Girl VS. Risotto

I always enjoy tackling new recipes (Gabe appreciates a break from the 4 dish rotation as well), but this week I tried a recipe that I knew would give me a run for my money... in fact, I feared it would win.  The recipe?  Risotto Primavera.

I've heard rumors about this finicky pasta, but my inner 1/4 Italian heritage urged me to give it a whirl. (In Italy, I had to make sure to get pictures of The Port of Naples since that's where Nana's family is from!)

I opened the Italian Favorites cookbook and found the vegetable filled risotto looked so good on the page (I tend to pick the recipes that have pictures), I had to try it.  Fresh asparagus, onion, red bell pepper and yellow zucchini made this a bright dish that had me thinking I'll be making it a lot this summer.  It just looked festive!  (Of course I left out the mushrooms... which I'm sure would've added more flavor, but I didn't feel like picking around them... maybe someday I'll grow up and like mushrooms.  Maybe not.)

Anyway, I found support from friends on FB who gave me a boost of confidence and I went for it.  It took what seemed like forever, and lots of stirring, but finally it was done!  I also found a great recipe from the same cookbook for a Neapolitan specialty, steak with tomatoes and oregano, which went well with the risotto.  I think Nana would be proud!

It turned out well!  Gabe gave it two thumbs up and called it "delicious... one of his favorites," so I think it was a success.  Although there's not much to compare it to, but I'll take it!

Allie Coyle

Kansas City Photographer

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Bread: I Knead It!

I love carbs.  Well, more specifically pastas and breads.  I don't know the entire science behind why you should shy away from them, but I don't think I could ever turn my back on such an amazing food group!  I do try to stick with whole wheat in bread and even now when it comes to baking, which I think tastes better anyway....

Anyway, the point of this post is to highlight one of the additional reasons I love going to The City Market in Kansas City and to show you the latest recipe from my market finds.

I happened upon a little store tucked into The City Market's permanent vendors area called Bloom Baking Co.   Gabe and I were drawn in by the sight of their lovely macarons as it reminded us of our favorite dessert boutique Pistacia Vera in Columbus Ohio's German Village area.  Well, needless to say, Bloom also has an array of beautiful breads that are tasty just to look at!  Here are a few we picked up on our recent trip.  Here they are... an Italian bread and their Focaccia bread.

Also, while at The City Market, I picked up a bunch of juicy fresh red grapes for this week's recipe.  I was excited to try my hand at baking my own focaccia bread and took the recipe from the pages of my favorite Cooking from the Farmer's Market cookbook.  This Grape & Walnut Focaccia bread was infused with rosemary olive oil (which was just simmering olive oil with fresh rosemary).  I didn't know how the grapes would play into this more seemingly savory bread, but the sweetness offered that perfect blend of both!

Well, I thought I'd highlight my love of bread and, of course, The City Market which provides such fresh ingredients and great year-round vendors!  

Next up:  A Sneak Peek of my latest Kansas City Family photography session!

Thanks for stopping by!

Allie Coyle

Kansas City Photographer

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A Fresh Look at Pasta

This past week's fresh from the market recipe was one of high hopes and lessons learned.  I was thrilled by the thought of making my own pasta sauce and had visions of a hearty and smoky sauce like my Italian grandma makes that leaves your taste buds overwhelmed by layers of flavor and utter delight.  I was excited.

Gabe and I ventured to The City Market after enjoying a lazy Saturday morning sipping our coffee and not "having to go anywhere", which, by the way, are my favorite kinds of Saturdays.  We stocked up on our fresh fruit for the week, which included grapes for the next recipe, and sifted our way through the crowds till we spotted our main ingredient... the plum tomato.

Spaghettini with Fresh Plum Tomato Sauce was on our minds and I couldn't wait to try out this dish!  I had never seen spaghettini in the grocery store, so we headed to The City Market's Italian store, Carollo's Gourmet Grocery, which of course has a million different types of pastas, olive oils and other imported Italian favorites.  We also picked up a block of fresh Parmesan to top off our pasta!

The recipe called for fresh basil, which we picked from our own herb garden and I was off to cooking!  About half way through, I realized that the sauce was looking really watery and that overlooking the part of the recipe that said to cut the tomatoes lengthwise and seed, was probably the cause.  Suddenly my dreams of Nana's pasta sauce was coming to a halt and I was now trying to remedy the situation.  I drained some of the excess water and hoped for the best!

I guess this sauce was actually never intended to be that hearty, smoky, make your taste buds dance type of sauce, but as the name of the recipe suggested; a more fresh tomato taste.  So, it turned out good and simple.  There weren't layers of overwhelming flavor, but a very fresh from the garden tomato flavor... and it ended up looking pretty, so I was pleased.

Lesson Learned:  Follow each step of the recipe!

I'm learning that not every recipe will turn out as expected, but being flexible and enjoying how things turn out is key to happiness in the kitchen!

Buon Appetito!

Oh, and while I am enjoying this new found hobby of cooking; if you are in need of a Kansas City photographer for family sessions, senior pictures or whatever; feel free to let me know!  I'd love to work with you!

Allie Coyle

Kansas City Photographer

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Going Green

This past week's recipe highlighted the vibrantly green vegetable broccoli.  I headed to The City Market and searched for the best looking broccoli since it was going to be the star of the dish.  Of course, I found this recently picked from the farm, beautiful bundle of joy that still had its leaves.  I thought this added a nice touch and I picked up three.

For those of you who are not meat eaters, I'm sorry, you may need to skip this week's post.  But this recipe called for a thinly sliced flank steak; which really made me happy since I am, admittedly, a fan of red meat.  I served this mixture of broccoli, flank steak, crisped garlic and red pepper flakes over brown rice, and it was so good!

Beef, Broccoli & Crisp Garlic Saute

As always, a huge thank you to The City Market for providing the inspiration to cook using these amazingly fresh ingredients!

Allie Coyle

Kansas City Photographer

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A Taste of The City Market in Kansas City!

One of the things Gabe and I love about living in Kansas City is going to The City Market each Saturday.  Okay, so it's only been a few weeks, but already it's a much looked forward to tradition!  We have a Cooking from the Farmer's Market cookbook that I look at before we go and I pick out a recipe or two to make in an effort for a more farm to table lifestyle.  Here are a few that I've tackled so far... let me know if you want the recipe!

Fresh Blueberry Scones
Okay, so I swapped out the cranberries that the recipe called for and added fresh from The City Market blueberries instead, since they're Gabe's favorite.  I also have been only cooking with whole wheat flour, which adds to the distinctive flavor of these scones.  A splash of fresh squeezed orange juice, with oranges, of course, from The City Market and these scones are ready to be devoured!

Baked Zucchini & Tomato Tian

I tend to look first at the recipes in the cookbook that have the pictures beside them.  Yes, I still like books with pictures in them.  I get excited about how the recipes look and wonder if I can make them as delicious as they appear.  When flipping through the cookbook, I stopped short at the picture of the Baked Zucchini and Tomato Tian.  

Honestly, I've never really like zucchini (I'm trying to learn to like more vegetables) and I have no clue what a Tian is, but I decided this recipe looked too good to pass up!  The tomatoes and zucchini are baked over a bed of sauteed onions (I added garlic and sauteed them as well, because I'll look for any excuse to add garlic to a recipe!)  It was, by the way, very good... even the zucchini!  I may be growing up after all!

Rustic Tomato & Mozzarella Tart

The picture on this recipe looked alot like a pizza, but since it was in the cookbook (Cooking from the Farmer's Market), I thought it had to be slightly more healthy than regular pizza.  Plus, they called it a tart, so not quite so fattening, right?  Well, this recipe is delicious!  It called for a puff pastry, so off to the store I went and, like a naive, trying-to-learn-to-cook-well newlywed, I bought puff pastry dough from the section where you find things like ready made cinnamon rolls and larger than your head dinner biscuits.  

Ahh... well, the dish turned out slightly sweeter than it was probably originally intended.  Hhhmmm... but it called for a puff pastry... I was confused.  I soon discovered that in this cookbook, in the very back, there's a recipe for a puff pastry.  So I have to make it from scratch, apparently, which I'm sure would make this dish less sweet and more of a main course or a great appetizer for guests.  Either way, The City Market fresh tomatoes made it very good and worth having again... maybe next time I'll make my own puff pastry!

A special thanks to The City Market for providing great fresh produce straight from the farm!  Gabe and I went this morning and stocked up on some of our must-haves (apples, bananas, green and red peppers) and also some broccoli and garlic for this coming week's recipe:  Beef, Broccoli and Crisp Garlic Saute!  It looked amazing, so I'm excited to see how it tastes! 

Allie Coyle

Kansas City Photographer

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Enjoying Summer...

This season never seems quite long enough.  From bonfires to cookouts, baseball to just soaking up the warm breezes and road trips to visit loved ones... this is one season I wish lasted longer.  

 

 

oh so sweet!

I just wanted to share with you a few little pieces of heaven. These macaroons are from the dessert boutique, Pistacia Vera, in German Village where I live. Please, no drooling...

My favorite kind is the green pistachio! These little macaroons are fluffy and firm on the outside, with a burst of flavored filling! Some of their other flavors include: strawberry rose, madagascar vanilla bean, chocolate hazelnut and caramel... just to name a few!

If you're ever in German Village... let me know because I am always looking for an excuse to enjoy these tasty little treats!