Zest For Cooking

Smoked White Fish Rillettes

January 17, 2019 by pamflo

What are rillettes, you ask? Rillettes are a traditional French spread similar to pâté usually using pork, duck or goose that is cooked, cooled and shredded. I thought it might be fun to create rillettes with smoked white fish, although this recipe is more of a chunky spread than a smooth pâté. I purchased a white fish fillet that had already been smoked. I then blended the shredded fish with crème fraîche, lemon zest, lemon juice, a generous amount of […]

Categories: Appetizer, Breakfast Ideas, Dips/Sauces, Gluten Free, Healthish, Lunch Ideas, Seafood • Tags: No Cooking

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Tuscan Kale Soup with Beans and Fregola

January 10, 2019 by pamflo

I made this soup for my son who had gotten sick this past week. As I served it to him still sleepy at 2pm, he devoured it but was confused about what the round starchy orbs in the soup were. I told him it was Fregola, which is an Italian semolina based pasta that has been toasted. “Yum”, he said! These tiny pasta rounds are a must have in soups adding a wonderful toasty flavor and texture. It sometimes can […]

Categories: Appetizer, Beans, Gluten Free, Greens, Healthish, Lunch Ideas, Rice/Grains, Soups/Stews • Tags: Simmer

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Lentil and Roasted Butternut Squash Salad

January 3, 2019 by pamflo

Happy 2019! The weather feels more seasonal in Boston with the temperature dropping this week. Start the year with this warm and comforting salad that’s easy to make. Lentils are a legume filled with fiber and protein. When combined with butternut squash, a nutrient-dense vegetable, this healthy dish will brighten the cold winter months. Green lentils tend to hold their shape better than red lentils when cooked, and are ideal for salads or mixed with other grains. This recipe is […]

Categories: Beans/Legumes, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Healthish, Lunch Ideas, Vegetables • Tags: Roast, Simmer

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Grilled Mushroom Eggs “Benedict”

December 27, 2018 by pamflo

Preparing for a holiday brunch? Here is an easy and delicious dish to add to your menu. Although this recipe doesn’t have a classic hollandaise sauce, it has an avocado sauce that is a healthier version for sure! Instead of toast or an english muffin, I filled a big portobello mushroom with bacon, a poached egg and topped it with an easy avocado puree. Over a bed of lettuce or topped with fresh chopped herbs this is a perfect breakfast.

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Dips/Sauces, Eggs, Gluten Free, Healthish, Holiday Ideas, Vegetables • Tags: Grill, Whiz

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Holiday Spritz

December 20, 2018 by pamflo

For the last few years, I’ve posted a cocktail recipe in preparation for the holidays. This year my friend and cocktail-mixing expert, Katherine Steiger, wrote a guest post for my blog. Enjoy the holiday season! Every year for Thanksgiving I make a very elaborate cocktail with multiple steps and a long list of ingredients. That’s a great tradition for November, where everything is a sprint to the one day main event. The December holidays are more of a marathon, with […]

Categories: Alcohol, Beverage, Boozy, Cocktail, Holiday Ideas

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Fudgy Olive Oil Brownies

December 13, 2018 by pamflo

What is olive oil doing in a brownie recipe, you ask? Other than creating a dairy free dessert, it adds a bright fruity flavor to your brownies. I used freshly brewed Columbian coffee as the liquid, added in a speckling of extra-dark chocolate chips and topped with large flaky sea salt. Powdered sugar and dark chocolate drizzle are optional. These brownies make a beautiful dessert or a great holiday gift. Coffee enhances the flavor of the chocolate, but no stuffing […]

Categories: Cookies/Brownies, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gifts, Holiday Ideas • Tags: Bake

Baked Eggplant Parmesan

December 6, 2018 by pamflo

Deep purple and glossy with a unique texture and flavor, who doesn’t love eggplant?! Well the truth is that I’m the only one in my house that will eat eggplant which is why this is my first eggplant blog post. Nutrient dense and antioxidant rich, eggplant is part of the nightshade family, along with peppers, potatoes and tomatoes. There is no replacement for battered and deep-friend eggplant, smothered with sauce and cheese, however, this lighter version is a close second […]

Categories: Appetizer, Gluten Free, Healthish, Holiday Ideas, Lunch Ideas, Vegetarian • Tags: Bake

Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps

November 29, 2018 by pamflo

Need an idea for an easy weeknight dinner? I created healthy recipes using beautiful artisan greens for a sustainable produce company. This dish has all the wonderful flavors of tacos, but with lettuce leaves as the shell. Serve these yummy lettuce wraps with salsa, fresh guacamole, shredded cheese and fresh cilantro. I also roasted bell peppers and onions in olive oil, salt, pepper and a dash of sherry vinegar to serve with the wraps. The cayenne pepper provides the heat and […]

Categories: Gluten Free, Healthish, Lunch Ideas, Meat/Poultry, Vegetables • Tags: Bake

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Roasted Citrus Slices

November 20, 2018 by pamflo

With the holidays around the corner and the assortment of tempting foods, I thought a simple, lightly sweetened citrus recipe could be a perfect alternative. We’re on the cusp of the citrus season, so try experimenting with the wide variety of oranges, tangerines and grapefruit. Serve these lightly caramelized slices and their accumulated juices over your favorite yogurt with sprigs of fresh mint for a scrumptious dessert. If you find yourself not wanting to heat the broiler, toss the fresh […]

Categories: Fruit, Gluten Free, Healthish, Holiday Ideas, Low Sugar • Tags: Broil

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Sautéed Green Beans with Cherry Tomatoes

November 15, 2018 by pamflo

Green beans are a Thanksgiving staple, and this dish is fun and easy to make. Even if you’re not hosting or contributing a dish for the holiday, this green bean dish elevates a weeknight dinner to something a bit more special. I prefer a two step process when cooking green beans. The first step is blanching which is a quick dip of about 3-4 minutes in rapidly boiling salted water, then into an icy cold water bath to halt the […]

Categories: Beans, Cooking Tips, Gluten Free, Healthish, Holiday Ideas, Side Dish, Vegetables • Tags: Blanch, Sauté

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Roasted Pecan Crusted Salmon

November 8, 2018 by pamflo

Looking for a quick and easy dinner idea? Salmon is a great source of lean protein and filled with omega-3 fatty acids which have been shown to reduce inflammation and lower your blood pressure. Salmon is also a good source of potassium and vitamin B12, plus research shows it reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. In this recipe, I topped my salmon filet with a maple mustard glaze and then coated the fish with chopped pecans. The combination of the […]

Categories: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Holiday Ideas, Lunch Ideas, Nuts, Seafood • Tags: Bake

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Pumpkin and Apple Smoothie

November 1, 2018 by pamflo

Pumpkin purée is low in calories, high in nutrients and readily available. It is a great source of potassium, fiber and Vitamin A. Don’t mistakenly purchase pumpkin pie filling which is spiced and already sweetened. Canned pumpkin is cooked and pureed pumpkin flesh, nothing more. I usually grab a few extra cans this time of year for soups/chilis, pancakes/waffles, as an addition to oatmeal, and of course baked goods. I thought it might be fun to make a fall inspired pumpkin […]

Categories: Beverage, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Healthish, Low Sugar, Smoothies/Shakes, Vegetables • Tags: Whiz

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Kale, Red Pepper and Sausage Sauté

October 25, 2018 by pamflo

As we head into November, many of the outdoor Farmers Markets in the Boston area are coming to a close. With one last run, I purchased all the ingredients for this dish. This one-pot meal is a quick and easy dinner idea. I also roasted beautiful, creamy fingerling potatoes to serve alongside the sauté. One nice thing about using crumbled sausage meat after removing the casings, is the meat is already seasoned and flavorful. Once you cook the sausage, leave some […]

Categories: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Healthish, Lunch Ideas, Meat/Poultry, One-Pot Meals, Side Dish, Vegetables • Tags: Sauté

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Chocolate Dipped Flourless Oatmeal Cookies

October 18, 2018 by pamflo

It’s a chilly 46 degrees right now as I write this post. Perfect weather for baking 🙂 These oatmeal cookies have almond flour as a substitute for white flour and are sweetened with coconut palm sugar. Coconut palm sugar (not to be confused with palm sugar) is made from the sap of the coconut palm tree. This is a solid alternative sweetener for refined sugars and is most similar to brown sugar. Although this type of sugar provides the same […]

Categories: Chocolate, Cookies, Cooking Tips, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, Healthish, Low Sugar • Tags: Bake

Delicious Chicken Soup

October 11, 2018 by pamflo

The leaves on the trees are changing into beautiful colors, although it still feels like summer in Boston. The start of flu season is coming and though not a cure for the common cold, chicken soup is certainly a way to ease the symptoms and make you feel better quicker. There are many recipes for chicken soup, but this one is foolproof and makes a beautiful and flavorful chicken broth. This broth is so delicious that you can drink it […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Holiday Ideas, Lunch Ideas, Meat/Poultry, One-Pot Meals, Soups/Stews, Vegetables • Tags: Simmer

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Sautéed Yellow Zucchini with Pistachios and Mint

October 4, 2018 by pamflo

What does sauté mean? It’s a method of cooking food over high heat in a little bit of hot fat. This is a great way to cook vegetables while still maintaining their flavor and texture. Choose a wide bottom pan so the vegetables aren’t overcrowded. A quick sauté in olive oil is my choice for this recipe, but a combo of olive oil and butter add a nice depth of flavor. Coconut oil is a good option. This is an easy […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Nuts, Side Dish, Vegetables • Tags: Sauté

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Chocolate Dipped Figs

September 27, 2018 by pamflo

Let’s talk a little about figs — Black Mission, Brown Turkey, Green Kadota and Calimyrna figs are the varieties that are commonly available. Although not local to New England, the season for figs starts in the spring and goes through October. I used Black Mission figs for this simple but delicious treat. Figs are a unique seeded fruit with a sweet jammy flavor and soft chewy texture. A great source of fiber and nutrients, they’re delicate with a short shelf […]

Categories: Chocolate, Dessert, Fruit, Gifts, Gluten Free, Low Sugar • Tags: Melt

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Fresh Steamed Bluefish

September 20, 2018 by pamflo

My teenagers are not fans of rising early for anything, but a fishing trip off the coast of Cape Cod had them up and out the door by 5am. They had caught so many bluefish that by mid-morning they turned back to shore with the boat’s cold storage filled to the brim. Bluefish is a rich, oily fish that can become “fishy” in flavor if not caught or purchased fresh. I placed the fish over a single layer of sliced […]

Categories: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Seafood • Tags: Steam

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Honey Glazed Rainbow Carrots

September 13, 2018 by pamflo

These beautiful multi-colored carrots provide a wallop of Vitamin A and a solid dose of Vitamin C. They make a perfect side dish for dinner or a great contribution to a holiday meal. When roasting vegetables, make sure the chunks or pieces of veggies are about the same size, so they’ll roast evenly. Save the slightly bitter carrot tops for a zippy pesto, fun addition to a salad or as a leafy green garnish for soup.

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Holiday Ideas, Side Dish, Vegetables • Tags: Roast

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Peach and Berry Crumble

September 6, 2018 by pamflo

I’m feeling bittersweet as summer comes to a close with the steamy hot days slowly getting shorter. However, fall often represents an exciting and new fresh start. The fall in New England is one of the most beautiful seasons of all. The farmers’ markets are still brimming with succulent fresh fruit, and this recipe takes advantage of the ripe stone variety. I chose peaches and added blueberries using maple syrup for a bit of sweetness, plus cinnamon and nutmeg. Almond […]

Categories: Dessert, Fruit, Gluten Free, Healthish • Tags: Bake

Summer Charcuterie Platter

August 30, 2018 by pamflo

Shopping at your local farmers market is the best way to connect to what is fresh and seasonal. It supports the local farmers and minimizes the impact on the earth, with less distance to travel to your plate. With the amazing array of produce and no cooking required, I assembled fresh fruits and vegetables paired with cheese and meat, accompanied by crispy crackers…and a glass of rosé wine! There is an unlimited choice of the freshest fruits and vegetables in […]

Categories: Appetizer, Fruit, Lunch Ideas, Nuts, Side Dish, Vegetables • Tags: No Cooking

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