Vegetable Frittata

My dad turned me on to making frittatas. It was a dish that he made many times over the years and every time it turns out a little different than the time before. Why? Because we usually just throw in whatever veggies happen to be on hand. So experiment and see what your favorite combination is!

Vegetable Frittata

2 Tbsp Olive Oil (I use flavored such as garlic or habanero flavored for a kick)

6 small baked red potatoes, diced

1 C fresh spinach

1 C chopped asparagus

1 small onion

2 garlic cloves (minced)

salt and pepper to taste

6 eggs

1/3 cup of milk

1/2 C Feta or shredded cheese of choice

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place onions, garlic, asparagus, and potatoes into the pan, sauté until lightly caramelized. Add in the spinach, season with salt and pepper, and cook until the spinach begins to wilt, about one to two minutes.

In a medium bowl, beat together eggs and milk. Pour into skillet over the vegetables. Reduce heat, cover, and cook for five to seven minutes, or until the eggs are firm. Top with cheese and let melt.

Another option would be to partially cook the egg and vegetable mixture on the stove, until egg retains a little liquid to it, and transfer into an oven safe dish (or cook in oven safe pan) and put in the oven at 350 degrees, cooking until eggs are fully cooked and the mixture has a lightly golden brown across the top.

Twist on a Family Favorite ~ Zuppa Toscana

My boys love the Zuppa Toscana soup at Olive Garden... or at least the version of it their aunt makes. It was always one of my favorites as well. Cream soups laden with sausage and potato? Yum. I love dairy, but unfortunately it doesn't always love me back, so I often try to find ways to cut it out where I can. While I don't know how much the changes affected my soup in the nutritional data department, I do know that the flavor was fantastic and I had two boys who left the table with empty bowls which is always a good sign. So how did I make our version of the soup? Let's get down to the nitty gritty shall we?

The Boy's Zuppa

Ingredients:

• 1/2 med fennel(anise) bulb, chopped
• 1/2 med white onion, chopped
• 3-4 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup Chardonnay
• 1 lb chicken or turkey Hot Italian Sausage
• 1 lb chicken or turkey Sweet Italian Sausage
• 6 sm - med russet potatoes washed, skin on
• 1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
• 6 cups low sodium chicken stock
• 1-2 bunches of kale, cleaned and chopped 
• 2 cups Unsweetened Almond Milk

Directions:

Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Lower the heat and add the fennel, white onion, and garlic. Cook until transparent and starting to caramelize. Pour in the Chardonnay to de-glaze the pan. 

Add the Italian Sausage to the pan and cook thoroughly. Drain excess oil and any grease from the meat mixture. Return to pan. Add the potatoes, Italian seasoning, and chicken stock.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat and allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the potatoes become tender, careful not to over cook them. Skim off any excess grease from the surface of the soup. 

Add the chopped kale and the Almond milk. Return to a simmer. Allow to cook until the kale is wilted, about another 10 minutes. 

You are ready to serve! 

Doesn't that look delish? I have to be honest. It's not as creamy as the Zuppa Toscana that my sister introduced us to years ago, but it was still pleasing to our tummies and we left the table satisfied and smiling. If you give this recipe a try, I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. I am sure the wine addition isn't super healthy, but I love the flavor of wine in cooking. Happy eating, my friends!

Not a Vegan...but

I am currently not a Vegan. However, I will say that after a day of watching some plant-based food and vegan documentaries such as Forks Over Knives, Food Inc., and Vegucated (to name a few)...I definitely saw the appeal to eating that way. I am not going to get all preachy. Everyone's dietary choices are their own. For me, I honestly do not know if I could ever go full Vegetarian or Vegan. In part because my father is such a master of the grill. However, I am on a journey to eat cleaner and eat more of a plant-based diet for my own personal health.

All that being said...I made a journey to the library. If you follow me/friend me on Facebook or Instagram, you may have seen a picture of my haul. I went a little nuts in the book department. I had help. One of the twins helped me locate various vegan and vegetarian cook books - a list of which I am going to share with you now.

The Complete Guide to Vegan Food Substitutions - this was a pick by my son. He found it on the shelf and in what I am convinced is an uncharacteristic gesture for a teenage boy, said 'this might be good for the stuff you already love to make'

The Naked Kitchen Veggie Burger Book - I love a good veggie burger and my dad and I have decided that we would go on a mission to seek out a good homemade veggie burger recipe. My sister follows a mostly vegetarian diet, so that started our mission. Now I am arming myself for the good fight...mostly because I am a sucker for a good burger and since I've come to adore some (not all) of the vegetarian options I've tried, I'm excited to try more.

Lust for Leaf - This just looked like a fun book and in the margins of each recipe is a beverage and music pairing. The foods are geared toward picnic, potluck, and party fare, which thoroughly excites me in a work environment when chips, fat laden dips, greasy foods, and desserts seem to be the main staples.

Crazy Sexy Diet - While this has a some recipes, I did not pick this one up for the recipe aspect of it or even the 'diet cleanse' aspect of it per se. In all actuality, I picked this up for the information nestled within it's pages. Lots of facts, medical info and insight, and a dose of personal sharing from the author who was diagnosed with an inoperable cancer at the age of 31.

Dirt Candy a Cookbook - One part cookbook mixed with one part graphic novel. This honestly, just looked entertaining and different, so I grabbed it. The recipes come from an upstart New York City vegetarian restaurant.

Last but not least (because this is by far my favorite pick)....

Thug Kitchen Party Grub - What can I say about this? It grabbed me because I'd seen a comment by someone online about the Thug Kitchen. Then I started glancing through the pages while standing at the library. It is full of cursing, so if you are sensitive to that, you may want to stay away. The recipes though, shared with a dose of humor like you were talking with your rough around the edges neighbor, are short of mouth watering. There are recipes here that I think I can even get my kids to eat without too much fuss. Recipes like Cinnamon Apricot French Toast and things I can't wait to try like Roasted Beet Hummus.

So there you have it. The mother-lode of plant-based/vegetarian/vegan cookbooks that I managed to bring home from the library. Can't wait to dig in and try some of the recipes. Do you have a favorite plant-based or Vegan chef you enjoy? Give a shout out. I'm looking for inspiration as I strive to incorporate more vegetables into our meals.