HotM no 10 - Quick and Easy. The Roundup.

OK, here's the roundup for our 10th month of The Heart Of The Matter. And I'm very happy to see that a) we have several new comers, b) several old habitué's and c) that I have received so many entries despite this being such a busy month! A Big Thank You to all of you who took the time to participate!
This month's theme was Quick and Easy, something we always need, maybe not every day but now and then when there are just too much going on, it's always good to have some fast recipes to fall back on and these have the additional value of being heart healthy as well! Last month Michelle introduced the excellent idea of dividing the roundup in different types of dishes(see how a scientific mind works versus a more humanistically inclined one like mine), and as I didn't even think of it I'm stealing the idea straight off, Thanks Michelle! And don't forget that there are 9 other roundups in case you are in need of a heart healthy recipe!

Antipasti, snacks etc.:


Dianne of Gluten Free Journey serves us a lovely gluten-free and heart healthy Bruschetta with Tapenade, I'm impressed by it!


I had some problems deciding where to put my baking pal Tanna's entry, it's so versatile and can be used both as a dip and a filling. I suggest you to click over to My Kitchen In Half Cups to enjoy her Savory Pumpkin Dip/Filling!

The Peanut Butter Etouffee gang has contributed with a really appetizing little snack, Apples with Dip, it sounds great!


Simple but effective is how I would describe this little dish, I'm a dill lover and this dish makes me long for it! What am I talking about? Anne from Redacted Recipes's Greens Topped With Salmon and Dill of course!


From Annarasa comes this fresh, healthy and hot salsa/dip that wants me go out and find a mango straight away: Hot Mango Salsa!


Joanna of Joanna's Food, co-founder of this event came up with a brilliant avocado dip, her Pea and Avocado Dip is on my list.

Primo:


Katie from Thyme For Cooking not only gives us a delicious recipe for her Chicken Vegetable Barley Soup but she also tells us a story involving, popcorn, a Christmas tree and cotton wool, do go there to read and enjoy both!



Aagje has come up with the ultimate S.O.U.P., i.e. with 4 ingredients and using her usual brilliant soup method, click over to Leafy Cooking to see how it's done!


Another healthy soup comes from Dhivya of Culinary Bazaar, she has made us a Healthy Leek, Broccoli and Asparagus, promising us a a real treat and who am I to contend that? It looks lovely!


Franz from Einfachkoestlig has come up with a really intriguing and beautiful lentil soup full of unexpected flavours, check out his Lentil Soup with Jerusalem Artichokes!


Marla from Bella Baita View is serving a Tuscan White Bean Soup that is niente male (not bad at all) as you would say here in Italy, it's so good that you wouldn't even tell that it's made in Piemonte!


Johanna of Green Gourmet Giraffe has made a Stale Bread Soup that also has Tuscan influences (Suppose I can't say so as it sounds funny but I just don't have the time to polish my English right now, sorry!) she has made a personal interpretation of the riboillita so if you feel a sudden craving for Ribollita but can't wait for days, here you have a quick and easy recipe for it!


A vegan pasta dish that's heart healthy (well most vegan food is heart healthy...) will probably make many of you happy so you better steer over to hotpotato to thank Karyn for her Almond Alfredo!


I don't know if this is the right place for these Vegetarian Rice Paper Rolls, are they a snack or a side dish maybe? Anyway, my Melbournian friend Paul from Eat Me! has made these Vietnamese rolls that are exploding with freshness so I can only say Eat Them!

Secondo:
My co-hostess Joanna made a Lemony Chicken Nosh with some chicken leftovers, a great idea and a delicious dish!


This Pantry Cleaner's Fish Stew is one of those perfect little dishes for when it's cold and you need to eat really fast! Sarah from What Smells so Good is the creator of it.


Despite her having being ill for three weeks, our new co-hostess Michelle of The Accidental Scientist has managed to come up with an entry, Chicken breasts with fruit salsa, that is exactly what we need in the middle of this darkness (I'm not speaking with you southern hemispherers, hrmpf).


Contorno:



Jeni from The Passionate Palate has made a very interesting Radicchio and Chick Pea Salad that is perfect as both a quick meal or a side dish.


From News From My Kitchen/Neues aus der Kueche we have a great vegetable dish, Caramelized Cauliflower with Quinoa that could serve as lunch as well. I like it!

And from Adele and Tales Of The Basil Queen we have a lovely Roasted Beet, Goat Cheese, and Walnut Salad that is perfect for this month's theme.


A nice Spicy Chayote Squash / Chow Chow and Tomato Curry comes next from Kalva of Curry In Kadai, I think that's what I need right now!


I love parsnips so I was happy to see Jugalbandi's Roasted Parsnips with Rosemary, Chilli and Lime, as soon as I manage to find a parsnip I'll try it!


I like paradoxes and the name of Tastes Like Home - Mediterranean Cooking in Alaska sure sounds like one to me but I admire those who rise to the challenge and manage which is what Laurie has, she sent me a quick and easy way to roast vegetables to get that Mediterranean taste!


I made some Oven roasted Brussels Sprouts, Zucchini and Red Onion.



Dessert:


A enticing Fig Galette is what Chris of Mele Cotte is serving, I just wonder where she got those juicy fresh figs from, I want some too!



Aparna from My Diverese Kitchen has made us some really nice and healthy Date and Walnut Muffins to enjoy, perfect for Christmas! And every other day of the year actually...



I made a Persimmon, Orange and Anise Salad.

So this is it, a surprising 27 entries if I haven't counted it badly. Please tell me if I missed someone or something, I'm definitely a bit out of tune right now! Must be all this Christmas music...