Love and Food

What is the one thing that connects us? Love? yes! Food? yes! Love of Food? Yes and Yes!! My friend and I went out to a new restaurant/bar last night called Bangers and Lace. A modern take on a British cabin with lace details and taxidermy lining its shelves. A pure delight for those of us for a taste of the strange. After devouring a delicious selection of bacon wrapped kielbasa, lamb and feta flat bread, and chorizo deviled eggs, I was a happy girl. We began an intense conversation about food and philanthropy. What can we do as foodies to help our fellow man? I learned about this amazing organization here in Chicago called Growing Home; a program committed to rehabilitating people through the cultivation of organic produce.

Photo courtesy of www.growinghomeinc.or

“Homeless people are often without roots. They’re not tied down, not connected, not part of their family anymore. Our organic farming program is a way for them to connect with nature – to plant and nurture roots over a period of time. When you get involved in taking responsibility for caring for something, creating an environment that produces growth, then it helps you build self-esteem.” --Founder, Les Brown


 So, I decided it was time to share my love of food with my love of humanity. At the end of it all, that is what truly connects us. We all want love, we all need food, we all want to be happy! And our definition of happy can run the gamut! But whether you want something material, emotional, or spiritual, we cannot do it alone.

Today, I am becoming part of the solution!

Kendra

Moroccan Cod with Chickpeas and Potatoes

And another day of rain assaults Chicago; thunder and lightning, pouring rain, and chilly winds? I am so ready for summer I am starting to dream about it! Normally I would make a soup or a stew, but I thought, why not make something hearty, tasty AND summery!?! Why not eat fish on a stormy night? Sailors did! Ill just imagine I am on a ship, eating today's catch and rocking back and forth in the choppy sea! And, lets just say I am off the coast of Morocco.  This dish has delicious hints of paprika, cumin, sea salt and garlic!

Moroccan Cod with Chickpeas and Potatoes

• 1 can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
• 6 garlic cloves sliced
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• 6 tbs olive oil
• 1/4 c water
• 3-4 cod fillets
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tbs salt 
• 1 tsp pepper
• 4 small potatoes chopped into 1/4 inch pieces
• juice of 1/4 lemon
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 tbs parsley leaves whole
• 1 lemon cut into wedges

(Serves 4)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Combine chickpeas, 3 tablespoon olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, and water and simmer for 15 minutes.
Place potatoes in a baking dish and cover with 2 tbs olive oil, cumin, juice of lemon, half the salt and pepper and 1 tsp paprika. Place in oven for 10 minutes.

Season fish with remaining paprika, salt and pepper and place in fridge until potatoes and chick peas are done cooking. Remove potatoes from oven and place fish fillets on top, cover with 1 tbs olive oil and chick pea mixture and bake for 30 minutes. Easy, DELICIOUS, and warms your belly on a cold night (although would be amazing in the summer too!)

Garnish with parsley and lemons and serve immediately. Serve with white wine and warm pita!

Happy Eating!
Kendra

Spring Green Quiche

The best part of Spring is the arrival of asparagus! I love the way that it looks and tastes! It is packed with tons of vitamins like C, A and K and also fights free radicals! Tasty AND healthy! Lately I have been watching french cooking shows on PBS and was inspired by all the delicious food I've been seeing, but wanted something a bit more on the healthy side with less calories,  so I decided to make a quiche that highlights some of Spring's greenest bounty like asparagus, spinach, and leeks and is great for your figure too! I refrained from the crust because it can take away from the taste of the eggs and adds unnecessary calories, but you can definitely make this with a crust if you like a more traditional quiche. This is also an easy dish that can be served for breakfast, brunch, dinner, or anything in between. 

Spring Green Quiche

• 6 eggs
• 1 red bell pepper
• 6-7 asparagus stalks (chopped into 1/2 inch pieces)
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta
• 2 cups spinach
• 1 tbs dill
• 1 leek (thinly sliced with some green portions)
• 1/2 cup half and half (or skim milk for less calories)
• 1 tbs butter
• 2 tbs fresh parsley

(Serves 4-6)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Bring 4 cups of water to  a boil and cook asparagus for 3 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside.

In a sauce pan, melt butter and cook leeks for 15 minutes until browned and slightly caramelized. Add spinach, bell pepper and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Whisk eggs until smooth and slowly mix dill and cream into mixture. Salt and pepper to your liking. Combine asparagus, and leek mixture and spread into a pie or quiche dish.  Sprinkle feta and parsley evenly over veggie mixture, then cover mixture with eggs.  Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until eggs are cooked through. Serve with a salad and glass of Pinot Grigio! So Good!

Bon Appetit!
Kendra

Blue Cheese Bacon burgers

It was amazing. I woke up and the sun was shining through the windows, a soft breeze moved the trees and it was almost 70 degrees!!! Holy cow...spring is here (at least today, it drops down to 50 later this week!). I must take advantage of this little window...time for grilling!!! Nick and I still had some Adercase blue cheese left from our trip to Madison, and needed to use it pronto! So we decided to make these killer turkey burgers with bits of maple bacon and garlic! 

Time to fire up the grill!!

Blue Cheese Bacon Burger

• 1 lb ground turkey or beef
• 1/2 cup crumbled high quality blue cheese
• 1/4 cup crumbled bacon (maple glazed is great for some sweet to your savory!) 
• 2 cloves garlic chopped
• 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 1 tbs Worcestershire 
• 2 tbs chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tbs Lawry's Seasoned Salt (my favorite old school spice!!)
• 4 buns (I used an "everything" bagel for some flavor)
• 4 tbs mayonnaise
• 1 tsp dill
• juice of 1/4 lemon
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Tomatoes sliced thin

Cook 2-3 slices bacon according to directions and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine first eight ingredients. I use my hands to ensure every part is combined! Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge for at least 20 minutes to let the flavors set.

Meanwhile, combine mayo, dill, lemon and salt and pepper and place in fridge for same time.

Fire up the grill and get ready for some tasty burgers!!

Shape turkey into 4 thick patties. Sprinkle with seasoned salt and place on grill. Cook for 15-20 minutes, flipping half way through, until cooked to your liking. Simultaneously, toast the buns, spread with 1 tbs dill spread, top with sliced tomatoes and viola! Delicious burgers full of flavor!!

I served these with some grilled asparagus and fries! Perfect meal for a warm evening!
Enjoy!

Happy Eating!
Kendra