Fettuccine with Fresh Figs and Walnuts

I cannot believe I didn't find this recipe until now. Fettuccine with Fresh Figs and Walnuts {page 211} has just about everything I could ever want in a dream pasta.

Tender pasta is coated with a creamy cashew sauce, and then tossed with sauteed fresh figs and walnuts. The whole thing is topped up with crispy homemade breadcrumbs. The creaminess of the sauce paired perfectly with the sweetness of the figs, and the heady deepness of the walnuts. The salty toasty crunch provided by the breadcrumbs was really the icing on the cake...erm...plate of pasta, so to speak.

Fresh figs are rather expensive, so I cannot see myself making this often. However, this would be an easy and impressive dish to serve to guests on special occasions. In fact, I think I impressed myself with this one. I may just come back to my kitchen to eat again sometime. You're invited too, of course.

-- Your Friendly Neighborhood Batgirl

Sunflower Zucchini Bread

A twist on classic zucchini bread, Sunflower Zucchini Bread {page 405} has protein-rich sunflower seeds baked right into the bread.

This delicious bread has all the components you've grown to love in standard zucchini bread - moist, comforting, slightly sweet, the illusion of health {"Hey, it has zucchini in it, so it's good for me!"}. All of those factors are amped up by the presence of the delightful little sunflower seeds. They add interesting texture and flavor, as well as amp up the nutritional qualities.

The Ninjahusband found the bread a little odd with the seeds in it, but I really liked them. Maybe next time I'll make 2 loaves - one without seeds for him, one with extra seeds for me.

-- Your Friendly Neighborhood Batgirl

Mango Morning Quesadillas

Mango Morning Quesadillas {page 513} were a concept too novel to pass up. A sweet mango filling sandwiched between two tortillas, baked till crispy, and topped with powdered sugar and cinnamon? Sign me up!

And it was good...mostly. Honestly, the filling was a little weird. It baked up funny in the oven, almost to the consistency of scrambled eggs {ew, gross, I know, sorry!}, and wasn't as sweet as I'd hoped. The Ninjahusband thought it was pretty good, but I'm a little on the picky side, and I didn't really love it.

I may be persuaded to try it again, but I think I'd make some modifications first.

Overall, major points for ingenuity and concept...just a touch lacking in execution.

-- Your Friendly Neighborhood Batgirl

White Bean and Walnut Patties

I've said it before and I'll say it again - Robin is the master of all things patty, and White Bean and Walnut Patties {page 122} are no exception.

These little patties are made from simple yet flavorful ingredients, and they have a fantastic texture. They're more sturdy than most bean-related patties {thanks to the high ratio of vital wheat gluten to other ingredients}, making them the perfect candidates for a backyard grilling session.

I can see them going beautifully in a bun with your favorite toppings, but I chose to serve them here cozied up to some Creamy Cauliflower and topped with Watercress Sauce.

They are elegant, but also quick and kid-friendly - the Supertoddler devoured his portion. They also make great leftovers, so make a double batch and take some to work with you the next day!

-- Your Friendly Neighborhood Batgirl

Quinoa Summer Squash Pilaf

Yes, my camera is dead. Yes, this was taken with my phone. No, I'm not exactly proud of that. I suppose this is my punishment for taking such a long hiatus. :)

So with the best of intentions, I attempted to make the Quinoa Summer Squash Pilaf (p279). Intentions I say, because thanks to a minor bug problem that I'm sure no one wants to read about on a food blog, I found my quinoa to be infested and therefore unusable. Well the onions were already sauteing, the squash was already diced, and with the oppressive humidity I was in no mood for creativity. Apparently these bugs don't like couscous because that was fine, so this dish became a couscous pilaf.

As I am prone to do, I found it a bit bland for my taste so I added some garlic powder, and after separating Grandma V's portion, some red pepper flakes. It's still too mild for me, because I like a big ole spicy party in my mouth, but this is a simple dish to put together on a weeknight, made bright and fresh by the appearance of summer vegetables. And let's be honest, fresh basil makes anything more lively and delicious! There's really no "secret" to this one, it's great for the beginning cook and a palette of potential for the more advanced.

I'll make it again--this time with bug-less quinoa--so as to have the full experience, but will likely add fresh garlic near the end. That would really finish it off. I can also see this being a good dish for a picnic or some other outdoor dining adventure, as it would be fine chilled or at room temp, and there's nothing in there requiring refrigeration.

Watercress Sauce

Watercress Sauce {page 553} is a healthy, vibrant, and tasty sauce that can liven up a boring "meat"-and-potatoes type dinner in a hurry.

The sauce is mainly made from blanched watercress, with other key ingredients such as vinegar and garlic used to play up its peppery notes. It is easy to throw together, and very healthy. The flavor is distinct, but I can see it pairing well with all manner of tofu, cutlets, croquettes, or roasted vegetables. I often find myself wanting a sauce to go with something like that, and I usually fall back on gravy. This would be an awesome healthier, more vibrant alternative in situations like that.

-- Your Friendly Neighborhood Batgirl

Creamy Cauliflower

I love {love} love mashed potatoes. And while it is definitely not mashed potatoes, Creamy Cauliflower {page 364} still falls into the realm of Mashed Deliciousness.

Simple to make, and using ingredients you'd expect when mashing any vegetable, this dish came together quickly into a montage of creamy, savory, comforting goodness. The texture is not exactly the same as mashed potatoes, and the taste is a little off, but it was close enough that it fooled the Supertoddler.

I think the best thing about this dish is the lowered calorie count. Let's be honest, mashed potatoes are delicious, but not too friendly to the waistline. This Creamy Cauliflower is not only yummy, but it won't increase your pant-size.

This was a very good recipe, and a technique I will be using often, I'm sure of it.

-- Your Friendly Neighborhood Batgirl

Vegetable Fried Rice

I hate to give a bad review. I am a people-pleaser to the core, and admitting that I didn't really like something - be it a recipe, a book, a movie, or whatever - just doesn't jive with me. However, I'm kind of a food snob, and I can be rather picky about what I eat. If I'm eating something and I don't love it, I'm likely not to finish it. I'd rather waste food than eat something I don't love. I know that's horrible of me, but that's the truth.

As for more horrible truth, I just have to admit that Vegetable Fried Rice {page 268} didn't really impress me. It was definitely edible, and everyone I served it to ate it and said it was just fine. It just seemed to be a little lacking.

I amped up all the seasonings, as I could tell from tasting all along that it might be a little on the bland side. Even that didn't really help though. If I made it again, I'd at least double all the seasonings, and maybe even add in more ingredients.

I guess one book cannot be expected to win them all. However, I still feel guilty for the bad review.

Apologetically,

-- Your Friendly Neighborhood Batgirl

Cherry Berry Watermelon Salad

First of all, to my American friends: Happy 4th of July! I hope everyone is having a lovely day full of cruelty-free celebrations.

I attended a family BBQ last night, and I brought festive Cherry Berry Watermelon Salad {page 98} to share with everyone. With the patriotic red and blue, this salad is just begging to be all dolled up for a celebration. In the absence of a melon baller, the more creative side of my brain took over, and I realized this was a perfect opportunity to take a mini star cookie cutter to my watermelon. While it was a bit of work, it was definitely worth the appreciative ooohs and ahhhhs that special touch brought.

The salad is simple in its construction, and takes advantage of fresh summer fruit in its prime. The dressing is light, consisting mainly of orange juice, and serves to brighten and compliment the already amazing flavors mingling in this salad. Pitting that number of cherries can be somewhat daunting if you don't have a cherry pitter, but the ever-helpful Ninjahusband figured out that a thin pair of kitchen sheers {or a chopstick} will work in a pinch.

This was a fabulous salad for a cookout on a hot summer night. I would encourage you to whip this up next time you need something colorful and delicious to compliment your veggie burgers and corn on the grill.

-- Your Friendly Neighborhood Batgirl

Beans Bourguignon

Beef Bourguignon is practically synonymous with French cooking. This classic French stew, rich with red wine and thickened with beurre manie {"kneaded butter"}, is given a vegan makeover and makes its glamorous reappearance as Beans Bourguignon {page 253}. Tender red kidney beans stand in for the traditional cow's flesh, and vegan margarine is kneaded with flour to make a vegan beurre manie.

Don't let the genre frighten you - this recipe was easy peasy to throw together. I had it on the table in just over 30 minutes! Additionally, it's made from inexpensive ingredients {depending on the wine you choose} and is a one-pot meal. Although it can be eaten as a stew, I found it especially good served over egg-free wide noodles.

The flavors were complex and deep, and only improved in the fridge, making leftovers of this stew absolutely delightful {which is convenient, as the stew made quite a lot}. Even though I made this and enjoyed it in the dead of summer {not sure what I was thinking}, I think this would be especially good served in the cool fall or winter months, with some crusty bread for sopping up the delicious broth. The ultimate comfort food - French-style!

Bon appetit!

-- Your Friendly Neighborhood Batgirl