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Roasted Broccoli

Roasted Broccoli by John Spottiswood

This roasted broccoli recipe, adapted from the Barefoot Contessa, is really wonderful. It has a lot of flavor. We served it with a mild pasta, and it was just a wonderful combination. Don't be worried by the lemon juice and zest. They impart a subtle flavor that adds a nice dimension to this dish.

25 votes
21183 views
Stir-Fried Broccoli with Chili-Garlic Sauce

Stir-Fried Broccoli with Chili-Garlic Sauce by John Spottiswood

My father-in-law has become an amazing cook, and he made this as part of our Easter lunch this year with the fabulous pork tenderloin recipe (see linked below). This version isn't gloppy with extra sauce like you find in many Chinese take out places. It's very flavorful but also relatively light and healthful. He made a TON of it,…

18 votes
42224 views
Simple Pasta with Garlic & Olive Oil

Simple Pasta with Garlic & Olive Oil by John Spottiswood

This is a classic recipe that is so simple to make but always delicious. You can serve this as a side dish to any grilled meat or vegetable entree. It can also stand on it's own or be paired with a salad for a light lunch or dinner. It's a great, easy recipe to add to your list of staples. Using a good olive oil is key here. I…

12 votes
24525 views
Italian Spinach Soup

Italian Spinach Soup by John Spottiswood

Suprise, surprise. Another amazing recipe adapted from Marcella Hazan's Essential's of Italian Cooking. This is one of my bibles. Not only did I love this spinach soup, but all four of my kids did too! Everyone had mutiple servings. We served it with simple sourdough toast, though Crostini (Italian croutons) is what Marcella…

11 votes
39441 views
Brussels

Brussels by John Spottiswood

No not the country famous for Beer, Diamonds and Waffles, but a rather a tested method to make anyone eat Brussel Sprouts. Serve as a side to steak, chicken piccata, or just over steamed rice. Provided and tested by my good friend Brian Bedrosian.

11 votes
5049 views
Spaetzle

Spaetzle by John Spottiswood

This is a simple and delicious recipe for Spaetzle. My friend Helmut normally does not add oil to his Spaetzle, but we did last night because it said to on the recipe on our Spaetzle maker. I think it helped make the dough slightly easier to work with and less sticky. Feel free to do without if you prefer.

10 votes
6558 views
Potatoes With Parsley and Garlic - Pommes Parsillade

Potatoes With Parsley and Garlic - Pommes Parsillade by John Spottiswood

These are the fantastic potatoes you've probably had in a french bistro...the ones that weren't pommes frites (french fries). They are best served immediately when the crisp exterior contrasts so nicely with the warm, soft interior. We served these with a lentils and sausage recipe that I will post shortly. The combination was…

10 votes
4696 views
Green Beans with Basil and Tomato

Green Beans with Basil and Tomato by John Spottiswood

This is an attractive and tasty side dish. The butter, basil and tomato adds a nice flavor boost to the green beans. I've made them with garlic salt and regular kosher salt, both are delicious. If you want to spice it up, add more black pepper or substitute crushed red pepper for the black pepper.

9 votes
7519 views
Tabouli

Tabouli by Jacqui Patek

This is a quick and fresh dish that is good all year round. I love to serve it with pita chips.

8 votes
49266 views
Rice with Lentils - Khichdi Jamai Ji

Rice with Lentils - Khichdi Jamai Ji by John Spottiswood

Khichdi is a mixture of dal and rice that is cooked together so that the flavors blend together. Various lentils can be used, such as split moong dal with or without skin, whole brown lentils (mosoor) or mooth lentils. It can be made with or without the addition of any number of vegetables. The proportion of rice to lentils also…

8 votes
8710 views
Lemon & Garlic Green Beans

Lemon & Garlic Green Beans by John Spottiswood

It is rare to have a side dish which everyone keeps reaching for instead of the main dish. That's especially true if its a fairly simple green vegetable side. But these green beans were truly that good. We used packaged, thin french cut green beans from Trader Joes. They are tender and tasty on their own, but I've never had them taste…

8 votes
33840 views
Asparagus and Shitake Mushrooms

Asparagus and Shitake Mushrooms by John Spottiswood

Quickly sauteed asparagus and shitake mushrooms with fresh ginger makes a really spectacular dish. This has a light, Asian flavor that would go well with fish or poultry as well as beef (which we served it alongside). This could easily be cooked in a wok if you have one handy, though a large saute pan will work equally well. We…

8 votes
3441 views
Pizza Sauces

Pizza Sauces by I Sicilian

Stop the pizza delivery man, for ever! Unless… it’s being delivered directly from Sicily. I am sure that if you try this homemade pizza you will never buy into any impersonator again. Although most of us think of pizza as a round pie colored in red and white, pizza like pasta comes in different shapes, different thicknesses, with…

7 votes
5019 views
Homemade Refried Beans

Homemade Refried Beans by John Spottiswood

I'm ashamed to say that though I LOVE refried beans, this is the first time I've ever made them myself. It's just so easy to buy them in a can, or at a mexican restaurant, that I haven't bothered. But this recipe is simple and it is definitely worth the effort in my mind. I figure my kids are the true test, since they aren't that…

7 votes
8467 views
Roasted Corn & Tomato Salad with Basil Balsamic Dressing

Roasted Corn & Tomato Salad with Basil Balsamic Dressing by Amos Miller

Super simple Summer salad! Almost a relish, yet offering opportunity for countless variations, this is picnic & BBQ perfect. On these hot summer days, you may not want to fire up the broiler, but this salad is so easy to bring together that when the coals are ready on the grill, just lay the unhusked ears of sweet corn over the…

7 votes
10642 views