De Ma Cuisine

Quick and Easy Archive

Wednesday

18

February 2015

4

COMMENTS

Turnip Hash with Bacon and Gouda

Written by , Posted in Breakfast, Brunch, Cheese, Dinner, Eggs, Fruit, Gluten Free, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Nuts, Pork, Potatoes, Quick and Easy, Vegetables

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Lunchtime is often spent at my desk. Sometimes it’s what I’ve cooked for a post, maybe it’s leftovers, occasionally it’s an almond butter and honey sandwich with some fruit and a glass of milk. Whatever it is, it’s usually eaten while I do something else, often standing at the kitchen island because I don’t have time to sit down.

I sat down for this one.

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I would argue that almost anything is better with bacon. I could probably give up any other meat. But, bacon, it’s not going anywhere. Paired with crispy on the outside, tender on the inside turnips, and these two things alone could win me over.

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They took less than ten minutes. This is a quick one to whip up.

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Once the veggies were done, they got moved over to the side so an egg could be fried. I like to get the skillet really hot, so the edges can crisp up a bit. Then I flip, turn off the heat, and let the top set just a bit. I like the yolk to be runny, so it will combine with the veggies to make a dressing of sorts. However you like to cook your eggs will be perfect though. You could even scramble them if you’d like.

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And then, the dish came together with some gouda cheese, chopped spring onions, roasted and salted almonds, and a squeeze of lemon.

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I sat and ate this while making yummy sounds and writing happy notes in my recipe notebook.

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Is it weird that I want to have this again for dinner instead of the homemade pasta with homemade tomato sauce that I’ve got planned. Yeah, I liked it that much.

Happy Eating!

Turnip Hash with Bacon and Gouda

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 2

Turnip Hash with Bacon and Gouda

Ingredients

  • 4 slices bacon
  • 2 T olive oil
  • 3 small turnips (or potatoes or rutabagas), chopped
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • pinch cayenne
  • 2 C broccoli, chopped
  • 1 egg/person
  • 2 T gouda cheese, chopped
  • 1 T green or spring onion, chopped
  • 2 T almonds, chopped
  • lemon slices, for serving

Instructions

  1. Cook bacon. Remove from pan and drain on a paper towel lined plate. When cool, crumble.
  2. Add olive oil to bacon grease. When it's hot, add turnip through cayenne. Cook over medium or medium-low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add broccoli and cook another 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  3. Move veggies over to the side of the skillet (or remove and keep warm). Fry egg(s).
  4. Divide the veggie mixture between two plates. Top with egg, cheese, onion, almonds, bacon, and a squeeze of lemon.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/turnip-hash-with-bacon-and-gouda/

Thursday

12

February 2015

2

COMMENTS

Cornmeal Pancakes with Almond Butter and Apples

Written by , Posted in Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner, Eggs, Fruit, Gluten Free, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Main Dishes, Quick and Easy, Vegetarian

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Breakfast food is good any time of the day. Take these pancakes for example. They’re simple enough to whip up in the morning when it’s a little earlier than you might like to be up. And, they’re filling enough to be eaten for lunch or dinner.

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I’ve made cornmeal pancakes quite a few times before. I’ve written about different ways that I like to top them. Of course, they’re amazing just out of the skillet with nothing but maple syrup. But, I love to make a pancake breakfast (or lunch or dinner) into a hearty meal, so I like to add a bunch of toppings.

Today, I went with Burroughs Family Farms almond butter. If you haven’t tried it before, you are missing out… It’s seriously good stuff. (It would also be great on Stuffed French Toast, if you’re looking for another way to use it.) I thought that apples would be great with the almond butter (whatever fruit is in season will work: pears, persimmons, peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries… they’d all be amazing, or if you’ve got some homemade Peach Sauce, that would be delicious too). Then for a bit of brightness, I added some lemon zest. Do this. So tasty!

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The pancake basics come together pretty quickly. The dry ingredients are whisked together separately from the wet ones. The wet ones include a Burroughs Family Farm egg. Love the color of that yolk!

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Everyone gets whisked together to make a not too thin, not too thick batter.

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These are smaller pancakes (which is why I can eat the whole batch on my own if I’m not careful). Just 2-3 tablespoons of batter is all that you’ll need for each one.

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They cook a bit quicker than regular pancakes too. They just need about one minute on each side.

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And then they’re ready to be topped with that almond butter.

Go for it!

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You can top each one with apples and stack ’em, or just arrange them on the plate. Then add some lemon zest, a squeeze of lemon, and some maple syrup. If you wanted to make this meal even better, you could add a fried egg on the side… because a fried egg makes pretty much any meal just that much yummier. 😉

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Happy Eating!

Cornmeal Pancakes with Almond Butter and Apples

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 2

Serving Size: 4-5 small pancakes

Cornmeal Pancakes with Almond Butter and Apples

Ingredients

  • 1 apple, chopped
  • 1 t lemon juice
  • 1/2 C cornmeal
  • 1/2 t baking soda
  • 1 t baking powder
  • pinch salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 T maple syrup
  • 1 t coconut oil (plus more for cooking)
  • 1/4 C buttermilk (or 1 T white vinegar and pour in milk to 1/4 C, stir with a fork and let sit 5 min)
  • almond butter, for serving
  • lemon zest, for serving
  • maple syrup, for serving
  • lemon juice, for serving

Instructions

  1. Toss apples with lemon juice. Set aside.
  2. Whisk together cornmeal through salt. In a separate bowl whisk egg through buttermilk. Add wet ingredients to dry. Stir to combine.
  3. Heat a skillet over medium-low heat. Add a bit of coconut oil. When oil is hot add about 2-3 T of the batter. Cook for about 1 minute on first side (or until bubbles appear and do not pop), then another minute (or less) on the second side. Cook in batches until all batter has been used.
  4. Serve topped with almond butter, apples, lemon zest, maple syrup, and lemon juice.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/cornmeal-pancakes-with-almond-butter-and-apples/

Monday

9

February 2015

0

COMMENTS

Loaded Chicken and Rice Soup

Written by , Posted in Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Leftovers, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, One Dish Dinners, Poultry, Quick and Easy, Rice, Soups, Vegetables

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I’m a sucker for a good bowl of soup. I think we’ve had three different kinds over the past four days. I love it. I can’t get enough of it. It can be hearty and filling, or a light start to a meal. It can be simple, like French Onion, or have a myriad of ingredients. Soups are a great way to get loads of veggies into a meal, and they’re a fabulous place to hide leftovers. Yes, soups are my favorite.

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This one is no different. The goal was to make a veggie laden, leftover using, Chicken and Rice Soup.

It started with carrots and radishes. The carrots were fresh from this week’s box of produce. The radishes were extra from another meal, that I’d chopped and frozen so they wouldn’t go to waste.

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We’re getting so many greens in our boxes that I’ve been making a lot of Stir Fry, like this Red Choi Stir Fry from the other week. I’d planned ahead and made double the rice, so there were leftovers for the soup.

Winner winner, chicken and rice soup for dinner.

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After the initial veggies were fairly tender, everything else joined them in the soup pot. I made some Sliced Roasted Butternut Squash for dinner last night, to go along with some chicken thighs that I par-cooked on the stovetop, then finished in the oven. I used the leftovers from both in the soup.

Leftovers 0, Rach 3.

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After everything bubbled around for a while (but not too long, since it was all cooked already), I added some milk. I used coconut milk, because I had some that I needed to use up. Use whatever kind you have on hand. The milk just needs to warm through for a minute or two. Don’t let it boil, or the soup may break.

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And then, for the finishing touches, I stirred in some fresh parsley and a knob of butter.

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This soup is best eaten with your favorite someone or alone standing at the kitchen island while you read a book. Fresh bread is essential for dipping and sopping up anything the spoon leaves behind. A slice of lemon is a perfect way to brighten a bit – just squeeze over top right before eating.

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And, if it’s possible, this soup may be even better the next day (or a few days later – it freezes well).

Happy Eating!

Loaded Chicken and Rice Soup

Loaded Chicken and Rice Soup

Ingredients

  • 1-2 T olive oil
  • 1 C carrot (or parsnip), chopped
  • 1 C radish (or cauliflower), chopped
  • to taste, salt
  • 3 cloves garlic, diced
  • 2 T balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 t dried rosemary (or 1 t fresh), broken or chopped
  • 1 t fresh thyme (or 1/2 t dried)
  • 1/2 t paprika
  • 1 C cooked chicken, chopped or shredded (I used leftovers)*
  • 2 C rice, cooked (I used leftovers)***
  • 2-3 C greens (like hon tsai tai, komatsuna, Tokyo bekana, chard, kale, collards, or spinach), chopped
  • 1 1/2-2 C winter squash, chopped (I used leftovers)**
  • 5-6 C chicken stock
  • 1 C milk (any kind)
  • 1-2 T fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 T unsalted butter (optional)
  • lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions

  1. (*If you're not using leftover chicken, cook it now, let it cool slightly, remove from bones and shred or chop.)
  2. Heat a soup pot over medium-low heat. Add the oil and when it's hot, add the carrots through salt (**unless you're using uncooked winter squash - if you are, add it now). Cook for 7-9 minutes, or until veggies are relatively tender. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Stir in balsamic vinegar, cook for 1 minute.
  3. Add rosemary through stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 13 minutes, or until veggies are tender (***if you're not using leftover rice, also add 1/2 C raw brown rice now, along with an extra 1 C stock and cook until rice is tender). Add milk and cook for 2 minutes more (do not boil).
  4. Remove from heat and stir in parsley and butter. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve with a squeeze of lemon.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/loaded-chicken-and-rice-soup/

Thursday

29

January 2015

0

COMMENTS

Red Choi Stir Fry with Tofu and Almonds

Written by , Posted in Dairy-Free, Dinner, Lunch, Main Dishes, Nuts, Pasta, Quick and Easy, Quinoa, Rice, Sauces, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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It makes me super happy when I’ve made something that’s loaded with veggies, and Tim, unprompted, tells me how much he likes it. What a guy! Good thing he liked it so much (even the tofu!), because I am sold.

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First of all, tofu is a cheap way to get some protein into a dish. I know, I know, not everyone is crazy about soy. So, if you’re not a tofu fanatic, that’s awesome too! Be who you are, right?! If you’d like, add some chicken instead, Tempeh is great too (but also a soybean product), beef and pork would also be super yum. Or, go totally vegetarian and add some more nuts (even a scoop of peanut or almond butter mixed into the sauce would be great).

See how easy that was?! Substitution central over here. This is one where there’s something for everyone.

Oh yeah, and if you’re vegan, omit the fish sauce. (No duh, Rachel. You knew that… We taught our 2 year old niece to say, “No duh, Uncle Tim” over the holidays. It was one of the highlights of the trip. Especially when she started saying it to Oma too.) I’d planned to make this a vegan dish. I was going to add some honey, then remembered that some vegans don’t eat honey. I finished cooking and realized that fish sauce is obviously not vegan. Eye roll and shrug of the shoulders. I can’t expect my brain to work perfectly all the time. 😉

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This is my go-to stir fry sauce. It’s simple. Soy sauce (or a gluten-free version, which tastes remarkably similar), fish sauce, and rice vinegar. Sometimes I use cornstarch and water, to act as a thickener. Either way, we think it tastes great.

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Stir Fry is one of those awesome meals for using up whatever veggies are hanging out in the fridge. It’s also a way to pack in many many veggies, but can also be great if you’ve just got broccoli and an onion left at the end of the week. My goal, this time, was to find a way to use the red choi. The rest of the veggies are kinda just a bonus. Plus, it’s a great dish for cabbage using up. And, tastes great with an Asian slaw on the side. Yep, do it, get your cabbage on!

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Anoooooother reason I love Stir Fry, it’s so incredibly quick to prepare. Veggies cook over higher heat, so they cook fast and retain their bright color. A friend gave me a wok, so now I don’t throw veggies all over the stove.

Don’t forget, keep those veggies moving. High heat means they’re gonna burn if you leave them unattended.

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Once the veggies are cooked (see how greeeeeeeen they are still!?), sauce goes in, cooks for like 2 minutes more, and then you’re done!

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You could stand there and eat it out of the wok. Totally fine with me.

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But, maybe a better option is to scoop some rice onto a plate, slide some tofu next to it, and pile on those veggies.

If you’ve already eaten 5 pieces of the crispy tofu, I understand. I may have done the same.

May have.

Happy Eating!

Red Choi Stir Fry with Tofu and Almonds

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 21 minutes

Total Time: 31 minutes

Yield: 2-4

Red Choi Stir Fry with Tofu and Almonds

Ingredients

  • 1 C brown rice (rice noodles, quinoa, or bulgur wheat would also be great)
  • 2 C water
  • 1 block firm tofu, sliced about 1/8" to 1/4" thick
  • to taste salt
  • pinch cayenne
  • pinch ginger
  • 2 t olive oil, divided
  • 1 T soy sauce
  • 1 T rice vinegar
  • 1/4 C cold water
  • 1 T cornstarch
  • pinch ginger
  • 2 T olive oil
  • 1/4 C carrots or celery, thinly sliced
  • 1-2 C broccoli or cauliflower, cut into bite sized pieces
  • 2-4 T radish, thinly sliced
  • 1 C cabbage (or collard greens or kale), chopped
  • 1 head red choi stems, chopped
  • (could also add: snap peas, bean sprouts, green beans, summer squash, butternut squash)
  • pinch salt
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 head red choi leaves, chopped
  • 2 T almonds, chopped, for serving

Instructions

  1. Cook rice.
  2. While rice cooks, sprinkle both sides of the tofu with salt, cayenne, and ginger. Heat skillet over medium to medium-high heat, add 1 t olive oil, when it's hot add tofu, working in batches so the pan isn't overcrowded, cook for about 2-3 minutes per side (or until sides are browned and crispy), adding more oil as needed. Remove from pan and place on a paper towel lined plate.
  3. Whisk together soy sauce through ginger. Set aside.
  4. Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 T olive oil. When oil is hot, add carrots through salt. Cook, stirring constantly (picking veggies up with tongs and moving them around works best for me), for about 5 minutes. Add garlic and red choi leaves and cook for about 2 minutes more.
  5. Stir in sauce. Cook for 1-2 minutes (or until sauce has thickened).
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  7. Serve over rice, topped with chopped almonds.

Notes

If it's not essential for this to be vegetarian, 1 t fish sauce is a good addition to the sauce.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/red-choi-stir-fry-with-tofu-and-almonds/

P.S. Those leftovers, plomp it all together in a pan and heat it up. The rice will love the sauce, and get a little bit crispy and extra yummy.

Monday

26

January 2015

0

COMMENTS

Bulgur Wheat with Sausage and Apples

Written by , Posted in Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Grains, Main Dishes, Meat, Pork, Quick and Easy, Rice, Sausage, Vegetables

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I am a big fan of quick weeknight dinners. I’m all for slow-cooked, braised, take the whole afternoon to cook kinda meals. But, most weekdays I’m tired, there are dirty dishes in the sink, and I just want to eat something. Now.

This dish kinda has it all. It’s simple, but satisfying. Especially if you have some crusty bread with butter to go alongside. We did not, but maybe if I plan ahead for eating the leftovers we will. 😉

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Bulgur wheat is one of my go-tos. It’s similar tasting to brown rice, but cooks quicker. Also, bulgur is a fun word to say. The dog is staring at my while I repeat it to myself right now.

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I made this over the summer for the first time. I used zucchini. Since it’s winter and I had a bunch of carrots in my garden, that’s what I used this time. They went nicely with the apple-sausage combination I had going on. I think butternut squash or sweet potatoes would also taste great, if that’s what you have on hand.

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While the bulgur cooks, the rest of the meal comes together. It’s a really quick and easy dinner to prepare. A little chopping, two pots, and you’re ready to go.

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I added a few spoonfuls of plain yogurt and a splash of whole milk for creaminess. And the first time I made it, I added some parmesan cheese. I didn’t have any this time, but if I did, I’d definitely add it, so I left it in the recipe.

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We will probably have the leftovers for dinner tonight, even though I haven’t figured out the bread situation.

Happy Eating!

Bulgur Wheat with Sausage and Apples

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: Serves 3 or so.

Bulgur Wheat with Sausage and Apples

Ingredients

  • 1 C bulgur wheat (I used coarse) (could use brown rice or quinoa to make it gluten-free - adjust cooking time accordingly)
  • 2 C water
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1 C carrots* (or zucchini in the summer), chopped
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 2 C apple, chopped
  • 2 fully cooked sausage links (I used Argentine inspired), removed from casing (could substitute lentils to make it vegetarian)
  • 2-3 T Greek or plain yogurt
  • splash whole milk (any kind you like - cow, almond, coconut...)
  • 1/2 C parmesan, grated (optional)
  • lemon wedges, for serving
  • *butternut squash, pumpkin, mushrooms, corn, cabbage, onion, celery, leeks, spinach, or tomatoes would also be yummy additions. Cooking time may vary depending on the type of veggies used.

Instructions

  1. Bring the bulgur and water to a boil in a medium-sized saucepan. Reduce to a simmer and cook partially covered for about 15-20 min or so (or until tender).
  2. Heat a pan, add the olive oil, and when it's hot, add the carrots, some salt, and pepper. Cook over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes. Add the apple and cook for about 5 minutes more. Add the sausage and cook for 5 minutes more, or until the sausage is heated through.
  3. Stir in the yogurt, milk, and parmesan. Cook for 1-2 minutes more. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
  4. Serve with a squeeze of lemon.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/bulgur-wheat-with-sausage-and-apples/