A Few Spring/Early Summer Recipes; A Menu for Summer Entertaining

Warm Kale, Coconut, and Tomato Salad: requires heating up the oven, but I suspect could also be done well in a grill basket. And it's sooo worth it.

Jamie Oliver's "Eggplant Parmesan": better not to think of it as Eggplant Parm, because it's not really very like it, but it's delicious.

Tender and Easy Buttermilk Waffles: true to their name, and they freeze and reheat (in a toaster oven) very very well.

ALSO: we had folks over for a grown-up dinner party and had this as the menu:

• Chicken Shawarma
• oven-roasted cubed eggplant (I didn't pre-treat with salt/drain and it was totally fine)
• pitas
• hummus
• feta
• chopped tomatoes and cucumbers (I used a "burpless" variety)
• olives

Just served all of the above separately and let people assemble their own. We had drinks and for dessert ice cream. I didn't come up with a good appetizer-type thing, but it worked out anyway.

early summer misc recipes

Initially didn't think this was very flavorful, but apparently it just needed an extra day for the flavors to meld - it was a fantastic lunch: Farro Salad

This was delicious, and the potatoes were basically bliss itself: pan-fried lemon chicken with asparagus and skillet potatoes

Although it was (very) tasty, this butter chicken was kind of a pain to make, and super duper rich.

This spring-time carbonara was kind of meh (and also Victor thought it had too much egg).

We made this soup back when it was actually appropriate, seasonally speaking, but I don't think I noted it at the time: white bean and kale soup.

the perfect gazpacho for right now

At least, if your "right now" includes an early-August trip to a Minneapolis farmer's market where you can buy not-quite-overripe strawberries and perfectly ripe tomatoes. (Some really good olive oil helps, too. And we might end up adding a diced jalapeno, not sure yet.)

I'm looking forward to making more of these recipes, but for today the "tomato, strawberry, and basil" one was perfect: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/08/03/magazine/bittman-gazpacho-the-simple-chilled-soup.htm

(We'll be eating it for dinner with some grilled corn. Because summer!)

Late Summer (in Minneapolis!)

Monday: out
Tuesday: pasta carbonara (V's own recipe)
Wednesday: chickpea curry & rice
Thursday: fried rice (V's recipe)
Friday: apricot and lamb tagine; whole wheat couscous
Saturday: red bean and sweet potato chili

Late Summer Menu (Week of Aug 29)

I've gotten so terrible about updating these! Here's one from a few weeks back that I apparently forgot to publish... oops!

Sunday: Salmon Roasted in Butter; Tomato, Basil, and Fresh Mozzarella Salad; Blueberries
Monday: slow-cooked ginger salmon; broccoli with crispy garlic & ginger; brown rice
Tuesday: cook's holiday
Wednesday: roasted chicken; oven-roasted carrots & potatoes
Thursday: Savory Bread Pudding with Tomatoes and HerbsFriday: out
Saturday: leftovers

Early Summer Menu II (week of June 27)

Sunday: loads-of-veggies pilaf (Vegetarian Suppers)
Monday: slow-cooked ginger salmon; snap peas; brown rice
Tuesday: cook's holiday
Wednesday: roasted chicken; braised kale with bacon; roasted carrots
Thursday: outFriday: hoisin pork and "Asian" slaw (with thinly sliced radishes); ice-cream(!)
Saturday: lemongrass soup with tofu & rice noodles (Bittman)

Early Summer Menu (week of June 20)

Sunday: Baked Eggs over Croutons; green salad
Monday: grilled veggie sausages & grilled green garlic; strawberry-rhubarb crumble
Tuesday: cook's holiday
Wednesday: roasted chicken; baked sweet potatoes; braised kale
Thursday: stir-fried pork, broccoli, and green garlic; brown rice
Friday: skillet-seared tofu; oven-roasted asparagus (topped with miso sauce from tofu); brown rice
Saturday: out