Rob and I are heading to the beach in South Carolina over the Thanksgiving week, leaving our loving family in Indiana wondering what the hell is wrong with us. So it’ll be shrimp and grits for us on Thanksgiving day. Figuring you’re planning something a bit more traditional, I’ll share my favorite Thanksgiving sides, salads and breads to inspire your Turkey Day menu. See the collection of holiday recipes on writes4food.com.
This recipe for Arizona Mountain Soup was tucked into my grandmother’s “Kitchen Klips” file of old-fashioned recipes. With hearty beans and rice, this almost chili-like soup is super easy to put together and hearty enough for these first cold nights of the season. Do as the recipe’s originator, Arizona mountain resident Bennie Bennet, does and serve it with cornbread. Get the recipe on writes4food.com.
As I’ve been browsing through my grandmother Dorothy’s “Kitchen Klips” recipe file, I’ve smiled as I discovered recipes that are very familiar to me. That’s because I sent them to her. Back in the 90s, Grandma published a cookbook, and she included many recipes from family and friends in addition to her own favorites. I sent her this recipe for Spanish Rice Pilaf with Zucchini and Tomatoes — it didn’t make the cut for her book, but Rob and I make it all. the. time. It’s the perfect summer-to-fall transitional dish. Get the recipe on writes4food.com!
Working on the theory that food that grows together tastes good together — and on a corollary theory that Feta cheese makes pretty much any summer salad that much better — I hacked together this recipe for Summer Melon and Golden Tomato Salad (did I mention Feta?). It’s so simple it’s stupid. Plus, honey-lime vinaigrette. You’ve got all the ingredients on hand or at your neighborhood farm stand. Get the recipe on writes4food.com!
I’m sort of a junkie for gazpacho — that most refreshing (and no cook!) of summer soups. This Quick Blender Gazpacho recipe is my go-to for the season: bright, flavorful, perfect for lunch on a hot day.
Who doesn’t love grilled cheese and tomato soup? It’s, like, the best lunch ever. And it makes a great easy supper. But—blech!—canned tomato soup. Nope, you need this Quick Tomato Soup recipe: really great, good for you and almost (almost!) as easy as opening up that can. Get the recipe on writes4food.com.
Traveling in Italy recently, we saw a whole range of prepared salads on antipasta bars and at little food shops. Salads made with couscous and roasted vegetables, or white rice and chopped veggies, or farro with cheese and seasonal vegetables (my personal favorite). I’m sharing on writes4food.com a recipe for tabbouleh salad, a Middle Eastern composition of grain, herbs and chopped vegetables that’s in the same vein. No-cook, refreshing, the perfect centerpiece of an easy summer supper. Get the recipe on writes4food.com!
If you’ve been out to dinner recently and scanned the ‘salad’ portion of the menu, you’ve probably seen this trend: the non-lettuce salad. Chefs are getting away from the steakhouse wedge and basic house salad and featuring beautiful presentations of seasonal veg, lightly dressed, and with interesting add-ons. Get inspired by this collection of non-salad salad recipes on writes4food.com!
Ever been to a potluck or cookout and had quote-unquote pasta salad? You know what I mean: mushy corkscrew pasta, raw vegetables and icky bottled Italian dressing. Gross. *This* pasta salad is not *that* pasta salad. This Orzo Pasta Salad with Seasonal Vegetables recipe starts with the right kind of pasta, homemade dressing, and crisp-tender seasonal veg. Perfection. Hack it with different vegetables all year round. Get the recipe on writes4food.com!
