Thursday

4

September 2014

Deconstructed Lasagna

Written by Rachel, Posted in Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Inspired By, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Main Dishes, Pasta, Quick and Easy, Sauces, Sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian

This is an ode to lasagna.

Or lasagne.

I don’t really care how you spell it. What matters is that it tastes amazing.

But, it’s a lazy lasagna. It’s a quick and easy lasagna. It’s a lasagne whose best parts have taken apart and reassembled.

Deconstructed.

It starts, as most dinners cooked by me do, with lots of veggies. You could totally add more. Summer squash would be great. More greens are always fun. Grated carrots are fabulous.

You know how it is, use what you have.

Today, I have chives.

Had.

They all went into the pasta.

A good decision.

It’s always a good idea to add a little bit of the starchy pasta water to a pasta sauce. It helps the sauce to stick to the pasta when it’s combined.

Since the point of this dish was to make a lasagna-like meal, it has many of the same elements. I went for a vegetarian version, because I didn’t have any ground beef. I think that beef would still be delicious, but I really liked it without.

I finished photographing and couldn’t stop eating it.

I wrote “Oh my gosh! So freaking good!!!” at the top of the page in my notebook where I’d written down the recipe.

I could eat this again and again. With or without the beef.

With the ricotta. Definitely with.

What didn’t seem like a lot of pasta ended up as just the perfect amount. I always overestimate how much pasta I’m going to need.

I’ve invited Tim for dinner.

Because we’re married and he lives here.

Because I’m the cooker and this is what I’ve made for dinner…

But, I totally think this would be a great dinner party meal too.

Happy Eating!

Deconstructed Lasagna

Recipe Type: Main, Dinner, Pasta, Vegetarian

Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 25 mins

Total time: 35 mins

Serves: 3-4

If lasagna were taken apart, this amazing pasta would be the result. It’s rich, creamy, and delicious.

Ingredients

pasta
1 T olive oil
1 onion, diced
to taste salt
to taste pepper
1 C greens (collards, spinach, chard, kale), chopped
4 small tomatoes, diced
1/2 t dried rosemary, chopped
1/2 t dried thyme
1/2 to 1 t dried oregano
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch chives, chopped
1 T balsamic vinegar
8 oz. tomato sauce
1 T fresh parsley, chopped, divided
1 T fresh basil, chopped, divided
1/2 C water from cooked pasta
1 T lemon juice
15 oz. ricotta, divided
parmesan cheese, grated, for serving
lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions

Cook pasta. Reserve the pasta water when pasta is almost done and the water is starchy.
Heat skillet, add onion, salt, and pepper. Cook over medium or medium-low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add collards through oregano. Cook for 3 minutes. Then add garlic and chives. Cook for 1 minute more.
Add balsamic vinegar and cook for 30 seconds. Add tomato sauce, half of the parsley, half of the basil, pasta water, and lemon juice. Stir to combine and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Stir in half of the ricotta. Cook for about 30 seconds more. Remove from heat and taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Top with a dollop of ricotta, some parmesan, and a squeeze of lemon.

Notes

To make this recipe gluten-free use your favorite GF pasta.

Monday

1

September 2014

2

COMMENTS

Irish Nachos

Written by Rachel, Posted in Appetizers, Cheese, Dinner, Gluten Free, Herbs, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Main Dishes, Potatoes, Quick and Easy, Roasting, Sides, Snacks, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Confession: I’ve never actually had Irish Nachos. I’ve seen some pictures though, so maybe that counts for something. Tim had them once when he was out with friends. He came home and talked about how good they were.

They seemed like something that I could make.

It all starts with potatoes. You could slice them thin and round if you’d like. I cut them in to chunks because it’s quick and easy.

I need more quick and easy when it comes to meal preparations.

Since we get a weekly box of produce from Abundant Harvest Organics, I try to add as many veggies as possible to our meals. The longer I do it the easier it is and now it’s become second nature. All the times that I’ve made my Irish Nachos, I’ve added some sort of greens. I just love their flavor when they’re roasted.

This particular version of Irish Nachos has more veggies than Tim would prefer (just a little too piled on for him). I’ve made them two or three other times with less. He liked those better. So use my recipe as a suggestion box and tweak it and adapt it to suit your family.

I feel like Irish Nachos ought to have some sort of green onion sprinkled over top. That might just be me. In any case, I really like what they add to the dish.

Crisped up potatoes are gathered into piles.

Mmmmm piles of potatoes.

Then all of the toppings are piled on. You can do them in whatever order you’d like.

Don’t forget the cheese. They are nachos after all.

Since I recently cut a bunch of corn off the cob, I’m using it in everything. Summer Pizza, Squash and Egg Wraps, and Quinoa Salads… It’s good to have corn on hand.

My favorite part, whenever there’s hot cheese involved, are the crispy bits of cheeeeeese. Every last bit needs to be scraped off the pan.

Every last bit.

Happy Eating!

Irish Nachos

Recipe Type: Main, Dinner, Side, Snack, Potatoes, Vegetarian

Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 40 mins

Total time: 50 mins

Serves: 2-4

Ingredients

4 potatoes, cut into long chunks
1 T olive oil
1/2 t (or more) salt
to taste pepper
1/2 to 1 C greens (collards, kale, spinach, chard) cut in a chiffonade (thin ribbons)
1/2 to 1 C green onions (or chives), chopped
1/2 to 1 C cheese, grated
2 cobs corn, cut off the cob
yogurt, for topping
lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 350F.
Toss potatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place on 1-2 baking sheets (don’t overcrowd them – use two sheets if needed), and bake for 15 minutes, flip them (and rotate the position in the oven if using two sheets), and bake about 15 minutes more (or until potatoes are crispy outside, tender inside).
Gather potatoes into piles (as many piles as there are people eating), and top with greens, onions, cheese, and corn. Bake for 10 minutes more.
Serve topped with yogurt and a squeeze of lemon.

Monday

25

August 2014

2

COMMENTS

Meatball Subs

Written by Rachel, Posted in Beef, Bread, Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Herbs, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Quick and Easy, Sandwiches, Sauces

I want you to know that I almost had to stop working on this post to go back to the grocery store to buy some ground beef so I can make these sandwiches. They are not on the menu for dinner tonight, but working on these pictures is tormenting me.

Tormenting I say.

The day that I photographed this dish, as soon as I was done, I stood next to the island and inhaled it so fast that I think I gave myself heartburn.

Oops.

Worth it.

It all starts with meatballs. They’re made with organic beef, an egg, and some honey. Plus herbs. Gotta have herbs.

They start in the pan that an onion has just cooked in.

Some homemade tomato sauce is added, and they cook a bit longer.

I’m drooling here.

And then there’s a homemade baguette.

Can this meal get any better?!

If you don’t have the time to make homemade baguettes, I understand. They are a lot of work. Buuuut so worth it.

The bread is toasted in a buttered skillet.

Yep. It got better.

If you can manage to stop yourself from just standing at the stove and scooping the meatballs out of the pan with the bread, you can top it with cheese.

If you can’t, I understand.

Buuuuuuut I think that might actually be a good idea. You know how the best part of eating a plate of tomato sauced spaghetti is wiping down the plate with your buttered bread? This is kinda like that but better, because there’s so much more goodness to scoop up.

Next time I’m trying this.

If you’ve held yourself together and convinced yourself to not eat like a maniac at the stove, top the sandwich with lots of basil.

Now you’ve earned a bite.

So have I.

I’m hungry.

Happy Eating!

Meatball Subs

Recipe Type: Main, Sandwich, Lunch, Dinner, Beef

Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Total time: 45 mins

Serves: 3

One of our favorite sandwiches is also one of the messiest. Filled with delicious beef, basil, and cheese, we love a good meatball sub.

Ingredients

1 onion, diced
2 T olive oil, divided
1 egg
to taste salt
to taste pepper
1 t honey
1 t balsamic vinegar
2 C tomato sauce
1/2 t mustard
1 T fresh (or 1/2 t dried) parsley, divided
1 T fresh (or 1/2 t dried) thyme, divided
1 lb. ground beef
2 C tomato sauce
to taste salt
to taste pepper
1 t lemon juice
1 T butter
pinch salt
3 longish portions of baguette or crusty bread, sliced in half lengthwise
cheese, grated
fresh basil, for topping

Instructions

Heat a large skillet. Add 1 T olive oil. When it’s hot, add the onion and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes (or until onion is translucent and softened), stirring occasionally.
Whisk together egg through thyme. Combine beef with egg mixture, mixing together with your hands (do not over mix). Roll into about 12 meatballs.
In the onion skillet, add remaining 1 T olive oil, turn heat to medium-high, and add meatballs. Cook, turning often, until browned all over (about 8-10 minutes total).
Whisk together tomato sauce, salt, pepper, remaining parsley, and thyme. Pour into meatball pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook meatballs until they reach 160F (about 10-15 minutes). Stir in a squeeze of lemon.
Heat another skillet and add the butter and a pinch of salt. Once the butter is hot, add the bread (cut side down) and cook over medium heat it until it’s browned.
Top the bottom piece of bread with some cheese, four meatballs, a couple scoops of sauce, a bit more cheese, and the basil. Scoop a bit more sauce on the top piece of bread and close the sandwich.

Thursday

14

August 2014

0

COMMENTS

How To Dry and Pair Summer Herbs

Written by Rachel, Posted in Herbs, How To, Storage/Prep

If you walked into my kitchen, at most any time of the year, you’d see herbs at various stages in the drying process.

Usually they start in the fridge, in a glass, with a bit of water in the bottom. This is my favorite way to store fresh herbs, as they will sometimes last a week or two.

Once they’re past their prime, or if I don’t have plans to use them soon, I will wash them and lay them on a clean tea towel to dry. I leave them there for a week or two, or until they’re crispy and crumbly.

Dried herbs are stripped from their stems and stored in a labeled glass jar with a lid.

I have jars filled with most of the herbs we get from Abundant Harvest Organics in my pantry. Fresh is usually best, in my opinion, but I’m always happy to have things like basil and oregano on hand, no matter what state it is in.

We enjoy Italian flavors a lot in our home, so having a jar of an Italian herb blend always comes in handy. It’s perfect for anything from pizzas and calzones, to pastas and soups. This week I combined some of my favorites: basil, oregano, parsley, thyme, and rosemary.

They are smashed up and mixed together with a mortar and pestle before being stored in a jar for the next time we have Italian inspired pasta (which will probably be tonight).

Since it’s summer right now, let’s talk about a few of the summer herbs that we’ve been getting, and what they will pair well with (I often find ideas for what pairs well together in one of my favorite kitchen tools, The Flavor Bible).

Basil

Herbs Basil Pairs Well With

Chives

Cilantro

Oregano

Parsley

Rosemary

Thyme

Marjoram

Mint

Foods Basil Pairs Well With

Cheese

Eggs

Garlic

Olive Oil

Fennel

Pasta

Pesto

Tomatoes

Zucchini

Cuisines Basil Can Be Found In

Asian

Italian

Mediterranean

Thai

Vietnamese

Great Ways to Use Basil

Fresh Herb and Dried Tomato Bruschetta

Basil and Summer Squash Risotto

Fresh Fruit and Basil Stuffed French Toast

English Peas with Ricotta and Ham over Pasta

Roasted Stuffed Squash

Oregano

Herbs Oregano Pairs Well With

Basil

Marjoram

Chives

Parsley

Rosemary

Sage

Thyme

Foods Oregano Pairs Well With

Bell Peppers

Fish

Lemon

Meats

Pasta

Pizza

Tomatoes

Cuisines Oregano Can Be Found In

Greek

Italian

Mediterranean

Mexican

Tex-Mex

Great Ways to Use Oregano

Dried Tomatoes

Herbed Roasted Chicken Thighs with Cherry Tomatoes

Simple Summer Salad

Roasted Stuffed Squash

Sage

Herbs Sage Pairs Well With

Lemon Balm

Lemon Thyme

Thyme

Rosemary

Savory

Parsley

Oregano

Mint

Marjoram

Foods Sage Pairs Well With

Fennel

Beans

Cheese

Chicken

Onions

Pork

Pasta

Stuffing

Eggplant

Cuisines Sage Can Be Found In

European

French

Greek

Italian

Mediterranean

Spanish

Great Ways to Use Sage

Roasted Stuffed Squash

Roasted Lemon Balm Chicken

Sage Pesto

Mint

Herbs Mint Pairs Well With

Basil

Chives

Cilantro

Dill

Lavender

Lemongrass

Lemon Verbena

Marjoram

Parsley

Rosemary

Sage

Thyme

Foods Mint Pairs Well With

Beans

Chocolate

Cream

Ice Cream

Cucumbers

Fruit

Lamb

Salads

Sugar

Yogurt

Cuisines Mint Can Be Found In

Afghan

Asian

Egyptian

Greek

Indian

Mediterranean

Mexican

Middle Eastern

Moroccan

Thai

Turkish

Vietnamese

Great Ways to Use Mint

Mediterranean Summer Salad

Mint Iced Tea

Indian Spiced Okra

Fun Drinks with Summer Herbs

Happy Eating!

Monday

11

August 2014

6

COMMENTS

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Written by Rachel, Posted in Beans, Cheese, Dinner, Eggs, Gluten Free, Grains, Herbs, Kid-Friendly, Leftovers, Legumes, Low Carb, Lunch, Main Dishes, Potlucks, Quick and Easy, Quinoa, Salads, Sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian

We took a sick day a while back. But, we still needed to eat. I was going to make this quick salad and head back to bed. I felt a cold coming on and had done something to my back. So I was enjoying many many episodes of Gilmore Girls.

The tough thing about working from home and working as a food blogger is that every meal that is deemed good enough for the blog has to have photographs. It takes a lot of effort to stop working. It takes a lot of self control to force myself to just focus on dinner and not wonder whether or not I’m making a mistake by not photographing or writing it down.

Sometimes I’m glad when the sauce breaks.

One of my go-to easy meals to make for a sick day, or to take to a potluck (that hopefully doesn’t fall on the same day), is a quinoa salad. This one is full of veggies and protein. Just what we needed to give us a little lift when we weren’t feeling our best.

A veggie that will add both flavor and color is corn. Corn season is in full swing, so I’m using it in just about everything I can think of. Cutting corn off the cob when it’s not going to be used right away is a good idea, since the sugars turn into starch after a few days, making it less sweet. Corn that you’re not going to use can be frozen raw, for another time.

Collard greens, kale, or chard are cut chiffonade-style (thin ribbons). They add extra nutrients to this already healthy dish.

My in-laws went to Nazareth last year and brought me back some saffron. I’d never used it before and it was fun to experiment with in this dish. If you don’t want to use saffron, feel free to leave it out. If you want to use it, just a pinch will do.

The dressing is made up of some of my favorite things: lemon, honey, olive oil, and garlic.

I like a bit of feta in a salad like this. If you wanted to make this a vegan salad, omit the feta and honey and use your favorite vegan cheese and some maple syrup instead. For added protein (quinoa has lots too) I added garbanzo beans (chick peas).

There are plenty of fresh herbs, lots of cucumber and squash, and kalamata olives (for those of us that like them – Tim does not, but I love them).

I served this simple meal with some nectarines and plums, and a slice of lemon to squeeze over top.

There were leftovers, so a day or two later we had the same thing for lunch, topped with a fried egg.

My favorite way to fry eggs is covered over pretty low heat. Cracking the eggs into a bowl before adding them to the pan will allow any shells to be removed without scorching your finger on the bottom of the hot skillet.

Serve the salad cold, topped with a hot egg.

Perfection.

If you’re good at poaching eggs, those would be great on top too. One of my summer goals is to learn how to make Eggs Benedict, so hopefully my poaching skills will improve slightly. However, I’ve been distracted by our lovely front yard and the beautiful weather and haven’t done much learning.

I think we have about three more months of summer here in L.A., so I’ve got time.

Happy Eating!

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Recipe Type: Main, Salad, Side, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Eggs

Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine

Prep time: 10 mins

Total time: 10 mins

Serves: 4

Ingredients

1-2 C cooked quinoa
1-15 oz. can garbonzo beans
1/2 C summer squash, chopped
1/2 C cucumber, chopped
2 T basil, chopped
1 T oregano, chopped
1 stalk green onion, chopped
1 cob corn, cut off the cob
1/4 C feta (optional)
dressing: juice from 1/2 lemon
small pinch saffron
1/8 to 1/4 t smoked paprika
good pinch pepper
to taste salt
3 T apple cider vinegar
1 t honey
1 clove garlic, minced
pinch ground ginger
1/4 C olive oil
olives (optional), for topping
lemon slices, for serving

Instructions

Combine the quinoa with the beans, veggies, herbs, and feta.
Whisk together lemon juice through ginger. Slowly add the olive oil, whisking it in, creating an emulsion.
Mix dressing with salad.
Serve topped with olives and a squeeze of lemon.

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Herbs Archive

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Deconstructed Lasagna

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2

Irish Nachos

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25

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Meatball Subs

Happy Eating!

14

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How To Dry and Pair Summer Herbs

Basil

Oregano

Sage

Mint

Happy Eating!

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Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

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