CARAMELIZED ONION+GREENS TARTINE

If you do make this, I hope you are a bit more 'on your game' than I was. I love getting emails from readers who find this space inspirational, so let's be real, there are just as many mistakes here as any kitchen. I have learn the most about cooking, when I mess things up. While attempting to salt the onions, the lid popped off, emptying the entire container of salt into the pan. I thought I did a decent job of getting a majority out, until we took a big bite after the pictures. I think I am still bloated from the sodium content, 24 hours later. Not to mention that the bbq was noticed this afternoon, left on since yesterday when we grilled the bread slices. The gas bill is one thing, but had the house burned down in my haste to quickly rub garlic on my toasty bread? I don't know if that's forgivable. All in the name of Sprouted Kitchen, my friends. Negligence and learning lessons go hand in hand. But seriously, this recipe is one to log away. It makes a quick lunch, could be used as a starter for a meal, or you could use baguette slices instead and make it into an appetizer. It's all things you love about a sandwich and a salad, in one bite.

I also wanted to add a quick note that we are now managing sponsors on the side bar. If you, or any small business you know may be interested, use the contact form and I can answer any questions. We don't intend for it to be distracting, but it's a great opportunity for us to grow, as well as offer affordable advertising to some great businesses. Now, back to the tartine of goodness!

CARAMELIZED ONION+GREENS TARTINE // Serves 2 as Entree or 4 as a Starter

If you dislike goat cheese, you could use ricotta or mascarpone as an alternative.

1 Whole Grain Fresh Bread Boule/Loaf

1 Garlic Clove

4 oz. Goat Cheese

4 tsp. Herbs de Provence

1 Medium Yellow Onion, Sliced Thin

1/2 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter

1 Cup Cannellini Beans, Cooked and Drained

1 Endive, Halved and Sliced

2 Tbsp. Red Wine Vinegar

2 Cups Mache

1/2 Cup Chopped Radicchio (optional)

1 tsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (optional)

Salt/Pepper

1. Over medium heat, melt the butter in a large pan. Add all of the sliced onions and stir to coat. Leave them on medium low heat, and stir every once in awhile until they turn a golden brown color. This should take about 20 minutes, depending on the pan size and material.

2. While the onions cook, slice the bread into 1/4-1/2'' slices. I used 4 slices, two per person. Warm a grill or grill pan (you can use a toaster as well).

3. In a mixing bowl, add the beans, mache, endive, optional radicchio, vinegar and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add the caramelized onions to the bowl and mix. You will need to use your fingers to separate the tangled onions. You could add a tsp of oil here if you like things more dressed, plenty tasty without, a tad zingy from the vinegar.

4. Toast the bread slices on the grill, grill pan or toaster. While they are still hot, rub the raw garlic clove on one side of each slice. The heat will release the garlic flavor. Spread desired amount of goat cheese on the garlic side of the toast and sprinkle 1 tsp.-ish of the herbs de provence on top of the cheese. Plate them with a few heaping spoonfuls of the mache and bean mixture atop the toast and sprinkle with fresh pepper.

VEGGIE LE CRUNCH

There is nothing French about this recipe at all. But if you say anything with a French accent when you are not French, it makes you smile. Try it, veggie le crunch. It's funny.

There has been all sorts of on-the-go-ness going on lately. It's always something. Keeping busy is really a skill I could put on my resume, I am excellent at it. Needless to say, I am tired of protein bars, trail mix and pears. They are foods intended to be had in small doses, and my bod has been starving for vegetables. I do believe our bodies tell us what they need, and contrary to popular belief, there is such a thing as craving lettuce. I needed these wraps badly, and the 'large batch' I intended to snack on through the week, was gone by the end of the day. You can call it lack of self control, but I think it was more of a survival reflex.

VEGGIE LE CRUNCH // Serves 2

I suggest using farmers market and or organic vegetables here. When you are eating them raw like this, the genuine flavor of the vegetables is important.

6-7 Radishes, depending on size

1 1/4 Cup Black Beans, cooked and drained

1 Cucumber

1 Cup Diced Pineapple

Handful of Fresh Basil

1 Head of Lettuce (any soft green will do)

// Avocado Dressing //

You could make this vegan by using 2 tbsp. olive oil and an extra tbsp. of vinegar in place of the buttermilk.

1 Avocado

1/4 Cup Buttermilk

1 Tbsp. Honey (more to taste)

1 Tbsp. Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar

Juice of One Lime

Splash of Cholua/Tapatio Hot Sauce

Salt/Pepper

1. In a small blender or in a bowl, mix the avocado, buttermilk, vinegar, lime, honey, hot sauce and salt and pepper to combine. The blender will make it smooth, but a bowl and whisk will still get you a dressing consistency.

2. Use a mandoline to slice the radishes thin. Cut in fourths. Peel and halve the cucumber, scoop out the seeds and dice into small pieces. In a large bowl, combine the radish, cucumber, black beans, diced pineapple and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add desired amount of fresh basil (chopped or slivered).

3. Here is where you make a decision for yourself. Hugh prefers to put the veggie mix in the lettuce leaf and dribble dressing on top. I prefer to mix my dressing with the veggies and put them in the leaf, already dressed. Six of one, half dozen of another. Except my way is probably better ;)

VEGETABLE EGGS BENEDICT

She really is a character all of her own. My mom doesn't really fit a stereotype, so I'm at a loss of trying to put her in a box for you. She was the mom who took us running through golf course sprinklers, and drove the getaway car for my boy crazy girlfriends when we'd go toliet papering in high school. She dressed my sister and I up in her old clothes, and sent us out to make mud pies when the backyard was a mess after the rain. I mean pies actually made from mud- she's never been much for cooking, but she makes up for that in how fun she is. I may not have recipes for 'mom's biscuits', but I have vivid memories of my mom starting the dance party with paper plates as props at my first boy/girl party. I mean, anyone can find a biscuit recipe, but only my mom can party with plates. I was her cautious child, and she always tried to loosen me up... she still does, actually. There is that cliche that says 'you don't understand the depth of a mother's love, until you have children of your own'. I'm sure this is true, but my mom has made her love crystal clear to us. It is deep, really deep, and I know this from her actions. You can say 'i love you' a trillion times, but it's my late night teary phone calls, the articles she sends me in the mail, or helping me plant my herb garden that speak louder than words.

And just because someone doesn't like to cook, doesn't mean they don't like to eat, and my mom loves things with sauce. Food is just her vehicle for more sauce. This is a great mothers day brunch idea. I was inspired by a sauce recipe I found in the Golden Door Cooks at Home Cookbook. It blends up so quickly and tastes lighter than the typical hollandaise you find on an eggs benedict. As soon as you crack the yolk, it marries the bell pepper sauce and serves as the perfect dipping agent for the rest of the stack. If you are not one for poached eggs, you could substitute a fried egg or even a heap of scrambled eggs as an alternative. Experiment with whatever vegetables you have, as I imagine any sauteed green could be used instead of spinach or some caramelized onions or leeks would be wonderful too. For the record: A. This is my new favorite breakfast and B. I love you, Mom.

VEGETABLE EGGS BENEDICT // Makes 4

The sauce recipe is written using jarred roasted peppers. The yellow ones make a sauce that most resembles hollandaise. When bell peppers are sweet and in season near you, I am sure the flavor would be exceptional if you roasted them yourself. Though jarred will save you time regardless of the season. If you don't care for goat cheese, you could use cream cheese instead.

2 Whole Grain English Muffins

4 Large Eggs

5 Cups Fresh Spinach Leaves

1 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Zest of One Lemon

12 Spears of Asparagus

1 tsp. Garlic Salt

Fresh Ground Pepper

Fresh Parsley for Garnish

// BELL PEPPER SAUCE //

1 1/4 Cup Roasted Bell Pepper Pieces, drained

3-4 oz. Chevre/Goat Cheese (richness to taste)

1/4 Cup Milk

1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice

1 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard

Splash of Hot Sauce

Salt/Pepper

Oven to 500'

1. Start with the sauce. Warm the milk in the microwave for about 30 seconds. In a blender or food processor, combine the warm milk, goat cheese, mustard, lemon juice and the drained roasted bell peppers. Blend until smooth. Cover and set aside.

2. Warm the olive oil in the pan, add the fresh spinach and lemon zest and saute until just wilted. Turn off the heat and let it sit, it will stay warm enough while you finish everything else.

3. Toss the asparagus with a bit of olive oil, garlic salt and some fresh ground pepper. Put in the upper third of the oven for 8 minutes (this all depends on the thickness of your asparagus, alter your timing to get tender but not soggy spears).

4. Bring one quart water + 1 Tbsp. vinegar to a boil, then down to a simmer. This is your egg poaching liquid, there are good directions on how to poach eggs here. If you are doing them one at a time, you can keep them in a bowl with some of the warm poaching liquid until ready to use.

5. Toast the english muffins and get ready to go. Toasted muff+spoonful of sauce+sauteed spinach+asparagus spears, halved+poached egg+another spoonful or sauce+maybe a lovely fruit salad on the side=perfection.