Ricotta Gnocchi and Filet Mignon with Brown Butter and Mushrooms

We are trying to get back into making homemade pasta again since we dropped off a little after the summer ended so Lee decided to try a Gnocchi recipe.

Dinner, Fall, Lunch, Meat, Pasta, SaucesStaci JanikDecember 8, 2020filet mignon, gnocchi, brown butter, sage, parsley, flour, ricotta, pastaComment

Pickle-Brined Chicken Sandwich with Coleslaw and Red Onion

A chicken sandwich is something I usually crave when I want fast food and I mostly believe whatever I could make at home could never compare.

Dinner, Fall, Lunch, SandwichStaci JanikNovember 20, 2020chicken, pickles, brine, coleslaw, red onion, brioche bunComment

Wheat Berry Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Halloumi

A wheat berry is a whole wheat kernel that you can cook and add to salads, soups, bread, and other recipes.

Dinner, Fall, Salad, RoastedStaci JanikNovember 10, 2020halloumi, wheat berry, salad, butternut squash, roastedComment

Turmeric and Coconut Broth with Rice and Chickpeas

We made this soup as an antidote to the upcoming election and the tea-based broth is soothing and therapeutic.

Dinner, Fall, Soup, Quick, LunchStaci JanikNovember 9, 2020shallots, garlic, basmati, cilantro, broth, ginger, turmeric, soup, lime, chili sauceComment

Steak Salad with Quick-Pickled Shallots, Radish, and Homemade Croutons

This is another recipe dedicated to my mom and all the delicious salads we ate when I was growing up.

Dinner, Fall, Salad, QuickStaci JanikOctober 23, 2020herbs, steak, shallot, green goddess, manchego, quick-pickled, romaine hearts, croutons, oregano, red wine vinegar, radishComment

Oven Roasted Sausage and Peppers over Polenta

We made this for Lee to have some kind of hot dog situation going on while watching the last play-off game of the baseball season this year.

Dinner, Meat, RoastedStaci JanikOctober 23, 2020parsley, sausage, peppers, onion, garlic, roasted, polenta, parmesan cheese, butterComment

Fresh Herbed Cucumber Toast

I guess I wouldn’t be a proper millennial without indulging in some kind of “extra” toast so here’s our favorite to kick-start the day.

No Cook, Breakfast, QuickStaci JanikOctober 18, 2020herbs, parsley, cilantro, cannellini beans, olives, lemon juice, thyme, dill, chives, almonds, red pepper flakes, sumac, Za'atar, multi-grain bread, toastComment

Baked Lemon and Thyme Chicken with Herbed White Beans

Apparently, we like eating chicken these days. I think we’re on a chicken kick because we really like the baking dish method.

Dinner, Meat, Fall, LunchStaci JanikOctober 16, 2020chicken, herbs, parmesan cheese, parsley, cilantro, cannellini beans, olives, thyme, lemons, garlic, beans, chivesComment

Chicken over Romaine Hearts with Croutons and Green Goddess Dressing

This one is dedicated to my mom and all the salads we ate when I was growing up.

Dinner, Fall, BakedStaci JanikOctober 16, 2020herbs, garlic, butter, roasted, celery, cauliflower, red onion, saffron, raisins, pistachio, mint, thyme, chicken, plums, italian plums, caraway, anise, lemon, honey, red pepper flakes, allspiceComment

Skillet Steaks with Chimichurri, Roasted Cauliflower and Butter Lettuce Salad

Chimichurri is a specialty of Argentina and Uruguay and is usually made with parsley, garlic, olive oil, oregano, and red wine vinegar.

Summer, Dinner, MeatStaci JanikOctober 6, 2020tacos, salad, sauce, lettuce, steak, skillet, cauliflower, turmeric, anise, coriander, red pepper flakesComment

Lee’s Mushroom Risotto

Lee’s risotto is good. That’s really the description for this one.

DinnerStaci JanikOctober 3, 2020parmesan cheese, white wine, risotto, mushrooms, arborioComment

Blackened Steak Salad with Roasted Tomatoes and Yogurt Sauce

Fair warning, this dish should be grilled outside if you don’t have a good vent over your stove. I promise it tastes really good if you can withstand the blast of billowing, peppery smoke from the spice rub.

Roasted Plum Chicken with Saffron Jeweled Rice

The farmer’s market here has a large variety of stone fruits right now and Lee found Sweet Italian plums, a European type of prune plum.

Dinner, Fall, BakedStaci JanikSeptember 29, 2020herbs, garlic, butter, roasted, celery, cauliflower, red onion, saffron, raisins, pistachio, mint, thyme, chicken, plums, italian plums, caraway, anise, lemon, honey, red pepper flakes, allspiceComment

Cannellini Bean Soup with Sage and Parmesan

We’ve had this on our list of soups to make for a while. This past Sunday, The New York Times featured this recipe in their “At Home” section, but their version calls for a slow cooker.

Dinner, Fall, SoupStaci JanikSeptember 24, 2020carrot, herbs, soup, fall, garlic, sage, salt pork, parmesan cheese, cannellini beans, onionComment

Make Ahead Farro Salad with Quick Brined Chicken

You can 100% eat this salad without the chicken and it's really, really good. It's bright, nutty, and filling but the brined chicken and parmesan cheese will add the saltiness needed to make the farro taste just right.

Dinner, Meat, Salad, Summer, LunchStaci JanikSeptember 23, 2020red onion, lime, corn, radish, chipotle ranch, tomato, arugula, parmesan cheese, farro, apple juice, lemon juice, mint, basil, bay leafComment

Cauliflower and Carrot Salad with Honey-Drizzled Halloumi, Roasted Dates and Fresh Mint

Halloumi is my favorite meat substitute. It has a high melting point so it can easily be fried or grilled.

Dinner, Summer, Salad, CheeseStaci JanikSeptember 23, 2020carrot, salad, healthy, honey, arugula, hummus, cauliflower, Za'atar, Medjool dates, mint, shallot, herbs Comment

Shrimp Scampi Risotto (Creole Style) with Lemon and Parsley

We’ve made his recipe a few times and a lot of the aspects of the creole seasoning used for the shrimp are inspired by those ingredients, The rest of this recipe is still heavily carried by the ingredients in a classic seafood risotto.

Dinner, Seafood, SummerStaci JanikSeptember 23, 2020herbs, garlic, onion, shrimp, creole style, parsley, lemon, arborioComment

Roasted Tomato and Yogurt Pappardelle

Pappardelle is wide and flat, which makes it a great canvas for homemade sauces like yogurt and roasted tomatoes.

Dinner, Pasta, SummerStaci JanikSeptember 22, 2020tacos, pasta, roasted Comment

Roasted Cauliflower Soup

The aromatic base is onion, garlic, celery, and carrot with the roasted cauliflower added for flavor and texture. To keep it light, I’ve skipped the heavy cream, and the lemon juice is the final touch, adding brightness and balance.

Lunch, Dinner, Fall, Vegetarian, Roasted, SoupStaci JanikSeptember 20, 2020herbs, garlic, onion, carrot, butter, roasted, celery, cauliflowerComment

Habanero Black Beans

Okay, so Lee makes killer black beans. Mine have always been consistently bland until I learned his methods.

Sides, Tacos, DinnerStaci JanikSeptember 8, 2020herbs, garlic, onion, beans, bay leaf, parmesan cheeseComment