De Ma Cuisine

Dinner Archive

Monday

31

October 2011

0

COMMENTS

Pasta Rouge

Written by , Posted in Beef, Dinner, Main Dishes, Meat, Pasta, Sauces, Vegetables

I love pasta. It’s easy and can be quick, or, like this recipe, take its time. It’s versatile too. You can do a tomato sauce, or a cream sauce, or a bechamel (cheese) sauce, or burned butter‚ or just a bit of olive oil. Usually something can be made out of what we have on hand in the veggie drawer and the pantry. This one took a bit of time (mostly hands off cooking time though), but in a pinch, like if you need something to make right now, just don’t cook it as long. Simple. Done. Dinner’s ready. Here’s to pasta after a long day…

Pasta Rouge
Recipe Type: Main, Pasta
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 90 mins
Total time: 1 hour 45 mins
Serves: 2-4
Ingredients
  • 1 t to 1 T bacon grease
  • 2 T olive oil
  • 1 squash, chopped
  • 1 plum tomato, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, diced
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 1 T red wine vinegar
  • 1 1/2 t reduced balsamic vinegar
  • 1 T fresh oregano, chopped
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 3 T dried basil, crushed
  • 2 T dried parsley, crushed
  • 1 C mushrooms, sliced
  • 1/4 to 1/2 lb. ground beef
  • drizzle honey
  • 2 C chicken stock
  • 2 C crushed tomatoes
  • 1/4 C red wine
  • 1/4 C pasta water
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 1 package penne pasta (I used rice pasta)
Instructions
  1. Saute onion and squash in bacon grease and olive oil. Add diced tomato and garlic after a few minutes and cook for 2 minutes. Add 1 T balsamic, all red wine vinegar, wine, crushed tomatoes and seasonings when the veggies are tender. Cook 15-30 minutes. Remove from heat and use immersion blender to puree.
  2. Meanwhile, cook beef in 1 T oil. When it’s cooked, add mushrooms. Drizzle with honey and remaining balsamic. Add stock and tomato puree. Simmer 1 hour.
  3. Cook pasta. Add 1/4 C pasta water to tomato sauce.
  4. Serve topped with parmesan cheese, fresh basil, with garlic bread and a salad.
Notes

Our rating ****

 

Friday

28

October 2011

13

COMMENTS

Scalloped Rutabagas and a Giveaway

Written by , Posted in Abundant Harvest Organics, Cheese, Contests, Dinner, Sides, Thoughts

I have not always been passionate about food, or healthy eating, or eating fresh, local, in season produce. I am now. If you and I have had a conversation about menus and food, I’ve probably told you about Abundant Harvest Organics. It has become something that is really important to me. We heard about Abundant Harvest Organics from the Shinns, our good friends. They offered us a carrot, and we were hooked. We’ve been subscribers ever since we ate that carrot in 2007. We’re now eating better, healthier, more well balanced meals and are supporting local farmers who are providing us with amazing, fresh, ripe, affordable produce.

In this pre-made, preservative-happy food society that we live in, I think we’re losing a lot by not eating enough fresh fruits and veggies. I would like to challenge you to think outside the box a little, and get into a different kind of box.

About Abundant Harvest Organics

A few excerpts from their website, “Just like many of you, we have been on a journey to live and eat more healthfully. Our desire for affordable, chemically unaltered food led us to develop Abundant Harvest Organics. We have discovered an approach to natural food distribution that will deliver seasonal organic produce at conventional prices fresh from the field.”

Abundant Harvest Organics is an alliance of small family farmers in Central California dedicated to growing superior organic produce and getting it to you in the simplest manner possible and without the use of chemicals or packaging materials.”

“Here is what we do best:

Organic produce only – we don’t substitute! 

Unparalleled taste: varieties are chosen and harvested for taste and nutritional value rather than shelf-life and aesthetics

Superior quality and value, fairly priced significantly below retail value of the same product from your grocer

In Season: our produce is always fresh from the field

Locally grown: investing in our community’s people, its resources, and its physical, as well as economic health

Fresh, fresh, fresh: from the soil to your dinner table!”

The Giveaway!!

You could win a FREE BOX of ABUNDANT HARVEST PRODUCE!!

Before I tell you how you can enter, I must also note: The point of this isn’t just to give you something for free. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for free things and love to enter contests. But, my purpose in this is to introduce you to Abundant Harvest Organics and all that they have to offer. I want you to try it! In my opinion, once you taste it, you’ll be sold. Yesterday, my friend Joanna from Waterfall Creative came over for lunch. We had Stuffed French Toast (in preparation for a guest post I’ll be doing over on her blog) and Honeydew Melon. She tasted the melon, looked up at me almost in shock, and said, “Is this from Abundant Harvest?” It was. She said she’d never had melon so good.

To enter*: Leave a comment on this post.

To enter* a second time: Post about this giveaway on Facebook/Twitter/Google+ or Pin it on Pinterest. Then comment that you’ve done this (and provide a link to it, if possible).

*Please note, you must be able to pick up from one of AHO’s delivery sites (in California) to be eligible to win (sorry to any who will miss out).

Giveaway closes Monday November 7th at noon (PST). (Gift box will be available for pickup the week of November 14th.)

And the winner is…Randy Karman! Thank you to all who entered!! Congratulations, Randy! Please let me know by Thursday November 10th which delivery site you’d like to collect your winning box from!

If you didn’t win, but still want to get started with Abundant Harvest Organics, you can visit their website for more details. And, don’t forget to stay tuned for the new cooking show A Cooking Show with Rachel O. Featuring Abundant Harvest Organics produce being cooked by me. Should be fun!

In case you’re like me and don’t know what to do with Rutabagas (well, I do now), here’s a recipe that I made up!

Scalloped Rutabagas

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes

Yield: 2

Ingredients

  • 1 rutabaga, sliced about 1/4″ thick
  • 1/2 C Greek yogurt
  • 1/3 C cheese (or more, if you like things cheesy) (cheddar and parmesan), divided
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, diced
  • 1/4 to 1/3 C milk
  • 1-2 T flour
  • pinch cayenne
  • 1 t fresh thyme
  • 1 t fresh parsley
  • 1 t spicy brown mustard
  • 1 t olive oil

Instructions

  1. Whisk yogurt, milk, cheese (reserving a bit for topping later), garlic, onion, spices and mustard in a bowl.
  2. Grease a smallish baking dish (I think I used an 8×8 Pyrex) with oil. Place a layer of rutabaga, sprinkle with flour, top with cheese sauce. Repeat until all ingredients are gone (except set aside cheese).
  3. Bake covered at 350F for 60 minutes (or until rutabagas are no longer crisp). Uncover, sprinkle with remaining cheese, bake for 20 minutes more.
  4. Serve and enjoy! (I served them with Roast Beef and Wilted Greens.)

If you’re an AHO subscriber, don’t forget to use the Menu Featuring Abundant Harvest Organics Ingredients!

This giveaway was sponsored by Abundant Harvest Organics. Thank you, AHO for being willing to donate this box of produce!

Note: I do not work for Abundant Harvest, but have occasionally received complimentary produce for my help with various things. They have not asked me to post menus or promote them on my blog. If I post about them, it’s because I love their produce and the organization and want as many people as possible to know about them and use their produce with ease.

This giveaway was sponsored by Abundant Harvest Organics. Thank you, AHO for being willing to donate this box of produce!

Note: I do not work for Abundant Harvest, but have occasionally received complimentary produce for my help with various things. They have not asked me to post menus or promote them on my blog. 

Update: Sadly, Abundant Harvest is no longer in business. It was fun while it lasted. They had the best organic produce. (July 24, 2019)

Monday

24

October 2011

0

COMMENTS

Veggie Pizza

Written by , Posted in Cheese, Dinner, Main Dishes, Pizza, Vegetables

It was one of “those” weekends. “Those” referring to fun. I think that’s what it should be, rather than the negative that it usually implies. Anyways, it was fun because we had awesome pizza on Friday, I went to a Creative Connection USA event on Sat, and we finished our Halloween costumes for the HP Themed party we’re going to next weekend, and of course watched lots of World Series baseball.

For Pizza Friday, I was a little worried about what I’d top it with, because our options were quite limited. There was no pepperoni, ham or leftover roast beef. We’d just had a BBQ Chicken Pizza the week before. (Oh my gosh, have I posted about this yet? I don’t think so. For now: It was amazing. The end.) I didn’t have many options. Vegetable drawer to the rescue! I always wonder, when I’m considering a vegetable pizza, if Husband will be OK with it. He always is, but I forget every time.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t eat more than half the pizza. Whatev. It was good. It’s good as leftovers too, but better the first time around. I don’t normally overindulge (except if you give me a bag of Salt and Vinegar Kettle chips – don’t expect me to share – don’t believe me, ask my husband). The full recipe is below. Make it, you’ll be happy you did. (Oh and if you’re someone who doesn’t love veggies, this is a good way to eat them. It doesn’t taste like you’re eating a plate full of goodness. It tastes like you’re eating pizza, which you are, so ignore the rest.)

The Creative Connection Los Angeles Meetup that I went to: amazing! I met so many creative talented women that I’m excited to connect with again in the future. Before the event, to be honest, I wanted to go, and I also didn’t. Once I get to know you, I’m outgoing, a little weird, and am comfortable being myself. But, at first, I’m shy, nervous and awkward. My new friend Joanna from Waterfall Creative had a contest to win a ticket on her blog. I won. (Small side note: Can I just exclaim how talented this girl is! She’s designing a logo for me, that I can’t wait to show to you!) Since I won, I kinda had to go. I didn’t really have an excuse not to. No business cards: make my own (I mean, I was going to a creative event, if anyone was going to appreciate homemade business cards, these people would, I hoped). Nothing to wear? Find something to wear. Too early on a Saturday (we had to leave at 8am)? If I sleep until 7:30, it’s sleeping in… and so on. I’m good at excuses, unfortunately. This time, it was time to just go and see what happened. I’m so glad I did! So, so glad. What a blessing that event was. Here’s a silly, jazz hands photo, courtesy of the talented and super sweet Lizzie at S’Wonderful Photography.

Veggie Pizza
Recipe Type: Pizza
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 15 mins
Total time: 25 mins
Serves: 2
A great way to eat your veggies! You might not even know they’re on there!
Ingredients
  • 1 pizza crust
  • 1/4 C zucchini, sliced really thin
  • 1/4 lg. tomato, sliced thin
  • 1 sm. bok choy (I just used the leafy greens, if you want to use the white part, go ahead, make my day)
  • 8 black olives, sliced
  • 1/2 green pepper, chunks
  • 1 C (or more) white cheddar (or mozzarella), grated
  • 1/4 C parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1/2 C (or more) tomato sauce
  • 1 T flour
  • 1 t rosemary infused olive oil (olive oil with some rosemary in it)
  • 1/4 t dried oregano
  • 1/2 t dried basil
  • salt
  • pepper
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 475F. Roll out dough on floured pizza stone. Not too thin (it’s not a flatbread crust this time). Brush dough (specifically rolled up edge of crust) with olive oil. Bake for 3-5 minutes (this bake time is so the crust doesn’t get soggy from the tomato sauce – I did 5).
  2. Top with tomato sauce, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Then add cheese, veggies (with the Bok Choy on top, so it gets crispy) and a little more cheese (save the parmesan for after it’s baked).
  3. Bake for 8-10 minutes (depending on how crispy you want the crust – I did 10). Top with parmesan and eat it all up!

 

Friday

21

October 2011

2

COMMENTS

For Oma and Her Borscht – Beet and Beef Borscht

Written by , Posted in Beef, Dinner, Gluten Free, Inspired By, Legacy, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, One Dish Dinners, Potatoes, Soups, Vegetables

Beef-and-Beet-Borscht1

This post is for my Oma, who will probably never read it, as I’m quite certain that she’s not online.

My Oma is a wonderful cook. She’s one of the best, in my opinion. When we were little and we’d go to visit, she would have Chicken Noodle Soup for those of us who hadn’t yet discovered the wonders of Borscht. I didn’t know what I was missing! Her Borscht is amazing! She has two different kinds: Beef Borscht (I don’t know if that’s the real title, it might also be called Winter Borscht) and Sommer Borscht (pronounced like Zumma). I had the Sommer Borscht recently for the first time and it’s oh so good. She also makes Zwieback (the buns being made by me in the above photo), which I have memories of making with her as a small girl. I’ve made them since, as a grownup, and while they’re not quite the same, they’re pretty good (I have her Zwieback recipe, in her handwriting, so they’re as close as they can get!).

Beets1

Oma’s Borscht is made differently than mine, but they’re the same idea. A meat and potatoes soup that has a dollop of sour cream on top. I make mine with beets (which I’m told she doesn’t) and she makes hers with dill (which I don’t). There may be other variances too, but those are the main ones.

I think Borscht came from a time where people used what they had out of necessity. I used what I had (beets) because I wanted to (and because it’s the only way we like beets in our house). This is how I normally cook, and why most of my recipes are uniquely my own. Some are inspired by a magazine, a blog, a cookbook. Others are concocted by standing in front of the pantry cupboards, or the fridge with the door open (I used to get in trouble for this as a kid) summoning my creative culinary skills to create something delicious. Either way, I’m often inspired to use things that we already have, often that have come in our Abundant Harvest Organics produce box, in a fresh, creative way.

I’ve made Borscht many times before, but until recently, had never written it down. So, here’s my most recent version, probably slightly different from any other, but good none-the-less.

Happy Eating!

Beet and Beef Borscht

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours, 17 minutes

Yield: 4

Beet and Beef Borscht

Ingredients

  • 2 T olive oil
  • 1/2 - 1 lb. (stewing) beef*
  • 4 carrots, chopped
  • 4 celery stalks, chopped
  • 4 lg. or 8 sm. radishes, chopped (opt.)
  • 3 med. - lg. potatoes, chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 8 sm. beets, peeled and chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, diced
  • 1 T (or more) red wine vinegar
  • 1 C crushed tomatoes
  • 2 - 4 C water
  • 4 C beef (or chicken, or vegetable) stock*
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 1 C cabbage, chopped
  • Greek yogurt (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Heat soup pot. Add olive oil, then beef. Cook beef 3 - 5 minutes.
  2. Add carrots through beets, cook for about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic, cook 1 minute. Add the vinegar, to deglaze the pan, cook about 1 minute more.
  3. Add tomatoes, water, stock. salt, and pepper, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook 1-2 hours, adding the cabbage in the last 30 minutes or so. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
  4. Serve topped with yogurt.

Notes

*To make it vegetarian, omit beef, and use vegetable stock.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/for-oma-and-her-borscht/

Wednesday

19

October 2011

3

COMMENTS

Sheila’s Chicken Parmesan

Written by , Posted in Dinner, Meat, Poultry

 

Sheila’s Chicken Parmesan
Recipe Type: Main
Author: Sheila Stachofsky
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 70 mins
Total time: 1 hour 20 mins
Serves: 4-8
Ingredients
  • 4-8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 t salt
  • 1/4 t pepper
  • 1/4 t garlic salt
  • 1/4 t paprika
  • 1/8 t thyme
  • 1/4 C parmesan cheese
  • 1 T parsley
  • 1/3 C bread crumbs
  • 1/3 C water
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1/4 C melted margarine (or butter or olive oil – my substitutions)
  • 1/3 C white wine or balsamic vinegar
Instructions
  1. In a bag, place all through bread crumbs. Shake chicken in it until thoroughly coated. Spray a shallow roasting pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pour in the water, then place chicken in the pan. Sprinkle with oil and margarine.
  2. Bake uncovered 45 minutes at 350F.
  3. Pour wine or vinegar over the chicken; lower heat to 325F. Cover with foil, for 15 minutes.
  4. Uncover, 10 more minutes.