Mediterranean Glory Bowl combines health benefits with flavorful roasted zucchini, pomegranate, avocado, feta, chicken sausage, and lime juice. 

Halloooo.

We are officially heading into the holidays!!  WoOp wHoO!! I love them.  Starting with Halloween, then Thanksgiving, happiest at ChristmasThyme, wrapping up with a New Year’s Celebration.

Our Mediterranean Glory Bowl is a seasonal recipe; pomegranate season. I have a sentimental love for pomegranate and to a fault may include them in one too many recipes.  Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Ingredient Breakdown

I have a favorite holiday dip/salsa recipe that I prepare every year.  Pomegranate, Zuchinni & Avocado Salsa is Mediterranean flavor love…in it’s GLORY.  Thus the name of this Lunch Bowl.  I added sweat Italian chicken sausage and farro for a burst of protein.

I’ve bragged on Farro before.

I was studying the bulk bins at my local Whole Foods Market looking for something different.  I was charged up to discover that Farro is packed with goodness. 

Here are a few Farro ‘features’ if you will:

• Farro is one of the oldest cultivated grains and has been consumed for over 5000 years.
• With 8 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber per cooked cup, Farro is an energy power house.
• Because it’s a complex carb, Farro breaks down slowly, helping to stabilize your energy over longer periods of time.
• Farro is high in B vitamins and minerals, especially Magnesium which has been said to ease tension and menstrual cramps.
• And the best part, Farro tastes great and is super versatile to use.  I think you’ll love it’s slightly chewy nutty flavor.

Now combine all those health benefits with the pop of fresh oregano roasted zucchini, sweet pomegranate, creamy avocado, sharp feta, savory chicken sausage, with a generous squeeze of lime juice.  Mediterranean Glory Bowl for breakfast, lunch or dinner for me!!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Mediterranean Glory Bowl

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 350kcal

Ingredients

• 2 sweet Italian chicken sausages
• 2 zucchini cut into ½” dice
• 1 Tbl. olive oil
• 1 tsp. fresh oregano chopped
• ½ tsp. sea salt & freshly cracked pepper
• ⅓ cup red onion finely diced
• 1 avocado cut into ¼” dice
• ½ cup pomegranate arils
• 3 Tbl. crumbled feta cheese
• 1 lime
• 2 cups salad greens
• 1 cup farro prepared according to package instructions

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Toss zucchini with olive oil, oregano, and salt & pepper. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet, along with sausages. Roast, tossing once, until golden brown, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare farro according to package instructions.
• To prepare bowl make a bed of salad greens and cooked farro. Add a spoonful of each remaining ingredient, including sliced sausage. Squeeze lime juice over top.

Notes

Serving size = 1/4 recipe. 9 WW Pts+ per serving.

The post The Best Mediterranean Glory Bowl appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

You know the kind even your manly man will eat. But packed full of nutrients without extra calories. 

Because let’s face it, most of us don’t need empty calories and are perfectly happy as long as we’re satisfied.  This chili is definitely satisfying.

Building the Chili Flavor

The sweet potato is the star ingredient as it balances the chili seasonings so well. 

Because I was making this chili to share the love with one my work family members, I kept the heat out of it and instead focused on flavor.  Chili powder, ground oregano, garlic powder, and cumin will never let you down.

I also fire roasted the corn and poblano peppers, adding a little smoky flavor to the chili.

If you want to stretch this Turkey & Sweet Potato Southwest Chili a little farther, double the quantity of veggies & diced tomatoes and season accordingly.  In addition to the sweet potatoes, I added carrots, onions, red bell & poblano peppers, zucchini, corn, diced tomatoes and black beans.

I hope you’ll give this dish a try and as always I welcome and enjoy your feedback.

Recipe inspiration.  My Healthy Choices lunch buddy shared a new favorite dish, which was baked sweet potato topped with taco seasoned ground turkey and salsa.  It was delicious and has been lingering in my mind ever since.

We are so ready for chili season and have a collection of recipes for your enjoyment.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Turkey & Sweet Potato Southwest Chili

My motivation for this Heart Healthy Turkey & Sweet Potato Southwest Chili was to deliver a flavor packed hearty chili.

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 1 lb. lean ground turkey cooked and drained
• 2 small sweet potatoes peeled & cubed (about 2 cups)
• 2 Tbl. olive oil divided
• 1 carrot peeled and sliced
• 1 med. onion diced
• 1 red bell pepper optional
• 1 poblano pepper fire roasted, skins removed
• 1 zucchini diced
• 2 ears corn on the cob or 1 cup frozen
• 1 28- ounce diced tomatoes
• 1 4.5- ounce can diced mild green chiles
• 1 14- ounce can black beans drained & rinsed
• 2 Tbl. chili powder
• 1 Tbl. dried oregano
• 1 Tbl. garlic powder
• 1 Tbl. cumin
• 1 tsp. salt
• cayenne pepper optional

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spread diced sweet potatoes on a cooking spray coated baking sheet. Bake for 15 -20 minutes or until just tender.
• Meanwhile in a Dutch oven, add 1 Tbl. olive oil and brown ground turkey. Remove from pan and reserve. Add additional 1 Tbl. of olive oil and diced onion and carrot to pot. Saute until onion is tender. Add in remaining veggies and tomatoes, chiles, black beans and seasoning and bring to a gentle simmer; cook for 10 minutes.
• Add cooked sweet potatoes and ground turkey to the pot; heat through. Adjust seasoning to taste.
• Serve with favorite toppings, such as shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, cilantro.

Notes

Seasoning chili should be done according to taste. Adding gradually as the dish builds is how we arrive at the right balance.

The post Heart Healthy Turkey & Sweet Potato Southwest Chili appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

When the farmers markets are bursting with zucchini, summer squash and eggplant you know it’s Ratatouille season!!

I still recall the first time my husband made it and now I request it every summer!! On repeat.

I remember walking through the door after work and being greeted by incredible aromas. The kind of smells you get from lasagna baking or a bit pot of bolognese on the stove. Garlic, onion, tomatoes, herbs….

This weekend’s trip to the farmers market had exactly what we needed. When selecting your squash and eggplant, try and find similar diameters. Some variation is fine.

This recipe begins with a base of sauteed onion and garlic. Next you’ll add tomato paste and sauce to create the savory base for the sliced veggies. You’ll spread that in the bottom of a round oven proof baking dish.

We find it easiest to assemble stacks of alternating eggplant, zucchini and yellow squash then lay them on top of the sauce layer as shown.

To finish, drizzle with a nice garlic herb oil. We included minced fresh basil and thyme.

Then it’s into a 375 degree F. oven for an hour. We topped with parchment paper for the first 30 minutes.

Before serving the Ratatouille, add a generous dollop of herbed mascarpone cheese. The slightly sweet creamy flavor combination is incredible. The mascarpone melts down into the savory roasted veggies.

Are there recipes that remind you of a favorite vacation that you’d like to see us recreate? I’d love for you to comment below. Your feedback is so important to me (and keeps the recipe love fresh).

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook!

All my best,
xo Libby

Pin It For Later!

Print

Ratatouille with Herbed Mascarpone

This Ratatouille with Herbed Mascarpone is what dreams are made of. Tender roasted veggies with the most incredible herby mascarpone melting throughout each bite.

Course Entree or Appetizer

Cuisine French

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Servings 6

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Ratatouille

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup fine diced sweet onion
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 2 small diameter eggplant About 1 1/2" – 2" thickness
• 2 small diameter zucchini About 1 1/2" – 2" thickness
• 2 small yellow summer squash About 1 1/2" – 2" thickness
• 1 6 ounce can tomato paste
• 1 cup tomato sauce we used marinara sauce

For the Garlic Herb Oil Drizzle

• 3 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only fine chopped
• 1 handful fresh basil leaves fine chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the Herbed Mascarpone

• 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
• 1 sprig fresh thyme, leaves only fine chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves fine chopped

Instructions

For the Ratatouille

• Saute 1 cup diced onion with 3 cloves minced garlic in olive oil until onion is translucent. Add in tomato paste and sauce and heat through. Pour into bottom of 10-inch round oven proof baking dish.
• Slice eggplant, zucchini and yellow summer squash into very thin rounds. Assemble them into stacks, alternating eggplant, zucchini, squash. Lay stacks on top of sauce as shown in pictures above.

For the Garlic Herb Oil Drizzle

• Mince thyme leaves and fresh basil. Combine with minced garlic and olive oil. Drizzle over vegetables.
• Cover with either parchment paper or foil and bake for 1 hour, removing parchment paper after 30 minutes.

For the Herbed Mascarpone

• Mince thyme leaves and fresh garlic. Stir into mascarpone cheese. Spoon over warm ratatouille.

Recipe adapted from Disney’s Ratatouille Recipe

The post Ratatouille with Herbed Mascarpone appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

It has the perfect balance of savory (hello pesto) with a hint of sweetness.

I’ve literally made five variations of it in the past several weeks, sharing it with friends & family along the way.

Rave reviews from all of my taste-testers!

For anyone following a gluten free diet, or looking to incorporate more veggies into their meals, or just loves sweet potatoes as much as I do….this is your new secret weapon!

Sweet potatoes are high in fiber, mineral rich (particularly potassium) and packed with vitamins (particularly immunity boosting Vitamin A / beta-carotene), which has anti-inflammatory properties – that’s music to my ears!

Sweet Potato crust is genius!

I first saw it in a Cooking Light post and instantly knew I would recreate it at home.

The Sweet Potato Crust Method

Because the crust is pre-baked before filling, causing the sweet potatoes to shrink, it’s important to overlap them a good bit and to be sure the diameter of the slices are large enough to stand above the edge of your quiche pan.

I’ve practiced several times now and believe I’ve found the right combination of slice thickness (1/8-inch), diameter (1-inch larger than the height of the pan), and spacing (overlap at least half of each slice).

Using a mandolin set at 1/8-inch thickness makes the slicing a breeze, but you can certainly cut the sweet potatoes by hand.

I found one large sweet potato will do the trick, but buy two just in case. The crust is baked at 375 degrees F. for 20 minutes before adding the fillings.

For the Veggie Quiche Filling

For this Veggie & Pesto Quiche I chose steamed broccoli, asparagus, and zucchini for my veggies, Basil Pesto, and feta and parmesan cheese.

The custard consists of 6 large eggs, 1 cup of heavy cream, salt, pepper and nutmeg.

Place the quiche on a baking sheet then bake a 350 degrees F. for 35-40 minutes, until the center is just firm to the touch.

Allow to cool slightly before slicing.

The result is a perfectly cooked sweet potato crust, with a delicious savory veggie filling.

The feta cheese and basil pesto really bring wonderful flavors to this dish and the ratio of custard to filling is perfect.

Not too ‘eggy’ as my husband would say.

Sweet Potato Crust Veggie & Pesto Quiche is easily one of my new favorite quiches.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Sweet Potato Crust Veggie & Pesto Quiche

This quiche has a perfectly cooked sweet potato crust, with a delicious savory veggie filling. The feta cheese and basil pesto really bring wonderful flavors to this dish and the ratio of custard to filling is perfect.

Course Breakfast, Brunch, Entree, Lunch

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Prebake Sweet Potato Crust 20 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 1-2 large sweet potatoes, peeled sliced 1/8-inch thick
• 2 1/2 cups steamed veggies (such as broccoli, zucchini, asparagus, yellow squash)
• 1/4 cup basil pesto recipe link in post
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
• 6 large eggs
• 1 cup heavy cream or half & half
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375° F. Peel and slice sweet potato(s) into 1/8-inch slices. Spray pie plate or quiche pan with cooking spray, then line with sweet potato slices. Slices should be 1-inch taller than sides of pie plate and should be overlapped by half. Place pie plate on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, steam veggies and prepare pesto, reserve. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs with cream, salt, pepper and nutmeg.
• Remove prebaked sweet potato crust from oven. Lower oven temperature to 350° F. Arrange veggies in crust. Sprinkle with pesto and cheeses. Slowly pour custard over filling. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until center is set and just firm to the touch. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Delicious served warm or at room temperature.

Previous versions of sweet potato crust quiches. All delicious, but you’ll notice the crust is a bit wimpy. This is where using thicker and larger diameter sweet potato slices comes into play. Go big!

The post Sweet Potato Crust Veggie & Pesto Quiche appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

I would request it for my birthday dinners, when a celebration was in order, or when I just craved Mom’s home cooking. 

The fresh herbs in this classic comfort food recipe make it sing…Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme; Remember me to one who lives there, she once was a true love of mine. 

Mom called her version *Chinese Pie which was slightly different than this Shepherd’s Pie recipe (creamed corn in place of carrot, onion, zucchini, peas), but had all the comfort that only a casserole (or maybe a fresh from the oven chocolate chip cookie) can bring.

Another similar dish to the Irish Shepherd’s Pie is Cottage Pie, one made with lamb and one with beef, although the variations are many.

The Method

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
• In a large skillet sauté mushrooms until golden brown on both sides and reserve
• Meanwhile boil potatoes until tender, drain, and mash with butter, buttermilk, sage, salt & pepper
• If using fresh English peas simmer those as well

• Brown the meat and drain fat
• Add garlic, tomato paste, fresh herbs and Worcestershire, stir to combine
• Add wine and allow to mostly cook off before dusting with flour (or arrowroot for gluten free)
• Stir in broth and simmer until sauce begins to thicken
• Return sautéed mushrooms to pan to combine
• Season with salt and pepper to taste

• Pour browned meat and mushrooms into 2 quart buttered casserole dish. Reserve.

• Top meat/mushroom layer with sautéed vegetables. Reserve.

• Spread mashed potatoes over veggie layer
• Make a criss-cross pattern with a fork
• Dot with butter pieces 
• Bake until edges start to become golden brown 40 – 45 minutes  
• Finish under broiler for nice brown peaks
• Let stand for at least 5 minutes before serving

This Shepherd’s Pie is rich and hearty and just as comfortable as I remember. Hope you love it like we do!

*I just had to know where the name Chinese Pie came from so I did a little culinary digging. Apparently Chinese Pie, also known as Paté Chinois, originated in Canada and is a staple French-Canadian dish. During the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the late 19th century workers were fed rations of beef, potatoes and corn. Many of the workers of primarily Asian origin would combine their rations, creating a family-style dish to be shared. This serving style took off with the French-Canadian workers as well who dubbed the dish Paté Chinois (or Chinese Pie in French). And now you know ~ the rest of the story.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Shepherd’s Pie

This Shepherd's Pie is rich and hearty and just as comfortable as I remember. The fresh herbs in this classic comfort food recipe make it sing.

Course Main Course

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Meat & Mushroom Layer

• 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
• 1 Tablespoon butter & olive oil
• 2 lbs. ground beef and/or ground lamb
• 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
• 2 Tablespoons fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, parsley, sage) minced
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 1 Tablespoon flour or arrow root (for GF Version)
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

For the Vegetable Layer

• 1 Tbl. olive oil
• 1 medium onion diced, about 1 cup
• 2-3 carrots diced, about 1 cup
• 2 small zucchini julienned, about 1 cup
• 1 cup fresh or frozen English peas

For the Potato Layer

• 3 lbs. potatoes or cauliflower for a low-carb alternative
• 5 Tbl. butter divided
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 tsp. fresh sage minced optional
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

For the Meat & Mushroom Layer

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large skillet, add 1 tablespoon butter & 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add mushrooms in single layer and cook until golden brown on both sides. Remove from skillet and reserve.
• Brown meat over medium high heat, drain fat, then add tomato paste, garlic, fresh herbs, and Worcestershire. Stir to combine and cook 1-2 minutes. Stir in wine and allow to mostly cook off before dusting with flour (arrowroot for gluten free version). Stir to incorporate, then add broth and stir until sauce begins to thicken. Return browned mushrooms to the pan. Season with salt & pepper to taste. Pour meat/mushrooms into 2 quart buttered casserole dish.

For the Vegetable Layer

• In skillet saute onion & carrot until just tender, then add zucchini continue cooking for 3-4 minutes. Stir in frozen peas (or cooked fresh peas). Season with salt & pepper to taste. Pour veggies over browned meat/musrooms in casserole dish.

For the Potato Layer

• Boil potatoes until tender, drain, then add 4 Tablespoons butter, buttermilk, 1/2 tsp. fresh sage, salt & pepper and mash. Spoon potatoes on top of meat/vegetable layers.
• Take a fork and scratch a pattern into top of mashed potatoes. Dot with remaining Tablespoon butter. Bake until golden 40 – 45 minutes. Finish under broiler for nice brown peaks. Let stand for at least 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

If you’re looking for a low-carb option, use cauliflower mash instead of mashed potatoes.

The post Shepherd’s Pie – A Classic Comfort Food appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

When I looked into the eyes of my beautiful new fridge I saw shelves and drawers overflowing with ingredients that begged for a chance to play nicely together.

The result of nonstop cooking for a week straight.

Have you seen our March Meatball Madness posts??!

When I studied the contents it became blatantly obvious that my fridge and my well-being needed a big pot of soup!

I’m going to make this a relatively wordless Wednesday post. After all we are just making soup! Even if this Spring Thyme Green Minestrone soup is extra special in my humble opinion. The recipe below is more of a guide, there is plenty of room for making this your own between the fresh veggie choices, the type of herbs and seasonings, the beans and pasta, even what you swirl into your bowl.

Fresh Basil Pesto and/or grated parmesan cheese swirled into this veggie packed soup is delicious and boosts the green factor.

This Spring Thyme Green Minestrone soup is packed with nutrients making this a healthy choice for any meal. It also makes a giant batch so it’s the perfect way to Share the Love with your friends and neighbors.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Spring Thyme Green Minestrone

This Spring Thyme Minestrone Soup is packed with nutrients making this a healthy choice for any meal. It also makes a giant batch so it's the perfect way to Share the Love with your friends and neighbors.

Course Main Course

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 10

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

Veggies

• 8-10 cups fresh veggies, diced or sliced such as: carrot, onion, celery, leek, fennel, shallot, jalapeno, spinach, kale, asparagus, zucchini, cabbage, broccoli
• 2-3 cloves garlic minced
• 8 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cans white beans, drained & rinsed such as: butter beans, great nothern beans, cannellini beans
• 1/2 cup fresh herbs, fine chopped such as: parsley, rosemary, thyme, basil, cilantro
• 2 Tablespoons freshly grated ginger
• 2 Tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 pound ditalini pasta cooked al dente and reserved
• 1/2 cup basil pesto optional, to swirl in soup for serving
• freshly grated parmesan cheese optional, to grate onto soup for serving

Instructions

• In a large stock pot or dutch oven, heat 2 Tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add in your 'hard' vegetables, like carrots, onion, celery, garlic, fennel, leeks, shallot, jalapeno. Saute until almost tender, about 10 minutes. Then add in your 'soft' vegetables, like spinach, kale, asparagus, zucchini, cabbage, broccoli. Continue to saute for another 5-7 minutes.
• Add vegetable broth, beans, and fresh herbs. Bring to a light simmer then add the ginger, lemon juice and seasonings. Adjust to taste. Simmer for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to mingle.
• Meanwhile prepare ditalini (or other favorite small pasta) al dente. Reserve.
• To serve. Place some cooked pasta in bowls. Ladle in hot soup. Swirl with basil pesto and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy! Don't forget to Share the Love!

The post Spring Thyme Green Minestrone appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

It was the perfect side dish for our Jamaican themed dinner.

Thank you to my friend the internet for providing me seemingly endless opportunities to explore culinary cultures from around the world. In my quest for finding the perfect Jamaican side dish I came upon the “rundown” which gets its name from cooking down coconut milk with aromatics like scallion, onion and scotch bonnet peppers.

To get all the feels for this recipe check out this video by Cook Like a Jamaican.

This vegetarian recipe is very versatile and requires minimal effort. It’s a chance to incorporate the contents of your veggie bin that are begging for their chance to shine.

You are going to love this fragrant coconut milk broth. As it cooks down the milk thickens and the dish becomes a healthy no-fuss veggie stew.

Jamaican Vegetable Rundown gets it’s heat from the scotch bonnet pepper. I’ve learned to simply cut the pepper in half or leave it whole for a slightly milder result. Hot or not, the broth is so flavorful and pairs perfectly with Jamaican Red Beans & Rice and our Jamaican Jerk Turkey Tenderloin.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Jamaican Vegetable Rundown

Jamaican Vegetable Rundown is a savory veggie stew simmered in luscious coconut milk. It was the perfect side dish for our Jamaican themed dinner.

Course Side Dish

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon butter or ghee
• 1 small onion chopped
• 3 scallions sliced
• 1 small scotch bonnet pepper halved
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 medium zucchini cut in half lengthwise, then large julienne
• 1 medium yellow summer squash cut in half lengthwise, then large julienne
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 1 cup carrots julienned
• 2 roma tomatoes quartered
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut milk
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

• In a large skillet, melt butter. Add onion, scallions, and scotch bonnet pepper. Saute until onion is translucent.
• Add all remaining vegetables, except tomatoes, and saute over medium-high heat 7-10 minutes until just tender.
• Add the tomatoes and coconut milk to vegetables and simmer until milk is slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

The post Jamaican Vegetable Rundown appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Virtually any vegetables will work in these tacos, but I love sweet potato, onion and zucchini as my base – I added corn and jalapeño to give it a nice Southwest flavor flare.

Oven Roasted Veggies

Simply toss your diced veggies of choice in a little olive oil, salt & pepper. Spread on a baking sheet (not too crowded) and roast at 400 degrees until golden brown, typically 20 minutes delivers. I adjust the size of my dice according to cooking time. For example, sweet potatoes take longer to cook than zucchini, so I use a smaller dice for the potatoes.

Oven roasting vegetables deepens the flavors. It’s a great way to use those ‘tired’ carrots, celery, Brussels, zucchini, cauliflower (insert occupants of your veggie drawer here). You can roast ahead and incorporate into Lunch Bowls all week long! There’s three strong reasons to roast veggies.

We filled our tortillas with roasted veggies, seasoned black beans (Homemade Taco Seasoning), and shredded cheese. Then we topped them with Chipotle Salsa, fresh cilantro and guacamole. These Southwest Vegetarian Tacos were bursting with flavor!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Southwest Vegetarian Tacos

Southwest Vegetarian Tacos. Customizable. Comfortable (who doesn't love a taco). Your taste buds will thank you.

Course Main Course

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

For the Roasted Veggies

• 1 large sweet potato diced
• 1 large zucchini diced
• 1 small onion diced
• 1 ear of corn kernels removed from cob
• 1 jalapeno thinly sliced
• 2 Tbl olive oil
• salt & pepper

For the Tacos

• 8 small corn or flour tortillas
• 1 can 15 ounce black beans rinsed and drained
• 2 teaspoons taco seasoning reipe link in post
• 1 cup shredded monterey jack or cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup guacamole recipe link in post
• 1/2 cup Chipotle Salsa recipe link in post
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves

Instructions

For the Roasted Veggies

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Toss diced veggies in olive oil. Season with salt & pepper. Spread on large baking sheet. Roast for 20 minutes or until golden brown and tender.

For the Tacos

• In a hot skillet or over an open flame, char tortillas slightly on each side.
• Warm black beans and taco seasoning in a saucepan.
• Fill tortillas with roasted veggies, black beans, shredded cheese. Top with chipotle salsa, fresh cilantro and guacamole.

The post Southwest Vegetarian Tacos appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

I hope the picture above does this dish justice. 

It was amazing. 

I’m not one to go crazy with personal horn tooting but this was a huge success. 

I have shared it with 13 people as of noontime today.  The responses were unanimous.  “Oh my.”  “Can I have one more bite.”  “Yum!”  “Is this recipe on Lemony Thyme?”

I’ve been making lasagna for nearly 30 years. 

In the early days my choice of ingredients weren’t necessarily classic (breakfast sausage links do not belong in lasagna) but the process hasn’t changed. 

So for my friend Sherry, who stands firm that any recipe with more than 5-ingredients, just isn’t happening in her kitchen….I’m going to break this down into Steps. 

You’ve got this girl.

Even as a veteran lasagna maker, I approach each one as a process….with clearly defined steps.  Here are my Farmers Market Roasted Veggie Lasagna Steps.

Step #1 ~ Gather all Ingredients

Gather all ingredients.  Don’t skip this step.  Cooking is so much easier when you have everything you need at hand.

Step #2 ~ Roast Veggies

Roast Veggies.  Slice and dice a good variety of veggies. 

We used zucchini, eggplant, summer squash, and broccoli.  That’s what the Farmers Market gave us.  Please use what’s fresh and local. 

You’ll want about 8 cups of veggies (cutting them thinly or bite-sized), tossed lightly with olive oil, shredded parmesan cheese, fresh herb sprigs, garlic & herb seasoning, salt & pepper. 

I prepped the veggies in two batches (a gallon Ziploc bag is a great way to toss), then spread them onto two shallow baking sheets and baked them for about 30 minutes, until tender.  Reserve. 

I also sautéed 2 cups of fresh spinach with some minced garlic, then pressed it dry between paper towels.  You could use thawed frozen spinach as well.

Note to Sherry:  Don’t stress over this step.  Can be done a day ahead.  Choose your veggies, your favorites.  The additional ingredients are conveniently limited to five.  You definitely have this!!

Step #3 ~ Cook Noodles

Cook your noodles.  While your veggies are roasting, bring a big pot of salted water to boil (big pot 2-3 gallon), add lasagna noodles and boil until al dente. 

You don’t want to over cook the noodles as they will finish cooking in the lasagna.  Drain and rinse cooked noodles under cold water.  

I know there are No-Boil noodles available, I’ve never used them and don’t judge those who do.

Can be made ahead.  Lay flat in single layer on parchment paper and reserve.

Step #4 ~ Make Sauce

Make your sauce.  While your noodles are cooking, start your sauce. 

When I’m making lasagna there are two things I don’t want to run out of.  Sauce and cheese. 

Make a big batch of sauce. 

If you have any leftover, you can freeze it or use it in almost any other comfort food dish. 

Because this is a Vegetable Lasagna, start off with a good amount of shredded carrots and onion (at least 3 cups worth). 

Sauté veggies in butter until tender, then dust with flour, stirring constantly.  Once fully incorporated and bubbly, slowly whisk in milk/cream, stirring constantly.  Sauce will thicken when it comes to a ‘gentle’ boil and as it cools. 

Remove from heat, add in parmesan cheese and whisk until melted.  Reserve.

Can be made ahead, just reheat slowly before assembling lasagna.

Step #5 ~ Prepare Cheeses

Prepare your cheeses.  In this case we used an herbed ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, and mozzarella cheese. 

The ricotta is beaten together with eggs, parmesan cheese, garlic & herb seasonings and dried basil. 

For the parm and mozzarella, I used two 8-ounce blocks and shredded them.  Each block yielded 3-4 cups of shredded cheese. 

Freshly shredded cheese vs. the prepackaged already shredded kind is much creamier and you get so much more for your $$.

Can be done ahead.  If you don’t have time to shred or shredding cheese is a deal breaker, buy the prepackaged kind.

Step #6 ~ Toast Your Breadcrumbs

Toasted breadcrumbs.  I love finishing this delicate lasagna with a layer of toasted panko breadcrumbs. 

It’s an easy step that adds a little something special to the dish.

Step #7 ~ Assembly

Assemble the layers.  All the heavy lifting has been done, now the fun begins.  I must admit I get a bit giddy over assembling all of these layers of goodness:

1. Sauce ~ Ladle just enough sauce to cover the bottom of your lasagna pan.

2. Noodles ~ Lay three noodles, side by side, on top of sauce.

3. Ricotta ~ Drop about 1/4th of ricotta mixture by spoonfuls over noodles.  Spread with fork.

4. Cheeses ~ Sprinkle about 1/4th of shredded cheeses over ricotta.

5. Veggies ~ Layer 1/3rd of roasted veggies over cheeses.

6. Sauce ~ Ladle about 2 cups of sauce over veggies.

7. Repeat ~ Continue at assembly step #2 above for three more layers.

8. Finish ~ Top final layer of noodles with remaining ricotta, sauce, grated cheeses and a generous sprinkling of toasted breadcrumbs.

Step #8 ~ Bake & Rest

Bake & Rest.  Resting your lasagna after you bake it is almost as important. 

Bake Farmers Market Roasted Veggie Lasagna at 350 degrees for one hour.  Allow to rest for 30 minutes before serving.

This Farmers Market Roasted Veggie Lasagna is layered with so much veggie love. This recipe makes a big batch.  Definitely enough to share with a dozen or so of your closest friends.  We call that {Share the Love} around here.

Are there recipes that remind you of a favorite vacation that you’d like to see us recreate? I’d love for you to comment below. Your feedback is so important to me (and keeps the recipe love fresh).

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook!

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Farmers Market Roasted Veggie Lasagna

This Farmers Market Roasted Veggie Lasagna is layered with so much veggie love. This recipe makes a big batch. 

Prep Time 1 hour hour

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Resting Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 2 hours hours

Servings 12

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the roasted veggies…

• 2 sm.-med. zucchini thinly sliced lengthwise
• 2 sm.-med. summer squash thinly sliced
• 1 eggplant partially peeled and sliced into 1/4-thick rounds
• 3 cups fresh broccoli florets
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
• 6-8 sprigs of fresh herbs lemony thyme, oregano, thyme
• 1 Tbl. garlic & herb seasoning
• 1/2 tsp. salt & pepper
• 2 cups fresh spinach leaves
• 1 Tbl. olive oil
• 3 cloves minced garlic

For the noodles…

• 12 uncooked lasagna noodles
• 1 Tbl. salt

For the sauce…

• 4 carrots grated
• 1 large onion finely diced
• 6 Tbl. butter
• 6 Tbl. flour
• 8 cups milk/cream or half & half
• 2 cup parmesan cheese grated
• pinch red pepper flakes optional

For the cheeses…

• 1 15 ounce container ricotta cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
• 1 tsp. garlic & herb seasoning
• 1 tsp. dried basil
• 8 ounce block mozzarella cheese freshly shredded (3-4 cups)
• 8 ounces parmesan cheese freshly shredded (3-4 cups)

For the toasted breadcrumbs…

• 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
• spray olive oil

Instructions

For the roasted veggies…

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut veggies thinly or bite-sized, toss lightly with about olive oil, parmesan cheese, fresh herb sprigs, garlic & herb seasoning, salt & pepper. Then spread onto two shallow baking sheets and bake for about 30 minutes, or until tender. Reserve. Can be done a day ahead.
• Sauté fresh spinach in olive oil with minced garlic, for 2-3 minutes. Cover and remove from heat until wilted. Press between paper towels to remove liquid. Reserve.

For the noodles…

• Bring a large pot of water to boil (2-3 gallons). Add salt, then add noodles one by one (do not break). Stir gently as they soften until all are completely covered with water. Return to a boil and cook 10-12 minutes or until al dente, stirring occasionally. Do not overcook as they will finish cooking in the lasagna.

For the sauce…

• Sauté carrots and onion in butter for 5-7 minutes over medium heat. Then dust with flour, stirring constantly. Once fully incorporated and bubbly, slowly whisk in milk/cream, stirring constantly. Sauce will thicken when it comes to a ‘gentle’ boil. Remove from heat, add in 1 cup parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes; whisk until melted. Reserve.

For the cheeses…

• In a small bowl whisk together ricotta, eggs, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, garlic & herb seasoning and dried basil. Reserve.
• Shred mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Reserve.

For the toasted breadcrumbs…

• Spray shallow baking sheet with olive oil spray. Spread panko in thin layer, then spray lightly with olive oil spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 5-7 minutes or until just beginning to turn golden brown. Remove and reserve.

For the assembly…

• Ladle just enough sauce to cover the bottom of your lasagna pan.
• Lay three noodles, side by side, on top of sauce.
• Drop about 1/4th of ricotta mixture by spoonfuls over noodles. Spread with fork.
• Sprinkle about 1/4th of shredded cheeses over ricotta.
• Layer 1/3rd of roasted veggies over cheeses.
• Ladle about 2 cups of sauce over veggies.
• Continue at step #2 above for three more layers.
• Top final layer of noodles with remaining ricotta, sauce, grated cheeses and a generous sprinkling of toasted breadcrumbs.

Bake & rest…

• Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Cover with foil part way through if crumbs begin to brown too much. Rest at least 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

Allow lasagna to rest for 30 minutes before serving.

The post Farmers Market Roasted Veggie Lasagna {Share the Love} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

To say I love ‘thrifting’ is an understatement.  And as a food blogger, I’m not alone.  We’ve always got an eye out for unique dishes and props to use for our food photography sessions.  I head straight to the dish/cookware section when I enter a thrift store then head to the cookbook shelf.  Last week while visiting our local Humane Society Thrift Store I spied this gorgeous cookbook.  The cover recipe was for Budín Azteca aka Aztec Casserole which matched this week’s Farmers Market bounty beautifully.

I was giddy when I pulled this gorgeous cookbook quietly off the shelf.  Yes I said quietly.  There’s an unspoken art to thrifting.  When entering an isle do a rapid visual inspection of the wares ahead of you.  If a treasure is spotted, you must act swiftly.  Like the day I spied a Romertopf Clay Baker on the bottom shelf at the very end of my isle.  I abandoned my buggie in order to maneuver my way to it without ever taking my eye off the prize.  This one was worth a fight (only if necessary of course).

The Farmers Market, located just walking distance from my office, reopened for the summer this past week.  Every Wednesday and Saturday morning from now through October our fresh produce will be purchased from our local farmers.  Boy does that make me happy.  Some of my favorite recipes on Lemony Thyme were Farmers Market inspired.

This Aztec Casserole is built in layers.  Sautéed squash, zucchini and corn become the vegetable layer.  Then there is the puréed tomato sauce layer, corn tortilla layer, roasted poblano peppers, cheeses, and chicken layers.  Repeated in true casserole style.

Once assembled the casserole is baked for 20 minutes or so until the cheese has melted and the ingredients are heated through.  The squash, zucchini and corn are cooked until just crisp-tender maintaining their fresh from the garden flavor.  I think that’s what I love most about this dish, well that and the fresh tomato sauce….along with the chicken and cheese.  And I can’t forget the tasty surprise of finding layers of corn tortillas nestled amongst all this goodness.

Aztec Casserole is as delicious to eat as it is cookbook-cover delicious to look at.  I can’t wait to try more authentic recipes from the regions of Mexico and share them with you.

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Farmers Market Aztec Casserole

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Servings 6 -8

Author Mexico The Beautiful Cookbook, lightly adapted

Ingredients

• 2 Tbl. olive oil
• 1 onion diced
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 3 large tomatoes about 1 1/2 lbs, peeled and puréed
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 Tbl. butter
• 3 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
• 2 cups zucchini diced
• 2 cups summer squash diced
• 1/3 cup water
• oil for frying
• 10 corn tortillas
• 2 poblano chiles roasted, peeled & seeded, cut into strips
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese Monterey Jack, Cheddar cheese or Muenster

Instructions

• Heat olive oil in a skillet, add the onion and sauté until transparent. Add the garlic and sauté an additional 30 seconds. Add the puréed tomatoes and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered for 10 minutes. Set aside.
• Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the zucchini, summer squash and corn and cook for 2 minutes. Add the water; cover and cook for 8 minutes or until the zucchini is crisp-tender. Drain and set aside.
• In a skillet heat 1/2-inch of oil over medium heat. Add the tortillas one at a time and cook about 30 seconds per side. Reserve.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a large casserole dish.

To assemble…

• Place a thin layer of vegetable layer on bottom. Top with a layer of 4-5 tortillas. Then add a layer of tomato sauce. Add half of the remaining vegetables, half of the poblano strips, 1/2 cup of the sour cream in dollops, half of the chicken and 3/4 cup of shredded cheese. Repeat layers finishing with the cheese.
• Bake uncovered until the cheese has melted and the layers are heated through, about 15 – 20 minutes.

The post Farmers Market Aztec Casserole appeared first on Lemony Thyme.