side – Page 4 – Strong Roots Nutrition

appetizer, side, snack, spring, vegetable, vegetarian

April 29, 2014

Grilled artichokes with lemon-olive vinaigrette

Artichokes are such a beautiful vegetable. They're so mysterious with their sharp leaves and fuzzy insides, though, that many people shy away from them or opt for the simplicity of canned hearts. Working with whole artichokes is not as hard as it looks - it just takes a sharp knife, and the reward is great. One of my favorite cookbooks, Heart of the Artichoke and Other Kitchen Journeys by David Tanis, contains this quote: The artichoke is ripe with metaphor and parable possibilities. Getting past the thorns to the sweet center, all of that. Not at[...]

side, spring, vegetable, vegetarian

April 9, 2014

Cauliflower gratin with garlic and goat cheese

Cauliflower has made a bit of a comeback recently, but I just can't get on board with cauliflower trying to be a carb. Carbohydrates provide satisfaction power in a way most vegetables can't, so I don't recommend substituting a veg for your true starch sources. Cauliflower, stop trying to make rice happen - it's not going to happen. Cauliflower is delicious, though, when it's not trying to be pizza. To celebrate it, here's a recipe the whole family will love. It's creamy, steamy, and allows the flavor of cauliflower to shine like it deser[...]

appetizer, main dish, side, vegetable, vegetarian

March 22, 2014

Carrot-zucchini patties with hummus and Greek sprout salad (Recipe Redux)

It's time for a Recipe Redux challenge again, and this month, we're celebrating St. Patty's day with creative patty stacks! These carrot-zucchini patties are perfect for appetizers or a side, or you can slap them on a bun or put them in a warm pita and serve as a more filling dinner alongside grilled mediterranean vegetables like summer squash and artichokes. They are made from a wet batter, so they come off the hot pan with a deliciously creamy interior that is offset nicely by the crunchy sprout salad on top. A word on food safety: store-bought alfalfa[...]

fall, side, vegetable, vegetarian, winter

February 18, 2014

Curried cauliflower steaks

Check out that cauliflower. It's yellow. It's curry time! Grilled vegetables are a no-brainer when the grill is already fired up for meats. Asparagus, zucchini, onions, and mushrooms are musts. But did you ever think to grill cauliflower? Yeah, me neither. Until I found out that you can slice them into "steaks" and they will remain held together by their sturdy core. You can usually cut two, sometimes three, steaks from each head of cauliflower. Don't throw out the remaining portions - cut them into florets and steam them, roast them, or dip in a tasty vi[...]

fall, side, soup, vegetarian, winter

February 10, 2014

Roasted butternut squash and apple soup

I love the Winter Olympics but they aren't helping my withdrawals from the mountain views and year-round fun in Colorado. St. Louis just doesn't have much going for it in February. When I lived in Vail and worked at a local athletic club, one aspect of my job had me working closely with the restaurant on our property planning nutrition seminars for our club members. These seminars were both educational and delicious: I presented information around a specific topic, and the incredible restaurant staff provided tastings of coordinating dishes. For one of my[...]