Another week is over – happy Friday, Noshers! What I would *really* like to know is, who picked the middle of summer to celebrate the food below?

Image via Simply Recipes

Today is National Lasagna Day!

What are your weekend plans? Do they involve lasagna?

As I had mentioned yesterday, my favorite vegetable from my CSA thus far has been summer squash – and with the recent heat wave I’ve been getting more squash than I knew what to do with.  I couldn’t let these scrumptious squash go to waste, and when  I saw this recipe for a potato, squash and goat cheese gratin I knew I had to give it a try.

I admit covering veggies with cheese isn’t the *most* healthy option…

(more…)

Ok, so it’s not an ode – more like a statement of fact.  One of my very very favorite veggies from the CSA thus far has been squash (I’m counting zucchini in this category).  The variety of shapes, colors, patterns and flavors is so much fun – I mean, just look at those beauties!  I had so much squash I didn’t know what to do at first, but I got over that soon enough.  Stay tuned for some squash recipes in the upcoming posts – yum!

What’s your favorite vegetable?

I had been eager to dine at Mediterranean restaurant Balaboosta for a while now, and an eating buddy was recently able to get our party of four a reservation.  Considering the rezzie had to be made a few weeks out (for a Thursday night, no less), I was looking forward to seeing if the food lived up to its hype.  Would I be pleasantly satisfied, sorely disappointed or fall somewhere in between?

As there were four of us, we decided to order a variety of starters before delving into our entrees.  We first started with a traditional dish – the hummus “mortar and pestle” with tahini, lemon and roasted garlic:

(more…)

Oh that fine day has come – FRIDAY!  Today in NYC we’re facing a heat wave of 100+ degree weather.  How’s the weather where you are?

Today’s fun fact:

I got the above bell peppers from my CSA, and I am NOT a fan of bell peppers.

Any suggestions for recipes or eating tips that will change my mind?

TGI Thursday!  Because that means it’s almost FRIDAY! 

I’d like to give a hearty congrats to the winner of the fourth NoshGirl Chef Challenge!  Latte Love‘s Peach Caprese Salad with Champagne Mint Vinaigrette impressed voters with 20 votes for the WIN! Voters loved the creative take on a traditional dish using the two mystery ingredients – peaches and mint. Congratulations, Latte Love! Two authentic NYC black-and-white cookies will be making their way to your doorstep!

I would like to thank challengers Home Sweet Hopkins and Married Up With Wine for their really innovative (and beautiful!) submissions of Mint Chocolate Dipped Peach Sandwich Cookies and Chilled Peach & Mint Yogurt Soup, respectively! All three entries cleaned up in the votes –  this NoshGirl Chef Challenge is getting tougher and tougher!

Interested in participating in the next NoshGirl Chef challenge? Email me!

I know pickles are usually considered more of a garnish than a vegetable, but since I started with cucumbers from my CSA, I’m totally counting this as a Veggie Resolution!  The idea of making my own pickles first crept into my head when I saw this post on my friend Penny’s blog, and it bloomed full force when my CSA pick-up included four pounds of cucumbers last week.  That’s a lot of cukes, see for yourself!

(more…)

I am so excited to share these photos with you!  My sister got me a 3-month subscription to Artisanal‘s Cheese of the Month Club for my birthday.  My first delivery arrived in July, and I am just giddy with excitement!  Cheese is my favorite food in the world (even more than dessert, can you imagine?) – if I could only have one food for the rest of my life, I would choose cheese.  I would never tire from the variety of textures, aromas, and flavor profiles; I’ve never met a cheese I didn’t like! As a restaurant devoted entirely to cheese,  Artisanal is one of my favorite places to dine in the city. But enough about me, let’s get on with the CHEESE!

Oh, the goodness that was waiting inside this box was tantalizing:

(more…)

Happy Monday, everyone!  Voting for the fourth NoshGirl Chef Challenge is now OPEN! The secret ingredients for this challenge were peaches and mint – don’t these ingredients just scream summer?  I was so smitten with this challenge’s entries!  Pop on over to their blogs to check out these scrumptious recipes!  Yum!

1.  Home Sweet Hopkins’ Mint Chocolate Dipped Peach Sandwich Cookies

2. Latte Love‘s Peach Caprese Salad with Champagne Mint Vinaigrette

3. Married Up With Wine‘s Chilled Peach & Mint Yogurt Soup

Check out these creations on each contestant’s blog!  Then comment below to let me know your fave. If you’d prefer to keep your vote private, email me with your vote and I’ll count it as well .  You have until this Wednesday, 11:59PM EDT to vote!  Good luck, challengers!

Interested in participating in a NoshGirl Chef Challenge? Email me!