I’ve always liked working with frozen puff pastry, but this winter, I’ve gone a little crazy. There’s just so much you can do with the product. Concocting sweet or savory tarts, turnovers, appetizer bites, even pizzas, with such elegance, no one will believe you slapped it all together in less than an hour. The key for spontaneity, is to make sure you have some defrosted pastry waiting in the fridge – it will keep this way for a week, possibly more. You can also defrost the product on the kitchen counter fairly quickly, less than an hour depending on the brand – the Trader Joe’s version is ready in 20 minutes.
Tag Archives: carrot
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
A bowl of this creamy soup is sure to cure most anything that ails you on a cold and cloudy day. My daughter loves a bowlful any time of year, and I have to admit, it’s hard to resist. This thick, cheesy soup is inspired by Panera Bread Café, but this one’s vegetarian and just a bit lighter. It’s still rich, cheesy and, of course, full of fresh broccoli.
Creamy Carrot Soup
From The Complete Italian Vegetarian by Jack Bishop, this a simple soup that shines by virtue of the freshest, sweetest carrots that go into it. There are only a few ingredients, so save this recipe for the carrots fresh out of the garden or just topped from the veggie bag delivered this week.
Moroccan Carrot Salad with Olives

This salad is a twist on a classic Morrocan dish and a lovely mix of flavors, from the orange to the olives, cumin, mint and cilantro. Consider adding some feta cheese as a simple variation. Traditionally the carrots are blanched before mixing with the dressing, however, roasting adds a wonderful depth that’s worth trying. Be sure to mix the dressing with the hot carrots (before they cool) so the flavors are completely absorbed.
