Linguine with Basil Cream Sauce and Corn

Posted by Rachel Crawford on August 10, 2009 | 2 Comments

pastacreamsauce

I’m not typically a fan of creamy sauces — I find fettuccine alfredo way too rich. But in thinking up a way to use the lovely corn I got from the Grand Army Plaza farmer’s market on Saturday, I thought a creamy basil sauce with corn sounded nice. And it was! The sauce was not overly thick, and the main texture takeaway was the crispy, sweet corn. The best part about this dish is that besides the prep of chopping, the actual cooking time is just about 10 minutes, so no slaving over a hot stove in summer. I had mine over a bed of arugula dressed with just a little lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Tangy!

I also want to point out that this is a meal packed with summer flavor, and a great vegetarian main dish. You could always add meat to this, but really, when the flavors are so pure and fresh, why would you?

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Filed under: Italian, Pasta, Rice and Grains, Salads, Vegetables

Tomato Goat Cheese Tart

Posted by Rachel Crawford on August 6, 2009 | 2 Comments

tomatotart

What’s more beautiful this time of year than a basket of heirloom cherry tomatoes? I couldn’t resist the multi-colored tiny tomatoes at the farmer’s market, all purple and red and yellow, and at $4 for a basket, they were less expensive than some of the heirloom monsters you see dominating the stands.

I based my recipe off of this one I found on epicurious, for a tomato and goat cheese tart with cornmeal crust. The cornmeal in the crust gives it a nice crunch, and the flavor pairs well with the goat cheese. I had a single onion that had been hanging out awhile, and before it went bad, I decided to caramelize it and throw it into the mix, along with part of a zucchini I’d also gotten from the market. The result was very decadent — this recipe has a lot of butter — but perfect alongside a light salad in place of a more banal quiche. This tart would be perfect to serve to company. Pretty and delicious!

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Filed under: Cheese, Cooking, French, Vegetables

Homemade Popsicles!

Posted by Rachel Crawford on August 3, 2009 | 1 Comment

popsicles

So I had an epiphany the other day, at the DUMBO flea market in Brooklyn. I was willing to pay $3.50 on a hot day for a delicious popsicle. $3.50! They’re not even filling! But it made me realize I could probably make popsicles just as delicious at home — and then I remembered I actually had a popsicle mold! I acquired said mold from a friend, who hosted trivia night at her house and gave it out as a prize. I promptly stashed it somewhere and forgot about it, until it got to be a billion degrees outside. Thanks, New York summer! Read more

Filed under: Berries, Dessert

Summer Salads

Posted by Rachel Crawford on July 24, 2009 | No Comments

salads

Salads in the summer are the best. Very little (if any) stovetop time required and usually very speedy, salads are pretty much the most versatile category of food out there. Hence Mark Bittman’s inspirational list of 101 salads in the New York Times this week! I’ll admit, I was influenced by his run-down (I still have a fig, blue cheese, bacon and balsamic salad on my list to make!) and originally planned to do a trio of salads. Instead I settled for a duo, and added some veggie sausage on the side for more heft.

My first salad is really more of a guacamole than a salad, but I guess that depends on how you choose to define salad. I made my own twist here, but I stole Mark’s idea to serve it in the hollowed-out shell of the avacado. Cute! Read more

Filed under: Cooking, Salads, Vegetables

Week 1 Recap

Posted by Rachel Crawford on July 2, 2009 | No Comments

curriedlentils

So I made it through one week of hard core budgeting…and guess what my total was?

$46.04!!!!!

I won’t bore you with the details of every single thing I ate for days 4 – 7, although I do have a plethora of recipes to follow, with prices. Saturday, instead of recording a dinner price, we went to a friend’s house for BBQ and brought a white bean and green garlic dip, so I included the cost for that. And let’s be honest, there’s no way I didn’t miss something here or there, miscalculate, or not eat every bite of leftovers, which would drive up the per serving cost. So we can safely assume I came in somewhere in the ballpark of $50. On to the recipes: Grits Gratin with Arugula & White Beans, White Bean & Green Garlic Dip, Curried Lentils with Potatoes, Ground Coriander and Cilantro Flatbreads, and Raita! Read more

Filed under: Budgeting, Cooking
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