Sharing Plate – Your Cooking Coach |

What do you do with leftover chicken? Well, I usually make chicken salad, stuff quesadillas, make soup or fried rice.
This time I wanted to make something different. I kept looking at the leftover chicken breast I had from the day before- and couldn’t come up with anything.

Somehow, after a few minutes, chicken hash came to mind. I envisioned chopped chicken paired with things that were sitting in my vegetable crisper in the fridge. I had green onions, chilies and a red pepper. I also had potatoes and tomatoes in my pantry. I chopped everything up and started cooking.  As the base flavor, I used my favorite condiment- Trader Joe’s tomato chutney. I love using it for everything including sandwiches and as a topping for eggs and meats. In this case I added a few tablespoons and it gave the dish a tangy, salty and sweet flavor. I finished it with a dusting of feta cheese and chopped cilantro.

It was such a beautiful dish- multi colored and delicious. I had some ‘bake at home’ baguettes. I baked one and served a green salad with the chicken hash. It was a big success. This meal would be a perfect for a brunch party!
Click here for the recipe… »

As I may have mentioned before, I recently started writing for the Patch. One of the things I am doing is reviewing local restaurants and then coming home to replicate a favorite dish. It is going really well and I do enjoy the replicating part- and I can’t complain about the eating part either.

I recently went to a Jewish deli in Livingston for reviewingpurposes. I had a friend come with me since I had never had matzoh ball soup before and that is definitely one of the dishes I wanted to try. We had the soup and a pastrami sandwich. My friend explained to me how the soup should taste and what the matzo ball texture should be. The soup was okay- I think I was expecting a lot more flavor in the broth.

After writing the review, I started researching soup recipes to educate myself on how it should be made. After chatting with a few friends, I decided to give it a try.

I made the soup and wrote a another piece for the Livingston Patch explaining how the recipe came about.

Try it and let me know what you think of my matzoh ball soup with dill….
Click here for the recipe… »

Blood oranges are in season- and they are delicious!

A friend noticed a citrus salad recipe in the New York Times food section. This particular salad was made with a grape fruit and a navel orange. She had bought some blood oranges and we paired them with a grape fruit. She had some olives in the house decided to top the salad with them. I am always happy with a pop of salty goodness. We made a simple dressing and enjoyed the salad.

I decided to replicate the salad for a dinner party. Trader Joes has an abundance of blood oranges. I love buying them- it reminds me of being in Italy. This past summer, while we were staying in Spello- we would do some basic grocery for breakfast. Usually we are a juice free house- but there I bought a carton of orange juice. My daughter was fascinated to see the dark red color of the juice- I explained to her the orange juice is made out of blood oranges- hence the color. The juice was delicious!

I cut the oranges into disks and topped them with the olives and feta. For some reason feta comes to mind when I think of citrus. I also remembered I had a orange muscat champagne vinegar from Trader Joes. I used that to make a delicious, clean dressing with a hint of honey.

The salad was delicious! Everyone loved it. I have a big bunch of blood oranges which I am planning to use them again. Definitely make the blood orange salad- you can even substitute regular oranges- any citrus will be delicious!
Click here for the recipe… »

Since the beginning of the New Year, I have been very good about eating healthy and incorporating the right things during the day. I started a month long cleanse which will be coming to an end soon- I am glad I did it- I feel good and it motivates me to eat properly and exercise.

One of the things I am trying to eat more of is protein- especially the good kind. Salmon is the best way to get your protein- but the problem is that my husband and my daughter don’t enjoy eating the fish at all. I mostly end up eating it for lunch since neither of them are home.

I have been buying wild smoked salmon from Trader Joes. I usually make a sandwich or recently have started adding it to scrambled eggs. I beat two eggs and add sliced salmon and cook up the whole thing. I find the combination very satisfying, especially if I top it with some hot sauce- yum!

The other day, I bought some fresh, local pesto. I brought it home and started thinking about some yummy pasta dish I would use it in- but then I remembered I am trying to eat less pasta. So, instead I used it in the salmon and egg concoction. I just added a tablespoon to the beaten eggs and salmon. I then cooked it the same way I did before.

It was absolutely delicious. It brought the simple dish to a whole new level. I loved the sweet basil taste with the salty parmesan kick with the nutty pine nuts.

It is now a staple lunch for me – at least 2 to 3 times a week. It is very filling and satisfying. Try some pesto scrambled eggs with smoked salmon next time you are looking for a healthy lunch.

• 2 eggs, beaten with 1 teaspoon water and ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon extra light olive oil
• 1 tablespoon basil pesto
• 2 to 3 ounces smoked salmon, sliced thin

Beat the eggs and add the pesto and salmon. Mix well. Heat a non-stick pan with the olive oil on medium high heat. Add the eggs and lower the heat to medium. Stir continuously with a wooden spoon till the eggs begin to set. Turn the heat off and the eggs will continue to cook. Serve with a salad or wheat toast.

I love these cupcakes. They are so pretty to look at. I never thought I would be saying that about pink cupcakes but raising a girl for the last seven years has made me very girly.

I remember swearing to my husband I will never dress my daughter in pink clothes. Once she was about three years old, all of that talk went down the drain. There was pink everywhere. We brought her home to a red nursery and now her room is pepto bismal pink- no joke!

Sia turned seven last week and I made these cupcakes for her birthday party. I was going to buy them and give business to a local store but then I thought why should I buy when I can bake them myself. I have never made cupcakes before so I started researching them. I tweaked a recipe I found on honey and jam.

I had to make my own frosting since I can’t stand all the sugary ones out there. I like icing or frosting made out of whipped cream. For the cupcakes I whipped up cream with confectioner’s sugar, food coloring and melted strawberry jam. It was delicious!

My daughter thought the cup cakes were very yummy. She suggested we make them again for Valentines Day- what an excellent idea!

Make these for V Day for your kids and honey .
Click here for the recipe… »