Ratatouille with Basil & Parmesan Cheese

Maris Callahan — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 21:19:21 +0000

When I first learned to cook there were about three recipes that I would make with fairly consistent regularity and no, not ratatouille, but: whole-wheat beer bread, turkey chili and spinach artichoke dip. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut when your skills are limited. But what if I told you that there are so many things you can make if you have even the most basic kitchen skills? If you can make chili, which basically includes browning meat, chopping vegetables and simmering tomatoes with beans, you can also make trickier-sounding Italian Beef Stew or Eggplant Caponata. Or, Ratatouille. If you think that Ratatouille is a meal named after the Disney character then I’m going to take a wild guess that you have at least three pizza delivery numbers programmed into your cell phone. No judgment. Ratatouille is actually a stewed vegetable dish with French Provencal origins. Key ingredients are tomatoes, eggplants and zucchini along with herbs and spices. Marjoram, Herbs de Provence are traditional but this version, which I adapted from the now defunct Gourmet, uses basil to add fresh flavor. So, to recap: you chop, you saute and then you simmer. Garnish with Parmigiano-Reggiano and voila. Dinner. […]

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Potato Leek Soup

Maris Callahan — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:00:00 +0000

I’m starting a personal campaign (not to be confused with a new year’s resolution) to convince myself that comfort food doesn’t have to be fattening. We all think of “comfort food” as big bowls of cheese and chocolate that we eat when we’re consoling ourselves – a hard day at work, a heart-wrenching break-up. Sometimes, we need comfort food when, in the throes of winter, the wind chill forces the temperature below zero and the leftover holiday cheer is but a distant blip in the past. This potato leek soup inspired me to cook with leeks for the first time ever. What better meal for a cold night than a thick soup that tastes creamy, but without the calories? This guilt-free soup is great for lunches or paired with a simple green salad for a fast and healthy dinner. I topped mine with a little bit of parsley. I also omitted the hot sauce that the recipe called for, so the soup was a little bit bland but I like to doctor it up with a little bit of shredded cheddar or a dollop of light sour cream – the same way I might dress a baked potato. Save Print […]

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comfort food – In Good Taste

Ratatouille with Basil & Parmesan Cheese

Potato Leek Soup