Episode 118: Lentil Underground author Liz Carlisle

On this special edition of Sharp & Hot, Chef Emily Peterson sits in with fellow HRN host Erica Wides for the latest edition of Let's Get Real. So, tune in to this mash-up we call "Sharp and Blunt" for some Foodiness-fueled banter and chat!

On the season finale of Sharp & Hot, Chef Emily Peterson has a big announcement about the future of the show. Plus, a live in-studio performance by Adama A. Dicko!

Adama is from the town of Djibo in Northern Burkina Faso. In his years as a musician, he learned to make traditional African instruments such as ngoni, kora, and djembe. He now lives in Vienna, Austria, and is a cook at an European/African restaurant. In addition, he gives workshops to teach Austrians to make and play ngonis.

On this week's episode of Sharp & Hot, Chef Emily is joined by Lindsey Berk and Matthew Orchard of Origins of Food, an organization that runs experiential food tours and service learning programs in Argentina, Peru, Guatemala, Australia, New Zealand & the U.S. By collaborating with and supporting various small food producers and food justice organizations, Origins of Food will promote socially-driven advocacy and effect change through farm and production tours, hands-on workshops, stimulating discussions and collaborative partnerships.

This week on Sharp & Hot, Chef Emily is joined by Emelyn Rude, author of the book Tastes Like Chicken: A History of America's Favorite Bird.

Emelyn Rude has been a food writer for TIME and Vice, and media manager for some of New York City’s most acclaimed chefs and restaurateurs. She is a contributor to National Geographic’s "The Plate" and is a National Geographic Young Explorer.

This week on Sharp & Hot, Chef Emily Peterson is joined in the studio by Chef Leticia Moreinos Schwartz, author of The Brazilian Kitchen and My Rio de Janeiro.

Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Leticia moved to New York in 1997 and studied Culinary and Pastry Arts at the French Culinary Institute (currently called International Culinary Center). She continued her training cooking at legendary New York restaurants such as Le Cirque 2000, La Grenouille, La Caravelle and Payard Patisserie and Bistro.

Her first cookbook The Brazilian Kitchen was published in 2010 and won the World Gourmand Cookbook Awards for Best Latin Cookbook. Her second cookbook, My Rio de Janeiro: A Cookbook was published in 2013 to rave reviews.

This week on Sharp & Hot, Chef Emily is joined in the studio by Karima Cammell and Clint Marsh, the authors of The Troll Cookbook: A Taste of Something Different: Simple Foods Any Troll Can Make. The book is filled with creative ways to prepare and share meals using simple, seasonal foods and classic techniques. Food lore breaks down basic ingredients such as grains, beans, root vegetables, and eggs, and shows how to turn them into mouthwatering meals using more than 180 recipes and techniques.

This week on Sharp & Hot, Chef Emily Peterson returns to the host chair to speak with Kurt Beecher Dammeier of Sugar Mountain, a food company which also operates the Beecher's Pure Food Kids Foundation, a non-profit funded by 1% of sales from Beecher's, Bennett's, Pasta & Co, and Maximus / Minimus. Aimed at educating people about the prevalence of food additives and their possible health risks, Pure Food Kids is about giving people the tools they need to make healthy eating choices for life.

Kurt is also the author of Pure Food: A Chef’s Handbook for Eating Clean, with Healthy, Delicious Recipes.

This week on Sharp & Hot, Allison Hamlin takes over hosting duties once again, and is joined in the studio by wine consultant Katie Shrout and cocktail and spirits instructor April Wachtel. Tune in for some expert advice on summer entertaining!

This week on Sharp & Hot, Heritage Radio alum Allison Hamlin sits in for Chef Emily Peterson to speak with Nikki Dinki, author of Meat on the Side.

Nikki is a chef, TV host, cookbook author, blogger, radio host, recipe developer, professional voice over artist and terrace gardener. As the name of her new cookbook implies, she cooks mostly "Meat on the Side," which focuses on veggies, making them unique and the star of the plate.

Eggplant “Meatballs”

MAKES ABOUT FORTY 1-INCH BALLS

500 | FF

I make huge batches of these “meatballs” and use them with everything. Top any pasta with them, like Brussels Sprouts + Pear Carbonara (page 147) or Spaghetti Squash “Mac” and Cheese with Green Chilies (page 216); throw them on a hero roll with a bit of tomato or eggplant sauce and some grated Parmesan; toss them with Three-Onion Rice (page 216); or use them to make a salad heartier, like Escarole Salad with Pesto Dressing on page 74.

1 medium eggplant (about 1 pound)
3 tablespoons olive oil
10 ounces cremini mushrooms, coarsely chopped
1 small yellow onion, coarsely chopped
1 poblano chile, seeds and ribs removed, coarsely chopped
4 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
½ teaspoon fresh rosemary leaves
1½ cups panko bread crumbs
1 large egg
1½ teaspoons kosher salt

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Grease a clean baking sheet or line it with parchment paper. Cut the egg¬plant in half lengthwise and place, cut side up, on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the oil over the cut surfaces. When the oven is hot, bake the eggplants until tender to the touch, 25 to 30 minutes. Set the eggplants aside to cool, but leave the oven on.

2. Add the mushrooms, onion, poblano, garlic, thyme, and rosemary to a large food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Stir as necessary and do not overprocess; you want small pieces but not mush.

3. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the chopped vegetables and sauté until tender and any moisture they give off has evaporated, 7 to 10 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, using a soupspoon, scoop the flesh of the cooled eggplants into the food processor. Process until pureed; you should have about ¾ cup eggplant puree. When the vegetables in the skillet are cooked, stir the eggplant puree into them and mix well. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.

5. When the mixture in the bowl is cool enough to handle, add the bread crumbs, egg, and salt to it and mix well until everything comes together. Pinch a walnut-size amount between your fingers and then roll it into a 1-inch ball; repeat until all the mixture is shaped into balls. Arrange the balls on the prepared bak¬ing sheet and bake in the still-heated oven until crisp and medium brown on the outside, 25 to 30 minutes.

6. Bake refrigerated balls at 400°F for 5 minutes and frozen balls for 10 minutes. Microwaving works, too, but gives you a softer texture.

FF
Serve these to your kids and after they gobble them up you will be in my debt forever. Because your kids just ate a ball of veggies, and they liked it! They will especially like them if you pair the “meat¬balls” with their favorite pasta and sauce. These “meatballs” are even great with mac and cheese! (I just made myself really hungry, gotta go . . . )

This week on Sharp & Hot, host Emily Peterson is joined via phone by Lisa Lynn, founder of LynFit Nutrition.

For nearly 30 years, Lisa has devoted her career to personal training, specializing in metabolic weight loss and performance nutrition. She is best known for her 13 years as Martha Stewart's personal trainer who has said, "Lisa is the only trainer that made a difference."

Lisa's years of research in metabolic boosting and performance nutrition resulted in the development of her Leaner Lifestyle Series, specifically designed to promote healthy fat loss by boosting the most sluggish and stubborn metabolisms. Lisa is also a regular go-to nutrition and fitness expert on The Dr. Oz Show appearing in two of his highest rated episodes.