Category: Appetizer

Wilted Kale & Kabocha Squash Salad

Kabocha squash seems to have gained popularity in recent years. When I was growing up, no-one ever seemed to know what it was. Maybe that’s because my mom always called it kaboochie squash! She’s not usually ahead of the trend, but she’s been making it ever since I can remember.

Kabocha is a winter squash that’s grown primarily in Japan. It’s often referred to as Japanese pumpkin. It’s not the prettiest looking thing, and it’s one of the hardest squashes to cut, but it’s definitely worth the effort. Kabocha squash is sweeter than traditional pumpkin, with a creamy texture similar to sweet potato. My mom always roasted it with brown sugar, my favorite, but it’s also wonderful braised with savory Asian flavors like soy sauce and ginger.  To make kabocha squash easier to tackle, I like to look for small ones that I can break open with one swing of my chef’s knife. The best part about it is that it’s got an edible peel, so there’s no need to start fussing with the knobby skin.

For this winter kale salad, I decided to roast the kabocha squash with maple syrup and pair it with seasonal pears and pecans. I’m not a fan of raw kale, so I wilt it down a bit to make it easier to eat. If you don’t find raw kale to be tough, you can go ahead and skip this step.

Wilted Kale & Kabocha Squash Salad

1 small kabocha squash, seeds removed, diced small
2 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp maple syrup
kosher salt, to taste
1 bunch kale
2 tbsp olive oil
splash of stock or water
salt and pepper, to taste
1 pear, seeds removed, thinly sliced
1 cup candied pecans
shaved parmesan, optional

dressing:

1/4 cup grapeseed oil
2 tbsp minced shallots
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 Tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
salt and pepper, to taste

Method:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread the kabocha squash out on a baking sheet and mix with olive oil, maple syrup and salt. Roast until tender and starting to brown, stirring occasionally. In the meantime, heat the olive oil in a saute pan and add the kale. Saute until heated through and add a splash of water or stock. season with salt and pepper and cover the pan. Cook until kale is wilted.

In a small bowl, whisk all the dressing ingredients besides for the oil. Slowly drizzle in oil, whisking as you go, until dressing is thick and emulsified.

Place the wilted kale on a large platter and top with kabocha squash, pear slices and candied pecans. Garnish with shaved parmesan (optional) and drizzle with salad dressing.

VARIATION: I find raw kale to be rather tough, but if you like it, you can skip the wilting step and just the massage the dressing into the raw kale (it helps to remove some of the bitterness).

Related Recipes:

kale persimmon salad

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Cream of Chicken Soup in Bread Bowls

Winter has been good to us this year — so far. Besides for a few cold and blustery days, we haven’t had much snow. In fact, today is just about the first day of real powdered white fluff that didn’t melt when it hit the ground. Days like these call for hearty meals. The kind that involve fresh yeast and a creamy bowl of hot soup.

I’m really not one for baking doughs, but when I saw snow in the forecast, I decided to challenge myself to a comforting dinner of bread bowls filled with cream of chicken soup. It was so much easier than I had anticipated, mostly thanks to the new Bosch mixer that I bought myself for the New Year.

The Bosch makes dough-making so incredibly simple, I don’t know why I didn’t splurge on it 10 years ago! The only problem with baking up some yeasted breads and treats is that they are such a tease! I’m reserving my bread-making for special occasions, like snowy winter days like these.

The only thing better than these easy soup bowls, is the comforting cream of chicken soup that goes in it. It’s almost like a chicken pot pie, minus the puff pastry. I love to add potatoes for a hearty meal that kids and adults alike can enjoy.

Stay warm out there!

Cream of Chicken Soup:

1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
2 stalks celery, diced
2 russet potatoes, peeled and diced
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup flour
1 bay leaf
2 sprigs of thyme
salt and pepper, to taste
6 cups chicken stock
2 cups diced cooked chicken (see note)
1 cup coconut milk (I use Coconut Dream Original)

Method:

In a large stockpot, heat half of the olive oil and saute onion and garlic until translucent. Add remaining oil, carrots, celery and potatoes and continue to saute until fragrant and softened. Slowly add flour, sauteeing continuously until the flour turns into a blond paste, about 3 minutes. Slowly add the stock, stirring continuously and add the bay leaf, thyme, salt and pepper. Bring the soup up to a boil, stirring throughout, so flour incorporates into the soup without lumping. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot and cook until vegetables are completely tender, about 20 minutes. Stir in the chicken and coconut milk and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Simmer until thick and creamy, about 5 minutes.

NOTE: To cook chicken, place 2 large bone-in chicken breasts (skin-on) in a pan and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour.

Bread Bowls

2 packets rapid rise yeast
2  1/2 cups warm water
1 tbsp sugar
2 1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp olive oil
6 1/2 – 7 cups flour

Method:

Place the yeast, water and sugar in a large bowl and stir to dissolve the yeast. Let stand until foamy. Mix in remaining ingredients, starting with 5 cups of flour, and add more, as needed. When the dough has pulled together, knead it for a few minutes, until smooth and elastic. Lightly oil the dough, cover, and place in a warm place to rise for 1 hour. Punch down the dough and divide it into 6 equal portions. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and rise for another 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place an empty sheet pan on the 2nd shelf of the oven. Brush the dough with eggwash and put the tray of rolls onto the first shelf of the oven. Immediately pour a cup of hot water into the empty tray below it and close the oven door.

Bake for 25 minutes.

Slice off the top of the bread bowl and scoop out some of the bread. Fill with soup and serve immediately.

Related Recipes:

individual chicken pot pies
chicken pot pie croquettes
leftover turkey pot pie
pumpkin pot pie

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Hot Dog Eggrolls

I don’t know about you, but as we inch our way towards the end of Chanukah, I’m slowly getting bored of all the dairy dishes I’ve been having. I’ve had my fill of donuts and latkes and I need something a little different! We still have a few more days to indulge in fried foods and I’ve got you covered. These hot dog eggrolls are just the thing!

Now, I know what you’re thinking. 6 days of loading up on trash and she’s trying to get me to eat hot dogs now?!  YES! You see, I had a huge misconception about hot dogs until I stepped into the Abeles & Heymann factory. Seth Leavitt, the company’s owner, took me behind the scenes for some hot dog education.

Before I even stepped foot in the factory, I had to stand in a box of cleaning solution, to clean my shoes before heading in. This level of hygiene continued throughout my tour, with every step of the process being meticulously clean. I even had to wear a hairnet and labcoat! (check out my Instagram feed for pics!)

Abeles & Heymann hot dogs can be found in stadiums around the country. And for good reason. They start with a REAL cut of meat. I always thought that hot dogs were made from complete junk but I was shocked to see the quality of the meat that’s used in it’s production. It looked just like any large roast you’d purchase at the butcher. From there, Abeles & Heymann uses old world recipes with quality ingredients to produce premium hot dogs that are slow cooked to perfection. Their franks contain no fillers, and their new reduced fat and sodium line has no added nitrates or nitrites!

Abeles & Heymann is at the forefront of an innovative campaign to create healthier alternatives to chemical and artificial nitrates. They have pioneered the use of natural nitrates, celery and cherry, to create a fully-cooked uncured collection of no-nitrate-added hot dogs. When Seth gave me a few packages to try, I turned to my most opinionated taste testers – my kids! My pickiest daughter, who can barely finish a single hot dog in one seating, asked for seconds. And I didn’t have to feel guilty about giving it to her! I would call that a winner!

Now that we don’t have to feel guilty about eating hot dogs, we can go ahead with our hot dog eggrolls! These crispy, dippable appetizers make the perfect addition to your Chanukah party, Superbowl bash, or New Years event! You can even bake them for a reduced fat version.

I filled the hot dog eggrolls with traditional frank condiments like sauerkraut and pickle relish. You can feel free to get creative with fillings like sauteed onions, facon, coleslaw or even chili! The dipping sauce combines sweet apricot jam with Abeles & Heymann’s sweet and tangy mustard for the perfect bite!

If you’re wondering where to pick up some Abeles & Heymann bounty, their amazing collection of hot dogs and salami’s can be found in stores throughout the U.S. Alternatively, you can purchase them online at the Abeles & Heymann store. And for a limited time, enjoy 15% off your order, using coupon code BUSY!


Don’t forget to check out the Abeles & Heymann blog and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

Hot Dog Eggrolls

1 1lb. pkg. eggroll wrappers
1 12oz. pkg. Abeles & Heymann no-nitrate-added hot dogs, cut in half widthwise
1 14oz. can sauerkraut
1 10oz. jar sweet pickle relish
canola oil, for frying
3/4 cup apricot jam
1/4 cup Abeles & Heymann Sweet & Tangy mustard

Method:

Lay the egg roll wrappers flat on your work surface, with the corner pointed towards you. Working one at a time, place 2 heaping tbsp of sauerkraut in the center and top with a tbsp of pickle relish and a half of a hot dog. Using your fingers, spread a bit of water on the corner closest to you, and fold over the filling, pressing down to seal. Fold the sides in and spread some water around the top corner. Roll tightly and press to seal.

Heat oil in a skillet and fry eggrolls until crisp and golden, turning to brown all sides. Drain on paper towels.

Heat apricot jam in a microwave or pot until melted and stir in mustard. Serve alongside eggrolls.

VARIATON: To bake, brush the eggrolls with oil and bake at 400 degrees until browned and crisp, about 10 minutes.

OPTIONAL FILLINGS: sauteed onions, chili, coleslaw, facon, onion rings, jalapeno, avocado, salsa

FOR A LIMITED TIME, GET 15% OFF YOUR ABELES & HEYMANN ONLINE ORDER USING COUPON CODE “BUSY”!

This post was sponsored by Abeles & Heymann

Other hot dog recipes:

spiralized spud dogs
kid-friendly dirty rice
fire-roasted tomato rice stoup

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Poutine Latkes

I could NOT be more excited about today’s recipe because it’s all about one of my favorite things….POUTINE! If you’ve never heard of it, it’s because it’s a Canadian specialty, and you probably have never had a chance to try it in the U.S. When I visited Montreal recently with my family, I tried poutine again for the first time in years, and I just wanted to keep going back for more!

Traditional Poutine is made with french fries and cheese curds which are smothered in gravy. Of course kosher poutine is a bit of a challenge, because A. kosher cheese curds are not available in the U.S. and B. it’s hard to create a rich gravy without using stock and drippings. I have mastered the art of KOSHER POUTINE and I couldn’t be more ecstatic!!


First, the cheese curds. Cheese curds are the solid parts of soured milk, and are sometimes referred to as squeaky cheese. I had the brilliant idea to pull apart shreds of fresh mozzarella, and they did the perfect job of resembling the curds, both in look and texture. I think they work wonderfully as a sub for the traditional.


Now onto the gravy! How do you get a truly rich gravy without much work, and without drippings? You turn to UMAMI flavors like soy sauce and parmesan. They give the gravy that depth of flavor that you can’t get in a vegan recipe. Of course this makes the gravy dairy, but your poutine is smothered in fresh mozzarella cheese curds anyway, so the more the merrier!


Actually, the dairy part of this is what really got me thinking about turning it into a Chanukah recipe. Dairy is customarily eaten on Chanukah to remember the bravery of Yehudit, a young widow who lived in Bethulia in the land of Judea. To save Jerusalem from a paralyzing siege and approaching enemy troops, Yehudit seduced a Greek general into a drunken slumber by feeding him salty cheese and quenching his thirst with strong wine. As the general slept, she beheaded him with a sword. After finding that their general had been killed, the Greek army fled in disarray.


There’s no doubt that smothering potato latkes (mini or otherwise) in cheese curds and gravy might put us all in drunken slumber, but trust me when I tell you, it’s worth it. Even if you need to take a nap afterwards!

Potato Latkes:

4 large russet potatoes
1 small white onion, grated
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons matza meal
2 tsp kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Vegetable oil, for frying

Method:

Peel and grate potatoes by hand or with a food processor and immediately place in a bowl of water to prevent browning. Grate the onion and set aside. Drain the potatoes and put them, along with the grated onion, into a large piece of cheesecloth. Wrap it tightly and squeeze out as much juice as possible into a bowl. Let the juice sit for a bit so the potato starch settles to the bottom. Slowly pour the liquid out of the bowl (into the sink), leaving the potato starch in the bowl. Add eggs, matza meal, salt and pepper to the starch and stir to combine. Mix in the grated potatoes and onions. Heat oil in a skillet and  fry until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels.

TIP: Use 1/4 cup measuring cup to portion out the latkes. This makes the latkes the same size. When you scoop out the batter into the pan, use the flat underside of the measuring cup to press down on the latke and spread it out. This creates super crispy edges.

Yield: 15 medium latkes.

Parmesan Gravy:

1 tbsp butter
1 clove minced garlic
1 tbsp flour
1 cup vegetable stock
2 tsp soy sauce
2 tbsp freshly grated Natural & Kosher Cheese parmesan
salt and pepper, to taste

Method:

Add butter to a saucepan and melt over medium heat. Add garlic and stir until softened and fragrant, but not browned. Add flour and stir continuously over medium heat until deeply golden. Be careful not to burn it! Slowly add stock, whisking continuously, and continue to whisk until the mixture comes to a boil. Add soy sauce and parmesan and continue to cook, whisking as you go, until mixture is smooth and thickened. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper (it shouldn’t need more than a pinch of salt because the soy sauce and parmesan are salty). Pour through a fine mesh sieve, if desired, for silky smooth gravy.

Yield:  3/4 cup (you may want to double it)

VARIATION: to make it pareve, omit parmesan and use vegan butter.

Poutine Latkes:

potato latkes (recipe above) or store-bought mini latkes (as pictured)
parmesan gravy
Natural & Kosher Cheese Fresh Mozzarella, pulled apart into shreds

Method:

Set the potato latkes out on a platter (make sure they are hot so that the cheese melts). Scatter the fresh mozzarella over it and drizzle generously with gravy (make sure the gravy is hot so it can melt the cheese).

VARIATION: You may use this recipe over french fries, potato wedges or tater tots.
QUICK & EASY: buy a packet of gravy mix and prepare according the package directions. Use shredded mozzarella cheese.


This post was sponsored by Natural & Kosher Cheese. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, Google+, or via their Blog

Other Chanukah Recipes:

confetti latkes with harissa sour cream 
gluten free butternut squash latkes
cheese latkes with raspberry sauce
fried zucchini parmesan chips

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Cranberry Sriracha Green Beans

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. I don’t know if it’s all the beautiful leaves on the ground, or the fact that I can cover up in a  cute jacket, without having to bundle up in a stuffy down winter coat. It probably has a lot to do with all the amazing pumpkin recipes, the sweet apple cider, and of course,…Thanksgiving! I’m on to Thanksgiving food weeks before the holiday (and not just because I’m a food blogger)! Case in point: my dinner last night was turkey burgers with cranberry pear relish, fried sage and Paleo pumpkin biscuits. I just can’t get enough of classic Thanksgiving dishes and flavors – I can eat them all year round.

Now speaking of classic Thanksgiving dishes, y’all know how traditional green beans are – especially green bean casserole. I’m not one for casseroles, but sriracha? yes please! Whether you are going Asian or not with any of your dishes – this sweet and spicy recipe makes the perfect Thanksgiving side dish! The sweet cranberries add the perfect festive touch, making this a great addition to your holiday meal. Gobble Gobble!

Cranberry Sriracha Green Beans

1 lb green beans, ends trimmed, blanched
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp oil
1/2 cup whole berry cranberry sauce (not jellied)
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sriracha
1 tbsp sesame seeds

Method:

Add the cranberry sauce, soy sauce and sriracha to a bowl and stir to combine. Set aside.

Heat the oil in a wok or skillet and saute the garlic until fragrant, but not browned. Add the blanched green beans and stir fry until coated and heated through. Pour in the cranberry sauce and continue to stir until well coated. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.


Related Recipes:

crunchy shriveled green beans
spicy roasted edamame
teriyaki mushrooms

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