De Ma Cuisine

Sides Archive

Friday

1

June 2012

0

COMMENTS

Pluot Tart with Black Pepper

Written by , Posted in Appetizers, Baking, Dessert, Fruit, Inspired By, Lunch, Sides, Vegetarian

Pluot Tart with Black Pepper
Recipe Type: Savory dessert, Appetizer, Side
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Inspired by May birthdays and sweet, summery pluots, this dish would be a great appetizer, side dish, or savory dessert.
Ingredients
  • 1 pizza crust
  • 3 T reduced balsamic vinegar (start with about 1/2 C)
  • 3-4 pluots, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 t freshly ground black pepper
  • pinch nutmeg
  • pinch salt
  • 4 strawberries, chopped
  • 1/2 C red onion, sliced
  • 2 T maple syrup
  • 1/4 C brown sugar
  • 1 T butter, melted
Instructions
  1. In a small saucepan bring balsamic vinegar to a boil, then reduce to a simmer over low heat. Cook until thickened and syrupy, about 8-12 minutes. Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn!
  2. In a hot, dry pan, cook onions with maple syrup and salt. Cook over medium-low heat until caramelized, about 10 minutes.
  3. Thinly roll crust. Bake crust for 5 minutes at 425F.
  4. Brush crust with melted butter. Sprinkle with brown sugar and press it into the crust with a spatula (just a little).
  5. Top with onions, pluots, nutmeg, and pepper. Bake for 7-9 more minutes (until crust is to your desired doneness).
  6. Top with strawberries and drizzle reduced balsamic vinegar.
  7. Serve at room temperature, or warm.

Wednesday

23

May 2012

0

COMMENTS

German Style Potato Salad – Adapted by Rachel O

Written by , Posted in Inspired By, Lunch, Meat, Pork, Potatoes, Salads, Sides, Vegetables

German Style Potato Salad – Adapted by Rachel O
Recipe Type: Salad, Side
Serves: 2-4
Potatoes, bacon, onions, and garlic all pair well with oregano, which inspired the changes to this dish.
Ingredients
  • 4-6 potatoes
  • 3 strips bacon, chopped
  • 1 T flour
  • 1/3 C red wine vinegar
  • 1 1/2 t honey
  • 2 T fresh oregano leaves, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • pinch cayenne
  • 1/2 t paprika
  • 2 T olive oil
  • 2 T plus 2 t salt
  • 1 lg. spring onion
  • 3/4 C stock (chicken or veggie)
  • 1 T plus 1 t Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 t black pepper
  • 1 1/2 C summer squash, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, diced
  • 1 tomato, chopped
Instructions
  1. Place potatoes in large pan and cover with cold water and 2 T salt. Bring to a boil. Cook until tender.
  2. Cook bacon over med heat. Remove from pan and set aside (try not to eat it all while you cook the rest of the dish!). Drain all but 2 T bacon grease.
  3. Add onion, bell pepper, summer squash and cook 3 minutes. Add garlic, cook 1 minute. Move veggies to one side of pan, let oil come to the other. Whisk in flour (add more bacon grease if needed).
  4. Whisk in stock, vinegar, mustard, honey, salt, pepper, cayenne, and paprika. Bring to a boil, whisking occasionally. Remove from heat.
  5. Mix oregano leaves with 2 T olive oil.
  6. Cut cooked and cooled potatoes into cubes or slices.
  7. Combine vinegar mixture with potatoes and toss to coat.
  8. Pour oregano oil over potatoes and toss.
  9. Serve topped with bacon and tomato.
Notes

To make this recipe Gluten Free: Omit flour and add 1 T corn starch whisked with 1/4 C cold water. Mix cornstarch mixture in at the same point in the recipe.
Would be wonderful with something cooked on the BBQ!

 

Wednesday

16

May 2012

6

COMMENTS

Basil and Summer Squash Risotto – Episode 23

Written by , Posted in A Cooking Show with Rachel O, Abundant Harvest Organics, Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Grains, Herbs, Main Dishes, Rice, Sides, This Week's Feast, Vegetables

I made risotto this week because my friend, Elizabeth, asked me to.

I was inspired by the basil I was getting in this week’s Abundant Harvest Organics box. All of the ingredients in this dish are basil friendly. It’s a tasty dish.

I’ll admit to you that I couldn’t stop eating it, even though it was a little too hot and I kinda burned my mouth. It was worth it.

Most of this dish contains ingredients that are from an AHO box, or can be bought as or made from an add on. There are a few exceptions (such as the arborio rice and the wine), but even the rice could be substituted for the rice that’s available through AHO. I’ve done it before. It’s a bit different, but still really good. It’s up to you.

We buy cheap wine. That’s what we drink and what I cook with. If you want to use more expensive wine, go for it! But, in my opinion, Two Buck Chuck is just fine. 🙂 If you don’t want to use wine at all, just use all chicken or vegetable stock.

Basil is probably my favorite herb. The smell of it reminds me of Reedley, where we used to live, where I learned to garden and grew my first basil plants from seed.

I can see myself in the spoon in the photo. I’m OK with that.

I served the risotto in a tea cup that belonged to my Oma. I miss her.

Happy Eating!

Basil and Summer Squash Risotto

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 60 minutes

Yield: 4-6

Basil and Summer Squash Risotto

Ingredients

  • 2 C white wine, divided
  • 4-6 C stock (chicken or vegetable)
  • 1 1/2 T honey
  • 2-3 T lemon juice, plus a little more for serving
  • 2 T olive oil, plus a little more for serving
  • 1 spring onion, diced
  • 3-4 C summer squash, chopped into small pieces
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 3 cloves garlic, diced
  • 1 green garlic, diced
  • 1 1/2 C arborio rice
  • 1 C basil, cut in a chiffonade (roll it up and cut into little strips)
  • 1 C parmesan cheese, grated
  • lemon juice, for serving

Instructions

  1. In a medium sauce pan, combine 1 C wine, stock, honey, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer (or turn off and cover).
  2. Heat a medium or large sauce pan over medium heat. Add olive oil. When it's hot, add onion, squash, salt, and pepper. Cook 3-5 minutes.
  3. Add garlic and green garlic, cook for 1 minute.
  4. Add rice, cook for 1 minute.
  5. Add 1 C wine, cook for 1 minute or so, stirring to deglaze the pan.
  6. Add 1 C of the hot stock mixture to rice pan. Stir. Cook about 3 minutes, or until the liquid is mostly absorbed.
  7. Repeat until rice is tender, creamy, starchy. (You may use all the liquid and need more: add water or more stock, heat. Or, you may not need it all: refrigerate or freeze leftovers.) It will take about 30-40 minutes.
  8. Remove from heat. Add basil. Stir for about a minute.
  9. Add parmesan cheese, stir to combine.
  10. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  11. Serve topped with fresh basil, grated parmesan, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/i-heart-basil-ep23/

This episode is sponsored by Abundant Harvest Organics, Bari Olive Oil Company, and Molly Jenson.

Friday

11

May 2012

0

COMMENTS

Mom’s Potato Salad – Guest Post

Written by , Posted in Breakfast, Dinner, Eggs, Gluten Free, Guest Posts, Kid-Friendly, Legacy, Lunch, Potatoes, Potlucks, Salads, Sides, Vegetables

I thought it would be fitting, since it’s my birthday week and it’s almost Mother’s Day, to have my mom write a post for me. The two go hand in hand, since I’m the oldest, so my birth made her a mother.

See that photo? The frame is kinda dirty because it’s usually in the kitchen. I don’t mind. That’s why I didn’t clean it off for its photo shoot. That’s Mom and I at Niagara Falls. There are lots of photos of Mom and I that I love, but this is one of my favorites.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized more and more how much I am like my mom (and my dad too). I think it’s a good thing. I appreciate the traits, values, and talents they’ve passed on to my brothers and I. My mom is a hardworking woman, but she can be so silly too. I love that. I love that I discovered a passion for cooking, as she did. Most of our Skype conversations include at least one discussion about a recipe, or what one of us had/is going to have (different time zones) for dinner. It’s a fun thing to share with her, even from far away.

Thanks, Mom, for years of home cooking, and for instilling in us your love for food! Happy Mother’s Day! I love you!!

Here’s Mom…

Hi, this is Rachel’s Mom, Susan Pries, posting a near-Mother’s day blog. One of my favourite (this is the Canadian spelling) comfort foods is potato salad, my recipe, of course.  When I was in Kindergarten I often went to my Grandmother’s house for lunch after school.  My favourite lunch was an egg salad sandwich. One day my Grandmother told me she was out of hardboiled eggs.  I said that was OK, I really only liked the mayonnaise anyway.  She couldn’t bring herself to making a mayonnaise sandwich, so I got mayonnaise and jam.  Back to the potato salad. I never really liked potatoes a lot; it’s probably the mayonnaise that I like, but even I can’t serve myself a mayonnaise salad, so I add potatoes & hardboiled eggs.  I probably have grown up a bit since those early days, and I do enjoy potatoes quite often now and don’t need nearly the same amount of mayo.  Another thing about my potato salad is that I don’t usually add “crunchies” that is, raw onions or celery.  When our children were much younger they didn’t like to eat vegetables (they’ve grown up too) so I left out the celery & onions (I’m not fond of raw onions in anything, so I was happy to oblige).  So, here’s my recipe for potato salad (not very original) which I have been known to eat for breakfast (just think fried eggs and hash browns).

Happy Eating!

Mom's Potato Salad

Ingredients

  • 5 lb potatoes (or 1 medium potato per person)
  • 6 large eggs
  • Dressing: 1½ -2 cups Miracle Whip (or other Mayonnaise-type product) may use ½ sour cream
  • ¾ tsp regular mustard
  • 2 Tbl white vinegar
  • 2 Tbl white sugar
  • ¾ tsp salt (to taste)
  • dash of paprika
  • onion powder to taste
  • garlic powder to taste
  • 1 Tbl parsley
  • For “crunchy" version, you may add: ¼ cup chopped green or white onions, ½ cup chopped celery.
  • Rachel may wish to add: 5 or more slices of cooked, crumbled bacon

Instructions

  1. Steam potatoes until soft.
  2. Cover eggs with cold salted water; cover; bring to boil; turn off heat and let sit, covered for 15 minutes.
  3. When done cooking, cool potatoes & eggs (separately) under cold water.
  4. Combine dressing ingredients.
  5. Peel & dice the potatoes & eggs and add enough dressing (add a bit more if salad won't be served right away).

Notes

As with most of Rachel's recipes, all amounts are "to taste." You may choose to leave the potatoes with skin-on. (But do peel the eggs). Serve immediately at room temperature or chill and serve within a day or two. This salad is especially good served with homemade hamburgers, on homemade buns, with chips and homemade salsa on the side.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/post-by-mom/

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers, mother figures, and to all who have (or have had) mothers… And especially to my mom, who is certainly my favorite.

Monday

9

April 2012

0

COMMENTS

Scalloped Root Veggies with Gorgonzola

Written by , Posted in Sides, Vegetables

Scalloped Root Veggies with Gorgonzola
Recipe Type: Side, Root Veggies
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 2 hours
Total time: 2 hours 15 mins
Serves: 8-10
Like scalloped potatoes? Try this variation, that has beets, carrots, and rutabagas!
Ingredients
  • 1/4 C gorgonzola, crumbled
  • 1 C cheddar, grated, divided
  • 1/2 C parmesan, grated, divided
  • 2 oz. (about 1/4 C) cream cheese
  • 2 T chives, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • olive oil/coconut oil, to grease the baking dish
  • 1 T honey
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 1 T dijon mustard
  • pinch cayenne
  • 2-3 C milk
  • 1 C yogurt (I used Greek)
  • flour
  • 2 carrots, thinly sliced (about 1/8″ slices)
  • 2 beets, thinly sliced (about 1/8″ slices)
  • 2-4 rutabagas, thinly sliced (about 1/8″ slices)
  • 1 turnip, thinly sliced (about 1/8″ slices)
Instructions
  1. Whisk together gorgonzola, 1/2 C cheddar, 1/4 C parmesan, cream cheese, chives, garlic, honey, salt, pepper, dijon, cayenne, milk, yogurt. (Doesn’t need to be smooth – cheese lumps are fine.)
  2. Grease 9×13 oven proof dish with oil. Pre-heat oven to 375F.
  3. Layer beets on bottom. Sprinkle with a bit of flour. Spoon a bit of cheese mixture over. Top with layer of rutabagas. Sprinkle with flour. Spoon a bit of cheese mixture over. Top with a layer of carrots. Sprinkle with flour. Spoon a bit of cheese mixture over. Repeat until all veggies are gone. Pour remaining cheese mixture over top.
  4. Cover with foil. Bake for 60-90 minutes. Uncover (once veggies are tender), sprinkle with remaining cheese, bake an additional 20-30 minutes.
Notes

I used a mandoline to get the slices nice and thin.

I baked this at 350F, but it took a really long time! We’re talking 2-3 hours.