Category: Vegetarian
-
Tomato Medley with Arugula Pesto
Don loves arugula. He will eat a bag of arugula as a snack. I love tomatoes. In fact, my mother has told me that “tomato” was my first word. I pronounced it as “apimanus” and would do anything for a tomato. I still will. I just think that the juiciness, sweetness and unique character of…
-
Heimeshe Farfel
When he was younger, Aaron used to love to visit Bubby and Zaidy in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens. While he enjoyed spending time with his grandparents, he was excited by the fact that there was nearly a dozen places where he could buy prepared farfel within a short radius of Bubby and Zaidy’s home. That meant something back then.
-
Pesach Onion Kugel
I absolutely love a challenge! In a comment on my Simply Amazing Onion Kugel, Pearl asked about adjusting this simple and delicious recipe to Pesach (Passover) cooking. I worked on making this recipe suitable for Pesach and my family contends that this recipe is even better than the original.
-
Simple Cranberry Sorbet
I’ll share a secret with you. My Purim seuda (feast) menu is designed around the chametz (leavened products) that I must use up before Pesach (Passover). This year, I found myself with lots of frozen challah, hence the stuffed chicken breasts and meatballs. I found that I had three bags of fine egg noodles, and thus yerushalmi kugel was…
-
Simplest Mushroom Barley Soup
Here’s another great soup, simple to prepare with the crockpot doing all the work. It uses a few simple wholesome ingredients that can be tossed right into the crockpot with no sauteing in advance.
-
No-Chop No-Fuss Spinach Split Pea Soup
This soup takes the bowl! It uses a few simple wholesome ingredients with no chopping and no mess. Just take a few minutes to toss all the ingredients in the crockpot in the morning and come home to a finished delicious soup in the evening. The pot does all the work, no dicing. no sauteing,…
-
Set It and Forget It Lentil-Vegetable Soup
There is something so hearty and comforting about lentil soup. And, there is something about taking just a few minutes to prepare a soup on these cold, snowy mornings and coming back at the end of the day to a warm, thick, velvety and delicious soup. Ordinary lentils really have that magical texture, firm yet…
-
Roasted Confetti Vegetables with Cashews
This is the perfect side dish for a weeknight. It uses wholesome ingredients, takes minutes to prepare and requires only 20 minutes to roast. The meatiness of the cashews paired with the tender shreds of zucchini and rainbow carrots make this dish hearty, flavorful and satisfying.
-
Cranberry Pears on Blankets
This dessert is just that, simple, gorgeous and not too sweet. The contrast of flavors and textures between the pastry, pears, cranberries and dates is incredible. The puffed pastry outlines the natural shape of the pears and the pastry leaves add dimension and flair.
-
Pumpkin Quiche for a Dairy Thanksgiving
We normally celebrate Thanksgiving with a delicious heimeshe (traditional Jewish style) turkey and meat dinner at our niece’s house. Michal and Shui open their beautiful home and prepare an assortment of delicious foods for this occasion. After all, the theme of hakaras hatov (thanksgiving) is of paramount importance to our Jewish faith and Thanksgiving is an…
-
Simple Celery Ribbons
I am fascinated with garnishes, especially simple garnishes constructed from ordinary ingredients. After all, simple garnishes put the wow into a dish. This one is fast and simple, using just celery and cold water.
-
Out of the Bowl Tiered Salad
Who says that salad must be served in a salad and tossed? Today’s salad is about layering a gorgeous vessel with different vegetables and toppings. Its effortless simplicity achieves an elegance that highlights the colorful and flavorful vegetables themselves.
-
Simple 10-Minute Creamed Spinach
Creamed spinach pairs so well with deli, meat, fish and just about every protein. It is a favorite at steakhouses and delicatessens. The bright green wilted spinach takes only minutes to prepare and its creamy texture and fresh flavor tantalize the eye and the palate. This classic recipe can be easily prepared with soy or…
-
Simply Amazing Onion Kugel
My life is rather like a “Chopped” competition. After all, so many of my favorite recipes are developed using the ingredients on hand, keeping the preparation quick and transforming simple ingredients into something more than the sum of the parts. Most often, my time is limited so I am racing the clock just like the…
-
Fan Potatoes and Family Memories
When I was young, I vividly remember my mother preparing fan potatoes. She did not serve them often. They were a rare treat. I can picture in my mind how the potatoes fanned out and how delicious they were: crisp on the outside. soft and buttery on the inside. The fins of each fan potato created pockets of…
-
Perfectly Roasted and Seasoned Bok Choy
Bok choy is one of our favorite ingredients in leafy salads. It is a powerhouse of nutrition, and has a signature taste and bold texture, making it the perfect ingredient for salads that are dressed in advance. I have incorporated it into a number of salads already highlighted on the blog (see Simple, Colorful and Crunchy…
-
Simple Superstar Roasted Onions
Onions are the ultimate team player. They are used to start soups and sautes, taking very little credit for the impactful favor that they impart. They are sprinkled atop salads or roasts, adding spiciness and satisfying juiciness wherever they are used. They are the utility player that can be used here or there, always…
-
Chana’s Low-Carb Broccoli Kugel
Last Shabbos, we hosted my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and niece for Shabbos. We always look forward to their visits. Yisroel and Chana are some of my favorite guests, so helpful and appreciative. We had a wonderful Shabbos, sharing divrei torah (words of Torah) and my father-in-law’s a’h favorite zemiros (Shabbos melodies) at our Shabbos table. Don…
-
Cheesy Cabbage Steaks
I used red cabbage for this recipe, but any cabbage may be used. In this simple recipe, the red cabbage creates a stunning purple backdrop to the velvety melted cheese on top. It may be used to Passover and is gluten free, too.
-
Watermelon Jicama Salad
A few weeks ago, we had very hot weather on Shabbos. It was one of those weeks that boasted a potpourri of weather patterns. We had rain, cold, overcast skies, bursts of sunshine and then a 40 degree rise in temperatures from Friday to Shabbos. We just did not have enough time for our bodies to…
-
Firecracker Cauliflower
Every once in a while, I want to serve something that surprises everyone. Cauliflower is one of those side dishes that everyone enjoys and is simply good for you. When roasted, it has both delicious flavor and texture (see Rockstar Roasted Cauliflower). This week, I decided to wake everyone’s taste buds up by adding some heat…
-
Simple and Colorful Rainbow Carrot Salad
Many unusual color vegetable varieties lose their vivid color when heated, so I prefer to use these in salads and in fresh preparations…This salad is hearty, satisfying and simple to prepare. It can be made with orange carrots instead of rainbow carrots and will be equally tasty with just a few less colors of the rainbow…
-
Zucchini Mushroom Kugel
Although I favor keeping my vegetables raw and simply prepared, this kugel has become one of my favorites. It highlights a simple list of fresh ingredients and this kugel is perfect for freezing in advance of a busy Yom Tov (holiday, lit: good day) like Pesach (Passover). Although zucchini squash has a high water content…
-
DIY Passover French Baked Onions
So many of my simple and moist recipes rely on french fried onions. They add moisture and pizazz to even the simplest and leanest of fish, meats and poultry. Recipes such as Onion-Battered Baked Tilapia, Simple Onion Baked Chicken Cutlets and Low and Slow Oven Brisket require this as a key ingredient. Year-round, this is a readily available ingredient…
-
Roasted Sweet Potato and Beet Salad
For our annual Purim seuda (festive meal), I decided to prepare a new salad. This salad took inspiration from a delicious battata (sweet potato) salad that I enjoyed at Cafe Greg in Rosh Pina in the Upper Galilee of Israel. It combined the delicious colors, flavors and textures of roasted sweet potatoes, candied almonds and shredded…
-
Simple Roasted Cauliflower Lentil Soup
It is cold outside and the weather is perfect for soup. On these windy and cold winter mornings, I love to prepare a crockpot soup that will be ready for lunch and then again for dinner. There is nothing quite like a hearty winter soup. Delicious and nutritious soups don’t have to be complicated. This…
-
Simplest Sesame Noodles
When looking for a pareve and delicious pasta dish, this is my go-to recipe. It started out as a Kosher by Design recipe and I have adapted and simplified it over the years. It is still a winner and the perfect pasta dish. To upgrade this dish in the simplest way, I use interesting pasta…
-
The Blessing and Renewal of Tu Beshvat
Tu B’Shevat reminds us of the dormant potential in the trees and in each one of us. Just as the trees and their seeds lie dormant during the harsh and cold winter months, often we have times of dormancy. Our hope is that we recognize the potential in ourselves, our children and those around us,…
-
Sweet Potato Butternut Squash Marigolds
A few weeks ago, I invited our new neighbors over for Shabbos lunch. I was tired of my tried and true recipes so I decided to combine the ingredients and techniques from a couple of my favorite SimpletoWow recipes. I really wasn’t sure how it would work out. Luckily, the end-product was a most pleasant and…
-
Simple Carrot Cranberry Kugel
There are some recipes that don’t look beautiful but have that special blend of wholesome ingredients, delicious taste and perfect texture. This recipe is one of those. I have prepared it with a pound of fresh, frozen or canned carrots. I have prepared this recipe a loaf pan, in a pyrex pie dish, in individual ramekins…
-
Sweet Potato Gratin with Shallots and Grapes
A gratin is a dish that is baked or broiled in a shallow dish and has a crispy upper crust. Traditionally, a gratin employs cheese and/or breadcrumbs to achieve that crispy crunchy crust. This recipe is my own pareve and low-carb version of a gratin. It is roasted and baked in a shallow dish. Oh, and…