Mr. Bijoy Writes

There are a few entrees that have always befuddled a great deal of this blog's readers. A few days ago, I asked people what these entrees were and how I could help make them easier or, in some cases, just how to make them at all. This is one of those entrees. It's an easy one, but you have to be quick about the steps! Enjoy! What ya need: 1 lb of extra-large or "Jumbo" shrimp, peeled and de-veined 1 pound (1 package) of cooked orzo 4 cloves of garlic, minced 3 shallots, minced 9 scallions, sliced 3 plum tomatoes, seeded and cubed (like in salsa) 2 cups of canned tomato sauce 2/3 cup of baby spinach leaves 1/3 cup of fresh, chopped parsley leaves Ok, so- In a large dutch oven, or soup pot, over medium-high heat, heat the oil and saute the garlic and shallots for 1 minute. Add the scallions and shrimp and cook for 30 seconds, without stirring. Add the tomato sauce and tomatoes, stir and cook for 2 minutes. Remove the shrimp from the sauce and set...

Need something tasty and a little decadent for dinner? How about if I throw "easy" into that description? How about I add the added benefit of a nice crab-load for your crazy workout days? Sound good? Oh, I got you - What ya need: 1/2 cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice 2/3 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese 2/3 cup of olive oil 1- 1lb package of pasta, whichever sort you prefer, cooked 1/4 cup of water from the pasta you cooked fresh basil for garnish Ok, so: Grab a large bowl and mix together everything but the pasta and the pasta water. Whisk it together until everything is well incorporated. Now, add the spaghetti and the pasta water. Mix all of this together and you’re done! Oh and, you can garnish this with freshly chopped basil and fresh lemon zest.

So last night I had a short conversation with a few twitter folks ( @tobyamidor , @dee22ann , & @MelissaTraubRD ) about mac & cheese. So, from that conversation, here is a recipe for a healthier mac & cheese, for both deliciousness and happiness!  What ya need: 1 1/4 cups of raw cashews 1/2 cup of nutritional yeast 2 teaspoons of onion powder 1 teaspoon of kosher sea salt 1 1/2 teaspoons of garlic powder 1/8 teaspoon of ground Tellicherry black pepper 3 cups of almond milk 3 tablespoons of quality cornstarch 1/4 cup of cold-pressed olive oil (you can use palm oil here as well) 1/4 cup of light white miso (yellow miso works, but I prefer the white varietal) 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice 16 ounces of cooked pasta (I like rotini, but you can use whatever you want. Just not bowtie, don't be irresponsible) Ok, so: In a food processor or powerful blender (I use my Vita-mix) grind the cashews with the nutritional yeast, onion powder, salt, garlic ...

Sometimes, you just need a super-easy recipe around the holidays. Big food holidays and all the prep required to put on such a show makes for delicious, easy meals like this to be truly appreciated, both by the people eating, and the people making the meal. I hope you enjoy! What ya need: 1 pound of quality orzo 1/2 pound of coarsely chopped sliced Serrano ham (2 cups) 1/2 pound of mild goat cheese, crumbled 5 scallions, thinly sliced Ok, so: Preheat your oven to the broiler setting. Grab a 3-quart oven-safe, preferably flameproof, baking dish. Most of these are about 2 inches deep. That's what you want. In a pot, cook orzo in salted water until al dente. Drain the water, reserving about 3/4 cup for later. In a bowl, toss the hot orzo with the remaining ingredients, reserved cooking water, and any salt and pepper you may want to add until the cheese is melted.Transfer this to your greased baking dish and broil until lightly browned. Thi...

Here’s a really cool side-dish that is not only tasty, but fairly healthy. The spinach and mushrooms allow for a nutritional touch to a hearty dish. Have a great time with this and enjoy it! What ya need: 6 ounces of dried farfalle, also known as bow-tie pasta 1 tablespoon of  extra virgin olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, chopped well 1 cup of sliced portobello mushrooms, rinsed 2 cloves of fresh garlic, minced 4 cups of thinly sliced fresh spinach 1 teaspoon of fresh thyme 1/8 of teaspoon fresh ground black pepper 2 tablespoons of shredded Romano cheese Ok, so: Cook farfalle according to the directions on the box. Drain the water, but don’t rinse the pasta. In general, stop rinsing any pasta after cooking it. Well, unless the recipe calls for it. Grab a large skillet and heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, mushrooms, and garlic and cook for 3 minutes, or until the mushrooms are tender. Stir in the spinach, thyme, and pepper and cook for 1 minute. Add th...

A good meatball is a staple of great Italian-American food. Back in St. Louis, a good meatball was how you could figure out if a restaurant was worth a damn. For those that don't know, I started my crazy journey into the culinary world in St. Louis. This recipe hits home for me, and I want to share it with you. I really hope you enjoy it! What ya need: 1 egg, slightly beaten 3/4 cup of  soft bread crumbs (1 slice) 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup of finely chopped onion 2 tablespoons of fresh parsley 2 cloves of garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon of dried rosemary, crushed 1/4 teaspoon of salt ...