Category Archives: Light Meals

Balsamic Broccoli & Chickpeas with Crispy Shallots

Posted on January 11, 2012 by mct
Balsamic Broccoli & Chickpeas with Crispy Shallots

The challenge I’m giving myself this year is to cook more simply. Fewer ingredients, fewer steps and, not least, fewer dishes to wash at the end. Many of my recipes are at the other end of the spectrum. I love concocting elaborate meals and triumphantly bringing them to the table for family and friends to enjoy. I must admit, however, that if it wasn’t for friends and family, I probably wouldn’t go to all that trouble. When I have to prepare lunch or dinner just for myself, I sit down to a big bowl of soup  with toasted corn tortillas, … Continue reading →

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Delicata Squash with Black Lentils & Quinoa

Posted on November 11, 2011 by mct
delicata&black1

Creating easy recipes doesn’t come easily to me. More often than not, my idea of a simple dinner requires several pots simmering away on the stove and a thing or two roasting in the oven to boot. Simplicity is something I’m working on, though. But not with complete success, I must admit. Case in point: for me, this delicata squash stuffed with lentils and quinoa qualifies as a no-frills meal. Yes, it involves getting both the oven and the stove going. On the plus side, though, it’s only one pot (I streamlined the cooking of the lentils and quinoa by … Continue reading →

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Roasted Fingerling Potatoes & Brussels Sprouts with Basil-Whiskey Sauce

Posted on November 4, 2011 by mct
fingerlings&sprouts

Even though I really like cabbage, it’s taken me a long time to warm up to Brussels sprouts. Before my family emigrated from Romania, I’d never heard of them, and for a long time I took at face value the bad-mouthing I heard here about them. Truth be told, compared to cabbage, their flavor is sharper, and they’re far trickier to cook without turning into a rubbery mess. On the other hand, they look a great deal cuter than a head of cabbage, and they amply reward attentive handling. Brussels sprouts are a curious combination of strong flavor and finicky … Continue reading →

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Cucumber & White Bean Gratin

Posted on September 2, 2011 by mct
cucumbergratin

What do you do when you’ve baked a glorious pecan pie to celebrate your anniversary, and are planning to eat it for dessert with an equally glorious mini-mountain of vanilla soy ice cream on top? You make a light and healthy dinner to go with it. Enter the cucumber-white bean gratin. If you read Vegetarian Times, you’ll have figured out that my starting point was their cucumber gratin recipe, but of course I couldn’t help messing around with it. I simplified but amped up the flavors by using just garlic and rosemary instead of a handful of different herbs. I … Continue reading →

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Phyllo Pie with Leeks, Fennel & Zucchini

Posted on June 8, 2011 by mct
Phyllo Pie

I created this pie for a lunch with my sister. We were both in need of some healthy fare, after having indulged in too many sweets (that would be me, post baking frenzy) and dining out (that would be my sister, who is a high-powered career woman with an incredibly busy schedule). But I wanted our meal to feel luxurious, not diet-like. Also, I must admit, I wanted to impress my sister. Nothing like a bit of sibling rivalry to give zest to recipe writing and testing! I started with leeks because, being such a classic ingredient in French cooking, … Continue reading →

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