Russian Monday: Warm Potato Salad with Radish & Cucumber, Mustard Dressing

In serious Russian cookbooks potato salads always merit to get chapter of their own. This is because potato salad is not just salad with potatoes, like “Vinegrette” or "Olivier", you are already familiar with, but rather whole category of salads, in which potatoes are the leading ingredient. This particular kind of salad does not require young small potatoes (although, I like to use new potatoes for this salad), the important factor is if the kind of potatoes you use would keep their shape after boiling and can be easily cut in cubes or slices that would not break when mixing with other ingredients.

Summer Vegetarian Sandwich, #OXOGreenSaver & Melissa's Cucumbers

The meaty texture of baby portobello mushrooms combined with creamy avocado, crunchy cucumbers and fresh micro greens makes a substantial sandwich. Swiss cheese adds richness to this summer lunch. This version is especially good on a whole wheat or multigrain bread.

Green Salad (Cucumber, Zucchini, Avocado) with Plum Sweet & Spicy Dressing

The spring is finally here and I feel like eating more vegetables, fresh fruits and berries. I start mornings with a glass of freshly made juice and my lunch becomes lighter and healthier. I present this special salad which is good for any diet. It has few ingredients but many flavors. I use all organic vegetables and highly recommend the same in your cooking. The dressing is slightly sweet with a touch of cayenne pepper, but you may change your ingredients if you’d like. My husband had this salad with broiled salmon for dinner and he was very pleased. Enjoy these simple, but nutritious recipes.

Russian Monday: Family Dinner - Cornish Hens Under a Brick, Roasted Potato & Cucumber Salad

March can be a very tricky month. One day the sun is shining and birds are singing, but the next day you wake up and find a pile of snow from overnight snowstorm on your doorstep. That is what happened to us a couple of days ago. School was cancelled, train service was suspended and life came to a complete standstill.

Five Superstar Summer Salads

Here are some salad recipes that do not appear to have many ingredients in common. Some are based on a traditional vegetables and fruits, others are a little more unexpected. When you are not sure what to serve, these salads provide a perfect solution, suitable for an informal meal with your family, or a quick snack before the movie theater, or just a lunch with a friend where a full meal is not required. Fresh, light and easily done, these salads are attractive and sure to please.

Russian Monday: Salted Cucumbers

Even though the word “pickles” most often is used to refer to pickled cucumbers, this is collective term. It applies to pickled, leavened or marinated vegetables, mushrooms, fruits, greens and even berries – just any fruits of the earth.

Gazpacho with Lemon Thyme and Smoked Paprika

"Soup," declared the French gastronomer, Grimod de la Reyniere, "is to a diner what a portico or a peristyle is to a building… not only the first part of it, but must be made in such a manner as to set the tone of the whole banquet, in the same way as the overture of an opera makes known the subject of the work."



Tomatoes, both row and cooked, play such a tremendous part in our diet that it is hard to believe that they have been in the general category of edible vegetables for only about a hundred years.

Note: If you wish to peel tomatoes, hold them over a gas flame, turning constantly, or blanch them in boiling water for minute. When cool, the skins will slip off without any trouble. Remove the stem ends. If you are planning to use the tomatoes for seasoning a dish, cut in quarters and remove the seeds.This means that you will have the essence of the tomatoes without the additional liquid that results from the cooking of the seeds.

Tomatoes, cucumber and peppers from the basis of the classic, Gazpacho soup. Add a spoonful of lemon thyme and chunky roasted cherry tomatoes for a refreshing summer appetizer. This is quite a substantial soup, so follow with a light main course, such a broiled fish or chicken.



Ingredients:

• 6 ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1 purple onion, finely chopped
• 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, chopped
• 1 sweet red or green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1-2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
• 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh chives
• 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh lemon thyme
• 2 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
• few drops of Tabasco sauce to taste
• 2 cup tomato juice
• Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Blend until mixed but still chunky. Season well. Cover and chill for at least one hour before serving.

Four Grains Soup and Potato Stuffed Flatbread (Aloo Paratha) and Mint, Yogurt Dressing

"He who controls the spice, controls the universe. Such were the words uttered by the main character of the movie Dune based on the Frank Herbert science fiction epic of the same name. In the story, the spice was the lifeblood of a vast empire. For the leaders of this empire, it was essential that at all times the spice must flow.

The spice trade of the Dune movie was no doubt inspired by the historical trade in aromatics from ancient times to the present. At various periods in history, spices have been as valuable as gold and silver. According to a 15th century saying: No man should die who can afford cinnamon."

I love to cook with spices lately. Here is a perfect lunch or dinner, full of exotic ingredients and yet healthy, vegetarian dishes.


Ingredients:

For the soup:

• 1/2 cup green split peas
• 1/2 yellow split peas
• 1/2 barley
• 1/2 lentils
• 1/2 alphabet pasta bits made from wheat flower, spinach and tomato (or pasta of your choice)
• 6 cups of water
• 1 potato, diced into small cubs
• salt to taste
• 2 tsp sunflower or olive oil
• 1/2 tsp black or brown mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 4 shallots, finely chopped
• 2 fresh green chiles, chopped (seeded if you like)
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 fresh tomato, chopped
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro leaves

For the potato stuffed flatbread:
For Dough:

• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour  
• 1/4 tsp salt  
• 3 tsp oil 
• 1/2 cup water
• more flour in a plate, for rolling

For Filling:

• 2 large potatoes, boiled and peeled
• 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 tsp or to taste red chili powder 
• salt to taste
• 5 sprigs cilantro, finely chopped
• oil for pan frying

For the yogurt dressing:

• 1 small cucumber
• 3/4 cup plain yogurt
• 1/4 tsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• fresh mint, to taste, finely chopped

Directions:
For the soup:

Put the grains into medium saucepan. Add the water and bring to boil. Reduce the heat to medium and skim of the foam. Cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure that the grains do not stick to the bottom of the pan as they  thicker. Stir in the salt and potato. (If you add salt too soon to the grains, they will take longer to cook.) Let it cook for another 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. When hot, but not smoking, add the mustard seeds, followed by the cumin seeds. Add the shallots and chiles and cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes, then add the turmeric and ground cumin. Add the tomato and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds.

Fold the shallot mixture into the cooked grains. Stir in the cilantro, remove from the heat, and serve.


For the flatbread:

If you are planning to cook Aloo Paratha for the first time, please visit the very helpful video of this recipe here. That's what I did-)))


For the yogurt dressing:

Peel the cucumber and scoop out the seeds. Cut the flesh into bite-size pieces and set aside. Put the yogurt in a bowl and beat with a fork until smooth. Add the sugar and salt and mix well. Add the cucumber, garlic, mint and paprika. Mix well and serve over flatbread.

Hard-cooked Egg and Prosciutto Sandwich with Avocado and Basil, and Giveaway

Few days ago, I've got beautiful homegrown, range-free organic eggs as a present from our dear neighbors, and I decided to make an Egg Sandwich.

I truly love this regal and scrumptious sandwich with its medley of hot and cold filling ingredients. You can vary the ingredients - substitute hot bacon or the ell for the Prosciutto for example.



Ingredients:

• 4 Ciabatta Rolls
• 2/3 cup homemade mayonnaise or use ready-made
• 20 leaves of basil
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 4 Tbsp butter
• salt and freshly ground pepper

For the filling:

• 2 oz baby spinach, shredded
• 4 oz Prosciutto, thinly sliced
• 1 avocado, pitted, peeled, and thinly sliced
• 4 hard-cooked eggs, sliced
• 4 oz cucumber, peeled and sliced
• 4 oz Rosenborg Danish Blue, creamy cheese

Directions:

Using a food processor simply mix the mayonnaise with the basil, garlic and lemon juice. Put the ciabatta rolls on the board and slice them lengthwise with a serrated knife.
Preheat the broiler. Spread the softened butter all over the inside of the ciabatta rolls and season lightly with salt and pepper.




Broil the base and lid until almost golden. Layer all the filling ingredients into the base, in order listed above or in order of your desire. Spread half the mayonnaise/pesto mixture over the spinach layer, and the rest over the eggs. Finish with a layer of Rosenborg Danish Blue creamy cheese.

Place the filled ciabatta rolls bas under the broiler for 4 minutes. Reheat the cut side of the lid for 2 minutes. Replace the lid on the roll base, pressing down with your fingertips.


Have a good lunch!


Free case of Cascal goes to comment #7 by Jaimee.

And for the GIVEAWAY
From my childhood, I remember beverage called Kvass - strong, sometimes sweet, sometimes bitter, it always helps during hot summer day. It was made by fermentation of bread. And we called it Kvassik (diminutive form of Kvass) when it was flavored with fruits or berries.

I was glad to find a soft drink which has similar taste, it is made using natural juices and also fermented.

Friends from Cascal offered to send a case of their new soft-drink to one of my dear reader.
So, here how you could get it:

• Visit Cascal website cheerscascal.com and pick a flavor you like the most.
• By midnight of Friday April 13, 2012 write a comment to this post with your name and favorite Cascal flavor.
• Increase your chance by following me on Facebook, following me on Twitter, or do the same for Cascal (Facebook, Twitter). Please add an extra comment after each Facebook or Twitter entry.

Good luck!

Radish Salad and Berry Drink "Mors"

A simple Radish Salad.

Ingredients:

• 5 radishes, sliced thin
• 1 cucumber, sliced thin
• 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 
• kosher or sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste
• fresh parsley, minced

Direction:

Slice radishes and cucumber in thin rings. Chop fresh parsley. Toss them in a bowl.

Mix lemon juice, olive oil, black and red pepper and salt. Drizzle this mixture on radishes and cucumbers rings and serve.



Mors is a refreshing drink made of berries. Though cranberries are the most traditional choice, any berry in season can be used. This version, made with cowberries, cherries and strawberries.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup frosen cowberries (lingonberry, red huckleberry)
• 1 cup frozen cherries
• 1 cup fresh strawberries
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 6-8 cups water
• 1/3 cup sugar (more or less, depending on your taste and the acidity of the berries)
• 1 cinnamon stick (optional)

Directions:

Place the berries and water in a saucepan, bring to a boil, cover and cook for 15 minutes.
Pass the liquid through a chinois and return to the saucepan. Add the sugar and lemon juice, then bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, and remove from the heat. Let cool and refrigerate.

Cucumber and Radish Carpaccio Salad

 

A perfect elegant summer salad !

 

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 Tbs. fresh Lemon Juice
• 1 Tbs. finely chopped fresh Mint
• 1 Tbs. finely chopped fresh Dill or Fennel
• 5 Radishes, sliced paper thin
• 2 Cucumbers, sliced paper thin
• 1/2 tsp Kosher or Sea Salt
• 2 Tbs crumbled Feta Cheese
• fresh cracked Black Pepper
• 2 garlic clove, minced

 

 

Directions:

Combine olive oil, lemon juice, mint, dill or fennel, and garlic in a medium bowl and whisk together to combine. Set aside.

 

 

Arrange sliced cucumbers and radishes on a large platter, alternating radishes slices with the cucumber slices.

 

 

Sprinkle slices lightly with kosher salt. Drizzle 3 Tbs of dressing over the slices. Sprinkle with crumbled feta, and fresh cracked black pepper.

Serve immediately. If you are not going to serve right away, do not dress slices with vinaigrette yet. Wait until you are about to set then add dressing at last moment.