Josh's Italian Pita Pizza

Ever the artist, our friend Josh made a gorgeous red, white, and green-topped pizza using pita bread. Just as that melted cheese oozes among the spinach and tomatoes, the Italian flavor oozes from this dish.

Josh's Italian Pita Pizza

1 piece of pita bread

baby spinach

sliced mushrooms

cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

shredded cheese

Arrange spinach, mushrooms, cheese, and tomatoes on pita bread. Microwave for 1-2 minutes or until cheese melts. Slice it up and enjoy!

Fruity Easter Salad

A fresh fruity salad hits the spot for brunch on a sunny Easter Sunday.

Fruity Easter Salad

baby spinach

romaine lettuce

green beans with sesame

cantaloupe, pineapple, honey dew melon chunks

cucumbers, sliced

golden raisins

feta cheese

balsamic vinegar and olive oil

Toss everything together and enjoy!

Scallops, Tomatoes, and Fennel at Earth Week 2011

Thursday night's Earth Week dinner featured chef Jody Adams' Seared Scallops with Sunchokes, Peas, and Herbs, Braised Fennel, local tomatoes, and more!

Squash Bisque with Cheesy Bacon Collard Greens

The Ratty's squash bisque is delicious on its own - a delicious balance of sweet and savory blended into a velvety smooth creamy soup. You can customize it by adding a personal spin, such as what we did here with bacon collard greens, cheese, scallions, and a slice of whole grain Seven Stars Bread.

Squash Bisque with Cheesy Bacon Collard Greens

1 bowl of squash bisque

bacon collard greens

1 slice of cheddar cheese

scallions

1 slice of Seven Stars Whole Grain Bread

1. Put cheese and half of collard greens on top and microwave until cheese melts - about 20 seconds.

2. Top with the rest of the collard greens and scallions.

3. Enjoy with the bread!

Golden Raisin Spring Salad

What is the difference between a golden raisin and a purple raisin? Maybe the golden ones have a little more tang, or have a brighter, crisper flavor. Whatever the difference, these little jewels of sunshine are just bursting with spring!

Golden Raisin Spring Salad

1 plate of mixed greens

grape tomatoes

golden raisins

white beans

balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil

1. Top the greens with the tomatoes, raisins, and white beans.

2. Drizzle balsamic vinegar and olive oil on top.

Easy Peasy Beans

When you are in a rush and want to eat something nutritious yet simple, go for an assortment of beans, peas, veggies, and tuna. This combination almost has all the colors of the rainbow! Now if only there were some purple eggplant and blue...uh blue...raspberries?

Easy Peasy Beans

shredded zucchini

sauteed green beans

steamed green peas

pinto beans

black beans

garbanzo beans

halved cherry tomatoes

1/4 cup serving of tuna

1 tsp ranch dressing (or your favorite dressing)

1 tsp sour cream

1 tsp mayonnaise

1. Arrange zucchini, beans, peas, tomatoes, and tuna on a plate.

2. Drizzle tomato with dressing.

3. Top the tuna with sour cream and mayo.

"Andreas-style" Spinach Mushroom Pita Sandwich

As I was savoring a particularly juicy, cheese-smothered mushroom in my Greek veggie sandwich the other day at Andreas, it suddenly occurred to me: I had, at the Ratty, pretty much all the ingredients conveniently at my disposal to recreate that very same sandwich.

Mushrooms, spinach, tomato, onion, swiss and American cheese are ordinary on their own but absolutely wonderful in a warm pita nuked in the microwave for a minute or so. Served with a romaine lettuce salad, you could seriously imagine that you are dining at a particular Greek restaurant on Thayer street.

"Andreas-style" Spinach Mushroom Pita Sandwich

1 pita

plateful of spinach

1 slice of American cheese

2 slices of swiss cheese

sliced mushrooms

2-3 slices of tomato

2-3 onion rings

golden raisins (optional but very yummy)

1 large piece of wax paper

1. Microwave spinach and mushrooms on a plate for 2 minutes, or until spinach is cooked.

2. Place tomatoes and onions in a pita. Layer spinach-mushroom mixture on top and sprinkle with golden raisins, if using.

3. Place cheese on top and roll the pita up on both sides. Wrap a wax paper "diaper" on one end.

4. Nuke in the microwave for about 1 minute to melt the cheese.

5. Serve warm with a salad of lettuce, tomato, cucumbers (olives and feta too if available).

Maggie's S'mores Dessert Made with Love

Our friend, Maggie, came up with this delightful dessert which combines crumbled up s'mores bars with swirled soft serve and chocolate sauce from the V-dub. It is a sweet treat that is made with love.

Maggie's S'mores Dessert Made with Love

1 s'mores bar

1.5-second serving of swirled soft serve

1 spoonful of chocolate sauce

1. Break the s'mores bar into chunks and place it in a bowl.

2. Dispense soft serve on top in a pretty swirl.

3. Drizzle with chocolate sauce. Taste the love!

Chicken Salad, Broccoli, Tomato Sandwich Two Ways

You can take Rhode Island Chicken Salad, mix it with with steamed broccoli and mushrooms, and serve it open faced or in a traditional sandwich.

Rhode Island Chicken Salad with Broccoli

a small handful of raw broccoli and mushrooms

1 serving of Rhode Island Chicken Salad

1 leaf of fresh lettuce

2 slices tomato

bread

1. Place broccoli and mushrooms in a small bowl, cover with a plate, and steam on high power in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until veggies are just cooked.

2. Carefully remove the plate and add the steamed veggies to the chicken salad, mixing to distribute evenly.

3. Serve with lettuce and tomato in an open-faced or regular sandwich.