TO A CRISP

LASDI©

Every Tuesday is Fish Night at Vintağe!  We love our home so much and feel quite fortunate to live in it.  And we especially love it when we can enjoy a meal by the bay window that overlooks our backyard - when it's too hot to sit outside for dinner!  We avoid being carried off by Texas-sized mosquitoes, and also avoid cooking ourselves to a crisp! 

With that in mind, this to-a-crisp fish recipe is the perfect spring-to-summer food because it is light and flaky, and gives a nod to the heat outside while staying cool inside!

This is a lower-carb crunch, and also gluten-free!  I paired it with crispy brussels topped with almonds, and quinoa with crispy garlic chips and even garnished with homemade crispy onion rings to greatly define this theme of To A Crisp!  Enjoy!  And stay cool...and crisp!

CRISPY CRUNCHY COD

4 cod filets

6 eggs

1/2 cup gluten-free panko

1 cup almond flour

1/4 cup grated parm

2 tbs garlic powder

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp ground black pepper

1 tsp old bay or fish seasoning

dash (or two!) of cayenne

Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Crack the eggs in a bowl and whisk lightly so the yolks and whites are completely blended but not frothy.  (see notes)  In another bowl, combine the remaining ingredients.  Lightly press your fish with a paper towel to eliminate any excess moisture. Line everything up as follows: fish, egg mixture bowl, breading bowl, parchment-lined baking sheet.  With your left hand place the fish in the egg mixture, making sure it is entirely coated.  Place the fish in the breading bowl, taking care not to touch the breading with that hand.  With your left hand, roll the fish in the breading, gently pressing into it to make sure it is entirely coated and then place it on the baking sheet.  Continue this process until all filets are done.  Bake for 20 minutes or until the fish has reached a safe internal temp of 145°F. (see notes).  Crunch away into the crisp!

NOTES: Whisking the eggs lightly will ensure no trapped air bubbles, which can cause your breading to not stick to the fish during the heating/cooking process.  Have patience...it's worth it!  Remember that because the breading is almond flour and gluten-free bread crumbs, it will have a paler or lighter brown exterior.  Take heed not to overcook to try to get it to a darker color.  It will still be crisp!  If you don't want to turn on the oven in the warmer weather, the air fryer is your friend here!  You will only need about seven to ten minutes of cook time for crispy, crunchy goodness!

YA SCAMP!

LASDI©

Life As She Does It is a quadrant of talents that can be used to make life easier.  One of the quarter pieces is being a boutique caterer.  It even makes my own life easier!

I had a business lunch meeting, which to me means business would be discussed at a meeting where we ate (obs), but I would be in charge of the LUNCH!  It only made sense! It’s a way I control the ingredients AND get to show off a little cooking prowess!

I wanted something hearty-yet-light, delicious, and EASY!  I went with shrimp scampi pasta, and it was truly all of those things!  It was also a nod to the goodbye to February with the gorgeous red-hued shrimp that when paired with another makes the shape of a heart, and hello to March with the green of the broccli gems I added!  

I  had a lot to do to prepare for the meeting itself, so this had to be as simple as possible to put together, but taste complex as though a michelin star chef had prepared it!  

I'm sharing it with you because this would make a great brunch, lunch, dinner, or snack!  Ya scamp!

SHRIMP SCAMPI PASTA

1 box spaghetti (I use low-glycemic pasta for the low-carb effect!)

1 head broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces

high-heat oil (hho), like avocado

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined, (tails on for that classic scampi feel!)

1-750 ml bottle of sauvignon blanc (see notes)

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 1/2 sticks butter

sea salt, to taste

course black pepper, to taste

1 tbs paprika

1 tsp garlic powder

parsley, minced

Cook pasta according to instructions (see notes).  During the last minute of cooking, add your broccoli.  Strain and rinse all with cool water to stop the cooking process.  Leave in the strainer, and heat a heavy skillet (I use my cast iron!) on high heat for about two minutes or until slightly smoking.  Add enough hho to just barely cover the bottom.  Add your shimp (see notes) and cook for about one minute on each side.  Remove from heat and set aside.  In the same pan you made your shrimp over medium-high heat, add the wine.  Let it reduce to about half, add the lemon juice and bring to a simmer.  Add your butter, one pat at a time, whisking whilst  you work until it's all melted and the sauce seems thickened and slightly frothy.  Add your seasonings and let simmer for another thirty seconds or so, and remove from heat.  Place pasta / broccoli mix into a large bowl, add your shrimp and pour scampi sauce over.  Mix gently with tongs until pasta, shrimp, and broccoli are coated.  Sprinkle with parsley and you're ready to eat!

NOTES: Buy two bottles of the sauvignon blanc...one for cooking, one for drinking!  You can use any white wine you like, but there is something about sauvignon blanc that lends a crisp, light taste. Be sure you salt your pasta water BUT GOOD!  It will not only flavor the pasta, but in this case, the broccoli as well!

PLUMERIA

LASDI ©

Remember when you tried to grow your bangs out, and there was that weird time where they were too short and not quite long enough? That’s how I feel about September. It’s not really Summer anymore, and yet, it isn’t Autumn just yet. But with the purple primrose, bluebells, and thistle growing wild along the highway, stonefruit in the full throws of its season, and the indecisive thermometer doing its own thing, September carries its own lovely label when it comes to food!

This meal carries it’s own uniqueness in that it uses turkey cutlets as the protein. The caramelized plums & purple onion take your palate to a different level, and serving it with roasted beets with crushed pistachios and warm citrus vinaigrette, as well as rosemary barely-smashed potatoes makes this meal one of the best September could offer! And just to add some more seasonal color, the potatoes were the baby potatoes with gold, purple, and red skins. BEAUTIFUL!

So go ahead and grow those bangs out…as long as you do it in September!

PLUMERIA

4 turkey cutlets (see notes)

2 tbs extra virgin olive oil (evoo)

sea salt, to taste

pepper, to taste

avocado oil (or some other high-heat oil)

4 plums, pitted and sliced

2 large purple onion, sliced

1/2 tsp clove

1 tsp brown sugar

1 cup broth of your choice

Set your oven to high broil. Place your cutlets together in a bowl and pour the evoo over them. Sea salt and pepper to taste and toss, coating each cutlet evenly. Place on a sheet pan and shape into a circle (see notes). Place under the broiler for five minutes, until lightly browned on top. Turn off the oven, allowing the cutlets to stay in there to rest as the oven cools down. Heat a heavy pan (I use my cast iron skillet!) on high heat until it is lightly smoking. Sprinkle enough avocado oil to cover about half the bottom of the pan, and lower your heat to medium. Carefully pour your onion into the pan, stir to cover with the oil, and let sit untouched for about two minutes. Sprinkle them with sea salt and pepper, and add your plums. Stir slightly so as to mix together and let cook for another two minutes. Sprinkle with the clove and brown sugar, stir and pour a slight bit of broth into the mix, then stir again. Allow to cook together until the broth is absorbed, continuing this process until all the broth has been used and the onion and plum have become a beautiful purple color, and has thickened, about ten-to-twelve minutes. Remove your cutlets from the oven and serve with a heaping helping of the plum-and-onion mixture on top.

NOTES: If you can't find turkey cutlets in your local grocery store, you can use turkey tenderloin or even chicken. If using the turkey cutlets, know that they come in a very weird shape, so pulling the two ends together on the sheet pan to form it into a circle will make them cook into that shape! They look very whimsical this way, especially once the vibrant mixture is on top! Perfect for Date Night at home, too!

BOLO BELLA

LASDI ©

The transition from summer to autumn is more than just a seasonal solstice change in my house.  Those of you who love Autumn best of all the seasons know exactly what I'm talking about.  It's a feeling.   And it runs DEEP.  It's in the air, it's in the colors, and it's in the food!

It's the season I love the most when it comes to cooking.  The switch from August to September is my hard line in the sand (pun intended), and I start to make the change without waiting for the official date.  This meal is one of my go-to's for that change, and it follows all the things I just spoke about: the smell in the air while you're cooking this meal will transition you into the time of year; the layers of burgundy, auburn, orange, and purple colors on the plate bring about the the genuine acknowledgment that this meal goes along with the transformation; and once you taste it, YOU KNOW FALL HAS ARRIVED!

This meal is perfect for Sunday Supper, Meatless Monday, the vegetarian or plant-based eater(s) in your life, or for any time while the season is in place!  Though I put it over low-carb pasta, it is hearty enough to eat without it.  

This does require just a smidge more work than the usual recipes I like to post, but it is worth every bit of it.  TRUST ME!

Eat every bite slowly, knowing the season will pass quickly, and enjoy the blessings of the seaon you're in!

EGGPLANT LENTIL BOLOGNESE

1 large purple eggplant

extra virgin olive oil (evoo)

1 large onion, diced small

4 stalks celery, diced small

4 carrots, diced small

8 oz pkg mushrooms, diced small

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 can tomato paste

2 tsp garlic powder

3 tbs fresh oregano, minced

3 tbs fresh basil, minced

3 cups cabernet (2 for the recipe, 1 for you to drink whilest cooking!)

1- 28 oz can petite diced tomatoes

1 pkg lentils, cooked

sea salt, to taste

pepper, to taste

Rub the eggplant lightly with evoo just enough to coat it in a thin layer. Wrap it in foil tightly and place in a preheated 375-degree oven. Bake until very tender, about an hour. Cook lentils according to instructions, draining any excess liquid left over.  Place eggplant and lentils aside to cool.  On a medium-high flame, heat a large, heavy saucepan (I use my cast iron Dutch oven!) for about a minute.  Pour enough evoo to cover the bottom and let it warm about fifteen seconds.  Add your veggies, a sprinkle of sea salt and pepper, and stir.  Brown the vegetables until caramelized and soft, about ten minutes, stirring about every two minutes or so. Add in the garlic powder and the fresh herbs, stir, and cook another minute or so.
Add the tomato paste, stir, and let cook another minute or so (see notes). Stir in 2 cups wine, diced tomatoes and stir.  Change your heat to low, and cook about five minutes.  While this is cooking, remove your cooled eggplant from the foil and scrape the insides from the skin onto a cutting board.  Mash with a fork.  Carefully add your eggplant and lentils to the pot, sea salt and pepper to taste, and continue to cook another ten minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and marry.  Serve over pasta, if desired, and especially serve with a side of cabernet baby bella mushrooms and onions.

NOTES: when you add the tomato paste and stir, it may seem as though it is sticking to the bottom of the pan.  This is great!  Once you pour in the wine, scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon and get all that flavor into the sauce! 

CABERBET BABY BELLAS & ONIONS

extra virgin olive oil (evoo)

2 large onion (purple, if you want that depth of Autumn color!), cut in half and sliced

3- 8 oz pkgs baby bella mushrooms, sliced

1 tsp garlic powder

2 cups cabernet

sea salt, to taste

pepper, to taste

Heat a large, heavy pan (I use my cast iron!), on medium-high heat until it smokes slightly.  Pour in about 2 tbs of evoo, and add your sliced onion.  Stir the onion, evening it out and let sit for about two minutes, or until you see the bottom starting to brown, then stir again.  Add your garlic powder and stir again. Let sit another two minutes or so, add another 3 tbs evoo to the pan, then add your mushrooms and stir again, evening out the mushrooms and onions.  Stir about every two minutes, until the onions and mushrooms have a beautiful caramel color.  Add a half cup of wine and let cook until all the wine is reduced and absorbed by the mushrooms and onions.  Do this over again, a half cup at a time until all the wine has been used and is completely absorbed by the mushrooms and onions, and the mixture seems a bit creamy.  Add your salt and pepper, stir, (see notes). Serve with eggplant lentil bolognese!

NOTES: do not salt until you are almost ready to serve, as the salt will draw out liquid from the mushrooms and you will end up with a pan full of brown water instead of purple creamy goodness!

Yellow Velvet

LASDI ©

You know that old country song “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” by one Ms. Barbara Mandrell? Well that is kind of how I feel about this recent plant-based boom. I am not vegan, nor do I lay claim to the Meatless Monday origin, but I DO know I’ve been doing vegetarian meals one-or-more times a week for AGES! I suffered persecution from many (well, at least an eye roll or two) when I even mentioned it!

But as The People are coming to a much healthier realization as a whole, they are seeking out better ways to be younger and live longer, and also to ease up on that heavy carbon footprint. So plant-based and vegetarian options are no longer chastised! They are now a welcomed, relevant way to help with all of the above.

Enter in my eccentric obsession with themes, seasons, colors, and the like, and August means all things reflecting sunshine, sunflowers, daffodils, and daisies! And it also means this beautiful, light, creamy, yellow bell pepper soup! I paired it with a GORGEOUS melon salad, a crisp glass of sauvignon blanc, and The Hubster for a perfect August meal!

These are also very quick and easy recipes that will keep your oven off on a super-hot late summer day!

YELLOW VELVET SOUP

2 tbs extra virgin olive oil (evoo)

1 tbs butter (see notes)

6 yellow bell peppers, seeded and coarsely chopped

1 large yellow onion, coarsely chopped

4 cloves garlic

2 celery ribs, coarsely chopped

1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp coriander

sea salt, to taste

black pepper, to taste

4 oz cream cheese, softened (see notes)

Heat your oil and butter in a large pot (I use my cast-iron Dutch oven!) over medium-high heat until the butter is melted, but not browned. Add all of your veggies, and sauté for three-to-five minutes, stirring often (see notes). Pour in veggie broth, add seasonings, and stir. Bring to a boil, cover the pot, and turn heat down to low. Let simmer about twenty minutes, until all the veggies are nice and soft. Take your handy-dandy immersion blender, or in a blender, purée until smooth (see notes). Add cream cheese and blend again until the cheese is completely melted and the consistency of the soup is smooth and velvety. Serve with melon salad!

NOTES: For vegan version, replace butter and cream cheese with vegan butter and vegan cream cheese! The key here when sautéing the veggies is to cook them but not allow them to brown so that the bright yellow integrity of the soup stays intact. if using a blender instead of an immersion blender to purée, remember to allow it to cool just a bit prior to blending to avoid burns or soup explosion! Also, if you’d like a bit of spice, feel free to throw a little chopped fresh jalapeno into your sauté! Yum!

MELON SALAD

watermelon, chopped, chunked, or melon-balled

cantaloupe, chopped, chunked, or melon-balled

honeydew melon, chopped, chunked, or melon-balled

cucumber, chopped, chunked, or melon-balled

mint, minced, shredded, or finely cut

lime juice

teeny sprinkle of sea salt

In a large bowl, combine your melon, cucumber, and mint. Sprinkle with lime juice and sea salt. Toss. EAT!

BURNT OUT

LASDI©

Oh boy. That’s a scary title for a recipe! It is a phrase we don’t like to hear when it comes to life, and it is DEFINITELY a phrase we don’t want to associate with what we COOK!

I have to tell you it is so fitting for me at this particular time in my own life! This last week has been spent getting our home sale-ready, which means all furniture out and into storage, painting, cleaning, and repairing, waiting for our newest Grittle (GRAND Little) to be born, speaking engagements, catering jobs, and singing gigs coming my way (yay!), and all the while having to do the normal life things, too, of course!

I’m not burnt out as it were, but I sure am TIRED! So dinner last night had to be quick, easy, and nutritious, and still be DELICIOUS! Well this really hit the mark!

Red meat is a rare treat in our house (no pun intended!) but as a reward for all the hard work we’ve put in, I made a gorgeous flank steak with some of my famous chimichurri sauce and was looking for a way to incorporate the veggies I had in the fridge to go along with it.

I found leeks, delicata squash, broccolini, green beans, carrots, purple cabbage, garlic cloves, and red chard, and I garnished it with the carrot tops.

I realized this would be fantastic as an appetizer tray, or alongside a charcuterie, too! The best part about the recipe I am about to share with you is how completely flexible and inter-changeable it is! Isn’t that exactly what we need in our life so we don’t get burnt out?

CHARRED V EGGIE TRAY

WHATEVER VEGGIES YOU WANT! (fresh, not frozen) (prepared by cutting, slicing, dicing, or leaving whole)

evoo (extra virgin olive oil)

sea salt

pepper

garlic powder

chili powder

(OR WHATEVER SEASONING YOU LIKE!)

On a stainless steel or non-stick baking sheet (see notes), strategically place all your veggies together however you like. VERY LIGHTLY sprinkle evoo over the top of the veggies (see notes). Sprinkle the seasonings from a high point over the veggies (see notes). Place your oven broiler on high and place the baking sheet on the top rack of the oven. Set a timer for five minutes and check on the veggies to make certain they are not burning. Charred is completely different from burnt! Set the timer for every three minutes afterwards, rotating your baking sheet each time, and char to desired color and consistency. Take note during the process that charred veggies will ultimately be al dente so try not to overcook and send them into the burnt abyss!

NOTES: If you do not own a stainless steel or non-stick baking sheet, my suggestion is to prepare whatever baking sheet you have with parchment paper so that the veggies do not stick to the pan. The key to charring in a broiler is to not use too much oil so that the veggies maintain their integrity and don’t get mushy, so as you are sprinkling, either place a finger in the spout of the oil, or pour in your hand and gently and tenderly sprinkle over the top of the veggies. It is important to sprinkle the seasonings from a highter point to ensure the veggies are evenly seasoned. You and / or your guests will be wowed by this edible painting!

MOLÉ AMORÉ

photo cred: HERE

Oh, February! I love how you make it totally acceptable to cook with chocolate and other gratifying extravagances! In Life As She Does It’s affinity partnership with Oil Wife Life (Covenant Testing Technologies, #CovenantCares), I was given the challenge to create a recipe using Nutella. CHALLENGE. ACCEPTED.

Some people luh-huh-huuuv the chocolate-y hazelnutty delight, but I also know that some people seem to shame the blameless jar of wonder. Personally, I think that’s because they envision themselves tucked in a blanket on the couch on a dreary day, watching their favorite Hallmark Channel movie with nothing but a jar of Nutella and a spoon to keep them company. Well, you will receive no judgment from me!

Even though I am a low-carb girl that tries to eat as healthy as possible, I also believe in rewards and indulgences from time-to-time. I found this recipe to be a fantastic mix of both and let me just tell you - The Hubster and I were thrilled to have it! It is a rich and luscious, and just perfect for a chilly night!

So my challenge to YOU is to make it for your Valentine, and then get TWO spoons to share the rest of the jar for dessert!

CHOCO-NUT CHICKEN MOLÉ

i 1 small pkg boneless skinless chicken breasts, trimmed (of any extra fat or skin)

1 small pkg boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed

extra virgin olive oil (evoo)

sea salt

pepper

paprika

cumin

2 chipotle in adobe, chopped finely

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 small onion, chopped finely

1/2 cup marcona almonds, chopped coarsely

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp allspice

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp fresh oregano, or 2 tsp dried

1 can rotel

2 tbs tomato paste

1/4 cup Nutella

1/2 bar unsweetened chocolate, chopped coarsely

3/4 cup chicken broth

Heat a large, dry skillet on high heat for two minutes (I use my cast-iron, of course!). Pour enough evoo to coat the bottom of the skillet and allow to heat another minute. While heating oil, season both sides of chicken with sea salt, pepper, paprika, and cumin by lightly sprinkling to coat. Lower heat to medium-high. Cook about three-to-four chicken pieces at a time in the skillet, careful not to crowd the pan, for about five minutes on each side, placing each batch on paper towel covered platter.

Pour about two tablespoons more evoo into the skillet, and add the chipotle in adobe peppers, garlic, and onion. Cook on medium-high heat for about five minutes, stirring occasionally. While the pepper mixture cooks, slice your chicken and set aside. Add marcona almonds and stir to combine. In a small bowl, stir together sea salt, pepper, allspice, paprika, cumin, and garlic powder, then add to the onion mixture and stir. Sprinkle with oregano and stir again.

Add rotel and tomato paste. Stir and let simmer one minute. Add Nutella, chocolate bar, and chicken broth and stir slowly. Cook and stir until thickened and smooth, about six minutes. Add the sliceed chicken to the pan, cover and simmer on low heat for ten minutes.

Sprinkle with a drizzle of sour cream, some cotija cheese, and serve over brown or cauli rice!!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

YOU SAY POTATO

LASDI©

It's been COLD in Texas!  Said practically no one ever.  Nonetheless, cold it has been.  And of course, there is nothing better than hot soup to warm your bones on cold nights.

It was Sunday and the week had been so busy that I had not planned out our Sunday Supper.  GASP!  I only gasp so dramatically because Sunday is carbs-allowed day and I had not planned accordingly!  

So of course, I rummaged through my pantry and fridge to see what I could drum up. 

This was fast, easy, delicious, and a carb-loaded reward.  And it was even better the next day for The Hubster's lunch!  

LOADED BAKED POTATO SOUP

4 large potatoes, scrubbed and chopped into 1-inch cubes

4 tbs extra virgin olive oil (evoo)

1 tsp sea salt

1 tbs black pepper

1 small onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 package bacon, chopped

1 tsp white wine

1-32 oz box chicken broth

1 1/2 cups sour cream

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 tsp white pepper

1 tbs butter

In a heavy pot (I use my cast iron Dutch oven!) on medium-high, heat evoo for about one minute and then add potatoes.  In a small frying pan (believe it or not, I use my tiny cast iron skillet!) heat onion, garlic, and bacon on medium-high heat for five minutes or until bacon is cooked through, stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat and add white wine.  Stir and scrape any "bits" from the bottom with a wooden spoon or spoonula and set aside. 

Meanwhile, stir potatoes and add sea salt and pepper.  Let them sit in the pot, untouched, for about five minutes or until crisp and brown on bottom.  Stir and add chicken broth, then bring to a boil.  Once boiling, add bacon mixture to the pot, lower the heat, cover and let simmer for thirty minutes.  Bring heat back up to medium and stir in sour cream, cheese, and white pepper.  Let cook another three minutes, stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat, add butter and let melt, then stir and serve.

NOTES: For garnish, you can sprinkle a little more shredded cheddar or some chopped chives on top.  This smelled so good that no garnish made it to the bowl before it was devoured!  For some crunch I added a few raw veggies and some rice crackers.  For a healthier take on this meal, I use organic ingredients and uncured bacon  But it is what it is.  And it is DELICIOUS!!