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fall

broccoli cheese soup with pumpkin puree

by Jackie Newgent  |  October 5, 2013  |  3 Comments
Makes 4 servings: 1 1/2 cups each My sister is a huge fan of Panera Bread and their super creamy broccoli Cheddar soup. After trying a few bites of her soup one day, I totally understood why. But I also realized that it wasn’t quite the calorie friendly variety. So, of course, I leaped into action in my kitchen to recreate a better-for-you version that was equally tasty—if not tastier. This is the winner! My inspired version has a lovely autumn yellow-orange hue from pumpkin puree and turmeric. The pumpkin also creates extra lusciousness without excess dairy decadence. You can actually use 100% pure pumpkin from a can; you don’t need to go hunting in a pumpkin patch for the...
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cincinnati-style veggie chili

by Jackie Newgent  |  September 22, 2013  |  3 Comments
(Click on photo for full-size image!) Makes 8 servings Though a New Yorker now, I was born and raised in Ohio. And when in the great Buckeye state, you need to try chili the way so many Ohioans do … over spaghetti. But it’s not just any ordinary chili; it’s full of intriguing and earthy spices. My vegetarian version is richly spiced, full of veggies, and specifically designed to be paired with pasta, not eaten straight from a bowl. I’ve also included a touch of chocolate, even though there isn’t consensus if it’s “allowed” to be in a traditional Cincinnati chili recipe. So my dear hometown friends and family … I developed this “4-Way” recipe with you in mind. I...
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sunny-side-up farmers market breakfast

by Jackie Newgent  |  September 14, 2013  |  2 Comments
(Click on photo for full-size image!) Makes 1 serving Like most people, I don’t usually have much time to whip up a glamorous meal in the morning. However, I’ll gladly spend 15 minutes for an almost glam one. So this breakfast is one answer to a simple meal for one in the morning. You can double it for two—and you can prepare it with nearly any fresh veggie pick, such as sliced bell peppers, chopped leafy greens, or finely diced sweet potato. Eggs pair nice with basil, rosemary, and tarragon; so vary the herb as you wish, too. Any way you whip up this flavorful dish, you’ll be well on your way to getting all the veggies you need for...
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creamy corn and bell pepper bake

by Jackie Newgent  |  August 18, 2013  |  2 Comments
(Click on photo for full-size image!) Makes 12 servings: 3/4 cup each It may be nearing the end of summer, but it’s still the best of corn season. So here’s a way to celebrate it. First, to assure your corn is GMO-free, pick organic. Then rather than going greasy with bacon, I created a flavorful and more eye-appealing corn casserole-style dish by using a variety of peppers. What’s more, there’s now no overly-processed cheese-like product in the recipe. Yep, that means no Velveeta; I just can’t go there … ever. The end result is a lovely side to take your tastebuds deliciously into the fall. By the way … don’t feel that you need to use fresh corn; frozen corn...
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serrano fried rice with apple and almonds

by Jackie Newgent  |  September 6, 2012  |  5 Comments
(Click on photo for full-size image!) Makes 4 servings: 1 1/2 cups each Here’s a surprising and scrumptious “fried” rice … and one that you’ve never had. That’s because I just created it. Not only is it vegan, it contains one of fall-time’s favorites: the apple! The apple picks up savoriness and heat when cooked with the onion and Serrano pepper. The toasted sesame oil and pan-toasted almonds balance it out perfectly. And the soy sauce provides the umami and salty elements that give this rice the full-on Asian essence. So pick up some apples at your farmers’ market (or from your apple tree, if you’re so lucky!) and enjoy a bowl of it. It’s actually a full meal-in-one recipe—and...
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