Jenn’s Cook Book

May is an interesting time of year in Michigan, one day it feels like summer and the next is a cold blast with rain, clouds, and thunder to match. The changes in temperature can make it difficult to plan a meal, especially anything involving picnics and outdoor grilling. This unpredictability is what makes zucchini and curry a perfect combination for spring. Zucchini is a summer staple while curry has that gentle heat to warm you from the inside out, and together they can combat any weather.

There are several recipes out there for zucchini hummus, most of them from vegan or raw food websites and blogs. After reading several of the recipes and not quite finding one that I liked, I pieced this together from a variety of sources, adding the curry as my own personal touch. Don’t like curry? Substitute paprika or 1/2 teaspoon cumin.

Please enjoy what might be one of the last Spring Fever posts of the season, as summer (and you can be sure a new project) is right around the corner.  

2 cups peeled, chopped zucchini (about 2 large)
1/2 cup tahini
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil (extra virgin recommended)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp salt
1 tsp curry powder

Combine in blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Allow to chill several hours (preferably overnight) before serving.

Serve with veggies such as baby carrots, cucumber slices, chopped celery, peppers, or with pitas or crackers.

This is actually an old post from when I first started blogging about learning how to cook. The original recipe came from a Taste of Home magazine, though I did make some adjustments. For whatever reason, I made this several times and then almost forgot about it even though it was a definitely crowd pleaser. So now I am bringing it back in an updated post with pictures, since I didn’t take any the first time I made this.

1 tbsp olive or vegetable oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp cider vinegar
2 tsp dried basil
3/4 tsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
8 oz sliced fresh mushrooms
2 tbsp butter

In a small bowl, combine the first seven ingredients and set aside.

In a large skillet over medium or medium high heat, saute green beans and mushrooms in butter until almost tender.

Add seasoned mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes or until veggies are nice and tender. Voila!

This is a great recipe because it is quick, easy, and tasty! All of the ingredients for the seasoning are items I have in my pantry, and green beans are just starting to come into season. Fresh basil would be great in this recipe too, just increase the amount from 2 teaspoons to about 2 tablespoons or so finely chopped. It’s one of James’ favorite side dishes, which he constantly refers to as “green french fries.” Hey, anything to get something green on the table and our plates!

Here is another great recipe for Spring Fever! The original recipe comes from Simply in Season, but I have adjusted the ingredients and the method of serving. The first set of ingredients and directions is more or less the original, with some additions. The second set is my own creation, created to compliment the flavors in the chowder.

I created this meal to celebrate a new apartment for my friend Leah. On the first evening in a new place, I felt the kitchen needed to be “broken in” as a welcoming gift. Both she and I loved this dish, and it makes plenty of leftovers for lunch (or enough to feed a crowd). Of course, I had to serve this with my favorite Coconut-Ginger Rice. We also had fresh cantaloupe on the side, which complimented the dish perfectly.

2 tbsp butter
2 ribs of celery, minced
1/2 medium onion, minced
2-3 medium zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut into half-inch pieces (about 3 cups)
1/4 cup fresh basil, torn or chopped into small pieces
1/3 cup flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
3 cups water
3 vegetable bouillon cubes (or chicken)
1 tsp lemon juice
1 can (14-16 oz) diced tomatoes, not drained
1 can (14-16 oz) corn kernels, drained
1 1/2 cups (12 oz) evaporated milk

In a large stockpot, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add celery and onions, saute 3-5 minutes until tender. Add zucchini and basil, saute an additional 3-5 minutes until tender.

Stir flour, salt, and pepper into vegetables. Gradually stir in water to make a smooth stock. Add bouillon cubes and lemon juice, mix well. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often, for 2-3 minutes until bouillon cubes have dissolved.

Add tomatoes and juice, corn, and evaporated milk to pot. Return mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and cover, cooking for 5 minutes until corn is tender.

At this point in the original recipe, 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese are stirred into the chowder just before serving and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese is sprinkled on top of the serving bowls. In my recipe, the sauteed beef is prepared while the chowder cooks and everything is served over hot, cooked rice.

1 lb beef, cut into thin strips 
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 ribs celery, minced
1/2 medium onion, minced
6 scallions, cut into half inch pieces, white and green parts separated
3 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp allspice
1 cup water

Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Saute garlic for 1 minute. Add celery, onion, and white scallions to skillet and saute 3-5 minutes. Remove onion mixture from skillet and set aside.

Toss beef in cornstarch, cumin, cayenne pepper, and allspice until coated. Add beef to hot skillet and cook 2 minutes on one side, do not stir. Add water to pan and turn beef, scrapping the bottom of the skillet to loosen any browned bits. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium.

Return onion mixture to pan and toss with beef. Simmer until sauce thickens, about 3-5 minutes.

Serve sauteed beef and zucchini chowder over hot, cooked rice. Top with green scallions.

 Dinner is served!

Here is a simple sauce, perfect for tossing with pasta, veggies, and chicken. The recipe originally came from Simply in Season, was a few tweaks courtesy of Jenn. I added red onions, mushrooms, and chicken breasts to turn this into a full meal. Be careful not to overcook the sauce, it could start to solidify.

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
8 oz linguine pasta
1/2 lb sugar snap peas
2 tbsp butter
8 oz sliced mushrooms
1 small red onion, halved and sliced
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
1 1/2 tsp lemon zest
3 tbsp lemon juice
3/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1 tbsp fresh dill
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add pasta and cook 4 minutes. Add sugar snap peas and cook 2 minutes longer or until tender. Drain.

While pasta cooks, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms, red and green onions, and lemon peel and saute 1 minute. Remove from heat and set aside.

Add chicken breasts to pan with lemon juice and turn heat to high. Cook about 3-5 minutes per side until cooked through.

Meanwhile, add onion mixture to pan with pasta and snap peas. Beat milk and eggs together and to pan. Cook over very low heat until mixture is slightly thick, do not boil. Stir in dill, salt, and nutmeg. Toss cooked chicken breasts with pasta. Serve immediately.

Hearty whole wheat pasta strikes a balance with fresh green vegetables in this light but filling dish, which can be made with spring or summer vegetables. The recipe is simple enough: take 2 pounds of your favorite vegetable and toss with any shaped pasta or egg noodles. I’ve added some garlic, basil, and lemon for flavor, but that’s about it. The recipe below is printed as I prepared it, but if you want to adjust the vegetables just remember to adjust cooking time as needed. This isn’t quite a one-dish meal, but would be great with some grilled chicken breasts or salmon fillets. Even though I’ve listed this as a “side dish,” it’s quite large (think 2 side dishes: pasta and veggies).

1 box (16 oz) whole wheat rotini
1 1/2 lb (2 medium) zucchini, quartered lengthwise and sliced
1/2 lb (8 oz) sugar snap peas
1 small onion, diced
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1 tbsp plus 1 tsp olive oil, divided
1 tsp salt
1 cup vegetable or chicken stock
1/4 cup torn basil leaves
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add salt and rotini, boil 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain and toss with 1 tsp olive oil, set aside in a large bowl.

Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet. Add garlic and saute 1 minute. Add onion and saute 3-5 minutes, until onions are translucent. Add stock and bring to a simmer.

Add zucchini and snap peas to pan. Cook, uncovered, until vegetables are crisp-tender and about half of cooking liquid has evaporated, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon zest and juice, basil, and pepper.

Pour hot vegetable mixture over pasta. Toss well and top with additional pepper if desired.

Serve warm immediately or chill 30 minutes to serve “room temperature.” Dish can also be served cold (chill 1-2 hours).

Optional: serve topped with parmesan cheese.

I’ve been working with Asian-style cuisine lately for a few reasons, mostly because these dishes are generally quick and easy to prepare, but also because they are usually quite healthy. This dish combines garlic and ginger to make a tasty sauce for staples like chicken and broccoli. Even though broccoli is more of a summer vegetable, I’m still filing this one under Spring Fever because it is a light and fresh dish. Enjoy!

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken tenders
1 tbsp vegetable oil 
1 tbsp ginger, minced
1 tbsp hoisin sauce
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 tbsp soy sauce
3-4 cups broccoli, coarsely chopped if florets are large
1 tbsp cornstarch
2 tsp dark sesame seed oil
2 tbsp sesame seeds
hot cooked rice, for serving

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle salt over chicken tenders and place in skillet. Saute one side for 3 minutes and flip chicken pieces. Add ginger, garlic, hoisin sauce, and red pepper flakes. Saute 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Add chicken broth and soy sauce, bring to a boil, turning chicken.

Add broccoli over chicken and cover skillet. Allow broccoli to steam 4-5 minutes, until crisp-tender, and toss broccoli with chicken. Remove chicken and broccoli, leaving sauce in pan. Add 1/2 cup waters and stir in cornstarch, sesame seed oil, and sesame seeds. Bring to a simmer and return chicken and broccoli to pan, tossing to coat. Serve immediately over rice.   

I love the art and simplicity of one-dish meals. It can be difficult to balance meat, vegetables, and a starchy side all in one pan. This dish was inspired by the first small zucchini of the season, which was very exciting to find. Paired with mini-bella mushrooms, which have a bit more taste then white mushrooms, this dish was earthy yet fresh. White mushrooms would be a fine substitute, or shiitake if you are ambitious. Here is another adventure in Spring Fever!

1 1/2 lb pork tenderloin, cut into 1 to 2 inch chunks
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 medium onion, diced
8 oz mini-bella or white mushrooms, sliced
4-5 large green onions, green parts chopped and whites discarded
3 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp chili powder
2 tbsp soy sauce
8 oz wide egg noodles
1 tsp salt
3 small zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
3/4 lb (12 oz) sugar snap peas, trimmed
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
bean sprouts, optional

Bring a pot of water to boil. Add salt and egg noodles. Boil 7-8 minutes, until just tender. 

Meanwhile, heat vegetable oil over high heat in a large skillet with tall sides or a wok. Saute onion 1 minute, add mushrooms and saute 3-4 minutes. Add a little water if skillet is too dry. Add green onions and saute 1 minute. Transfer onion mixture to a bowl and set aside.

Dredge pork in cornstarch mixed with chili powder. Add to hot skillet, cook for 2 minutes without turning. Add 1 cup water and turn pork, scraping pan to loosen any browned bits. When liquid begins to simmer, add onion mixture back to pan and toss with pork. Add zucchini and sugar snap peas. Turn heat to medium, cover pan and let simmer 3-5 minutes, until vegetables are crisp-tender.

Drain egg noodles and add to skillet. Toss well, coating with sauce. Remove from heat and stir in pepper. Serve topped with bean sprouts, if desired.

I also served a side of roughly chopped radicchio tossed with 1 tsp dark sesame seed oil and 1/8 tsp black ground pepper. About half of a small head is plenty, though the radicchio was rather bitter and not as big of a hit as the rest of the meal.

I am so not a morning person. Ever. I’m even less of a morning person when I have to get up before the sun does. Now I have a way to catch a little sunshine when it’s still dark outside. This homemade treat is easy, healthy, and tasty. What a great way to start the day, with a little Spring Fever.

If you are unable to find mango sorbet, try another flavor such as raspberry or lemon. You can also swap half of the strawberries with a sliced banana, or try with sliced peaches this summer.

2 cups sliced strawberries
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup mango sorbet
5-6 ice cubes, to thicken if desired

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Pulse until smooth. Sip and enjoy. Yum!

Here is the next recipe in Spring Fever, this one modified from Everyday Food magazine. This recipe is very versatile, and it would be very easy to make substitutions with vegetables that are in season. Obviously, I used asparagus and corn, but sugar snap peas, mushrooms, carrots or zucchini would work great as well. Feel free to add or substitute your favorite fresh or frozen veggies. The dish is flavorful without spices, so it can be adapted for different types of cuisine. I served this with Coconut-Ginger Rice, but it could also work with steamed potatoes or egg noodles. The high heat cuts cooking time and keeps the beef tender and moist. I like to purchase the pre-cut strips for stir-fry, but you could use any cut of beef you prefer.

2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 lb asparagus, trimmed and cut into diagonal 1-inch pieces
1 bag (12-16 oz) frozen corn kernels, thawed
1 onion, halved and sliced  
salt and pepper
1 lb beef, sliced into thin strips about 2-3 inches long
1 tbsp cornstarch

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet. Over high heat, saute asparagus, corn, and onion. Season with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until corn and asparagus begin to lightly brown and onion is tender, 5 to 6 minutes.

Remove from heat and transfer vegetables to a bowl. In another bowl, toss together beef, 1/2 tsp salt, and cornstarch until beef is coated.

Heat remaining tbso oil in skillet and add beef. Over high heat, cook beef, without stirring, for 2 minutes (this will brown the beef nicely). Add asparagus mixture and 1 cup water to skillet. Bring to a boil and cook, tossing, until sauce thickens slightly. Scrap the bottom of the skillet to incorporate any browned bits into sauce (this will add to the flavor).

Serve immediately, over rice as desired.

Here is the first recipe for Spring Fever, combining fresh asparagus with sausage, mushrooms, potatoes, and more. This is a relatively quick and easy one-dish dinner, perfect on those chilly spring nights (or, if you live in Michigan, snowy spring nights). This recipe is inspired by one in Simply in Season, but I added my own personal touch to give it a little more substance and flavor. If asparagus isn’t your vegetable, try broccoli, peppers, or sugar snap peas.

1 lb bulk sausage
1 medium onion, halved and sliced
8 oz sliced mushrooms
4-5 medium potatoes, any variety, cut into 1-inch chunks
3/4 cup water
1 lb asparagus, halved lengthwise and cut into 1-inch pieces
salt and pepper
cheese, for topping, if desired

In a large skillet over medium heat, combine sausage, onions, and mushrooms. Using a spatula, break sausage into smaller pieces (but do not crumble completely). Saute until sausage begins to brown, about 5 minutes.

Add potatoes and water to skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Add asparagus to top of mixture but do not stir in. Cover and simmer an additional 10 minutes, or until asparagus is crisp-tender and potatoes are tender. Stir and top with fresh ground pepper.

Serve immediately, topped with cheese if desired.

Cooking on the stove:

Ready to serve: