Some Romantic Menu Ideas for Valentine’s

6 Feb

I am in love with the idea of being in love… I admit it. I find so appealing those giddy feelings when you’re getting to know someone, that initial attraction, those butterflies in the stomach when someone we’re getting to know calls or texts us.

I may not be married yet (YET being the operative word here), and even if Valentine’s Day is mostly celebrated by couples, it does not mean you have to I have certainly stay on the sidelines watching couples celebrate their love for each other. I have certainly used it to celebrate the lovely people who share my life day in, day out. Love is love… and it is all important and necessary part of our life and well-being. Sharing our love and being appreciative of the love in our lives will only bring more love into it. Isn’t that what Valentine’s Day is all about.

If you wish to celebrate all the loves in your life, I bring you some ideas for easy menus that will express your love and impress even the most adamant of non-vegetarians. I divided this into 4 sections – Appetizers, Main Courses, Desserts and Drinks. From these ideas you can mix and match whatever you prefer, feel it’s easiest or what will impress who you’re cooking for.

Besides… who wants to fight over a reservation in a restaurant on the busiest restaurant day of the year???

Love, Madelyn.

Salad Collage

Salads

Chopped Avocado Dressing Salad

Watercress Salad with Horseradish Dressing

Spinach Strawberry Salad

Chame’s Spinach, Figs and Blue Cheese Salad

Main Courses Collage

Main Courses

White Truffle Mac and Cheese

Gorgonzola Stuffed Peppers

Cheese and Spinach Stuffed Shells

Smoked Gouda and Spinach Risotto

Arroz Kristina

Dessert Collage

Desserts

Meyer Lemon Granita

Poached Pears with Blue Cheese and Hazelnut Praline

Cranberry Trifles

Mango Ginger Granita

Drinks Collage

Drinks

White Sangría

Passion Fruit Guava Fizzy Drink

Aniette’s Bull

Spearmint Infusion

KarmaFree Cooking Nominated as Best Recipe Blog by The Kitchn

5 Feb

Today was just another ordinary day… but my friend Donna from Cookistry told me I was nominated alongside her in The Kitchn as Best Recipe Blog for 2013.

Kitchn

How do these things come about??? I have no idea… but some people in The Kitchn, a website focusing on good cooking and good eating, believe KarmaFree Cooking is pretty awesome. We agree with them!!!! So if you also think KarmaFree Cooking is pretty awesome too, please take a few minutes of your time and let The Kitchn and the world know it thru your vote for KarmaFree Cooking.

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And this does not end here… we’re also nominated as Best Healthy Cooking Blog too!!! So please vote in both categories and help me spread the word. Please share this with your friends and fan base… We have until February 8 to cast votes so time is of the essence.

Wouldn’t it be cool to have a vegetarian blog by a Latina win this year?? Gracias…

PS – you can vote for as many blogs as you want… Cookistry is not a vegetarian blog, but Donna is a cool, cool, friend and I am voting for her as well. Check out her blog and vote for her too while you’re at it. OK??? 😉

Apple Onion Relish

4 Feb

Before I go on a trip or to a retreat, I like to clean my fridge as much as possible. I hate wasting food and throwing away food jut because it was left unattended on the fridge is just “a sin” to me.

So before I left for my Xmas retreat I was looking for recipes to use up fresh stuff I had in my fridge that I didn’t want to go to waste. When I came across this recipe on TV by Giada Di Laurentiis, I knew it would be perfect to use those apples that had been staring at me for a few weeks now. I do like apples, but I am super lazy when it comes to snacking on an apple. I also had brought some thyme and rosemary from my sister’s during our last trip there… and I knew the herbs could go bad if I waited too long to use them.

This was the perfect recipe then to cook a bunch of apples with thyme all at the same time.

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APPLE ONION RELISH

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
3 small Gala apples, cored, and thinly sliced
1/4 cup rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
2 tbs apple juice
2 tbs maple syrup
Salt and Pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
  1. In a high-sided skillet, heat the butter and oil over medium heat.
  2. Add the onions, apple slices, salt, and pepper. Cook until the onions begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add the vinegar, maple syrup, and thyme. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions and apples are very soft, about 40 minutes.

This recipe is super easy… and you don’t need to tend to it too much. The smells in your kitchen will be divine.

This relish will go wonderful next to some scalloped potatoes, over creamy mashed potatoes, mashed parsnips, grilled Portobello mushrooms or even inside a sandwich.

Some Harbaugh Super Bowl Ideas

31 Jan

I am not into football… but I have always been into Jim Harbaugh. I admit it!!!

Harbaughsmiling

When I went to school in Chicago, Jim Harbaugh was the quarterback for the Chicago Bears and he was the only reason why I withstood the frigid Chicago wind in the middle of winter to see my one and only live NFL game. Again, I do not follow football or the Super Bowl at all, but when last week everyone on Facebook was talking about the Harbaugh Bowl, my radar was on. I will most certainly be watching the game next Sunday, but mostly the takes they make on the coaches. In the meantime, you and I could be munching on these ideas that will certainly be the best side kick to any Super Bowl celebration.

And may your favorite team win… I am 100% sure a Harbaugh will celebrate with a ring!!!!

Soy Albondigas

Albondigas Sandwich

Fried Cheese

Plantain Arañitas

Pumpkin Fritters

Babagahummus

Babaga-hummus 2

Red Bell Pepper Dip

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Party Veggie Sandwiches

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Veggie Bites of Wisdom #27

29 Jan

George Bernard Shaw - VBW