De Ma Cuisine

Gluten Free Archive

Monday

28

July 2014

0

COMMENTS

Parsnip Fries with Dip

Written by , Posted in Appetizers, Cheese, Condiments, Dinner, Gluten Free, Herbs, Kid-Friendly, Leftovers, Lunch, Quick and Easy, Roasting, Sides, Snacks, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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I have something to confess. Other than roasting parsnips, or using them in soups, I don’t have many other ways that I use them.

Maybe because I know how good they are roasted. Think fried plantains meets roasted carrots.

I figured that it was time to try something a little bit different. I mean, I’m still roasting them, but this time there’s dip.

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As with most of the veggies that I roast, they are tossed with Bari’s Organic Olive Oil, salt, and pepper. Simple.

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Then they go onto a baking sheet with a bit of room around each one. They’ll roast a bit better that way. I used two baking sheets for the seven parsnips, flipping the parsnips and rotating the sheets in the oven partway through.

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And then there is dip.

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A creamy, herby, garlicky dip.

You could dip so many things in this. Roasted veggies, obviously. Fresh veggies, yum. Or you could thin it out a little with some buttermilk and make it into a salad dressing.

The taste is a bit like caesar dressing meets ranch dressing.

Or, goodness in a bowl.

Confession number two: I couldn’t stop dipping.

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I can’t get enough of roasted veggies. They get all crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside.

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I made these to eat while we watched the All-Star Game the other week.

They’re best hot out of the oven, but room temperature is perfectly acceptable too.

If you don’t eat them all in one sitting (it was difficult for me to not eat them all before Tim even got home from work) and there are leftovers here are some yummy ways you could use them:

  1. Re-heated in some tinfoil (closed to start with, then once they’re warm, open to let them crisp up).
  2. Chopped up and sautéed with some greens.
  3. Re-heated and pulsed a couple times in the food processor (regular blender/hand blender) with some of the dip to serve alongside a roasted chicken.
  4. Chopped and added to soup (near the end of the cooking time).

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If you do eat them all in one sitting, I understand.

Happy Eating!

Parsnip Fries with Dip
Recipe Type: Side, Snack, Appetizer
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Sweet and crispy roasted parsnips are dipped in a creamy garlicky herb dip, making a delicious appetizer or snack.
Ingredients
  • 7-8 parsnips, cut into 3/8″ x 3/8″ x 3″ sticks (or French fry shape)
  • 1-2 T olive oil
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • dip: 3/4 C yogurt
  • 1/4 C parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1-2 cloves garlic
  • pinch ginger
  • 1/2 T honey
  • 1 T balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 to 1/2 t dried thyme
  • 1/4 to 1/2 t dried parsley
  • 1/4 C fresh basil
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 1/4 C olive oil
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 400F.
  2. Toss parsnips with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place on two baking sheets, without overcrowding. Bake for 10-15 minutes, flip, rotate position in the oven, and bake for about 10 minutes more (or until parsnips are crispy outside, tender inside).
  3. Blend dressing ingredients together (in food processor or blender). Adjust seasoning if needed.
  4. Serve immediately.
Notes
This makes a lot of dip, so you could probably halve the recipe and be just fine… probably. 😉

Thursday

17

July 2014

0

COMMENTS

How To Dry Tomatoes

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 250F.
  2. 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.
  3. Bake for 3 hours, turning occasionally, until tomatoes are nicely dried.
  4. 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

Thursday

10

July 2014

0

COMMENTS

How To: Fun Drinks with Summer Herbs

Written by , Posted in Cocktails, Drinks, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, How To, Quick and Easy, Vegetarian

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Oh summer herbs.

Right?!

I mean, I can’t get enough of basil and mint right now. So much so that I’ve planted some in my home garden, since I always seem to run out.

And then there’s lavender. I love the smell, have heard that people enjoy it in food and drinks, so I gave it a try too. (Admittedly, it’s not my very favorite thing to eat. But, I think it adds a nice hint in a drink, when strained… I left things in the drinks for the sake of the photos.)

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Not only do these drinks use some of my favorite summer herbs, but some of my favorite summer fruits.

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Herbs, honey, and fruit are muddled together. You know, when you smuush it and bruise the herbs and smash the lemon.

Muddle muddle muddle. Kinda fun to say.

Now for the parade of drinks.

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Lemon Basil (or Mint) Spritzer

1 slice lemon + 4 leaves basil or mint + 1 t honey + 1 t lemon juice + soda water

Muddle lemon, basil or mint, honey, and juice. Add soda water. Strain through a sieve (if desired) and serve over ice with a slice of lemon..

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Lavender Lemon Spritzer

1 slice lemon + pinch lavender + 1 t honey + 1 t lemon juice + soda water

Muddle lemon, lavender, honey, and juice. Add soda water. Strain through a sieve and serve over ice with a slice of lemon.

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Strawberry Ginger Lemonade

1 slice lemon + 4-5 basil leaves + pinch dried ginger + 2 t honey + 2 frozen strawberries +  juice from 1 lemon + soda water

Muddle lemon, basil, ginger, and honey. Strain through a sieve (if desired). Add strawberries, lemon juice, and soda water.

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Blueberry Ginger Lemonade

1 slice lemon + 4-5 basil leaves + pinch dried ginger + 2 t honey + 10 frozen blueberries +  juice from 1 lemon + soda water

Muddle lemon, basil, ginger, and honey. Strain through a sieve (if desired). Add blueberries, lemon juice, and soda water.

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Lavender Lemonade

1 slice lemon + pinch lavender + 2 t honey + 10 frozen blueberries +  juice from 1 lemon + soda water

Muddle lemon, lavender, and honey. Strain through a sieve. Add blueberries, lemon juice, and soda water.

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Blueberry Basil (or Mint) Mojito

1 slice lemon + 4-5 basil or mint leaves + 1 t honey + 10 frozen blueberries +  splash of rum (optional) + soda water

Muddle lemon, basil/mint, and honey. Strain through a sieve (if desired). Add blueberries, rum, and soda water. Serve over ice with a slice of lemon.

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Strawberry Basil (or Mint) Mojito

1 slice lemon + 4-5 basil or mint leaves + 1 t honey + 2 frozen strawberries +  splash of rum (optional) + soda water

Muddle lemon, basil/mint, and honey. Strain through a sieve (if desired). Add strawberries, rum, and soda water. Serve over ice with a slice of lemon.

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Lavender Cream

pinch lavender + dash vanilla extract + 1 t honey + splash milk or cream + soda water

Muddle lavender, vanilla, and honey. Strain through a sieve. Add milk/cream and soda water. Serve over ice.

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Peaches and Cream

4-5 basil or mint leaves + few slices of peach + 1 t honey + splash milk or cream + soda water

Muddle basil/mint, peach, and honey. Strain through a sieve. Add milk/cream and soda water. Serve over ice.

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Lavender Strawberry Vin

pinch lavender + 1 t balsamic vinegar + 1 t honey + 2 frozen strawberries + soda water

Muddle lavender, vinegar, and honey. Strain through a sieve. Add strawberries and soda water.

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Lavender Blueberry Vin

pinch lavender + 1 t balsamic vinegar + 1 t honey + 10 frozen blueberries + soda water

Muddle lavender, vinegar, and honey. Strain through a sieve. Add blueberries and soda water.

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I didn’t really need to drink all eleven drinks, so I mixed some (the first seven) of them into one drink and saved it for later.

Note: making eleven different drinks, in eleven different cups, without a dishwasher, means washing and drying eleven different cups. Riiiight. Now I know. 😉

Happy Drinking!

SummerDrinksWithHerbs-3

Thursday

3

July 2014

0

COMMENTS

Honey and Maple Syrup Sweetened Berry Jam

Written by , Posted in Breakfast, Brunch, Canning, Condiments, Dairy-Free, Dessert, Fruit, Gluten Free, Kid-Friendly, Vegetarian

StrawberryJamSecondTime-5One of my favorite things about summer is the fruit. The nectarines are amazing, the plums are incredible, and the berries… they are the best!

We had raspberries in the garden growing up, so they are my emotional favorite. Tim’s family has blackberries, so they’re a favorite too. But there’s just something about blueberries and strawberries… I love ’em.

I’m always so sad when their season ends (as it is ending now). I’m thankful for the others, don’t get me wrong. But, I want berry season to last as long as possible.

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There are plenty of ways to preserve these summer treasures. You can freeze washed berries, pitted cherries, and halved stone fruit on a baking sheet, and then pop them into a bag. You can make tons of crisps and cobblers and wrap them up really well and freeze them for November. You can make sauces and smoothies to be pulled out when the weather has turned cold.

And, you can make jam.

Last summer I decided that I would try. Surprisingly, it turned out. The catch was that I wanted to make it sans pectin and sugar. I didn’t know if you could, but I wanted to.

And I did.

I made three kinds: cherry, strawberry, and blueberry.

We ran out a few months ago. This year, I don’t intend to run out. So I made a ton. First strawberry (which follows the same recipe), then blueberry.

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Before you start, make sure you have clean jars and lids (the lid is the flat piece, and is not re-useable if you want them to seal, the band is the part that wraps around the jar and screws into place).

I don’t have a dishwasher, so I used a pot of boiling water and boiled for about ten minutes.

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I love lemon zest, so I opted to add a bunch for a hint of brightness, instead of only using lemon juice.

In general, if possible, any time I use a lemon, I zest it first. Why waste such goodness?! If there’s any extra, it goes into the freezer.

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Strawberry jam is a bit more of a process than blueberry. There’s hulling and chopping involved. 

It’s gonna be messy.

But it’s worth it.

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When I was making the strawberry, I forgot how much the stuff bubbles up. I had to move it to two pots, since the one was a bit too small.

I was wiser with the blueberries.

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It’s not going to be thick thick, like jam made with pectin. But, it will thicken up a bit. Cook it until it’s as thick as you want it (you can test it by putting a plate in the freezer and putting a dollop of jam on it so it will cool quickly, then test to see how runny it is), even if that’s longer than the time listed in the recipe.

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Jars are filled and left to cool on the counter for a bit. You should hear the lids popping as they seal. Sealed or not, I like to store them in the freezer (after fully cooling in the fridge), even after they’re opened. (There are different opinions on how long properly canned homemade jam will last unrefrigerated. (1) Since I didn’t pressure cook or process the jam in boiling water after adding it to the jars, I opted to be extra safe and keep them in the freezer, even if they did seal. In my experience, they have lasted as long as it took to consume them – less than a year, in the freezer. I hope that this summer’s batch will last more than a year, stored in the freezer. Once opened, stored in the fridge, they usually are fine for a month or two, maybe more. Just keep an eye out for mold. Jams with less sugar and that aren’t commercially prepared tend to have a shorter shelf life. (1) So be mindful of that, and whether or not you have pressure cooked them, when deciding where to store them.)

This jam is perfect for the usual toast or English muffin, to top ice cream, or to be eaten by the spoonful by a hungry food blogger.

Happy Eating! 

Blueberry or Strawberry Jam
Recipe Type: Condiment, Fruit, Preserving, Canning
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Ingredients
  • 12 C blueberries or strawberries (strawberries: hulled and chopped)
  • 4 C honey
  • 1 C maple syrup
  • 3 T lemon zest
  • 3/4 C lemon juice
Instructions
  1. Bring berries through lemon zest to a boil. Mash with a potato masher. Once it comes to a rapid boil, cook for 3-5 minutes.
  2. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for about 20 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat, stir in lemon juice, and let stand for 5 minutes.
  4. Ladle into jars, leaving about 1/2″ of space at the top. Cover with the lid and let stand for 15-30 minutes.
  5. Store at room temperature if they’ve sealed, or in the freezer if they haven’t (or if you just want to).
  6. Makes about 6 pints (or 12 half pints).
Notes
To sanitize jars, place in a large pot and cover with water (about 1 inch over the top of jars). Bring to a boil and boil for about 10 minutes.
3.2.1303

(1) I have referenced this site for information on the shelf life of jam.

Monday

30

June 2014

4

COMMENTS

Half Birthday Fun – Beef Chili

Written by , Posted in Beef, Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Potlucks, Sides, Soups, Thoughts, Vegetables

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Tim’s birthday is on Christmas Eve. We always try to make it special. But, the day is usually a mixture of birthday and Christmas Eve celebrations.

He is always a good sport about it.

But, this year, I thought that a half birthday celebration would be nice. An entire day devoted to celebrating him.

The day was filled with things that he loves.

We started with doughnuts. We’ve discovered a place that’s close enough to walk to. Often on Saturday mornings we will take the dog for a walk and get ourselves a treat.

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Then he went to a movie with a couple friends while I set up for later.

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We invited a few friends to continue the celebration of things that Tim loves.

Things like candy, caramel corn, and Blue Moon.

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Dinner was more of his favorites: hot dogs, beef chili, store bought potato salad, fruit salad, and chips.

He loves the things that I cook. He’s fine with our healthy lifestyle. So it’s fun to surprise him with things that aren’t so healthy once in a while (although I used organic hot dogs and organic grass fed beef for the chili, so I still felt good about eating it).

It was a fun treat. (I maaaay have felt a little bit sick afterwards, but it was worth it. ;))

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There was laughter. Lots of laughter.

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Another favorite is ice cream. It’s pretty much an entire food group for Tim.

A serving size for him is a third of a carton.

We’ve discovered a little ice cream shop called Quenelle (pronounced kuh-nell). They make all of their ice cream. It’s insanely good. An ice cream cake from Quenelle seemed like the perfect way to end our little dinner.

It was.

I don’t know that I’ve heard as many exclamations about how good a dessert was as I did that night.

The cake was a layer of nutella, a layer of cookies and crème fraiche, with a devil’s food cake layer at the bottom.

That expression “we all scream for ice cream” – yeah, we did.

I accidentally put trick candles on the cake. I didn’t know that we had them. It was a trick on everyone.

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As the light faded, we lit candles and sat for hours around the table.

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The evening was one of those times when, as I went inside to get something and looked out the window, I just kinda stopped, and almost got a little bit choked up, looking at some of our dear friends gathered around our table. We’re so thankful for the little community of loved ones we have here in L.A.

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I figured I should feed people chili. It’s easy and most people like it. It’s perfect in a bowl, or to top hot dogs. I made it the day before, then re-heated it the day of and kept it hot in the crock pot. Finding as many things to do beforehand made half birthday day so much more relaxed. I don’t think I stressed out at all. We had fun the whole day long.

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Tim loves chili with beans. He’s happy eating it when I add tons of veggies. But, since it was his day, I though I’d try something new, and just do it with beef.

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It’s pretty simple. The beef is cooked for a little bit with some seasonings. Onions are added partway through.

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Since bell peppers are one of his favorite veggies I added two. Plus one hot pepper for just a bit of heat.

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I have a hard time cooking without loads of garlic. Whatev.

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And then piles of canned diced tomatoes are added in to make it saucy. I cooked it for two hours the first day, then probably a good 4-5 on half birthday day. It doesn’t need the extra day of cooking, but it sure didn’t hurt.

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What a fun way to celebrate. It was a good day.

Happy 31 and a Halfth Birthday, Tim!

Beef Chili
Recipe Type: Main, Side, Beef, Meat, Dinner, Soup, Chili, Bell Peppers, Easy, Potlucks
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 8-10
Ingredients
  • 2 lb. ground beef
  • 2 white onions, chopped
  • 1 T chili powder
  • 1/2 T sweet paprika
  • 1 T smoked paprika
  • pinch cumin
  • pepper
  • 2 bell peppers, chopped
  • 1 hot pepper, leave seeds and ribs (optional), chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 T balsamic vinegar
  • 2-28 oz. cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 T lemon juice
  • 1 t sriracha hot sauce
  • 2-3 t salt
  • cheese, grated, for topping
  • onions, chopped, for topping
Instructions
  1. Heat a large soup pot. When hot, add beef and seasonings through pepper. Break apart (or mash using a potato masher) and cook over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes.
  2. Add onion and cook for about 5 minutes.
  3. Add peppers and cook for about 5 minutes more.
  4. Add garlic and cook for about 3 minutes.
  5. Add balsamic vinegar through salt. Stir to combine and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for about 2 hours, stirring every once in a while.
  6. Served topped with cheese and onions.