Roasted Garlic Soup

The wind and snow continue to make their presence known here in Western New York, making this Roasted Garlic Soup recipe perfect for this time of year. Garlic soup might sound odd to some. I had it for the first time many years ago and was amazed at how mellow it was. Dorot's Garlic Cubes are perfect for whipping this soup up quickly after a long work day. The addition of both roasted garlic and fresh garlic create both a mellow and bright garlic flavor at the same time.

Linguine with White Clam Sauce

Lotus Martin made Linguine with Clam Sauce at every occasion she could. Whether or not it made sense, the big silver pot of garlicky goodness just seemed to work with whatever was going on: Easter (with Chinese buffet), July 4^th (alongside barbecue), Halloween (with grape eyeballs), Thanksgiving (next to turkey), Christmas (with prime rib). Lotus, more than an aunt, more like a mother, was a major influence in my life. As I grew up, I learned to cook from Lotus, and this recipe was one of the things she taught me. The first time I watched her cook it, it seemed like a terribly haphazard process: Glugging what looked like an insane amount of olive oil into a pan, filling the pan to the brim with a ton of other liquids and chopped up stuff, and just when I thought it couldn’t handle any more, it would end with an enormous amount of buttered pasta. Once tossed to combine, it would miraculously create the most delicious, the most luxurious, and the most comforting pasta dishes I’ve ever eaten. 

Shrimp Pops

I love a tasty low-carb recipe, especially when it's an appetizer. I like my guests not to be too filled up so they can enjoy the main event! These Shrimp Pops fit the bill, although you will have to watch yourself with the Sweet Chile Sauce - it's not low-carb but it IS delicious! Although I didn't include the recipe for it, don't you think these pops would taste so good as a corn dog? It would be very simple to turn this low-carb dish into a high-carb one, but I think it might be worth it. If you try it, please tell me about it. I'll do the same!

Cucumber Basil Martini (Dorotini)

This is a tasty and refreshing cocktail for anytime. You will need a cocktail shaker, muddling tool and a small fine strainer to make the perfect Dorotini. This makes one serving, but could easily be doubled to enjoy with a friend.

Green Goodness

I hate peeling garlic! The peel is sticky and I hate it when it sticks to my fingers. However, I love garlic. The more, the better. I have tried peeled garlic in a jar, but you just don’t get that pungent kick that fresh garlic delivers. I have to say, I was leery about trying the Dorot Crushed Garlic. I didn’t think it would deliver that kick that I wanted. However, it did and I loved it. I will now keep it in my freezer, always! The Dorot Crushed Garlic is great in this healthy, easy pasta dish. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Italian Turkey Meatball Sandwiches

We love meatball sandwiches. They're easy, delicious and messy. What could be more fun? I also love the idea of lightening up recipes to make them a bit more healthy, which is why I decided to make this dish a little leaner by using ground turkey instead of ground beef and fat free milk instead of whole milk. I know there's some butter and cheese involved here, but I did say a little more healthy. Some things are just better when left alone!