Gracie’s Ravioli
Food, Garden, Wine, Meditation
Food – Lent has begun and for many, a time to fast, sacrifice and renew. For many Lent means meatless meals, that are simple and somewhat tasteless. Here’s a few Lenten meals that will make Friday’s not feel so bad, keep you in line with your fast and want to save to prepare even after the season is over.
Stuffed Olive Cod – Growing up in my grandparents home Cod was a mainstay, especially during lent. Visit the olive bar in your supermarket to put a new twist on cod in this simple high-protein, low-fat entrée that’s a weeknight lifesaver.
White Seafood Lasagna – This recipe comes from Joe Colamonica and was featured on TasteOfHome.com. In Joe’s words, “We make lasagna with shrimp and scallops as part of the traditional Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes. Every bite delivers a tasty jewel from the sea.” I think it works equally as well for lent
Vegetarian Porcini Mushroom Risotto – I love risotto, I love mushrooms and what the heck I love a good vegetarian meal. Mushroom risotto is a popular vegetarian Italian rice dish which makes for a suitable gourmet vegetarian entrée whether dining out or at home. This is not a low-fat, healthy version, but rather a more traditional full-fat and indulgent recipe when you want nothing but pure, rich, decadent flavor. OK, maybe not exactly in line with your fast, but hey, pretty darn good.
I know during lent eating meat on Friday’s is just a big NO NO. So if you struggle during this season to come up with something the whole family will enjoy, you need to just click here. 100 Dinners to Love during Lent – That aren’t Fish.
Garden – So we rolled into March and for many that means Spring and Spring garden projects. I’m sure many have already started seeds and in some areas the soil is ready for planting. We had a mild winter here in the Northeast and I’m thinking about Spring Lettuce, Spinach, Sugar Snap Peas, Kale and other cold hearty plants.
Here’s a few seeds that I started, all from Sustainable Seed Company:
Organic Tango Lettuce – Tango is a curled baby leaf variety that has a crisp clean texture and holds up well with numerous salad dressings.
Organic Strawberry Spinach – This is a favorite of mine, as they are sweet but pale in flavor along side a real berry. The leaves are spinach green triangular and bite sized. This one can go all season, as the heat of summer doesn’t seem to bother them.
Organic Arugula Roquette – My wife loves Arugula and we just can’t seem to grow enough of it. This one leaves a sharp, spicy pungent, peppery taste similar to horseradish in mixed salads. Best used in raw salads and tomato dishes when the leaves are 2-3″ long.
Wine – Last week I talked about the impact our California Wine Country trip had on my wife and I last year. One variety that we both surprisingly rediscovered was Chardonnay. A crispy white from either Sonoma or Napa pairs well with just about any meal. We lean towards a Russian River Chardonnay and here are two that are reasonably priced.
Raeburn Chardonnay 2018, about $18.00 – James Suckling review;
“This has a very rich and fleshy feel with intense, ripe peaches that pervade the nose and palate. There’s a really concentrated feel here. Ripe, too. Drink now.”
Folie a Deux Russian River Chardonnay 2017 – $16.99 at wine.com. Winemakers notes; “Indicative of its cool-climate origins, with bright acidity beneath notes of pear, apple, pineapple, apricot, nutmeg and vanilla—all framed by a richly textured palate. Bright acidity beneath notes of sweet melon, golden apple and bright tropical, perfumed pear. Flavors of ripe vanilla, mandarin, toasted marshmallow, butterscotch, banana and citrus blossom are accompanied by a creamy mid-palate.”
Meditation – Here’s a thought to ponder;
“Take a good hard look at people’s ruling principle, especially the wise, what they run away from and what they seek out” Marcus Aurelius
***************************
Hey, Thanks for reading, please share this post and if you haven’t, buy the eBooks. They’re only $2.99
