A Use for that Charmoula from Last Night

Orzo with Veggies and Charmoula

We love orzo! So silky and such a great size to let other ingredients shine. This is a summer room temp dish made with orzo that gets dressed with charmoula as soon as it comes out of the pot--the warm pasta will absorb flavor very nicely. The I added sauteed eggplant, yellow zucchini, green pepper, red onion, one long hot chili pepper, and diced tomatoes with garlic. Add the veg, then more charmoula. We are topping ours with grilled charmoula marinated shrimp, but it would be great without them and would be totally vegan.

Charmoula! Charmoula!

Charmoula is so good that I can't believe everyone doesn't eat it all the time. It is found in Moroccan, Algerian, and Tunisian cuisine. It works kind of like pesto. Food processor: cilantro, garlic, lemon juice, chili paste, cumin,olive oil, salt and pepper. Absolutely the best substance ever. Great with veg, fish, chicken, sandwiches, beans. Heavenly.

Cool, Neat Way to Get Corn off the Cob

My friend Carol Arnold told me about this and it works really well with a bundt or angel food pan. The pan holds the cob and catches the corn.

Golden Gazpacho

I saw this in a Williams-Sonoma cookbook and adapted it. I love the colors and the idea that there is a bit of bread in the base. Gazpacho can be a bit watery, and the bread gives it body. I am not a measurer, but here's what's in there:

Base:
yellow tomatoes
kirby cukes
red onion
sweet red pepper
hot red pepper
french bread
olive oil

red wine vinegar
little bit of bread

garlic

salt and pepper

Chunky Stuff:
Red tomatoes
kirby cukes
red onion
sweet red pepper
hot red pepper
cilantro