Zucchini Rice Gratin

I state the obvious when I say that zucchini season is in full swing. Every day around here we are bringing in armfuls of fresh squash and zucchini from the garden. So goes the wonderful summer bounty, and we are so grateful for it. We're also bursting with plump, red tomatoes (my personal fave... sliced and sprinkled with a little salt... mmmm). So this dish was the perfect way to use up a good quantity of the fresh produce piling up on the kitchen counter.

Not to mention that it's also simply delicious.

This gratin is quite simple. You cook your rice, roast your veges in the oven, mix up a few eggs with some cheese and fresh thyme, then layer it all in a dish. A little more cheese. Bake. And voila! A yummy, healthy, fresh summer meal in no time.

I hope you all are getting to enjoy the fresh summer produce as much as we are! Enjoy :)

Notes: Upon reading the original recipe, I could tell two things: 1) it was going to be good and 2) there was no way the it would feed our whole family for dinner. So the recipe below is exactly how I prepared it for our meal. It is double the original. If you want to cut it in half, feel free to, but just know it will yield side-dish serving sizes. I also used a few yellow squash along with zucchini, and that worked just fine. Use what you've got!

Adapted from Gourmet, and can also be seen on Smitten Kitchen

This post shared on The Nourishing Gourmet

Red Lentil Soup

"Can you believe the surprise!?" my 7-year-old brother asked as he came up the stairs. 

The first snow of the season amazed us all as we climbed out of bed this morning. A half-inch layer of beautiful white fluff veiled the yard and surrounding homes.

It happens every year, but for some reason the first snow of the cold months seems to fill us all with wonder. But how can it not? Glistening and shimmering, creating a pristine white blanket over the earth, you can't help but pause by the window for a moment to take it all in.

The snow outside was the perfect excuse to make a big pot of warm soup for lunch. This lentil and rice soup is a snap to throw together - not fussy at all. Just throw it all in the pot and let it simmer away. Thirty minutes later, throw in a bit of salt, ladle your bowl full, and top it off with delicious things (aka: toasted almonds, crumbled feta, and a bit of extra-virgin olive oil).

I love warm soup.

And I love sparkling snow.

Notes: I make this soup frequently and love it more every time. The toppings are what round everything out just perfectly, so I highly discourage leaving them off. In case you are wondering, this soup freezes very well, which is always nice.

Inspired by this recipe

Chicken & Shrimp Curry with Peanut Drizzle

Sunday afternoons are pretty relaxing around our house. You can usually find someone lying on the couch with the day's newspaper and another curled up close by with a nice thick book. The little ones will usually occupy themselves with their favorite toys in some remote corner of the house or by running around out back with the puppy. As for me, I'm usually taking advantage of the workless day to create something delicious in the kitchen. Something delicious - like this.

This is one of our favorite dishes for a Sunday afternoon dinner.

At first glance, it seems a bit intimidating by the long list of ingredients, but don't be fooled - it all comes together within an hour or so. And it is worth every minute of that hour, I promise. The peanut sauce takes this curry dish over the top. (As we've determined previously, peanut butter is excellent in just about any form.) With a few fresh vegetables, a bit of rich coconut milk, and some plump shrimp, you've got yourself a comforting meal for a relaxing Sunday afternoon. Or any afternoon, for that matter.

Notes: Be sure to read through the entire recipe before beginning so you know what to expect. (i.e. There are a few garnish items that need toasting, which can be done in a few minutes in a pan set over medium heat.) Also, this method of cooking rice is my favorite. It is fool-proof and produces fluffy, perfect rice every time. And finally, this dish can easily be made vegetarian by simply omitting the chicken and shrimp. It'll still be fabulous, I'm sure.

Loosely adapted from here, where it is known as "Bang Bang Chicken & Shrimp"


This post linked to Real Food Wednesdays