De Ma Cuisine

Lunch Archive

Friday

6

September 2013

5

COMMENTS

Veggies and Beef – Taco Salad

Written by , Posted in Beef, Cheese, Dinner, Gluten Free, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Salads, Vegetables

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Are you ever too lazy to wash lettuce? Right. Me neither… It’s never a problem. That’s false. I don’t know why washing lettuce is a bother. It’s not like it takes all that long. And, I have a salad spinner, so I’m not even washing by hand. Sheesh, I say. Sheesh.

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We have 3 heads of lettuce in our fridge right now. And while I’m cool with using any that gets a little past its prime in vegetable stock, I’d much rather eat it raw. (Plus, I’m making vegetable stock right now, a lot of vegetable stock, and I may never have room in my freezer for anything else, let alone MORE vegetable stock… good thing it’s almost soup season.)

So let’s talk about lettuce for a minute. There are so many different varieties. I don’t know if I have a favorite. I tend to prefer the not so bitter ones, but other than that, not too picky. I have noticed that certain varieties (the less heavy leaves) don’t stand up as well to being prepared in advance and can get soggy if they’re not dried properly or if they’re dressed too soon. Simple solution: dry the lettuce well and dress it right before eating. Ok, that was easy.

I’ve never made anything like lettuce soup (is that a thing?). The craziest I get with lettuce is putting it on a sandwich or in a salad. Of all the salads, I’d say the Taco Salad is my favorite. I love it with any combination of the following: beans, beef, shredded chicken, chips, corn, shredded carrot, tomatoes, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cheese, Greek yogurt, salsa, guacamole… anything else? Oh ya, and lettuce, duh.

Taco Salad is one of two or three salads that Husband considers a meal. He’s not picky when it comes to food, but has mentioned this particular preference (he also doesn’t prefer overcooked asparagus and some squash, but he usually eats without complaint and sometimes the dog just gets a little more to clean off the plate ;)).

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Today, I don’t have any beans cooked (I tend to use dried beans, which require overnight soaking and then hours of cooking – definitely a time investment, but quite simple when I plan ahead… today I did not). So I’m going with what would be a regular old taco, in salad version. Almost regular. I’m definitely going to add zucchini and broccoli. And while I might be fine with that on a taco, I know that someone else in this household might not prefer it (but I think he would still eat it… after asking if there really was broccoli on it). There will be ground beef, bell peppers, tomato, corn chips, chives, Greek yogurt and salsa for dressing, and cheddar cheese.

I’m ready. Let’s eat!

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Taco Salad

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 2

Taco Salad

Ingredients

  • 1/4 to 1/2 lb. ground beef
  • 1/4 t chili powder
  • 1/4 t smoked paprika
  • 1/4 t sweet paprika
  • pinch cumin
  • pinch salt
  • pepper
  • pinch red pepper flakes
  • 3-4 C lettuce, torn
  • 1 small bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 C zucchini, finely chopped or grated
  • 1/2 C broccoli, chopped into small pieces
  • 1 tomato, chopped
  • 1/2 T chives, chopped
  • 1/4 C cheddar cheese, grated
  • corn chips, crumbled slightly, if desired
  • Greek yogurt
  • salsa

Instructions

  1. Cook beef with seasonings. Drain and discard fat. Set aside.
  2. Divide lettuce into two bowls and top with remaining veggies, chives, cheese, yogurt, and salsa.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/veggies-and-beef-taco-salad/

Happy Eating!

Wednesday

7

August 2013

6

COMMENTS

It’s About Time – Episode 76

Written by , Posted in A Cooking Show with Rachel O, Abundant Harvest Organics, Breakfast, Brunch, Cheese, Dinner, Eggs, Fruit, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, One Dish Dinners, Pork, Quick and Easy, This Week's Feast, Vegetables

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Can we all just agree that burritos and tacos are some of the best ever foods? I made some the other week with pickled red onions, beef, and kale. Phenomenal. I’m crazy about plain old ground beef, tomato, lettuce, and cheese (heavy on the Greek yogurt and salsa, please). Make it into a salad? Yes, I’m totally down. And then there’s the less often visited breakfast burrito… We have been strangers for much too long.

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Eating while photographing food is inevitable. And yummy. And satisfying. I don’t even need the tortilla to make me happy. But since it holds all the goodness, it can stay.

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Two of the many things that make these particular burritos so good: the sausage and the eggs. My experience with breakfast sausage so far in my life has been those greasy little nuggets that are often served at a diner. This ain’t no diner sausage. And these eggs, oh these eggs… They’re some of the prettiest eggs I ever did see. The yolks are so bright; yellow and gold.

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I’m glad to no longer be a stranger to the breakfast burrito (which I fully intend to eat at any meal that I please).

Happy Eating!

Breakfast Burritos

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 23 minutes

Total Time: 33 minutes

Yield: 2-4

Breakfast Burritos

Ingredients

  • 6 oz. breakfast sausage
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1 summer squash, chopped
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 t savory, minced
  • pepper, to taste
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/2 C milk
  • salt, to taste
  • cheese, grated, for topping
  • 1 tomato, chopped, for topping
  • tortillas

Instructions

  1. Cook sausage in skillet over medium or medium-low heat for about 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove to a paper towel lined bowl and set aside. Wipe out skillet (optional).
  2. Add olive oil. When oil is hot, add veggies (except tomato), savory, and pepper. Cook over medium-low heat for 5-7 minutes, or until veggies are tender, stirring occasionally.
  3. Whisk together eggs, milk, and salt.
  4. Add sausage back to pan. Turn heat to low. Add eggs and cook, stirring often, for 4-6 minutes, or until eggs are cooked.
  5. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  6. Spoon egg mixture onto tortillas. Top with cheese and tomato. Fold and roll up sides.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/its-about-time-ep76/

Sponsors: Abundant Harvest Organics, Bari Olive Oil Company, Waterfall Creative, Molly Jenson, Llano Seco Organic Pork, Burroughs Family Farms.

Monday

22

July 2013

2

COMMENTS

Fried Eggplant Ratatouille

Written by , Posted in Bread, Cheese, Dinner, Eggs, Fruit, Lunch, Main Dishes, Toasting, Vegetables, Vegetarian

 

Fried Eggplant Ratatouille
Recipe Type: Main, Stove top, Dinner, Vegetarian
Cuisine: French
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2
A twist on a classic – the eggplant is fried, the other veggies are raw.
Ingredients
  • 1 eggplant, peeled and thinly sliced 1/2″ thick
  • salt (for eggplant)
  • 1 to 2 eggs, whisked
  • 1/2 to 1 C AP flour
  • pinch salt
  • pinch pepper
  • pinch cayenne
  • olive oil, for frying
  • 1 bell pepper, diced
  • 1 tomato, diced
  • 1/4 C red onion, diced
  • 1 summer squash, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/4 t thyme
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • pinch cayenne
  • 1/2 t honey
  • 1-2 T lemon juice
  • 2 T olive oil
  • 1 T balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 t dijon mustard
  • pinch red pepper flakes
  • 4 thin slices of bread
  • 1 ball mozzarella, in large chunks
  • fresh basil, chopped, for topping
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 200F. Place a baking sheet with a cooling rack in the middle in the oven.
  2. Sprinkle eggplant generously with salt. Let sit for 15-30 minutes to draw out some of the moisture (reducing bitterness). Rinse and pat dry.
  3. Whisk together garlic, thyme, salt, pepper, cayenne, honey, lemon juice, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, and red pepper flakes.
  4. Combine bell pepper, onion, tomato, and summer squash with dressing.
  5. Toast bread.
  6. Mix flour with a bit of salt, pepper, and cayenne. Heat skillet and add oil. Dip eggplant in egg then in flour. When oil is hot, add eggplant to skillet and cook over medium to medium high heat for a few minutes on each side (they’re done when they’re crispy and slightly browned). Place cooked eggplants on the cooling rack on the baking sheet in the oven to keep warm.
  7. Top 2 slices of eggplant with a piece of bread, mozzarella, some of the veggie mixture, 2 more slices of eggplant, bread, mozzarella, and veggies. Top with fresh basil.

 

Wednesday

10

July 2013

0

COMMENTS

Asian Chicken Salad

Written by , Posted in Condiments, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Leftovers, Low Carb, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Poultry, Salads, Sides, Vegetables

 

Asian Chicken Salad
Recipe Type: Salad, Main, Meat, Vegetables
Cuisine: Asian
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2-4
Ingredients
  • 4-6 C lettuce, torn
  • 1 carrot, sliced into rounds (about 1 C)
  • 2 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges (about 1 1/2 C)
  • 1 bell pepper, julienned or thinly sliced (about 1 C)
  • 1 sweet pepper, seeded and chopped (about 1/4 C)
  • 1 summer squash, julienned or thinly sliced (about 1 C)
  • 1 cucumber, halved and sliced in half moons (peeled and seeded if desired) (about 1/2 C)
  • 2 T red onion (optional), chopped
  • 1/2 T chives or green onion, chopped
  • 1 C chicken, cooked and chopped (I used leftovers)
  • 1/3 C almonds, chopped, for topping
  • 1 T sesame seeds, for topping
Instructions
  1. Toast sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Watch carefully so they do not burn.
  2. Combine veggies and chicken in a bowl. Top with almonds, sesame seeds, and Honey-Dijon Dressing. Toss to combine.

 

Wednesday

3

July 2013

0

COMMENTS

Tomato Corn and Quinoa Salad

Written by , Posted in Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Grains, Leftovers, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Potlucks, Poultry, Quinoa, Salads, Sides, Vegetables

 

Tomato Corn and Quinoa Salad
Recipe Type: Salad, Main, Side, Vegetable, Meat, Chicken
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6-8
Perfect for a picnic or a BBQ, this is a light yet hearty salad, with plenty of delicious summer veggies.
Ingredients
  • 2 C uncooked quinoa, rinsed and drained
  • 4 C stock or water
  • 4 ears of corn, kernels sliced off the cob
  • 2 small summer squash, diced
  • 1 C green beans, diced
  • 1/4 to 1/2 C red onion, diced or minced
  • 5 small tomatoes, diced
  • 1 C chicken, cooked and chopped
  • Dressing: 1 T lemon juice
  • 1/2 to 1 T apple cider vinegar
  • 2 T balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 T maple syrup
  • 1 t dijon mustard
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • pinch cayenne
  • 2 T fresh basil, chopped
  • 1 T fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 t fresh oregano, chopped
  • 1 t fresh chives, chopped
  • 3/4 C olive oil
Instructions
  1. In a medium pot combine quinoa and stock/water. Stir. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed and quinoa is cooked.
  2. Whisk together all dressing ingredients except olive oil. Whisk and slowly stream in olive oil. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  3. Combine half the dressing with the quinoa. Refrigerate while you prepare the veggies.
  4. Combine quinoa with remaining dressing, chicken, and veggies. Stir well. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Cool completely.
  5. Serve as larger portions for a main dish, or smaller portions along with something grilled and delicious as a side.