Cooking with Candi

I was in the mood for something light for dinner and wanted to make a dressing with buttermilk and mustard. I picked up a roast chicken because I was very pressed for time, but didn’t want to eat a plain roast chicken from the market. I grabbed some beautiful romaine, but I know this would be perfectly awesome with kale,  Joel is not big on kale and prefers romaine. Next time I make this I am using chopped kale, preferably baby kale. In any event I used romaine, took the skin off the chicken and shredded it with my hands. Just used romaine, tomatoes, chicken and dressing. Next time out I add avocado for sure, doubt Joel will eat it but I am putting in avocado. This is an awesome lunchtime salad and so easy to pull together for a light dinner meal and mix in whatever other veggies you’d…

I love this Bruschetta. It’s delicious as an appetizer over toast, but I also love it with chicken. I usually make it ahead of time, put it in the fridge and let the flavors marinate. Then, I either use it on toasted baguette slices or on top of a simple, grilled piece of chicken or fish. It’s similar to my Salmon Done Simply in Foil recipe. This has  a delicious, fresh taste and will last at least a few days (probably three) in the fridge. Now that the weather is getting warmer, this is such a wonderful, light dish using tomatoes, which I love.This evening I used a grill pan on the stove with a little olive oil in pan, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper on paper thin chicken breasts and just grilled a few minutes on each side and they were perfect with tomatoes on top.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive…

I love doing a brunch for Mother’s Day. I enjoy seeing my family sitting around my table with all their beautiful faces enjoying a meal. Food definitely ties us all together and makes for such enduring memories. My mom and dad will be there, as well as my sister, and my kids and grandkids, and my son-in-law’s mother. Joel’s mom is in Florida so we won’t be able to see her on Sunday, but our love and gratitude go out to her on this special day, as always. Mother’s Day is a day to think about your Mom , Grandmom, ,Stepmom,  all moms. I know it’s a Hallmark holiday but it’s really a great way to stop and smell the roses, don’t you think? So here’s a shout out to all the moms out there who do so very much every single day of the year! Happy Happy Mother’s Day from my…

Prep for Kale Salad

INGREDIENTS:

3 bunches of organic kale

small container crumbled feta or goat cheese

pignolli nuts ( roast in oven for app. 4 minutes at 350) they burn quickly so watch them. Once you smell them they’re usually burnt, depends on oven so be careful

dried fruit ( I love dried cherries in this) but raisins will do

When I make the kale, I take out the rib in the center and just use leaves. You can wash it first before taking the rib out–it’s easier that way. 

Dry the kale and chop in large food processor. After it’s all chopped, put in large bowl.

Mix all ingredients in with the kale, add my mustard vinaigrette. Do this little by little and keep mixing. The beauty of kale is that you can put it in the fridge and let it soak in for hours. I usually make…

Most perfect summer salad and it is a vegetarian delight. totally vegan. I am not a vegan so I was grilling steaks for dinner and wanted to do a cold salad on the side. I had 2 beautiful ripe avocados on hand and all the ingredients for this yummy salad.  I had some fresh corn so I just brought the water to a boil threw it in and when it turned yellow took it out and threw it in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.   Of course I love  jalapenos , use your own discretion and this would be amazing without as well but it was kick ass with them.  You can make the salad ahead and let juices meld but don’t add the avocados till you’re ready to serve.  You can give them a little squeeze of fresh lime juice so they won’t turn brown so fast.  I like to serve salad at room temperature, you just…

I posted this originally back in October 2011 for Yom Kippur break fast. It is truly one of the best French toast recipes I’ve ever made.  I include it every year since my friend Ilene Stern gave it to me. I never have a single piece left. Delicious and decadent, perfect brunch and breakfast food. I almost always include it in my Mother’s Day Brunch as well. The only downside is that you must prepare and refrigerate the night before without cooking it, you cannot cook this dish till you’re ready to eat it, the bottom will get hard like a caramel candy would. So cook right before you’re going to serve. Enjoy!

*recipe as is should serve 6- 8 if you have more people make 2 trays!

Ingredients:

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 stick unsalted butter

2 tbsp. corn syrup ( I use Karo Original light corn syrup)

5 eggs…

 May is here and it brings warm weather and beautiful flowers and springtime has finally arrived. Right around the corner is Cinco de Mayo and this recipe can help make the day just a little more memorable and it’s a great recipe for any time really.

Any excuse to celebrate a holiday with a new recipe! Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone and here is a new salad and salad dressing to help celebrate with. While I am not a vegan and don’t always cook that way,  I tried this salad dressing which I found in Gwyneth Paltrow’s cookbook, “It’s All Good”, and I have to say it is all good! All good ingredients. I am not talking diet food–just good, healthy food, that when eaten in moderation, yields very good results. I used * Vegenaise in making this and highly recommend it in the place of mayonnaise. You can also use yogurt in its place. This is…