Eat Like a Rabbit

This pasta recipe comes at the end of a number of fall recipes. I read in "Reader's Digest" last week that prices on produce actually go down when the product is hot and in season because there is plenty of the product, and they have to move quickly before they spoil. I found this to be true with apples because last week they were $0.44 higher at Costco than they were this week. So, be on the lookout for produce in season. You will save money and enjoy richer flavor.

This post refers to the product in the very front of the photograph. The plate was a sampler platter at a buffet. I created the dishes. Hopefully, recipes for the other dishes will be available soon.

This post focuses on delicious, quick meals and the estimated prices for making them. My goal is to help families prepare healthy menus in spite of the depressed economy.

In a floundering market consumers are looking for good food that is as cheap and nutritious as possible. I hope this post will be the first in a continuous series that focuses on time-saving dishes that don't break the bank while they impact your menu.

I have previously mentioned that applesauce is a annual tradition at our house. The following is my process.

The idea for this refreshing "Last Rose of Summer" drink came as I was reading a Southern-style cookbook at Tuesday Morning. I had the ingredients and it seemed like a great way to stop and think back on the summer and look forward toward winter. I made enough for about 6 servings. It was just strong enough to leave room for adding sparkling water for that extra kick.

This is a report on three trips to the newest Aldi in town. I have enjoyed shopping at Aldi and enjoy trying new items. I have spoken with some people who think that Aldi is a horrible idea. They don't want to bring their own bags and do not realize they are nice, thick, strong bags. I also hear complaints that the items are not brand-named. These are obviously people who have been fooled by marketing. Mind you, I don't complain about the concept of marketing. After all, that's how my husband makes a living. But I have found items such as Pine Sol, Colgate, Pringles, Anchor, and the same names I see on produce at Costco. I give these people the benefit of the doubt and call it an oversight.

Fried okra is special. Many people don't know what to do with it. And most people have had such bad experiences with it, they are afraid to try it again. We purchased some fresh okra from the Maitland Farmer's Market and it stayed in the refrigerator until I I decided I couldn't run away from it any more. I was going to have to find a way to cook it. I did a bit of research and created my own recipe for fried okra. Paul said he had never had such minimal batter on his okra and that he liked it that way. I was proud because I actually thought the vegetable was edible. Fried foods can find their way into the heart so easily.

This just might be my favorite ice cream concoction ever. Too bad for Marble Slab. I'll be eating my ice cream at home during the right seasons. We sprinkled pomegranate seeds over Publix Premium Vanilla Ice Cream and spread a ribbon of peanut butter on top. Since we've discovered this recipe, I've had this dessert three nights out of four. Lucky I go to the gym occasionally. It's not so bad without the peanut butter either.

The annual Pumpkin Fest at Allen and Tangie Isidro's house was a great success. The larger guest list and increased space for playing games added to the excitement.

I made this appetizer twice last weekend. I have decided that spaghetti squash is best in October, because by November I was struggling to find good fall squash to purchase. The dish was a big hit at both events and the goods were all gone. There's no complement like the complement of disappearing food (as long as it isn't fed to the dog).

When I first acquired my "Moosewood Restaurant New Classics" cookbook, I feared it would be a waste because I felt the recipes took too long to prepare, but my patient mother-in-law pointed out that there was an excellent fajita recipe in the book. It did call for tofu, which we omitted because we didn't have any. I'm sure we could have substituted another veggie meat, but I didn't think of that at the time because it was getting late to eat anything resembling a dinner. Other vegetables and flavors included onions, garlic, bell peppers, and tomatoes. I did have grated sharp cheddar available and served the fajitas with salsa and multi-grain chips.

The first time I had a pomegranate salad dressing was in an underground restaurant in Budapest. I was disappointed, but still thought it was a good idea. Last week, we had a few pomegranates leftover from breakfast, and I decided to find a recipe to make a dressing for our parents as we had both sets over for lunch after church. The closest thing I found was a strawberry salad dressing in "Moosewood Restaurant New Classics." I substituted Pomegranates for the Strawberries but kept the rest of the recipe consistent. It was fabulous.

I had volunteered to feed a large group (25ish) of people at church while my in-laws were in town and they graciously agreed to help in the preparation of the meal. For me, it was filled with new ideas for old recipes.

Kathleen's mom used to put black and white beans in her baked beans for a tri-color look and a change in flavor and tradition. I thought it was an ingenious way of adding to the pot if necessary because those beans often come in smaller cans than baked beans do. Also, the juice from the cans isn't needed and doesn't thin down the dish in the process.

This restaurant is consistently good. It has a menu rotation for every season and has a nice selection of teas. It was a tad warm this fall day; so only Gerald selected a warm tea. But everything was good. Paul and I absolutely loved our sandwiches. IF I could only make them like that at home! Surely it can't be that hard!

Guacamole is a favorite for us. However, we tend to differ on how to make it. Fresh cilantro is better than dried cilantro. Lime is better than lemon. And never use mayonnaise!

Paul said this was the best risotto he ever had. He actually isn't much of a fan of risotto, but quite enjoyed this. I think this is my second favorite risotto ever; my favorite being in a quaint spot in Italy many years ago. You just can't beat the surroundings! But for home products, this is the best and most successful. And I have experimented a few times, which goes to prove not everyone becomes a cook overnight.

The recipes I checked out had many different seasonings to add. I passed on those. Aside from the long cook time, this is very easy.

My father-in-law picked up this squash at the grocery store because it was so cute. It resembles a cucumber with extra yellow stripes. It has two names: Delicata and Bohemian. I sliced the squash thinly and cut the centers out. I brushed both sides of the rings with olive oil, placed them on an aluminum foil lined pan and sprinkled salt, pepper, and fresh rosemary on top. The squash gets roasted on a top rack in a 425' oven. The rings make cute appetizers or a side dish at dinner.

Taste wise, the rings did seem a bit plain. I feel like I can get the same flavor out of roasting sweet potatoes with the same seasonings. But it was a nice experience.

We once came across Haagen Daz's special Pomegranate Dark Chocolate Ice Cream. The color was not inviting and the flavor wasn't fresh, but the concept was good. When my in-laws were in town, I purchased a nice selection of pomegranates from Costco and watched as my husband and his father took it apart. I'm sure they will both remember to wear an apron, but not to wear a white shirt, in the future. Meanwhile, my mother shaved some fine European Dark Chocolates that my in-laws had brought as a gift. A regular cheese grater works well. The key is choosing exceptional chocolates. And dark chocolates in this case are highly recommended over milk chocolates.

This could very likely be my favorite restaurant in all of Orlando. It sits on Central right next to Lake Eola and has a very special place in my heart because it is where we had dinner with my parents and Garrett Nudd after Paul tricked me into a photo shoot/wedding proposal. The food is consistently fabulous, and the staff is always kind, smiling, and fun.

This is often a favorite lunch spot of us in Winter Park, Florida. It is very close to the hospital where Paul works and near shopping areas I may visit on my days off. The selling point of this restaurant is a relaxed atmosphere with outside eating, a selection of sandwiches and salads, and their amazing creation of smoothies--with or without yogurt.

One of my EMTs said this was his favorite squash. So, I purhased some on Friday. By Saturday, we were eating lunch at some friend's house and were served Spaghetti Squash. He answered all of my questions about preparation. And I excitedly created this fabulous dish on Sunday. With a salad, French bread, and pan-fried scallops, I was in heaven.

The biscuit recipe came from my mother and the gravy recipe came from Paul's mother through her mother-in-law.

These are the absolute cutest cheeses I've ever seen. They come individually wrapped and in large numbers in Costco's Special Cheese section. Paul can easily take one to work. They look adorable sitting beside a dinner plate. And they make an ordinary salad definitely look unusual. The cheese is very soft and mild. I love to sprinkle a bit of black pepper over the cheese to highlight its true white color.

This was a fabulously colored vegan dinner focused on vegetables easily accessible in our local stores. I really enjoyed it, but Paul said that the frozen lime juice I had defrosted to mix with the sugar snap peas. I do caution cooks to follow the recipe closely because the peas did not hold their bright green color.

The recipe for the peas came from foodnetwork.tv called Mint Sugar Snap Peas. I did use frozen peas and would be happier trying the recipe with fresh peas in the future. I used the roasted sweet potato recipe with olive oil, seasoned salt, and fresh rosemary for the red potatoes; and I sliced some very ripe tomatoes.

Baked potatoes are good for you and have so many options for changing the style and taste. Our microwave even has a "Baked Potato" setting on it so I can turn it on and forget about them until it beeps telling me they are perfectly done. Granted, most people say microwaved baked potatoes are technically steamed, but they still taste soft and rarely mushy. Real ovens take around an hour to bake completely and risk overcooking. I have been told loading a crockpot down with potatoes yields very nice baked spuds. Note, that when there is a big crowd and spuds are small, the more toppings, the farther the dish goes.

Previously, I have blogged about the wisdom of using food as a gift. We have taken our own advice and found ways to give food as gifts. We give lovely jars (RECYCLED) filled with dehydrated or fresh herbs depending on who will receive the gift and what we think they may like. We put a homemade label on the jar that connects back to EatLikeARabbit.net for recipes and other suggestions. Generally, herbs are useful to an individual. And even they may not be useful to the original recipient, they know someone who will be thrilled to get it. Therefore, we are sharing our love of the land with others and giving something that won't sit in a closet and collect dust until an appropriate time comes to regift it or take it Goodwill.

After a long plane ride home from Texas, we called my father to meet us at this restaurant. This visit was far superior to the previous one (not that the last one was horrible).

I love scrambled eggs. Who doesn't? As a child, I watched my grandparents put chives in theirs and it made me sick. Now, I can't eat my eggs plain. Paul put his eggs on top of his English muffin, poured Cholula Sauce over it, and garnished it with Raspberries. All of my items were neatly separated. The differences between a husband and a wife! I will say, I was out of spinach this day. I missed it.

This was a very simple dessert made at peak season for fresh peaches. I always try to make such things when the oven is always hot from another baking experience. My guests had no complaints about the peaches being unsweetened. The ice cream made up for it. If I had had more time, I think I would have liked to serve the dish with mint ice cream (the mint chocolate chip ice cream recipe without the chocolate chips).

Paul bought me a new cook book that recommended some strudel recipes as show-stoppers. I didn't have the ingredients, but I used what I had on hand and was so excited with the results. I had a few extra pastry sheets and choose to make the Vegeburger Bites, which I have written about before. The purpose for using all the pastry sheets was to clean out the freezer. They are expensive; so I try to buy them from the Pepperidge Farm Thrift Store. I love using them because they taste like I've slaved all day!

Just in time for a Labor Day feast, we acquired some fresh corn on the cob and a recipe from foodnetwork.tv for lime cilantro butter to spread over the corn before wrapping in foil and roasting. The product was wonderful. I think that result was fabulous, even if not exceptionally healthy with the large amount of butter.