Yellow Squash Ribbon Quiche

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With 2 picky toddlers, lately we’ve been having what feels like weeknight dinner fails. Much of the food ends up on the floor and by the end someone is in tears (usually me, just kidding). I just assumed that since we eat so many vegetables our kids would love them too, but man was I wrong! We go through phases, and re-introducing things helps, but it’s not like they’ll sit down and eat a salad (yet!). I am fairly confident they will turn into vegetable-loving adults, but in the meantime I just want them to ingest something green (or yellow, or red). I don’t love the idea of sneaking the veggies into food, as I’d rather they know what they are having, but sometimes I just want to make sure some veg is making its way down. (That’s usually when I break down and make a peanut butter-banana-spinach smoothie for dessert.)

Our boys will never turn down scrambled eggs, and they don’t seem to mind or notice when I finely grate some yellow squash or even zucchini in there. This week I’m going to try this quiche on them (minus the herbs probably). Anyone have favorite toddler-approved veg dishes?! 

YELLOW SQUASH RIBBON QUICHE

6 eggs

handful grated cheese (any kind)

1/3 c milk (I use almond, but can be any kind. Cream or half-n-half will make it more rich and custardy)

a pinch of salt

one small yellow squash (crooked neck or zucchini shaped ones work)

store-bought pie crust

Mix the eggs, cheese, milk and salt in a bowl and pour the mixture into a pie dish lined with pie crust. (I don't pre-bake the crust because I don't mind it occasionally doughy at the bottom, but you could if you don't mind the extra step and time.) Use a potato peeler to make ribbons from one small yellow squash and lay them all around in the egg mixture, pressing them down a bit under the egg. Sprinkle fresh thyme on top, plus more salt and pepper if you wish. Bake at 375F for 35-40 minutes or until set.

 

 

Video: Nut-Free Charoset for Passover

We are hosting a big Passover seder this weekend and the cooking has already begun! For us, the traditional meal always includes charoset, a paste typically made of nuts and dried fruit with a symbolic meaning to the story told on Passover. This year we came up with a nut-free version that Ezra can take to his preschool seder. It's just 5 simple ingredients. Watch us make it on the deck and the recipe is below. Happy Passover!

Cherry-Date Charoset

1 c pitted dates

1 c dried cherries

1/2 c pumpkin seeds (shelled, roasted and salted)

1/2 c sunflower seeds (shelled, roasted and salted)

juice from 1 large orange

Blend all the ingredients in a food processor until mostly smooth, but some chunks remain. The consistency is up to you; feel free to make it as smooth as you like. If you want it creamier, you may want to add a bit more liquid (another orange, or a splash of water). It can be made a couple days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Spread it on matzah or eat it plain!

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We made this video to share with our friends at Interfaith Family, an organization that helps people engage in Jewish life. Learn more at interfaithfamily.com.

For more Forest Feast Passover recipes (including a Spiced Charoset and Spinach Farfel), check out this post!

Cooking with Friends in Barcelona

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During our month in Barcelona last Fall, some friends who live there invited us over to their house to cook together. Monica grew up in Barcelona and Ricky is from NYC but has lived in Spain for many years. Together they founded the company Delicious & Sons which includes a variety of Mediterranean products (developed by Ricky) including sauces, spreads, oils, vinegars and more, that are all organic, vegan and gluten free...and, well, DELICIOUS! I had fun cooking with them because they infused flavor into a simple dish so effortlessly.

Ricky and Monica have a stunning home – it's like an oasis in the city. Their sun-drenched chef's kitchen overlooks a dreamy backyard that makes outdoor entertaining seem easy. Outside they have a huge vine-covered table that they gather friends around regularly. Using their products we made some simple appetizers to enjoy outside one afternoon during our visit. And of course, I took lots of photos as we cooked.

With Ricky & Monica in their backyard, eating what we made!

With Ricky & Monica in their backyard, eating what we made!

Shooting on the stairs that lead out of their kitchen into the back yard.

Shooting on the stairs that lead out of their kitchen into the back yard.

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We made Aioli Deviled Eggs using their Garlic Aioli with Lemon Zest and Basil. Ricky picked baby basil leaves in the back yard to garnish each egg. Find the recipe here.

We made Aioli Deviled Eggs using their Garlic Aioli with Lemon Zest and Basil. Ricky picked baby basil leaves in the back yard to garnish each egg. Find the recipe here.

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I wanted to make a caramelized onion crostini using D&S porcini mushroom tapenade. Ricky had the idea to top them with lime zest which really sealed the deal! Here's the recipe for these Porcini Crostini.

I wanted to make a caramelized onion crostini using D&S porcini mushroom tapenade. Ricky had the idea to top them with lime zest which really sealed the deal! Here's the recipe for these Porcini Crostini.

I fried up some eggplant strips in their kitchen (so envious of this stove & grill!!) to make some rolls with their sundried tomato pesto. These are so good I could eat a whole plate of them in one sitting.

I fried up some eggplant strips in their kitchen (so envious of this stove & grill!!) to make some rolls with their sundried tomato pesto. These are so good I could eat a whole plate of them in one sitting.

Eggplant Rolls with D&S sundried tomato pesto, arugula & Manchego cheese. Get the recipe here.

Eggplant Rolls with D&S sundried tomato pesto, arugula & Manchego cheese. Get the recipe here.

So fun cooking together in this kitchen!

So fun cooking together in this kitchen!

For dessert we made a simple sundae using their thick balsamic glaze over ice cream with fresh figs. So easy and tasty! Find the recipe here.

For dessert we made a simple sundae using their thick balsamic glaze over ice cream with fresh figs. So easy and tasty! Find the recipe here.

Thanks for having us, guys! Come to California!

Thanks for having us, guys! Come to California!

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QUICK RECIPES LINKS:

Aioli Deviled Eggs

Porcini Crostini

Eggplant Rolls

Balsamic Fig Sundaes

*This is not a sponsored post...these are just my friends and I love the cool food company they have created! And I think their products are really tasty. For the full blog post that Monica did on our day of cooking together that lists all my recipes and a short interview, click here.

And Click here to see where you can buy Delicious & Sons products (they are sold all over the NYC area, including Zabars). Some of their items are also on Amazon.

 

Eating Our Way Along the French Riviera

As part of our 3-month #ForestFeastMediterranean journey, after our month in Barcelona , we headed to the French Riviera. We met Jonathan's parent in Antibes and we all stayed in a dreamy Airbnb that my mother-in-law found us right by the sea – an old stone house that was actually part of the town's ancient ramparts. Antibes is on the southern coast of France, not far from the Italian border.

Our Airbnb in Antibes

Our Airbnb in Antibes

We were just steps from the open air market which we passed through daily, picking up the most beautiful radishes, zucchini blossoms and cherry tomatoes.  We had the radishes with butter at cocktail hour several nights in a row. Once a week the socca stand was at the market-- a traditional local chickpea pancake made in fiery oven as you wait. Delicious!

The Antibes Market

The Antibes Market

Ezra with goodies we picked up at the market

Ezra with goodies we picked up at the market

Radishes from the market with butter back at our house

Radishes from the market with butter back at our house

The Socca being cooked at the market

The Socca being cooked at the market

Socca, splashed with black pepper-- so good!

Socca, splashed with black pepper-- so good!

Antibes is the most adorable cobblestone town. Right on the water and a shot train ride from Cannes and Nice. We stayed in the old town and each evening we could walk to a different restaurant for dinner. We also rented a car and did day trips to the nearby towns of Eze and Saint Paul de Vence. It's a stunning stretch of coast and I can see why so many artists have been drawn to it. I loved our visits to the Matisse and Picasso museums and imagining them being inspired to make work there.

One of my favorite lunches was on the beach at Le Galet in Nice. A version of the eggplant pizza I had there (with rosé!) is going in the book.

One of my favorite lunches was on the beach at Le Galet in Nice. A version of the eggplant pizza I had there (with rosé!) is going in the book.

On a day trip to Saint Paul de Vence (Ezra, 3 and Max, 10 months)

On a day trip to Saint Paul de Vence (Ezra, 3 and Max, 10 months)

Saint Paul de Vence

Saint Paul de Vence

We also loved our lunch at Le Tilleul in Saint Paul de Vence.

We also loved our lunch at Le Tilleul in Saint Paul de Vence.

A salad inspired by this one at Le Tilleul is also going in the book! I mean, phyllo wrapped goat cheese!?!

A salad inspired by this one at Le Tilleul is also going in the book! I mean, phyllo wrapped goat cheese!?!

Ez in Ezé :) At the Exotic Garden, in Ezé, France, a hillside cactus garden overlooking the water.

Ez in Ezé :) At the Exotic Garden, in Ezé, France, a hillside cactus garden overlooking the water.

Cocktails outside, looking out onto the main plaza, at Cafe Clemenceau in Antibes.

Cocktails outside, looking out onto the main plaza, at Cafe Clemenceau in Antibes.

Sunset from the Picasso museum in Antibes. He worked in this building for several months and the paintings that came out of that time were very much inspired by the food in Antibes.

Sunset from the Picasso museum in Antibes. He worked in this building for several months and the paintings that came out of that time were very much inspired by the food in Antibes.

It was so exciting to find a French Edition of The Forest Feast for Kids in a bookstore in Antibes.

It was so exciting to find a French Edition of The Forest Feast for Kids in a bookstore in Antibes.

*Just yesterday* a copy of The Forest Feast Gatherings in French arrived, so excited to see it!

*Just yesterday* a copy of The Forest Feast Gatherings in French arrived, so excited to see it!

This was such a magical little stop on our trip-- I so recommend staying in the historic/old town of Antibes if you are in this area, especially with kids. It's a lovely little village, and very walkable. We were there in November for a week and it was still nice enough to eat outside! I hear the beach scene in summer gets pretty crowded, but I'd love to go back then, too. 

Au revoir!

Stay tuned for our next stop...Italy!

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We spent 3 months in Europe in the Fall of 2017 as I was doing research on Mediterranean food for my upcoming cookbook, The Forest Feast Mediterranean (Abrams, Fall 2019). For more photos from our entire trip, check out the hashtag #forestfeastmediterranean on Instagram.

Other posts in this series: