Roasted Fennel, Potatoes, and Artichokes with Fennel Gremolata

Gremolata: (according to Wikipedia) A chopped herb condiment typically made of lemon zest, garlic, and parsley.

I might have to make it my life's mission to discover everything that you can put gremolata on, because it is fracking delicious.

This is one of Jack Bishop's "spring" recipes, but to "fall" it up, I roasted carrots in place of the mini artichokes. From where I sit, I think you could take any root vegetable, roast it, and add a gremolata to it. The combination of roasting plus lemony-garlicky-parsley(-y?)-fennelly goodness is out of this world.

We're giving this dish 5 stars. Tommie had to force himself to not get thirds. I wonder what veggies I can roast next...

Spicy Vegetable Tagine

I forgot the cilantro!!!!! I've made this dish many times -- it's easy, tasty, and highly nutritious, but when we sat down and started eating I felt like something was missing. When Tommie got up to clear the table he realized the chopped cilantro was still on the counter. It seems crazy, but to me the dish definitely suffered without it.

Fortunately our guests seemed to enjoy the meal despite the non-cilantro flavoring. Basing my rating solely on last night's meal, I give this dish a 4. That really reflects more my cooking than the actual meal. I can't believe I forgot the cilantro.

One more thing: our friends who ate with us are carnivores who don't often eat vegetarian meals and were surprised by how good the food made them feel. I read a question made by a nutritionist recently that seems apropos: "You wouldn't put the lowest grade fuel in your BMW, why would you do that to yourself?"

Root Vegetable Tarts with Rosemary

This picture does not do this meal justice. Hubby and I ate this for the first time tonight, and we could not believe how delicious it was. It's heavier than my delicate stomach is used to because of the scrummy puff pastry dough (Dufour brand), but I would definitely make this again for a treat or for company. It was very easy to make and has just a few ingredients: turnips (my fave), potatoes, carrots, and red onions seasoned very delicately and baked into puff pastry.

I give this meal 4 stars out of 5, deducting a half a point for being heavy and another half a point for not including a protein. As a vegetarian I like to fit in some protein with every meal, and it makes life easier if it's an ingredient in the recipe. (Note: I'd like to come up with a more creative rating system, but until then, stars it is. If you have any suggestions, let me know.)