Vegetables

Twice-Baked Butternut Squash with Ricotta and Sage

November 11, 2014 by Erica

Twice-Baked Butternut Squash with Ricotta and Sage, a.k.a. The Day I Fell In Love With Ricotta Cheese.

Discovering new ingredients is one of the most rewarding parts of writing this blog. I can only imagine what a cooking rut I’d be stuck in if I wasn’t always brainstorming new recipes!

But seriously, in 2+ years of writing this blog, why has no one told me about ricotta?

I mean, I knew about ricotta, but I’d be surprised if I’ve ever used it. I’ve only ever known it in stuffed shells and lasagna, dishes which (let’s be honest) I’m too lazy to make. But as I was planning this twice-baked butternut squash, Deb from Smitten Kitchen made these Squash Toasts with Ricotta and Cider Vinegar. I served them as an appetizer a few weekends ago, and though I ended up using goat cheese instead out of convenience, it occurred to me that ricotta would be the perfect thing to add creaminess to this twice-baked squash.

Waaaas it ever. The tangy ricotta and sweet, smooth butternut are a match made in heaven. Which brings me to the whole butternut part of the equation…

…

Roasted Cauliflower with Yellow Curry Sauce

May 29, 2014 by Erica

What’s the saying – “brown food tastes better”? I’m definitely taking that to heart with today’s recipe. Brown on brown on brown! It makes for some humble pictures, but some reeeeally tasty veggies.

This roasted cauliflower dish is another restaurant recreation, and – totally unintentionally – from the same restaurant as Tuesday’s recipe. It’s our favorite neighborhood place (Avenues Bistro on Third, if you’re in Salt Lake!) and, um, I guess we’ve been eating there a lot lately? I’ve learned to always order the special if it’s vegetarian. It’s always to die for, even if the name doesn’t sound too exciting. I mean, roasted cauliflower with yellow curry sauce – boring, right? Nope nope nope, wrong!

…

Browned Butter Mashed Parsnips with Coriander and Thyme

December 18, 2013 by Erica

Today I made you some mashed pahsnips.

Pahhhhsnips. That’s me with my Boston accent. I don’t actually have one, but if I did, this would be a fun vegetable for you to hear me pronounce. I pahked the pahsnips in Hahvahd yahd… you know.

Speaking of Boston accents, that is where I am headed at the end of the week! I will be home for Christmas and then for a few days afterward, when my mom and are planning to bang out some major wedding planning. So far my mom has taken care of everything, and – gulp – we booked our venue without me having seen it in person. I can’t wait to see it myself, taste the delicious food they’re going to make us, meet with photographers, etc. Maybe that will make it all seem a little more real! Because right now it still seems like just a reeeeally good dream. A really good dream that is taking over my Pinterest boards.

The wedding may have been occupying the majority of my mindshare lately, but I haven’t forgotten about that upcoming holiday! I even mashed up an exotic root vegetable for you in honor of it.

…

Sherry-Dijon Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Onions

December 4, 2013 by Erica

Thank you so much for all your sweet comments on Monday’s post! They mean so much. Nate and I could not be happier. Life is good!

I hadn’t counted on starting wedding planning quite so early, but venues book up fast! We had to start looking if we wanted any chance of getting married in 2014… and we may have found a place! Fingers crossed, but I think we will be getting married next fall. Hooray!

I wasn’t really looking forward to all the planning – I usually procrastinate this kind of thing until I’m completely dreading it. Luckily I have my mom, who so far is the world’s best wedding planner. How I would plan this thing without her, I have no idea. It turns out wedding planning is a ton of fun when someone else is doing all the work!

I hope you’ll put up with occasional wedding talk on here. I am slightly worried I’m not going to be able to talk about anything else for the next 10 months.

And this is the part when I transition seamlessly from wedding talk to Brussels sprouts.

…

50+ Thanksgiving Potato Recipes

November 22, 2013 by Erica

50+ Thanksgiving Potato Recipes

…alternately titled, 50+ Thanksgiving Potato Recipes That Are More Exciting Than The Same Mashed Potatoes You Made Last Year.

Yes, your Same Old Mashed Potatoes are good. They are traditional. But why not embrace your inner culinary genius on this food holiday of all food holidays and wow your family with something new and improved? Here are 50 super exciting, mouthwatering, unbelievably delicious potato recipes for your Thanksgiving table. From soup to nuts, as they say! Because it’s Thanksgiving, and you gotta have some potatoes.

…

Connect