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Wednesday

3

July 2019

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COMMENTS

Shaved Kohlrabi Salad and Thai Sausage – A Cooking Show with Rachel O – Ep. 2

Written by Rachel, Posted in A Cooking Show with Rachel O, Condiments, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Poultry, Quick and Easy, Salads, Sausage, Sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Do you ever have one of those days where it feels like all the things are piled on your shoulders? Where the budget doesn’t balance, there are spiders in the kitchen, and you need a haircut, but remember that budget? It means you’re gonna DIY that summer do. But then you look outside and take a breath (you don’t actually go out because bugs, plus it’s hot). You scratch the dog’s chin and have a moment of clarity. It frees you to be here, typing away, not worrying about whether the sourdough bread will rise, or if the tomatoes will ever sprout (why even haven’t they?!), or why the wasps like your yard so much. Those things will be dealt with, in time. But, they don’t all need attention right now.

This is what I’m learning these days.

If I’m too far ahead, I’m not in the now. I’m missing out on the good, while I try to muddle through the mediocre and sometimes bad stuff. But, sometimes, out of the bad comes something sweet. Not always. But, often.

When I’m feeling overwhelmed I get caught up in my worry and spin into an endless cycle of too many quesadillas (ok, there can never really be too many) and not enough solid and nutritious meals. I get stuck in remembering the work it takes to put a meal on the table, especially if I’ve just finished an 8 hour day dealing with tourists. Sometimes I just need someone to make food for my face hole so I can eat it while watching Heartland or Schitt’s Creek. But, if I can take a step back once in a while, and this summer is affording me the time to be able to do so, I can remember how much I love to cook. How much joy I find in the monotony of slicing veggies the mandoline. How good cooked food smells. How a well paired beverage completes a meal.

This Shaved Kohlrabi Salad and Thai Sausage is just perfect for this. It’s quick enough to not be a burden. But, there’s a bit of prep required. Barely any, but enough to make you take a second to quiet your brain and just slice for a minute. Then enjoy the shock as you submerge your hands in the ice water to swish the veggies around. It’s hot out. The cold feels good.

This is one of those meals that can be adapted and made a thousand different ways. I was in the mood for Mazzeo’s Spicy Thai Sausage and it paired perfectly with the crispy veggies and their citrusy dressing. Switch things up if you have something different growing in your garden or if you have a favorite kind of sausage. Grill the sausage if you want to get outside. When tomatoes are in season, serve them still warm from the sun, drizzled with dressing. In the colder months, roast some veggies (like carrots, beets, and broccoli) and toss them with the same dressing. You could add a pilaf or quinoa salad on the side. You could serve warm fruit crisp for dessert.

This dish is a reminder to be present, to live simply, and to breathe deeply as you savor the aroma of a good meal.

Happy Eating!

Shaved Kohlrabi Salad and Thai Sausage – Serves 4

Ingredients

1 T canola oil
1 pound Mazzeo’s Spicy Thai Sausage
1 carrot, peeled and very thinly sliced
2 Armenian cucumbers, very thinly sliced
3 kohlrabi, peeled and very thinly sliced
ice water
juice of 1 lemon
1 T dijon mustard
2 T extra virgin olive oil
1 t maple syrup
1/4 C chopped chives
Maldon salt, for serving

Directions

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the oil. When the oil is hot add the sausage, cut side down. Cook, turning once or twice, until it’s a bit browned and is cooked through and reaches a safe temperature, about 4-5 minutes on each side.
Submerge the cut veggies in ice water and let stand for about 15 minutes.
Whisk together the lemon juice, dijon mustard, olive oil, and maple syrup until it has emulsified, then stir in the chives. Toss the veggies with the dressing, using your clean hands.
Serve the salad topped with Maldon salt, alongside the sausage.

This episode has been sponsored by Mazzeo’s Meat Market.

Friday

26

February 2016

0

COMMENTS

Baked Onion Rings with Herb Dip

Written by Rachel, Posted in Baking, Condiments, Dairy-Free, Eggs, Gluten Free, Herbs, Quick and Easy, Roasting, Sides, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

I’m not a sweets person. I don’t often crave chocolate, I can go without candy, and if given the option, I’d take potato chips over a donut. I do really love ice cream, but I think that’s because Tim is so good at making it. But, even then, I might take onion rings over ice cream. Because I really really love crunchy deep fried foods. French fries, tempura, onion rings… They’re so tasty.

We don’t need to talk about the dangers of fried foods. I’m well aware. You’re well aware. We’ve got that covered. It’s a treat, not an everyday thing.

When it comes to guilty pleasures, these onion rings seem like they’d fit in. But, they’re actually pretty innocent. They’re dipped in eggs (you could use coconut or almond milk if you want to keep them vegan), then coated in flour. I double dipped some (you know, egg, flour, egg, flour). I’m not sure which turned out better. They all tasted great.

All.

I ate them all.

The first secret to this delicious treat is baking them at a high temperature for a short amount of time. We’re talking 425°F for 18-20 minutes total. The second secret is the dip. It’s made up of things like yogurt or silken tofu or mayo or avocado (or ALL!) blended up with some blanched greens, herbs, garlic, and olive oil. I fully submerged each onion ring in the dip before devouring.

If you wanted to make a huge platter and call this dinner, you might also do some green beans, par-cooked potatoes or root veggies (and in a few months summer squash), and add the beans to the dip. Serve it with a big salad and some other fun finger foods (like nachos with refried bean dip) and you’ve got a winner. In fact you’ll most likely find us eating this for dinner sometime this weekend.

Happy Eating!

Baked Onion Rings with Herb Dip

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Yield: 2-4

Baked Onion Rings with Herb Dip

Ingredients

2 C any of your favorite greens
2.5 C any combo of: yogurt/crème fraîche/mayo/sour cream/avocado
1 T dijon
1 T olive oil
1 t lemon zest, chopped
1 t lemon juice
to taste salt
to taste pepper
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
pinch cayenne (optional)
handful chopped herbs like: parsley, basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano
1-2 onions, sliced
2 (or more) eggs, whisked (or coconut, almond, or cow's milk)
2 C flour (AP or GF)
to taste salt*
to taste pepper

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 425°F.
Blanch greens in boiling water for 1 minute. Transfer to an ice bath to cool. (Or, use leftover sautéed greens.)
Whisk yogurt through cayenne. Add herbs and blanched or leftover greens. Blend. Taste for seasoning. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Mix flour with salt and pepper. Taste (for real). Separate onion into rings. Dip veggies in egg/milk then flour. Repeat if desired. Tap off excess flour. Place on a parchment or Silpat lined baking sheet. Do not let the veggies touch. Bake for about 10 minutes, flip, bake about 8-10 minutes more (or until crispy and browned).
Serve with dip.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/baked-onion-rings-with-herb-dip/

Friday

29

January 2016

2

COMMENTS

Pickled Beets and Cabbage

Written by Rachel, Posted in Canning, Condiments, Dairy-Free, Gluten Free, Pickling, Quick and Easy, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Pickles are one of life’s great mysteries. I don’t quite understand why or how they are so awesome. They just are. They can add so much to a dish. They’re fun to eat. And, they’re a lot simpler to make than I would have thought. I’ve tried to make pickles a few times before. I’ve followed recipes and made up my own. Nothing worked. I tried with raw veggies and lots of apple cider vinegar. Nothing tasted good. So I was a little apprehensive when I was thinking about pickling for a post… But, I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

It all starts with some veggies. I chose steamed beets (because I’d tried to pickle raw beets once… nope, not a good idea) and raw cabbage. I used them because that’s what I had on hand. But, I think that with this particular brine, I might also try carrots, cauliflower, radish, green beans, greens, leeks, cucumber, or onions. I’d steam any root veggies and cauliflower, but I’d probably leave the rest raw.

For the brine, I went with white vinegar and rice vinegar. I like their mild flavors. I also added some water, salt, and honey. Water to dilute a bit, honey to counter the sharp vinegar, and salt, well, because I like salt (and I think you’re supposed to use salt when pickling, although this was just plain table salt, not pickling salt).

I added a few extras, based on the veggies I was using. To go with the beets I used: garlic, orange zest, and peppercorns. With the cabbage I used garlic, red pepper flakes, and peppercorns. You could also add dill, chives, fresh ginger, or lemon zest, depending on the veggie to be pickled.

I let them sit for about a week and a half in the fridge before trying them. I don’t know if I needed to, but I did.

Now that they’re open, I’ve eaten the pickled beets 3 days in a row. I just can’t get enough. Tim even tried one the other day and didn’t hate it. He wasn’t crazy about the texture of the beets (they’re soft, like they are when steamed), but he really liked the flavor of the brine. For me, the beets are exactly the texture I was hoping for. They’re tender and vinegary with just a hint of sweet. And the cabbage, it’s gone. I ate it. All. By. Myself. I tried it raw, I added it to a stir fry, and I added it (and the pickled garlic) to some lentils and topped it with a fried egg, paprika, cayenne, and chili powder. I can’t wait until the next time cabbage comes in our Abundant Harvest Organics box. I know exactly how I want to use it.

Happy Eating!

Pickled Beets and Cabbage

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Yield: 2 pints

Pickled Beets and Cabbage

Ingredients

3-4 C any: beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, radish, green beans, greens, leeks, cucumber, onions; chopped, shredded, sliced, quartered (depending on type of veggie)
1 1/2 C vinegar (white vinegar and rice vinegar)
1 1/2 C water
1 T + 1 t salt
1 T + 1 t honey
1/4 C any extras (choose based on veggies using): peppercorns, garlic, dill, chives, fresh ginger, lemon zest, orange zest, red pepper flakes

Instructions

Sterilize jars and lids.
Steam any root veggies or cauliflower until tender (about 20-30 minutes, depending on the veggie) and then cut as desired. Leave things like cabbage, green beans, greens, leeks, and onions raw.
Bring brining liquid (vinegar through honey) to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
Place extras in the bottom of the jars, place veggies in the jars, packing fairly tightly but leaving about an inch of space at the top. Pour brining liquid over, filling to cover veggies. Wipe the rims and cover with the lid. Cool to room temperature then refrigerate.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/pickled-beets-and-cabbage/

Thursday

12

November 2015

0

COMMENTS

Roasted Broccoli and Squash with a Basil and Tahini Sauce

Written by Rachel, Posted in Condiments, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Gluten Free, Herbs, Main Dishes, Pasta, Quick and Easy, Rice, Roasting, Sauces, Sides, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

As I type this, I’m practicing my songs for the Christmas concert in December. This seems wrong because the weather doesn’t match the feel of the songs. I don’t know if it will ever not be weird to me to have 90 degree weather in October, but I’m coping. I try to avoid using the oven too much when it’s hot. But, today I made an exception. It just has to be done earlier in the day when it’s still cool out. And, even though it warms up the house a lot, it’s worth it to be rewarded with roasted veggies.

Roasted broccoli is one of my favorite things. Sure, it can make the house smell like toots, but it tastes so good that it doesn’t really bother me. And roasted summer squash, I can eat the entire pan by myself. Easy.

I tossed them with some olive oil, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Simple.

While they roasted I blended together some sauce (which could be a dip, just make it a little thicker). It contained things like garlic, ginger, basil, tahini paste, and homemade yogurt. I’m totally on a homemade yogurt kick right now. It’s the best, and it’s not too difficult to make. When I make it, I feel like I’m winning at life. Same with homemade bread. I guess we all have our things that make us feel like we’ve accomplished something great. Those are two of mine.

This sauce might be another. It’s a bit Asian-inspired, with the soy sauce (liquid aminos if you’re gluten-free) and the tahini. If you have leftovers, you might use it on an Asian Chicken Salad or a Napa Cabbage Slaw. If you don’t have tahini paste (which is ground up sesame seeds), you could use almond or peanut butter.

I served the veggies drizzled with the sauce, over some brown rice. Other options would be to serve it over pasta, spaghetti squash, chicken, tofu, or just dip the veggies in the sauce. They’re great that way too.

I see cooler weather in the forecast. It’s almost the season for all the roasted veggies, soups, and stews.

Happy Eating!

Roasted Broccoli and Squash with a Basil and Tahini Sauce

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Yield: 2

Roasted Broccoli and Squash with a Basil and Tahini Sauce

Ingredients

1 head broccoli, cut into bite sized pieces (stems too, just peel the tough outer skin)
1 medium or 2 small summer squash, cut into sticks
1 t olive oil
to taste salt
to taste pepper
pinch cayenne
sauce: 1 T tahini paste
1 t soy sauce or liquid aminos
1 clove garlic
1/2" cube fresh ginger (or good pinch dried)
pinch cayenne
2-3 T plain yogurt (Greek or coconut) or silken tofu
1/4 t dried thyme or 1 t fresh
2-3 T fresh basil
to taste olive oil
cooked rice, rice noodles, spaghetti squash, chicken, tofu, for serving (optional)

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 400F.
Toss broccoli and squash with oil, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Roast for 10 minutes, flip, and roast for 10 minutes more (or until a bit crispy outside).
Blend tahini through olive oil. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
Serve veggies drizzled with sauce (over rice, rice noodles, spaghetti squash, chicken, or tofu, if desired).

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/roasted-broccoli-tahini-sauce/

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…

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Shaved Kohlrabi Salad and Thai Sausage – A Cooking Show with Rachel O – Ep. 2

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Pickled Beets and Cabbage

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Fig and Goat Cheese Spread – Oh What a Trip

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