What a week. How is everyone out there? I was thinking of those affected by Hurricane Ida (and everything else). And I hope you are fine. We’ve had some floods, lost some valuable things. But my family is safe and we are grateful.
And although I may dream of curling up with a spoon, a jar of peanut butter, and a bag of chocolate chips, I’ll cook. I will cook because it makes me feel better about doing something beautiful when so many things are not. With that in mind, the recipes I have chosen are surefire delights that are easy to make and fun. I hope they bring you some joy and delicacy this week.
1. Caramelized zucchini pasta
Ali Slagle is a little wizard during the week when it comes to recipes. She just knows how to create something simple that is also surprising and spectacular. Here she takes advantage of the late summer squash that can be found everywhere right now by grating two pounds of zucchini, caramelizing it with butter and olive oil, adding some garlic and basil, and then mixing it with pasta for a cake that may not be very nice but nice and very tasty vegetarian dinner .
2. Corn salad with mango and halloumi
Corn! Mango! Halloumi! If that’s not a happy combination, I don’t know what is. Hetty McKinnon is a genius at making exciting vegetarian salads that are worth dinner out and that don’t feel like a sad compromise. I love Halloumi’s mushy toughness, but if you’re struggling to find it, Queso Blanco works too.
Check out this recipe.
3. Slow cooker chicken tinga tacos
I love my slow cooker and since personal school for my kids starts next week, I’m about to work it full time. This slow cooker version of Tinga, a Pueblan dish of braised chicken or pork in a chipotle tomato onion sauce, comes from Sarah DiGregorio and checks all the criteria: it really is “fix it and forget it”, it freezes a well and leftovers can easily be used for enchiladas.
4th Coconut rice with prawns and corn
If slow cooker recipes are my favorite, stews come second. This one by Samantha Seneviratne combines jasmine rice, coconut milk, shrimp, corn and basil for ultimate summer comfort. It’s a milder dish, so add a little fish sauce or extra lime and jalapeño if you like it a little livelier.
Check out this recipe.
5. Fast spaghetti bolognese
A good Bolognese is my love language, but who has time for it during the week? Fortunately, Dawn Perry came up with a quick version that uses Worcestershire sauce “to flavor the ground beef mix with salt, acid, sweetness and funk in one shot.” It tastes complex, like it’s been simmering for ages, but you can get it to the table in about half an hour. Clever!