Cinnamon Curry Apple Chips

September 22, 2010 in Appetizers, Desserts, Frugal Tips, Gluten Free, Healthy Fare, Side Dishes, Vegan Recipes

Cinnamon Curry Apple Chips

If you have a surfeit of apples in your kitchen or in your backyard at the moment, here’s a simple, healthy snack, for mere cents compared to the cost of the store-bought kind. Kids are bound to love them! Lots of apple chip recipes use cinnamon, of course, but I thought I’d add a little twist. The curry is NOT overpowering here, but is just enough to give it that little “Hmmm, what IS that?” factor (to blatantly ape Rachael Ray’s frequent line about nutmeg). Read the rest of this entry →

Salsa Recipe to Celebrate at Summer’s End: Sassy Smoky Roasted Tomato Salsa

September 13, 2010 in Appetizers, Gluten Free, Healthy Fare, Side Dishes, Vegan Recipes

“It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts
while eating a homegrown tomato.”

–  Lewis Grizzard

Roasted Tomato Salsa

Sassy Smoky Roasted Tomato Salsa Recipe

This salsa recipe is the reason we grow a huge garden every summer. Sure, I love all the other veggies, but the absolute best are the peppers and tomatoes. We make gallons of salsa at the end of every summer. Then (and this is my very favorite part) we go around the neighborhood leaving jars of salsa on front door steps, in mailboxes, on the front seat of cars. I have become known as “The Salsa Fairy” by all my friends and neighbors. Next to “Mommy,” it’s my favorite title ever!

We posted this salsa recipe last year, but I decided a re-post was in order because last night I added a new flavor twist: roasted cumin. The earthiness of cumin just can’t be beat and is so good in this salsa. I discovered a new spice in the spice aisle: McCormick’s Roasted Ground Cumin. It has a deep, rich roasted intensified cumin flavor. If you’re a cumin fan, you MUST try this!

We love salsa here at fff -check out our Grilled Pineapple Mango Salsa, and our Charred Zucchini Salsa Verde.

Roasting about half of the tomatoes quickly at a very high heat gives a wonderful roasted smoky flavor, but keeping half of the tomatoes raw gives it the perfect freshness and texture. And, the chipotle chile powder and smoked paprika are delicious in combination with tomatoes.

Don’t skip the EVOO. Olive oil used with tomatoes improves BOTH their flavor and health benefits exponentially.

Celebrate a Meatless Monday with this salsa and you may find yourself eating it right out of the bowl with a spoon!

Read the rest of this entry →

Hot Pink Hummus with Fresh Beets

September 8, 2010 in Gluten Free, Healthy Fare, Side Dishes, Vegan Recipes

Hummus with fresh beets

As many of you know, if you’re Facebook-friendly with me, I am a bit of a hummus addict. I would eat it every day if I could, I do believe. I love garlicky hummus, lemony hummus, hummus with and without tahini, hummus with avocados and coconut oil,  hummus with roasted red peppers, hummus with pine nuts, hummus with “40 spices”, hummus with sundried tomatoes. I love it in wraps, I love it as a dip for crudite or tortilla chips, I love it spread on toast, I love it just plain eaten by the spoonful. You could say I’m a little obsessed. So when I saw  hot pink hummus in the prepared food section of my local co-op, I knew I had to give it a try. Read the rest of this entry →

Grilled Corn Fritter Salad Stack Recipe for a Meatless Monday on the Grill

September 6, 2010 in Entrees, Gluten Free, Healthy Fare, Side Dishes, Vegetarian Entrees

DSC_5976

Corn Fritter Salad Stack with Tomatoes and Arugula

“Sex is good, but not as good as sweet, fresh corn.”  — Garrison Keillor

I agree with America’s favorite radio host that corn – while sweet and fresh – is one of the very best simple pleasures of life. When I bite into a steamy ear dripping with butter and salt, I  just want to stand up and shout “Life is GOOD!” Naturally, I am always looking for easy recipes that will enhance corn’s golden goodness. Especially easy, flavorful and healthy meals. Yes, I did use the word “healthy,” which corn is when eaten in its whole state. Who says you can’t do Meatless Monday on the grill?

(**Food Trivia Question: Is corn a vegetable or a grain? See the end of this post for the answer!)

There are two schools of thought on corn fritters: deep fry them so they’ll be globe shaped, or make them pancake style. I think you can tell by the photo which style I chose. That way, you can make a pretty stacks with a little dressed arugula and some ripe tomatoes. And, a bonus: this easy dinner takes 20 minutes, max – even if you have to shuck the corn!

Read the rest of this entry →

Zucchini Recipe Festival: Charred Salsa Verde Recipe for Fab Frugal Friday

September 3, 2010 in Appetizers, Frugal Tips, Gluten Free, Healthy Fare, Side Dishes, Vegan Recipes

DSC_3887

Charred Zucchini Salsa Verde served over Cottage Cheese

It’s the end of summer – time for a foodie zucchini festival!

With gardens overflowing with zucchini and several of my neighbors anonymously leaving large summer squashes at my doorstep and then running before I could catch them, I decided to char the zukes on the grill and blend up some salsa verde. Verdict: zucchini and chiles: a match made in heaven!

(Nostalgic Note: I used to eat salsa as a child served over cottage cheese (pictured above). I know,  I know. It sounds weird, but the salty mild cottage cheese pairs perfectly with spicy salsa. Yum! Serve any salsa this way, especially if you have kids!)

Yes, Fab Frugal Food and zucchini go way back. Check out our Zucchini Crudo Salad, Wholegrain Zucchini Cakes, or our Oven Fried Zucchini Crisps.

And, everyone knows in their bones that  zucchini should be on our “must-eat-more-of” lists. They are packed with nutrients and yet are low-calorie and low-carb. And few things are more frugal than zucchini in season. So. What’s not to love?

Read the rest of this entry →

Simple Tabbouleh Recipe with Millet and Fresh Parsley

September 1, 2010 in Gluten Free, Healthy Fare, Side Dishes, Vegan Recipes

This has always been one of my favorite sides, and alas, I’m currently in a land without Middle Eastern restaurants. I happily make hummus all the time, but haven’t been making my own tabbouleh (a.k.a. tabbouli, and other transliterated variations) due to the cracked wheat factor,  since we have some gluten issues around here. Rice would be too heavy. I like quinoa a lot, and Kalyn’s Kitchen recently did a very good one using quinoa, but I decided to try millet, and I think it turned out to be a great substitute. Do try!  Read the rest of this entry →

Tangy Summer Slaw

July 29, 2010 in Gluten Free, Healthy Fare, Side Dishes, Vegan Recipes

Slaws are absolutely EVERYWHERE these days. I had been tinkering with different ones for a while when I happened upon a spicy slaw from Elana’s Pantry, and it sounded like almost exactly what I had been looking for! I wanted a little more tang and a little less heat and adapted it accordingly, but I think either version of the recipe is perfect for a summer side. Read the rest of this entry →

Celebrate the Fourth! Red, White and Blueberry Quinoa Salad with Grapefruit Vinaigrette

June 26, 2010 in Gluten Free, Healthy Fare, Side Dishes, Vegan Recipes

DSC09277

Sure, we love those pretty flag cakes with the white frosting, red strawberries lined up like stripes and blueberry stars in the corner. But I wanted to make something different yet festive – a patriotic salad. What to make that has those All-American colors? How about protein powerhouse white(ish) quinoa, red strawberries and blueberries. I know, I know. Quinoa is usually eaten savory style but I think it is a perfect mild canvas for sweet flavors.

This dish is  a perfect Fourth of July recipe: a mayo-free refreshing fruity salad that can even go along on your next picnic. And the sweet tangy grapefruit vinaigrette is sublime! And, if you leave off the yogurt drizzle this is a great vegan dish.

So, cut yourself some watermelon triangles and place them in a star shape around the edges of your platter with the quinoa salad heaped in the middle. Drizzle on some Greek yogurt for a stripe-like flag effect. Then, just stand back and salute!

Happy Fourth, Everyone!

Read the rest of this entry →

Meatless Monday: Zucchini Crudo with Lemon Vinaigrette, Dill and Feta (with inspiration from Iron Chef Michael Symon)

June 7, 2010 in Appetizers, Gluten Free, Healthy Fare, Side Dishes, Vegetarian Entrees

Zucchini Crudo Salad Inspired by Iron Chef Michael Symon

Zucchini Crudo Salad Inspired by Iron Chef Michael Symon

Iron Chef Michael Symon is known for his love affair with meats, especially pork. In his new cookbook, Live to Cook, he even has a recipe for fried pig’s ears!  Yikes. So, it was ironic that the recipe that caught my eye while I was thumbing through his book at a bookstore recently was a Zucchini Crudo Salad. Chef Symon himself described it as “jaw-dropping good.” If the King of Pork says that about raw zucchini, you simply must sit up and take notice. I hurried home and made my own version. Only the best for Meatless Monday, I say!

Turns out Chef Symon is right. This raw zucchini and yellow squash ( think extra healthy!) salad is truly speechless good. The only thing it needed for my taste buds was a salty element, so I added crumbled feta. Result: summery deliciousness on a plate! You must eat it right away to get the full crispness of the squashes – it does not keep at all in the fridge. Put this on your “Must-Try” list in the height of zucchini madness season this summer!

Read the rest of this entry →

Meatless Monday: Wholegrain Confetti Zucchini Cakes

May 31, 2010 in Entrees, Side Dishes, Vegetarian Entrees

I have been trying for about a year now to come up with a vegetarian version of crab cakes, a perfect task for Meatless Mondays. My family members can testify if need be: at least two dozen attempts.

Then my neighbor Joyce,  who owns the on-line business Dr. Grandma’s specializing in healthy and convenient products, decided to host a recipe contest using her products. My favorites are her whole-grain muffin and pancake mixes. ( If you can’t find Dr Grandmas where you live, you can buy Dr G’s online or  just use any multigrain pancake mix that requires the addition of an egg.) I decided to toy with making a veggie pancake using veggies with just a bit of pancake mix as a binder to hold the veggies in a patty while cooking.

Since zucchini season is coming, I went heavy on the zuks, but you can try any grated veggie you like. These are so tasty and make perfect sides for your main course, or three of them make a fine vegetarian entree. They take only about 20 minutes to make – a great healthy weeknight meal! I like them drizzled with a Greek yogurt sauce mixed with a little Frank’s Red Hot Sauce and some cumin. Yum.

Read the rest of this entry →