Monday

3

November 2014

2

COMMENTS

Spicy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

Written by Rachel, Posted in Cheese, Dinner, Gluten Free, Herbs, Holiday, Lunch, Potatoes, Roasting, Sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian

I’m thinking about the upcoming holidays. I’m making lists of gifts to buy for others, things I’d love to have (not that I need anything else), and recipes to make while we’re with family. A few weeks ago I was talking with my brother, Josh. We really like food, so that’s usually part of any conversation. We decided that at Christmas we’re going to make Duck Tourtière, Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans with Bacon and Almonds, and a Butter Lettuce Salad with Pine Nuts, Pumpkin Seeds, and Cranberries.

I may try to sneak these Spicy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes in to the mix. Or I might see if I can add them to the Thanksgiving dinner menu… Whenever it happens, I’ve got to eat these again.

They start out simple – some olive oil, salt, and pepper. Then in to the oven.

While they roast away, cilantro is washed and chopped.

Confession: I didn’t think I liked cilantro. I’m still not sure that I do. But, I’ve heard that you either love it or hate it, and if you hate it, you think it tastes like soap. I don’t think it tastes like soap, so I must love it.

I’m learning to, in any case.

The cilantro is mixed with a bit of spicy chile pepper (cayenne would work too), garlic, and cheese. Once the sweet potatoes are finished with their oven time, the flesh gets scooped out and mixed in too.

Mash it up and make it as creamy as you’d like. I like a few lumps left in there for texture.

They get to roast for a little while longer while the toppings are prepared. More cilantro, some Greek yogurt, and some Kale Pesto (Basil Pesto would be great too!).

I sprinkled them with some coarse sea salt before they went in to the oven. I didn’t add any more cheese to the top. You could do the opposite if you’d prefer.

A good dollop of Greek yogurt goes on top, cilantro is sprinkled, and pesto waits to adorn.

Happy Eating!

Spicy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes

Yield: 2

Serving Size: Half of a sweet potato.

Spicy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

1 medium sized sweet potato, halved
1 t olive oil
to taste salt
to taste pepper
1 T fresh cilantro, chopped, divided
1/2 T unsalted butter
to taste salt
to taste pepper
1/4 C cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 chile pepper, ribs and seeds removed, minced (or pinch cayenne)
1 clove garlic, minced
coarse sea salt, for topping (optional)
Greek yogurt, for topping
kale (or basil) pesto, for topping

Instructions

Brush both sides of the sweet potato with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place cut side down on a baking sheet. Pierce a few times with a fork. Bake at 350F for 45-50 minutes, or until the flesh is tender.
Scoop out the flesh and mix with cilantro through garlic. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. Return the filling to the skins and top with sea salt. Return to the oven and bake for about 10-15 minutes more.
Serve topped with yogurt, pesto, and reserved cilantro.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/spicy-twice-baked-sweet-potatoes/

Monday

27

October 2014

0

COMMENTS

Chicken Pot Pie

Written by Rachel, Posted in Baking, Dinner, Herbs, Leftovers, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, One Dish Dinners, Potatoes, Poultry, Vegetables

Today is one of those fall days where it actually feels like fall. I’m wearing jeans and a sweater and am totally comfortable.

I’m also going through the photos that I took of the Chicken Pot Pie that I made the other week and drooling. We ate the leftovers for dinner last night, otherwise I’d probably be heating them up for lunch right now.

So that’s a little bit about my life.

Fall weather and Chicken Pot Pie make me happy.

So do things like my dog’s whiskers, the way the sky can turn such brilliant shades of orange and pink after the sun’s gone down, and a good Skype conversation with my dad.

I have to tell you, this particular Chicken Pot Pie recipe is one of my favorites. After tasting the sauce I yelled, “Oh my gosh!”, to no one but myself. So, I just had to share it with you.

It’s a simple pie with humble ingredients. I make this often enough, and use what I have on hand. So it can range from things like carrots, potatoes, and celery, to parsnips, squash, and peas. It feels like the kind of meal that’s been made for years and years and years, by people who at the end of the day, just want something nourishing and delicious to fill their bellies.

This meal fits that exactly.

A couple of weeks ago I roasted some chicken. The leftovers and pan drippings were frozen. Saved just for this meal. The bones went into the freezer, for the next time I need to make stock. I defrosted the chicken in the fridge overnight and then shredded it and dropped it into the cooked veggies.

I usually use chicken stock for this dish. But, this time I had pan drippings. You can tell the difference by the jiggliness of it. The pan drippings jiggle, while stock is more liquid. The fat will rise to the top of both. I like to scrape it off (and give it to the dog as a treat).

For this type of dish, I find it a little bit easier to just whisk the thickening agent (flour or cornstarch) together with some of the liquids, and add it to the pan. It thickens nicely once it boils. A traditional roux can be made instead (you know, where you heat some fat, then add an equal amount of flour and cook for about 30-60 seconds, then whisk in the stock and let it thicken), if you prefer.

After it boils and thickens, the milk is added. I don’t like it when the sauce breaks, so I like to leave the milk out until the end. Then heat it ever so gently, just until steam rises.

Once the seasoning is checked, the skillet is set on a baking sheet (in case of overflow – I’d rather clean that than the inside of the oven).

Pie crust is rolled out. I used Alana’s recipe (from her cookbook). I tried to work quickly, but since the skillet and filling were both so hot, it got a little soft. It didn’t seem to matter in the end though.

The crust is brushed with egg and sprinkled with some of the sea salt that we brought back from Paris. Just because it feels fancy and I like the crunch.

And then it bakes and bakes and suddenly it’s done and the air smells like so much goodness that I almost can’t contain myself. I want to devour the entire pie before it’s cooled and before my friend arrives for lunch.

But, I don’t. I restrain myself. I eat a normal sized portion and don’t even yell about how good it is in the middle of our conversation (although she did interrupt us to ask about the pie crust). I like when things get interrupted because something is just too good to keep quiet about.

Happy Eating!

Chicken Pot Pie

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes

Yield: 4

Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients

2 T olive oil
1 carrot (or parsnip), chopped
2 small potatoes (or combination of 1-1 1/2 C potato, radish, turnip, or rutabaga), chopped
1 small sweet potato (or 1 C peeled acorn or butternut squash), chopped
1 small onion (or 2 shallots), chopped
2 stalks celery (or 1 fennel bulb), chopped
to taste salt
to taste pepper
1 t fresh rosemary (or thyme), chopped
1 small summer squash, (or 1/2 C cauliflower or peas), chopped
1-2 C chicken, cooked and shredded
2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 1/2 C chicken (or vegetable) stock or chicken pan drippings
2 T all purpose flour (or 1 T cornstarch)
1/2 C cold water
1/2 C milk
1 pie crust
1 egg, beaten
coarse sea salt
lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 375F.
Heat an oven proof skillet. Add oil. When oil is hot, add carrot through rosemary. Cook covered, over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Add summer squash and chicken and cook for about 3-5 minutes more, or until veggies are tender. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
Whisk stock or pan drippings with flour and water. Add to the skillet, turn the heat to high, and bring it to a boil. Let it thicken for about 2-3 minutes. Whisk in the milk, turn heat to medium-low, and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until steam rises, but do not boil. Remove from heat, taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Set on a baking sheet.
Roll out pie crust. Top the filling with the crust (careful, the skillet is hot!). Make a few air vents with a sharp knife. Brush with the egg and sprinkle with the coarse sea salt. Bake for 22-30 minutes, or until crust is browned and flaky.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/chicken-pot-pie-2/

Sunday

19

October 2014

0

COMMENTS

Vegetarian Soft Tacos

Written by Rachel, Posted in Beans, Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Kid-Friendly, Legumes, Lunch, Main Dishes, Quick and Easy, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Even though I’m tired of the heat we’re still experiencing, I’m hanging on as long as I can to the summer veggies. Specifically summer squash.

I’m fine that the apples are here. I’m glad that we’ve got grapes. But, I don’t want the cute little squash to go bye bye.

So I’m using them as often as I can. Savoring each squashy bite.

I feel like squash kinda goes with everything. I like to add it to eggs, wrap it with pie crust, and slice it thin for pizza.

Oh my squash it’s good.

See what I did there?

Sorrynotsorry.

Squash, shallots, radishes, and a chile pepper are added to some hot oil.

This isn’t going to take long.

Next come the beans and seasonings.

I love beans in tacos and enchiladas. Meat is great too, but we eat a lot of vegetarian meals, just because we do, so often things like beans, quinoa, and eggs are our forms of protein. That being said, this would taste great with some ground beef. The main reason I didn’t use any: I didn’t have any.

I used pinto beans. They’re my favorite for tacos and enchiladas. But, kidney, black, or garbonzos would also work. They will change the taste of the dish a bit, but no big deal.

Almost before the lettuce is washed, tomatoes are chopped, and cheese is grated, the bean and veggie mixture is done. This is a seriously quick meal.

Everything gets piled onto half of the tortilla (whole grain for me, white for Tim), then the unadorned half gets folded over.

You could totally fry up some tortillas and make hard shell tacos. Corn tortillas work great for this. But, for a super quick meal, I like ’em soft.

I usually bring the salsa and yogurt with me so I can add more while I eat. I like my tacos messy.

Happy Eating!

Vegetarian Soft Tacos

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 9 minutes

Total Time: 14 minutes

Vegetarian Soft Tacos

Ingredients

1 T olive oil
1 radish (or carrot, or both), grated
1 small summer squash, grated (or bell pepper, chopped, or both)
1 hot chile pepper, ribs and seeds removed (unless you'd like more spice), diced
1 shallot, chopped
1 clove garlic, diced
1/4 C corn
1 t chili powder
1 t paprika
to taste salt
to taste pepper
1 to 1 1/2 C pinto beans
2 tortillas
cheese, grated
lettuce, shredded
tomato, chopped
Greek yogurt
salsa

Instructions

Heat a skillet and add oil. When oil is hot, add radish through shallot. Cook over medium-low heat for about 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add garlic through beans. Cook for about 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Divide the bean mixture between the tortillas and place on half of each one. Top it with cheese through salsa. Fold the un-topped half of the tortilla over the toppings.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/vegetarian-soft-tacos/

Thursday

16

October 2014

0

COMMENTS

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.

Monday

6

October 2014

0

COMMENTS

Grape Toasts

Written by Rachel, Posted in Appetizers, Baking, Bread, Cheese, Fruit, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Quick and Easy, Sandwiches, Sides, Snacks, Toasting, Vegetables, Vegetarian

One of my all time favorite snacks is crackers and cheese with grapes. When I used to teach aerobics many years ago, I’d come home starving, and would eat like it had been a really long time since I’d last eaten (when in fact it had probably just been a few hours).

Back then, I wasn’t eating seasonally. I didn’t realize that grapes were a late summer/early fall fruit. I didn’t know, guys. I mean, the grocery stores have almost everything available year round. I didn’t really question where things were coming from or if it was beneficial to be eating things that were coming from so far away. I didn’t realize that they were often so flavorless because they were picked green and transported to us, so we could have oranges in June and peaches in December.

That’s just the way it was.

No longer.

At least, not for us, if we can help it.

I love that we’re eating with the seasons. Some say it’s better for your health, some say it doesn’t matter. Whatever. I’m not going to argue with them. Potential health benefits aside, I love that by buying things that are in season, we’re supporting our local/California farmers. We’re also doing the environment a favor by not buying foods that are shipped from ridiculously far away, whenever possible. We’re just two of us here in our little home, but we’re trying to do our part.

This means we wait all year for things like grapes.

It’s worth it.

These sweet fall treats are sliced in half, seeds removed.

A baguette is sliced about 1/2″ thick.

I would always prefer homemade. But, I don’t have any right now. They’re a bit of a process, so I don’t make them as often as I wish I would. Every time I do I decide that I’m never going to buy a baguette again (unless we’re back in Paris, obviously). Then we run out and the cycle starts over.

I digress.

Bari’s olive oil is second to none. This goodness gets drizzled on the baguette.

So many good things come from a sentence that begins with, “cheese is grated”. Cheddar or monterey jack would be great. Gruyère would be awesome. Havarti would be divine. Use whatever cheese is your favorite, even if it’s not one of my suggestions.

A generous plomp of the cheese is placed on the grapes. And then it’s sprinkled with a bit of cayenne.

I’ve used the broiler at our new house now twice. I’m a little bit scared of it. No one knows why. I think it’s that it gets so very hot and can burn things when they’re forgotten about for just a minute. Thankfully, the stove has one of those broiler drawers that pulls out, so I don’t have to lay on the floor to check on the foods. Makes it much less scary.

I love the little crispy cheese crumbles that get stuck to the pan. I don’t usually share those.

Last step is to drizzle each toast with a bit of honey.

A little sweet, savory, kick of spicy treat. Perfect for right now.

Happy Eating!

Grape Toasts

Recipe Type: Appetizer, Snack, Fruit, Cheese

Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 3 mins

Total time: 8 mins

Serves: 2

Ingredients

6 slices baguette, about 1/2″ thick
1 t olive oil
9-12 grapes, halved lengthwise and seeded
to taste salt
1/4 C cheddar or monterey jack cheese
pinch cayenne
1 t honey

Instructions

Drizzle bread with oil. Top with grapes, a sprinkle of salt, cheese, and a sprinkle of cayenne.
Broil for about 2-3 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
Serve drizzled with honey.

3.2.1311

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