Overtime Cook

The Home of Real Life Kosher Cooking

Black Bean, Corn and Mango Quinoa Salad

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Have you ever known that you had to do something, but you kept putting it off because you assumed it would be unpleasant? Then you finally bite the bullet and the task you were dreading turns out to be no big deal at all, or even, at best, a positive experience? For example, last week at work, a purchase order landed on my desk. I was super busy at the time. I glanced at it briefly and recognized it as coming from a rather problematic account of mine. I decided to get other stuff done meanwhile, and deal with the problem order when I had a few minutes. It sat on my desk over the weekend, and finally I got to it. I completed the order and sent a confirmation of it to my contact there, Ryan. … [Read more...]

Spinach and Chickpea Veggie Burgers

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If you have been reading this blog for a while, you will know that I adore making desserts of every kind. Cakes? Cookies? Cupcakes? Check, check and check. Want to make candy? We've got you covered there too. (Teaser: stay tuned for another candy recipe coming up soon!) And of course, my chocolate category is kinda overloaded. And I know that people love my dessert treats, so I keep baking them. But I get such overwhelmingly positive feedback on real food recipes, that I can't neglect that aspect of this blog either. Remember how I made these awesome veggie burgers a while ago? Well so many people told me how they loved them, so I knew I had to make some more veggie burgers. Ever had … [Read more...]

Kasha with Onions and Mushrooms…and a Cookbook Review

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Often when I read cookbooks, I make mental notes such as "I'll make this when I have lots of spare time" or "I'll make this when I have guests and don't want to serve something too dietetic." Rarely do I read cookbooks thinking "I must make this!" and "Wow I really want to try that!" Those of you that have been reading this blog for a while know this already, but for those who don't, let me explain how I cook: super fattening and over-indulgent desserts which I don't touch because I am perpetually on a diet and then I make relatively healthy real food, which is what I eat because I am perpetually on a diet. Pay attention.  Back to cookbooks, here's why that was important to know: I finally … [Read more...]

Marinated Tri-Color Pepper Salad

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  I've mentioned before how that simplest things in life are often the best, right? Well, this is one of those best, simple things. Marinated Tri-Color Pepper Salad Ingredients: 1 red pepper 1 yellow pepper 1 orange pepper 2 scallions 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1 Tablespoon Vinegar 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon sugar or sweetener Pinch black pepper Instructions: Dice the peppers and place in a small bowl. Slice the scallions very thin, and add to bowl. Add the oil, vinegar, salt, sugar (if desired) and pepper. Toss to evenly coat everything. Place in fridge and leave to sit for a couple of hours or overnight. Note: you don't have to use all three … [Read more...]

Zucchini and Broccoli Soup

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I think that every time I post a soup recipe, I precede it with a long introduction about my love of soups. Are you tired of the introduction yet? Because if not, I can totally talk about it again. Or I can steer you to the other soup recipes on this blog. And in place of an introduction, I can go on a little rant about the New iPod. Don't get me wrong. I'm typing this on my iPhone, and really love all things apple. But! Here's what I don't get- why the lines outside electronics retailers on Release Day? Let's say you have the 500+ bucks to drop on a new iPad, and have been waiting excitedly for the new release. Would it kill you to wait until the next day, or even a week? Or sell your … [Read more...]

Healthy Cottage Cheese Pancakes

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If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you know already that I work long days, plus I commute. I generally leave my house at 7:30 am, and return at about 7:30 pm (on a good day). You can, therefore, imagine that my typical weekday breakfast isn't very glamorous or post-worthy. I generally get to work about a quarter to nine, and use that time to make coffee. That's the glamorous part of my breakfast, trust me. I try to gulp down a few drops of it before the clock strikes nine and the phone starts ringing. On a good morning, I can drink about half of my coffee before I get distracted by my first phone call. On a bad day, the phone rings at 9:01, and the poor, unknowing … [Read more...]

Vegetarian Black Bean Burgers

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As the clock struck midnight, we ushered in a new year. And with it, a brand new resolve to eat healthier and watch our weight. While this may be sadly short lived for many of us, it's still the first day of January, and the proverbial ink is barely dry on the list of New Years resolutions. Posting a cookie recipe today feels a little cruel, doesn't it? (Just) for today, I will put my delicious baked goods on the back burner and share with you one of my favorite healthy recipes. Here's what happened. It was late one night when I realized I hadn't prepared my lunch for the following day. I was going to make my easiest, go-to recipe, roasted chic peas. I turned my pantry upside down … [Read more...]

Healthy (Mock) Breaded Cauliflower

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Healthy Mock Breaded Cauliflower is crispy and delicious, without all that fat! It's Chanukah now, which means that most of my readers, particularly the Jewish ones, will be expecting all kinds of deep fried delicacies to appear on the front page of this blog. After all, what kind of good Jewish girl isn't making latkes and donuts now?  Okay, so I won't go so far as to say that I am not making any fried goodies this week. In fact, I have a whole bunch of deliciousness up my sleeve, (or in my frying pan, as the case may be). Hopefully, those will be here soon. But in the meantime, I figured I would preempt the unhealthy treats with my latest veggie creation. I think obsessed is a very … [Read more...]

Baked Butternut Squash Fries

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While the majority of my job involves sales, I work on sales on a corporate level, so it's also a matter of building relationships with people, keeping customers happy, and other aspects of customer care. And while my company has a very loyal base of happy and completely satisfied customers, we are human, and like every company there's glitches that pop up and issues that happen and customers that get upset. And it's my job to deal with those unhappy people. And if an unhappy customer who spent a hundred dollars is a problem, you can imagine that an unhappy customer who spent a hundred thousand dollars is about a thousand times more of a problem. But it happens. And we deal with it. And … [Read more...]