Here is a nice, light, springtime dish for a weeknight meal or a fun dinner party. The fresh lemony flavors, delicate crab meat, colorful veggies, and tangy feta make this a wonderfully complex, yet simple dish.

Lemon-Feta Crab Pasta
from a little card we picked up at Kroger

8 ounces spaghetti or other pasta
1/4 cup olive oil
1 medium shallot, halved and thinly sliced
2 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon Greek seasoning or dried oregano
12 ounces lump snow crab meat
1 1/2 cups roughly chopped spinach leaves
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
Juice of one lemon
Zest of one lemon
3 ounces feta cheese, crumbled

Cook the pasta according to the package directions so that it is al dente. Keep warm.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot and the garlic and cook for about 2 minutes. Add the Greek seasoning.

Stir in the crab meat, the spinach, and the tomatoes. Cook for another 2-3 minutes or until crab is heated through and spinach begins to wilt. Add the lemon juice and zest and toss to combine.

Add the crab mixture to the warm pasta and toss. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and sprinkle with feta. Yield ~ 4 servings. Enjoy!

My husband made me dinner tonight, and it was fabulous! This is a perfectly flavorful and light pasta dish to add into your rotation. The addition of the lemon to the traditional pesto flavors really adds an extra zing and freshness. And I absolutely love the idea of adding white beans to a light pasta dish for that added flavor and texture (not to mention protein and fiber). The original recipe does not call for chicken, but I loved the combination of the textures of the beans and the chicken in this delicious and zesty dish. If you’re looking for a vegetarian option, simply omit the chicken.

Chicken-Lemon-Basil Pasta
adapted from Better Homes and Gardens

10 ounces uncooked linguine
1 19-ounce can white kidney beans or cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 of a lemon, zested and juiced
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup packed fresh basil leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
2 grilled or sauteed chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

Cook the pasta following the package directions, adding the beans for the final two minutes. Remove about 1 cup of the cooking liquid and set it aside. Drain the pasta and beans in a colander, cover and set aside.

Meanwhile, in a small frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and add the lemon zest. Cook for one minute and remove from heat.

In the small working bowl of your food processor add the cooked lemon peel, the lemon juice, the basil leaves, and the 2 remaining tablespoons of olive oil. Process until basil leaves are fine and consistency is smooth. Add the reserved cooking liquid, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency for your sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Add the chicken to the pasta and beans. Toss all with the basil-lemon sauce. Garnish with extra basil, if desired. Makes about 4 servings. Enjoy!

Every year, we grow vegetables in our garden over the summer. It feels so good to get out there and dig in the dirt every spring, and it is so rewarding when you are able to make dinner entirely of vegetables picked from your own garden! Recent years have been difficult for our garden, as Georgia underwent a severe drought. Luckily, the drought is over (for now), and this summer has been one of the wettest we have had in many years! What did this mean for our garden? An abundance of veggies!

The first budding tomatoes of the season - May 2010

I grew two cherry tomato plants this year, and they produced like CRAZY! Most of them became ripe at the same time, so I was challenged to find dishes that would use these sweet and juicy tomatoes up at their peak of flavor. We love to eat them as a salad, sliced in half tossed with feta, basil, and balsamic vinegar. But they are also great to cook with. This is a recipe that I have tweaked over the years, originally inspired by Cooking Light. It is also great if you add in some diced and sauteed onions….mmmm!

Cherry Tomato Pine Nut Spaghetti
Inspired by a recipe in an issue of Cooking Light magazine

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 teaspoon garlic powder, divided
3 cups fresh cherry tomatoes
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
8 ounces uncooked spaghetti
1/3 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
3-4 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese

Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and toss together lightly. Toast the mixture for about 2 minutes, until the breadcrumbs turn a light golden brown. Remove the toasted mixture from the pan and set aside.

Return the pan to the stove and heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the cherry tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 7 minutes, or until the tomatoes turn wrinkly and begin to soften and release some juices.

Add the remaining garlic powder, the sliced garlic, and the Italian seasoning. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook for another 1-2 minutes over medium heat; then reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and let the mixture simmer while you cook the pasta.

Cook the spaghetti according to the package directions, and drain. Add the hot spaghetti, the toasted pine nuts, the breadcrumb mixture, the fresh basil, and the feta and parmesan cheeses to the tomato mixture. Toss lightly to combine, and serve immediately.

The four cheeses in my lasagna are not the most traditional cheeses . . . but they sure are tasty!  I like to use turkey for the meat in this one – there are so many wonderful flavors going on that most people who taste this dish don’t even notice that it’s not beef! Plus, I think the turkey makes it seem lighter, which is a nice balance to the richness of the cheese.

Ellie’s Four-Cheese Lasagna

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 lb. mild italian sausage, casings removed
1/2 lb. ground turkey breast (ground beef works, too!)
1/2 cup diced onion
4 large garlic cloves, minced
1 24-ounce jar of your favorite tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
Salt and pepper to taste
1 8-ounce package of cream cheese
2 cups ricotta cheese
2 eggs
2 tablespoons of fresh chopped parsley OR dry Italian seasoning
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 9-ounce package of no-boil lasagna noodles
1/4 cup grated parmigiano regiano cheese

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.  Grease a 9×13″ baking dish and set aside.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium to medium-high heat.  Add the sausage and the ground turkey.  Brown the meat, stirring occasionally, until completely cooked through.  Remove the meat from the pan and add the onion.  Cook until slightly tender, about 3-4 minutes.  Add the minced garlic, stirring until fragrant.  Next, add the meat back to the pan, and stir in the tomato sauce and the water.  Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper to your taste.  Lower the heat and simmer for about 20-30 minutes.

Meanwhile, soften the cream cheese in a microwaveable bowl for about 20-30 seconds.  Stir in the ricotta cheese until combined.  Add the eggs, the parsley or Italian seasoning, and 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, folding the mixture together.

To assemble the lasagna, spoon 1/4 of the tomato mixture into the bottom of the prepared dish.  Next, layer the no-boil noodles on top.  Spread 1/3 of the ricotta mixture on top of the noodles.  Spoon over the next 1/4 of the tomato mixture.  Then the noodles again.  Then the next 1/3 of the ricotta.  Then another 1/4 of the tomato mixture.  One more layer of noodles, and one more layer of ricotta.  Spoon the remaining tomato sauce over the top.  Finally, sprinkle with the remaining cup of mozzarella, topping it all off with the parmigiano regiano cheese.

** Note that at this point, you can either continue, **
** or cover tightly and store in the fridge for up to 3 days **
** or the freezer for up to 3 months. **

Cover with foil and bake for about 30 minutes.  Uncover and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, until all cheese is melted and the lasagna is nice and bubbly.  Allow to set for about 5 minutes before serving.

I ended up with a large amount of arugula after I bought a big batch for a recipe I made recently.  Well, I’m not one to let perfectly good greens go to waste, so I decided to put my leftover arugula to good use.  I have seen so many different green used in various forms of pesto, that I decided to try substituting arugula in my regular basil pesto recipe.  It turned out to be delicious! I tossed it with pasta and parmesan cheese – such a zesty and brightly flavored dish!  Arugula has a bit of bite to it, so it really shined in this pesto.

Arugula Pesto

3 teaspoons salt
3.5 ounces arugula leaves, stems removed
3 large garlic cloves
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

First, fill a large bowl with ice water and set aside.

Next, bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil and add the salt. Add the arugula, stirring to submerge. As soon as the water returns to a boil, remove the pot from the heat. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the arugula to the ice bath so that the cooking process stops. Once it has cooled, remove the arugula to paper towels to dry. Squeeze any excess water from the leaves.

Add the arugula and the garlic cloves to the bowl of a food processor or blender. Process until the texture is fine. Then gradually stream in the olive oil and process until the mixture is smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Yield about 1/2 cup.

Toss with pasta or drizzle over boiled potatoes, just like basil pesto!

Then, I decided to use some of my leftover arugula pesto to make a beautiful green appetizer.  I had read online that some arugula pesto recipes use chick peas to make the pesto thick, and a bit less pungent.  Well, instead of using the chick peas in my pesto, I decided to turn my pesto into a beautifully green and vibrantly spicy hummus! This is a perfect appetizer for Halloween – glorious green goop!

Arugula Hummus

1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans (aka chick peas)
1/2 cup arugula pesto
1 tablespoon tahini
Salt and pepper to taste

First, drain the garbanzo beans, reserving the liquid in a bowl.

In the bowl of the food processor, measure the arugula pesto, the tahini, and the chick peas. Process until smooth. Adjust the thickness/thinnest of the texture to your liking using the reserved bean liquid. Blend to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving, so that the flavors can meld. Serve with pita or chips.

I find that the pita chips that you can buy at the grocery store tend to be wayyyyyyyy to salty.  I much prefer to make my own pita toasties to serve with hummus and other dips.  Here is my favorite way to make them!!

Pita Toasties

4-6 pitas
1-2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic salt

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.  Cut each pita into 6 wedges.  Spread evenly on a baking sheet.  Brush or spray the pita wedges with the olive oil.  Then sprinkle with garlic salt.  Bake for about 8-10 minutes, until toasty and lightly golden brown.  Serve with hummus, roasted red pepper hummus, or arugula hummus.  Enjoy!

I’m not a huge fan of eggplant. I’m not even a medium-sized fan of eggplant. Maybe a small one. Maybe. Sure I like it fried in a crispy curry batter, but in general, nope it’s just not my favorite.

Guess what filled our last CSA basket of the growing-season to the brim? Bunches and bunches of eggplant! So I’m really branching out here and trying to find some good recipes for all of this fresh eggplant. I remembered this one from our CSA Farm Cookbook, and it was just as good as my memories. The prosciutto adds the perfect hint of meaty flavor to this hearty dish. Even I am wild for this stuff – I hope you enjoy it, too!

Eggplant Rollatini
adapted from our CSA Farm Cookbook

1 1/2 cups flour
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2-3 medium-small eggplants (about 1.5 lbs.) sliced lengthwise 1/8-inch thick
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese, drained overnight (see instructions below)
2 tablespoons Italian flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/4 pound thinly sliced prosciutto
1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

In one shallow dish, place 1 cup of flour. Next, place two of the eggs in a second shallow dish, and lightly beat. In a third shallow dish, place salt, and half the pepper, and the parmesan in a bowl with 1/2 cup of the flour and and mix with a fork or a whisk until blended. Dip the eggplant slices in the flour, then into the eggs, then into the flour-and-cheese mixture.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large, deep skillet until hot but not smoking. Place the prepared eggplant slices in the hot oil and fry for 2 minutes on each side until golden. Remove from the skillet and place on paper-towel lined baking sheets to drain until cool enough to handle.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the drained ricotta in a bowl and mash it with a fork. Add the last egg, the parsley, half of the shredded mozzarella, the remaining half of the pepper, and mix well. Set aside.

To stuff the eggplant, place one slice of prosciutto on top of the eggplant.

Next, drop a heaping tablespoon of the ricotta mixture on top of the prosciutto at the wider end of the eggplant slice.

Beginning with the wider end of the eggplant, roll up, from top to bottom. Pour 1 cup of the marinara sauce into an 8×12″ baking dish. Place the eggplant rolls side by side on top of the marinara sauce.

Pour the remaining sauce over the eggplant rolls. Sprinkle with the 3 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese and the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella.

Bake for 25 minutes or until bubbly around the edges. Remove from the oven and let cool for 2-3 minutes before serving.

Note: To drain ricotta cheese, peace it in a sieve or cheese cloth and set over a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight. Discard the whey and use the cheese as directed in the recipe!

For a vegetarian option: simply omit the prosciutto!

Shrimp Scampi has been one of my favorite dishes for years. When I was little, my dad would tease me and call it “Scamp Shrimpi.”

This version is not only tasty, but pretty easy and quick too! The shrimp are cooked perfectly, and the lemon and white wine blend beautifully with the shallot, garlic, and parsley for a light but satisfyingly rich dish.

Shrimp Scampi
adapted from Tyler Florence

1 pound linguini
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 large shallot, finely chopped
6 cloves garlic, sliced
Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and de-veined, but leave the tail on
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/2 cup dry white wine (a nice sauvignon blanc works quite well)
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1/4 cup chopped parsley leaves

For the pasta, put a large pot of water on the stove to boil. When it has come to the boil, add a couple of tablespoons of salt and the linguini. Stir to make sure the pasta separates; cover. When the water returns to a boil, cook for about 6 to 8 minutes or until the pasta is not quite done. Drain the pasta reserving 1 cup of water.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter in 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat. Saute the shallots, garlic, and red pepper flakes (if using) until the shallots are translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper; add them to the pan and cook until they have turned pink, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the shrimp from the pan; set aside and keep warm. Add wine and lemon juice and bring to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons oil. When the butter has melted, return the shrimp to the pan along with the parsley and cooked pasta and reserved pasta water. Stir well and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle over a bit more olive oil and serve immediately.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – sometimes just the simplest, freshest ingredients don’t need a whole lot of hootenanny in order to make a delicious dish. Simple stewed tomatoes with pungent garlic and fresh herbs make a perfect pasta sauce – quick, easy, fresh, simple, pure – delicious!

Quick Garlicky Tomato Sauce

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
10-12 ripe Roma tomatoes, quartered
4 large cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
Salt and pepper to taste
6-8 large basil leaves, chopped
4 servings of your favorite pasta (I went with gnocchi!)

Over medium-low heat, pour the extra virgin olive oil into a heavy skillet. Add the tomatoes and the garlic. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes begin to break down. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add half of the chopped basil. Cover and cook for another 2 minutes.

Serve the sauce over the pasta, garnishing with the remaining basil.

And I’m not gonna lie to you, dear readers – after I took these photos, I decided to sprinkle a bit of crumbled feta on top! Delish!

made up on the fly by yours truly

2 lbs. fresh, ripe tomatoes (or 2 large cans crushed tomatoes)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium green pepper, diced
1 medium onion, diced
3 large cloves of garlic, minced
1 cup water
1 tablespoon of your favorite Italian seasoning blend
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup Italian red wine (optional)
3 tablespoons tomato paste
Fresh basil and oregano

Boil a large pot of water. Place the tomatoes (in batches if necessary) into the boiling water for 60 seconds. Remove the tomatoes with a slotted spoon and place into a bath of ice water to cool. When tomatoes are cool enough to handle, remove the skins, and core/seed the tomatoes. (BTW, this part will really freaking hurt if you have paper cuts on your fingers – oow!) Place the remaining flesh into your crock pot.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the green pepper and onion, sauteeing until soft – about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another two minutes. Pour the veggies over the tomatoes in the crock pot.

Next, add the water, Italian seasoning, vinegar, sugar, and wine into the crock pot. Turn on low and cook for 4-7 hours, stirring occasionally if possible (i.e. get your husband/friend/dog to do it when s/he comes home for lunch). During the last hour of cooking, add the tomato paste and a teaspoon or two of fresh basil and oregano, chopped.

If you like a finer texture, then transfer half of the sauce to a blender or food processor and carefully blend until smooth (remember you’re dealing with a very hot liquid!). Return the blended sauce to the crock pot and stir.

Serve hot over cooked pasta of your choice, and garnish with fresh herbs. Enjoy!

Here’s another easy weeknight meal that I made up with some fresh and flavorful ingredients we had on hand. These peppers were bursting with flavor – but still quite lean because we used chicken sausage.

Sausage Stuffed Peppers

4 medium red or green bell peppers, cleaned and cored
2 Italian sausages (we used sun dried tomato chicken sausages)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup onion, diced
1 large clove of garlic, minced
1 medium tomato, diced
1/2 cup tomato sauce or marinara
2 cups cooked brown rice
1/4 cup freshly grated parmigiano reggiano
1 tablespoon freshly chopped basil
1 teaspoon freshly chopped oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
4 slices mozzarella cheese

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Grease a baking dish and set your cleaned and cored peppers inside of it. Use balls of tinfoil to prop them up if you have trouble making them sit correctly.

In a large pan over medium-high heat, brown the sausages. Remove them from the pan and slice 1/4″ thick on the bias.

Add the olive oil to the pan, and add the onions, garlic, and tomato. Cook over medium-high heat for about 4-5 minutes, until the onions are tender and the tomato begins to break down. Add the sausage back to the pan, along with the sauce, the rice, the parmesan, and the herbs. Stir to combine and continue to cook until heated through. Adjust seasonings to taste with salt and pepper.

Fill the peppers with the sausage-and-rice mixture. Top with the mozzarella slices. Bake in your preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, until cheese is melted and peppers are slightly tender. Enjoy!