Category Archives: sauces

Bitchin’ Potato Salad

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Did I need to make another post about potato salad? Yes, I did because I changed up the dressing! I am now a HUGE fan of Bitchin Sauce. Primarily the Chipotle flavor, which I used here in this iteration of potato salad. I mean, this stuff is dangerous, in that I could eat the entire 8oz tub of sauce. (okay, that would probably be a terrible idea). This recipe is basically the same except for a few minor adjustments. Enjoy!

Salad:

  • 2 medium russet potatoes, washed, skin on
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
  • 2-3 dill pickle spears, chopped
  • 2 stalks of celery, chopped

Dressing:

(you can eyeball this. I estimated measurements):

  • 1/4C of mayo (or, as I “measured” it, several squirts from the bottle)
  • 4TB Bitching Chipotle Sauce
  • 1 glug of canola oil

Directions:

Wash/scrub potatoes and dice them into bite size pieces, add to large, glass bowl and cover them with water. Cover the bowl with a piece of wax paper and cook in microwave for about 10 min. My microwave has a “potato” setting, so I used that and selected “2 potatoes” which was about 8 minutes. I added a couple extra minutes to that. You can figure out the done-ness of the potatoes by piercing with a knife.

Once cooked, drain potatoes in a colander and run under cold water for a brief moment. Let them cool. Once cooled, add the chopped red pepper, pickles, and celery to the same bowl. Now, let’s make the dressing.

In a small bowl, add mayo, Bitchin’ Sauce and oil, mix with a fork or a tiny whisk. Throw in some crushed red pepper too. Taste it to see if the measurements are okay, if not, adjust according to your tastes. Add dressing to the vegetables. Stir it up so everything is coated. Do you need more dressing? Well, make a little more! I don’t like “soupy” potato salad. I like everything just coated.

chipotle Bitchin' Sauce potato salad in glass bowl
Bitchin!

Avocado Tomatillo Salsa

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Why buy salsa when you can make your own? Well, at least, that’s what I think. I haven’t really found a good enough (IMO) tomatillo salsa at the store, so, I made my own. Bring this to a BBQ and you’ll make some new friends and keep your old ones.

  • 4-5 medium size tomatillos
  • 1 jalapeño
  • 1 avocado, mashed
  • handful of cilantro
  • dash of salt (optional)

Directions:

-Remove the husks from the tomatillos and thoroughly rinse off the sticky residue.

-Place tomatillos and jalapeño in medium-sized pot, cover with water and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat and let them simmer for about 5-7 minutes, or, until the skins wrinkle a bit and they are soft.

-Drain in a colander and let sit for a few minutes so they cool off a bit.

-Place tomatillos and pepper in a blender or food processor, along with a dash of salt, lime juice and cilantro. Process until blended.(It won’t take long). A word of caution: be careful and don’t stick your face over the bowl/blender after you’ve removed the lid to smell the salsa because one will be hit with the full on power of the jalapeño scent like a brick wall (my eyes were burning, lesson learned!).

-Put salsa in container and in the fridge to cool off even more. Once chilled, add the mashed avocado & stir. All done.

Now, go grab a beer, or a glass of rosé and some chips and enjoy.

tomatillos and peppers

So pretty!

salsa, pre avocado

Spaghetti Squash “Pasta” Bake

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It’s 61 degrees today in Brooklyn. In January. Ummm, oookaaaay. My apartment is a tad bit warm from roasting the spaghetti squash and then baking the “pasta” dish. But, hey, my dinner is done and I just need to reheat it later on this evening. I love it when a plan comes together. Also, I realized that there is a better way to cook spaghetti squash. My friend, Molly and I were just talking yesterday about struggling to cut the squash in half and how comical it was. Newsflash: pierce squash all over with a fork and cook in the microwave for 12-15 minutes, or, in a baking dish in the oven at 400 degrees for 60 minutes. SO. Much. Easier this way! Also, I used my favorite jarred Muir Glen pasta sauce because it’s Sunday and I’m feeling a little lazy.

  • 1 cooked spaghetti squash
  • 1/2 the jar of pasta sauce
  • 1/2C panko bread crumbs
  • 1/2C (or more) of grated pecorino
  • Italian herb blend
  • Crushed red pepper

Let the cooked squash cool (or be a doofus and burn your hand like I did earlier), then use a spoon to scoop out the innards and seeds, discard those. Then, use a fork to scrape out the squash, add it to a large mixing bowl. Add the sauce and stir until combined. Add mixture to an 8×8 baking dish. Combine the breadcrumbs, cheese and herbs, sprinkle on top of the spaghetti squash mixture. I added a bit more pecorino romanao cheese too Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes, or, until the topping is browned and bit crispy.

Tomato Pesto with Campanelle

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Well, I think I’ve done it this year. I’ve eaten my weight in summer tomatoes. I can’t get enough of them because to me, the flavor of a good, ripe, juicy tomato epitomizes summer fruit and vegetables. Tomato and bean salad? Yes! Fire-roasted salsa? Please! Gazpacho? You bet. Sliced tomatoes and avocados on toast? Bring it. I get excited at the first site of tomatoes and buy them at least three times a week, and get wistful and sad at the last of them come Fall. Oh, and I’m pretty sure that this recipe will win over even those who aren’t fond of tomatoes. You know who you are. Ahem.

  • 1 container of cherry tomatoes, or heirloom cherry tomatoes
  • 1/4 C. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 C. toasted almonds, chopped
  • 1/2 C of basil
  • 1/2 clove of garlic
  • 2 cups pasta, cooked al dente
  • Grated pecorino romano (optional)

Add tomatoes, oil, almonds, basil and garlic to a food processor and pulse until combined, but not soupy. Add pesto to warm, cooked pasta and cheese. Don’t add too many tomatoes (oops, like I did the first time) because you’ll have a soup or salsa instead of a pesto. You can adjust the garlic too. I didn’t want to overpower the flavor of the tomatoes….because I’m trying to enjoy the last of the best taste of summer. Insert sigh here: _______

Asparagus, Basil, Almond Pesto

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I just threw this together and I have to pat myself on the back for this one, it’s deliciously spring-like. The toasted almonds give it a nice, light crunch. It’s very fresh tasting with the addition of a squeeze of lemon juice too. I’m thinking it would also be good as a dip or on pizza and in calzones. I didn’t add any cheese because I like to keep it vegan and let people add their own cheese if they wish.

  • 1/2 C. toasted almonds
  • 1 bunch of asparagus, blanched
  • 1 small to medium size bunch of basil, washed
  • 1/4 – 1/2 small clove garlic
  • Up to 1/3 cup of olive oil
  • juice from half a lemon

Toast the almonds over medium heat but don’t let them get too brown. (You don’t want burnt almonds, you want to toast them until the oils are released from the nuts. You can tell by the smell). Blanch the asparagus (place trimmed asparagus in boiling water for 2.5 minutes, then remove and submerge asparagus in ice cold water in a bowl). Add the asparagus, basil, toasted almonds, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic to a food processor and puree until smooth. You may have to add more olive oil to make pesto smoother. Also, the amount of garlic is up to you. I barely used 1/4 of a clove because I think it overpowers the other flavors. If you’re putting the pesto on pasta, set aside a 1/2 cup of the past water and add it to the pasta/pesto to thin out the dish. The addition of hot pasta water makes for a creamier consistency.

asparaguspesto