A Twist on Chicken Noodle

Say what you will about Rachael Ray, she does have some really clever ideas. This is one that I just love. Chicken noodle is such a homey soup. If you do it right though, it can be a decent amount of work for a meal that we usually crave when we want something comforting and simple. This recipe uses some interesting shortcuts, like using ground chicken to make meatballs instead of cooking and shredding a whole chicken. And you know I love the idea of using gnocchi instead of a more traditional type of noodle. Hopefully there are enough cold-weather days left wherever you live to give this recipe a try. Enjoy!

Pomegranate-Grapefruit Salad

I don’t know about you, but in the winter I eat citrus by the barrelful. I could take it or leave it the rest of the year, but in the dead of winter when the rest of the fruit in the store looks pale and lifeless, oranges just scream “Pick me! I’m juicy and flavorful!” Growing up in FL my grandpa would bring us big white buckets full of oranges and grapefruit from his yard every time he visited. I miss that homegrown fruit but am still plenty happy with the grapefruit, tangelos, and clementines that have made up a large part of my diet these past few months. I put together this salad with grapefruit segments, slices of avocado, toasted pecans, and pomegranate seeds. To dress it I whisked some of the juice from the grapefruit and pomegranate with olive oil and salt and pepper. It’s a great way to transition from the flavors of winter to the lightness of spring.

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

It’s time. Time to give you my favorite recipe ever.  I’ve been making it for about four years now and you can usually find a bag of the uncooked gnocchi in my freezer at all times. This recipe creates gnocchi that are fluffy and packed with flavor. Sauteing them in brown butter gives them a great texture – crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I’ve never met any gnocchi lover who didn’t go crazy for them. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who doesn’t love gnocchi. Anyone?