Good Things by David

Cool, refreshing gazpacho is just the thing to serve when it's hot outside. Using the freshest ingredients and a powerful blender or food processor, preparing some delicious gazpacho can take a matter of minutes.  Eaten throughout Spain, there are probably as many recipes for gazpacho as there are tapas bars. It's no wonder that this particular cold soup is popular.  It tastes of sweet tomatoes, cool cucumbers, mildly spicy because of the bell peppers, and surprisingly tangy because of the sherry vinegar.  Whether you decide to add bread to the soup, as per tradition in certain households,  make sure that your ingredients are absolutely fresh and blemish-free. My gazpacho doesn't include any bread, because I feel it doesn't need it, but if you wish, go ahead and create tasty croutons to add as a garnish.  What's even better is that it can be made with either ultra-fresh garden tomatoes or even peeled canned tomatoes.  There is a difference in flavor, ...

Considered a power food because of its fiber-rich, high-protein content, Amaranth is a grain that we should consider adding to our diets.  The leafy variety, that I wrote about last year , is highly delicious and very good for you, but it is the grain which makes a tasty, hot cereal for breakfast or for brunch.  We just started making it here at home and I am glad it has now become a part of our menu rotation. These small seeds, or 'grains', originated in Mesoamerica and were used for festivities and ceremonies throughout the area before the Spanish conquest. Nowadays only a small amount of the global amaranth supply is grown in this region, with India and Nepal cultivating the bulk of what we purchase in the health food aisle. As I said, cooked amaranth seeds are a good source of fiber, protein, manganese, magnesium and iron.  In addition to this, it is naturally gluten-free, but aside from these healthy benefits, one of the things that appeals to me about coo...

If you're looking for an appetizing and elegant soup to serve at your next holiday feast, try this recipe from chef Daniel Boulud.  I have made a couple of variations of his Curried Cream of Cauliflower and Apple Soup for the past week, and I have to say that it is quite delicious.  Chef Boulud uses a blend of saffron and Madras curry powder, which makes for a spicy soup that is perfect for cool weather.  My versions of this soup don't include saffron and curry powder.  I've made it using a small amount of ground cinnamon (1/4 teaspoon) so that it doesn't overpower the flavors of the apple and cauliflower, and I have included some freshly chopped tarragon to complement the warmth of the cinnamon.  Using vegetable stock and absolutely no cream whatsoever, you can make a vegan version of the soup that is absolutely delicious!  I love using these Wedgwood drabware pieces to serve the soup.  For Chef Daniel Boulud's recipe, click here. ...

Have you ever tried fresh red spinach from the farmers market?  I hadn't until a few days ago when I spotted it while shopping at one of my favorite markets. At first glance I thought it was a mesclun of salad greens, but the sign said it was 'red spinach' so I took a closer look.  Never having laid eyes on red spinach, I bought a bunch intending to try it that very night.   After looking up information on red spinach, I came to realize that this variety is from the genus Amaranthus , and its species is A. dubius .  What we know of as flat leaf or curly green spinach is from the genus Spinacea and its species S. oleracea .  Both, however, come from the same family, Amaranthaceae .  Red spinach is also known as Chinese spinach (yin choy). Either way, it's worth bringing home a bunch from the market if you ever spot some in the produce aisle. The first order of business is to rinse it very well in cold water. After picking through it for bl...

Granola is always in my pantry because it's a quick go-to breakfast or snack for us here at home.  I've shown you one of my favorite recipes before and have since altered it here and there over the months, from batch to batch.  For the Fall season I decided to add a bit of spice and expand on the dried fruits & nuts in order to make it even more tasty.  Autumn seems to herald in all of those sweet combinations that suggest warmth & spicy aromas, so what better way to capture it than with some delicious granola? You have to understand that I make a large batch of this so that it can be packaged up and parceled out to people in the neighborhood, but one can always cut the recipe in half if need be.  I like to keep some in one of my vintage Ball jars so that during the week I can have a light breakfast with my yogurt & banana, but I also love to have it in the afternoons when I want a boost of energy.   Packed with oats, wheat germ, a...

I love the earthy taste of lentils in soups, salads, pilafs & when used as a main dish.  When I was a strict vegetarian many years ago, I developed a taste for these nutritional legumes and came to rely on them quite often.  Packed with a lot of fiber and protein, among other beneficial good things, lentils make a most comforting & delicious soup during the colder months.  If I'm making this particular soup I will get the largest stockpot I own and cook a big batch.   Lentil soup is among my favorite things to eat for meatless dinners and it always manages to get devoured by everyone.  This particular soup gets its flavor and texture from four different varieties of lentils, but you can get away with using just two types and still make it delicious.  I've given you several optional ingredients to add to the soup, so pick & choose according to your preferences.  The best thing about this soup, other than the taste, is that ...

Crunch & munch your way through tasty granola any time of day.  I find it great to have early in the morning for breakfast with a bit of milk or in the afternoon straight from the storage jar as a pick-me-up.  The nice thing about homemade granola is that you can control the amount and type of sweetener in your mix; store bought varieties tend to be packed with sugar and syrups.   The choices for what to include and what to exclude are numerous to say the least.  Perhaps you like a combination of raisins and chocolate chips or one with chopped apricots and pistachios.  Customizing a homemade granola according to your preferences and those of your family is so easy as long as you choose good ingredients. I love to add cranberries to our granola here at home, because their sweet, plump texture pairs well with the light, crunchy consistency of the toasted oats, nuts and/or seeds.  Pure maple syrup with a dark amber color is the first thi...

Everyone who likes to eat fresh salads at home, and I hope all of you do, should have a good vinaigrette recipe that is flavorful & easy to make.  I enjoy all sorts of vinaigrettes for my daily salads made with sherry, balsamic, white wine, red wine or champagne vinegars.  Normally we tend to stick with a basic balsamic vinaigrette for everyday eating, but for those days when I want a bit more depth, a bit more flavor and some extra zip, I make a red wine version that I fell in love with at a local eatery.   My Favorite Vinaigrette I asked the chef to share the recipe with me, but instead of giving me the actual proportions, he simply gave me the breakdown of ingredients.  Not one to be daunted by something as simple as salad dressing, I went home and began to experiment with ratios.   This recipe is so easy and so delicious, that I highly recommend you try it at home soon.  Perfect for those weekday dinners in which salads should play a...

A reader recently asked me if he could share a delicious vegetarian recipe here on the blog and after looking at it I agreed, because it looked fantastic.  Many of us are trying to stay fit these days and trying to keep our new year's resolutions from falling apart.  Let this recipe inspire you to try something new.   Thank You James! Author: James Puisis  ♦ Slimming Down for Spring Spring is officially here! For some, spring only means better weather. But for many others spring is the beginning of transition. It is a time of change. People choose to make many personal changes during spring because they see it as a great time to transition into the summer. If you are looking to be healthier this season here are some tips for staying healthy and recipe for a delicious and nutritious meal for you! Keep the Good Carbs It is very essential to a good diet that you incorporate good carbohydrates. Too many fad diets call for you to get all carbs out of ...

Smooth, tasty, hearty and thoroughly nutritious are just some of the ways to extol the virtues of a delicious, homemade Acorn Squash Soup.  One shouldn't pass up the opportunity to whip up a batch of this seasonal soup since it is so simple to make with just a handful of ingredients.  I've shown you how to perfectly roast these winter squashes in order to coax the full flavor from them, and it is these which serve as the foundation for a most savory fall dish.  My preferred way to prepare this type of soup, which is not dissimilar to Butternut Squash , is by enhancing it with a few traditional ingredients and giving it just a hint of spice for a bit of depth.  I never want any one ingredient to overwhelm or dominate the flavor of the acorn squash, because it is too good to play a secondary role.  You can experiment with your favorite type of fresh herbs when making the soup, but be judicious about the amount you add so that you create a perfect balance...