Creamy Gnocchi with Ham and Asparagus is one of our favorite springtime dinners. I start this dish by making homemade potato and ricotta gnocchi. Over the years, I’ve worked hard perfecting this recipe. So, I can confidently say that it’s quite foolproof. As long as …
Strawberry and Roasted Chicken Salad is one of our favorite springtime salads. I start this dish by roasting some zesty orange and garlic chicken breasts. Then, I make a tasty Orange Vinaigrette. Finally, I toss this all together with spring greens, strawberries, oranges, walnuts, and …
Falafel with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce is one of our favorite meatless meals. I start this dish by frying the crispy chickpea falafel patties. Then, I stuff the falafel into pita pockets along with sliced veggies. Finally, I spoon on a creamy cucumber and yogurt sauce. We like this dish for several reasons. First of all, once you are done soaking the chickpeas, this whole meal comes together in less than an hour. Secondly, I like that this is a meatless meal. But, it’s so filling that you won’t miss the meat. And, lastly, we all love the crispy falafel and the creamy yogurt sauce.
The Equipment I Used
A Food Processor- You’ll need this to grind up the chickpeas.
A Deep Fry Thermometer- Use this to monitor the temperature of your oil.
A Dutch Oven- I like to use my enameled cast iron Dutch oven to fry my falafel. But, you can use any large pot.
The Ingredients Needed for Falafel with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce
Chickpeas- Use dried chickpeas, not canned. Be sure to soak them for a good 20 hours.
Garlic- I like to buy the peeled cloves and store them in the freezer.
Onions- Use fresh onions, without green sprouts in the middle.
Parsley and Cilantro- These fresh herbs are essential. Wash them well and pat them dry.
Cumin and Coriander- These ground spices are also essential.
Oil- Use vegetable, canola, or peanut oil.
Yogurt- Use full fat Greek plain yogurt. I like Fage 5% Greek Yogurt.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil- Use a good quality oil. I like California Olive Ranch brand.
How I Made my Falafel
First, I stirred together my Cucumber Yogurt Spread.
Next, I made the falafel batter. Be sure to process the chickpeas until they are well ground up.
Then, I fried the falafel. Be sure to keep your oil at 375 degrees.
If you enjoy meatless meals, you need to try this crispy and delicious Falafel with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce.
Falafel with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce
Falafel with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce
Falafel sandwiches stuffed with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce and fresh vegetables.
1cup eachsliced plum tomatoes, sliced red onion, sliced cucumber
For the Cucumber Yogurt Sauce:
1tbsp.minced garlic
1cuppeeled English cucumber, shredded
1cupplain whole milk Greek yogurt
½tsp.kosher salt
1tsp. red wine vinegar
2tbsp.extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
The afternoon before you want to make the falafel, soak the rinsed dry chickpeas in a bowl of water. Make sure the chickpeas are covered by a couple of inches of water and put keep them in the refrigerator.
First, make the Cucumber Yogurt Sauce: Place the cucumber in a clean dish towel and squeeze out all the liquid. Place the cucumber in a bowl along with all the other ingredients and stir them together.
The next day, drain the chickpeas and put them in a food processor, along with the rest of the falafel batter ingredients. Process until everything is creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Form each tablespoon of mixture into a one inch pattie. Place the patties on waxed paper.
In a Dutch oven, heat an inch and a half of oil to 375 degrees. Fry in about four batches, until the falafel is brown all over. You will have to flip them over, so they brown evenly. Do not add more oil until the oil comes back to 375 degrees. Drain the falafel well.
Serve the falafel on top of or inside of the bread, with the sliced vegetables and Cucumber Yogurt Spread.
Strawberry Baked Brie and Crostini is one of our favorite springtime appetizers. I like to serve this appetizer for both Easter and Passover. For Easter, of course, I serve this with matzo instead of crostini. I also like to serve this for Mother’s Day. I …
Lemon Chicken with Capers and Pappardelle is one of our favorite springtime meals. I start this dish by cooking the sugar snap peas and carrots. Then, I toss it with the pappardelle pasta. Next, I cook the chicken and make a lemony, buttery sauce. Finally, …
Cavatelli with Snap Peas and Carrots is one of our favorite springtime dinners. I start this dish by making homemade cavatelli. But, if you don’t have a cavatelli maker, you can always use purchased cavatelli. Then, I make a tasty lemony butter sauce and cook carrots and sugar snap peas together. Then, it all gets tossed together. We like this dish for several reasons. First of all, once the cavatelli is cooked, I like that I can make this meal in about twenty minutes. Secondly, I like that this is a meatless meal. And, I guarantee you won’t miss the meat. And, lastly, we all love the fresh spring flavors in this dish.
The Equipment I Used
A Cavatelli Maker- If you want to make your own cavatelli, you’ll need this. I used Fante’s Cousin Elisa’s Cavatelli Maker.
A Food Scale- You’ll need this to weigh your flour, if you are making your own cavatelli.
A Large Skillet- Use this to cook the sauce for your pasta. Using a big pan will allow you to really get your cavatelli and veggies coated in the sauce.
The Ingredients Needed for Cavatelli with Snap Peas and Carrots
Extra Virgin Olive Oil-Use a good quality, mild olive oil. I like California Olive Ranch brand olive oil.
Butter- Be sure to use unsalted butter. I like Kerrygold Irish butter.
Garlic- I like to buy the peeled cloves and store them in my freezer.
Cavatelli- My recipe is attached below. This recipe would also be great with cheese tortellini or gnocchi. Or, feel free to use any dried pasta, like fussili.
Lemon Juice- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Cheese- I used Pecorino Romano cheese. But you could also use Parmesan cheese.
How I Made my Pasta
First, I made my cavatelli and drained it.
Next, I cooked the sauce and the veggies. Be sure to not overcook the veggies.
Finally, I tossed together everything.
If you like cavatelli, you need to try this delicious Cavatelli with Snap Peas and Carrots.
Cavatelli with Snap Peas and Asparagus
Cavatelli with Snap Peas and Carrots
Cavatelli with snap peas and carrots in t a lemon butter sauce
In a large skillet, heat the oil and butter on low heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook three minutes or until the garlic is soft. Add the peas and carrots and cook about four minutes or until the veggies are crisp tender.
Add the cavatelli, lemon juice, lemon zest, and cheese. Toss until well combined.
Whisk together the flour and kosher salt into a large mixing bowl. Mix together the rest of the ingredeints into a seperate bowl. Then, stir those ingredients into the flour. Stir until a ball of dough is formed. Empty it onto a floured board and knead for 8 minutes. Wrap it in plastic wrap and let it sit for an hour.
Pull off a golf ball sized piece and roll it into a half inch wide flat rope. Dust it with flour. Feed it into the cavatelli maker. Put the cavaelli on a floured tray. Repeat with the rest of the dough.
Bring a large pot of gently salted water to a boil. Boil the cavatelli, in four batches, until they float to the top. Drain well.
Lemony Salmon on Potato Pancakes is one of our favorite springtime meals. I start this meal by frying crispy potato pancakes. Then, I top the pancakes with lemon butter salmon and fresh asparagus and peas. We like this dish for several reasons. First of all, …
Carrot Cake Muffins with a Cheesecake Swirl are one of our favorite springtime muffins. I love making these on Easter morning for a festive holiday brunch. I start these muffins by making a carrot cake batter filled with coconut and walnuts. Then, I swirl the …
Crispy Sesame Chicken Bowls are one of our favorite chicken dinners. I start this dish by deep frying chicken until it’s super crispy. Then, I make a sweet caramel sauce to coat the chicken in. Finally, I serve the sesame chicken on top of rice. I also add on stir fried carrots, crisp cucumbers and radishes, and boiled eggs. We like this dish for several reasons. First of all, I like that this dish can be made ahead of time and reheated in the microwave. The chicken will be slightly less crispy, but will still be delicious. Secondly, I like that this is a complete meal. No side dishes are needed. And, lastly, we all love this incredibly crispy chicken.
The Equipment I Used
A Dutch Oven- I like to fry my chicken in an enameled cast iron Dutch oven, but you can use any deep pot. The enameled cast iron pots are really great for keeping your oil at an even temperature.
A Deep Frying Thermometer- You’ll need this so that you know how hot your oil is.
The Ingredients Needed for Crispy Sesame Chicken Bowls
Chicken- You’ll need boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Use a pound to a pound and a quarter of chicken.
Oil- Use vegetable, canola, or peanut oil to fry your chicken. I always use Crisco vegetable oil.
Cornstarch- You can find this in the baking section of your market.
Chicken Stock- I always use my homemade chicken stock. the recipe is below.
Sesame Oil- Use pure sesame oil. You can find this in either the oil section or the Asian food section of your market.
Sesame Seeds- You can find these in the spice section of your market.
How I Made my Rice Bowls
First, I made the rice and boiled the eggs. To peel your eggs easily, peel them under running water.
Next, I stir fried the carrots and made the sauce.
Then, I fried the chicken. Only add chicken to the pot when the oil is at the correct temperature.
If you like crispy chicken you need to try these amazing Crispy Sesame Chicken Bowls.
Crispy Sesame Chicken Bowls
Crispy Sesame Chicken Bowls
Super crispy deep-fried chicken breast chunks enveloped in a sweet caramel sauce. Served with rice, boiled eggs, crisp radishes and cucumbers and stir-fried carrots.
1lb.boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut in half inch pieces
3cupsvegetable oil
1egg
1tsp. eachsugar and kosher salt
â…›tsp. black pepper
1cupcornstarch
1tbsp.sesame seeds
For the Caramel Sauce:
3tbsp.vegetable oil
3dried chilis or ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1tsp.minced garlic
½cup granulated sugar
¼tsp.ground ginger
¼cupchicken stock
1tbsp.rice vinegar
¼cuplow salt soy sauce
1tbsp. sesame oil
2tsp.cornstarch mixed with 4 tsp. water
Garnishes:
1tbsp.sesame seeds
¼cupsliced scallions
For the Vegetables:
1tsp.olive oil
2cupsthinly sliced carrots
1tsp. eachsoy sauce and sugar
1cupthinly sliced radishes
1cupcucumbers, sliced into thin batons
½tsp.kosher salt and pepper
1tbsp.rice wine vine
For the Boiled Eggs:
4large eggs
Instructions
Begin by making the rice: In a three quart saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add the rice and salt and cover and simmer it for 16 minutes. Remove it from the stove and let it sit covered for 10 minutes or until the chicken is done.
While the rice cooks, make the Caramel Sauce: In a three- quart saucepan, heat the vegetable oil on medium heat and add the chilis, sugar, ginger, chicken stock, garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Bring to a boil and then add 2 tsp. cornstarch mixed with 4 tsp. of water and simmer until the sauce gets thick and syrupy about 5 minutes. Set aside.
Also make the eggs. Put the eggs in a three quart saucepan and cover them with water. Bring the pot to a boil, and then cover the pot and remove it from the heat. Let the eggs sit in the hot water for six minutes. Then drain the eggs and peel them. Cut them in half.
Also, cook the carrots: In a skillet, heat the oil and cook the carrots with the soy sauce and sugar, on medium heat, for a few minutes, just until they're crisp tender. Cover to keep them warm.
Also prepare the cucumbers and radishes: Sprinkle each with a quarter teaspoon of kosher salt and let it set ten minutes. Squeeze each dry. Stir in one tablespoon of rice vinegar and one teaspoon of sugar to each vegetable.
Also, fry the Crispy Orange Caramel Chicken: Start by heating one inch of vegetable oil in a deep pot, to 375°.
In a large bowl, beat the egg, sugar, and salt together. Stir in the chicken. Add the cornstarch and stir until all the chicken is coated.
When the oil is at 375°, fry the chicken pieces in three batches until the coating is starts to turn golden and crisp. Drain each batch on a wire rack. Then, refry all the chicken a second time, in 3 batches, until they are super crispy.
Meanwhile, reheat the sauce. When the chicken is all done, toss them with the sauce in a large bowl and sprinkle with the sesame seeds.
To serve: Put some rice in four bowls. Top the rice with some chicken and sauce. Also, add the eggs, cucumbers, carrots, and radishes. Sprinkle the bowls with the sesame seeds and scallions.
4½lbs.chicken breasts and wings with skin and bones
10cupswater
2peeled onions
2peeled carrots
3peeled parsley roots
1tbsp.kosher salt
4stalks celery
1peeled parsnip
2tbsp.garlic cloves
1cupfresh parsley and fresh dill
Instructions
Put the chicken and the salt in a large, tall pot and cover with ten cups of cold water. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes, skimming any scum that forms.
Add all the vegetables and herbs and simmer for two and a half hours. Pour the soup through a strainer to remove everything but the broth.
Easy Vanilla Cheesecake Tart is one of our favorite springtime desserts. I start this tart by making a quick crust out of cookie crumbs. Then, I make a no bake creamy cheesecake filling. After it chills in the refrigerator, I top the tart with colorful …