh chives, for garnish

Directions:

1. Roast beets as directed above, reserving beet greens. Cut roasted beets into wedges.
2. Wash beet greens well, and cut into 1 inch pieces.
3. Cook pasta until al dente, according to directions. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid.
4. Heat olive oil in a skillet. Add onions and saute on low to medium-low until soft and golden brown, about 18-20 minutes. 
5. Add garlic and and stir 2 more minutes. 
6. Stir in beet greens along with raspberry balsamic vinegar. Cook for 2-3 minutes until tender. 
7. Toss cooked pasta with onion/beet greens, and roasted beets. Add pasta cooking liquid to moisten if desired. 
8. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper.
9. Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts.
10. Serve with nutritional yeast or goat cheese, if desired.

Serves 3-4

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50 Women Game Changers in Food -#4 Martha Stewart's Cold Sesame Noodles

Cold Sesame Noodles

Now that it is getting so hot outside, I have been craving cold Asian noodles. There's something refreshing about eating cold Asian noodles in the summertime - light on the dressing, tossed with fresh vegetables. One of my favorite cold Asian noodle salads is a Cold Sesame Noodle recipe from an old Martha Stewart cookbook I've been making for years. Perfect for a summer barbeque or a picnic for the upcoming 4th of July weekend, this Cold Sesame Noodle salad can be prepared ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator overnight.

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CSA Box #3: Basil Garlic Scape Pesto and Broccoli with Toasted Garlic Olive Oil

Whole Grain Pasta with Basil Garlic Scape Pesto

This week, when I picked up CSA Box #3, I noticed the box was considerably fuller than the first two boxes. It's always a fun surprise each week to see what's inside.

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Easy Homemade Pasta Sauce - Pasta Al Pomodoro

Pasta Al Pomodoro

Now that my boys are done with school, there will be days when I will be making an extra meal, namely lunch. Although it might be easier just to make a sandwich, pasta with a simple spaghetti sauce takes just a little bit more effort, and can turn lunch into a special meal.

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Easy Honey Miso Glazed Salmon and Soba Noodle Soup

Easy Honey Miso Glazed Salmon and Soba Noodle Soup

Today was a strange day for me. After several weeks with a house full of family members and all the hustle and bustle, I was at home alone today for the first time in eight years.

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Comfort Food From My Childhood - Chinese Noodle Soup with Egg and Vegetables {Da Lu Mein}

Chinese Noodles with Egg and Vegetables ("Da Lu Mein")

One of the simplest and fondest memories of a quick meal from my childhood was my dad's Da Lu Mein, or Chinese Noodle Soup with Egg and Vegetables. So simple, yet so comforting.

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A Quick and Easy Soup {Miso Soup With Soba Noodles or Mung Bean Noodles}

Miso Soup with Green Tea Soba Noodles, Fresh Shitake Mushrooms and Spinach

Today was another frigid winter day and I was craving a hot bowl of noodle soup.  With such a harsh winter this year, the thought of a hot bowl of noodle soup was so comforting.

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Vietnamese Vegetarian Pho

Vietnamese Vegetarian Pho

I was first introduced to Vietnamese Pho, a popular Vietnamese dish, six years ago, when I met a Vietnamese woman, Thuy, at the local Asian grocery store.  She had an amazing story of how she came to the United States, having fled the war-torn city of Saigon, Vietnam, as a young girl.

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Cold Soba Noodles

There's nothing better than cold soba noodles in 90 degree weather!  Soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour, a whole grain, naturally high in fiber and protein.

Here's one of my favorite Korean recipes for soba noodles.  It's soba noodles, topped with cold cucumber salad and kimchi.

I serve it with a couple of Banchan (I'll be talking about this in my next post), the little side dishes integral to an authentic Korean meal.

Korean Spicy Soba Noodles

(adapted from Dok Suni, Recipes From My Mother's Korean Kitchen by Jenny Kwak)


1 English seedless cucumber, julienned
1 cup kimchi, chopped
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon organic sugar
3 bunches dried soba noodles (they come tied in bunches), cooked al dente, rinsed in cold water, drained
minced scallions and toasted sesame seeds for garnish

Toss all ingredients together, except soba noodles.  Put cold soba noodles in bowl half filled with ice. Top with cucumber kimchi mixture. Sprinkle with scallions and sesame seeds.

More Cold Noodle Recipes:

Just Hungry's Basic Cold Soba Noodles with Dipping Sauce

thekitchn's Cold Noodles for Hot Days - 10 recipes

Chez Pim's Cold Noodles in Sesame Sauce

Anti-Cancer Ingredients: Soba noodles (buckwheat), Kimchi (contains anti-cancer agent called isothiocyanate)

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