A Cozy Autumn Supper Menu

A Cozy Autumn Supper Menu

Dive into dinner next week -- and warm up to wintry hues and flavors that might have not yet graced your dining room table. A lean  and robust pork tenderloin, paired with a satisfying cup of soup and glass of wine, will take your dinner date to a new level of delight.

Cauliflower-Crust Pizza with Fig, Turkey Sausage & Sage

Cauliflower-Crust Pizza with Fig, Turkey Sausage & Sage

Fall sweaters and warm candlelit suppers typically summon heavier cuisine: bowls of pasta, hearty soups, braised meats and butternut squash...I am not quite yet ready for that filling feeling, though; I want to stay light and embrace the airy ambiance! 

Roasted Pork Chops with Shallots + Garlic

Roasted Pork Chops with Shallots + Garlic

I grew up in a kosher-style home and, though my love for prosciutto and lobster grew with age outside of the house, I rarely had the chance to cook pork and shellfish myself. Labor Day posed the perfect opportunity in my own (non-kosher) home to test the ultimate flavor-packed protein: pork chops.

Heirloom Tomato and Red Corn Shrimp Sauté

Processed with VSCO with f2 preset Summer screams for simplicity, especially when local produce is at its peak of brightness and flavor. Though I frequent the farmers markets, I'm especially impressed with Whole Foods' local produce selection, which features stunning vegetables, fruits and starches. I plucked a few ears of red corn and a pint of tri-colored sweet cherry tomatoes; and, alas, another 15-minute meal for two was born. Whip this up after work or on a Sunday evening, and don't forget to pair it with a bottle of crisp white wine from Whole Foods Germantown's new selection of wine!

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Makes 2 servings

1/2 pound ruby red shrimp, peeled and deveined 2 cups spinach 2 ears red corn, husked 1 pint heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon fresh basil, roughly chopped Sea salt and black pepper 2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese (optional)

1. Brush corn with olive oil and place on a hot grill pan. Cook for five minutes, rotating to grill evenly. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly before cutting corn kernels.

2. Meanwhile, heat one tablespoon olive oil over medium heat in a pot. Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Add shrimp to pan and cook evenly, flipping after 2 minutes.

3. Add tomatoes to pan, cooking for 2-3 minutes. Add corn and basil, continuing to sauté until fragrant. Then, add spinach and toss until just beginning to wilt. Season combination with extra salt and pepper, and sprinkle with feta. Serve immediately with a crusty baguette and glass of chilled pinot grigio.

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This post is brought to you by Whole Foods Market Germantown. Thank you for being supportive of my sponsors!

Seared Tuna over Cucumber Jicama Slaw

Processed with VSCO with f2 preset Y'all, this heat is heavy. In need of a light and cool summer meal, I aimed for an airy Asian dish that highlights natural flavors and awe-inspiring colors. I plucked both the ahi tuna and cucumber at the Memphis Farmers Market last Saturday, and I spotted some prepped jicama at my Whole Foods location. Ten minutes prep max yields a ten-fold amount of impressionable plating and tasting!

Serve alongside a crisp dry Pinot Grigio and, perhaps, a shareable bowl of steamed edamame. Cheers!

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Makes 2 servings

1 ahi tuna steak 1 teaspoon canola oil 2 cucumbers 1 package pre-cut jicama 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil 1 teaspoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon rice vinegar Black sesame seeds Sea salt Eel sauce, to serve

1. Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Season both sides of tuna steak with salt and black pepper. Place tuna in pan, searing for 1 minute. Flip and cook for 1 more minute. Remove from heat and allow to rest.

2. Spiralize cucumber into thin ribbons. Slice jicama into thin strips. Mix vegetables with sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, salt and sesame seeds.

3. Slice tuna into 1/4-inch pieces. Create a cucumber-jicama nest, and place tuna on top. Drizzle with eel sauce and, if needed, add additional sea salt. Serve cold.

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