De Ma Cuisine

Fruit Archive

Monday

18

January 2016

0

COMMENTS

Orange You Glad it’s Green Smoothie

Written by , Posted in Breakfast, Brunch, Dairy-Free, Drinks, Fruit, Gluten Free, Kid-Friendly, Quick and Easy, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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When I need a quick meal, smoothies are a great option. Sometimes I make them with peanut butter, chocolate chips, and banana. That’s one of my favorites. But, I also really love a good fruit and veggie smoothie. Sweet, but not too, and packed with nutrients.

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For a wintery smoothie, I opted for orange+pear+persimmon+greens. I just used what I hand on hand. At other times I may use apple instead of the pear, or in the warmer months, stone fruit and berries. The constant is the greens. I like to use mild ones like kale, spinach, or chard, and they just kinda disappear in the fruity goodness.

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I wanted to use the orange peel as a cup. We don’t have a dishwasher, so any dishes I generate get washed by hand. The less dishes the better. I used a grapefruit knife to get the segments out, but a sharp paring knife would do just as well. I cut a tiny bit off the bottom of the orange so it would sit flat too. Don’t want any rolling oranges when there’s a smoothie inside!

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I like my smoothies to be super thick and pretty cold. So I usually add some frozen banana. Unfrozen would work well too. The riper they are, the sweeter the smoothie.

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This can be a great light meal on its own. A working lunch or a good breakfast. If you want to add to the meal, here are a few suggestions for things that I think would compliment it:

Breakfast or Brunch

Savory Baked French Toast

Sweet and Savory Cornmeal Pancakes

Fresh Fruit and Basil Stuffed French Toast

Toast with Peanut Butter and Honey

Winter Frittata

Scrambled Eggs with Bacon and Chives

Turnip Hash with Bacon and Gouda

Paris Potatoes

Lunch

Grilled Egg and Cheese Sandwiches

Bacon Sandwich with Dandelion Greens

Tuna Boats

Dilly Eggs with Lentils

Vegetarian Soft Tacos

Any leftovers can be frozen in an ice cube tray and then re-blended or added to a new smoothie (in place of ice, if you use it).

Happy Eating!

Orange and Green Smoothie

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 2

Orange and Green Smoothie

Ingredients

  • 1 large orange, top cut off, segments scooped out (if you want to serve smoothie in peel - if not just peel, de-seed, and roughly chop)
  • 1-2 C greens (kale, chard, spinach), roughly chopped
  • 1 frozen banana (or very ripe non-frozen banana)
  • 1 apple or pear, roughly chopped
  • 1 persimmon, peeled and roughly chopped
  • (may substitute fruit with stone fruit or berries depending on the season)
  • 1/2 C yogurt (any kind) (or may use silken tofu or omit altogether)
  • 1-2 T maple syrup or honey
  • 1/2 C milk (any kind) (or use orange juice)

Instructions

  1. Blend until smooth, adding liquid last until you reach desired consistency. Taste for sweetness.
  2. Serve in the orange peel to save on dishes.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/orange-kale-smoothie/

Monday

11

January 2016

0

COMMENTS

Chopped Salad with Oranges Greens and Nuts

Written by , Posted in Dairy-Free, Fruit, Gluten Free, Lunch, Nuts, Quick and Easy, Salads, Sides, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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Salads get a bit of a bad rap as a “diet food”. Ugh. I don’t even like the word “diet” and I really like salads. They’re a great compliment to so many foods and can even be a wonderful meal on their own.

The salad that I’m talking about here is a veggie filled chopped salad that could fit into both categories. It would be fabulous paired with a stir fry, some roasted chicken, or a big bowl of chili. But, add some crispy tofu or chicken to it and it turns into the main dish.

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I love a salad with lots of great crunch. It can come in the form of great raw veggies, seeds, and one of my favorites: nuts. For this salad, I chopped up some raw walnuts from my in-laws’ tree. I toasted them on the stove top for a few minutes, then tossed them with some spices.

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For this wintery salad, I thought a great honey-mustard dressing would be the perfect compliment. It’s a simple mixture of honey and mustard, of course (if you don’t do honey, try some maple syrup), along with some fresh squeezed orange juice, rice vinegar, and olive oil. I love creamy slaws and salads, but sometimes I want something a little bit lighter. This was perfect.

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I used what I had on hand for the rest of the salad: broccoli, greens, cabbage, radish, shallot, and chopped orange. You could totally substitute with carrots, cauliflower, and red onions. You could use leeks and any kinda greens that you think would taste good (like bok choy, spinach, kale, mizuna…). It’s kinda like a cross between a chopped salad and an awesome coleslaw. Call it what you like, as long as you call it…

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It’s great to take to a potluck, to enjoy alongside a grilled cheese sandwich at lunch, or to go with a tasty Chicken Pot Pie for dinner. Done, done, and done.

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Happy Eating!

Chopped Salad with Oranges Greens and Nuts

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 23 minutes

Yield: 6-8

Chopped Salad with Oranges Greens and Nuts

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 C raw nuts (almonds, walnuts, pinenuts), chopped
  • pinch cayenne
  • to taste salt
  • 2 C greens (kale, chard, spinach, mizuna), chopped
  • 1 C cabbage, shredded
  • 1 C broccoli or cauliflower, finely chopped
  • 1 C radish or carrot, grated
  • 1/4 C shallot, leek, or red onion, minced
  • 2 C orange, chopped (drained in a strainer to catch excess juice for dressing)
  • 4 t dijon mustard
  • 2 t honey (or maple syrup)
  • to taste salt
  • 2 T rice vinegar
  • 1/4 C orange juice
  • 6 T olive oil

Instructions

  1. Heat a dry skillet. Add nuts and toast for 3 minutes over medium-low, turning often. Toss with cayenne and salt and set aside.
  2. (If using kale, massage with a bit of salt and some olive oil, using hands, for 3-5 minutes.) Toss greens through shallot.
  3. Whisk dijon through rice vinegar, add orange juice that's drained from chopped orange and top up to make 1/4 C. While whisking, stream in olive oil to create an emulsion. Taste for seasoning.
  4. Toss veggies with oranges and dressing. Top with nuts.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/chopped-salad-oranges-greens/

Monday

21

December 2015

0

COMMENTS

Wilted Mustard Greens with Acorn Squash and Pear

Written by , Posted in Dairy-Free, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Quick and Easy, Salads, Sides, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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Two months ago I would have laughed if you’d told me that my fingers would be so cold that I’d have a hard time typing today. That I’d have two sweatshirts on with both hoods pulled up. Two pairs of socks, plus slippers, and that I’d be wrapped in a blanket. Yeah, I’m cold (and I refuse to turn the heater on). But, the great thing about cold weather is that it’s much easier to warm up than it is to cool down. I can keep adding blankets and layers of clothing. I can bake or make soup, and drink lots of tea. As cold as I am right now, I much prefer it to the months and months of hot and sweaty.

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I don’t use the oven a whole lot during the summer and into the fall. It’s just too hot. So at this time of year, I bake and roast veggies a little more often. It’s yummy and, as a bonus, the house warms up a bit.

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For this recipe I roasted some acorn squash wedges that I’d rubbed with olive oil and I also roasted its seeds. Roasted squash is one of my favorites. It’s super versatile – from pastas to soups to pizza, it’s a winner. But, the seeds are great too. I like to toss them with a bit of oil and a pinch of salt and then roast until they’re crispy. It doesn’t take too long and they’re really tasty.

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Because I used an acorn squash for this dish, I left the peel on. I don’t prefer to eat it, but it’s easy enough to scrape the flesh from it, and I think it looks pretty. If you want to peel before you roast, that’s cool too. It just seemed easier to me to wait.

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This isn’t really your average salad. It’s got mustard greens, instead of lettuce, and they’re wilted, instead of raw. I added pears (or you could use apples) and cooked them with the greens just a bit. The dressing is made up of orange juice, maple syrup, and molasses. They all go into the pan with everything else. Think Wilted Spinach Salad with lots of awesome twists.

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If you have spinach or other greens, they’ll be great too. Lemons instead of oranges, give them a try (or go for half and half so it’s not too tart). I added shallots, but red onion would be fab. And if you’re not crazy about the seeds from the squash, you could chop up some nuts instead (or hey, do both!).

This would make a lovely side for a holiday dinner, or you could reheat leftovers and serve them with scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast. However you serve it, I hope you enjoy it with good company, in good cheer.

Merry Christmas!

 

Wilted Mustard Greens with Acorn Squash and Pear

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Yield: 2-3

Wilted Mustard Greens with Acorn Squash and Pear

Ingredients

  • 1 medium-sized acorn squash (may substitute with other types of winter squash), seeds removed and reserved, peeled if desired, sliced
  • 2 T olive oil
  • to taste salt
  • 1 bunch mustard greens (or mizuna, kale, chard, spinach, or any other greens you have on hand), ribs removed, chopped
  • to taste salt
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 t fresh ginger, minced
  • 1/4 C shallot or onion or leek, sliced
  • 1 t maple syrup
  • 1 t molasses
  • pinch cayenne
  • 1 T orange or lemon zest
  • 1/4 C orange juice
  • 1 ripe pear or apple, sliced
  • 1/2 T lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350F.
  2. Rub squash with 1 t oil and sprinkle with salt. Roast for 15 minutes, flip, and roast for about 15 more (or until squash is tender and pierces easily with a sharp knife).
  3. Toss squash seeds with 1 t oil and a pinch of salt. Roast on a baking sheet for about 10-15 minutes, or until crispy, stirring once. Salt lightly once removed from the oven.
  4. Heat skillet and add remaining oil. Add greens and a pinch of salt. Cook over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic through orange juice and cook for about 5 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Add pears or apples and cook for about 5 minutes, or until fruit is a bit tender, adding more orange juice if needed. Remove from heat and add lemon juice and taste for seasoning.
  5. Serve greens topped with roasted squash and roasted seeds.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/mustard-greens-squash-pear/

Wednesday

16

December 2015

0

COMMENTS

Garlic and Herb Bread

Written by , Posted in Appetizers, Bread, Cheese, Dairy-Free, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Nuts, Sandwiches, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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If you need me this winter, I’ll likely be cooking soup, eating soup, chilling soup, reheating soup, and baking all sorts of bread to go with the soup. This is my favorite time of year for that reason. Normally, I’m content with bread still a bit warm from the oven to go with it. You know how they say that there’s nothing like freshly baked bread? They’re right. (By the way, who are “they”?) Sometimes it’s fun to do more than just have bread and butter though. I mean, I learned while in Paris that there is probably nothing I’d rather eat forever and ever than a French baguette with French butter. Literally. I might be willing to give up bacon. But, as we crunched into this herby, garlic studded bread, I couldn’t decide what I liked better, the bread or the Turkey Noodle Soup I’d made to go with it. And I didn’t miss the butter at all.

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This isn’t an ordinary garlic bread. I threw in some fresh herbs (rosemary from last week’s Abundant Harvest Organics box, and basil from my garden) and a bunch of greens. I used spinach this time, but when I planned the recipe I did so with kale in mind. I’d also use arugula, mizuna, chard, or bok choy. If you don’t have greens, but you want it to be green in color, you could make it with peas… Why not?!

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For the cheese I opted for colby jack. But, parmesan, goat, feta, cream cheese, or ricotta would be great too.

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I added some nuts, just to make it interesting. To make it even more so, you could add: fennel, asparagus, mushrooms, cabbage, kohlrabi, olives, radicchio, apples (not with garlic or chives), or apricots (not with chives), depending on what’s in season.

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After I blended it up I realized that this is basically a pesto. Pestos often have something green, some nuts, garlic, cheese, and olive oil. This has all of that and more. The great thing about this realization is that if there are leftovers, there’s a lot to do with them.

– mix into pasta

– make into grilled cheese

– add to soup

– stir into risotto

– top a baked potato (or make into twice baked potatoes)

– add it to hasselback potatoes

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I love this bread served with whatever soup I’ve got on hand. But, on its own it also makes for a fabulous snack.

Happy Eating!

Garlic and Herb Bread

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 10

Garlic and Herb Bread

Ingredients

  • 8-10 cloves garlic
  • 2 t fresh rosemary or thyme
  • 2 T fresh basil or chives
  • 2 C greens (kale, spinach, arugula, chard, mizuna, bok choy etc...) or use peas
  • (optional) 1C any: fennel, asparagus, mushrooms, cabbage, kohlrabi, olives, radicchio, apples (not with garlic or chives), or apricots (not with chives)
  • 1/2 to 1 C nuts (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts)
  • 2 C cheese (parmesan - for vegan could use bread crumbs and capers*, goat, feta, cream cheese, or ricotta), grated or crumbled
  • 1/4 to 1/3 C olive oil
  • 1 t lemon zest
  • 2 t lemon juice
  • to taste salt
  • good pinch cayenne
  • 1 loaf of your favorite bread, sliced

Instructions

  1. Place garlic through cayenne in a food processor. Blend for 20-40 seconds, scrape down the sides and blend for about 10 seconds more. Taste for seasoning.
  2. Spread mixture on bread. Either broil for 2-5 minutes (watch it carefully so it doesn't burn), bake until bubbly and browned, or put between the slices of bread (or slice bread horizontally), wrap in foil, and bake until warmed through.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/garlic-and-herb-bread/

Friday

11

December 2015

1

COMMENTS

Persimmon Apple Bread

Written by , Posted in Baking, Bread, Breakfast, Brunch, Dairy-Free, Dessert, Eggs, Fruit, Grains, Kid-Friendly, Nuts, Snacks, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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I don’t know if the old adage, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is true. But, apples have always been a favorite of mine, so if I can eat an apple every day that makes me happy. My favorite way to enjoy them is raw. Sliced, whole, chopped… it doesn’t matter. Since we go through apples pretty quickly, they don’t often get cooked. We either don’t feel the need, or there just aren’t any left. But, sometimes, I need to bake bread, and the bread needs to be studded with apples.

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For this recipe I used Pippins. But, in my kitchen, I’d use whatever I have on hand. I’m sure the experts would disagree. There are some apples that are better for baking (Granny Smiths), and some that are best eaten out of hand (Fujis and Galas). But, as I’ve mentioned before, I’m a frugal cook, so I prefer to make do and adapt to what I’ve got, if at all possible.

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This bread is a dense, muffin-like bread. You could call it an Apple Snack Cake if that’s more appealing to someone that you’re trying to convince to try it. You could bake it in muffin tins if that’s easier or more manageable.

When persimmons are no longer in season you could add a super ripe (or frozen then thawed) banana. When apples are no longer in season, you could sub pears, Asian pears, persimmons, figs, cherries, or stone fruit. If you wanted to add some grated veggies, carrots, parsnips, or summer squash could be easily hidden (ok, maybe not the carrots, but you wouldn’t taste them too much). You could add nuts and seeds, raisins, dried cherries or cranberries (why don’t we call raisins “dried grapes”?), or maybe even chocolate chips.

What I’m trying to say is, it’s pretty versatile.

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Like many baked goods, the dry ingredients are combined first, then set aside. The wet ingredients come together next. Everyone jumps into the bowl, then into a greased loaf pan. Easy. Quick. Snack attack time is near.

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I would suggest letting the bread cool completely before slicing. If it’s still warm it may be a little too crumbly (although still yummy).

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I opted for simple, and topped it with some homemade butter. But, you could also top it with caramel and serve it for dessert. You might spread some cream cheese on a slice, or top the whole thing with cream cheese frosting. Or, as an ode to one of my favorite snacks, eat it for breakfast topped with some crunchy peanut butter.

Peanut butter and apples. Apples and cheese. Apples and almonds… apples and almost anything.

Happy Eating!

Persimmon Apple Bread

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Yield: 6-8

Serving Size: 1 to 1.5 slices

Persimmon Apple Bread

Ingredients

  • 1 C whole wheat flour
  • 1/4 t salt
  • 1/2 t baking powder
  • 1/2 t baking soda
  • 1/4 t cinnamon
  • 1 t fresh ginger, minced (or 1/4 t ground)
  • 1/2 C cold unsalted butter (could sub cold coconut oil), cut into small chunks
  • 1 C oats (can also use granola)
  • 1 1/4 C apples (or chopped pears, Asian pears, persimmons, figs, cherries, stone fruit, or grated carrots, parsnips, or summer squash), chopped
  • 1/2 C persimmon pulp
  • 1 egg
  • 1 t apple cider vinegar
  • 1 t vanilla extract
  • 1 T maple syrup
  • optional, for topping: seeds or chopped nuts

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350F.
  2. Whisk the flour through ginger. Mix in butter or oil with a pastry blender or hands (until it resembles a coarse meal or pea sized chunks). Stir in oats and fruit. Set in the freezer while you assemble wet ingredients.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the persimmon pulp through maple syrup. Add dry ingredients and stir to combine.
  4. Scoop into a greased loaf pan (or into greased muffin tins). Top with nuts and seeds if using. Bake for 35-40 minutes (20-22 for muffins), or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  5. Remove from the oven and cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and cool completely on a cooling rack.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/persimmon-apple-bread/