Thursday

16

October 2014

End of the Week Pasta

Written by Rachel, Posted in Dairy-Free, Dinner, Eggs, Fruit, Herbs, Lunch, Main Dishes, Pasta, Quick and Easy, Vegetables, Vegetarian

It’s nearing the end of the week. And the cupboards are a little bare, the pantry is kinda empty, the produce drawers are filled with distant memories (and a few stray veggies).

Sound familiar?

Maybe this only happens at our house.

In any case, I’ve learned to be clever with those final few ingredients before the crisper drawers are re-stocked. Usually, this involves some sort of pasta. Fresh pasta, dried pasta, leftover pasta… just pasta. (Of course you could also use wild rice, quinoa, lentils, or potatoes. They’d all be fabulous!)

The additions change every time though.

Sometimes it’s tuna and peas. It could be artichokes, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Today, it was zucchini, bell pepper, and tomatoes.

It starts with some oil. For this particular recipe it was olive oil. Butter is also great with pasta. Coconut oil could also work, but make sure you’re ok with a hint of coconut if you go that route.

Then, you know the drill… some of the veggies are added to the hot oil. They cook for a few minutes with some salt and pepper.

Easy.

Then things like kale and garlic are added. Kale wilts, garlic smells amazing.

You could use other greens, like chard, mizuna, mustard greens, spinach, or collard greens.

You could add tons more garlic, or use none at all.

I prefer the tons route.

Pasta is cooked and added. I had some leftovers that I’d frozen, then defrosted in the fridge overnight. Worked just fine. If you’re cooking fresh, reserve a bit of the starchy cooking water to add to the veggies. Helps the sauce to stick to the pasta, but isn’t essential.

Serve yourself a huge bowlful. Green goodness all around!

While the pasta hangs out for a minute, fry an egg in the veggie pan. One egg per person. Unless you want two.

Salt the eggs when they’re hot.

Then slide them onto the pasta. The yolk, if it’s still a bit runny, will add to the sauce.

End of the week fridge situation isn’t so bad after all.

Happy Eating!

End of the Week Pasta

Recipe Type: Main, Pasta, Vegetarian, Vegetables, Quick and Easy

Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 12 mins

Total time: 22 mins

Serves: 2

Ingredients

pasta, cooked
2 T olive oil
1 C zucchini/summer squash, chopped (or carrots or radishes, grated)
1 bell pepper, any color, chopped (or broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, green beans, celery, or peas)
to taste salt
to taste pepper
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1 C kale (chard, spinach, or mizuna would also be great), chopped
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 to 1 C pasta water (optional)
1 T olive oil
1 egg/person
to taste salt
handful fresh herbs (basil, parsley), chopped, for topping

Instructions

Cook pasta, reserving 1/2 to 1 C pasta water.
Heat skillet. Add olive oil. Add zucchini, bell pepper, and salt. Cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add garlic, kale, and tomatoes. Cook for about 3 minutes more, stirring often.
Add pasta water, if using. Remove from heat, stir in pasta. Pour pasta in a bowl and keep warm.
Add remaining olive oil to skillet. Add egg and cook to desired doneness. Sprinkle with salt.
Divide pasta between bowls. Top each bowl with an egg. Top egg and pasta with fresh herbs.

Thursday

18

September 2014

0

COMMENTS

How to Make Tomato Sauce

Written by Rachel, Posted in Dairy-Free, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, How To, Kid-Friendly, Sauces, Storage/Prep, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Tomatoes are one of the best things about summer.

Actually, all the fruits and veggies that we’ve been getting are the best.

They’re all favorites.

I want them to last all year long. I know that in a month or two, when it finally starts to cool down, I will be thankful for the heartier root veggies, apples, and pears that will be coming. But, for now, let’s keep talking about summer. ‘Cause I’m not quite ready to be done with it yet.

One of the ways to prolong summer is by preserving its fruits and veggies. So, like I’ve done a few times before, let’s talk about saving summer. In the form of a special tomato sauce.

It starts with a bunch of Roma tomatoes. They’re my favorite for sauce. They have less seeds and goopy bits, and I find them a little less watery… Hooooowever, use what you have! Use what you have! Use what you have!!!

I quartered mine, sliced off the hard bit at the end, and then roughly chopped them. They’re going to be blended later, so precision isn’t necessary. You may have noticed that I didn’t peel them. Later you will notice that I don’t strain them. You can if you want, but a little tomato peel and seeds don’t bother me.

They cook up for a few minutes, then are mashed up with a potato masher. This just speeds things along a bit, breaking down-wise.

If you want to have just a plan tomato sauce, blend it up here and cook for an hour and a half or two.

I know how I like my tomato sauce, so I thought I’d get ahead of the game a little, and add some onions, garlic, herbs, and a few other things to the mix before blending.

It’s up to you.

Choose your own adventure.

My adventure has a whole head of garlic in it. Just the way I like it.

Oh mah goodness the smell in our kitchen was just fantastic. A whole head of garlic is just like heaven to me.

I have basil, parsley, and oregano growing in my garden right now. I added those summer favorites, along with some dried thyme and rosemary. Plus a glug of balsamic vinegar and a drizzle of honey.

Then I cooked it all up until the water had mostly evaporated and the sauce was thick.

Quick blend with the hand blender (or the regular blender).

Taste. Add more salt if you want, but remember that you will probably be using this along with other things, so under-salting is ok here.

And only here.

I had some jars sterilized and ready. I will store these in the freezer, since I don’t want to process them in a water bath for 35 minutes. Is it just me, or does anyone else get nervous about the jars breaking and losing their precious sauce? I don’t have a canning set, and I’m definitely not risking jars in a large pot of boiling water bumping in to each other.

The next thing to do is to figure out how to use this amazing sauce.

Easy.

You can pair it with things like pasta, meats, and breads. It will go great with veggies too.

Specifically, you could make Eggplant or Squash Parmesan, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Deconstructed Lasagne, Meat and Cheese Lasagna, and Summer Pizza.

And oh my gosh you totally should use it to make Meatball Subs. Like right now. I’m serious.

Or, if you just can’t wait, grab some crusty bread and dip it in to the sauce. Good idea right?!

Happy Eating!

Tomato Sauce

Recipe Type: Condiment, Fruit, Vegetable, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Cuisine: Italian

Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 140 mins

Total time: 2 hours 40 mins

Ingredients

5 pounds Roma tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 t salt
Extras: 2 T olive oil
2 onions, roughly chopped
1 head (about 12 cloves) garlic, roughly chopped
pinch pepper
1/4 fresh basil, roughly chopped
2 T fresh parsley, roughly chopped
2 T fresh oregano, roughly chopped
1 t dried rosemary, crushed
1 t dried thyme
2 T balsamic vinegar
1 T honey

Instructions

Combine tomatoes and salt in a large pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes. Mash with a potato masher and cook for 10 minutes more.
(If you don’t want to add anything else, skip to step 5.)
Add olive oil to a hot pan. Add onions (bell pepper, zucchini) and cook over medium heat with a pinch of salt for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes more.
Add onion mixture, herbs, vinegar, and honey to the tomatoes. Use a spatula to get all the garlic infused oil from the pan. Stir once to combine.
Blend with a hand blender, or in batches in a regular blender – removing the plug from the lid and covering with a clean towel.
Bring back to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 1.5 – 2 hours, or until sauce has thickened, stirring occasionally.
Sterilize your canning jars, bands, and lids in a pot of boiling water for at least 10 minutes at a rolling boil (or in the dishwasher).
Pour sauce in to jars, leaving an inch or so (or a bit less) at the top for expansion.
Store in the freezer once they have cooled completely.*

3.2.1311

(Yields about 2.5 pints or 5 C sauce.)

*To process jars in a water bath Ball suggests that you add 1 T lemon juice to each jar before filling and process in a water bath for 35 minutes. Do this if you want to store at room temperature – only store at room temperature if they have sealed properly).

Monday

8

September 2014

0

COMMENTS

Massaged Kale and Tuna Salad

Written by Rachel, Posted in Dairy-Free, Dinner, Fish, Fruit, Gluten Free, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Quick and Easy, Salads, Sides, Vegetables

Sometimes I just need a good salad. Salads are versatile and delicious, but sometimes aren’t hearty enough to be considered a main course. So I like to add a bit of protein so there’s a bit more to it.

For this salad, I chose tuna. Because it’s what I had. Because I like it. I used canned for this one. But, then a few weeks later I discovered fresh tuna at the grocery store, and the leftovers from that dinner would work just as well (maybe better, hello, fresh!).

You could also use chicken, turkey, ham, quinoa, garbonzo beans, or lentils.

‘Cause why not?!

Then there’s the kale. It’s one of my favorite green veggies. But, I also love chard and spinach too. If you don’t have any of these dark green goodies, regular lettuce will work fine too (just don’t do the massaging step). A hearty butter lettuce works great, but use what you have in your fridge.

Kale is tossed with a bit of olive oil and some salt, then massaged for a few minutes. Your hands will turn green. That’s normal.

It will get darker and feel a bit limp, like it does when it’s cooked. I love kale this way. Easier to digest and super yummy.

You can really use whatever dressing you’d like. Although I’d suggest some sort of vinaigrette or something lemony. I just squeezed some lemon and drizzled a bit of balsamic over top. Perfect with the olive oil that was already all over the kale.

I like a lotta crunch in my salads. Usually nuts and carrots do the trick. Sometimes croutons are added. Here I’ve also got apples, because I happened to have some on hand. But, again, use what you have (and what goes well with tuna, or whatever protein you’ve chosen).

At other times, I’ve also used grapes (in season now, so yummy with tuna!), cucumber, apples, cheddar, and almonds. This is one of my favorite combinations. It would go well with a nice butter lettuce, or the massaged kale.

Tomato is also a good addition.

Use what’s in season and what will compliment the other ingredients, and you’re sure to find a winning combination.

However you toss it together, this hearty salad will hold up well prepared the night before for a work or school lunch. But, like most foods, it’s best eaten fresh, right after you’ve made it, standing at the kitchen island, out of the serving bowl… or maybe that’s just me.

Happy Eating!

Massaged Kale and Tuna Salad

Recipe Type: Main, Lunch, Side, Salad, Fish

Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine

Prep time: 15 mins

Total time: 15 mins

Serves: 2

Ingredients

Tuna: 1 can tuna, drained (or about 5-6 oz. leftover cooked tuna)
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 t olive oil
pinch cayenne
to taste salt
to taste pepper
2 T green onions, chopped
Salad: 3 C kale, torn into small pieces
1-2 T olive oil
1-2 T lemon juice
1/2 to 1 T balsamic vinegar
to taste salt
to taste pepper
1/4 C carrot, thinly sliced into rounds (or instead of carrots and green onions, try: grapes, cheddar cheese, cucumber, and apple)
1 apple, roughly chopped
1/4 C roasted and salted almonds, roughly chopped
(could also add chopped tomato)

Instructions

Combine all tuna ingredients together. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Pour 1 T oil and a bit of salt onto kale. Massage with hands for 2-3 minutes (or until kale looks darker, wiltier, and a bit like it is cooked).
Top kale with tuna and remaining ingredients.

Monday

21

July 2014

0

COMMENTS

Fresh Herb and Dried Tomato Bruschetta

Written by Rachel, Posted in Appetizers, Bread, Brunch, Dairy-Free, Fruit, Herbs, Lunch, Quick and Easy, Sandwiches, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

I dried some tomatoes.

There was a moment when I wasn’t sure if they would turn out.

Somewhere in-between peeking into the oven to see some still watery tomatoes, and picking a couple burned ones off the baking sheet there was success.

Success made of sweet, intense flavor.

They have a texture like a dried cranberry. A hint of sweetness like them too. But, that’s where the similarities end.

Because you wouldn’t make a dried cranberry into a bruschetta… would you?

Don’t answer that.

We will just move on. Let us go to a place of amazing.

One of my favorite appetizers (or meals, depending on the day) is bruschetta. It’s crazy simple to prepare. And insanely good to eat. Like coo coo crazy good.

It’s bread, garlic, oil, tomatoes, and herbs. You can’t go wrong.

A baguette is sliced, drizzled with olive oil, and toasted.

I learned how to make baguettes that time I went to Paris.

I think of that trip most days. Making baguettes brings a little bit of Paris to my kitchen.

Bruschetta brings a little bit of Italy.

I like that.

Fresh herbs like basil and savory are perfect. Oregano would also be nice, but I didn’t have any at the time. I do now. Guess I’ll have to make these again.

Twist my arm.

Those obnoxiously good tomatoes are chopped up. (If they even made it off the baking sheet. I’m not sure how many I ate before they went into the jar on drying day.) They’re combined with the fresh herbs and a ton of garlic.

Oh sweet garlic. How I love thee…

I ate them all. All. All by myself.

There are really enough for 3-4 people.

I was gonna share with Tim, but he ended up having a lunch meeting. Oh darn. I ate them with Squash’n Eggs, and a Smoothie. And then I ate the leftovers for a snack later in the evening.

Happy Eating!

Fresh Herb and Dried Tomato Bruschetta

Recipe Type: Appetizer, Side, Vegetarian, Fruit, Herbs, Vegan

Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 15 mins

Total time: 20 mins

Serves: 4

Ingredients

16-24 slices baguette
1 t olive oil
pinch salt
1 pint sized jar dried tomatoes, chopped
2 T fresh basil, chopped
1 t fresh savory, chopped
(oregano could also be added)
1/4 C olive oil (use the oil from the tomatoes)
1 clove garlic (from tomatoes), minced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
to taste, salt
to taste, pepper

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 350F (I used the toaster/convection oven).
Drizzle baguette with a bit of olive oil, sprinkle with salt. Toast for about 10-15 minutes, or until crispy and slightly browned.
Combine tomato through pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Top toasted baguette slices with tomato mixture.

Thursday

17

July 2014

0

COMMENTS

How To Dry Tomatoes

Written by Rachel, Posted in Canning, Condiments, Dairy-Free, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Roasting, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Tomatoes are such a great fruit. It’s weird that we use them like a vegetable when they’re not one.

I’m ok with that.

They go with so much, they can be used in so many different ways.

The possibilities are pretty endless.

Around here, the growing season for local tomatoes is pretty long. We’ve been getting them in our Abundant Harvest Organics box for about two months now.

We’re very fortunate.

But, that doesn’t mean we don’t need to preserve them and make them last as long as possible.

I opted to dry the tomatoes by slow roasting them in the oven at a low temperature.

I love the intense flavor that roasting brings.

I’ve always called this type of tomato a “sun-dried tomato”. But, since I did not dry them in the sun, I didn’t want to lie.

Also, if I’d tried to dry them in the sun I have a feeling that a curious dog might have enjoyed a snack. They are safer in the oven.

It’s simple: tomatoes, olive oil, and salt.

Tomatoes are sliced thin, but not too thin. No thinner than a quarter of an inch please.

Trust me.

They will burn.

But, the dog will be happy because he will get a treat.

Dried tomatoes are just perfection. A fabulous way to make summer tomatoes last a little longer.

Or, in our case, a fun new way to enjoy them. As they will soon be eaten.

Since the base recipe is simple, it leaves so many options for flavoring the oil they are stored in.

I opted to make a jar of simple Italian-style, with basil, oregano, and garlic.

Other yummy options would be:

Red pepper flakes, garlic, and rosemary.

Cilantro, oregano, and jalapeño (dry the jalapeños the same way as the tomatoes).

Rosemary and garlic.

Bay leaf, garlic, and rosemary.

Dill, lemon thyme, and garlic.

Fennel seeds, garlic, and basil.

Thyme, rosemary, and oregano.

Lemon zest, basil, and garlic.

I want to make them all!

I’ve stored them in the fridge and plan to use them quickly, on bruschetta, in pasta, and on pizza.

The olive oil, which will become a delicious flavored oil, will be used as well.

We don’t waste food around here if we can help it. 😉

Happy Eating!

Kitchen Basics: Drying Tomatoes

Recipe Type: Condiment, Preserving, Roasting, Drying, Vegetarian, Fruit

Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine

Preserve summer’s beautiful tomatoes by drying them and storing them in olive oil.

Ingredients

2 tomatoes, sliced 1/4″ thick (no thinner, or they will burn)
1-2 T olive oil
to taste salt
1 T dried basil
1 T dried oregano
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 to 3/4 C olive oil

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 250F.
Line a baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper. Place tomatoes in a single layer on the silpat or parchment paper. Drizzle generously with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt.
Bake for 3 hours, turning occasionally, until tomatoes are nicely dried.
Cool completely and combine in a half pint jar with herbs, garlic, and olive oil. Store in the refrigerator.

Notes

Yields: one half pint, including the oil.

3.2.1303

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How To Dry Tomatoes

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