By now it’s a known fact that we at Come and Cook with Us love tomatoes. Whether in a salad, a soup or a pasta sauce, tomatoes rank high on our list! It’s their flavor, colors and nutritional value that have us coming back for more. And while it’s not always possible to have great tasting fresh tomatoes on hand, one sure way to have access to their flavor in your kitchen year-round is to stock a tube or two of sun-dried tomato paste. Its concentration adds complexity to many dishes, and if you ask my sons, they could eat it by the spoonful. Come and cook with us! Continue reading “A Little Goes a Long Way”
Tag: Dinner Winners
An Instant Classic: Pasta alla Carbonara
My grandmother Omi would call it a cheap meal, but that doesn’t mean that a plate of pasta alla carbonara isn’t a big hit with my boys. The trick is to make it as light as possible and to mix in some greens, peas or zucchini, to make the dish even more nutritious. Here’s to a great dinner winner! Come and cook with us! Continue reading “An Instant Classic: Pasta alla Carbonara”
What’s for Dinner? Well, let’s check the fridge and see what we find…
All right, I admit it: I’m ready for summer. I don’t know if it’s the long days, the higher temperatures or just the one too many commitments I’m trying to squeeze in before the school year ends, but I am past ready for it. One side effect of this is that I’ve lost my enthusiasm to go grocery shopping, which has been quite a challenge when it comes to fixing dinner. It has also forced me to refine my “kitchen foraging” skills: what can I make with what little I have in the kitchen? This week’s winner was a creamy avocado pasta that was a favorite with young and old alike. Come and cook with us! Continue reading “What’s for Dinner? Well, let’s check the fridge and see what we find…”
Quick Quinoa and Vegetable Bowl (à la Café Gratitude)
In several locations in California (both Northern and Southern) there is a great vegan café called Café Gratitude. Its raw and cooked vegan and vegetarian items are thoughtfully prepared, and delicious. One item on the menu that Kathrin and I love is the vegetable grain bowl. This week we pay homage to that delicious dish with our own preparation – the Quick Quinoa and Vegetable bowl. This dish, while not quite a 15 minute “Dinner Winner”, deserves to be in that category for it’s simple preparation, easy adaptability, and delicious results. Continue reading “Quick Quinoa and Vegetable Bowl (à la Café Gratitude)”
Dinner Winner 6: Cocoa-Rubbed Pork
It’s been a hectic week for Kathrin and me, with a myriad of school parent responsibilities, sick children, and workplace mini dramas all kicking into high gear at once. And while it’s merely a sign that Fall is finally here, it feels (as it does every year around this time) as though we will never stop. Suffice it to say, preparing creative, delicious meals has not been easy! So, we are back again with another “Dinner Winner” to add to your arsenal of good food, made easy. Save this one for a night when you want to impress your friends and family, but don’t want to be in the kitchen longer than 20 minutes. Come and cook with us!
This week’s winner is a big flavored, lean meal of pork tenderloin. I learned about it in a cooking class I took a few weeks back. I was surprised by how quick it was to prepare, given its strong flavor and impressive presentation. This meat would best be served paired with a simple arugula salad with oil, lemon, salt and pepper. If that’s just not enough food for you, add some boiled rice or quinoa dressed with a good olive oil, salt and pepper. And, if you want to go the extra step, you can also roast some sliced potatoes in the oven or mash up some boiled ones making them creamy with a little warm milk.
While the recipe is made with pork tenderloin, lamb tenderloin would work just as well. The only prep required is the cocoa rub, which can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container. Make enough to keep on hand for another night and you’ll cut your prep time in half in the future. I promise, it’s so easy you’ll have time to spare, and in this season that’s a terrific thing!
Try my new favorite Cocoa-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin
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