Bella's Favorites
Easy, nourishing recipes my daughter has loved since she was little, which are perfect for the back-to-school season.
Since today is my daughter Bella’s birthday, I thought I’d devote this newsletter to a few of her favorite recipes. She has loved these since she was a small child—she even came up with the idea for one of them! Now that she is at college, living off campus, I think she’ll be happy to have them to make for herself. (Boy, time does fly. I am sure many of you remember her on my Food Network show when she was about 4 years old.) I am certain you will enjoy these recipes too, as each stands the test of time as nourishing, tasty recipes to turn to again and again. Enjoy!
Picnic/Lunchbox Pasta Salad
Photo by Goran Kosanovic for The Washington Post
I used to pack this for Bella’s lunch when she was in grade school, and now I regularly have a batch in the refrigerator for her to nibble on when she comes home from college. It’s a colorful, whole grain pasta salad, chock-full of vegetables and fresh mozzarella cheese in an herb-garlic vinaigrette dressing that earns its name because of the way it holds up in a cooler pack –there is nothing in it that gets mushy or wilts–making it ideal for toting to a picnic, or for a lunchbox for work or school.
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter & Banana Smoothie
Photo by Tom McCorkle and food styling by Gina Nistico; for The Washington Post
One of my life-hacks for caregivers is to inspire your kids to cook for you. This smoothie is so simple to make, a young child can whip it up on their own, giving them early kitchen autonomy, and their parents a welcome break. Bella has been making it for me (and herself) since she was about 6 or 7 years old. It’s a milkshake-like breakfast or snack that is filling, nourishing and perfectly sweet thanks to the very ripe frozen banana blended into it -- no added sugar needed.
Nectarine and Fennel Salad with Crispy Prosciutto
Photo by Quentin Bacon and food styling by Suzanne Lenzer; for Weeknight Wonders
This salad is the product of a serendipitous discovery Bella made one day in the kitchen, a kind of you-got-your-peanut-butter-in-my-chocolate moment. I was slicing fresh fennel for a salad while she was snacking on a nectarine. After sneaking a nibble of the fennel between bites of fruit she quickly declared the combination a must-try. Indeed, sweet juicy nectarine and crisp fennel are a winning duo, made even more scrumptious, as I discovered later in my test kitchen, tossed in orange-shallot vinaigrette and topped with a savory crumble of crisped prosciutto. I’ve been making this salad ever since. Thanks, Bella :)