De Ma Cuisine

Quick and Easy Archive

Monday

1

December 2014

0

COMMENTS

Sautéed Persimmons with Bacon

Written by , Posted in Breakfast, Brunch, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Lunch, Meat, Pork, Quick and Easy, Sides

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Sometimes inspiration just hits. Something pops into my brain, like, “I wonder if spaghetti would taste good served in a roasted butternut squash” (we will find out at dinner tonight), or “persimmons and bacon… why haven’t I tried this before…”

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I should have done this a long time ago. I mean, bacon pairs well with sweet things. The salty goodness compliments a hint of sweetness so nicely.

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The recipe calls for 2-4 slices of bacon. Since I knew I’d be the only one eating this at lunch today, I just made two. Which was definitely just enough for one (barely, ’cause I hadn’t figured in pieces sneaked off the plate, testing to make sure this new brand of bacon was actually good, shoving whole pieces into my face…)

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If possibly, peel persimmons in one long curly strip. Just because it’s fun. If you want to entice the kids to help, maybe they’d want to try this.

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I like to cook these over a bit higher heat (just medium, rather than medium-low), so they get a bit more color.

Speaking of color, notice those tomatoes?! From my garden, finally!

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After the persimmons are cooked, they’re tossed with all of the bacon (that you didn’t already eat), and some lemon juice, for brightness.

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And just like that, you have a fabulous side.

You could eat it for breakfast alongside some Sweet and Savory Cornmeal Pancakes (hello double bacon!).

You could add some butter lettuce, almonds, and feta, and whisk up a lemon vinaigrette for a quick lunch.

Maybe you’d like to serve it alongside a roast chicken or pork, with a simple salad.

Want to change up your holiday dinner? Swap out your traditional sweet potato dish for these persimmons for an easy side.

Or, you might be like me, and just want to eat it on its own, picking out all the bacon for yourself.

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Happy Eating!

Sautéed Persimmons with Bacon

Sautéed Persimmons with Bacon

Ingredients

  • 2-4 slices bacon
  • 1 t olive oil
  • 3-4 fuyu persimmons, peeled, sliced, and halved
  • pinch salt
  • pinch pepper
  • 1-2 T lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Place bacon in a cold skillet. Turn on heat and cook until crispy. Remove from pan and drain on a paper towel lined plate. Wipe out the pan (leaving a bit of grease is fine).
  2. Add olive oil to the pan. Add persimmons, salt, and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes, or until they are tender-crisp with nice color.
  3. Toss with bacon and lemon juice and serve immediately.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/sauteed-persimmons-with-bacon/

Monday

10

November 2014

0

COMMENTS

Apple Rosemary Flatbread

Written by , Posted in Appetizers, Baking, Bread, Breakfast, Cheese, Fruit, Herbs, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Pizza, Quick and Easy, Sides, Snacks, Vegetarian

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I love when it’s apple season. I think I say that every season about something. I love the changing of the seasons and the promise of something new that comes with it.

I especially love fall.

There are things to love and things to be ready to be done with no matter what season we’re in. But, after a long summer, today’s cool breeze and cloudy sky is a literal breath of fresh air. Combine that with an apple or pear, eaten out of hand, while at my desk editing photos, and that makes for quite a nice fall day.

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The day I made this flatbread it was still hot and sunny. Today I want to eat all the soup.

This flatbread would go nicely with soup. Apples pair nicely with winter squash, so this might be delicious alongside a Vegan Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, a Browned Butter and Four Cheese Broccoli Soup, or a Leek and Potato Soup. I always want bread with my soup. Often it’s some sliced homemade baguettes with salted butter. But, sometimes I want bread with a little bit more. This flatbread meets that requirement.

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Apples are usually just eaten raw at our house. We love them as a snack. They’re full of fiber and are a great way to tide me over when I’m already starving and it’s not nearly time for the next meal.

In this case though, they’re thinly sliced and then chopped.

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They’re going to top this lavash (you could also use whole wheat or regular tortillas, or a par-baked pizza crust). But first, some olive oil.

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Then a good handful of cheddar. Cheddar is probably my favorite cheese to pair with apples. And to eat with some crackers after a good workout… or any time of the day or night.

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The cheese is topped with rosemary, salt, and pepper, then baked for a little bit, just to get things started.

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Raisins are added about two minutes before the end of the baking time. They get just a bit soft and warm.

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And that’s it. Easy, peasy, apple peel… I dunno.

Happy Eating!

Apple Rosemary Flatbread
Recipe Type: Appetizer, Side, Bread, Snack
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 7 mins
Total time: 12 mins
Serves: 2-4
Ingredients
  • 1 flatbread or large whole wheat tortilla (I used lavash, you could also use a par-baked pizza crust)
  • 1 t olive oil
  • to taste salt
  • 1 small apple, thinly sliced and chopped
  • to taste pepper
  • 1/4 to 1/2 t dried (or 1 t fresh) rosemary, chopped
  • 1/4 C cheddar cheese, grated
  • 1-2 T raisins
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350F.
  2. Top lavash with olive oil and brush over surface. Sprinkle with salt. Top with apple, rosemary, pepper, and cheese. Bake for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese has mostly melted.
  3. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with raisins. Return to the oven and bake for 2 minutes more.
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Thursday

6

November 2014

0

COMMENTS

How to Make Pesto – Part 2 – Kale Pesto

Written by , Posted in Cheese, Condiments, Fruit, Gluten Free, How To, Quick and Easy, Sauces, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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Kale is one of my favorite greens. No offense to spinach, chard, and collards. I just extra love kale. I love that it’s sturdy enough to be turned into chips, but that it’s softness can be brought out in a Massaged Kale Salad.

Plus, it’s an awesome shade of green. I love green.

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This pesto comes together so quickly. I changed things up a bit from the Basil Pesto in part one of the pesto series. But, if you wanted to, you could just sub the kale for the basil in that recipe.

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The main difference with the Kale Pesto is I omitted the nuts. Nothing wrong with nuts, just wanted to try something different. I also added some lemon (zest and juice) and some spices.

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Other than those changes, the rest is the same. Lots of garlic, some parmesan, and olive oil.

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I like to use my awesome KitchenAid hand blender, but a food processor or regular blender would work just fine.

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It made enough to overflow this little jar, so I used a few scoops on the Spicy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes that I’d made the same day.

Do this. Today.

You’re welcome.

Other ways to use your pesto could be:

Roasted Chicken and some Crispy Potatoes (or hello, with the Spicy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes!).

Cheddar and Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich and dip it into some Roasted Tomato Soup. (Shoot! I’ve already eaten lunch! Why didn’t I make this?!)

Kidney Bean and Kale Chili (with plenty of spicy chile peppers) – serve with a dollop of Greek yogurt, a spoonful of pesto, and a slice of lemon for squeezing over the top.

Sauté mushrooms and onions and top with pesto once cooked.

Roasted Pesto Topped Potatoes (new potatoes, or larger potatoes cut into bigger chunks, tossed with olive oil, salt, pepper, cayenne, and chili powder, roasted until crispy outside, tender inside – 350F, 25-40 minutes, depending on the size of the chunks, serve topped with pesto).

Happy Eating!

Kale Pesto

Kale Pesto

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch kale, washed well and stripped from stems (save stems for stock)
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/4 C olive oil
  • to taste salt
  • 1/4 C parmesan cheese
  • dash cayenne or red pepper flakes
  • pinch lemon zest
  • pinch ginger
  • 1 lemon, juiced

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in a blending apparatus. Blend for at least 60 seconds, stopping and scraping down the sides if needed.
  2. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/how-to-make-pesto-part-2-kale-pesto/

Sunday

19

October 2014

0

COMMENTS

Vegetarian Soft Tacos

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

This isn’t going to take long.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

  1. 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.
  2. Add garlic through beans. Cook for about 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  3. 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 , Posted in Dairy-Free, Dinner, Eggs, Fruit, Herbs, Lunch, Main Dishes, Pasta, Quick and Easy, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Serve yourself a huge bowlful. Green goodness all around!

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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.

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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:
Cook time:
Total time:
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
  1. Cook pasta, reserving 1/2 to 1 C pasta water.
  2. Heat skillet. Add olive oil. Add zucchini, bell pepper, and salt. Cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Add garlic, kale, and tomatoes. Cook for about 3 minutes more, stirring often.
  4. Add pasta water, if using. Remove from heat, stir in pasta. Pour pasta in a bowl and keep warm.
  5. Add remaining olive oil to skillet. Add egg and cook to desired doneness. Sprinkle with salt.
  6. Divide pasta between bowls. Top each bowl with an egg. Top egg and pasta with fresh herbs.