One of the fun things about writing a food blog is getting to know other food bloggers—even if it’s only “knowing” them from their blogs. This week, I thought I would share recipes from five fellow bloggers I read pretty regularly. Dig in.
Cara Cara Fennel Salad
The calendar says spring, but depending on where you live, the weather outside may not agree. Nashville-based Angela Roberts created the beautiful salad above with a winter stalwart (and a favorite here), fennel bulb, and the vibrant, springlike flavor of cara cara oranges, in season right now. She layers it with ricotta salata—a salty sheep’s cheese—for a delicious lunch. You’ll find the recipe on her blog Spinach Tiger here.
French-style Beef Stew with Onions, Mushrooms and Peas
Over at the Perfect Pantry, Lydia Walshin claims the way to her husband Ted’s heart is through beef stew. Shortly before moving her pantry from a cabin in Rhode Island to Boston, she no doubt won his heart yet again with this rustic stew. In addition to beef stew meat, the recipe calls for bacon, mushrooms, peas, pearl onions and an entire bottle of red wine. I think she may have won my heart too.
Spinach and Artichoke Quiche
Lately, I’ve been seeing recipes using canned, but not marinated, artichoke hearts. Nowhere have I seen them as beautifully used as Elise Bauer has done at her blog Simply Recipes. In her recipe for Spinach and Artichoke Quiche, she gives straightforward instructions for making a simple pie crust. She also gives you permission to use a frozen pie shell.
Citrus Caramel Brownies
The first blogger I ever swapped recipes—and blog posts—with was Patricia Scarpin. She publishes her blog Technicolor Kitchen in English and Portuguese from São Paulo, Brazil. And while she shares all kinds of savory delights, she is the absolute queen of all things baked. These rich, citrusy blondies are a perfect example.
The Scofflaw Cocktail
Jon Griffin does something on his St. Louis-based blog Kitchen Riffs that I wish we did more of at Blue Kitchen: exploring cocktail recipes. John is an accomplished, eclectic chef in the kitchen, but his frequent turns behind the bar are a special treat. Often, he serves up cocktail classics, expertly prepared, along with the drink’s back story. The whiskey and vermouth Scofflaw’s story is a doozy.
Canned artichoke hearts are so great, aren’t they? And the ones that aren’t marinated are so versatile! Lovely quiche recipe. All the recipes are fun — so much to explore! And thanks for including one of mine — I’m honored.
Thank you so much for including me in this wonderful collection of bloggers and recipes. I’ll happily make a batch of this stew for you to help banish the chill of those Chicago winters.
I feel like John, honored to be featured. I want to make that beef stew right away, but the cocktail, oh the cocktail. Thank you also for introducing me to some quality blogs to follow.
Thank you, John, Lydia and Angela. All of you remind me why I love writing about food.
John’s cocktail pictures always look so nice!
What timing I just bought some fennel bulbs this week. This will go nicely with our steak tonight.
I’m always looking for that perfect stew and this just might be it.
Thanks Terry!!
Wonderful choices, Terry! I look forward to exploring bloggers new to me, and love celebrating ones I do know all over again.
Don’t all these recipes sound great, Randi? Marion totally wants to make the blondies.
And thanks to your comment here, I have the pleasure of rediscovering your blog, Katrina!