basil

Weeknight Eggplant Parmesan

April 15, 2021 by Gretchen Blazer Thompson

Who isn’t always looking for more attainable weeknight dinners that: 1. aren’t crazy labor intensive 2. use a few ingredients 3. help you eat your veggies 4. are delicious!? I know I always am! Enter this weeknight eggplant parmesan.

This eggplant parmesan is different because you broil the eggplant instead of frying it, saving time and making it healthier. A win win in my book! We’re also getting closer to eggplant and tomato season and I fully intend on making this once a week with local produce.

…

Cast Iron Skillet Pizza

February 9, 2021 by Gretchen Blazer Thompson

Have you made homemade pizza in a cast iron skillet before? If not you’re missing out! It produces the most delicious pizza with a crust that’s crispy on the bottom and sides. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

The best part is how fun any easy they are to make. Either buy your favorite dough or if you’re feeling fancy, make your own. Then put on your favorite toppings. Perfect for a dinner party, an activity to do with your kids, or just a quiet date night in. Now open a bottle of wine (or champagne, our favorite drink with pizza!) and lets get cooking!

…

Zucchini Ricotta Roll-ups

September 3, 2020 by Gretchen Blazer Thompson

Zucchini is hands down one of my favorite, if not my favorite vegetable. I love how versatile it is and how it takes on the flavor of however you prepare it. It’s one of those vegetables that I always have in the fridge because I can throw it in tacos, soups, pasta, or just roast it in rings and eat it straight off the pan (guilty…).

This recipe truly highlights just how versatile it is. It’s one of Rich’s and my favorite dishes and while it’s good all year long (hello cozy comfort food), it’s particularly amazing now when zucchini is at it’s peak. Just make sure you make plenty – it’s one of those dishes that everyone wants seconds and it makes amazing leftovers for lunch the next day.

…

Eggplant Rollatini

August 13, 2020 by Gretchen Blazer Thompson

I love eggplant and whenever I see it as the farmer’s market, I always reach for it. This summer I made it point to try different eggplant recipes. My default is roasted eggplant with sauteed cherry tomatoes and goat cheese, which is delicious but it was time for some new recipes. That’s when I came up with my roasted eggplant caprese and finally decided to attempt to make eggplant rollatini. I hadn’t made it before because it seemed intimating, but lucky for me (and you!) it’s deceptively easy to make!

This is one of those perfect summer meals that is sure to please vegetarians and carnivores. It’s hardy without being heavy and would make an impressive main course for your next dinner party!

…

Roasted Eggplant Caprese

July 28, 2020 by Gretchen Blazer Thompson

This roasted eggplant caprese is a play on one of my favorite dishes from Giuseppe’s Ritrovo, one of the best Italian restaurants in Columbus. Giuseppe’s has since taken it off the menu, but they used to have an eggplant caprese stack that I always ordered instead of a salad.

Since they took it off the menu I’ve been on a mission to recreate it. The method I landed on is a little different that the original, but in the best way. I spoon garlic oil on the eggplant when it’s almost done roasting. The eggplant soaks up the flavorful oil resulting in my new favorite way to cook eggplant!

…

Summer Burrata Pasta

July 21, 2020 by Gretchen Blazer Thompson

This weekend the farmers market had the most gorgeous deep ripe tomatoes that I couldn’t resist. Tomatoes this time of year are good on anything, toast with a little goat cheese, just sliced with olive oil and crunchy sea salt, or my personal favorite with burrata and pasta.

I’ve been making a version of this pasta for years, but this version is definitely my favorite. Using the best ingredients at the peak of the season make this simple dish exceptional! The burrata starts to melt into the tomatoes and olive oil to create the most delicious sauce. The best part, it’s super simple and quick, perfect for hot summer days when you want to spend as little time in the hot kitchen as possible.

…