August and September in the Southern Mediterranean has been hot and dry. It has been perfect for hanging at the beach and exploring small towns, but eye-opening to see the strains of this climate on growing conditions. Of course everyone knows that plants don't grow well without enough water, but I've never actually spent time investigating local … [Read more...]
Black Bean Enchiladas
In honor of Father's Day, I'm sharing one of my Dad's favorite dishes -- enchiladas! My Dad is a great cook and has a number of signature dishes. Enchiladas were one of his specialities when I was growing up and will forever remind me of him when I make them. I love Mexican inspired cooking because of the range of flavors and the many options … [Read more...]
Curried Chickpeas with Feta Cheese
We are loving Portugal. It is filled with nice people, beautiful landscapes, and delicious food. The food is fresh, flavorful, and healthful (just like my Portuguese Fish Stew). We took a break from our Portuguese food adventures the other night to make dinner in our apartment. There are only so many meals I can eat out before I'm ready for … [Read more...]
French Lentils with Chanterelles
We moved into our Paris apartment on Tuesday and celebrated by cooking our first french meal. We spent a lovely afternoon walking through the markets on Rue Mouffetard and stocked our kitchen. This meal really felt like "One Beet goes to Paris" -- lots of french ingredients, but definitely my cooking style and focus on healthy, delicious, simple … [Read more...]
Sweet and Spicy Carrot and Squash Tagine
There are so many things I like about this dish -- warming spices in mid-winter, anti-inflammatory ingredients, an excuse to use lots of parsley, and getting to say the fabulous word tagine! I've made this a few times this fall and winter and it gets better each time. Sweet and Spicy Carrot and Squash Tagine Ingredients (serves 4): 1 yellow … [Read more...]
Curried Red Lentils
These lentils are a winter staple in my house. They are cozy and warm, easy to make, and very healthy. They definitely have an Indian twist, but seem to be appealing to a range of palates. Begin by rough-chopping a white onion and sauteing it with 1 teaspoon of curry powder and 1/2 teaspoon of tumeric (there are rough guesses on the spice … [Read more...]
Lentils with Spicy Brassicas
Lentils are staple in my diet. I love them for their versatility, high protein content, and cooking speed. I typically use green french lentils (which I used in this recipe), small black lentils, or small orange lentils. Green and black lentils hold their shape when cooked, so they are better for pilaf-type dishes, while orange lentils tend to … [Read more...]