De Ma Cuisine

Dairy-Free Archive

Wednesday

17

February 2016

0

COMMENTS

Creamy Dreamy Scrambled Eggs

Written by , Posted in Breakfast, Brunch, Dairy-Free, Eggs, Gluten Free, Kid-Friendly, Low Carb, Lunch, Main Dishes, Quick and Easy, Sides, Vegetarian

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Eggs are a staple in our home. We can easily go through a dozen eggs in a week, just at mealtimes. My favorite way to enjoy them is fried in olive oil. They’re amazing atop an Egg and Cheese Sandwich, with an over-medium yolk dripping onto some lentils, or just on their own with a side of toasted and buttered homemade sourdough.

But sometimes, I just want them scrambled.

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I learned a while ago that the best way to cook perfect scrambled eggs is over low heat. Low and slow. That being said, it’s still a quick and easy meal that always satisfies.

These aren’t the scrambled eggs that you’ll see at a buffet. Cold, coagulated, overcooked, tough, and tinged with grey.

No.

I’m talking about velvety, creamy, warm deliciousness. I like to cook the eggs until they’re just barely set. You can cook them longer if you want. (Obviously.) Since I use a cast iron pan for my eggs the residual heat will keep cooking them for a while after I turn the burner off. I don’t want overcooked tough eggs, so this is key. I’m going for just a step beyond custard on a fork.

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It’s simple. A good skillet, a glug of oil, and low heat. I like to whisk the eggs up with a splash of water. Some prefer milk or cream. That’s cool too. Mom used water, so that’s what I do. After that all it takes is a little bit of standing by the stove, daydreaming, sliding the spatula across the pan from time to time.

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Toast some good bread that you can slather with butter and jam, and figure out if it’s a just eggs day, or if you want something else. Grated cheese melting overtop is always a good idea, a side of crispy bacon always wins, fresh herbs are divine. Usually though, all I need is a little bit of salt.

Happy Eating!

Creamy Scrambled Eggs

Creamy Scrambled Eggs

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs
  • splash water
  • 1 t olive oil
  • to taste salt

Instructions

  1. Whisk the eggs and water together.
  2. Heat a skillet over low. Add olive oil. Pour in the eggs. Gently stir eggs with a metal spatula as they begin to set, pushing out from the middle, pulling in from the outside. Cook low and slow, stirring often. When they're almost set remove from heat and let them stand in the skillet for 1 minute. Season with salt.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/creamy-dreamy-scrambled-eggs/

Friday

12

February 2016

1

COMMENTS

Chunky Vegetable Soup

Written by , Posted in Beans, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Lunch, Main Dishes, Potatoes, Soups, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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When in doubt, soup! I almost always want to eat soup. In hot weather and cold weather, on weeknights or at dinner parties… give me soup and I’ll be happy with my meal.

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Soup is a great way to use up whatever you’ve got hanging around in the crisper drawers of the fridge too. Sometimes there are forgotten turnips and beets in there that are given a new chance at life in soup. Way yummier than tossing them in the compost or using them for stock.

This week I had things like leeks, spinach, sweet potatoes, peas, and rutabagas on hand. But, you could add or substitute with onions, shallots, kohlrabi, carrots, turnips, radishes, brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, or winter squash.

So many options!

I wanted to add a little more protein and even more texture to this soup, so I also added beans. I was in the mood for kidney, but black, white, or cannellini would also be fab. And when we get into spring, fava beans would be amazing! I love beans in soup.

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This soup makes for a great lunch or dinner. It’s wonderful with homemade croissants, apple-cheese toasts, or just on its own with a squeeze of lemon and a good book.

Happy Eating!

Chunky Vegetable Soup

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 52 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 7 minutes

Yield: 8

Chunky Vegetable Soup

Ingredients

  • 1 T olive oil
  • 2 C leek/onion/shallot, chopped
  • 5 C any: kohlrabi, carrot, rutabaga, turnip, winter squash, brussels sprouts, cabbage, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, potatoes, radish; peeled, if warranted, chopped
  • to taste salt
  • dash cayenne (or may use 1/2 to 1 small hot pepper, ribs and seeds removed, minced)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 T rice vinegar
  • 7 C veggie stock
  • 1 t fresh thyme (or 1/4 t dried)
  • 1/2 t dried rosemary (or 1/2 T fresh)
  • 2 T fresh basil (or 2 t dried)
  • to taste pepper
  • 2 C greens (kale, spinach, chard, mustard greens, mizuna, bok choy... anything that you have on hand will work), chopped
  • 1 1/2 C beans (black, kidney, white, cannellini)
  • 1 C peas (frozen, or shelled fresh peas or fava beans)
  • lemon wedges, for serving
  • good olive oil, for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat a soup pot over medium-low. Add olive oil. Add leek-cayenne (if you're using dried herbs you may add them now too). Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10-15 minutes, or until the veggies are getting tender. Add garlic and vinegar and cook for 1 minute more. Add the stock through pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes. Add the greens, beans, and peas and cook for 3 minutes more. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
  2. Ladle into bowls and serve with a squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of olive oil.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/chunky-vegetable-soup/

Friday

29

January 2016

2

COMMENTS

Pickled Beets and Cabbage

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

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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

  1. Sterilize jars and lids.
  2. 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.
  3. Bring brining liquid (vinegar through honey) to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
  4. 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/

Monday

18

January 2016

0

COMMENTS

Orange You Glad it’s Green Smoothie

Written by , Posted in Breakfast, Brunch, Dairy-Free, Drinks, Fruit, Gluten Free, Kid-Friendly, Quick and Easy, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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When I need a quick meal, smoothies are a great option. Sometimes I make them with peanut butter, chocolate chips, and banana. That’s one of my favorites. But, I also really love a good fruit and veggie smoothie. Sweet, but not too, and packed with nutrients.

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For a wintery smoothie, I opted for orange+pear+persimmon+greens. I just used what I hand on hand. At other times I may use apple instead of the pear, or in the warmer months, stone fruit and berries. The constant is the greens. I like to use mild ones like kale, spinach, or chard, and they just kinda disappear in the fruity goodness.

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I wanted to use the orange peel as a cup. We don’t have a dishwasher, so any dishes I generate get washed by hand. The less dishes the better. I used a grapefruit knife to get the segments out, but a sharp paring knife would do just as well. I cut a tiny bit off the bottom of the orange so it would sit flat too. Don’t want any rolling oranges when there’s a smoothie inside!

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I like my smoothies to be super thick and pretty cold. So I usually add some frozen banana. Unfrozen would work well too. The riper they are, the sweeter the smoothie.

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This can be a great light meal on its own. A working lunch or a good breakfast. If you want to add to the meal, here are a few suggestions for things that I think would compliment it:

Breakfast or Brunch

Savory Baked French Toast

Sweet and Savory Cornmeal Pancakes

Fresh Fruit and Basil Stuffed French Toast

Toast with Peanut Butter and Honey

Winter Frittata

Scrambled Eggs with Bacon and Chives

Turnip Hash with Bacon and Gouda

Paris Potatoes

Lunch

Grilled Egg and Cheese Sandwiches

Bacon Sandwich with Dandelion Greens

Tuna Boats

Dilly Eggs with Lentils

Vegetarian Soft Tacos

Any leftovers can be frozen in an ice cube tray and then re-blended or added to a new smoothie (in place of ice, if you use it).

Happy Eating!

Orange and Green Smoothie

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 2

Orange and Green Smoothie

Ingredients

  • 1 large orange, top cut off, segments scooped out (if you want to serve smoothie in peel - if not just peel, de-seed, and roughly chop)
  • 1-2 C greens (kale, chard, spinach), roughly chopped
  • 1 frozen banana (or very ripe non-frozen banana)
  • 1 apple or pear, roughly chopped
  • 1 persimmon, peeled and roughly chopped
  • (may substitute fruit with stone fruit or berries depending on the season)
  • 1/2 C yogurt (any kind) (or may use silken tofu or omit altogether)
  • 1-2 T maple syrup or honey
  • 1/2 C milk (any kind) (or use orange juice)

Instructions

  1. Blend until smooth, adding liquid last until you reach desired consistency. Taste for sweetness.
  2. Serve in the orange peel to save on dishes.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/orange-kale-smoothie/

Monday

11

January 2016

0

COMMENTS

Chopped Salad with Oranges Greens and Nuts

Written by , Posted in Dairy-Free, Fruit, Gluten Free, Lunch, Nuts, Quick and Easy, Salads, Sides, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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Salads get a bit of a bad rap as a “diet food”. Ugh. I don’t even like the word “diet” and I really like salads. They’re a great compliment to so many foods and can even be a wonderful meal on their own.

The salad that I’m talking about here is a veggie filled chopped salad that could fit into both categories. It would be fabulous paired with a stir fry, some roasted chicken, or a big bowl of chili. But, add some crispy tofu or chicken to it and it turns into the main dish.

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I love a salad with lots of great crunch. It can come in the form of great raw veggies, seeds, and one of my favorites: nuts. For this salad, I chopped up some raw walnuts from my in-laws’ tree. I toasted them on the stove top for a few minutes, then tossed them with some spices.

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For this wintery salad, I thought a great honey-mustard dressing would be the perfect compliment. It’s a simple mixture of honey and mustard, of course (if you don’t do honey, try some maple syrup), along with some fresh squeezed orange juice, rice vinegar, and olive oil. I love creamy slaws and salads, but sometimes I want something a little bit lighter. This was perfect.

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I used what I had on hand for the rest of the salad: broccoli, greens, cabbage, radish, shallot, and chopped orange. You could totally substitute with carrots, cauliflower, and red onions. You could use leeks and any kinda greens that you think would taste good (like bok choy, spinach, kale, mizuna…). It’s kinda like a cross between a chopped salad and an awesome coleslaw. Call it what you like, as long as you call it…

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It’s great to take to a potluck, to enjoy alongside a grilled cheese sandwich at lunch, or to go with a tasty Chicken Pot Pie for dinner. Done, done, and done.

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Happy Eating!

Chopped Salad with Oranges Greens and Nuts

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 23 minutes

Yield: 6-8

Chopped Salad with Oranges Greens and Nuts

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 C raw nuts (almonds, walnuts, pinenuts), chopped
  • pinch cayenne
  • to taste salt
  • 2 C greens (kale, chard, spinach, mizuna), chopped
  • 1 C cabbage, shredded
  • 1 C broccoli or cauliflower, finely chopped
  • 1 C radish or carrot, grated
  • 1/4 C shallot, leek, or red onion, minced
  • 2 C orange, chopped (drained in a strainer to catch excess juice for dressing)
  • 4 t dijon mustard
  • 2 t honey (or maple syrup)
  • to taste salt
  • 2 T rice vinegar
  • 1/4 C orange juice
  • 6 T olive oil

Instructions

  1. Heat a dry skillet. Add nuts and toast for 3 minutes over medium-low, turning often. Toss with cayenne and salt and set aside.
  2. (If using kale, massage with a bit of salt and some olive oil, using hands, for 3-5 minutes.) Toss greens through shallot.
  3. Whisk dijon through rice vinegar, add orange juice that's drained from chopped orange and top up to make 1/4 C. While whisking, stream in olive oil to create an emulsion. Taste for seasoning.
  4. Toss veggies with oranges and dressing. Top with nuts.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/chopped-salad-oranges-greens/