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Mediterranean Quiche Is Great Morning, Noon, or Night

Katie Sweeney — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:00:09 PDT

About once a month or so, I like to make a quiche. Sometimes I'll bake my own pie crust, but other times, when I'm in a hurry, I'll use a pre-made one from the store. The thing I love about quiche is its timelessness. It can be enjoyed at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I've even eaten a cold slice as a snack in the afternoon! It's also a great way to use up old and leftover ingredients. This Mediterranean-inspired quiche is my latest favorite recipe. It's a perfect easy meatless Monday meal, and it's so good you may end up eating half the quiche in one sitting! The filling is a combination of sautéed onions, zucchini, red peppers, and sun-dried tomatoes; gruyere and goat cheese provide a luxurious richness. To give it a try,

A Mediterranean-Inspired Vegetarian Barbecue Menu

Katie Sweeney — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:00:57 PDT

Meat isn't a necessary component of alfresco entertaining; one can easily host a complete vegetarian barbecue, and I've got the perfect menu to prove it! This feast takes its inspiration from the simple but scrumptious cooking found in the countries near the Mediterranean sea. To ensure that you spend as little time as possible in a hot kitchen, most of the dishes can be assembled in advance and are cooked on the grill. If you're in need of a laid-back vegetarian menu for an upcoming party, read on for inspiration.

The Basics: Pita Chips

Katie Sweeney — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 04:15:30 PDT

If you're taking the time to make your own hummus, why not go the extra mile and serve it with homemade pita chips? They're so easy to make, you practically don't even need a recipe! The best thing about baking pita until it's toasted and crunchy is that you control the seasonings. Depending on what you serve it with (spinach artichoke dip, Greek salsa, etc.), adjust the spices to mimic the flavors in the dip. I offered these chips with red pepper hummus packed with lots of garlic, so before baking, I dusted the triangles of pita with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Get the uncomplicated method now.

Fast & Easy Dinner: Pork Tenderloin With Arugula Avocado Salad

Katie Sweeney — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 15:17:23 PST

If you're tired of the same old boring salad, I highly recommend you give this recipe a try. It combines pan-seared pork tenderloin with a hearty, delicious, and flavorful mixture of arugula, avocados, tomatoes, and olives. Feta cheese gives it a creamy texture and tangy saltiness. This dish comes together quickly, which is crucial for weeknight meals. While the meat cooks, put together the salad. Serve with crusty bread and a glass of white wine for a healthful and satisfying dinner. Check out the recipe after the break.

Charlie Sheen Buys a #Winning Mediterranean

Julia Walsh — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:00:00 PST

Charlie Sheen may or may not be off his rocker, but there's one facet of his high-profile life where I do believe he is #winning. Sheen just scooped up a 9,020-square-foot, six-bedroom, eight-bath manse in the prestigious gated community of Mulholland Estates in Sherman Oaks, CA for $7.5 million, and it is a beauty.

Save for the Mediterranean-style exterior, which is I think too played-out in Los Angeles, the house is stunning. The estate has sophisticated hardwood floors throughout; a fresh, white traditional kitchen with fancy new Bosch appliances; French doors; an open floor plan with a two-story entry and sweeping staircase; a mirrored entry bar; and views of the city, mountains, and canyons. Step outside for an outdoor bar/kitchen with Viking barbeque, two terraces, lawns, and large gas-heated veranda a pool.

Tell me what you think of Sheen's new purchase when you take the full tour!

Source

Definition: Fregola

Susannah Chen — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:00:44 PDT

If you like pasta, then you'll likely love fregola (or fregula). These Sardinian spherical pellets are made from rubbing semolina flour and water together in a circular motion to create a round shape, then toasting them in the oven. Quick-cooking fregola is denser and heavier than couscous and has a nutty flavor that tastes great in everything from stews and soups to risottos and salads.
Source: Flickr User embem30

Cling to Summer With Quinoa Tabbouleh

YumSugar — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:00:39 PDT

Ever since one reader shared her simple weeknight meal of roasted asparagus, mushrooms, and quinoa, I've been wanting to show you my favorite take on the Peruvian grain as well. For a protein boost, I love to swap quinoa in place of bulgur wheat in the Middle Eastern parsley salad known as tabbouleh. You can't go wrong with such a simple dish, but the way to truly do this recipe justice is to use dry-farmed Early Girl tomatoes; they're an impeccable balance of sweet and tart, and add a vibrant red hue like no other tomato can. Make this and top with rotisserie chicken for dinner when you read more.

Sunday BBQ: Grilled Steak With Sauce Vierge

YumSugar — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 06:30:00 PDT

For an elegant but relaxed approach to tonight's dinner, serve grilled steaks with a sauce vierge.

This light and pungent sauce, which literally translates to "virgin sauce," is the Frenchman's rendition of Italy's salsa verde. Although the traditional elements, like capers, parsley, olive oil, and garlic still play a starring role, so do Provençal ingredients such as cornichons and Dijon mustard. As you allow all of the elements of the sauce to commingle, start heating up the grill to work on the steaks.
If you need to accommodate pescetarians, serve the fresh sauce on top of seared tuna or swordfish steaks for an equally tasty supper. Ready for the recipe? Then keep reading.

Sunday BBQ: Greek-Style Vegetable Kebabs With Orzo

YumSugar — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 06:30:06 PDT

While it's true that tomatoes and corn take up most of the seasonal spotlight this time of year, it would be simply criminal to overlook some of Summer's other standout vegetables.

Take zucchini. Right now, this vegetable isn't just at its peak; it's also abundant and therefore affordable. Zucchini has a hint of an herbaceous flavor and a tender texture.
Make the most of its characteristics by dressing it lightly and charring it on a stick along with grilled eggplant and red bell pepper. For a straightforward Mediterranean supper, serve the kebabs atop orzo pasta, passing feta cheese around during the meal to sprinkle on top. For the recipe, read on.

Sunday BBQ: Shrimp Skewers With Spinach and Feta

YumSugar — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 06:30:01 PDT

After overconsuming steak and burgers over the weekend, I'm ready to redeclare my devotion to Summer seafood. I love to serve shrimp and pineapple kebabs, but tonight I'm going to try something different: Greek-style barbecued shrimp skewers, marinated with licorice-tinged aniseed, then strewn over a spinach salad with feta cheese and tzatziki, a creamy yogurt, cucumber, and dill sauce. For a different kind of seafood grill-out, read more.