De Ma Cuisine

Cheese Archive

Monday

2

September 2013

4

COMMENTS

When Winter Veggies Arrive Early – Spaghetti Soup

Written by , Posted in Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Main Dishes, Roasting, Soups, Vegetables, Vegetarian

SpaghettiSoupWhat to do with a winter squash… when it’s still summer?! Make it into a soup that has summery flavors.

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It’s kinda the best of both worlds. I get to eat soup when it’s 95 degrees F out, but I also get to use the wintery veggies that we’ve started getting in our weekly box of produce.

This one is a bit like a soupy version of the Spaghetti Squash Rock that I made on the show last year. The squash is roasted, stock is made, veggies are sautéed. Then it all comes together pretty quickly.

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I like to top this soup with a good amount of parmesan cheese. And some hearty, crusty bread, with some butter on it goes really well (perfect for dipping and then cleaning out the bowl).

Happy Eating!

Spaghetti Soup

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 50 minutes

Yield: 4-6

Spaghetti Soup

Ingredients

  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 sweet peppers (or 1 bell pepper), chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic, diced
  • 1 t honey
  • salt, to taste (about 1 to 1 1/2 t)
  • pepper, to taste
  • 1-8 oz. can tomato sauce
  • 6-8 C stock (chicken or vegetable will work)
  • 2 spaghetti squash, cooked (about 4 C)
  • 2 T balsamic vinegar
  • 1 T butter
  • parmesan cheese, grated, for topping

Instructions

  1. Cook squash: Halve, remove seeds, brush with olive oil, and bake cut side down at 350F for 45-60 minutes (or until flesh pierces easily with a fork). Scrape flesh from skin and set aside.
  2. Heat a soup pot, add oil. When oil is hot, add peppers, onion, salt, and pepper. Cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and honey and cook for about 1 minute.
  3. Add tomato sauce, squash, balsamic vinegar, and stock. Cover and bring to a boil. Uncover and reduce to a simmer and cook for 20-30 minutes.
  4. Remove from heat and add butter. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  5. Serve topped with parmesan cheese.

Notes

Most of the cooking time is inactive.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/when-winter-veggies-arrive-early-spaghetti-soup/

Wednesday

22

May 2013

0

COMMENTS

Zoo Boats (Roasted Stuffed Squash) – Episode 68

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

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As a kid, I remember my mom making Zucchini Bread. She called it “Zoo Bread”. I wonder if she thought that if we didn’t hear the word “zucchini” we might eat it. We did. However, I don’t remember feeling fooled… I think we might have known what was in it. We liked it because it was good.

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Today I’m making Roasted Stuffed Squash. But, if it helps anyone in your home to eat them without a fuss, you are welcome to call them “Zoo Boats”.

Or maybe if someone thinks they don’t like squash, but gets to help scoop out the middle, they will be so proud of themselves that they will insist on eating some. Insist.

I used leftover rice. Quinoa would also be delicious (and would add more protein). Adding Italian sausage or ground beef would be great too.

This is kinda like a switcheroo on the classic Stuffed Pepper or Stuffed Tomato. Hey! Why not get creative and make a few different kinds of stuffed items – Peppers, Tomatoes, and Squash! Everyone could have their favorite.

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Unfortunately, now I’m craving Zoo Bread. Guess that’s what I’ll be making later on today.

Happy Eating!

 

Roasted Stuffed Squash
Recipe Type: Main, Side, Vegetable, Vegetarian
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2-4
Roasted squash is stuffed with rice, peppers, and onions, then it’s topped with basil. It tastes like summer.
Ingredients
  • 1 medium or large summer squash, sliced lengthwise, center scooped out
  • 1 T olive oil, divided
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, diced
  • 1 C (heaping) cooked rice
  • 1 large tomato (about 1 C), chopped
  • pinch red pepper flakes
  • 1 t fresh oregano, chopped
  • 1 t fresh basil, chopped
  • 1 t fresh thyme, chopped
  • 1 t fresh sage, chopped
  • 1 T lemon juice
  • 1/4 parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1/3 C gruyère, grated
  • fresh basil, chopped (for topping)
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350F.
  2. Scoop out center of squash. Rub with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place cut side down on a baking sheet. Roast for 15 minutes (or until tender).
  3. Heat a pan, when it’s hot, add remaining oil. When oil is hot, add onion and pepper. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add rice, herbs, seasonings, and tomato. Cook over medium to medium-low heat for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Remove from heat. Add lemon juice and parmesan to rice mixture. Stir and taste. Adjust seasoning if desired. Spoon rice mixture into squash. Top with gruyère and return to oven for about 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
  5. Serve topped with fresh basil. (Could serve whole, or cut in pieces to serve more.)
Notes
Cooking time is actually about 15 minutes because rice mixture cooks while squash roasts. You could save the scooped out portion and add it to the rice mixture, or save it to add to some soup or a pasta sauce! Recipe has since been adapted to include fresh herbs rather than dried. If using dried oregano, basil, thyme, and sage, reduce to 1/4 t of each.

Sponsored by: Abundant Harvest Organics, Bari Olive Oil Company, Waterfall Creative, Molly Jenson.

Wednesday

15

May 2013

2

COMMENTS

English Peas with Ricotta and Ham over Pasta – Episode 67

Written by , Posted in A Cooking Show with Rachel O, Abundant Harvest Organics, Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Herbs, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Pasta, Pork, Quick and Easy, This Week's Feast, Vegetables

EnglishPeasPasta3I know that some people hate peas. But, I am not one of them. I mentioned in my post last week that I didn’t like frozen peas as a kid. Now, I can’t get enough of them – in any form.

I love peas.

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I love sugar snap peas with bacon and pasta. I’m also crazy about them raw. Pea tendrils? Have you ever tried them? So good with a fried egg on top! Snow peas in Stir Fry are amazing. I wish I was eating that right now (with some tofu or chicken, some bean sprouts and carrots, and a nice slightly sweet sauce…). Frozen peas in Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup is one of my favorites.

But now, I have a new love. Pasta + ricotta + ham + carrots + chard + garlic + ENGLISH PEAS = Love love love this meal. Topped with some basil and parmesan cheese… oh boy! (Husband’s response last night after his first bite: “Wow!”)

And it’s good cold, as a pasta salad. Maybe with some German or Italian sausage? How about alongside a Burger? Or with a few other delicious salads?

Why am I coming up with all these meal ideas, I’m not even hungry!

Or I wasn’t…

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After I finished filming and taking photos, I stood at my little Ikea island and picked pasta and ricotta out of the bowl and ate it. Someone’s gotta clean up.

Happy Eating!

English Peas with Ricotta and Ham over Pasta

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 4

English Peas with Ricotta and Ham over Pasta

Ingredients

  • 1 pkg pasta
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1 heaping C (about 40 pods) English peas (shelled)
  • 2 carrots, in long thin ribbons (use a vegetable peeler)
  • 1 bulb green garlic and the green part (just the edible part), minced
  • 3/4 t to 1 t salt
  • pinch cayenne
  • pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 to 1 t fresh thyme
  • 1/4 C water
  • 1-2 T lemon juice
  • 3/4 C ham, cooked and thinly sliced
  • 2-3 C chard, roughly chopped
  • 10 oz. ricotta cheese
  • parmesan cheese (for topping), grated
  • basil, chopped (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta in salted water.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat skillet, and add oil. Add English peas through thyme. Cook over medium or medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Add water. Cook 8 minutes more, stirring occasionally.
  3. Add lemon juice, ham, and chard. Cook for 5 minutes (or until ham is heated through and chard is wilted), tossing occasionally with tongs. Taste and adjust seasonings.
  4. Toss cooked pasta with ricotta and a pinch of salt.
  5. Serve pasta topped with veggies and some parmesan and basil.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/would-you-like-peas-with-that-ep67/

Sponsored by: Abundant Harvest Organics, Bari Olive Oil Company, Waterfall Creative, Molly Jenson.

Wednesday

17

April 2013

3

COMMENTS

Not Your Average Spinach-Artichoke Dip – Episode 63

Written by , Posted in A Cooking Show with Rachel O, Abundant Harvest Organics, Appetizers, Cheese, Gluten Free, Lunch, Nuts, Potlucks, Sides, Snacks, This Week's Feast, Vegetables, Vegetarian

SpinachArtichokeDip3Today I made dip. It’s not your average Spinach-Artichoke Dip. No way. It’s made with artichokes, walnuts, spinach, and beet greens. There’s a little cheese too. Cheese is always a good addition to dip in my books. I’m totally a fan of creamy dips and sauces. But this time, I exchanged the mayo for balsamic vinegar…

Really, I use the term “dip” loosely. It’s more of a “scoop”, but I don’t know if that works…

If you didn’t blend it, this could be a side dish of wilted greens that you eat with a fork. I’d be ok with that serving option. Or maybe you might want to add some of the water from a pot of cooking pasta and make it into a pasta dish? Be my guest! But, my plan is to scoop it out of a bowl with a cracker or some French bread and call it dinner. Yes, dinner. Or snack, appetizer, lunch, breakfast (alongside a fried egg? Sure, I think so.)…

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I’ll admit that it’s not quite as pretty as one of those creamy Spinach-Artichoke dips. It’s the balsamic that gives it the dark color. Totally worth it.

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Something I didn’t do that I’m regretting: I didn’t add bacon. That would have been a good addition. Great, now not only am I hungry, but I’m hungry for bacon…

Happy Eating!

Spinach-Artichoke Dip

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 4-6

Spinach-Artichoke Dip

Ingredients

  • 2 T olive oil
  • 8-10 artichokes (outer leaves, tip, stem, and choke removed), finely chopped
  • 1 shallot, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, diced
  • 1 C walnuts, chopped
  • pinch or two coconut palm sugar (or any sugar)
  • 1/2 C balsamic vinegar
  • 3/4 to 1 t dijon mustard
  • 1/2 t to 1 t salt
  • pepper
  • pinch red pepper flakes
  • 3-4 C spinach, torn
  • 3-4 C beet greens, torn
  • 1-2 C cheese, grated (mixture of parmesan and gruyère)
  • crackers, bread, or bagel chips for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat skillet. Add oil. When oil is hot, add artichokes, shallot, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and sugar. Cook for 3-5 minutes, over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
  2. Add garlic and walnuts. Cook 2 minutes, over medium heat, stirring often.
  3. Add vinegar and reduce down for 3-4 minutes (or less!).
  4. Stir in dijon. Add beet greens and wilt down for 2 minutes, (to help greens wilt down: using tongs, pick up greens and bits from the bottom and turn over). Add spinach and wilt down for 2 minutes, or until all greens are wilted.
  5. Using the chopper attachment of a hand blender (or a food processor), working in batches (if needed), blend the dip to desired consistency.
  6. Stir in cheese.
  7. Serve topped with a little more cheese.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/better-than-average-ep63/

This episode is sponsored by: Abundant Harvest Organics, Bari Olive Oil, Waterfall Creative, Molly Jenson.

Friday

12

April 2013

2

COMMENTS

Grilled Cheese with Gruyère Apple and Ham

Written by , Posted in Bread, Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Pork, Quick and Easy, Sandwiches, Sides, Snacks

GrilledCheese4Today is National Grilled Cheese Day. My brother, Josh, informed me of it this morning. It would have been just wrong not to have it for lunch.

I’m totally cool with a plain old grilled cheese. You know, bread, butter, cheese, done. But today I wanted a fancied up version. Hello gruyère, rosemary ham, fuji apple, olive oil, and a touch of salt, between two pieces of Ezekiel bread. Hello indeed.

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Now go eat some lunch. I know you’re hungry!

Happy Eating!

Grilled Cheese with Gruyère Apple and Ham

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 1

Grilled Cheese with Gruyère Apple and Ham

Ingredients

  • 2 slices bread
  • 1 t olive oil
  • teensy pinch of salt
  • a few slices of thinly sliced ham (rosemary ham if you can find it)
  • Gruyère cheese, as much as you need, sliced
  • fuji (or your favorite) apple, thinly sliced

Instructions

  1. Drizzle oil on one side of each slice of bread. Sprinkle with salt and distribute evenly over the slice. Top with cheese, ham, and apple slices. Close.
  2. Place into a hot skillet over medium or medium-low heat. Cover (opt.) and cook for about 3ish minutes, or until the bread is crispy. Flip and cook uncovered until cheese is melted and second slice of bread is crispy.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/celebrating-grilled-cheese/