De Ma Cuisine

Cheese Archive

Thursday

21

November 2013

0

COMMENTS

Mac and Cheese with Roasted Veggies – In the Kitchen with Rachel O – Video

Written by , Posted in Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, In the Kitchen with Rachel O, Lunch, Pasta, Roasting, Vegetables, Vegetarian

MacAndCheeseWithVeggies_2

I’ve said it time and time and time and time again. Pasta is one of my go-to meals for a quick and easy dinner. It has come to the rescue many times. It just happens, doesn’t it? The dinner hour arrives and there’s nothing to eat… dun dun dun.

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Usually my solution is to boil some salted water for pasta and sauté some veggies. But, this time, I thought that it might be nice to get a little more creative.

One of my favorite, all time best, totally the yummiest ways to eat veggies is when they are roasted. Don’t even get me started on how they taste… Ok do. They get kinda sweet, a bit nutty, crispy outside, tender inside. I can eat a whole pan by myself. No joke. I usually make extra because I know how much I want on my plate, and I know that I have to share with Tim. Yes, I’m selfish that way. I don’t like to share my roasted veggies.

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I liked shells for this dish, but I think elbows would be delicious, rotini could be amazing, maybe even orzo would be good… You get it. Use the pasta that you and your family love best. I just like the shells because the sauce seems to get trapped and makes each bite so much yummier. Oh, and also, they’re multi-colored and they look fun.

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Maybe it’s a pasta night tonight. There are endless ways to make it great.

Happy Eating!

Mac and Cheese with Roasted Veggies
Recipe Type: Main Dish, Pasta, Cheese, Vegetables, Vegetarian, Roasting, Stove Top, Oven
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 small head garlic, top sliced off
  • drizzle of olive oil (for garlic)
  • 3 C summer squash, cut into large chunks
  • 1 1/2 C tomato, cut into large chunks
  • 1 C onion, cut into large chunks
  • olive oil (for veggies)
  • salt (for veggies)
  • pasta
  • 2 T olive oil
  • 2 T all purpose flour
  • 2 C milk
  • 1/2 C pasta water
  • 1 to 1 1/2 C cheese (pepper jack and parmesan)
  • to taste, salt
  • to taste, pepper
  • 1 t unsalted butter
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 375F.
  2. Drizzle garlic with olive oil and wrap in foil. Place on a baking sheet a roast for 15 minutes.
  3. Toss veggies with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add to garlic baking sheet and continue to bake for about 25-30 minutes more.
  4. Cook pasta, reserving 1/2 C starchy water for sauce before draining.
  5. Heat a medium pot. Add 2 T olive oil. When hot, whisk in flour. Cook for 30-60 seconds. Slowly add milk, a little at a time, whisking and letting it thicken between additions. Heat until steam rises, but do not boil (sauce may break). Add pasta water.
  6. Remove from heat and whisk in cheese, a bit at a time. Season with salt and pepper.
  7. Mash 6 cloves of roasted garlic and whisk into sauce. Stir in butter. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  8. Combine pasta with veggies and sauce. Let it stand a few minutes before serving.

 

Wednesday

13

November 2013

3

COMMENTS

Hearty Butter Lettuce, Fruit, and Tuna Salad

Written by , Posted in Cheese, Fish, Fruit, Gluten Free, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Quick and Easy, Salads, Sides, Thoughts, Vegetables

ButterLettuceFruitTunaSalad_2

This was one of those days when lunchtime was inspired. Usually, I make the quickest and easiest something or other‚ that I can eat at my desk. Often it’s PB&J, or almonds, fruit, and cheese. But today was different. I don’t really know why.

Whatever the reason, I thought of the head of butter lettuce (which I do believe is my new favorite kind of lettuce) that was waiting in the produce drawer. I hate it when I wait too long to use lettuce and it goes bad. That’s a sad sad fate.

Then all sorts of yummy toppings popped into my head.

ButterLettuceFruitTunaSalad_1

Tuna for protein. And almonds too, for the protein and the crunch. Chopped, so it seems like there are more.

Super ripe pears that just made it into the fridge yesterday, because I’d forgotten that they were hiding in a bowl. An apple. I ordered 10 pounds of apples two weeks in a row. It’s taking a while to get through them. I don’t mind.

I’m totally in love with peony grapes. I’m not crazy about how awkward it is to get the seeds out, so I halved them and scraped them out before tossing them into the salad.

We have a couple cucumbers in the fridge that need to be eaten. Cucumber is a nice accompaniment to tuna. Also adds a nice crunch. I love a good crunchy salad.

I like a few small chunks of cheese in a salad anything. Today I chose gruyère, because that’s what I had on hand. It’s my current best cheese. I have to cut just one or two slices when I eat it, or I can easily eat half the brick.

For the dressing, I made a simple vinaigrette, my go-to recipe. It has balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, dijon, and maple syrup.

Combining all of this was a good idea. I wasn’t sure how the fruit would go with the tuna. But, I loved it. There’s all sorts of sweet, savory, salty, acidic flavors going on. At one moment deep mellow, the next light and fruity. Oh, and it’s healthy. I love that healthy tastes great. No cardboard-like food for moi! And, bonus, there’s lots of tuna and dressing leftover, so it will be perfect for making a tuna sandwich for tomorrow’s lunch, and maybe another salad the following day.

If you don’t like tuna, some shredded chicken would be lovely. If you want to add croutons, I think that would be swell. If you don’t like gruyère, try an aged sharp cheddar.

This would go well with the Leek and Potato Soup that I made for dinner yesterday. I wanted to have some, but was just too hungry to wait for it to heat up. Maybe next time. 🙂

Happy Eating!

Hearty Butter Lettuce, Fruit, and Tuna Salad
Recipe Type: Main Dishes, Salads, Lunches, Fish, Cheese, Gluten-Free, Fruit, Vegetables, Quick and Easy
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • Tuna: 1 can tuna
  • 1 t lemon balsamic vinegar (or 1 T lemon juice)
  • 1 T olive oil
  • pinch salt
  • pinch pepper
  • Dressing: 1/3 C balsamic vinegar
  • 1 t lemon balsamic vinegar (or 1 T lemon juice)
  • 1/2 T maple syrup
  • 1/2 t dijon mustard
  • to taste, salt
  • to taste, pepper
  • 1/3 C olive oil
  • Salad: 4 C butter lettuce, washed and torn
  • 2 slices cheese, chopped
  • 1 apple, chopped
  • 1 pear, chopped
  • 10 peony grapes, halved
  • 18 thin slices cucumber, peeled
  • 12 roasted and salted almonds, chopped
Instructions
  1. Combine tuna ingredients.
  2. Whisk together dressing, adding oil last – streaming it in slowly as you whisk, creating an emulsion.
  3. Make two salads. Place 2 C lettuce in a bowl and top with fruit, cucumber, cheese, nuts, and 2 T tuna. Drizzle with dressing. Repeat on second salad.

 

Monday

4

November 2013

2

COMMENTS

Mediterranean Veggies and Rice – Quick and Easy

Written by , Posted in Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Leftovers, Main Dishes, Quick and Easy, Rice, Vegetables, Vegetarian

MediterraneanRiceVeggies_5It seems like more often than not, as of late, when it comes time for dinner, I’m too pooped to make anything, well, good. Don’t worry, we’re not starving or anything. I’m sure we’re even getting a fairly nutritious diet. But, we haven’t been eating as well as we could be.

Even though I was bone tired last Wednesday, I decided that we needed something full of veggies, good fats, and whole grains.

Enter rice, veggies, herbs, and Bari olive oil.

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Rice lends a nutty, wholesome, hearty aspect to this dish.

The veggies range from carrots with the slightest hint of a crunch, to eggplant that melts in your mouth.

The herbs, some fresh, some dried, add an earthy, savory comfort.

The olive oil adds a bright finishing note that’s not like anything else I’ve ever tasted.

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It’s a good dish, this one.

If you’re out of eggplant ideas, I’m here for you.

If you love zucchini but can’t think of another way to prepare it, I’ve got you covered.

If you’re exhausted and would rather crawl into bed than fix dinner, I understand.

If you love food, good food, food that’s wholesome and nutritious, I’m with you.

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Happy Eating!

Mediterranean Veggies and Rice
Recipe Type: Main Dishes, Rice, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Vegetables, Herbs, Quick and Easy
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2-3
Ingredients
  • 1 – 1 1/2 C leftover rice
  • 1/4 C water or vegetable stock
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 1 zucchini, chopped
  • 2 small skinny or 1 small fat eggplant, peeled and sliced
  • 1/2 t (or more) salt
  • pinch pepper
  • 1/4 t dried basil
  • 1 t fresh oregano,
  • 1/8 t red pepper flakes
  • 1 t fresh savory
  • 1/4 t dried parsley
  • 1 t fresh thyme
  • 2-4 cloves roasted garlic, mashed
  • 1/4 C tomatoes, chopped
  • 1/4 C kalamata olives, chopped
  • 2-3 T balsamic vinegar
  • 2 T water
  • parmesan cheese, shaved, for topping
  • olive oil, for topping
Instructions
  1. Re-heat leftover rice with water or stock.
  2. Generously salt eggplant and let stand for 15 minutes. Rinse and pat dry, then chop.
  3. Heat skillet and add oil. When oil is hot, add carrot, zucchini, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 10 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.
  4. Add eggplant, herbs, and red pepper flakes and cook 5 minutes more.
  5. Add garlic, tomatoes, olives, balsamic vinegar, and water. Cook 1-2 minutes more.
  6. Combine with rice and let stand for a few minutes. Taste and add more salt if needed.
  7. Serve topped with a drizzle of good olive oil and some parmesan cheese.
Notes
If using uncooked rice, cook 1 C rice in 2 C water or stock. Cook according to directions on package. Cooking time will increase, but not by much, as the rice will cook while the veggies do.

 

Wednesday

30

October 2013

0

COMMENTS

Shepherd’s Pie – In the Kitchen with Rachel O – Video

Written by , Posted in Beef, Cheese, Dinner, Gluten Free, In the Kitchen with Rachel O, Leftovers, Main Dishes, Meat, Potatoes, Potlucks, Vegetables

Shepherd'sPieOct1-5

Right now we’re kinda in between seasons. It’s technically fall. But produce-wise, we’ve still got a few summer treats hanging on (hello zucchini!), yet are simultaneously moving into the winter goodies (hello root veggies!).

This Shepherd’s Pie is a mash of the two (no pun intended, hello mashed potatoes!).

This is a great dish for using leftovers. Mostly on the mashed potato end. You may want to bookmark this one for Thanksgiving, along with Shepherd’s Pie of the South. One uses up the leftover turkey or chicken, the other uses up the mashed potatoes. No, it’s not too early to start planning what you’re going to do with your Thanksgiving leftovers. It’s never too early to menu plan. 😉

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Back to October, which is a great month, by-the-way. We celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary a couple weeks ago, and the baseball postseason is in full swing. Yeah, both of these make me happy. Add to that the cooler weather and falling leaves and you may understand why this is my absolute favorite time of the year.

Since it’s my favorite month, we should eat some of my favorite foods. We should enjoy hearty, warm meals. We should bring out the quilts and hot chocolate mugs. We should eat Shepherd’s Pie (and Chicken Pot Pie, and Chili and Cornbread, and… oh I’m getting hungry).

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One thing that I love about Shepherd’s Pie is that it’s a great way to use yesterday’s dinner. I’m a big fan of making yummy foods and then repurposing the leftovers. Want to see how it could work? Say Sunday’s dinner is Roasted Chicken, with Mashed Potatoes and Mushroom and Savory Gravy, and Steamed Carrots with Honey and Butter. By making a little more than you will need the first night, you give yourself the starting points for the rest of the week’s dinners. Monday: Chicken and Rice Soup. Tuesday: Shepherd’s Pie. Wednesday: Honey Mustard Chicken Sandwiches. Thursday: Chicken Club Pizza. Friday: Sheppy Pasta (make extra Shepherd’s Pie filling and toss with pasta and tomatoes). Saturday: Soup Day (Taco Soup, Mashed Potato Soup, and definitely remember to make some Chicken Stock with the chicken bones). (Of course make sure that foods are frozen if they will be saved for more than a few days, and re-heated to a safe temperature… but you knew that.)

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Another thing that I love about Shepherd’s Pie is that it just tastes so darn good. Starting at the top, we’ve got some cheese. It’s all melty and maybe a bit crispy where it touches the skillet. Then a layer of Mashed Potatoes. Well, I love those on their own, so I can’t really go wrong here. And the foundation of this dish, ground beef (you could also use tempeh, chicken, maybe even tofu), veggies, and a bit of sauce. Well, sure, don’t mind if I do. You can make a big skillet to feed the whole family, or make individual portions and heat them up one or two at a time (I like to use medium-sized ramekins for this). It freezes well, so once everyone has eaten their fill, pop them into single serving containers and they can be saved for lunches. I wonder, maybe you could even fry an egg and slide it on top of the pie, then toast some bread, top it with a tomato slice and a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and a drizzle of good olive oil, and have it for breakfast… stranger things have happened.

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However it’s eaten, this meal is a winner in my book. Husband’s too. We love pie… especially the savory kind.

Happy Eating!

Print
Shepherd’s Pie

Yield: 4-6

Shepherd’s Pie

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb. ground beef
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 1 zucchini, chopped
  • 4 small radishes, chopped
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • to taste, salt
  • to taste, pepper
  • 1/2 t chili powder
  • 1/2 t coriander
  • pinch nutmeg
  • pinch cumin
  • 1 C peas (frozen are fine)
  • 5 cloves garlic, diced
  • 2 T balsamic vinegar
  • 2 T tomato paste
  • 1 T cornstarch
  • 1/4 C cold water
  • 1 C stock (chicken, beef, or vegetable)
  • 4-6 C warm/hot mashed potatoes (4 large potatoes)
  • 1/2 to 1 C Gruyere cheese, grated
  • sprinkle coriander
  • sprinkle chili powder

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat oven to 375F.
  2. Heat oven safe skillet. Add beef. When partially cooked, add carrots through cumin. Cook covered, stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes, or until veggies are tender.
  3. Add peas and garlic, cook 1 minute.
  4. Add balsamic vinegar and tomato paste, cook 2 minutes.
  5. Whisk cornstarch with water and stock. Add to veggies and beef. Bring to a boil and let sauce thicken.
  6. Taste and adjust seasonings.
  7. Smooth out and top with mashed potatoes, cheese, and sprinkle with coriander and chili powder. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and potatoes are hot.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/shepherds-pie-video/

Monday

28

October 2013

0

COMMENTS

Roasted Chicken with Gorgonzola and Figs

Written by , Posted in Cheese, Dinner, Farm to Dinner Party Table, Fruit, Gluten Free, Main Dishes, Meat, Poultry, Roasting, Vegetables

 

Roasted Chicken with Gorgonzola and Figs
Recipe Type: Main, Meat, Chicken, Dinner, Oven, Roasting
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Serves: 6-8
Chicken is roasted with browned butter and figs then topped with some sweet caramelized onions and tangy gorgonzola cheese.
Ingredients
  • 1 t olive oil
  • 6 cloves roasted garlic
  • 2 T butter
  • 1 to 1 1/2 C water
  • 6-8 chicken breasts
  • 8-12 figs, sliced in 4
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • 2 onions, sliced
  • 1 T honey
  • 1/4 C (or more) gorgonzola cheese
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 375F.
  2. Drizzle garlic with olive oil and wrap in foil. Roast for 45-60 minutes. Remove from oven. When cool enough to handle, squeeze pulp from 6 cloves garlic and mash with a fork. Set aside.
  3. Brown butter in a small skillet (watch carefully so it doesn’t burn).
  4. Grease a large ovenproof dish. Add water. Add chicken. Top with figs, salt, pepper, and then drizzle browned butter over.
  5. Bake uncovered for 45-60 minutes, or until internal temperature of chicken reaches 170F.
  6. Add onions and honey to a dry skillet. Cook over low heat for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  7. Remove from oven and top with mashed roasted garlic, caramelized onions, and dot with gorgonzola.

 

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