De Ma Cuisine

A Cooking Show with Rachel O Archive

Wednesday

23

May 2012

1

COMMENTS

You Say Potato?… So Do I – Episode 24

Written by , Posted in A Cooking Show with Rachel O, Abundant Harvest Organics, This Week's Feast, Thoughts

There was a recipe in the Abundant Harvest Organics newsletter a couple of weeks ago for German Style Potato Salad. I adapted that recipe for this episode. I wasn’t necessarily trying to make it better. I’m sure it was great the way it was. I changed it to fit with what was in this week’s box and what I had in my garden.

I did some research about things that went well together (using my handy dandy Flavor Bible), and voilà, my version!

Even though there wasn’t oregano in this week’s AHO box, I have some in my garden (yay my garden!!). My adaptation was inspired by oregano, because, oregano goes well with many things that were in the box. Like, bell peppers (which are good with bacon, onions, garlic, tomatoes), tomatoes, potatoes, summer squash (which is good with bell peppers, garlic, olive oil, onions, oregano, tomatoes, black pepper), onions. I added a few other things and gave it a try. I’m happy with how it turned out.

If you don’t have any oregano in your fridge or garden, you could use dried, or visit your local farmers’ market for fresh.

This would be super duper yummy alongside BBQ’d Chicken, BBQ’d Sausages (or however you like to cook em’), BBQ’d Steak, Burgers, BBQ’d Tri Tip or Brisket, Ribs, a BLT or any other delicious sandwich (hello picnic!), with some Dill Pickles (ooh, you could make your own using the dill from this week’s box), Salt and Vinegar Chips (my fave – I could eat a whole bag by myself in one sitting… not kidding), Fruit Salad, and Mint Iced Tea or Sparkling Pink Lemonade. I think I just came up with the menu for at least one of our meals this coming holiday weekend. Picnic here we come! Is it too soon to pack the picnic basket? It is, isn’t it.

German Style Potato Salad – Adapted by Rachel O

Last modified on 2012-05-23 23:40:36 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

German Style Potato Salad – Adapted by Rachel O
Recipe Type: Salad, Side
Serves: 2-4
Potatoes, bacon, onions, and garlic all pair well with oregano, which inspired the changes to this dish.
Ingredients
  • 4-6 potatoes
  • 3 strips bacon, chopped
  • 1 T flour
  • 1/3 C red wine vinegar
  • 1 1/2 t honey
  • 2 T fresh oregano leaves, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • pinch cayenne
  • 1/2 t paprika
  • 2 T olive oil
  • 2 T plus 2 t salt
  • 1 lg. spring onion
  • 3/4 C stock (chicken or veggie)
  • 1 T plus 1 t Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 t black pepper
  • 1 1/2 C summer squash, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, diced
  • 1 tomato, chopped
Instructions
  1. Place potatoes in large pan and cover with cold water and 2 T salt. Bring to a boil. Cook until tender.
  2. Cook bacon over med heat. Remove from pan and set aside (try not to eat it all while you cook the rest of the dish!). Drain all but 2 T bacon grease.
  3. Add onion, bell pepper, summer squash and cook 3 minutes. Add garlic, cook 1 minute. Move veggies to one side of pan, let oil come to the other. Whisk in flour (add more bacon grease if needed).
  4. Whisk in stock, vinegar, mustard, honey, salt, pepper, cayenne, and paprika. Bring to a boil, whisking occasionally. Remove from heat.
  5. Mix oregano leaves with 2 T olive oil.
  6. Cut cooked and cooled potatoes into cubes or slices.
  7. Combine vinegar mixture with potatoes and toss to coat.
  8. Pour oregano oil over potatoes and toss.
  9. Serve topped with bacon and tomato.
Notes

To make this recipe Gluten Free: Omit flour and add 1 T corn starch whisked with 1/4 C cold water. Mix cornstarch mixture in at the same point in the recipe.
Would be wonderful with something cooked on the BBQ!

 

This dish can be found on Tuesday of this week’s menu!

This episode is sponsored by:

Abundant Harvest Organics

Bari Olive Oil Company

Llano Seco Organic Pork

Molly Jenson

Wednesday

16

May 2012

6

COMMENTS

Basil and Summer Squash Risotto – Episode 23

Written by , Posted in A Cooking Show with Rachel O, Abundant Harvest Organics, Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Grains, Herbs, Main Dishes, Rice, Sides, This Week's Feast, Vegetables

I made risotto this week because my friend, Elizabeth, asked me to.

I was inspired by the basil I was getting in this week’s Abundant Harvest Organics box. All of the ingredients in this dish are basil friendly. It’s a tasty dish.

I’ll admit to you that I couldn’t stop eating it, even though it was a little too hot and I kinda burned my mouth. It was worth it.

Most of this dish contains ingredients that are from an AHO box, or can be bought as or made from an add on. There are a few exceptions (such as the arborio rice and the wine), but even the rice could be substituted for the rice that’s available through AHO. I’ve done it before. It’s a bit different, but still really good. It’s up to you.

We buy cheap wine. That’s what we drink and what I cook with. If you want to use more expensive wine, go for it! But, in my opinion, Two Buck Chuck is just fine. 🙂 If you don’t want to use wine at all, just use all chicken or vegetable stock.

Basil is probably my favorite herb. The smell of it reminds me of Reedley, where we used to live, where I learned to garden and grew my first basil plants from seed.

I can see myself in the spoon in the photo. I’m OK with that.

I served the risotto in a tea cup that belonged to my Oma. I miss her.

Happy Eating!

Basil and Summer Squash Risotto

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 60 minutes

Yield: 4-6

Basil and Summer Squash Risotto

Ingredients

  • 2 C white wine, divided
  • 4-6 C stock (chicken or vegetable)
  • 1 1/2 T honey
  • 2-3 T lemon juice, plus a little more for serving
  • 2 T olive oil, plus a little more for serving
  • 1 spring onion, diced
  • 3-4 C summer squash, chopped into small pieces
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 3 cloves garlic, diced
  • 1 green garlic, diced
  • 1 1/2 C arborio rice
  • 1 C basil, cut in a chiffonade (roll it up and cut into little strips)
  • 1 C parmesan cheese, grated
  • lemon juice, for serving

Instructions

  1. In a medium sauce pan, combine 1 C wine, stock, honey, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer (or turn off and cover).
  2. Heat a medium or large sauce pan over medium heat. Add olive oil. When it's hot, add onion, squash, salt, and pepper. Cook 3-5 minutes.
  3. Add garlic and green garlic, cook for 1 minute.
  4. Add rice, cook for 1 minute.
  5. Add 1 C wine, cook for 1 minute or so, stirring to deglaze the pan.
  6. Add 1 C of the hot stock mixture to rice pan. Stir. Cook about 3 minutes, or until the liquid is mostly absorbed.
  7. Repeat until rice is tender, creamy, starchy. (You may use all the liquid and need more: add water or more stock, heat. Or, you may not need it all: refrigerate or freeze leftovers.) It will take about 30-40 minutes.
  8. Remove from heat. Add basil. Stir for about a minute.
  9. Add parmesan cheese, stir to combine.
  10. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  11. Serve topped with fresh basil, grated parmesan, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/i-heart-basil-ep23/

This episode is sponsored by Abundant Harvest Organics, Bari Olive Oil Company, and Molly Jenson.

Wednesday

9

May 2012

5

COMMENTS

Chicken Caesar Salad with Fava Beans – Episode 22

Written by , Posted in A Cooking Show with Rachel O, Abundant Harvest Organics, Contests, This Week's Feast, Thoughts

Today is no longer my birthday. But, I have one last Birthday Extravaganza giveaway to do…

I want you to win an Abundant Harvest Organics box!!!!

(This giveaway is now closed. Winner was chosen using random.org!) Thanks for entering!)
The winner is: Cathy Oberg!!!

Congratulations, Cathy!! Please let me know which delivery location you will pick up from. 

The episode is a shorter one. Filming on my birthday meant working just a half day. I took part of the afternoon off, was spoiled by Tim, and went out with some really good friends to a local French restaurant. It was delicious! I had Steak with a Red Wine Sauce, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and Asparagus. For dessert I had Crème Brûlée. Wish I could have that again for dinner tonight!

Back to the episode… It features Fava Beans in a Chicken Caesar Salad. Um, yes please! It’s a simple salad that is great lunch or dinner, as a side or a main dish… Tim didn’t even complain that we were just having salad as a meal. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I still have some lemons left from a few weeks ago, so I used those in the dressing, as well as some yummy garlic, dijon mustard, parmesan cheese, and Bari Organic Olive Oil. I used the lettuce that was in this week’s AHO box, and topped our salad with a few roasted and salted almonds, and some homemade croutons.

I love the addition of fava beans in the salad. They add protein, fiber, vitamins A and C, potassium, and iron. You could omit the chicken if you wanted to have a vegetarian salad. Either way, I think it will be delicious.

To enter to win a box from Abundant Harvest Organics:

Leave a comment on this post.

Additional Entries:

Like De Ma Cuisine and Abundant Harvest Organics on Facebook and post about this giveaway tagging De Ma Cuisine and AHO in the post. Then come back here and leave one additional comment about it (no comment, no count :)).

Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway mentioning @De_Ma_Cuisine in the tweet Then come back here and leave one additional comment about it (no comment, no count 🙂 ).

This giveaway is sponsored by Abundant Harvest Organics!!

Giveaway ends Wednesday, May 16th at 9 am (PST).

One winner will be chosen. Winner will receive 1 box of produce from Abundant Harvest Organics. Giveaway is limited to residents of residents of California (who are able to pick up their prize from one of AHO’s delivery sites). Winner will be chosen using Random.org and winner’s name will be posted on this page. Winner will have 3 days to contact me to acknowledge the win. After that time a new winner will be chosen.

Don’t forget to enter to win a bottle of Bari Olive Oil and Joy the Baker’s cookbook! Yay for giveaways!!! Yay for Birthdays!!

Happy Eating!

Chicken Caesar Salad… With Fava Beans

Last modified on 2012-12-01 02:20:21 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

Chicken Caesar Salad… With Fava Beans
Recipe Type: Salad, Main
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time: 15 mins
Total time: 15 mins
Serves: 2-4
Chicken Caesar Salad gets a boost with healthy fava beans!
Ingredients
  • 1 head lettuce, washed and torn
  • 1 C chicken, cooked and shredded (I used leftovers)
  • 1/2 C fava beans, blanched and shelled
  • Options for toppings: chopped almonds, 1/2 C croutons, parmesan cheese, bacon
  • caesar salad dressing
Instructions
  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil.
  2. Snap tip of fava bean and pull down using the string. Remove beans from inside. Boil beans for 30 seconds. Remove from pot and immediately plunge in an ice bath (bowl of cold water with ice in it) to stop the cooking process.
  3. Gently peel the tip, and squeeze the bean out.
  4. Prepare dressing.
  5. Assemble and toss salad with dressing.

 

Caesar Salad Dressing

Last modified on 2013-02-14 23:20:49 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

This dressing recipe is adapted from The Pioneer Woman’s recipe: Pam’s Simple Scrumptious Caesar Salad.

Caesar Salad Dressing
Recipe Type: Condiment
Prep time: 5 mins
Total time: 5 mins
Ingredients
  • 2-3 T lemon juice
  • 5 T mayo
  • 1 T dijon mustard
  • 10 T olive oil
  • 1/2 t salt
  • 1/2 C parmesan
  • pepper
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
Instructions
  1. Whisk all ingredients except oil together.
  2. Slowly drizzle oil in, whisking as you do.

 

Homemade Croutons

Last modified on 2012-05-10 00:17:29 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Croutons
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Ingredients
  • 1 C cubed bread
  • 1 T olive oil
  • salt
  • pepper
Instructions
  1. Toss cubed bread with oil, salt, and pepper.
  2. Broil 5 minutes in toaster oven, flip, and broil 2 minutes more.
  3. Let sit 5 minutes.

 

This episode was sponsored by: Abundant Harvest Organics, Bari Olive Oil Company, and Molly Jenson!

Wednesday

2

May 2012

1

COMMENTS

Inspired by Tarragon – Episode 21

Written by , Posted in A Cooking Show with Rachel O, Abundant Harvest Organics, Inspired By, This Week's Feast, Thoughts

I’ve tried something new. French Tarragon. I’d heard of it, but had never used it before today. I’m so glad to have been introduced.

I perused The Flavor Bible to find out what from this week’s Abundant Harvest Organics box would compliment this herb. Well, there were quite a few things. In the dish that I came up with, the ingredients are meant to compliment the tarragon (so if you do any substituting, do so at your own risk – do your research first, there are a few things that shouldn’t be paired with tarragon, for example: oregano, rosemary, and sage).

This dish has things like: chard (“greens”), spring onion, garlic, beef, dijon mustard, rice, and parsley.

Want to know some other things that go well with tarragon?! Asparagus (in this week’s box), broccoli (in this week’s box), cream, olive oil, pepper, tomatoes, red wine, lentils, capers, fish, chicken, cauliflower, artichokes, lemon juice, lettuce, mushrooms, pasta, potatoes, pork, spinach… These are just a few!

Let’s get excited about FRENCH TARRAGON!

There’s another dish on this week’s menu (Saturday) that goes with tarragon: Tarragon Potatoes w/ Lemon Zest. After you’ve made these dishes, if you still have some left, try the Tarragon Vinegar that’s in the AHO newsletter. I think I’m going to. 🙂

Now one last thing before you’re dismissed. TX Bar Organics is doing a cool thing with beef. I’m not just talking about amazing organic beef. That’s pretty awesome. But, above and beyond that, TX Bar Organics started a Food for a Cause program, where they donate 1 lb of ground beef to local food banks for every 20 lbs of beef purchased. The idea is to provide quality nutrition to families hit hard by the recent economic downturn. I’ve been thinking recently about food that we donate, canned goods for example, and how we usually give the things that have been sitting in the back of the pantry for years, things we know we’ll never eat, or don’t like. Why not give things that we would like to eat? I think what TX Bar Organics is doing is super! I’m glad that families in need will also get to eat wonderful organic beef.

Chard Wraps with Beef and Tarragon

Last modified on 2012-12-01 02:20:39 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Chard Wraps with Beef and Tarragon
Recipe Type: Main, Dinner, Wrap
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 45 mins
Total time: 1 hour
Serves: 3-4
Inspired by French Tarragon, complimented by beef, and rice. Delicious, and easier that you’d think.
Ingredients
  • 4 large chard leaves
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 t fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 t French tarragon, chopped
  • 1 C tomato sauce
  • 1 spring onion, chopped
  • 1 green garlic, chopped
  • 2 C chicken stock
  • 1 T dijon mustard
  • 1 1/2 C rice, cooked (I used leftovers)
  • 1 t salt
  • 1/4 t pepper
  • 4 toothpicks
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350F. Boil water in a large oven safe pot. Add chard leaves and cook 1 minute. Remove from pot and set aside.
  2. Discard water (you could use it for a soup, or to water your plants – when it cools). Add beef to pot. Cook 5 minutes over medium heat. Add garlic, onion, salt, and pepper; cook 3 minutes. Add tarragon, rice, tomato sauce, dijon, and parsley; cook 3-5 minutes.
  3. Taste. Add more salt if needed.
  4. Divide beef mixture in 4. Lay each piece of chard flat. Place 1 quarter of the mixture (more or less, depending on the size of the chard leaf) in the center. Wrap sides inward, then wrap top and bottom to overlap where sides folded in. Secure the stem with a toothpick.
  5. Pour stock into the same pan you’ve cooked the beef in. Carefully place the wraps in the pot. Bake for 20-30 minutes.

 

This meal can be found on Tuesday of this week’s menu!

Episode Sponsored By

Abundant Harvest Organics

TX Bar Organics

Molly Jenson

Wednesday

25

April 2012

2

COMMENTS

Episode 20!!

Written by , Posted in A Cooking Show with Rachel O, Abundant Harvest Organics, This Week's Feast, Thoughts

On this, my 20th episode, I hope you like to laugh. I also hope you find bloopers as funny as I do. If not, I hope you like bacon. If not, I hope you like Sugar Snap Peas, roasted and salted organic Almonds, salty Parmesan Cheese, fresh organic Tomatoes, sour Lemons, and reduced Balsamic Vinegar. If none of this suits your fancy, um… you can just watch it for the bloopers. Yes, there are lots. I’m celebrating 20 episodes here! (In case you didn’t already know that I have fun at work.)

This dish is a lot like Pasta in a Pinch. A few different ingredients, slightly different sauce, and voilà, a new dish. If there’s something else you want to add from any week’s Abundant Harvest Organics box, go ahead! If you shop at the grocery store or farmers’ markets, or grow your own produce, feel free to make substitutions!

Sugar Snap Pea Pasta

Last modified on 2014-04-03 18:04:25 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

 

Sugar Snap Pea Pasta
Recipe Type: Pasta, Main, Lunch, Dinner
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
Total time: 30 mins
Serves: 4
A simple dish that highlights some of springs great flavors.
Ingredients
  • 2 C pasta
  • 4-5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 1 tomato, chopped
  • juice and zest from 1/2 lemon
  • 2 T olive oil
  • 1-3 C sugar snap peas, strings removed
  • 1 C parmesan cheese, divided
  • 1 T maple syrup
  • 1/2 to 1 C pasta water
  • salt
  • pepper
  • pinch cayenne
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 spring onion, chopped
  • 2 T almonds, chopped
  • reduced balsamic vinegar (start with 1/2 C and reduce down)
Instructions
  1. (If bacon isn’t cooked, cook and chop now.) Cook pasta (reserving 1/2 to 1 C water before draining). Reduce vinegar.
  2. Heat pan, add oil. Add onion, salt, and pepper. Cook 2 minutes. Add garlic. Cook 1 minute.
  3. Add tomato, lemon zest and juice, maple syrup, cayenne, and pasta water. Cook to reduce liquid, 5 minutes (or more).
  4. Add snap peas. Cook 2-3 minutes.
  5. Toss pasta with sauce and 3/4 C parmesan cheese.
  6. Serve topped with bacon, parmesan cheese, and a drizzle of reduced balsamic vinegar.
Notes

Cook time includes pasta. Will vary depending on type of pasta.

 

Happy Eating!

This meal can be found on Thursday of this week’s menu.

This episode sponsored by:
Abundant Harvest Organics , Llano Seco Organic Pork, Bari Olive Oil Company, and Molly Jenson.