Going WITH the Grain!

Sure, it's good to against the grain sometimes, doing something opposite to what is usually done. But this week, it's all about...

Going WITH the Grain!

Pick a Yotam Ottolenghi recipe from one of his books or online that features or includes grains. You can pick a recipe using one of your favorite grains, or maybe it is time to try something new, or a less-utilized-by-you grain. It's up to you. 

Just make sure you use an Ottolenghi recipe and make and post your great grainy dish by Sunday, May 5th.

Don't forget to link your dish, as well as a thumbnail image, below.  Please remember to leave a comment after linking so that we don't miss out on your dish. 

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Please see our Welcome page.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.  

If you missed our fun freestyle make-any-IHCC-Chef Potluck theme last week, be sure to click on the links and check out all the fabulous recipes everyone made!

****Don't forget to check out the details on the Optional Monthly Community Recipe: Shakshuka on last week's post too if you want to join in cooking a recipe as a group for this fun new IHCC feature!  

So get Going WITH the Grain! 

April Potluck (including Ottolenghi and all Former IHCC Chefs)!

It's time for everyone's favorite theme....POTLUCK!  Potluck week is everyone's favorite week for a reason.  Anything goes!  Plus, this time around we are introducing a new feature to provide even more freedom and variety. 
  

Each month during POTLUCK week, you can chose to share an Ottolenghi recipe OR a recipe from any former IHCC Chef!  

You now have eight chefs to chose from.  You can actually chose from thousands of recipes and nearly every type of cuisine imaginable.  What are you craving this week?  British?  American? Italian? Mediterranean? Mexican? Indian? Asian or maybe something from the Middle East?  I'm pretty sure we've got you covered.

If you're not familiar with the former IHCC chefs, here is the list: 

Nigella Lawson

Mark Bittman

Giada Delaurentiis

Jamie Oliver

Tessa Kiros

Rick Bayless

Madhur Jaffrey

and of course our newest addition: Yotam Ottolenghi!

So get out those cookbooks, or hunt for recipes online, but remember you now have eight fantastic chefs to chose from!  Please post and link your POTLUCK dish by Sunday, April 28th.  Please remember to link a thumbnail image and leave a comment after so that we don't miss out on your dish.  

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Please see our Welcome page.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.

 

If you missed out on our Get Back to Your Roots! theme, then please head over now to check out all the wonderful dishes that everyone shared.  

Also, a special reminder to check out the details on our Optional Monthly Community Recipe.  This month's recipe is Shakshuka, a lovely egg dish loaded with vibrant veggies.  Click this link to be directed to the recipe and a video.  

 

Get Back to Your Roots! (with Ottolenghi)

This week it's time to Get Back to Your Roots with Yotam Ottolenghi.

No matter which season you're enjoying right now, you're sure to be able to find a root vegetable to grace your plate ... radish, daikon, carrots, parsnip, beetroot, celeriac, turnips, yams, salsify, sweet potato, everybody's favourite root vegetable - the humble potato, and of course many more that I haven't mentioned.

And if you're wondering what to do with those root vegetables, there's no doubt that Ottolenghi is the man to help you out.  There is an abundance of vegetable dishes in every one of Ottolenghi's three books - Ottolenghi:  The Cookbook, Plenty, and Jerusalem: A Cookbook - and many more in his weekly online column for The Guardian.

 

Or maybe you want to interpret the theme more figuratively, and choose an Ottolenghi dish which rekindles some nostalgic food memories from your own cultural food heritage - if so, you'll discover that while many of Yotam's recipes stem from his own "food roots", there is a vast array of dishes which cross all cultural boundaries.  If there's one of his dishes that takes you back to your own roots, then we'd love to hear about it.

So, digging into those Root Vegetables or exploring your Food Roots ... you choose.  Just make sure you choose an Ottolenghi recipe and post your dish by Sunday 21 April.

Don't forget to link your dish, as well as a thumbnail image, below.  Please remember to leave a comment after linking so that we don't miss out on your dish.

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Please see our Welcome page.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.

If you missed our Loving the Leaf theme last week, be sure to click on the links and check out all the fabulous leafy dishes everyone made - personally, I want to try them all!!  A special IHCC welcome also to all our new participants!

*** A special reminder to check out the details on the Optional Monthly Community Recipe:  a great opportunity to join in on cooking a recipe as a group.  This is a fun new IHCC feature, and our chosen recipe this month is Shakshuka.

Loving the Leaf! (with Ottolenghi!)

It's time to show those ultra-healthy, ultra-good Leafy Greens some lovin'!

We are Loving the Leaf this week!

Find a Yotam Ottolenghi recipe, online or in one of his cookbooks that features leafy greens or uses one or more as an ingredient. 

Kale, Collards, Chard, Lettuce, Spinach... take your pick! Just make sure you use an Ottolenghi recipe and make and post your leafy dish by Sunday, April 14th.

Don't forget to link your dish, as well as a thumbnail image, below.  Please remember to leave a comment after linking so that we don't miss out on your dish. 

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Please see our Welcome page.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.  

If you missed our Shalom Yotam Ottolenghi theme last week, be sure to click on the links and check out all the fabulous recipes everyone made to welcome our new chef! A special IHCC welcome to all of our new participants!

****Don't forget to check out the details on the Optional Monthly Community Recipe: Shakshuka on last week's post too if you want to join in cooking a recipe as a group for this fun new IHCC feature!  

Shalom Yotam Ottolenghi!!

 A very warm welcome to our new IHCC chef, Yotam Ottolenghi!

Shalom Yotam Ottolenghi!

Ottolenghi is an Israeli-born chef, cookbook writer, and restaurant owner who specializes in marrying his native Middle Eastern cuisine with Mediterranean and Asian flavors.  He is also known as a champion of vegetables, or rather as 'the man who sexed up vegetables'.  His innovative vegetarian recipes delight the palate with fresh bold flavors.   

Ottolenghi has three best-selling cookbooks: Ottolenghi: The Cookbook, Plenty, and Jerusalem. He also has a very strong online presence.  A quick online search will yield pictures, recipes, cooking videos, and interviews. In addition, he writes a weekly column for The Guardian, which is also available online.  Those of you who utilize your iPhone and iPad will be happy to know there is both an app and an e-book available (links to all of the above can be found on our sidebar to the right).

It is with great excitement that we welcome in Yotam Ottolenghi! We are really looking forward to his innovative style and vibrant dishes.  Feel free to welcome in Ottolenghi with any dish you chose!  Make and post your Shalom Yotam Ottolenghi recipe by Sunday, April 7th.  Don't forget to link your dish, as well as your image, below.  Please remember to leave a comment after linking so that we don't miss out on your dish. 

New to IHCC?  Need help linking up?  Please see our Welcome page.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back with you.  

New Feature: Optional Monthly Community Recipe

We are very excited to introduce a brand new feature here at IHCC, the Optional Monthly Community Recipe.  At the beginning of each month one Yotam Ottolenghi recipe will be chosen and announced.  This recipe will be our featured Optional Monthly Community Recipe. Participants can chose to make, post, and link this recipe in place of any weekly theme or simply as a bonus recipe for the month.  At the very end of the month, or very beginning of the next month, there will be a recipe roundup including a picture and link to all the participant's posts.  We look forward to sharing the experience of the recipe with you.  We encourage everyone to feel free to add their own twist or variation to the dish and tell us all about it!  It is our hope that cooking and sharing the same recipe will help to create a better sense of community and sharing here at IHCC and we are really looking forward to it!

 This month's Optional Monthly Community Recipe is......Shakshuka!

Shakshuka is a beautiful brunch dish where poached eggs set atop a colorful and lightly spiced sauce made from tomatoes, onions, and peppers.  Shakshuka can be served family style or individually.  There are many variations of shakshuka and we encourage you to experiment as you wish.  Some like to add preserved lemon, feta cheese, and/or different herbs and spices.  Shakshuka is best served with  chunky white bread on the side for dipping.

Below is a video of Yotam Ottolenghi making his Shakshuka.  Here is a link to the recipe, which can be found on the The Guardian's website. 

*We are experimenting with a new linky tool so please be patient with us.  If there are any issues we will get them worked out shortly.*