Last night I watched the movie "Julie & Julia". A film based on a book by Julia Powell. A young New Yorker who starts a food blog and challenges herself to a year of cooking thru Julia Child's famous cookbook, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking." It is a wonderful true story of how two women discovered their passion for cooking. I related to the characters and was happy to learn that Julia Child loved shopping at the Market as much as I do and Julia Powell started a food blog at my age! I was touched by their achievements and related to their challenges. It was a perfect movie to continue my inspiration for CookingwithMelody.com. I recommend you see it if you're a food romantic as I am or just in the mood for a good movie.
New to CookingwithMelody.com this week are the following...
Pasta Salad with Dried Mint Dressing
This is a delicious and colorful pasta salad recipe. This appetizer dish will feed a large group and you will have plenty left over the next day. The homemade dried mint dressing is easy and a better alternative to using a bottled dressing.
Quinoa Salad
Quinoa pronounced (keen-wah) is native to South America, a healthy food that resembles a grain but is actually an edible seed of a leafy plant distantly related to spinach. Quinoa is an excellent source of protein and offers more iron than other grains. It contains almost a perfect balance of the eight essential amino acids and a good source of potassium, magnesium, manganese, zinc and copper to name a few. When cooked, quinoa has a light and fluffy texture with a slightly nutty flavor. It can be substituted for white rice or couscous as a healthier alternative. I've created a quinoa salad with a variety of vegetables that compliment the quinoa well. My husband calls it his energy food. You will love the simple flavors and benefit from the long list of nutrition for your body.
Rosemary Bread Crusted Rack of Lamb
You can't go wrong with this tasty rack of lamb recipe. Simple to make with few ingredients, this dish makes a great appetizer or main entrée. It is perfect dish to include in your holiday menu. I highly recommend it. Your guests will be impressed!