As the daylight hours shorten and the air becomes crisper, the lure of the kitchen beckons us to return to cooking indoors for friends and family.
If you are looking for new, healthy ideas this fall, the new cookbook, The Yellow Table, is the perfect resource. The Yellow Table is a gorgeous hardcover book with outstanding food photos and creative recipes perfect for entertaining. You will wow friends and family with Anna Watson Carl’s inventive recipes that are not only eye appealing but easy to prepare.
The genesis of the book’s title stems from the mustard-colored table that stood center stage in her childhood kitchen. “We spent hours upon hours talking about life, telling stories, and laughing,” Carl said. “And when it wasn’t being used for a meal, the table was covered with art projects, games, homework, or books. It was the center of our home—a place where we felt known and loved.”
Here are two recipes from The Yellow Table. These recipes and more from Carl’s and other new release cookbooks can be found in Healthy Aging® Magazine.
Garlicky Shrimp with Tomatoes and White Wine
Makes 4 servings
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
3–4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced crosswise
2 shallots, thinly sliced crosswise
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise
1 pound (about 16) large wild shrimp, cleaned and shells removed (with tails left intact)
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
2–3 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, plus more sprigs for garnish
1 cup dry white wine
Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and shallots and sauté, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and sauté, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften, 3–4 minutes. Add the shrimp, red pepper flakes, and thyme and sauté, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp are completely pink, about 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the white wine and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the liquid is reduced by half, 2–3 minutes. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if necessary.
Arrange the shrimp on a warm platter or in a bowl, drizzle with olive oil, and garnish with thyme sprigs.
Crudités with Lemon-Parsley Tahini Dip
Makes 4 servings
Lemon-Parsley Tahini Dip:
¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
1 clove garlic, minced
½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
¼ cup tahini
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Crudités:
Rainbow carrots, halved
Raw snap peas or haricots verts
Romanesco broccoli or cauliflower, cut into florets
Breakfast radishes, halved lengthwise
Watermelon radishes, halved and cut into half-moons
Fennel slices
For the Lemon-Parsley Tahini Dip: In a small bowl, stir together the lemon juice and garlic and let sit for 2–3 minutes (this takes a bit of the edge off the raw garlic). Transfer to a food processor, add the parsley and tahini, and pulse until the mixture has the consistency of a thick paste. With the motor running, add the olive oil in a slow, steady stream. Add 2 tablespoons of water and blend until completely smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
For the Crudités: Arrange the vegetables on a platter and serve with the tahini dip.
Do Ahead: You can prep the crudités several hours in advance. Place the cut veggies in resealable plastic bags or in airtight containers, cover with moist paper towels, and refrigerate until ready to use. You can make the dip 1 day ahead and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Variation: To make lemon parsley hummus, add 1 (15-ounce) can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained, to the tahini dip in the food processor and pulse to combine. With the motor running, add 2 more tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons water, and blend until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Store, in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.
Reprinted with permission from The Yellow Table: A Celebration of Everyday Gatherings, 110 Simple & Seasonal Recipes published in 2015 by Sterling Epicure, an imprint of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. © Anna Watson Carl.
