Beautiful

AND/OR

(click pics)

THIS was a good dinner

Beet, Goat Cheese and Pistachio Salad (a less fancy but still delicious version based on this recipe)

Eggplant and Green Beans roasted in Panko crumbs...an 86 Lawn invention? (Just recently discovered Panko crumbs and had fun experimenting with them!

AND

Butternut Squash Apple Ginger Soup
1/2 large onion, sliced into 2 inch pieces
3 cloves of garlic
1-inch nob of fresh ginger
4 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
1 butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
1 apple, peeled ans diced
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp ground ginger

Sautee the onion, garlic and ginger in the olive oil for about five minutes on medium in a medium sized soup pot. Add the broth, butternut squash and apple and bring it to a boil, covered on high heat. Once it reaches a boil, lower the heat to let it simmer uncovered for about 10-20 minutes until the squash has softened. Blend the soup with an immersion blender if you have one or in a regular blender in batches. Be careful when blending hot liquids! Season with nutmeg, ginger, salt and pepper (or whatever other spices you like! Curry would work too...) Top with yogurt if desired.

We forgot protein, so we added our favorite Apricot Sage Chicken Sausages to the side :)

Peach Crostinis

A delightful 10-minute lunch treat! Grilled peaches, white wine, goat cheese on Ryvita Fruit and Nut Crackers.
Recipe Here.

Favorites (Repeats)

A plate of my favorite things:


And a remake of a favorite recipe:

And another remake of a favorite recipe:

Banana-Oat Bread with Chocolate Chips

We've made a lot of banana bread this semester. Three recipes in two months, in fact, which forced me to pick favorites. My personal favorite was this Weight Watchers recipe that featured lots of oats and egg whites. We added the chocolate chips:)

	1 1/4 cup(s) all purpose flour 1/2 cup(s) unpacked brown sugar
	1/2 tsp table salt
	1/2 tsp baking soda
	1/4 tsp baking powder
	3 tsp canola oil
	1 large egg(s), beaten
	2 medium egg white(s), beaten
	3 large banana(s), ripe
	1 cup(s) uncooked old fashioned oats

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, stir together dry ingredients. Add oil and eggs; mix thoroughly.

In a smaller bowl, mash bananas with a potato masher or fork. Add bananas and oatmeal to batter.

Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray. Pour batter into pan and bake until top of loaf is firm to touch, 45 to 55 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool in pan for 5 minutes. Flip out and cool on a wire rack for another 10 minutes.

Best Blinner Ever

Everything looks so gross on those cheap-ass plates we bought!

One weekend in March, I was the only one home on Saturday. I slept until 3pm and then made myself this Blinner. Best Blinner Ever.

• Whole Wheat Challah French Toast (from the shuk in J-ru)
• Balsamic Fig Jam (from the Central Market in Florence)
• Middle Eastern Fruit Salad
• Plain Yogurt (from Mr. Zols)
  

Fruit Salad Recipe: Dates, Granny Smith Apples, Kumquats, Walnuts, Dried apricots with a dressing made from Pomegranate Syrup, Cinnamon and Orange Juice

Mark Bittman's Fried Rice

Made this back in February in my old oven-less kitchen in Jerusalem---Epic Fried Rice Recipe---Never make a different one--- 'nuff said.

Catching Up: Balsamic Fig Toasts

In an effort to return to food blogging, I'll be gradually sharing some stuff we've been cookin up in our new kitchen! Enjoy!

These Fig toasts were simply incredible. Homemade Balsamic Fig Jam atop fresh goat cheese, cracked pepper and onions (carmelized in bacon grease!) make these toasts to die for. We used toasted apricot-endive bread.
Recipe here.

Accompanied by a salad of mixed greens, blueberries, avocado, corn and orange vinaigrette.