Parmigiano-Reggiano Tag

07 Nov Creamy Roasted Bell Pepper Tomato Soup

It's cold right now in NYC. Raining, and high possibility it will snow later. There's no way I'm leaving the house. But I'm hungry. So, I want something warm and yummy. As I look in my refrigerator, I see the cheese that I always have, and a loaf of bread and a can of tomatoes in my pantry. Obviously I need to make grilled cheese and tomato soup. Mmmm...Perfect pairing on a cold winters day, or any day for that matter. All you need is a few ingredients and you will have an incredibly satisfying meal in minutes! A couple of staples you should have in your pantry that have long shelf life are canned tomatoes and bottles of roasted peppers. (We'll cover the staples one should always have in our pantry another time! But for now, tomatoes and peppers are a must!) I like to add the peppers because it adds another element of flavor and smokiness that requires little effort, but makes a big difference! These ingredients are going to make up most of our soup. Now, some recipes call for fresh tomatoes. Unless you have a tomato garden in your apartment in New York City during the winter, you're not going to get the ripest and most beautiful tomatoes available. Canned tomatoes are great because they are always picked at their peak season and you know you always get the best tasting quality tomato.
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06 Nov All the kale hype

  Kale seems to be one of those greens that have gained quite a bit of popularity lately. Until recently, kale was primarily thought of as a green that you must cook. But kale really is such a versatile vegetable; the possibilities are endless. Everyone's buying kale chips for ten bucks a box, putting it in their juices for five dollars a cup and buying lotions with kale essence for who knows how much. We can have these things for much less money if we just learn how to prepare them at home! Kale chips are one of the simplest things to make. Don't worry, we'll cover them another time! But besides cooking the kale or putting them in my soups, I've been enjoying this super green straight up raw. It's a wonderful and effortless way of getting all the nutrients out of from these succulent curly leaves. Eating them war also ensures you wont lose any of the vitamins from the cooking process. In addition to being delicious, these leaves are low fat, have no cholesterol , have high anti-oxidant properties and protect against certain cancers. They are also very good for your brain, skin and vision. All those good things are enough for me to consider them a superfood. If you can't remember all the magical things kale is good for, just remember that the greener your vegetables, the better. One of my favorite places to eat in the city is called Franks. An adorable downtown Italian spot that has never disappointed. As a special one night they had Black Kale Caesar Salad. I love kale and I love a good caesar, this was a no brainer for me. Their caesar dressing was super creamy and had croutons, I make this salad at home a little different, but just as delicious. After a day of eating fatty and fried foods, I like to trick my myself into thinking it's all going to balance each other out if I eat a bowl of kale. Whatever it takes!
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