Make This Super Easy Hummus Recipe The Next Time You Need Some Dip On Your Chip

MUSHROOM FRITTATA

Excerpted from Cooking With Mushrooms: A Fungi Lover's Guide to the World's Most Versatile, Flavorful, Health-Boosting Ingredients by Andrea Gentl. Artisan Books © 2022.

SERVES 6 TO 8

• 1 pound (455 g) fresh mushrooms, such as shiitake, oysters, maitake, or cremini
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 fresh oregano sprigs, leaves only
• ¼ cup (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
• 12 large egg
• 1¼ cups (125 g) finely grated pecorino cheese
• ¼ teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
• Finely grated zest and juice of ½ lemon, preferably organic
• Fragrant fresh herbs, such as parsley, mint, and oregano, for garnish

My grandmother, an American-born Puglian, cooked in the manner of cucina povera, which she learned from her mother. This included a ton of vegetables, herbs, spicy dried chiles, and eggs. Frittatas made their way to our table for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, sometimes herby one with oregano and mint, or a pile of leftover pasta, other times filled with slow-cooked, delightfully mushy broccoli rabe, and often a mushroom frittata, usually made with cremini. Like a combination of shiitake and maitake. The flavor is extraordinary—rich, earthy, and a little meaty without any heaviness. The key to this recipe, as with many Puglian dishes, is a nice amount of flavorful olive oil and some sharp, salty pecorino.

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C).
2. If using cremini or shiitake mushrooms, thinly slice with a mandoline or sharp knife. If using maitake or oyster, gently tear into small pieces.
3. In a 10-inch (25 cm) nonstick ovenproof lidded skillet, melt the butter over medium-low heat.When it starts to foam, add the mushrooms and oregano leaves and cook until soft and any liquid has been released, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the oil.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, 1 cup (100 g) of the pecorino, and the salt.
5. Add the egg mixture to the pan and sprinkle the top with the remaining ¼ cup (25 g) cheese,the lemon zest, and lemon juice.
6. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and cook until the bottom starts to brown, 5 to 10minutes. (Check the eggs by lifting the bottom with a spatula.) Once the bottom starts to brown, transfer the pan to the oven, uncovered.
7. Bake for 5 minutes, then check to see if the top is puffing up. Cook a few minutes longer if not. The frittata is done when it starts to brown around the edges and a little bit on the top.Look for the oil bubbling up around the sides. This is totally normal. Once you remove the frittata from the oven to cool, the oil will get absorbed into the eggs, making it yummy and so delicious.
8. Serve the frittata warm or at room temperature, garnished with fresh herbs.

SALT AND PEPPER BRICK MUSHROOMS

Excerpted from Cooking With Mushrooms: A Fungi Lover's Guide to the World's Most Versatile, Flavorful, Health-Boosting Ingredients by Andrea Gentl. Artisan Books © 2022.

SERVES 4

• ½ teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
• ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1½ pounds (680 g) fresh mushrooms, such as oyster, maitake, lion’s mane, or portobello (one large piece or several medium pieces)
• 2 teaspoons capers, rinsed if salt-packed
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges, for serving

In this vegetarian riff on the classic brick chicken, mushrooms are simply cooked with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, with capers added for zing. I have used oyster, maitake, and lion’s mane—all are delicious. Each variety has a different moisture content and will release varying amounts of moisture as the mushrooms cook. I don’t keep bricks in my kitchen, but a second cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven gets the job done. The weight of the second pan compresses the mushrooms and allows a nice crunchy crust to form while keeping them juicy and tender on the inside. Once you do this a couple of times, you might start keeping bricks in your kitchen!

1. In a small bowl, combine the salt and pepper.
2. In a large cast-iron skillet, heat the oil over medium-low heat until it begins to shimmer.
3. Place the mushrooms in the skillet and sprinkle with half the salt and pepper mixture and half the capers.
4. Cover the mushrooms with a sheet of foil, folding it into a round to cover the mushrooms and fit the contours of the skillet.
5. Place a Dutch oven or another cast-iron skillet the same size as the first one on top of the foil. With two kitchen towels or oven mitts, press down firmly on the skillet to flatten the mushrooms beneath it; the mushrooms will release moisture as they cook. Press intermittently until a nice crust has formed, 10 to 12 minutes.
6. Flip the mushrooms over, sprinkle with the remaining salt and pepper mixture and capers, and cook the otherside the same way, weighting and pressing intermittently for about 10 minutes longer.
7. Remove from the heat and serve hot, with lemon wedges for squeezing.

Everyday Mushroom Broth

Excerpted from Cooking With Mushrooms: A Fungi Lover's Guide to the World's Most Versatile, Flavorful, Health-Boosting Ingredients by Andrea Gentl. Artisan Books © 2022.

MAKES 10 CUPS (ABOUT 2.4L)

• 1½ pounds (680 g) mixed fresh shiitake and cremini mushrooms
• 5 quarts (4.7 L) water, preferably filtered
• Himalayan pink salt (optional)

This delicious multipurpose broth is made from commonly available mushrooms and no additional aromatics. Sip on it all day or use it for any of the recipes that call for broth. After cooking and steeping, the liquid becomes a beautiful chestnut brown, with a deep earthy flavor. I make this broth without adding salt; add it later to taste, if desired.

1. Trim and slice the shiitakes and quarter the creminis.
2. In an 8- to 12-quart (7.6 to 11.3 L) stockpot, combine the mushrooms and water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and continue to boil for 15 minutes.
3. Reduce the heat and cook at a bare simmer for 1 hour. Remove from the heat, cover, and let steep for 3 hours, until completely cool. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the mushrooms (discard, or compost, the mushrooms). If you plan to sip the broth, add salt to taste. If you will be using it later for cooking, skip the salt.
4. Transfer the broth to glass jars for storage. If freezing, leave ¾ inch(2cm) of free space at the top of the jar for expansion. Refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 6 months.

Mushroom Risotto

We love this recipe from our friends at Baldacci Vineyards too. Pair it with their fruity and dry sparkling after you cook with it!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup arborio or carnaroli rice
• 2-3 cups chicken stock
• ½ cup
• 2 oz prosciutto, sliced and diced
• 8 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced or diced
• 1 small yellow or white onion, diced or minced•3-4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 oz parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 oz fontina cheese, grated
• Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Sauté mushrooms in butter until cooked thoroughly and set aside.
2. Over low heat, add a tablespoon (or two) of olive oil, and cook onion until translucent.
3. Add garlic and cook for another minute
4. Turn up heat, add rice and cook for a minute or two. Be sure to stir with a spatula, so the garlic doesn't burn.
5. Add sparkling wine.
6. Add a cup or so of chicken stock to cover the rice. Stir regularly. When stock comes to a boil, turn heat down to low and let simmer. Continue to monitor level of stock and texture of rice. Add stock as needed.
7. When rice is close to finished, add mushrooms and prosciutto. About a minute before risotto is done, stir in cheese until melted. Season with salt and pepper.
8. Top with a little parmesan, if you like.
9. Plate it and serve it. Enjoy!

Mushroom Asparagus Pizza

Freshen up pizza by packing it with mushrooms (of course!) and asparagus and burrata to add plenty of bite to each slice.

Vegetarian Slow-Cooker Stuffed Mushrooms

This recipe's loaded with a spinach-artichoke blend that gets blitzed in your food processor before being dolloped onto each mushroom cap.

Lentil Mushroom Burgers

If you’ve wrinkled your nose at veggie burgers before, it’s because you haven’t had this version. The patties are loaded with earthy lentils, hunky mushrooms, sweet sun-dried tomatoes and onions for a combo so good you’ll forget to ask, “Where’s the beef?”.

Roasted Mushroom and Brie Soup

Traditional cream of mushroom soup is bowl-lickin’ good on its own, but using sweet brie to creamify your soup? Well that’s just genius.

Mushroom Melts

Mushrooms and cheese on bread sounds simple enough, but Dijon mustard aioli adds plenty of complex flavor to take an easy lunch over the top.

Baked Mushroom Risotto

If we had our way, risotto would easily make the top 10 list of comfort foods. This easy to make mushroom-and-onion-packed version is the ultimate in warm and cozy dinners.

Ginger Beef and Mushroom Stir Fry

Skip the takeout and make it at home. Sweet ginger sauce is the perfect complement to a beefy stir-fry, loaded with browned mushrooms and healthy kale.

Mushroom and Kale Quesadillas

Not enough time to whip up an elaborate dinner? Creamy quesadillas take just minutes and have all the satisfying flavor you need.

Leek, Fennel and Mushroom Galette

This hearty pie (try it out instead of a pizza!) has a ton of earthy, herby and oniony flavors. Serve it as an easy dinner party dish that will really impress your guests.

Creamy Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms

You get two benefits from this rich and delicious dish. Firstly, you get aromatic mushrooms loaded with balsamic vinegar, garlic and olive oil. Then, you get an arm workout from whisking the polenta!

Pizza Stuffed Portobellos

Skip the carbs and use a large-and-in-charge portobello cap for your pizza crust. Load caps with cheese and supreme toppings for all the pizza flavor you love in fork-and-knife form.

Cheddar, Blue Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Phyllo Mushrooms

This appetizer is stuffed on stuffed on stuffed. First, bacon, blue cheese and cheddar are all mixed together in one creamy, smokey, salty blend. Then, it’s all stuffed into mushroom caps, which are in turn stuffed into crispy phyllo wraps.

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

Call this app a one-pop stop. In one bite, get all the flavors of spicy sausage, sweet cream cheese, onion and earthy mushroom caps.

Warm Mushroom Salad

Crunchy hazelnuts, peppery arugula and sharp cheese are awesome additions to this warm salad, but the roasted mushrooms are the real star!

Slow Cooker Chicken and Mushroom Stroganoff

This flavorful dish relies on a handful of shortcut ingredients, like dry onion soup mix. We adapted ours from Alyssa Rivers of The Recipe Critic, into an Instant Pot version.

Spinach, Mushroom and Cream

Are you a fan of spinach dip? Then you’ll love this rich side, baked with crimini mushrooms, white wine and Parmesan cheese.

Crispy Portobello Fries

Who said fries belonged to the potato? Crisp up slivers of portobello for a just-as-satisfying fry. The sweet balsamic drizzle and salty cheese dip paired with your crispy shrooms is mind blowing.

Steak and Mushroom Pot Pie

The undeniable earthy flavor of mushrooms is amped up when paired with beef, like in this comforting take on a pot pie. Here’s a tip: Make individual portions in ramekins and freeze the leftovers for a day when you’re not up for cooking.

Sausage and Mushroom Strata

You can prep this brunch dish the night before, and bake in the morning. Strata, which is basically a breakfast bread pudding, gets its flavor from eggs, sausage, mushrooms, cheese and sourdough bread. Refrigerate it overnight, then pop it in the oven when you wake up!

Mushroom Burgers

These mushroom burgers are sure to delight vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. In fact, most of our office preferred these Mushroom Burgers to normal burgers no matter what their dietary preference. Eat them on their own or with a healthy toasted wheat english muffin as bun.

Grilled Cheese With Gouda and Mushrooms

Here’s one souped up grilled cheese. Replace cheddar with creamy gouda for a whole lotta good-a, then stuff your sandwich with caramelized onions and mushrooms to bring it all home.

Buttery Ranch Mushroom Bites

Bet ya never thought of mushrooms as game-day finger food. Made in a slow cooker with all the delicious herby and garlicy flavors of Ranch dressing, warmed up caps will get eaten up in no time.

Sun-Dried Tomato and Mushroom Pasta

If you haven’t figured it out by now, sweet sun-dried tomatoes are the ultimate pairing for earthy mushrooms. Let them play together in this tasty, garlic-infused pasta.

Mushroom Hummus

This homemade hummus has a ton of earthy flavors from mushrooms, which gets lightened up with a splash of lemon. Looking for a shortcut? Blend roasted mushrooms with store-bought hummus for a quick version of this recipe.

Mushroom Parmesan Egg Sandwich

You’ve just found the holy grail of breakfast sandwiches. Eggs and ham are taken to new heights with a topping of garlicky sauteed shrooms.

Leek, Mushroom and Parmesan Phyllo Pie

Let’s call these stuffed phyllo bites what they are — decadent. Stuffed with oniony leeks, mushrooms and, of course, cheese, they’re the ultimate veggie snack.

Mushroom and Parmesan Pinwheels

Mushrooms are on a roll… literally with these savory pinwheels, which can be subbed in for your breakfast cinnamon roll or eaten for a quick and easy dinner.

• 1 ¼ cups shredded zucchini
• 1 ½ cups light spelt flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¾ cup coconut palm sugar
• ¾ cup unsweetened apple sauce
• ⅓ cup neutral-tasting oil
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ cup walnut halves, chopped
• ½ cup dairy-free chocolate chunks or chips

How to Make This Zucchini Bread Recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 8×4 loaf pan and then line it with parchment paper. Lightly grease the parchment as well and set aside.
2. Gather the shredded zucchini in a clean kitchen towel. Over the sink, gather up the edges of the towel and squeeze out as much moisture from the zucchini as you can. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the spelt flour, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt, cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the coconut palm sugar, apple sauce, oil, and vanilla extract. Add this wet mixture to the larger bowl with the flour mixture. Using a rubber spatula, mix until just combined with a few little streaks of flour.
5. Add the shredded and wrung out zucchini to the batter along with the walnuts and chocolate chunks. Fold these items in until they are evenly distributed.
6. Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan and flatten the top of the loaf. Bang the filled loaf tin on the counter a few times to fully settle the batter.
7. Bake the vegan spelt zucchini bread for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick / paring knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the zucchini bread from the oven and let it cool in the loaf pan on a wire rack.
8. Let the zucchini bread cool completely before removing from the pan and slicing.

Is there a TV series based on Kay Scarpetta?

Scarpetta Plot

Yes a TV show based on the Kay Scarpetta books is coming to Amazon! The crime series — which has been greenlit for two seasons — will follow Chief Medical Examiner Kay, played by Nicole Kidman (and reportedly inspired by CME Marcella Farinelli Fierro), who reenters her former position in her Virginia hometown. Not only is she navigating the ins and outs of her work life, but she's also balancing relationships with her sister Dorothy, her coworkers, and all the secrets that come with them.

And apparently, the scripts in and of themselves stopped Nicole in her tracks! She tells Vanity Fair the project is "terrifying" because "it’s so well-written. It’s crazy how I’m frightened reading it. I haven’t done that. I can’t think of a film I’ve done where it was so terrifying. Like what? The Others wasn’t terrifying."

Where can I watch the show?

Scarpetta Release Date

Scarpetta will stream on Prime Video in the near future. We don't have an official release date yet, so stay tuned!

Is Jamie Lee Curtis going to play Kay Scarpetta?

Scarpetta Cast

Jamie Lee Curtis will play Kay Scarpetta's sister Dorothy, while Nicole Kidman will play the role of Kay. The fact that the show is tentatively called Scarpetta makes me think the series will focus just as much on Dorothy — and their relationship — as it does on Kay. Ariana DeBose, Bobby Cannavale, Simon Baker, Rosy McEwen, Jake Cannavale, and Bobby Cannavale have also been cast.

Nicole is super excited to work with Jamie, and told Vanity Fair that the experience has been "glorious" so far. "I was like, 'I’ll do it with you, but you have to play my sister. You have to go with me.' And she’s like, 'Okay.' So, we’re producing it together and we’re in it together—and that is glorious. That’s what I mean, where you go, 'Okay. Who’s got the same amount of passion and enthusiasm?' Look at her. I mean, she’s unbelievable. She is a force."

What order do the Kay Scarpetta books go in?

There are 28 books in the Kay Scarpetta series so far.

1. Postmortem (1990)
2. Body of Evidence (1991)
3. All That Remains (1992)
4. Cruel and Unusual (1993)
5. The Body Farm (1994)
6. From Potter's Field (1995)
7. Cause of Death (1996)
8. Unnatural Exposure (1997)
9. Point of Origin (1998)
10. Black Notice (1999)
11. The Last Precinct (2000)
12. Blow Fly (2003)
13. Trace (2004)
14. Predator (2005)
15. Book of the Dead (2007)
16. Scarpetta (2008)
17. The Scarpetta Factor (2009)
18. Port Mortuary (2010)
19. Red Mist (2011)
20. The Bone Bed (2012)
21. Dust (2013)
22. Flesh and Blood (2014)
23. Depraved Heart (2015)
24. Chaos (2016)
25. Autopsy (2021)
26. Livid (2022)
27. Unnatural Death (2023)
28. Identity Unknown (2024)

What is a Chief Medical Examiner?

A medical examiner investigates unusual or suspicious deaths. They perform post-mortem exams, determine the cause of death, and work with the local police.