HYMNS IN THE KITCHEN

These delightful baked ricotta custards were created with things I usually have on hand (besides the ricotta). When I buy a tub of ricotta for pancakes or lasagna soup, I know that I won't be using the whole tub and will be looking for ways to use it up later. The ricotta must be drained overnight to prevent a soggy custard, but that would be the hardest part of the recipe. The rest is a matter of mixing the ingredients and baking, then topping as desired. I hope you give the

Harissa is hot chili paste made with peppers, spices and herbs and is of North African origin. Because of the wide variety of harissa paste that can be found at the market nowadays, this recipe is more of a method than a recipe. I urge you to taste your harissa chickpea "stew" every step of the way, adding lemon juice if you want more acidity, salt if the paste lacks in saltiness, and pasta water if it's too thick for your liking. I added leftover baked salmon to my bowl and

Looking for ways to creatively use up your leftover Thanksgiving dinner turkey? How about a Babka bread, using said turkey (or just sliced deli turkey) and lots of Parmesan cheese? Really, any savory filling would be delicious here. Marinara with lots of mozzarella and basil, pesto and roasted chicken. The possibilities are endless! Hope you give this one a try. Enjoy! Turkey and Cheese Babka Serves 8-10 Ingredients for the Dough: 1 cup whole milk, warmed to 110-115 degrees F

Well the days are shorter and the nights are colder, and I've dug out my warm slippers and sweaters. Fall is upon us so naturally, I'm searching for soup recipes. White bean and sausage soup is not a new one, but it was so delicious, I know I'll be making this one again! You're welcome to use a spicier sausage instead of the sweet if that's your thing. I personally like the sweet but an addition of fresh sliced Thai chilis from my herb garden for a little kick. I hope you try

Call it a midday snack or call it lunch, but these loaded cheese nachos with shredded chicken in a barbecue sauce made from scratch are a delight! Make sure you and whoever you're sharing these with are ready to eat as soon as these come out of the oven, as they are best when fresh. Enjoy! BBQ Chicken Nachos 4-6 servings Ingredients for the BBQ Sauce: 1 1/2 cups brown sugar 1 1/2 cups ketchup 2 tablepsoons apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon Worcestshire sauce 1 tablespoon onion

This is a very simple recipe, but one that I enjoyed so much! Because this recipe has so few ingredients, I made sure to choose the very best. I truly don't think you would be able to get the same experience without using the freshest bread and the best butter. Fresh radishes and dill with the freshly cracked black pepper is so excellent, but the butter is the star of the show, really, so I chose butter made with milk from grass fed cows. Smeared on french bread that's been l

A gut-health recipe share today, featuring my tiny helper (with some Play-Doh under her fingernail). Smoothies are usually the only way I can get my littles to take vegetables; I mask the flavor of some spirulina powder or spinach with wild local honey, lots of berries and tart, freshly squeezed lemon juice. I always add a bit of chia seeds and flax seeds, but I first grind them as ground flax seeds are easier to digest (especially for the littles). Ground flax seeds are a hu

I've been loving these quick mixes of grain, protein and vegetables, served with a quick dressing. This can last in the refrigerator 3 or 4 days so it's great to have ready on hand to take to work or serve up as a quick lunch/dinner. It's also packed full of nutrients, the quinoa providing nine essentials amino acids as well as a good amount of fiber. I hope you give this recipe a try, and enjoy! Asian Red Quinoa Chicken Salad Serves 6-8 Ingredients: 1 1/2 cup red quinoa 3 c

Well if these aren't the most delightful summer snack, I don't know what is! End of season strawberries were used here, still as glorious and sweet as ever, providing a beautiful oatmeal bar with lots of chew and flavor. Don't skip out on this; make these today, and enjoy the last few weeks of summer as best as you can. Until next time, friends. Strawberry Oatmeal Bars Yields 9 Bars Ingredients: 1 1/2 cup old-fashioned oatmeal 3/4 cup all purpose or whole wheat flour 1/3 cup

This was one of my favorite meals. Ever. That's a bold statement, I know, but the fact that it was so low in fat, yet incredibly flavorsome and made in a total of just 15 minutes all adds to this fact. I will surely have this again and again! The peppery arugula mixed in with the slightly sweet teriyaki sauce, and the crunch of the noodles (I just barely cooked them to reserve as much crunch as possible!) is so spectacular, I called this day in my kitchen a success. And I'm s