Harissa and Persimmon Chicken

09/28/202209/19/2022 Carroll

Persimmon is an underrated fruit here in the states. A golden, jammy combination of tangy tart and sweet. It’s not often they are in the grocery store, but you may find them at a local market or farm stand, Asian grocery, or you may come across them on your next hike.

Tomato and Zucchini Gratin

09/21/202209/19/2022 Carroll

Tomato season is a joy, and around this time the final stragglers are ripening. If you’re like me, you may have a small herd of tomatoes collecting on your kitchen counter, held in by a zucchini fence. If not, a trip to the grocery store or local market is certainly in order!

Elotes (Street Corn) with Avocado & Yogurt Sauce

09/14/202208/18/2022 Carroll

Elotes are a classic Mexican street food. Roasty sweet corn with a limey cream sauce, topped with cheese—and some chili spice if you’re up for it. ¡Es como un sueño!

You can also make a salad version of this by cutting the corn off the cob and mixing it with the sauce in a bowl, it’s such a tasty way to dress a salad.

What is unique about this version of the recipe is the use of plain 2% Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is high in protein, full of probiotics and tastes just like sour cream, making it a more nutritious alternative that you can use for anything from topping off tacos or chili to paprikash or ranch dip. Try making the swap in your favorite recipes.

Shrimp and Sausage Skewers with Okra

09/07/202208/18/2022 Carroll

Grilling season is ending; celebrate the final warm days with this tasty recipe, full of lean protein from shrimp and chicken sausage and high-in-fiber okra.

“But isn’t shrimp a high cholesterol food?” you may ask. Yes, it is; however, current research shows that dietary intake of cholesterol is not an indication of high cholesterol in our blood. The foods that are concerning to our cholesterol levels are those that are high in saturated and trans fats. These are the fats that are solid at room temperatures, such as butter, lard, cheeses, and the fats in dairy and meat.

Saturated fats are also added to many processed and packaged foods, so don’t forget to look at nutrition labels when shopping! This recipe also swaps the traditional pork-based andouille sausage, high in saturated fat, for a chicken-based alternative. A diet high in fiber also helps improve our cholesterol levels, so although the recipe only calls for okra, add as many veggies as you want to these skewers!