Category Archives: Lunch Ideas

Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad

January 25, 2018 by pamflo

Spring is not that far off…..right?! Lately, I’ve been thinking about tomatoes as I gaze out at my frozen little garden with it’s stark, empty branches. With that thought in mind, I made this bright roasted tomato caprese salad and topped it with a nut-free arugula and basil pesto. It’s as easy as tossing whole cherry tomatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper and fresh thyme sprigs. Roast these little gems in the oven until they burst open. It’s funny […]

Categories: Appetizer, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Salads, Side Dish, Vegetarian • Tags: Roast

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Grilled Citrus Caesar Salad

January 18, 2018 by pamflo

The hero of a Caesar salad, romaine lettuce is a crisp, mild tasting lettuce with sturdy leaves and a thick rib down the center. Perfect for grilling! Many variations of Caesar salad are still popular on restaurant menus today. Not many of us in the Northeast are using our outdoor grills this winter, so this is a perfect recipe for a stove-top grill pan. I just completed my first freelance food project with a California-based farm called Tanimura and Antle. […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dressing, Gluten Free, Greens, Lunch Ideas • Tags: Grill

Cauliflower Steaks with Lemon Caper Sauce

January 4, 2018 by pamflo

Welcome to 2018! For many years I worked for Weight Watchers helping people achieve their weight loss goals, one step at a time. It was more about teaching people to establish a healthy lifestyle instead of just following another diet. There isn’t one plan that works for everyone. It’s about figuring out what works for you as an individual, based on your genetic makeup, preferences, food allergies and health issues. Although I’m not one to make New Year’s resolutions, healthy […]

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

Ribollita Soup

December 14, 2017 by pamflo

Warm up this holiday season with this hearty and healthy Tuscan vegetable soup. The cold, damp winter weather is the perfect time to hunker down and make a big ol’ pot of soup. Ribollita is an easy soup to make, with hunks of stale or toasted bread and lots of vegetables. Feel free to use a variety of veggies, although traditionally this soup is made with inexpensive vegetables, white beans, kale and cabbage. I love to finish soup with a […]

Categories: Appetizer, Beans, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Greens, Lunch Ideas, One-Pot Meals, Soups/Stews • Tags: Simmer

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Pulled Pork Nachos

December 7, 2017 by pamflo

Many years ago, my culinary school “market basket style” final exam was to prepare a pork tenderloin dish with assorted, random ingredients. I passed the exam but having never cooked a pork dish before this, I was petrified of ruining it. Thank goodness I didn’t overcook it, but after that experience I never made pork again until recently. Slow roasting is one of my favorite winter activities. This delicious pulled pork dish takes a good 3 plus hours to cook. Use […]

Categories: Appetizer, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Meat/Poultry, One-Pot Meals • Tags: Low and Slow Cooking

Squash with an Egg-in-the-hole

November 2, 2017 by pamflo

Naturally low in fat and nutrient dense, winter squash is a healthy substitute for the toast in the classic breakfast dish of egg-in-the-hole. There’s a beautiful assortment of squash available and you can use any variety of winter squash, although acorn is the best with its sweet and tender flesh. These squash are small and heavy when ripe, with a tough outer skin that’s eatable after cooking. I used the small sweet dumpling squash as I was drawn to its […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Eggs, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Vegetables • Tags: Roast

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Citrus Tomato Salad with Pistachios

October 12, 2017 by pamflo

I’m frequently inspired by the places I go and the meals I eat. Recently on a trip to Washington, D.C. I was struck by a delightful and simple tomato citrus salad. It was beautifully composed and had very distinct flavors. With the farmers markets still stocked with big, juicy tomatoes and my garden still heavy with basil, I created my own version. With a drizzle of good olive oil, a squeeze of orange juice and some fresh basil, this is […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Side Dish • Tags: No Cooking

Poached Cod

September 21, 2017 by pamflo

Poaching is a method of moist heat cooking that is good for delicate foods. The high fat content of milk makes it an ideal poaching liquid, especially for a thick piece of fish. The milk absorbs whatever aromatics you choose to use, and gently simmers the fish in this flavorful broth. Coconut milk is a good choice for a non-diary poaching liquid. Spoon the delicious broth over the fish before serving. Serve with Yukon gold potatoes mash. 1-2 pounds small […]

Categories: Appetizer, Lunch Ideas, One-Pot Meals, Seafood • Tags: Poach

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Summer Corn Chowder

September 7, 2017 by pamflo

As the summer comes to a close, this soup is a perfect way to celebrate corn on the cob which is at its peak. At many of the farmers markets, you’ll find both white and yellow corn on the cob piled in nice big stacks. When shopping for corn, the husks should be bright green and wrapped tightly against the kernels. I sometimes take a tiny peek by peeling back the husk an inch or so, to make sure the […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Side Dish, Soups/Stews, Vegetarian • Tags: Simmer, Whiz

Honeydew and Cucumber Gazpacho

August 31, 2017 by pamflo

I was totally inspired by this fantastic vegan gazpacho while traveling recently in Missouri. This fun, hip restaurant in St. Louis had a fruit based gazpacho on their menu. The light, flavorful cantaloup gazpacho was garnished with toasted, chopped pistachio nuts and an optional dollop of tangy greek yogurt. Not home even 24 hours, I re-created the soup with honeydew melon and cucumber, and a garnish of lightly salted crunchy chickpeas. This dish involves no cooking and makes a scrumptious […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Side Dish, Vegetarian • Tags: No Cooking, Whiz

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Zucchini Pappardelle with Pesto

August 24, 2017 by pamflo

Zucchini pappardelle is a great pasta substitute, and combined with a fresh, tangy pesto, you hardly realize that you’re not eating any grains. I gave my spiralizer a short vacation and made zucchini ribbon “noodles” for this light summer dish. A wide vegetable peeler or a mandolin both work to create these pappardelle style noodles. To prevent the zucchini from become watery, place it in a colander and lightly salt it to withdraw some of the water. After coating the […]

Categories: Appetizer, Gluten Free, Greens, Lunch Ideas, Vegetarian • Tags: Bake, Whiz

Bibb Lettuce Salad with Grilled Peaches

August 17, 2017 by pamflo

This summer, peaches are super sweet and juicy. Grilled peaches with crisp greens and a light vinaigrette is the perfect way to enjoy the summer’s ripe fruit. Peaches are part of the stone fruit family, with the seeds covered by a hard pit. Freestone peaches are the best type for grilling because they’re bigger, a bit firmer and the pit is easier to remove. Every year, the USDA publishes the “Dirty Dozen”, which is a list of fruits and vegetables […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Fruit, Gluten Free, Greens, Lunch Ideas • Tags: Grill

Truffle Parmesan Potato Chips

August 10, 2017 by pamflo

Potato chips have always been one of my favorite snack foods, so I thought why not make my own twist on this classic snack. I added truffle salt and grated Parmesan cheese to the warm chips, for a boost in flavor. It turns out that a sprinkle of truffle salt is not only perfect for my chips, but is delicious on foods such as steak or even grilled cheese. The secret to crispy potato chips are maintaining the temperature of […]

Categories: Appetizer, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Snack, Vegetables • Tags: Fry

Heirloom Tomato Galette

July 20, 2017 by pamflo

The Farmers Markets are in full swing and bursting with amazing fresh produce. The highlight for me are the ripe, colorful and juicy heirloom tomatoes. This tasty, savory tart is made with a simple crust combining butter and crème fraîche. The crust can be made a day ahead and be refrigerated overnight. The filling is a delicious combination of heirloom tomatoes and manchego cheese, a popular Spanish sheep’s milk cheese with a tangy, nutty flavor profile. A slice of this […]

Categories: Appetizer, Breakfast Ideas, Cheeses, Lunch Ideas, Vegetarian • Tags: Bake

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Bluefish with Garlic Aioli

June 22, 2017 by pamflo

It was a cool, dark early June morning when my kids took off to go on a deep sea fishing charter off of Cape Cod. Often sea sick on boats I passed on the adventure, but promised to cook whatever they were lucky enough to catch. Lo and behold, they came home with beautiful pieces of bluefish, the filleting courtesy of the boat captain. We had never eaten bluefish, so I quickly researched on-line and found a mayo based glaze. […]

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

Grilled Pizza

June 15, 2017 by pamflo

Despite the cool wet spring in New England, I was ready to fire up the outdoor grill. Although this charred and crispy bread is more like a garnished flatbread than a pizza, it can be topped with all sorts of fresh and seasonal fruits, vegetables and meats. The stunning red and bizarre shaped heirloom tomatoes are just starting to show up at the market. With the addition of some arugula leaves, sliced prosciutto and shredded mozzarella cheese, I had a […]

Categories: Appetizer, Lunch Ideas, Pasta/Pizza, Sandwiches, Snack • Tags: Grill

Lobster Roll

June 1, 2017 by pamflo

In anticipation of summer’s arrival, lobster was on my mind. Nothing beats a hunk of fresh lobster meat mixed with mayonnaise, a squeeze of lemon juice and diced celery on a buttery grilled bun. Lobster rolls are a true New England favorite. I learned from the lobster master, chef Jasper White, while in culinary school. He’s famous for his pan-roasted lobster in the shell. There are numerous ways to make lobster salad, with the addition of herbs, dried spices or various […]

Categories: Lunch Ideas, Sandwiches, Seafood • Tags: Boil

Lime and Cilantro Scallops

May 18, 2017 by pamflo

Many years ago, I was a guest on a friend’s local television show and was asked a few personal questions to wrap up the segment. The host asked if my mother was a positive cooking influence in my life. Without filtering my thoughts, I said that my mom was an awful cook and had ruined my joy of eating scallops…oops! Although this was true, I profusely apologized to my mom and we still laugh about that moment. Scallops are a lean protein source and easy to cook. […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Seafood • Tags: Sauté

Savory Socca (Chickpea Pancake)

May 11, 2017 by pamflo

The advantages to the tremendous amount of rain that Boston has received recently are beautiful, green grass and bright, colorful flowers. I was surprised to find some fragrant mint and sage in my little backyard garden, as well. I used the mint for tea and the sage for topping my socca. Socca, a regional French dish, is a savory pancake created with chickpea flour (also called garbanzo flour), water and olive oil. The batter makes a beautiful, gluten-free pancake that can be […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Side Dish • Tags: Bake, Broil

Black Rice Salad

May 4, 2017 by pamflo

I used to own a finicky rice cooker made by a company called Fuzzy Logic. I came to rely heavily on this favorite kitchen appliance for all dishes involving rice. After years of dependable, consistent batches of perfectly steamed fluffy rice it just stopped working, bringing tears to my eyes. I realized that I couldn’t remember when I had last cooked rice on the stove-top. I never replaced my rice cooker and embraced cooking rice on the stove, which takes precision. Remember to […]

Categories: Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Rice/Grains, Salads • Tags: Boil

Spaghetti Squash Pizza

April 20, 2017 by pamflo

I thought it might be fun to put together a quick and easy crowd pleasing dish. All that is needed is a few pantry staples and any veggies you have on hand. The fact that this actually tastes like pizza came as a complete surprise. Spaghetti squash is a healthy, versatile vegetable. The flesh becomes beautiful noodle-like strands, that will take on whatever flavor you add to it. High in fiber and rich in nutrients, spaghetti squash is a tasty substitute for […]

Categories: Appetizer, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Side Dish, Vegetarian • Tags: Roast