Savory Bread Pudding

I am sorry to all the gluten-free people out there...but this one, unfortunately, just isn't for you. It may also seem as a bit of an indulgence (for those of us that buy into the low-carb diet, at least)... but certainly a worthwhile one.  Besides, a very wise person once told me to eat all my heaviest foods in the morning to keep me full and use the rest of the day to burn them off!  I'll definitely buy into that.  Luckily, a savory bread pudding is the perfect centerpiece for a hearty brunch buffet.  Easter anyone?

It also makes a great dish for a steak or roast, a roast chicken or turkey...the list goes on. 

Lamb Vadoum

So you've made all those spice blends, now you need more recipes, right? If you haven't made any of them yet...perhaps this recipe will give you a kick in the panties. This is a very easy to prepare indian style lamb stew. It take a couple hours to cook, but only a few minutes to throw it together, provided you have already made your vadouvan spice blend. Serve it over rice, quinoa or with some naan. In fact, you can probably just throw all these ingredients in a slow cooker and let her go for a few hours. if you try this, let me know how long you let it cook and how it worked out!   This is a great recipe to make extra of and freeze for a rainy day.

Spice blends- you can do it!

I want to encourage everyone to have a few of their own spice blends on hand, it really is so easy to do. It will also give your quick weeknight meals a sense of self satisfaction knowing you didn't have to pound loose one of Emeril's store bought seasonings from the large clump that has formed in the  shaker. You know how long that has been sitting in the back of that spice cabinet?! There isn't enough sodium silicate in the world...

Take my blackening seasoning for example. Pull that blend out of the cabinet, coat one side of some boneless-skinless chicken thighs and put them face down in a smokin' hot cast iron pan for about 5 minutes. Turn them over and cook for another 5 or so. Lay them on a bed of brown rice and sautee some onions and bell peppers to put on top and Voila! You have the easiest weeknight dinner ever, and can pat yourself on the back knowing you added a certain level of complexity with hardly any work at all.