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make-ahead fusilli pasta bowls

by Jackie Newgent  |  September 22, 2015  |  2 Comments
At the end of a long day, sometimes cooking up a quick pot of pasta doesn’t seem speedy enough—and a packaged frozen entrée doesn’t sound appealing enough. That’s where this fast make-ahead fusilli pasta bowl fix comes in. It’s my go-to pasta bowl of the moment. I pair whole grain fusilli with a good-quality marinara sauce, plus some of my favorite ingredients: baby arugula, goat cheese, pistachios, and lemon zest. Yum!
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spanakorizo-style spinach and rice

by Jackie Newgent  |  September 7, 2015  |  0 Comments
Sometimes we worry so much about the entrée, we put little effort into the sides. So here’s what I suggest! When you need a side dish, ready-to-heat and packaged rice mixes can save time. There are a handful of quality brands on the market, like Seeds of Change, which I recommend! Unfortunately, most popular brands are highly processed and not so healthful. By eating these latter picks, you may be shortchanging your health since most mixes are based on processed “white” rice and contain way too much sodium. They also can be a hidden source of trans fat—of which the body needs absolutely zero! When you’re in the mood for a rice dish, consider making your own whole grain pilaf,...
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beet, greens and goat cheese linguine

by Jackie Newgent  |  August 22, 2015  |  9 Comments
I don’t think I could live without pasta! How about you? I’m always trying to find new ways to enjoy it. So I hit my local farmers’ market and filled up my sack with all of the fresh vegetables that “called out” to me, including some amazing beets. (I seem to be on a beet kick lately!) Then straight to my kitchen I went. Actually, I take that back. Straight to my building rooftop I went where I snipped a day’s worth of fresh basil. (Yep, that’s how we do it here in Brooklyn!) Then off to my kitchen I went.
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red beet baba ghanoush

by Jackie Newgent  |  August 3, 2015  |  5 Comments
Beet hummus is a thing. But beets can be showcased well beyond hummus. So I picked up a couple beets from my farmers’ market and transformed them into a different Middle Eastern dip … baba ghanoush. I roasted the beets to bring out their full flavor. A hint of smokiness is provided with a pinch of smoked paprika. And you’ll definitely detect the refreshing citrusy notes by way of both fresh lemon juice and zest. Though I usually prefer traditional eggplant baba ghanoush rather homestyle and lumpy, this red beet version with its stunningly gorgeous fuchsia color looks more beautiful when pureed until velvety. (Hint: The vivid color is from phytonutrients naturally found in beets, called betalains, which have anti-inflammatory...
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summer vegetable coconut curry

by Jackie Newgent  |  July 22, 2015  |  13 Comments
July is one of the happiest months when it comes to the plentiful array of produce available. So this seasonally-inspired recipe takes advantage of what you’ll typically find at the farmers’ market right now, including zucchini, organic corn-on-the-cob, grape tomatoes, shallots, and baby spinach. If you like, make swaps for what’s “hyperlocal” in your area, such as heirloom cherry tomatoes, purple scallions, or dark leafy greens grown at a nearby farm (or your own backyard garden!) rather than grape tomatoes, shallots, or baby spinach, respectively. Ladle the saucy vegetable-centric curry over steamed whole grains of choice, like brown rice or quinoa or a blend, to round out the meal. Serve it as a vegan dinner that’ll please everyone–on Meatless Monday...
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