Country Kitchen (in the city) healthy delicious meal inspiration for everyone

Country Kitchen (in the city)
weekend special: the leftover veggie frittata
weekend special: the leftover veggie frittata

I have a busy life, unlike my parents who went to the grocery store religiously, every Saturday morning, I’m only able to get the car out and do a big shop about once every two weeks (if I’m lucky). The rest of the time I find myself running out on my lunch break to scavenge […]

thai green curry cod
thai green curry cod

I’m a huge fan of doing things from scratch, but cooking dinner every single night, while I love cooking, can sometimes be daunting. Every now and then you just need a cheat.  My cheat in this dish is green curry paste from Thai Kitchen. Here’s what you will need: – brown rice – Cod (a […]

farmers market fresh
farmers market fresh

The only thing better than a morning stroll in the farmers market is going home and sampling the bounty. We start out with a rosemary olive bagel from Uncommon Grounds, and top it off with freshly made chèvre, a few thin slices of a goats milk Gouda, sliced grape tomatoes, a spicy micro green mix […]

simple shishito peppers
simple shishito peppers

Many of the dishes I seek out to cook are items I once sampled at a restaurant or friends house. Shishito is no exception. If I remember correctly, the first time I had shishito was at Itacho (years ago) in Los Angeles, and I instantly fell in love. When I moved to New York, over […]

asian chilean
asian chilean

Chilean sea bass with beech mushrooms & sugar snap peas in a gingered red miso broth. *This simple dish looks complicated, but only takes about 20 minutes start to finish* Begin by preparing the oven. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and make sure your oven rack is in the correct position for broiling. […]

a good morning
a good morning

I’m trying to get back into the breakfast (and blogging) groove so why not start back in with a quick tasty treat: a toasted sesame bagel with cream cheese, tomato, smoked salmon, white pepper and a fresh chopped herb combo of basil, dill and green onion.    

asparagus mushroom and Gruyere frittata
asparagus mushroom and Gruyere frittata

Tomorrow is Saturday and brunch is already on my mind. I think I’m going to start the weekend out slow and sweet with a little spring cleaning and a yummy frittata. A frittata is a great way to use up veggie stragglers, aka: the leftover vegetables that didn’t make it in to your weekday meals. […]

superfood snack mix
superfood snack mix

During the day I work for a totally awesome physical therapy practice in NYC with a beautiful, huge glass jar filled with…. candy! And, while not everyday, I often find myself reaching in to satisfy my craving for something sweet. This week, instead of gorging on Hershey’s and Nestle, I’m filling fists with a homemade […]

tips: work lunch salad dressing
tips: work lunch salad dressing

I’m always finding a way to incorporate last night’s leftovers into a tasty next day work salad. Here, I added a drumstick and asparagus to leafy greens and veggies for a hearty lunch treat. Top it off with a country mustard vinaigrette, for a well rounded balanced lunch. For an easy make-and-take salad dressing, instead […]

birdloaf with mashed sweet potatoes
birdloaf with mashed sweet potatoes

Meal planning, for me, is about balance. I eat everything… but in moderation. My mother had high blood pressure, so I learned early on how to forgo salt for other alternative spices. Heart healthy grains and low in fat are two other lessons that were reinforced throughout youth. If you haven’t noticed by now, I […]

stir it up, steak stir fry
stir it up, steak stir fry

The most time consuming part of making a stir fry is the prep – chop chop chopping the veggies! I always start a stir fry by putting on the rice cooker. Typically, I would have used brown rice, but I was also cooking for the dog this evening and he can only tolerate white, so […]

chicken milanese with arugula
chicken milanese with arugula

Fresh, light, delicious and fast. Take thinly sliced chicken cutlets, dredged them in whole wheat breadcrumbs (no need to dip in eggs first) and placed them in a hot pan drizzled with olive oil. Depending on the thickness of the cutlet, cook for about 5 minutes on each side. Serve over a bed of baby […]

bowl of spaghetti squash
bowl of spaghetti squash

This meal is straight out of my childhood. My mother was very find of a healthy-eating lifestyle and after I got out of my SpaghettiO’s and mac&cheese phase, I quickly picked up on her style of low-fat, low-sodium, heavy on the fruits and veggies eating habits. But there was NO WAY I was going to […]

quick breakfast bite
quick breakfast bite

As you may have noticed, I’m a huge fan of brunch but not so keen on the early morning before work breakfast. Lately, however, I have been trying to change my ways and start off the day right with a quick savory bite.  I’ve found that I feel more energetic and satisfied (aka. no snacks) […]

pino mustard chicken with brussels sprout hash
pino mustard chicken with brussels sprout hash

This light and tasty dish looks timely and complicated, but a simple hand-held mandolin slicer helps you speed right through the the prep-work for a delicious dinner for two. Aside from a mandolin slicer and 2 large frying pans, you will need: – 10-12 brussels sprouts – 8-10 small red potatoes – 5-6 baby bella […]

guajillo chili chocolate melt w/ fresh fruit
guajillo chili chocolate melt w/ fresh fruit

Sometimes the simplest treats are the most delicious. For a sweet treat I heated up a circle of Taza guajillo chili chocolate in a pot over low heat. As the chocolate began to melt, I drizzled in about 1/8 cup of low fat milk to keep it smooth. Pour some chocolate onto the plate, dust […]

pork loin w/ pomegranate balsamic reduction
pork loin w/ pomegranate balsamic reduction

When the cold weather hits New York, my oven flicks on for hearty roasts (with veggies!!). Start this meal off with a nice sized piece of boneless pork loin. What you don’t eat for dinner will make a fabulous lunch for work tomorrow.. think fall salad: arugula and spinach with leftover roasted potatoes and pork […]

black mission figs with roquefort and bacon
black mission figs with roquefort and bacon

This one’s so easy, I’ll show it in (mostly) pictures… Apple wood smoked thick slab bacon. Scoop out a bit of the fig center before stuffing with cheese. Top it off, and serve.

chilean seabass with lemon heirloom sauce
chilean seabass with lemon heirloom sauce

Preheat oven to 425. Slice the Chilean Seabass into a two inch wide strip and then cut 1/4 inch deep slices into the top side of the fish, about an inch apart. Place a dab of butter and thyme inside of each sliced section, place atop a broiling pan and place on the top rack […]

tagliatelle marinara with burrata & cerinola olives
tagliatelle marinara with burrata & cerinola olives

This Italian specialties dish was inspired by a shopping trip to buonItalia in the Chelsea Market. Quite simply, this meal was whipped together in the time it takes to cook marinara. The components are: fresh tagliatelle pasta, marinara sauce (recipe here), burrata cheese (what it it? read about it), shaved Parmesan and Cerinola olives. Mangia!!

hawaiian breakfast
hawaiian breakfast

In lovely, small family tradition, this meal transforms last night’s leftovers into a delicious island-style brunch.  Years ago, I lived near a little brunch spot in Manhattan Beach, California that was open from about 10:00-3:00 and served Hawaiian Brunch. From what I remember, there were only a few things on the menu… chicken teriyaki with […]

sesame teriyaki chicken with summer veg
sesame teriyaki chicken with summer veg

So the real title of this meal should be: Sesame Teriyaki Chicken with Fennel Mushroom Peaches – but it was too long for my format! As the only child of a single, working mother, coming of age in the 80’s I ate a lot of meals that started in a box, can or the microwave. […]

un-smashed fresh-hash & eggs
un-smashed fresh-hash & eggs

Another farm fresh (or farmer’s market fresh) brunch in a bowl. For two people you will need: -2 chicken & apple sausages -4 white potatoes -2 cloves garlic -1 medium onion -1/2 tsp ground cumin -1/2 tsp paprika -2 large fluffy handfuls of washed spinach -olive oil -4 eggs -splash of vinegar (for poaching eggs) […]

B&B: blackberry brunch and ham
B&B: blackberry brunch and ham

This bright and simple bed & breakfast style brunch is comprised of a fried egg and fresh mozzarella sliced perched atop a slice of non-buttered multi-grain toast, with a pickled carrot. On the side are a couple slices of organic uncured honey ham, warmed in a frying pan until lightly brown. The meal is completed […]

leftovers: asparagus chicken salad
leftovers: asparagus chicken salad

Last night’s leftovers becomes a rockin’ work lunch!! Nothing easier than slicing up a few leftovers, tossing them with some arugula or baby mixed greens, adding a few fresh veggies and rushing off to work… So what was for dinner? Sesame Lemon Chicken with Asparagus . And what’s for lunch? A crisp salad with leftover […]

15min-din: sesame lemon chicken with asparagus
15min-din: sesame lemon chicken with asparagus

After a long Monday at work, there’s nothing like a 15 minute dinner to make the night complete. This yummy dish takes about as long to make as a box of supermarket mac & cheese… and not only is it better for you, but it’s tasty! What you will need: a couple of pans, vegetable […]

work lunch: community salad!
work lunch: community salad!

My love of food is no secret here at work… with salad-envy spiking the charts. Every time I prepare a salad for lunch, I make sure to bring in enough to feed (at least) three hungry mouths. Lately, lunchtime salads have become a team effort. Yesterday, my boss whipped out a package of spinach, some […]

sweet tooth
sweet tooth

Every once in a while I crave something sweet: strawberries, plain yogurt and almond pulp in a blender… bzzzzzzz… freeze… then scoop into a dish. Fresh bananas on the side. Easy!!

harissa (turkey) burger
harissa (turkey) burger

This Moroccan inspired turkey burger is lean, yet still packs a flavor-punch with the secret saute tucked into the patty mixture. For the patties: -1lb ground turkey (or chicken) -1 medium red onion -1 cup mushrooms -3 cloves garlic, peeled -1/2 tsp cumin seed -1/2 tsp allspice In a blender or food processor, mince together […]

brunch: what’s in the bowl?
brunch: what's in the bowl?

So, what’s in the bowl… brunch!! More specifically, hiding under the cumin-topped poached egg is a saute of spinach, dandelion greens, roasted golden beets, a couple sliced caper berries and a smidge of pickled garlic. Once sauteed, I tossed the veggies with some lemon sardine salad dressing (yes, I said sardine… funny thing though, it […]

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