Cold Pasta Salad Recipe

Cold pasta salad is usually made with mayonnaise dressing. One member of my family is allergic to eggs, so this recipe suits her perfectly; as no eggs are used. Even though there are no eggs, I wanted the dressing to be creamy and flavorful, so I mixed in goat cheese with the usual vinaigrette ingredients. For a little extra kick, I added onions cooked down in white balsamic vinegar.

I used cork-screw-shaped pasta, but any other shape such as bowties, shells or penne would work as well. In addition to the diced tomatoes and steamed zucchini, I added black lentils and pan-seared tofu to give this vegetarian pasta dish some protein. Cooking does not always have to be complicated. If you have fresh ingredients and a lot of love, you’ll have a wonderful meal. Bon appétit!
 

Balsamic Caramel Popcorn Recipe

Friday night is movie night at our home. The little ones are in charge of popping the popcorn in the microwave. Occasionally, we make caramel popcorn. I felt like having a bit more grownup treat, so I decided to put a twist on our movie snack by flavoring it with balsamic vinegar.

After deciding to use balsamic vinegar, it seemed like an obvious choice to pair it with olive oil. I usually make caramel with butter, so it was an easy substitution. I reduced the amount of oil compared to the amount of butter I would normally use, though. The California Ranch extra virgin oil has a nice aroma and fruity flavor which combined nicely with the balsamic reduction and sugar. I threw in some toffee peanuts at the end to give it a little crunch. The final product had a very distinct taste that reminded me of flan.

For those of you following along, the winner of the first giveaway was Suzette DeRosia and Linda Black was randomly selected as the winner of the second giveaway. Congratulations to both of you! If you haven’t entered yet, it's not too late! You can still participate in the third (and last) giveaway, ending Sunday, September 4^th. And just like Suzette and Linda, you could win a bottle of delicious EVOO from California Olive Ranch. You can join their fan page on Facebook to get daily updates, special offers and deals.

California Olive Ranch Giveaway Entry Form:

And for those of you who can't wait to try California Olive Ranch olive oil, head over to their online store, enter coupon code BLOGFRIENDS, and enjoy a 10% discount (for Pham Fatale readers)!

Pham Fatale Giveaway Terms and Conditions: No purchase necessary. All prizes are generously donated by the company featured. Pham Fatale does not accept money or gifts in exchange for these items. The companies featured in Pham Fatale Giveaways did not pay to participate in the Giveaways. Winners will be chosen at random, and odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Pham Fatale is not responsible for late, lost, stolen, illegible or incomplete entries which will be disqualified. Pham Fatale will not give your  information to the prize-giving company for future marketing. US Residents only please. Only one entry per person per giveaway. Prizes are not refundable or returnable. Giveaway terms subject to change.

Balsamic Brussels Sprouts with Acorn Squash

Every winter season, I look forward to the wide availability of Brussels sprouts and acorn squash. I prepare them many different ways, but I make it a point to never overwhelm the distinct flavors of these seasonal veggies.

This time around, I steamed the vegetables until tender, then sautéed them in a little butter until caramelized. Finally, I glazed them in balsamic-maple syrup. The children love this dish because of its intriguing flavors; the sweet, tart and savory notes with a hint of maple in the background got very positive reviews.

Pan Seared Artichoke with Balsamic Glaze

Artichokes are one of my favorite vegetables. Some people seem to dislike artichokes without getting to know them because of all the work involved in eating it. It requires a good deep cleaning under the sink, steam it, pan sear it and you're done. Serve it with a flavorful dipping sauce like the balsamic glaze in this recipe, or your own aioli (which I'll provide a recipe of soon).

Since moving to America, I have to admit that it seems that many Americans are more concerned with convenience than taste. No offense. The French, and I include myself in this stereotype, are infamous for savouring every morsel of food. Food is a social activity and so we don't mind a bit of extra work.

My aunt was watching me prepare this dish today, and her first reaction was: "Why are you cooking this? It's such a pain to eat". When the artichokes had fully cooked on the griddle. I plated it, removed one leaf, dipped in the balsamic vinaigrette and put it in her mouth. She stopped talking and ended up eating the entire artichoke. 

Tanya, this recipe is for you since you requested a low fat, low cholesterol veggie recipe for your parents.