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Monday

19

October 2015

1

COMMENTS

Deviled Eggs with Parmesan Crisps and Fresh Herbs

Written by Rachel, Posted in Appetizers, Cheese, Eggs, Gluten Free, Herbs, Kid-Friendly, Low Carb, Lunch, Meat, Pork, Potlucks, Quick and Easy, Sides, Snacks, Vegetarian

It’s taken me a while to get back into the swing of things since our trip. The first week we were back things were in a state of chaos. Half unpacked suitcases, piles of laundry, my brain still wanting to be with family. Then I was sick most of the next week, so I’m finally getting back into things today. What this meant was that I made mayonnaise. One step in the right direction of not eating quesadillas for every single meal. Tim asked if there were any leftovers to take for lunch today. Nope. Well, there are now: Deviled Eggs (minus the ones that I couldn’t resist), and the beans with rice and peas that was dinner. I feel better already.

I can’t remember the last time I made deviled eggs. If I’m hard boiling eggs, they don’t usually last long enough to be made into anything else. A sprinkle of salt is all they really need.

Until now.

My youngest brother got married a month ago in Ontario, Canada (where I grew up). They were married at my mom and dad’s place, a picturesque country home with plenty of room for their grown kids to come and stay. But, their home isn’t just where they live. They have a commercial kitchen where mom cooks for groups and for their bakery & cafe. This kitchen is a little bit of heaven for me. I get to cook with family in a great big kitchen.

Josh and Karensa asked my brother Jake and I to take care of the appetizers for the wedding. One of those was Deviled Eggs with Bacon and Chives, that was dreamed up for Josh. I just knew he’d love them (and I was right).

This recipe is a slight variation on the eggs that we made for Josh. Mostly because I have basil, not chives, and I don’t have any bacon. Oh, and I used 6 eggs rather than the 36 used for the wedding. I didn’t think I’d need thaaaaat many leftovers for lunches this week.

I boiled ’em. Simple. The way mom taught me. Boil water, add some vinegar (in case a shell cracks – it’s supposed to keep the whites from spreading too much), cook 15 minutes, cool, then peel. If you do it differently, that’s great. Do what works for you.

I’ve heard that it’s best to peel the eggs right away. I did, and they were perfect. I didn’t lose any of the white part. I’ve also heard that you’re supposed to use older eggs for hard boiled. I didn’t. I just got these today. So, who knows about these things that “they” say.

I try to keep homemade mayo on hand. Partly because I love it, partly because it’s so easy to make. Along with some paprika, basil, salt, and olive oil, it’s a fabulous mix-in for deviled eggs.

I topped each one with a parmesan crisp and a tiny basil leaf. You could opt for bacon and chives, or switch it up and use dill and skip the bacon altogether. So far, no matter how they’ve been topped, these eggs are irresistible and they won’t last long before they’re snatched up by hungry guests (or by a hungry blogger who is about to go raid the fridge).

Happy Eating!

Deviled Eggs with Parmesan Crisps and Fresh Herbs

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Yield: 6

Serving Size: 1 whole egg

Deviled Eggs with Parmesan Crisps and Fresh Herbs

Ingredients

6 eggs
1 T white vinegar
1/4 C parmesan cheese, grated
(optional) 1 slice bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 T fresh herbs (basil, chives, dill, tarragon), 12 left whole, remaining chopped
1 t olive oil
to taste salt
1/2 t paprika
2 T mayonnaise
coarse salt

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 350F.
Boil water. Add vinegar. Add eggs and boil for 15 minutes. Cool under cold water or in an ice bath. Peel as soon as they are cool.
If using bacon, cook, then drain on a paper towel lined plate. Crumble.
Drop a pinch of parmesan on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Repeat until all has been used up. (If you make too many, store in an air tight container in the fridge.) Bake for 7-8 minutes, or until crispy. Cool and remove from baking sheet.
Halve eggs. Gently pop out the yolks and mash with the herbs through mayonnaise. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. Return the yolk mixture to the whites (use two small spoons, a piping bag, or a plastic bag with the corner snipped off). Top each with one herb leaf, one parmesan crisp, and, if using, one small piece of bacon. Sprinkle with a bit of coarse salt.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/deviled-eggs/

Friday

16

October 2015

0

COMMENTS

Fig and Goat Cheese Spread – Oh What a Trip

Written by Rachel, Posted in Appetizers, Baking, Cheese, Condiments, Dairy-Free, Fruit, Gluten Free, Quick and Easy, Roasting, Snacks, Thoughts, Travel, Vegan, Vegetarian

My youngest brother, Josh, got married to Karensa in Ontario, Canada last month. So Tim and I, thankful to get some real fall weather, made the journey to my homeland. It was blissfully cool. The leaves were changing color. And, we had two and a half weeks to spend with my family.

It was the best.

My parents live on a few acres. Since the weather was so nice, we spent plenty of time outdoors.

Notice that I’m wearing a hoodie?! In September?! I miss that.

Notice the wacko trying to sneak up on me? He forgot that taking a selfie with the front camera means you can also see the person sneaking up behind you (ahem, I didn’t notice him until like the third picture).

Tim spent hours and hours working on Josh and Karensa’s wedding invitation (that’s the original in the frame on the right). He drew their seal on the chalkboard by the entrance to the banquet hall. Flippin’ talented. I can’t believe the things he comes up with. (If you want an invitation or just some hand lettering drawn by Tim, he’s got an Etsy store open now.)

Josh and Karensa had a private ceremony at my parents’ place. It was sweet and intimate. They did something kinda neat where they asked people to share during the ceremony (instead of speeches at dinner). I cried and high talked though mine.

I told them that I remembered my dad telling me that I had a baby brother. I’d wanted a sister. But, I’m so glad that I got Josh instead. He’s a sweet, kind, caring, super smart man. And I’m so glad that now as grownups we’re not just siblings, but friends. He’s found a wonderful woman to share his life with, and now I have her (and my other sisters-in-law), many sisters instead of the one I was hoping for so many years ago.

Since there was plenty of family in from out of town, we had lots of extended family time. It was super fun. Two of my mom’s siblings still live on the West Coast (mom’s a California girl), so they’re not all together often. But when they are… what a hoot!!

I’m a huge baseball fan, and growing up it was all about the Blue Jays. We drove into Toronto a few times. Once to see a Jays game. I was thrilled to watch them crush the Yankees. My brother Jake and I were talking the other day about how our 10 and 12 year old selves (respectively) are just thrilled that the Jays are in the post season again for the first time since 1993.

If you need me over the next three weeks, I’ll be on the edge of my seat, hoping the Jays can win again.

Toronto (pron. Tronno). One of my favorite skylines.

We had a little extra time before meeting some family for dinner, so we hung out on the shores of Lake Ontario.

Tim and I read books, enjoyed the cool weather, and listened to the waves lap gently at the shore.

There was a lot going on during our trip. It was busy, but it was so good. In the midst of it, we still had plenty of time to hang out with my immediate family though, and that made it great.

My parents moved from the house I grew up in right after Tim and I got married. There are things that I still miss about it. Those memories that have been permanently etched in my mind. That squeaky step, the creaky wood floors, the sound of the back door closing in the winter. But, this place makes me smile. I love that there’s a river to sit by, trees to walk through, and an awesome commercial kitchen to play in.

One of the reasons they moved was to have a kitchen that mom could work out of. They worked hard and fixed this place up, and now they have a banquet hall for groups, and a bakery & café where mom showcases her baked goods, and sells soups and lunch items a few days a week. What fun it was to cook with mom in her kitchen!

JKWeddingTrip-15

Tim got to help out too. He re-did all of their interior signs (and made a couple new ones for along the road), and he made some out of this world strawberry cheesecake ice cream.

I’ve been making pain au chocolat at home from the recipe I learned when Tim and I were in Paris. So Mom let me play a bit and I made both a regular and a vegan version for the bakery. They both turned out great! Karensa is a vegan, so I was hoping that there’d be some left for her for when they returned from their honeymoon. There were.

In addition to helping with the bakery & café, I got to spend a fair amount of time in the kitchen because Josh and Karensa asked my brother Jake and I to make the appetizers for the wedding dinner. Over the next month or so I’ll share the remaining recipes, along with a few more photos from the trip.

Some of the appetizers were passed on trays. But, we also had a station set up with toasted bread and crackers, with a few different spreads. The first (and probably my favorite) was a warm fig and goat cheese spread. There were two versions, one with goat cheese, one with coconut yogurt (for the vegans). They were quick and easy to make. It wasn’t fig season in Ontario, so we used dried figs. I’d been planning to roast them, which would have been awesome too. But, to save a bit of time, the dried figs worked great. This was a great appetizer, but I think I could probably just eat it for dinner. Give me a baguette and some honey to drizzle over and I’d be set.

Happy Eating!

Fig and Goat Cheese Spread

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 2 C

Ingredients

1 1/2 - 2 C dried figs* (about 20) (8 oz., 227g), chopped
1 pkg (300g) goat cheese, chopped (or 1 C vegan yogurt - Yoso brand was great)
1 T lemon zest, chopped
1-2 T honey
1/4 t black pepper
to taste salt
1 t lemon juice

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 350F.
Mix all ingredients together. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. Scoop into a shallow oven safe dish and warm through (about 20-30 minutes should do) (if making the vegan version, you may want to just serve it at room temperature rather than heating).
Serve with toasted bread, crusty baguettes, or crackers.

Notes

*If using fresh figs, halve and roast (350F for 10-15 minutes or so), then chop.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/fig-and-goat-cheese-spread-oh-what-a-trip/

Every time I say “on trays” I hear Basil Fawlty say “On those trays” to Manuel in Fawlty Towers…

Thursday

24

September 2015

0

COMMENTS

Carrot Pasta with Tarragon

Written by Rachel, Posted in Beans, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Legumes, Lentils, Lunch, Main Dishes, Pasta, Quick and Easy, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

If I told you that this was another dish where versatility is key, would you be surprised? It’s the way that I cook, so as often as possible, I will offer alternatives. Just in case it’s a different season when you read this post, in case you have something else in your fridge, in case you don’t care for something that I’ve used.

I wanted to do a pasta dish of sorts, using veggies as the pasta. Here’s where you can pull out that spiralizer, if you’ve already jumped on the veggie pasta bandwagon. I have far too many tools in my kitchen, so I opted to use a knife to cut carrots and summer squash into long, thin, pasta-like sticks (kinda like a long julienne). Other veggies that would be great: beets, parsnips, daikon radish, and fennel. Just mix and match based on what will go with the fresh herbs that you have on hand (for help with parings The Vegetarian Flavor Bible is a great kitchen tool).

I cooked the “pasta” in boiling salted water. I cooked for just three minutes – quick and easy.

To top the “pasta” I made a simple sauce of sorts. I used butter today, but for a vegan option, or just because it’s yummy, olive oil would be fabulous. I chopped up some small radishes, a shallot, and some garlic. Other veggies that would be great: peas, greens, cabbage, and green beans – again, mix and match based on the other veggies and herbs that you have on hand. Today’s herbs were tarragon and parsley. Other herbs to consider (these all go with carrots, if you want to keep them as the main veg): basil, Thai basil, chives, cilantro, dill, mint, and thyme.

You could leave things as they are. That’d make for a great dish. But, I wanted to bump up the protein, so I added some lentils. I’m kinda obsessed with green lentils right now. They hold their shape well and taste great. I want to eat them all the time. Garbanzo beans or black beans would be fun too, if you’re not as in to lentils as I am.

The lentils and tarragon, along with the dijon mustard that I added to the sauce, resulted in a dish that felt kinda French inspired. Topped with fresh tomatoes, this was a fabulous lunch. By the time I got to it, it was more room temperature than hot, but it was delicious. So, serve it either way. You could also top with more fresh herbs or nuts, even cheese, if you’re feeling cheesy. It would be great with some garlic bread or cornbread alongside, and a hearty spinach salad… But, just on its own is wonderful too.

Happy Eating!

Carrot Pasta with Tarragon

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Yield: 2

Carrot Pasta with Tarragon

Ingredients

2 T butter or olive oil, divided
1/4 C radish, diced
1 shallot or small onion, diced
to taste salt
(could also add: peas, greens, cabbage, green beans)
2 cloves garlic, diced
1 C lentils (or garbanzo or black beans), cooked
1 to 1 1/2 t dijon mustard
1 C carrot, thinly sliced into strips and then into long noodle-like sticks
1/2 C summer squash, thinly sliced into strips and then into long noodle-like sticks
(could also use or substitute: beets, parsnips, daikon radish, or fennel)
1-2 T fresh tarragon, chopped (with other veggies could substitute basil, dill, mint, or thyme)
1 T fresh parsley, chopped
1 tomato, chopped, for topping
splash white vinegar, for topping

Instructions

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
While it comes to a boil, heat a skillet over medium-low. Add 1 1/2 T butter or oil. When it's hot, add radish through salt. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic, lentils (or beans), and dijon, and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and stir in remaining 1/2 T butter/oil, tarragon, and parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
While sauce cooks, drop carrots and squash (and any other veggie "noodles") into the boiling water. Cook for 3 minutes. Drain.
Top "pasta" with lentil sauce, some tomatoes, and a splash of vinegar. Serve warm or at room temperature.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/carrot-pasta-with-tarragon/

Monday

21

September 2015

0

COMMENTS

Whole Wheat Pear Muffins

Written by Rachel, Posted in Baking, Bread, Breakfast, Brunch, Dairy-Free, Dessert, Eggs, Fruit, Gluten Free, Grains, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Nuts, Quick and Easy, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

I’ve never been the best baker. I like to think that it’s because of my lack of skill when it comes to all things science. I got a D in chemistry in high school. Sometimes I wonder, if they’d told me how much I would care about science when I grew up, or if someone had shown me science in action, in the form of different baked goods, if it would have clicked. Maybe not, but I wonder.

So I’m slowly learning about baking. I’m a kinesthetic learner – I learn by doing, so it’s taking some trial and error to figure things out. What comes the most naturally to me when cooking is figuring things out as I go; recipes used for inspiration more than direction. That doesn’t really work with baking. But, I guess I’m learning, because these muffins did.

It helps that I know what the batter should look and feel like. The more I bake the more I know about doughs and batters and the like.

The stars of this recipe are Asian pears and figs, but any seasonal fruit will do: apples, berries, cherries, persimmons… Use what you love and what you have on hand.

There are also carrots, but you could use parsnips or summer squash in their place.

I used whole wheat flour and butter. But, of course, adapt it to suit your family’s needs. You could try a gluten-free flour blend if you’d like, or to make it vegan, use cold coconut oil and substitute flax seeds and water for the egg.

I love Burroughs Family Farms’ eggs, so that’s what I used today. The yolks are always the most brilliant golden yellow. I just can’t get enough!

I’m pretty picky about what I eat when it comes to sugar. I’m ok with the occasional treat, but in general, I avoid refined white sugar like the plague. Instead I like to use honey and maple syrup. Combine that with the oats, whole wheat flour, vegetable, and fruit that these muffins contain, and I feel great about them for breakfast, lunch, or a satisfying snack.

I was totally going to add chocolate chips. I even had them out on the counter. Then I forgot. Add ’em if you’d like. You could also add nuts. I’m not crazy about them in baked goods. But, to bump up the protein, or just because you like them, you could add some almonds or walnuts either to the batter, or gently press them into the top before baking.

I enjoyed these with some homemade butter. They’d been cooling for a little while when I finally got a taste, but were still warm enough to melt the butter just slightly. But even without butter (which is how I ate my second one), they’re absolutely delicious.

Happy Eating!

Whole Wheat Pear Muffins

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 22 minutes

Total Time: 37 minutes

Yield: 1 dozen

Whole Wheat Pear Muffins

Ingredients

1 C whole wheat flour
1/4 t salt
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/4 t cinnamon
1/4 t ginger
1/2 C cold butter (or coconut oil), cut into small chunks
1 C oats
3/4 C any of the following: Asian pears, pears, apples, parsnips, carrots, squash, persimmons, (grated)
1/2 C any of the following: figs, berries, cherries (pits removed), chopped
1/4 C honey (or maple syrup)
1/4 C maple syrup
1 egg (or use ground up flaxseeds and water)
1 t apple cider vinegar
1 t vanilla extract
(optional: almonds or walnuts, chopped, for topping)

Instructions

Position the rack in the center of the oven and pre-heat to 350F.
Whisk flour through ginger. Mix in butter with a pastry blender or hands until coarse meal or small (pea sized) chunks remain. Stir in oats through fruit. Set in the freezer while you assemble the wet ingredients.
In a separate bowl whisk honey through vanilla. Add to dry ingredients and stir to combine.
Scoop about 3T of batter into each compartment of a greased muffin pan (should yield 1 dozen). Top with nuts if desired, pressing them gently into the batter. Bake for about 20-22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean and the center of the muffin springs back when touched.
Remove from the oven and cool for about 5 minutes in the pan. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/whole-wheat-pear-muffins/

Monday

7

September 2015

0

COMMENTS

Tuna Boats

Written by Rachel, Posted in Appetizers, Dinner, Eggs, Fennel Pollen, Fish, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Kid-Friendly, Low Carb, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Quick and Easy, Sides, Snacks, Vegetables

There are so many things that you can do with tuna. It makes a fabulous sandwich, one of my favorites. It’s a great addition to pasta, one of my comfort foods. And, it’s good in a boat. Specifically a boat made of veggies.

This is one of those awesome recipes that’s great no matter the season. So I will share one of my favorite ways to make it, and then some mix and match options.

For this recipe, the stars were hard boiled eggs, shallots, and fresh tarragon. Plus the boats: cabbage, tomatoes, and cucumber. It was fabulous.

I started with the eggs. My method for hard boiling is what my mom taught me: boil water, add 1t white vinegar, add eggs, boil for 15 minutes, cool eggs under cold running water. I like to peel the eggs right away, while they’re still a bit warm. They’re easier to peel.

After the eggs, the rest came together in no time.

We loved the cucumber boats, the tomato boats were yummy, but the cabbage boats were our favorite. There was something so perfect about the slightly sweet cabbage that went so well with the tuna and egg mixture.

Since tuna goes with so so many things, it didn’t seem fair to limit the recipe to just a these few ingredients. So here are some mix and match ideas. Mix a little something that you think would taste great together, from each of the five categories, for a quick and easy treat.

Creamy/Liquidy

Mayo, yogurt, rice vinegar, balsamic vinegar, aioli, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, silken tofu, olive oil, sesame oil.

Herbs

Basil, cilantro, dill, chives, fennel pollen, parsley, Rosemary, sage, thyme, tarragon.

Seasonings

Cayenne, paprika, pepper, salt.

Extras

Bacon, arugula, bell pepper, celery, back/white/fava/green beans, capers, chile peppers, hard boiled eggs, garlic, ginger, leeks, lemon zest, red onions, pancetta, scallions, shallots, radishes, tomatoes, salsa, olives.

Serve In

Avocado, cucumber, cabbage, carrots, celery, kale, chard, mixing, lettuce, radicchio, daikon radishes, radishes, fennel, beets, jicama, shiitakes.

Some may be best cooked and scooped out (beets and carrots). They could be served with the veggies at room temperature, or even chilled. Others will just need the seeds or some of the flesh scooped out (any good bits could be mixed with the tuna or saved for later). Those of the leafy variety need just be separated.

And now, here are some combos that I came up with, all of which I can’t wait to try.

French Inspired Tuna, tarragon or basil, hard boiled eggs, and mayo, served in a tomato or cucumber.

Asian Inspired Tuna, sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, onion, chile pepper, and cilantro, served in summer squash, tomato, or cabbage.

Mediterranean Inspired Tuna, olives, olive oil, paprika, lemon zest, parsley, basil, dill, white beans or garbanzo beans, and red onion, served in cucumber, bell pepper, or tomato.

Mexican Inspired Tuna, yogurt, salsa, black beans, cilantro, chile pepper, bell pepper, tomato, and red onion, served in avocado, tomato, or bell pepper.

Italian Inspired Tuna, garlic, rosemary, parsley, basil, thyme, tomato, lemon juice, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar, served in tomato, fennel, bell pepper, or summer squash.

Happy Eating!

Tuna Boats

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Yield: 2-3

Tuna Boats

Ingredients

2 hard boiled eggs
1-2 T mayo
1-2 T plain yogurt
1 T olive oil
1 T tarragon or basil, chopped or cut in a chiffonade
pinch cayenne
to taste salt
1 T shallot or red onion, diced
1-5oz. can tuna
cucumber, tomato, or cabbage (halved, center scooped out if applicable), for serving

Instructions

Cook eggs (boil water, add 1t white vinegar, add eggs, boil for 15 minutes, drain, pour cool water over, peel right away).
Combine eggs through tuna. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
Scoop tuna mixture into cucumber, tomatoes, and cabbage.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/tuna-boats/

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Deviled Eggs with Parmesan Crisps and Fresh Herbs

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Whole Wheat Pear Muffins

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