Last October the BF and I were invited to dinner at the house of some dear friends. Husband, wife, and two adorable kids. The hubs is a grill-master, and the wife is a wonderful cook who treated us to Indian-spiced grilled chicken, roasted yams and a kale salad that was so good I asked if we could use it for a future blog, and she was kind enough to say yes. She does not know the specific origins of the recipe as it came to her from a friend. No matter. Our benefit, and yours.

Since that dinner the salad has accompanied many meals for the meat-loving BF, and was a highlight of our last Thanksgiving feast. It's almost too easy to assemble, and could not be ​healthier.

NOTE: Okay, maybe a little healthier. To make this vegetarian dish vegan, simply substitute the mayonnaise with Vegenaise eggless or other vegan substitute.

Adapted from: Our dear friends around the corner!
Number of servings: 2-4

Dressing
Ingredients

• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed or finely grated
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• ¼ cup sesame oil
• ¼-½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (use less if you don't like too much heat)
• Dash of cumin

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

Salad
Ingredients

• 1 bunch Lacinato kale (aka Tuscan kale or dinosaur kale, not the curly kind), rinsed and thoroughly dried
• ¼-½ cup cilantro, rinsed, dried and roughly chopped
• 1 large carrot, shredded 
• ¼ -½ cup sunflower seeds (salted was used here)
• Salt, to taste

Directions

1. Use a sharp knife to cut out the mid rib and stem of each kale leaf, and discard. Stack all the leaves on top of one another and slice crosswise into thin slices.
2. Throw all salad ingredients into a bowl.
3. Drizzle the dressing into the kale mix and toss. You might not need all the dressing.
4. Salt if needed.

[Ed. note: Quick addendum to give a heartfelt farewell to a man who REALLY loves his kale, former San Francisco Giant outfielder Hunter Pence. As a bay area kid who grew up experiencing a lot of awful Giants baseball (Boo LeMaster!), it was thrilling to watch you patrol AT&T Park's angular right field, preach the championship blood through two World Series victories (2012, 2014), and get that ridiculous three-stage hit that people here will forever be talking about. All love and best of luck to you as you play for your Arlington-hometown Texas Rangers. Yes. Yes. Yes.]

Did you learn to cook anything new last year? Among many discoveries, I found that roasted radishes are a revelation. A delicious and fantastic complement to carrots, can't believe I have never tried them roasted before. [Ed. note: Calling the proper authorities, this has to be a violation of some kind.]

If you're not a fan of lentils, make the roasted carrots and radishes with tahini sauce. You won't be sorry. It makes a wonderful lunch, side or main course.
​
​NOTE: I'm relying more and more on Trader Joe's pre-steamed lentils, usually located with the fresh produce. It's such a time saver and the lentils are firm, yet tender, which is exactly what you want. If you want to make lentils from scratch, I have included instructions below.

PS: Last year we got a little tipsy on this citrus champagne bundt cake (www.moveablefeast.me/blog/citrus-champagne-bundt-cake) and recovered nicely thanks to this ginger turmeric detox broth (www.moveablefeast.me/blog/ginger-turmeric-detox-broth).

Adapted from: A Beautiful Plate
Number of servings: approximately 4

Ingredients
Lentils

• 1 cup dried French green Le Puy lentils, sorted (or 1 package pre-cooked Trader Joe's lentils)
• 3 cups water
• 1 small yellow onion, cut into quarters
• 2 cloves of garlic, smashed, divided
• 1 dried bay leaf
• ¾ teaspoon kosher sea salt
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Carrots & Radishes

• 2 bunches of rainbow carrots (8-10 medium carrots), scrubbed well and trimmed (leafy stem tops cleaned well and reserved for garnish)
• 7-8 red radishes, stems trimmed and scrubbed well, divided
• 5-6 garlic cloves, skin-on
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ¼ of a red onion, very thinly sliced

Tahini Dressing

• ¼ cup tahini paste
• 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon kosher sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3–4 tablespoons warm water (depending on thickness of tahini paste)

Directions
Lentils

1. Use your favorite pre-cooked lentils or place the dried lentils in a medium saucepan. Cover with cold water and allow lentils to soak for one hour.
2. Drain the lentils and  return to the same saucepan. Add 3 cups of water, the quartered onion, smashed garlic, bay leaf, and ¾ teaspoon salt. Bring lentils to a boil, reduce the heat to  simmer, and cook lentils for 25-30 minutes, or until tender.
3. Drain in a fine-meshed sieve and discard the onion, garlic, and bay leaf. Place in a large serving bowl to cool. Toss with a tablespoon of olive oil.

Carrots & Radishes

1. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 425 °F. Slice the carrots into ½-inch rounds (the skinny ends can be left in larger chunks; try to keep the carrots as consistently sized as possible) and cut the radishes into quarters (reserving one radish for garnishing).
2. Place carrots and radishes on a large sheet pan, along with the garlic cloves (leave the skin on), and toss with the 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
3. Roast for 20-30 minutes, tossing the vegetables every 10 minutes or so, or until carrots and radishes are caramelized and tender. Remove the roasted garlic cloves from their skin (discard the skin, but keep the cloves) and allow vegetables to cool to room temperature. [Ed. note: ROOM TEMPERATURE] Add the roasted vegetables and garlic to the cooked lentils, along with the sliced red onion, and toss gently to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
   

Tahini Dressing

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini paste, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. It should be thick. Add 3-4 tablespoons of hot water (depending on your brand of tahini paste, you might need more or less to achieve the right consistency) and gently whisk until smooth. It should have the consistency of a thick salad dressing, able to drizzle easily from a spoon.
2. Using a mandolin or sharp knife, cut the remaining radish into very thin slices. Roughly chop some of the reserved leafy stem tops of the carrots, roughly ¼ cup or so.
3. Garnish the salad with the sliced radish and chopped carrot stem tops. Drizzle with the tahini dressing and serve at room temperature. [Ed. note: R-O-O-O-O-M TEMPERATURE] This salad makes great leftovers and can be served cold from the fridge.

Over the years (I started making this about ten years ago), many clients have grown to love this lentil salad. One of them orders it practically every single week. No wonder.

So easy to make, it's an extremely versatile side dish, and by itself as a main course it's straight-up vegan. The BF loves it, but he needs another protein, so I like to add soft-boiled or poached eggs, and/or chicken sausage (pictured above). Easy to pack for on-the-go sojourns, the dish can be served cold, warm, or at room temperature, and it even tastes better the next day.

I cook fresh lentils all the time, but have to say a terrific hack and time saver is to use Trader Joe's steamed lentils, which are found in their fresh produce section. They're delicious and have a firm texture, which is key to this salad.

This one is a perfect summer dish, and unlike most of these blog recipes, isn't an adaptation–it's wholly original. Feel free to make subsitutions, i.e., substitute parsnip for carrot, dill for parsley, and if you don't like fennel, use only celery. Make it your own.

Number of servings: 4

Ingredients
Lentils

• 1 cup French green–also known as "Puy"–lentils, picked over and rinsed (one package of Trader Joe's lentils was used here)
• 3 cups water
• 1 Turkish bay leaf
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• ½ yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 small fennel, cored, ends and stem trimmed and finely chopped
• 1 celery stalk, finely diced
• 1 medium carrot, finely diced
• 1 teaspoon thyme, chopped
• 2 tablespoons Italian parsley, finely chopped

Vinaigrette

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 shallot, minced
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
• Salt & pepper to taste

Optional Toppings

• Goat cheese, feta
• Bacon, salami, chicken sausage, salmon
• Soft,or hard boiled eggs, poached egg
• Cornichons, tomatoes
• Radishes, watermelon radish

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, bring lentils, water and bay leaf to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until almost tender (about 15 minutes). Do not over cook. Stir in ½ teaspoon salt and simmer covered for about 3 minutes, until tender but not falling apart or mushy.  Drain in a colander or sieve and discard bay leaf.
2. While lentils are simmering, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium low heat.  Add onion, fennel, celery, thyme, salt and cook, stirring occasionally until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Add carrots and cook just until al dente.
3. Meanwhile, make the vinaigrette. In a large mixing bowl, whisk ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar and minced shallot. Add ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil and whisk to emulsify. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Place warm lentils into bowl with the vinaigrette and gently toss to coat (do not mash the lentils). Add cooked vegetables and gently toss to incorporate. Add chopped parsley and toss.

NOTE: If using Trader Joe's steamed lentils, take out of box, make three slits in the plastic. Place on plate and microwave for approx 45 seconds. 

My BF-editor and I owe you an apology. We missed a blog. While pathologically inexcusable, we actually have a wonderful excuse, namely, a family reunion for the ages. They came from far and wide (we're talking from Boston to Bangkok, Thailand) for a beautiful unveiling ceremony for our mother in Portland, Oregon (complete with glitter and a wonderful Rabbi), as well as a burial for my dear auntie in the small town where I went to high school. If you've ever had one of those perfect days that you replay over and over in your mind, this was a week of perfect days. Friends, family, and of course copious amounts of good food. Goodbyes were difficult.

It was a week that couldn't be beet.

[Ed. note: Oh no you didn't. No one will ever buy this transition for the love of G—]

Beets! With spring in full swing, they're at their peak at all stores and farmers markets. This salad is so easy to put together, is a vibrant alternative to a leafy green salad, and pairs well with chicken or fish. Feta or goat cheese makes a nice optional addition, and if you're adventurous with oranges, you can't go wrong with the Cara Cara red-fleshed navel variety.

Of course, it must be noted that red beets stain easily, so if you want to avoid that, you can use golden beets. If you go that route, you might want to try blood oranges for contrast.

NOTES:

• Don’t throw out your beet greens! Wash them well to remove any grits, discard any tough stems, and sauté with garlic as you would spinach or kale.
• If you’re short on time, Trader Joe’s steamed beets is a quick alternative. Do not use canned, cooked beets.
• Mix this salad up by using yellow beets (bonus: no staining) and blood oranges for contrast.

Hello from the fam.

Adapted from: A Beautiful Plate and Gjelina, Cooking From Venice, California, Travis Lett
Number of servings: 4 small or 2 large

Ingredients

• 7-8 small or baby beets, roughly 1½–2 inches in diameter (*see notes)
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon sherry vinegar
• 2 oranges + 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice. (I use Cara Cara or Blood Oranges)
• 3 tablespoons hazelnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
• 1 ripe, yet firm avocado, sliced lengthwise, then horizontally into ½-inch slices
• Small handful of micro greens (optional)
• 3 thinly sliced radishes
• Olive oil, for drizzling

Directions
Beets

1. Preheat the oven to 400 °F. Trim any beet greens (set aside), leaving roughly half an inch of stem on the top of the beets. Do not remove the root. Scrub gently with fingertips to clean, without piercing or removing the skin.
2. Place gently scrubbed beets in a small roasting pan. Fill with cold water until beets are halfway submerged. Add two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Cover dish with foil, securing around the edges to prevent steam from escaping during the cooking process.
3. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour (this will depend on the size of beets). Carefully fold back the foil (be careful of steam) and check done-ness by piercing the center of the beets with a paring knife—if the knife meets no resistance, the beets are finished cooking. If the knife meets resistance, allow the beets to continue cooking for an additional 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Remove from oven, transfer beets to a large bowl, and allow to cool until beets are able to be handled (they will be easier to peel while still slightly warm). Hand-peel gently (I wear latex gloves to avoid staining). The root and tail should be easily removed.

Hazelnuts

1. Toast hazelnuts by putting them in a small skillet over medium heat until fragrant. Allow to cool before chopping.

Oranges

1. Meanwhile, prepare the orange segments. Trim both ends of the oranges. With a sharp pairing knife, and using the edges of the orange as your guide, remove the peel, and be sure to remove all of the white pith. Then carefully segment the orange by slicing between the membrane and the fruit. Set the orange segments aside. Use remaining orange core to squeeze out the juice.

Assembly

1. Cut peeled beets into quarters, and toss into a bowl with the remaining olive oil, sherry vinegar, and orange juice.
2. Spoon the beets on a large platter and drizzle on any remaining dressing. Add avocado slices, and season with salt and pepper. Top with orange segments, hazelnuts, radishes and a small handful of micro greens. Lightly drizzle with olive oil and serve immediately.

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Traditions are discussed a lot here, and everyone has their must-see Christmas movies. For us, it's not December if we haven't watched Bad Santa, A Christmas Story and holiday-themed episodes of South Park, Family Guy and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. [Ed. note: Grow up? You fool!] This year my BF surprised me and found the 1964 Rankin/Bass Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which I haven't seen since I was a child.

On Christmas Eve we hosted our annual traditional dinner with a small group of dear friends. In previous years I'd made seafood paella, but this year I veered away from that tradition and made cioppino. Although it was delicious, my guests took a vote and it's back to seafood paella in 2018. (Am not complaining. Note to self: don't mess with tradition.) I also made a delightful sugar-free low-carb peppermint cheesecake, and bought a chocolate layer cake wrapped like a gift, because I didn't think all the guests would go for the sugar-free option. Of course, the sugar-free cheesecake won out (and will certainly be featured in a blog post next year).

Christmas day was gloriously relaxing. For me, a rare day off. Music and movies playing all day, a leisurely breakfast, gifts to open [Ed. note: I got Joker socks and you didn't], taking our chocolate lab Marlowe for a long romp, and a Christmas Story-inspired Chinese take-out dinner of Peking duck and Chinese greens.

The aforementioned "leisurely breakfast" was this gorgeous, colorful, refreshing, jewel-toned citrus salad. Blood oranges and citrus are at their peak right now, so it's the perfect time to make it.

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and adventure-filled 2018.

NOTE: I cut the sugar amount in half from the original recipe as my preference is to not over-sweeten, but if that's not of your concern, stick with the original recipe. I also added two Cara Cara oranges, which look like regular navel oranges on the outside, but the inside is red-fleshed, juicy and sweet. You can make this one day in advance. Keep chilled.

​Number of servings: 8
Adapted from: Gourmet (December 2008)

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup sugar (as mentioned, I used 2 ½-3 tablespoons)
• ⅓ cup water
• 3 whole star anise
• 5 large ruby red or pink grapefruit
• 4 blood oranges
• 2 Cara Cara oranges 

Directions

1. Dissolve sugar in water in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring. Add star anise and simmer 5 minutes. Let stand off heat 30 minutes.
2. Cut the peel off, including white pith, from fruit with a sharp knife. Cut segments free from membranes into a bowl. Squeeze juice from membranes into bowl.
3. Add syrup with star anise to fruit, juice and stir gently. Remove star anise before serving if desired.

Another seasonal (in California, we are in the throes of cherry and corn season) client favorite, this one is quick and simple to prepare, and the colors and ingredients scream summer. The sweetness of the corn with the charred lettuce, tangy pickled cherries, and shallots make for a fresh, vibrant combination.
 
Adapted from Heather Christo
Number of servings: 6

​Ingredients
Pickled Cherries and Shallots

• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 shallots, thinly sliced
• 1 cup pitted cherries, sliced in half (I used Rainier cherries)
• 1 fresno red chili, thinly sliced

Salad

• kosher salt
• 3 hearts of Romaine lettuce, sliced in half
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 ears of corn, shucked

Directions

1. In a small pan, simmer together the red wine vinegar and sugar and cook for about 2 minutes until the sugar has dissolved.
2. Combine the shallots, cherries and chili slices in a bowl and pour the vinegar-sugar combination in. Cover with saran wrap and set aside.
3. Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium heat. Rub the cut side of the lettuce and the ears of corn with the olive oil. Sprinkle lightly with kosher salt.
4. Grill the corn until cooked and lightly charred on each side. Pull the corn off the grill and set aside. Alternatively, you can microwave the unshucked corn cobs on a plate with a little water for 5-6 minutes. Shuck and set aside.
5. Grill the lettuce briefly (less than a minute) until it just has grill marks and is lightly wilted on the grilled side.
6. Arrange the grilled romaine hearts on a platter.
7. Cut the corn off the cob and combine it with the pickled cherry combo. Season to taste with kosher salt. Top the grilled romaine hearts with the pickled cherry and corn combination and serve immediately.