Category: Dairy Free

Sparkling Honey Ginger Bourbon Lemonade

When I have friends coming to visit, I like to make a batch of cocktails beforehand so that I have a pre-made refreshment to serve. Lemonade-based drinks are a favorite of mine: I’ve made a Rhuby-Lavender Lemonade as well as a Bourbon-Peach Lemonade in the past.

 

So to keep my trend going, I decided to make this Honey, Ginger Sparkling  Lemonade with Rosemary and added in some bourbon. (My friends are big bourbon fans, if yours aren’t, vodka would work as an easy substitute). I changed the recipe a bit to fit my tastes, but you can find the original recipe here.

 

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup local honey
  • 1/2 cup water
  • the juice of 5 lemons, plus the zest of 1 lemon
  • the juice of 1 lime
  • 1/4 cup minced ginger
  • 10 full rosemary stalks
  • 2 1-liter bottles of club soda
  • 1 1/2 cups bourbon
  • Ice cubes

 

Note: Bourbon does include grains that contain gluten. However, distilled alcohol is considered gluten-free because the process of distillation removes the harmful gluten protein, which is why I have this recipe listed as gluten free. If you are highly sensitive to gluten, bourbon may be off limits for you.

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Charred Corn Salad with Basil and Tomatoes #WhatAGrillWants

Grilled corn is one of my absolute favorite foods of summer. There is just nothing like a cob of sweet corn charred over a grill. Mmm. But as much as I love a simple corn on the cob, sometimes I need a little variety. This recipe for Charred Corn Salad from Bon Appetit gives me my beloved grilled corn, plus fresh herbs and tomatoes. What’s not to love?

This Charred Corn Salad recipe also allows me to show off some of my favorite grilling tools, courtesy of OXO. I was sent some grilling essentials as a participant in OXO’s #WhatAGrillWants campaign, including a Corn Stripper, Silicone Basting Brush, and 16″ tongs. I was also sent a Bladed Meat Tenderizer (which I plan on using for steak in an upcoming recipe… stay tuned) and a Little Salad Dressing Shaker that is the perfect size for 2 servings; I will have a post including that little guy soon too!

source: oxo.com

 

The Silicone Basting Brush is perfect for grilling because it is head resistant, odor resistant, and easy to clean. I used it this time around to rub the corn with olive oil before grilling. The center bristles have circular gaps that hold on to the liquid as you transfer the sauce from the bowl to the food and the tapered outer bristles let you baste easily. Because the bristles are heat resistant to 600 degrees F, it’s a great tool to add an extra layer of barbecue sauce to a protein while grilling! The basting brush is also dishwasher safe.

 

My boyfriend was most excited about the 16″ tongs. They are stainless steel but have non-slip handles that make them safe for barbecuing. The long length is very much appreciated when working over a hot grill! The tongs also lock closed with a large pull tab that also doubles as a hole for hanging, great for my peg board! (You can also get the tongs in 9-inch and 12-inch sizes).

 

The corn stripper is the perfect tool for this recipe. I’ve mentioned on here before that I have a (ridiculous) fear of knives. So when trying to strip corn off a cob, I get a bit anxious. This tool makes it SO much easier without the risk! The corn stripper has a container that actually stores the kernels as you strip them from the cob; it holds up to 1/2 cup. You can then just pour the kernels out of the top of the container and you’re good to go! 

 

Now that I’ve gone through all of my nifty tools that made this recipe a breeze, maybe it would be a good idea to actually share the recipe, no? 🙂

Ingredients:

  • 6 ears of corn, husked
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup (loosely packed) fresh basil leaves, large leaves torn
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
  • Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

Continue reading Charred Corn Salad with Basil and Tomatoes #WhatAGrillWants

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Bourbon Peach Barbecue Sauce

Summer months are just meant for barbecue. And not just barbecued foods on the grill; your slow cooker can make some mean pulled pork for you as well! This recipe for Pulled Pork with Bourbon Peach Barbecue Sauce is perfect for a crowd and is great on a kaiser bun with some coleslaw!

I found this recipe in my Cooking Light magazine, made it over the weekend, and enjoyed it during the week for a quick meal to assemble. I also froze half of the pork to bring to the beach for my extended family to enjoy and it held up great! I changed the recipe a bit because I ended up with a 5.5 pound pork shoulder so I altered the amounts to compensate for that.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Spanish smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 (5 1/2-pound) bone-in pork shoulder roast (Boston butt), trimmed
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup unsalted chicken stock
  • 2/3 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2/3 cup molasses
  • 1/4 cup lower-sodium soy sauce (or coconut aminos to make gluten free)
  • 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
  • 1 8 oz jar peach preserves
  • 2 cups vertically sliced onion
  • 8 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup bourbon
  • 3 tablespoons cold water
  • 1 tablespoons cornstarch

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Open Faced Salmon and Avocado BLTs

Salmon, avocado, and bacon… what’s not to love? This recipe for Open Faced Salmon and Avocado BLTs is perfect for nights that you just need to whip something up quickly with little effort. Although I will warn you, it’s not exactly an easy meal to eat. It can get quite messy because it is open-faced!

 

Ingredients:

  • 4 (1-ounce) slices diagonally cut ciabatta or rustic Italian bread
  • 4 center-cut bacon slices
  • 4 (4-ounce) sustainable salmon fillets, skinned (about 3/4 inch thick)
  • 1/4 cup canola mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh chives, divided
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 4 Bibb (Boston, butterhead) lettuce leaves
  • 4 (1/2-inch-thick) slices tomato, halved
  • 1/2 peeled ripe avocado, cut into 8 slices
  • 4 lemon wedges

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Roasted Beet Hummus

I am just drawn to the color of beets. They make any dish look absolutely beautiful! I’ve done a couple of other beet dishes on here (Beet Risotto, Gemelli with Brown Butter Beet Sauce, and Roasted Beets with Tahini, to name a few) so when I saw this recipe for Roasted Beet Hummus in the latest Cooking Light I knew I had to make it.

Hummus is really easy to prepare and the addition of the beets makes this one a show stopper. Whip up a batch of this Roasted Beet Hummus to serve with a crudite platter at your next gathering!

Ingredients:

  • 2 red beets
  • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
  • 8 garlic cloves, halved
  • grated lemon rind of two lemons
  • fresh lemon juice from two lemons
  • 1/4 walnut oil (or good olive oil)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained

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Farro Berry and Walnut Salad

This recipe from Cooking Light is actually supposed to be a side dish. But I thought this Farro Berry and Walnut Salad would make a great summer lunch! I have been looking for something that can be made the night beforehand and transports easily so this salad seemed perfect. I added in some blueberries because my boyfriend is allergic to cherries and I wanted him to still be able to enjoy a fruit within the salad (he’s fine with cherries being in something, he just has to pick them out).

 

 

Ingredients:

  • 5 cups water
  • 1 1/2 cups uncooked farro
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 3/4 pound sweet cherries, pitted and halved (about 2 cups)
  • 1/3 cup blueberries
  • 2/3 cup diced celery
  • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted
  • 1/4 cup packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
  • the juice of one lemon (about 2-3 tablespoons)
  • 1 tablespoon whole-grain Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon honey (or agave nectar)
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

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Grilled Octopus Salad

A while back, I was given the opportunity to visit Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse. Naturally, I jumped at the chance. Davio’s has been a staple in the Philadelphia food scene for a while now. Located in Rittenhouse Square, Davio’s still seems to be a bit of a hidden gem due to it’s location on the second floor of a building, although it isn’t difficult to find (the entrance on 17th Street is clearly marked).

The restaurant is known just as much for it’s service and ambiance as it is it’s delicious food. The staff really know how to make your night feel special. The dining room’s large windows and tall ceilings add to the traditional and comfortable feel of the restaurant — it is located in the historic Provident Bank Building. The space is also equipped with a bar that I hear is quite a popular destination for happy hour.

 

My entire meal was absolutely delicious. Every dish seemed to be better than the last! I have included a run down of everything we ate (we basically needed to be rolled out of the building) and I also wanted to try my hand at one of the specials they were serving that night: A Grilled Octopus Salad over Arugula.

My version is heavily based on Davio’s with a few changes: Davio’s also included chorizo in their version (yum!) and used yellow peppers rather than red. This was my first time working with octopus so it was a little nerve wracking but turned out amazing!

Ingredients:

  • 1 3-4 lb octopus, cleaned
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 1 tablespoon drained capers
  • 3 tablespoons whole peppercorns
  • 2 lemons, 1 sliced and 1 halved
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
  • 2 tablespoons dried thyme
  • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups baby arugula
  • 2 tablespoons chopped roasted red peppers
  • salt and pepper, to taste

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Flank Steak with Tomato Bruschetta

One of the best parts of Steak is how simple it is to prepare. You really don’t have to do much to a steak to make a delicious meal. But sometimes you want something a little different. This recipe for Flank Steak with Tomato Bruschetta is still super simple but ups the flavor of the steak with smoked paprika and a creole seasoning. The original recipe uses a pre-made creole seasoning, but I just substituted in some spices I had on hand to make my own version.

This quick Bruschetta is really tasty on bread, but be sure to use any leftover to put on top of the steak as well!

Ingredients:

  • 2 teaspoons canola oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
  • a pinch of salt and pepper
  • 1 (1-pound) flank steak, trimmed
  • Cooking spray
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes
  • 4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
  • 1 small shallot, chopped
  • 8 (1-ounce) slices whole-wheat French bread baguette
  • 1 garlic clove, halved

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Cavatappi Pasta with Salmon and Sauteed Fennel

Just because the weather is warming up, doesn’t mean I’m willing to give up pasta. But pasta with a traditional meat sauce is a bit … heavy on hot days. This recipe for Pasta with Salmon and Sauteed Fennel from Cooking Light is a lighter take while still giving me my carb fix.

 

 

The Pasta with Salmon and Sauteed Fennel recipe uses fennel two ways to make use of both parts of the plant. The bulb is sliced and sauteed, adding a delicate flavor to the dish. The fronds (the feathery leafy part) is used as a garnish to give another faint taste of anise to the meal. The stalks (the part that looks like celery – not used in this recipe) can be saved and used when making stock — what a useful plant!

 

 

 

Ingredients:

  • 8 ounces uncooked cavatappi
  • 1 lb skinless salmon fillets
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 2 cups sliced fennel bulb (about 2 fennel bulbs)
  • 1 cup vertically sliced onion
  • 3 cups grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • Fennel fronds, for garnish

Continue reading Cavatappi Pasta with Salmon and Sauteed Fennel

Duck Breasts with Blackberry Port Sauce

I was feeling a little fancy this week so I decided to challenge myself with a protein I rarely use: duck! I’ve actually only worked with duck twice (Duck Breasts with Cider Farro Risotto and Grilled Duck with Warm Mushroom Salad and Truffle Vinaigrette), but I tend to order it at restaurants quite a bit.   I am also on a berry kick at the moment (if you missed it, go check out the Blueberry Coffeecake I posted recently!) so I was really excited to try this Cooking Light recipe for Duck Breasts with Blackberry-Port Sauce.   I served mine with some sauteed green beans but Cooking Light also suggests serving the duck over a bed of lettuce.     Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 (6-ounce) boneless duck breast halves, skinned
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
  • 1 1/2 cups blackberries
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped shallots
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
  • 1/2 cup port or other sweet red wine
  • 3/4 cup unsalted chicken stock
  • 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

Continue reading Duck Breasts with Blackberry Port Sauce

Fish with Pineapple Salsa and Tomato Avocado Salad

Now that the weather is finally warming up, it’s time to start incorporating more “summery” foods into my dinner. The June issue of Cooking Light included a recipe for Fish with Pineapple Salsa and Tomato Avocado Salad that sounded like the perfect warm-weather dinner.

 

I used turbot instead of tilapia, but you can substitute in whatever whitefish you’d prefer. I also added some paprika to the fish for a bit more flavor and color.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup chopped pineapple
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
  • 1/2 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice, divided
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 1/2 cup thinly vertically sliced red onion
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
  • 1 medium tomato, cut into thin wedges
  • 1 peeled ripe avocado, cut into 8 wedges
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 4 (6-ounce) whitefish fillets
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika

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Crispy Coconut Kale with Roasted Salmon Sweet Potatoes and Coconut Rice

I have to admit, kale is really not my favorite green. It tends to, well, taste like a leaf. So I was intrigued when I came across this recipe for Crispy Coconut Kale on Food 52 by Ashley Couse of Bloom & Nourish.  The recipe pairs the kale with oven-roasted salmon, spicy sweet potatoes and creamy coconut rice. I couldn’t wait to try these flavors together!

Note: This recipe for Crispy Coconut Kale with Roasted Salmon Sweet Potatoes and Coconut Rice is gluten free and is thisclose to being Paleo. To make it Paleo-friendly, just do not make the rice.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup jasmine rice, uncooked (omit to make paleo)
  • 1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons coconut aminos
  • 1 tablespoon Sriracha
  • 3 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
  • 1 bunch lacinato kale, ribs removed and sliced into strips
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
  • 1 pound salmon

Continue reading Crispy Coconut Kale with Roasted Salmon Sweet Potatoes and Coconut Rice

Smoky Portuguese-Style Mussels

Mussels are one of my favorite quick meal options — they take just 5 minutes to cook! This recipe for Smoky Portuguese-Style Mussels infuses the broth with turkey kielbasa and smoked paprika before steaming the mussels in the broth, resulting in a really flavorful dish. The broth is really spectacular, so be sure to serve this dish with a sliced baguette. (Note: the whole dish takes about 30 minutes to cook.)

Ingredients:

  • 2 teaspoons canola oil
  • 4 ounces chopped turkey kielbasa
  • 1 1/4 cups chopped onion
  • 8 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 pound red potatoes (I used assorted baby potatoes)
  • 2 cups unsalted chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 40 mussels, scrubbed and debearded
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 4 lemon wedges
  • parsley, for garnish
  • 1/2 baguette, sliced

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Haroset Braised Short Ribs

Passover begins tonight so I wanted to share a recipe I found from Martha Stewart for Haroset Braised Short Ribs that is Passover-friendly. The recipe can be made ahead of time and reheated but I just made it all in one day (this is definitely a recipe that involves some time to make– 5-ish hours. It might work well as a slow cooker dish. I will have to try that in the future!)

The short ribs are braised in Manischewitz wine and then served with a deconstructed Haroset, resulting in a really delicious dish!

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds boneless beef short ribs
  • Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 5 small carrots (about 1 pound), 1 roughly chopped, 4 halved lengthwise and reserved
  • 1 celery stalk, roughly chopped
  • 1 medium onion, roughly chopped
  • 3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 4 cups Blackberry Manischewitz wine
  • 3/4 cups red-wine vinegar
  • 1/4 bunch fresh thyme
  • 1/4 bunch fresh curly-leaf parsley, plus sprigs for garnish
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 cup walnut halves, for garnish
  • 1 Granny Smith apple, cored and cut into wedges

Continue reading Haroset Braised Short Ribs

Pom Collins Cocktail

It’s that time of year again, East Passyunk Avenue’s “Flavors of the Avenue” is almost here! From noon to 4 pm on Saturday, April 26, the best of East Passyunk’s restaurants will be offering samples of their signature dishes and drinks.

Twenty eight restaurants are participating, including: Belle Cakery, Birra, Brigantessa, Cantina Los Caballitos, Chiarella’s, El Zarape, Fond, Fuel, Garage, Ippolito’s, Izumi, Laurel, Le Virtu, Lucky 13, Mamma Maria Ristorante, Marra’s, Ms Goody Cupcake, Noir, Noord, Palladino’s, Paradiso, Plenty, POPE, Stateside, Stogie Joe’s, Townsend, Tre Scalini and Will BYOB.

General admission for the Food Tent opens at 1pm and includes Skinny Girl wine and Samuel Adams beer. Outside of the tent enjoy a free street festival with live music by We Are Fauna and The Drive-Ins, vendors and the April Showers craft show at the Fountain hosted by Crafty Balboa.

 

Tickets are $30 for General Admission but are going fast, so be sure to pick up your tickets ASAP! VIP tickets are actually already sold out!

 

I attended a media night to sample some of the offerings and am so excited for the main event. I attended the actual event last year and it did not disappoint! I have a review of some of the samples I had during the media event but also wanted to share my version of a drink recipe that was served by Stateside called a Pom Collins cocktail – a spin on a Tom Collins with pomegranate juice. Unfortunately this delicious drink will not be served at Flavors of the Avenue … you’ll have to stop by Stateside after to enjoy it!

Pom Collins Cocktail:

  • 2 oz gin
  • 1 oz pomegranate juice
  • Juice from 1/2 a lemon
  • 1.5 tablespoons basil simple syrup (recipe below)
  • 2 oz club soda
  • ice
  • basil, for garnish

Basil Simple Syrup:

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil

Continue reading Pom Collins Cocktail

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