Romanesco Frittata with Kale and Rainbow Chard

Last week my CSA box had a great surprise: romanesco broccoli! I love the beautiful shape and slightly sweeter taste it has than traditional broccoli or cauliflower. Since I also have ungodly amounts of eggs also from my CSA, I decided that I would make a frittata with the romanesco, kale, rainbow chard and onion. It turned out delicious – and healthy, with just a touch of cheese and pinch of salt for flavor. This would make a wonderful brunch idea, and could easily be made vegan with tofu and almond milk. I will have to post a recipe soon that omits the eggs and dairy, I just had so many to use up this week!

Romanesco Frittata with Kale and Rainbow Chard

1 head romanesco broccoli

½ cup chopped kale

½ cup chopped rainbow chard

½ medium white onion

8 large eggs

½ cup milk

1 tbsp vegetable oil

Salt to taste

Optional: ½ cup shredded cheese

Finely chop onion, kale and rainbow chard. Coarsely chop romanesco broccoli. In a large cast iron pan (or other oven safe pan), heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until translucent. Add rainbow chard and kale. Sautee until wilted. Add romanesco broccoli and sauté for about 2 minutes. Take off heat.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, add eggs, milk and salt. Whisk vigorously until completely combined and mixture begins to bubble. Pour into cast iron pan and mix to ensure ingredients are evenly distributed. Allow to cook over medium heat until egg begins to set.

Transfer to the oven and allow to bake until golden brown, approximately 10-12 minutes. Cool and serve either warm or cold. Can be refrigerated for up to 48 hours, or frozen for up to 2 weeks.

Serves 4 as a meal, 6 as a side item.

Happiness by the Sea: BeachHouse Beanery and Cafe

While gallivanting around the north coast of Florida, I happened upon what appeared to be an unassuming neighborhood coffee house. But opening the doors to BeachHouse Beanery is like opening the door to the sun – bright colors wash this place in happiness, wafting aromas of coffee, spices and cakes fill your lungs, the friendly greetings of coffee girls beckoning you to the front register. I am told this is a new location for them, if that is true, they certainly chose a wonderful spot. It is right across from the boardwalk, and with a view of the sandy beach below. While you cannot see the ocean too well from inside the café, you won’t miss it much with the bright, inviting interior. I left telling my better half that I would love to decorate our house like this, inciting some rather unnecessary eye-rolling on his part. Think bright yellows, oranges, pinks, purples, sea foam greens and blues married with mismatching chairs and comfy wicker seats, and you will start to conjure up images of BeachHouse Beanery.

The drinks are also phenomenal – I ordered a chai tea, which was absolutely the best chai I have had in my life. I will be dreaming of their chai, cursing the four hours’ drive between my house and it. I tasted a bit of Fernando’s regular latte, as well as the strawberry shake he devoured after (I can’t say anything, I had three chai teas!). Everything was utterly delicious. I also ordered their “Meatless Marvel”, which is an English muffin with egg, tomato and cheese, served with a small fruit salad. Delicious. Other menu highlights are their freshly baked vegan cakes, we took a bit of their vegan banana bread home. They also have soysage available, for someone craving a heartier breakfast. And for your omnivorous friends, they have lots of meat options, as well. I’m sad that my stomach wasn’t able to fit in one of Pam’s Green Monster smoothies (fresh spinach, banana, mango, almond milk and flax seed), something I still regret. I will just have to try it next time!

What I found most comforting about BeachHouse Beanery was the low-key vibe, the friendly (and gorgeous!) coffee girls, and that it is truly a “mom and pop” place. Their website has the entire story on how Carol and Jeff, husband and wife, opened BeachHouse Beanery in 2008. If you are in Flagler Beach, FL, you definitely need to check them out. BeachHouse Beanery is the ideal location for a lazy breakfast by the sea.

BeachHouse Beanery

1112 S. Oceanshore (A1A), Flagler Beach

Phone: 386-338-2484

http://www.beachhousebeanery.com/

Amazing Chai Tea

Amazing Chai Tea

Palak Paneer in a Box

This packet reminds me of the military rations my parents somehow got a hold of the summer before 8th grade.  We were living out of our cars (don’t ask, my parents were rolling stones and probably wanted to re-live the 60’s), eating military rations and taking showers in the school pool bathrooms.  It was the 80s or almost 90s and things were different.  We were also living in Alaska…. but I digress.

I picked up this package in Whole Foods last week and I was very skeptical that I could enjoy Palak Paneer out of a box.  I enjoy Amy’s Paneer but wanted to try something different.  I have to admit, I actually liked this box’d version better than Amy’s!  Can you imagine a box tasting good?  Especially one that has an expiration date of 2014 and has no preservatives?  This is like space food- it seems like it could last forever.  The only difference is that you don’t have to add water.  It’s all done and ready, you just cut open the package and pour into a pot, cook and serve!  How easy is that?

I enjoyed my Palak Paneer with some lebanese bread that we bought from The Village Mediterranean a couple of weeks ago.  We store it in the freezer so it stays fresh.

For more information go to http://www.kitchensofindia.com/

Here is a picture of the completed product.  Don’t let it’s “baby-food” like appearance deceive you, it’s extremely tasty (I might venture to say it’s tastier than some restaurants!).

Greenstreet Cafe, Coconut Grove

Ashley and I’s first attempt at a cooking class at UM was a bit of a disaster.  Apparently there was a big UM game that night and there was no parking…anywhere.  We were told by the UM team that we would either have to keep driving around (we were already 15-20 minutes late because of traffic) or park almost a mile away.  Even then, it wasn’t guaranteed we’d find parking.  Is this really how they treat their customers?  I won’t be going back for any of their cooking classes as they weren’t very helpful about refunding us or finding us a place to park.  We paid $25 for nothing.

End of my rant.  On to the better part of the evening: We ended up in Coconut Grove at The Greenstreet Cafe.  I’ve been here for brunch and have been very happy with their options.  For dinner, I ordered a delicious Fig Salad and some tasty truffle fries- I have a thing for them and I know the fries kind of cancel out the salad but I was going for taste, not health.  The best part of the meal was what Ashley ordered but I’ll let her describe it in her more elaborate way with words so she can do it justice.

All in all, one of the best restaurants in Miami.  It’s already popular so we won’t be doing them any favors by telling you about how good they are but we want our readers to know that there is this amazing restaurant they need to check out!

For more information, go to http://www.greenstreetcafe.net/