Kalyn Denny's blog

Weekend Menu Planning: Rethinking Spaghetti with New Options for Noodles

2009-11-05T19:17:36-06:00

Mention spaghetti and most people probably think of red sauce, meatballs, and maybe some Parmesan cheese on top. Of course there's nothing wrong with that combination, but lately I've been seeing so many interesting ways to cook noodles that I thought I'd see if I could entice BlogHer readers to branch out in their spaghetti options.

What seems newer than new these days is combining spaghetti with vegetables for pasta dishes that are ultra nutritious. If there's been a bit too much Halloween candy on the menu at your house, how about cooking one of these combinations over the weekend?

Photo of Spaghetti with Braised Kale
from Dinner With Julie

Spaghetti and kale is a classic Italian combination and the Spaghetti with Braised Kale at Dinner With Julie looks like a nice savory and healthful dinner. Julie was inspired by a recipe from fellow food blogger Molly that appeared in Bon Appetit Magazine, so this recipe has the double food blogger stamp of approval.

Photo of 16-Minute Kale and Mushroom Spaghetti
from Foodie Reflections

Jackie at Foodie Reflections has lived in Italy, so that might be where she has learned to love the combination of kale and spaghetti, and her 16-Minute Kale and Mushroom Spaghetti sounds wonderful. Jackie made this for lunch (in 16 minutes!) but it could be a quick dinner option as well.

Photo of Spicy Soba Noodles with Chicken and Cabbage
from Half Assed Kitchen

Another quick dinner option involving noodles and veggies is the Spicy Soba Noodles with Chicken and Cabbage at Half Assed Kitchen. Soba noodles are made from Buckwheat, and although they look like spaghetti, the flavor is a bit different, but very tasty!

Photo of Creamy Spaghetti with Buttrenut Squash, Leek, and Oregano
from Lucullian Delights

As I said last week, I love all things butternut squash, so this Creamy Spaghetti with Buttrenut Squash, Leek, and Oregano from Lucullian Delights looks wonderful to me. Ilva had me at butternut squash, but then she goes on to say it's topped with walnuts and parmesan. Also, Ilva is living in Tuscany, so I think she knows a thing or two about spaghetti.

Photo of Collard Greens with Spaghetti
from Modern Beet

And one more fantastic spaghetti and greens combination is the Collard Greens with Spaghetti at Modern Beet. If you haven't tried many greens, collards are a good one to start with because they're milder and a bit sweeter in flavor than kale or chard.

More Ideas for Rethinking Pasta:
At Two Peas and Their Pod ~ Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Vegetables and Chickpeas
At Owlhaven ~ Spaghetti Frittata
At Sunday Nite Dinner ~ Chinese Spaghetti
At Mostly Eating ~ Spaghetti with Courgette (zucchini), Lemon and Goats Cheese
At A Mingling of Tastes ~ Slow Simmering Calamari with Spaghetti and Spinach

How do you like to eat spaghetti or noodles? Are you a red-sauce-and-nothing-else-will-do kind of household, or do you like more unusual spaghetti combinations? If you have your own take on spaghetti, please share your recipe or a link in the comments.

Kalyn Denny also blogs at Kalyn's Kitchen, where she's focused on creating low-glycemic recipes using fresh ingredients. Kalyn has been excited about spaghetti ever since she made Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Garlic, Chard, and Pecorino-Romano Cheese.

Weekend Menu Planning: It's Time to Make Some Butternut Squash Soup

2009-10-29T13:21:30-05:00

How do you feel about butternut squash? Personally I never liked squash as a kid, but as an adult, I can't get enough of it, and I consider butternut to be the premium type of squash for roasting, using in casseroles, or for making yummy butternut squash soup. When variations of butternut squash soup start showing up on food blogs, you know Autumn is really here.

Every year I bookmark lots of recipes for creamy butternut squash soups, and then I end up roasting all my squash to serve as a side dish and never making the soup. This is the year I'm making some type of creamy butternut squash soup, that's a commitment. Now I just have to narrow down the recipe I want to use, and here are some I'm considering.

Photo of Butternut Squash, Apple, and Vadouvan Soup
from The Perfect Pantry

At The Perfect Pantry, Lydia loves to try out new spices by using them in a favorite recipe and recently she tried a spice blend called vadouvan in Butternut Squash, Apple, and Vadouvan Soup. I'm a spice-mix addict, plus Lydia has a link showing how to make vadouvan if you don't have any, so this is a recipe that looks like something I'd love.

Photo of Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup
from Not Eating Out in New York

I love curries with coconut milk, so this Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup from Not Eating Out in New York was another one that caught my eye. In this recipe I love the addition of lemon juice just before serving, and Cathy reminds us that all types of winter squash are interchangeable in recipes.

Photo of Curried Butternut Squash Soup
from Taste Food

There's a slightly different version of Curried Butternut Squash Soup at Taste Food, and this one has some apple and a bit of brown sugar for added sweetness. Lynda says the original version of this soup came from The Silver Palate Cookbook, and she's tweaked the soup and made variations in the countries where she's lived.

Photo of Roasted Red Pepper and Butternut Squash Soup
from Dlyn

I love roasted red pepper as much as I love roasted butternut squash so when saw Roasted Red Pepper and Butternut Squash Soup at Dlyn, that had to go in the bookmarks folder too. This soup has cumin, paprika, and chile powder, three more reasons I'd love to try it.

Photo of Delicata Squash Bisque
from Vegan Yum Yum

Finally, for a delicious version of roasted squash soup that's vegan and could easily be made with butternut squash, I have my eye on the Delicata Squash Bisque from Vegan Yum Yum. Lolo says this is the best squash soup she's made ever, and the use of cashew cream to thicken the soup and add richness sounds to me like it would make a very luxurious-tasting soup.

More Butternut Squash Soup That Could Be on the Menu:
From Life's Ambrosia ~ Butternut Squash Soup with Curried Squash Seeds
From A Year of Slow Cooking ~ Crockpot Butternut Squash Soup
From The Hungry Mouse ~ Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
From White on Rice Couple ~ Truffled Butternut Squash Soup
From Phoo-D ~ Butternut Squash Soup with Parmesan

Do you have a favorite recipe for Butternut Squash Soup? If so, please leave a link or your soup recipe in the comments.

Kalyn Denny also blogs at Kalyn's Kitchen, where she's focused on creating low-glycemic recipes using fresh ingredients, and the closest she's come to creamy butternut squash soup is Autumn Harvest Soup with Butternut Squash, Kale, and Farro or Brown Rice.

For Celiac Awareness Month: Please Add to This List of Gluten-Free Blogs

2009-10-25T12:59:58-05:00

October is Celiac Awareness Month in the United States, designated to encourage all types of public media to share information about celiac disease. There's no doubt that diagnosed cases of Celiac disease, sometimes called gluten intolerance, have risen dramatically in recent years, but the good news is that there's also a corresponding increase in resources for people who need to avoid gluten in their diet.

Google Health defines Celiac Disease as "an inherited, autoimmune disease in which the lining of the small intestine is damaged from eating gluten and other proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats." No one knows whether the disease is really on the increase, or whether doctors are simply becoming more knowledgeable about the disease and better at accurately diagnosing it, but some reports are now saying that as many as one out of every 100 persons may have celiac.

Celiac disease is something I had only minimal awareness of when I started food blogging in early 2005, and I've watched the number of excellent blogs offering gluten-free recipes increase so that blogs about gluten-free eating are now one of the best resources for anyone seeking recipes that don't contain gluten. For Celiac Awareness Month I want to help spread the word about gluten-free food blogs, so I'm sharing links to a few gluten-free blogs I love.

Of course, I'll miss many more blogs than I'm able to mention, so I'm hoping BlogHer readers can help make this a more comprehensive list. If you have a gluten-free blog, or I miss your favorite gluten free blog, please tell us about it, and share a link to the blog in the comments. Together we can create a list that will be a great resource for forwarding to anyone who needs gluten free recipes.

(Disclaimer: The order in which blogs are mentioned here isn't any kind of ranking! I know some of these bloggers, so naturally their blogs will come to mind first. My apologies to any bloggers I know that are inadvertently left off the list, but please do add your link in the comments!)

Karina's Kitchen ~ One of the most visually appealing blogs you'll find, Karina serves up "gluten free recipes with a side of life." This blog has a long list of Gluten-Free Resources and Blogs, and sponsors a Gluten-Free Recipe Search. Karina also recently wrote a post about Gluten-Free Cooking for Simply Recipes.

Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef ~ Gluten-free girl Shauna is a former teacher turned blogger and cookbook author who now cooks and blogs about delicious food with the chef, her husband and co-author. Her Gluten-Free Links has resources for information about celiac, as well as a list of other gluten-free blogs.

Elana's Pantry ~ I enjoyed meeting blogger and cookbook author Elana when we were on a panel together recently at BlogHer Food, and her blog is "a place for organic gluten free recipes and tips for good living." Besides wonderful recipes, this blog also has a Gluten-free forum where readers share in the discussion.

A Year of Slow Cooking ~ This is a blog of slow cooker recipes, all of which happen to be gluten-free. Stephanie O'Dea started the blog with a goal of using her crockpot every day for a year, and she's since written a cookbook of gluten-free slow cooker recipes that's getting a lot of good press.

Celiac Chicks ~ Kim and Kelly are the dual force behind Celiacchicks.com, a comprehensive site they call "the guide to a hip & healthy gluten-free lifestyle. Besides recipes, this site can help with information about gluten-free restaurants, gluten-free bakeries, gluten-free products, and book reviews.

Simply Sugar and Gluten-Free ~ In the six years she's been living sugar and gluten-free, blogger Amy Green has lost sixty pounds. Simply Sugar and Gluten-Free is the blog where she shares the recipes that are helping her maintain that weight loss and stay healthy.

Book of Yum ~ This is a blog featuring "gluten-free vegetarian recipes and reviews." There's a good list of gluten-free links with information about celiac and a list of gluten-free blogs, and this blog also sponsors a monthly event called Adopt a Gluten-Free blogger where bloggers sign up to feature another gluten-free blogger on their site.

The W.H.O.L.E. Gang ~ This gluten-free blog written by Diane Eblin focuses on "Whole Healthy Organic Living Everyday." Besides recipes, she has a blogroll of gluten-free and dairy-free blogs, shares sources for gluten-free products, and is starting a list of Gluten-Free blog events.

There are many, many more excellent blogs focused on gluten-free recipes, so please help people find them by telling us about the blog in the comments if you have additions to this list.

Kalyn Denny also blogs at Kalyn's Kitchen, where she's focused on creating low-glycemic recipes using fresh ingredients. Kalyn often blogs recipes that just happen to be gluten-free, and plans to add a gluten-free recipes category so people can find things like Baked Brown Rice Tortilla Chips or Low-Sugar and Flourless Zucchini Muffins.

Halloween Treats to Make With Kids

2009-10-18T17:32:03-05:00

Halloween is less than two weeks away, the annual holiday where for many American kids the goal is to see how much candy they can consume in a short period of time. For adults, the Halloween challenge is to find other activities for the kids that can compete with eating candy, not always an easy task. I love cooking with my sister's kids when I go to visit, so I've been scouring the food blogs for some fun Halloween treats that would be fun to make.

If you're cooking with kids, you'll want to choose a recipe where at least part of the preparation can be done by the kids. Things that cook quickly or don't need cooking are a plus, so the kids can see the results right away. Finally, Halloween treats should be fun to eat, and hopefully, a bit less sweet than candy!

Photo of Frankenberry Cereal Bars
from Baking Bites.

At Baking Bites Nicole uses a type of Halloween cereal called Frankenberry to make Frankenberry Cereal Bars. These are basically a variation of Rice Krispy Treats made with Frankenberry cereal, and I'm guessing they'll be a hit with the kids.

Photo of Gingerbread Pumpkins
from Prudence Pennywise.

Prudence Pennywise has Gingerbread Pumpkins, made with a dough that Prudy says is sturdy enough for chubby little hands to cut out with cookie cutters. This post also has some great recommendations for Halloween-themed kids books, so while the kids eat their gingerbread, you can read together.

Photo of Jack-o-Lantern Cheese Balls
from Fab Frugal Food

The Jack-o-Lantern Cheese Balls at Fab Frugal Food are something kids would love to help make, although it will probably be the adults at the party that will gobble these up. This post has links to other Halloween treats after the recipe too, so scroll down to see them.

Photo of Pumpkin Cookies
from Suzy Homemaker

You only need 15-18 minutes baking time for the Pumpkin Cookies at Suzy Homemaker, and you know when the cookies are done the kids will love to help add the orange sprinkles.

Photo of Candy Corn Bark
from My Baking Addiction

And you have to agree that the Candy Corn Bark from My Baking Addiction is going to be devoured by all, although Jamie says it's sinfully sweet, so you may need to do a little portion control on the kids. Little hands can sprinkle on the candy corn and sprinkles for this one after mom pours the hot white chocolate on.

More Ideas for Halloween Food:
~Pumpkin Spice Pancakes from Sweetnicks would be fun for Halloween morning, since it's on a Saturday. Or if you want to kick it up a notch, how about Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pancakes from Sarah's Cucina Bella or Pumpkin French Toast from Panini Kathy.

~The Whole Pumpkin Baked with Custard at A Veggie Venture looks like a Halloween dessert that the whole family will enjoy.

~If you're feeling ambitious, or you have older teenagers to help with the work, you might want to try the recipe from Cakespy for Making Homemade Candy Corn (via Serious Eats.)

~Zoe Bakes has Halloween Marble Cake (with spiders!) that will be a hit with the boys in the family.

~Love and Olive Oil went with a mummy theme for her Pumpkin Chip Cupcakes (with icing that looks like mummy bandages.) There are more Pumpkin Cupcakes at Mom Grind and Pumpkin Bars at Real Mom Kitchen.

~Don't forget pumpkin bread! Whisk has a yummy-looking Orange Pumpkin Loaf, and In Good Taste has Pumpkin Bread, with a whole week of pumpkin recipes coming up on this blog.

So, What Are You Going to Make?
Can you believe I've found that many Halloween-themed treats from bloggers posted this year and Halloween is still nearly two weeks away? Obviously people love to make treats for Halloween, and I'm sure you can find something in all these Halloween treat ideas that looks good. Of course, maybe you have a traditional Halloween recipe that you make every year? If so, please do share in the comments!

Kalyn Denny also blogs at Kalyn's Kitchen, where she's focused on creating low-glycemic recipes using fresh ingredients. This Halloween Kalyn is hoping to avoid the candy and eat things like Low-Sugar Pumpkin and Apple Crumble instead.

Weekend Menu Planning: Make Your House Smell Great with Homemade Applesauce!

2009-10-15T21:18:30-05:00

Fall means time for apples, and cooks who like to bake go crazy in the fall with homemade apple pie, apple tarts, and apple cake. Of course all these apple dessert creations taste great, but one of the best and easiest use for fresh apples is homemade applesauce. If you haven't made homemade applesauce, you've never had *real* applesauce, which tastes amazing and makes the house smell wonderful too.

I've been noticing a lot of food bloggers making applesauce lately, and it seems there's an applesauce recipe for every type of cook, from crockpot applesauce to microwave applesauce, or simmer on the stove applesauce. Pick an applesauce recipe that suits your cooking style and make some homemade applesauce this weekend.

Photo of the Family Crockpot Applesauce Recipe
from Cookin' Canuck

Using the crockpot has to be one of the easiest ways to make applesauce, but when Dara from Cookin' Canuck announced on Facebook that she was going to share the Family Crockpot Applesauce Recipe that she'd gotten from her mother-in-law, some family members weren't sure if they wanted this family favorite recipe posted on a blog. Luckily for her readers, Dara called her mother-in-law, who gave her approval for the recipe to be shared.

Photo of Crockpot Chunky Cinnamon Applesauce on Toast
from Two Peas and Their Pod

Obviously Dara's applesauce recipe was a hit, because Maria from Two Peas and Their Pod has already made Crockpot Chunky Cinnamon Applesauce from Dara's recipe and posted it too. What I love about this post is the idea Maria shared about her favorite way to eat applesauce, spread on on whole wheat toast instead of jam. Don't you think that sounds great!

Photo of Ancho Chile Applesauce
from Homesick Texan

Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves are traditional in applesauce, but Lisa from Homesick Texan spices it up a bit more when she makes Ancho Chile Applesauce. Lisa took the train from NYC to Connecticut to pick the apples with her mother, who was there for a job interview, so there are two reasons this is special applesauce.

Photo of making applesauce using The Only Applesauce Recipe
from Occupation Mommy

Occupation Mommy calls her naturally sweetened applesauce The Only Applesauce Recipe, but you do need a food mill. I do love it that this applesauce recipe has no added sugar (and I have a food mill!)

Photo of Mom's Homemade Applesauc
from Unami Girl

Another applesauce recipe that uses a food mill is Mom's Homemade Applesauce, which Carolyn at Umami Girl says is "life on a spoon" for her. She makes the applesauce on the day of her parent's 40th wedding anniversary, and there's a beautiful tribute to two loving parents here along with Mom's recipe.

Photo of microwave applesauce made with The Applesauce Recipe
from Super Healthy Kids

Finally, if the microwave is your favorite cooking appliance, you need The Applesauce Recipe from Super Healthy Kids. It doesn't get much easier than this, and the applesauce looks great.

More Applesauce Recipes:
~Cate's Homemade Applesauce (in 20 minutes!) from Sweetnicks
~Homemade Applesauce from Macaroni and Cheesecake
~Stevia Sweetened Applesauce from Nourishing Days
~All-American Applesauce from Food Blogga
~Canning Applesauce from CalliMakesDo at BlogHer.com

What Else to do With Apples:
~Curried Apple Soup and All About Apples (an amazing post) at Green Gourmet Giraffe
~The Ultimate Apple Recipe Collection from Sam Breach at BlogHer.com
~Start Thinking About Caramel Apples from BlogHer.com
~Video of Making Rustic Apple Gallette from BlogHer.com

Have you ever made homemade applesauce? If you have a good applesauce recipe, we'd love to hear about it in the comments.

Kalyn Denny also blogs at Kalyn's Kitchen, where she's focused on creating low-glycemic recipes using fresh ingredients. Kalyn hasn't made applesauce yet, but last fall she was going crazy over Low Sugar and Flourless Apple Cranberry Crumble.

Hundreds of Bloggers Join the Celebration for Vegan Month of Food (VeganMoFo)

2009-10-11T19:54:22-05:00

In a glorious celebration of all things vegan, October has once again been designated Vegan Month of Food or VeganMoFo. Inspired by National Blog Posting Month, VeganMoFo asks that bloggers commit to writing about vegan food on every weekday throughout of the month.

VeganMoFo banner image from Post Punk Kitchen.

I was well aware that there are lots of vegan bloggers in the food blog world, but I was still slightly stunned to see the huge list of participants for VeganMoFo posted on Cake Maker to the Stars, who's hosting the event this year. The deadline to join in was October 2, but if you're looking for vegan recipes, there are several hundred possible sources on that list.

Vegan Search Engine Logo from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen

You can also find great vegan and vegetarian offerings through a custom google search engine for vegetarian and vegan blogs, maintained by Susan from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen. Here is information on how to add your blog if you're a vegetarian or vegan blogger.

Photo of Tandoori Style Tofu
from One Hot Stove

Of course, eating vegan is about much more than how the food tastes, but that doesn't mean you can't find some drool-worthy recipe ideas that are vegan. I'm not even a vegetarian, but I still get delighted when I see an interesting cooking idea that uses food in an unusual way, and vegan cooks are some of the most creative around. I'm talking about things like the Crispy Roasted Kale from Vegan Visitor, Tandoori Style Tofu from One Hot Stove, or Coconut Kefir Cheesecake from Bittersweet. Don't forget that every type of vegetable, fruit, grain, nut, seed, herb, and spice is vegan, which gives a realm of possibility for interesting recipe creations.

Photo of Coconut Kefir Cheesecake
from Bittersweet

Don't take my word for it though. Go check out some of the blogs that have participated in VeganMoFo over the last three years. You'll see lots of creative recipe ideas that would be right at home in your kitchen, whether or not you're a vegan.

~Vegan Month of Food list of participants 2009

~Vegan Month of Food list of participants 2008

~Vegan Month of Food list of participants 2007

If you have a vegetarian or vegan blog that isn't on one of those lists, we'd love to know about it. Please leave a comment telling us about your blog, and share the link.

Kalyn Denny also blogs at Kalyn's Kitchen, where she's focused on creating low-glycemic recipes using fresh ingredients. Kalyn's blog has a lot of vegan recipes, but her favorite is probably Vegan Tomato Salad with Cucumber, Avocado, Cilantro, and Lime.

Weekend Menu Planning: Autumn Means It's Time to Make Soup!

2009-10-08T18:55:09-05:00

On my blog I've often talked about how I hate winter weather, but I love winter cooking. There's something about a big pot of simmering soup or stew that fills the house with wonderful aromas and makes you feel like all's right with the world. Autumn is officially here, so it's time to make soup!

For a few weeks I wondered when I'd start to see soup recipes popping up on the food blogs, and then one day about two weeks ago I suddenly felt like making soup myself. There must be some kind of seasonal-recipe biological clock that tells food bloggers when it's time for certain dishes, because before I had even posted my soup recipe, I started spotting soup recipes on other blogs. Here are some of the first soups of the season that have been looking good to me.

Photo of Chickpea Soup
from The Pink Peppercorn

It was the Chickpea Soup from The Pink Peppercorn that inspired me to make my own version of Chickpea Soup. Gail said she didn't think this soup looked that appetizing, but to a chickpea lover like myself, it was impossible to resist!

Photo of New England Fish Chowder
from Simply Recipes

At Simply Recipes I thought this New England Fish Chowder looked warm and comforting. Elise recalls her years living in Boston as she makes this creamy "chow-dah."

Photo of Bacon and Potato Leek Soup
from The Hungry Mouse

I also loved the sound of Bacon and Potato Leek Soup from The Hungry Mouse. If you haven't cooked with leeks, there are good photos and instructions here about how to cut and wash them.

Photo of Zucchini, Potato, and Ham Soup
from Everything Rachel Ray

At Everything Rachel Ray, Madeline declares "Yippee! It's Time for Soup!" as she shares the recipe for Zucchini, Potato, and Ham Soup. Madeline just posted this yesterday, and one commenter has already made it and agreed it's a keeper.

Photo of Onion Soup
from Mrs. W's Kitchen

Finally, Amanda at Mrs. W's Kitchen got a jump on the season when she posted her recipe for Onion Soup clear back in September, but it's easy to see why she couldn't wait to make this wonderful looking soup. Amanda also has some good information to share about the health benefits of onions, so be sure to read that.

More Autumn-Welcoming Soups I'd Find Hard to Resist:
~Italian Chicken and Escarole Soup from Food Blogga
~Crab Bisque from Phoo-D
~Curried Sweet Potato and Wild Rice Soup from Happy Herbivote
~Spiced Up Lentil Soup from Tales from the Fridge
~Carrot Soup with Rosemary Apple Bread from Half Baked

Has soup been on the menu yet at your house this Autumn? If you have made soup, please share your recipe, post the link, or at least tell us about your soup in the comments!

Kalyn Denny also blogs at Kalyn's Kitchen, where she's focused on creating low-glycemic recipes using fresh ingredients. Kalyn's first soup this year was Chickpea Soup with Garlic, Sumac, Olive Oil, and Lemon, inspired by The Pink Peppercorn's soup mentioned above.

For Vegetable Gardeners, It's Time to Get Creative with Green Tomatoes

2009-10-04T17:44:08-05:00

Vegetable Garden season is winding down in most parts of the U.S., and gardeners everywhere are looking for ways to extend the harvest. One way to keep the garden goodness going is by making the most of whatever vegetables are left on the plants when the weather turns cold. Since tomatoes are such a beloved garden crop, many gardeners rescue all their green tomatoes that would otherwise freeze and bring them in the house. The question then becomes, what to do with all those green tomatoes?

For tomatoes that are close to full-size which just haven't ripened yet, you can actually wrap them in newspaper and they will ripen in a short time, although the flavor isn't really a match for summer vine-ripened tomato taste. I've done this many years when I had a big surplus of tomatoes, but other years I've had fun getting creative with the green un-ripe tomatoes, which do have a good flavor, slightly tart and firmer than ripe tomatoes. And with recent evidence that eating green tomatoes can help reduce cholesterol, it's time to explore some recipes using green tomatoes.

Photo of Fried Green Tomatoes with Mozarella
from Life's Ambrosia

Of course Fried Green Tomatoes are the most famous use of green tomatoes, and if you've tasted them you know how they became famous long before there was a movie of that name. The traditional recipe for Fried Green Tomatoes involves dipping slices of green tomato in egg, then flour or cornmeal, and frying them until the coating is crispy and the tomatoes are cooked. Traditional fried green tomatoes are definitely tasty, but the Fried Green Tomatoes with Mozarella from Life's Ambrosia are taking it up a notch by inserting a layer of mozzarella between the tomatoes, kind of like a fried green tomato sandwich! Life's Ambrosia also has a recipe for Fried Green Tomatoes with Bacon Ranch Dip that looks like another winner.

At Christie's Corner, after she picks all her tomatoes for the season she makes Fried Green Tomato Parmesan, a variation of Eggplant Parmesan using green tomatoes to sub for the eggplant.

Photo of Oven Fried Green Tomatoes
from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen

If you like the idea of crispy green tomatoes, but don't want the mess or calories of frying, the Oven Fried Green Tomatoes from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen might be just the thing. This recipe uses cornmeal, quinoa flour, and flax seed for a healthy option for this traditional dish.

Photo of Curried Green Tomatoes
from The Perfect Pantry

There are definitely other ways to enjoy green tomatoes, and at Whistlestop Cafe Cooking, Sandi is making Grilled Green Tomatoes with Goat Cheese, which sounds like a perfect season-spanning recipe. Another recipe I thought sounded intriguing was the Curried Green Tomatoes from The Perfect Pantry, which would be perfect to serve over rice. I also loved the sound of Spicy Green Tomato Soup from The Joy of Soup.

Photo of Deep Dish Green Tomato Pie
from A Yankee in a Southern Kitchen

If it's cool enough to use the oven and there are still green tomatoes on the vine, the Green Tomato Gratin from [No Recipes] sounds heavenly. And just one more recipe to leave you drooling and wishing you had some green tomatoes to use up, and I think Deep Dish Green Tomato Pie from A Yankee in a Southern Kitchen is a stunning way to use green tomatoes.

Kalyn Denny also blogs at Kalyn's Kitchen, where she's focused on creating low-glycemic recipes using fresh ingredients. Kalyn vows some year she's going to make fried green tomatoes, but most often when she has a surplus of green tomatoes she'll make something like Salsa Verde with Green Tomatoes, Avocado and Cilantro.

Weekend Menu Planning: Put Some Spaghetti Squash on the Menu

2009-10-01T20:21:05-05:00

I'm old enough to remember when spaghetti squash first made an appearance on the culinary scene, but it's now a beloved vegetable among people who are interested in keeping calories and carbs low or avoiding gluten in traditional pasta. Spaghetti squash is a type of winter squash, so called because it can be stored through the winter. The inside of the squash strings apart like spaghetti after it's been cooked, and the mild flavor of this squash makes it the perfect canvas for a lot of other seasonings. You can tell spaghetti squash is a versatile ingredient by checking some of the interesting ways food bloggers are using it.

Photo of Spaghetti Spaghetti Squash.
from Joyful Abode

To start, let's make it clear that you can indeed serve spaghetti squash topped with red sauce, just as you would spaghetti. This may be a good way to go if you're trying it for the first time. When Emily from Joyful Abode serves it this way, she calls it Spaghetti Spaghetti Squash.

Photo of Tomato Soup with Spaghetti Squash
from Happy Herbivore

At Happy Herbivore, the tables have been turned on the traditional Italian spaghetti with tomato sauce with the recipe for Tomato Soup with Spaghetti Squash. This time the "spaghetti" is a garnish of squash on top of the soup.

Photo of Spaghetti Squash with Mushrooms, Tomatoes, and Spinach
from Foodie Reflections

Spaghetti Squash with Mushrooms, Tomatoes, and Spinach is on the menu at Foodie Reflections, where they find spaghetti squash to be "the perfect crossover vegetable providing a canvas for combining summer and fall flavors."

Photo of Spaghetti Squash Gratin
from Daily Unadventures in Cooking

If your family likes Potatoes au Gratin, there's a good chance they'll like Spaghetti Squash Gratin, and the gratin I found at Daily Unadventures in Cooking looks perfect for fall. Katrina says this can be made ahead, and the leftovers also reheat well.

Photo of Baked Spaghetti Squash with Butter and Cheese
from Food Blogga

And finally, when Susan from Food Blogga thinks about her favorite way to eat pasta, she translates it to Spaghetti Squash with an easy recipe for Baked Spaghetti Squash with Butter and Cheese. Now what's not to like about that!

More Ideas with Spaghetti Squash:
~Spaghetti Squash with Parmesan from Half-Assed Kitchen
~Spaghetti Squash Baby Food Ideas from Humble Baby Food Recipes
~Brown Butter Spaghetti Squash from Sweet Basil
~Spaghetti Squash, Shitake, Arugula, and Pistachio Spring Rolls from Vegan Yum Yum
~Spaghetti Squash Pasta from Southern Grace Gourmet

Have you tried cooking spaghetti squash? If you have an interesting way to cook this unusual vegetable, please share the recipe or recipe link in the comments.

Kalyn Denny also blogs at Kalyn's Kitchen, where she's focused on creating low-glycemic recipes using fresh ingredients. Kalyn has spaghetti squash in her garden, so she'll soon be making Twice-Baked Spaghetti Squash with Pesto and Parmesan.

BlogHer Food Conference and if You've Cooked Okra, You Might Be a Foodie

2009-09-27T12:06:36-05:00

By the time you read this post, the BlogHer Food Blogging Conference will have ended after lots of sharing of blogging knowledge and rhapsodizing over interesting things people have blogged about. I'm writing this in advance so I can't discuss what the conference was like, but I have no doubt, there'll be plenty of talk about interesting things people have eaten. Some food bloggers are put-off by the word "Foodie" but I think it serves a purpose to distinguish those of us who are thrilled with the pursuit of unusual taste adventures compared to people who just want to eat. I was thinking about that and wondering what unusual food I'd never written about for BlogHer.com, and the next thing you know, a recipe for Fried Okra popped up in my feed reader!

I do consider myself to be a foodie (and don't even mind the word) but I've never cooked Okra. I was intrigued by how good it looked and decided to see what other good-looking okra ideas I could find.

Photo of Southern Fried Okra from Home with Mandy

This very tasty looking Southern Fried Okra from Home with Mandy is the one that got me thinking okra-loving thoughts. A slightly more sophisticated take on fried okra is the Tempura Okra from Cook (almost) Anything at Least Once. You can also make Cajun Fried Okra with Remoulade Sauce from The Well Seasoned Cook if you don't want a coating on your fried okra, or if frying isn't your thing, but you don't mind a bit of coating, consider the the Better Than Fried Okra at Kath Eats Real Food.

Most every type of vegetable tastes great when it's roasted, and at Daily Unadventures in Cooking, Katerina made Roasted Okra that sounds simple and truly looks delicious. There's more Roasted Okra at Fat Free Vegan Kitchen and Spicy Oven Baked Okra at Food in the Main. (Who knew roasted okra was a trend?)

Photo of Quick Chicken and Okra Stew from Food Blogga.

Susan from Food Blogga is another okra fan, and she shares a lot of information about okra in her post about Quick Chicken and Okra Stew. Charlotte at The Great Big Vegetable Challenge even entices kids to eat okra with her Chicken with Okra.

Another take on okra is the Spicy Pickled Okra that Lisa from Homesick Texan decided she liked after a friend chided her into trying them. There's more Smoky Pickled Okra at Desert Candy,
and Pickled Okra at The Slow Cook.

Photo of Dahi Bendi or Okra Curry from Sailu's Kitchen

A simple saute of okra with peppers and tomatoes results in what The Chocolate Lady at In Mol Araan calls The Best Okra Ever. Another okra saute that I think looks wonderful is the Dahi Bendi or Okra Curry from Sailu's Kitchen.

Finally, Okra Gumbo has to be one of the most classic uses of this interesting vegetable and of course it's from a New Orleans blog, Nola Cuisine.

So what's your take on okra? Have you ever cooked it, and do you like it? And if you have a good okra recipe, do share in the comments.

Kalyn Denny also blogs at Kalyn's Kitchen, where she's focused on creating low-glycemic recipes using fresh ingredients, and after seeing all these recipes Kalyn has no idea why she's never cooked okra.

Weekend Menu Planning: Celebrate Whole Grains Month with Brown Rice on the Menu!

2009-09-24T06:45:40-05:00

Let's finish up our celebration of whole grains month with some new thoughts and recipes for brown rice. You may not realize it, but brown rice now appears on the FDA list of whole grains, after being added last year. Sometimes brown rice can get a bit of a bum rap, and there's no denying it's a little trickier to cook than white rice. No worries though because food bloggers have some great ideas for turning brown rice into a menu item that will make you pay attention!

First, let's talk about some basic ways to cook brown rice. Personally I'm a big fan of the rice cooker for perfect brown rice, but if you don't have a rice cooker there are other methods that people swear by. A Life Less Sweet shares How I Made Peace with Brown Rice with a simple change in how she cooked it. At Pinch My Salt, Nicole weights in with How to Cook Perfect Brown Rice with instructions from Saveur Magazine. I'm guessing there must be something to the Saveur method, because Alanna also used it for her Perfect Stovetop Brown Rice recipe from A Veggie Venture. Once you've mastered that perfect brown rice, here are a few dishes to try.

Photo of Black Beans and Brown Rice with Lime, Cilantro, and Chipotle from Wednesday Food Blogging.

Wednesday Food Blogging is really speaking my language with Black Beans and Brown Rice with Lime, Cilantro, and Chipotle. Kathy says the rice and beans become something else entirely with these flavorings.

Photo of Brown Rice with Herb Marinated Broccoli, Zucchini, and Daikon from Lucullian Delights

At Lucullian Delights in Italy, Ilva does Gluten Free Fridays every week, and brown rice is a perfect gluten-free food. I think Ilva always uses ingredients in a creative way, and don't you love the looks of this Brown Rice with Herb Marinated Broccoli, Zucchini, and Daikon?

Photo of Thai-Inspired Brown Rice Salad from This Mama Cooks.

Mention Thai and I'm there, so of course I loved the sound of the Thai-Inspired Brown Rice Salad at This Mama Cooks. Even better, this recipe is diet friendly!

Photo of Baked Brown Rice Risotto with Roasted Acorn Squash from Supermarket Serenade

There are lots of flavor-enhancing ingredients in the Baked Brown Rice Risotto with Roasted Acorn Squash from Supermarket Serenade, and it also sounds super easy to make.

Photo of Brown Rice Vegetable Rolls from Korean Cuisine

Finally, they look a bit more challenging to make but the Brown Rice Vegetable Rolls from Korean Cuisine look to me like they would be worth the work. (My favorite supermarket now sells brown rice sushi, and I love it!)

A Few More Creative Ideas with Brown Rice:
~Delicious Wisdom uses brown rice mixed with other ingredients to form a crust for Brown Rice Pizza.
~I think I'd love the Southwest Brown Rice and Black Bean Burgers I spotted on Prudence Pennywise.
~Picky Palate has Chicken Sausage, Broccoli, and Parmesan Brown Rice Dinner which sounds like a good combination.
~For a dessert using brown rice, how about the Overnight Quinoa and Brown Rice Pudding Slow Cooker Recipe from A Year of Slow Cooking.
~Rookie Cookie has Shrimp Creole with Brown Rice.

Kalyn Denny also blogs at Kalyn's Kitchen, where she's focused on creating low-glycemic recipes using fresh ingredients. Kalyn loves to use brown rice in recipes like Stuffed Zucchini with Brown Rice, Ground Beef, Red Bell Pepper, and Basil.

Canning Across America: Join the Canvolution by Canning Some Pickles, Relish, or Chutney

2009-09-20T14:10:05-05:00

By now surely you've heard that there's a nationwide canning revolution going on. This Canvolution (Canning Across America) is all about getting people into the kitchen preserving the bounties of the harvest. Here on BlogHer I've covered canning tomatoes and vegetables, canning fruit, jam, or jelly, and today we're finishing up with pickles, relish, or chutney.

First, let me start by clarifying that many types of pickles, relish, or chutney can be made and either stored in the fridge for a week or two, or canned for longer storage. If you're adapting a recipe for canning, be sure to consult a canning book to see if any changes are needed to the recipe. There are literally millions of different types of pickles, relishes, or chutneys, so I'm going to focus on a few you might not have thought about.

Photo of Tarragon Garlic Pickles
by Donna Ruhlman

Pickle Recipes
~I love the flavor of tarragon, so Tarragon Garlic Pickles from Ruhlman.com immediately got my attention. (pictured above)
~There's also a bit of tarragon flavor in Jane's Sorta Homemade Sweet Pickles from Hedonia. (They aren't canned, but I'm also intrigued by Sean's Watermelon Rind Pickles.)
~Homesick Texan's Hot Jalapeno Pickles can be stored in the fridge for a month without canning, but can them if you want to keep them longer than that.
~Her Able Hands celebrates My Weekend of Pickles in a post with great photos of making pickles plus recipes for Bread-and-Butter Pickles and Half-Sour Pickles.
~The Quick Purple Kohlrabi Pickles from Modern Beet are another one that can be stored in the refrigerator or canned. Kohlrabi is a vegetable, somewhat similar to turnips.
~My Bit of Earth has Homemade Dill Pickles that look just like my mother used to make.
~Canadian Crafter has step-by-step instructions for canned Bread and Butter Pickles.
~There are lot more pickle recipes for many kinds of vegetables in my post on In a Pickle over Preserving the Harvest previously on BlogHer.com.

Photo of jars of Grandma Miller's Ripe Tomato Relish
from A Veggie Venture

Relish Recipes
~Grandma Miller's Ripe Tomato Relish sounds good at A Veggie Venture, and there's some good canning information in this post too. (pictured above)
~Heavenly Homemakers will show you How to Make and Can Sweet Pickle Relish (the healthier way.)
~Home of the Lazy Dog has Corn Relish with Cabbage and Peppers that's stored in the fridge, but could be canned (and does it ever sound good!)
~I like the sound of Beet-Cucumber Relish from The Perfect Pantry, and this can be kept in the fridge for 7-10 days or canned.
~If you have lots of tomatoes that aren't going to ripen before the frost, the Green Tomato Relish (also called Chow-Chow) from Black Belt Scrapping could be the answer.
~There's another Super-Simple, No Sugar, Salsa-Like Green Tomato Relish at Farmgirl Fare.
~One of the most traditional relishes has to be Dill Pickle Relish, shown at Angielawd with another recipe for Chicago Style Hot Dogs!
~Meeta from What's For Lunch Honey writes a great post on BlogHer.com about Preserving Summer: Jams, Jellies, Chutneys, and Relishes.

Photo of Green Mango Chutney
from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen

Chutney Recipes
~I loved the sound of Green Mango Chutney at Fat Free Vegan Kitchen, and although Susan doesn't mention canning this, there's no reason it couldn't be canned that I can think of. (pictured above)
~Chutney is used a lot in Indian cuisine, and at Show me the Curry there's a recipe archive category featuring all kinds of great-sounding Indian Pickles and Chutneys. This site has videos to show to show you how to make the dish.
~The Tomato Apricot Chunky Chutney at What's For Lunch Honey looks amazing.
~Homemade Mango Chutney from Simply Recipes sound delicious served over chicken, which is the way Elise says her family often eats it.
~Food Blogga Susan makes Fresh Pineapple Chutney which she stores in the fridge, but it could also be canned.
~Blueberry Habanero Chutney from Kitchenmage sounds like a great thing to have in the pantry. This can be made with frozen blueberries if you can't find fresh ones.
~If you like figs, bet you can think of lots of interesting ways to use the Fresh Fig Chutney from Half Baked.

This is part three of a three-part series designed to inspire BlogHer readers to try home canning. You can see all the posts by clicking the label Canning Across America.

Kalyn Denny also blogs at Kalyn's Kitchen, where she's focused on creating low-glycemic recipes using fresh ingredients. Kalyn's version of Sun-Dried Tomato, Olive, Caper, and Parsley Relish probably isn't suitable for canning, but it's great on grilled salmon.

Weekend Menu Planning: Celebrate Whole Grains Month by Cooking with Quinoa

2009-09-17T12:03:25-05:00

Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is one of the big nutritional superstars that's become popular the last few years. Although it's considered a grain, the edible seeds are the most eaten part of the plant, and because it's high in complete protein, quinoa is more nutritious than rice and wheat, making it a popular choice for vegetarians. And just when you think it couldn't get any better, quinoa is easy to cook and adaptable to many uses. If you haven't cooked with quinoa, or aren't using it often enough, here are some ideas from food bloggers in the BlogHer network to get you going.

Photo of International Quinoa Salad
from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen.

Whether or not you're a vegetarian, you'll find plenty to like about this International Quinoa Salad from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen. Susan has worked hard to make this recipe low fat but high flavor, and it's a favorite at her house.

Photo of Quinoa Chickpea Salad
from Foodie Reflections.

Jaclyn from Foodie Reflections says she can sum up this Quinoa Chickpea Salad with two words: "Yummy superfoods." This is an easy to make dish that also includes red peppers, corn, and scallions, and it can be served warm or cold.

Photo of Japanese Inspired Quinoa Salad
from Chocolate and Zucchini.

Quinoa is not a traditional Japanese ingredient, but when Clotilde checked, she found it's being used more in Japan, and her recipe for Japanese Inspired Quinoa Salad at Chocolate and Zucchini sounds like it has a lovely blend of Asian flavors.

Photo of Quinoa Pilaf
from Simply Recipes.

Quinoa has such great flavor on its own that it doesn't need to be cooked in stock, as Elise discovered when she made her simple but delicious-looking Quinoa Pilaf at Simply Recipes. there are a lot of things to like in this recipe, but I especially love the addition of pine nuts.

Photo of Breakfast Quinoa
from Food Blogga.

And just to show that quinoa isn't just for dinner, check out the lovely-sounding Breakfast Quinoa at Food Blogga which Susan made using quinoa to replace the couscous used in the dish when she had it at a restaurant.

More Yummy and Interesting Ideas with Quinoa:
Lemon Herb Grilled Shrimp and Quinoa Salad from What We're Eating
Breakfast Quinoa with Clementines, Sour Cherries, and Pecans from Mostly Eating
Quinoa Chocolate Cake with Cardamom from Lucullian Delights

More About Quinoa:
Are You Keen on Quinoa from BlogHer.com

Have you used quinoa in a recipe that was a hit? If you have good recipes using this nutritious grain, we'd love to hear about them with a link or the recipe in the comments.

(Every Thursday night on BlogHer, we spotlight five recipes with a common theme for a feature called Weekend Menu Planning, hoping one of them might make it onto the menu at your house. You can find previous recipes shared by clicking the tag Weekend Menu Planning. If you'd like to see other recipe ideas using whole grains for Whole Grains Month, just type "whole grains" into the BlogHer search bar. )

Kalyn Denny also blogs at Kalyn's Kitchen, where she's focused on creating low-glycemic recipes using fresh ingredients. Although Kalyn does have a recipe for Curried Cashew Chicken Salad with Quinoa and Baby Peas, she wants to cook with quinoa more often!

Canning Across America: Join the Canvolution by Canning Some Fruit, Jam, or Jelly

2009-09-13T19:53:01-05:00

Last week I talked about canning tomatoes and vegetables, introducing BlogHer readers to an ad hoc collective called Canning Across America. This group of cooks, gardeners, food bloggers, cookbook authors, and food writers are promoting a movement they're calling the Canvolution, designed to promote home canning of food. If you've never tried canning, check my introductory post about Canning Across America for links to some good basic information about canning. Once you know the basics, fruit is a good place to start, so here are some ideas to inspire you.

Photo of home-canned peaches from The Economics of Canning Peaches
by Rappahannock Cook and Kitchen Gardener

~If you need some convincing that canning is worth the effort, Rappahannock Cook and Kitchen Gardener has a great post about The Economics of Canning Peaches. She breaks down the costs and benefits of getting started canning and shares why she likes home-canned fruit so much.

Photo of Canned Pears
from Shiny Cook

Canned Fruit
~Shiny Cook has all you need to know for Canned Pears (pictured above).
~For an unusual take on canned fruit, check the Persimmon Pickles from Rookie Cookery, where Andrea chose this recipe as a way to avoid added sugar.
~Foodie Reflections talks about The Trials of a First-Time Canner as she makes canned peaches, peach preserves, and peach jam.
~Months of Edible Celebrations talks about Canning Apricots for Apricot Day. (Nevermind that the apricot producers scheduled Apricot Day in January, when there aren't any fresh apricots, this post still has good information!)
~If you need the experience of a newbie to cheer you on, Eating Etc. is thrilled with her first try at making Canned Peaches.
~Another fun tale about Canning Peaches (and beautiful photos) can be found at Krista's Kitchen.

Photo of Fig Preserves
from Inn Cuisine

Canned Preserves, Jam, Jelly, or Curd
~Visit Inn Cuisine for a Recipe and tutorial on How to Make and Can Fig Preserves or Jam (pictured above).
~Pioneer Woman Ree has a great two-part series that starts with Canning 101 and Strawberry Jam and adds more details in Strawberry Jam Part II. This post has good basic canning information and photos of the process.
~Chloe from Naturally Frugal writes on BlogHer.com about How to Make Blackberry Preserves.
~The Leftover Queen makes Summer Solstice Preserves, which sounds like a good recipe to save for next summer.
~Tea from Tea and Cookies wants to have Raspberries Forever, so she cans Raspberry Curd.
~At Food in Jars, Marisa makes Peach Jam.
~Andrea Meyers has Sweet Red Pepper Jelly that she says is her favorite type of canned jelly.
~Julie makes Jam Without a Recipe at Dinner with Julie
~At David Lebovitz there's a gorgeous looking Apricot Jam that is suitable for canning. (David has a link to the canning how-to, but he just keeps the jam in the fridge.)
~At Simply Recipes, Elise picks elderberries with a friend and makes Elderberry Jelly.

Read More about Canning:
~At The Ethicurean, Jennifer has recommendations for Essential Books for Preserving Seasonal Bounty.

This is part two of a three-part series designed to inspire BlogHer readers to try home canning. You can see all the posts by clicking the label Canning Across America.

Kalyn Denny also blogs at Kalyn's Kitchen, where she's focused on creating low-glycemic recipes using fresh ingredients.

Weekend Menu Planning: Celebrate Whole Grains Month by Cooking with Bulgur

2009-09-10T21:49:27-05:00

Recently I was visiting my father and happened to pick up a small local newspaper that was on his table, only to discover that September is Whole Grains Month! This was the first I'd heard about it, but I'm a whole grains woman every month of the year, so I'd never pass up a chance to encourage people to eat more whole grains. To get the celebration started, let's take a look at bulgur, a whole grain that doesn't even have to be cooked!

Bulgur is a type of par-boiled, de-branned, and dried cracked wheat that's used in Middle Eastern, Turkish, Indian, and Mediterranean cooking. If you're familiar with the Middle Eastern salad called tabbouleh, bulgur is the grain ingredient used in that dish. Because it's par-boiled and is meant to have a chewy texture, bulgur simply has to be soaked in boiling water and it's ready to eat.

Not only is bulgur a great ingredient in salads, pilafs, and baked goods, it can also be used in place of rice in dishes like stuffed peppers or soups. It's also sometimes used as a meat extender in meatloaf or meatballs. Take a look at these recipes featuring bulgur that caught my eye, and if you have a good recipe that uses bulgur, please share in the comments.

Photo of Bulgur Vegetable Salad
from Dlyn

It was this breathtaking Bulgur Vegetable Salad from Dlyn that got me thinking about featuring bulgur for Weekend Menu Planning. The salad has a lovely assortment of seasonal veggies and herbs, dressed with a slightly sweet honey-lemon dressing.

Photo of Moroccan Spiced Bulgur and Chickpea Salad
from The Skinny Gourmet

Another bulgur salad I'd happily gobble up is the Moroccan Spiced Bulgur and Chickpea Salad from The Skinny Gourmet. Not only does the salad feature my beloved seasoning combination of lime and cumin, but there are also carrots, almonds, and mint bumping up the interest here.

Photo of Heart Healthy Mackerel, Pepper, and Bulgur Wheat Salad
from Mostly Eating

You can combine bulgur with another healthful and delicious food if you make the Heart Healthy Mackerel, Pepper, and Bulgur Wheat Salad from Sophie at Mostly Eating. Sophie's in the U.K., so if mackerel is hard to find where you are, just substitute another fish that's high in Omega-3 fatty acids.

Photo of Bulgur Pilaf with Roasted Eggplant and Raisins
from Eating SF

I love the idea of combining bulgur with eggplant in the Bulgur Pilaf with Roasted Eggplant and Raisins I found at Eating SF. I think this could be a great side dish for a more formal dinner, but Kasey reports she ate it as a one-dish meal, with a nice glass of wine.

Photo of My Mother's Spicy Greens with Bulgur
from 64 Sq. Ft. Kitchen

Finally, a very interesting idea for using bulgur, and one that Warda from 64 Sq. Ft. Kitchen wrote about after she went to Algeria to visit her family is the dish she's calling My Mother's Spicy Greens with Bulgur. Warda uses greens native to that area, but she has ideas for others that can be used in this dish seasoned with cumin, turmeric, and red chile pepper flakes.

More Interesting Ideas with Bulgur:
Bulgur with Cheese and Eggplant from The Perfect Pantry
Spicy Southwest Bulgur Salad from What We're Eating
Bulgur Carrot Soup from Zandria.us
Mustard Greens and Bulgur from Kirby Von Scrumptious
Lentils with Bulgur Wheat and Caramelized Onions from 28 Cooks
Tabbouleh with Heirloom Tomatoes and Shiso from Just Hungry
Kibbeh from Seriously Good

Kalyn Denny also blogs at Kalyn's Kitchen, where she's focused on creating low-glycemic recipes using fresh ingredients. Kalyn loves bulgur and recently a friend gave her a wonderful recipe for Bulgur Salad with Tomatoes, Cucumber, Parsley, Mint, and Lemon.