All American Delicacy

In her blog post titled "The End of Spam Shame," Columbus writer Sylvie Kim discusses how those who wish to examine complex topics such as self-identity, race, class, and globalization need search no further than a simple can of Spam.

To honor Kim's eloquent discourse on this uniquely American delicacy, I shredded a medium red potato, squeezed out the excess water using a paper towel, and fried the shreds in 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.

After frying the potatoes and topping them with 1/4 cup of shredded cheese, I arranged two slices of Spam (I used the new turkey variety which is really tasty) and a fried egg on top.

The resulting dish was simple and delicious!

Pan Seared Brussels Sprouts

Pan seared brussels sprouts make an excellent accompaniment to any meal.  Simply cut in two, toss in some olive oil and place in a cast iron skillet over medium heat.  Cook for 7-9 minutes per side for a delicious and healthy treat.

Pesto Change-O

To change 5 simple ingredients into a tasty and healthy spread, try making homemade pesto.  A food processor makes the task of combining ingredients a bit easier, but a mortar and pestle works perfectly fine to combine everything by hand as well.

 Start with fresh basil, parmigiana cheese (cut or broken into small chunks), toasted pine nuts (toasted walnuts make a great substitute), and olive oil.

Place the solid ingredients in a food processor and drizzle olive oil over.  Pulse several times, adding additional olive oil to reach the desired consistency.  Enjoy on bread or pasta.
Note: if using a mortar and pestle to combine ingredients by hand, be sure to chop the ingredients into small pieces before combining to ensure a more even consistency when combined.

Omelettes Anyone?

The omelette is such a simple, delicious treat any time of day.  And what better ingredient to use than fresh Ohio eggs?  Special thanks to Andrew for a dozen of these gems.

The difference between factory-farmed and cage-free eggs is immediately apparent: cage-free eggs have thick shells that require a firm strike on the side of a bowl to break.  A bright, firm yolk as intense as the morning sun is the result of a healthy, varied diet and happy hens.

When buying your next dozen eggs, consider spending just a little more for humanely-produced, cage-free eggs.  You'll see and taste the difference!

Thick brown and blue shells of and firm, high-standing yolks from cage-free eggs. 

 Not super pretty, but delicious.  I used leftover onion, ground beef, corn, and half an avocado to make this inexpensive omelette.  A couple of dashes of hot sauce and I was in heaven!

Meatless and Delicious!

Falafel hails from the Middle East and makes a tasty meatless meal any time of week.  Here, I've paired falafel with sliced fresh tomato, toasted pita bread, and Tzatziki sauce.

Falafel mixes available from most grocery stores, or you can purchase pre-made falafel from health food stores or the natural foods section of your grocer.  Fry them in a skillet with olive oil for a delicious, earthy flavor.

Allrecipes.com has a recipe for an easy-to-make Tzatziki sauce.  I tend to half the recipe unless I'm preparing falafel for a large group.  Toast your flatbread and serve with sliced tomato for an inexpensive and DELICIOUS lunch or dinner.