De Ma Cuisine

Dairy Archive

Friday

6

March 2015

2

COMMENTS

Kohlrabi Stew

Written by , Posted in Beans, Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Legumes, Lunch, Main Dishes, One Dish Dinners, Potatoes, Soups, Vegetables, Vegetarian

KohlrabiStew-5

This is a humble meal. I like to think of it as peasant food. It begs for bread that’s hot from the oven, torn rather than sliced, topped with a good amount of butter. Peasant food, or comfort food. Or just good food. Doesn’t really matter what label you put on it.

KohlrabiStew-1

It contains simple ingredients like kohlrabi, mizuna, and garbanzo beans. You could play with the recipe if you need to, depending on what you’ve got in your fridge. Sweet potatoes in place of the carrots, cabbage in place of the mizuna, or cannellini beans in place of the garbanzo beans. You could use Greek yogurt instead of the ricotta, or leave the dairy out all together, to make it a vegan dish.

Whatever suits you.

But, for me, I’m gonna lock this one down and keep it just the way it is.

KohlrabiStew-2

The garbanzo beans add texture, protein, and a creamy beanie goodness.

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I have a drawer-full of lemons in the fridge. They brighten like nothing else (except maybe limes).

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For a soup, or a stew, whatever you want this to be, the flavors develop quickly, and there’s not a lot of cooking required. It’ll be in your bowl in about 43 minutes.

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If you can help it, don’t skip the ricotta or a drizzle of really good quality olive oil. They really made the dish, for me. Plus, that parsley, yep, do it!

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I really don’t know if peasants would have eaten this. But, I picture a cozy family dinner, roasted meat, stew made from things they’ve grown on their land, with their own hands. There’d be a fire in the fireplace and the biscuits would be passed around the table, to be eaten with a dollop of fresh butter and homemade jam. Maybe that’s what we will do tonight. Or, maybe we will eat it while watching something fun on Netflix, since we don’t have a fireplace or any meat that’s meant to be roasted. I do, however, have my garden boxes all planted. Maybe in a few months I will be making stew from things that I’ve grown.

Happy Eating!

Kohlrabi Stew

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 28 minutes

Total Time: 43 minutes

Yield: 4

Kohlrabi Stew

Ingredients

  • 2 T olive oil
  • 1 C kohlrabi, peeled and chopped
  • 2 C broccoli, chopped
  • 1 1/2 C carrots (or sweet potatoes), chopped
  • 1 C cauliflower, chopped
  • 1/2 C potato (or rutabaga), chopped
  • to taste salt
  • 1 t mustard
  • 1 T balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 t dried (or 1 t fresh) thyme
  • pinch cayenne
  • 1 t paprika
  • 1 C garbanzo (or cannellini) beans
  • 4 C water or veggie stock
  • 1 bunch mizuna (or chard, cabbage, kale... any greens will do), long part of stems removed, chopped
  • 1-2 T lemon juice
  • 1/4 C parsley (1 T reserved for topping), chopped
  • ricotta, for topping
  • olive oil, for topping
  • lemon wedges, for topping

Instructions

  1. Heat soup pot, add oil. Add kohlrabi through salt. Cook covered (letting them sweat) over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Add mustard through water/stock. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes.
  3. Add mizuna, lemon juice, and 3 T parsley. Cook for 3 minutes more.
  4. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve topped with ricotta, parsley, a drizzle of olive oil, and a squeeze of lemon.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/kohlrabi-stew/

Wednesday

25

February 2015

0

COMMENTS

Broccoli and Cauliflower Stem “Pasta”

Written by , Posted in Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Lunch, Main Dishes, Nuts, Pasta, Roasting, Vegetables, Vegetarian

BroccoliStemPasta-1

You ever have one of those nights when you’re all ready to make dinner and then you realize that you’re missing one of the key ingredients? I know I have. Just today I realized that I don’t have enough beans to make the Enchilada Casserole and the Mac and Cheese with Pinto Beans that I have planned for tonight’s dinner and tomorrow’s lunch. So, I’ll improvise. The mac and cheese will likely end up with garbonzo beans. It may even end up as a better dish.

This happens to me with pasta sometimes. For all of the planning and organizing that I do, I still miss things. Or, something changes and I need an easy dish. Pasta’s a great one for that. But, when I’m out? Well, now that doesn’t matter so much. I have a solution.

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Veggie scraps and stems don’t usually go to waste in our home, because I use them to make stock and then they’re composted. But, what if they could be used for eating?! I mean, there’s a ton of goodness that is being wasted, even if it is going towards the garden.

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I sliced off the tough outer peel. Then, with a vegetable peeler (a mandolin would work here too), I sliced, or peeled them super thin.

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Then they steamed for about 10 minutes. And, much to my delight, had the consistency and texture of fresh homemade cooked pasta.

Winner!

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The stems cooked up while some brussels sprouts roasted. I know that some don’t think they like brussels. I didn’t until a few years ago either. I suspect because I’d never had them roasted. For me, pretty much any veggie roasted will be a hit.

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I tossed them with some olive oil, salt, and pepper. Super simple.

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I thought that, rather than getting a baking sheet dirty, I might as well use an oven proof skillet and roast them in there. They turned out just perfect!

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And then it all came together. A bit of butter, some olive oil, dijon mustard, and some seasonings were added to the pan. They didn’t have long to cook.

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I took it off the heat, added those cooked “pasta” stems, and a good squeeze of lemon.

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A handful of fresh parsley from the garden completed things.

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It would be great topped with a fried egg, alongside a freshly baked baguette, or, as I ate it, just on it’s own, topped with parmesan and crunchy almonds.

I ate my portion and then picked out the rest of the brussels sprouts and ate them. Sometimes I have a hard time sharing.

Happy Eating!

Broccoli and Cauliflower Stem “Pasta”

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 21 minutes

Total Time: 46 minutes

Yield: 2

Broccoli and Cauliflower Stem “Pasta”

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb. brussels sprouts, quartered
  • 1 t olive oil
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 2 1/2 - 3 C broccoli and cauliflower stems, thinly sliced or shaved (a veggie peeler works great)
  • 3 T unsalted butter
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1 t fresh rosemary (or 1/2 t dried), chopped
  • 1/4 t dried thyme (or 1/2 t fresh)
  • pinch cayenne
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • pinch ginger
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 t dijon mustard
  • 1-2 T fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 T lemon juice
  • 1-2 T parmesan, shaved
  • 2-4 T almonds, chopped

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 425F. Toss brussels sprouts with 1 t olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place in an oven proof skillet cut side down. Roast for 10 minutes, flip carefully to the other cut side, and roast for 7-10 minutes more.
  2. Bring 1" water to a boil in a pot with a steamer basket and lid. Place shaved stems in the steamer basket and cover. Steam for 5-10 minutes, or until tender.
  3. Remove skillet with brussels sprouts from the oven. Place on the stove top (being careful of the handle which will be very hot). Add butter through dijon, and cook over medium-low heat for about a minute, stirring often. Remove from heat. Add parsley, lemon juice, and steamed stems. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  4. Serve topped with parmesan and almonds.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/broccoli-and-cauliflower-stem-pasta/

Friday

20

February 2015

0

COMMENTS

Eating Vegetarian

Written by , Posted in How To, Thoughts

We try to keep to a diet that’s full of real whole foods that are unprocessed or minimally processed, full of plants, good proteins, fats, and some meat.

Yes, I’m talking about meat in a post about eating vegetarian. Stay with me.

In our home, we eat meat because we like it. We like the taste, what it adds to a dish, the protein it provides. However… it’s not our only, or even main source of protein. I mentioned this in my recent post How to Eat Well on a Budget. While we love meat, it’s expensive, so we’ve cut way back on our consumption. And I think that our meals have been just as hearty, nutritional, and tasty as they would be if we were eating meat more often. Out of the 21 meals we eat each week, maybe 4 or 5 contain meat (and 1 or 2 of them are usually leftovers).

If you’re looking at it from a strictly need for protein perspective, there’s plenty of other foods out there with protein. No need to worry on that front. I rely on things like quinoa, lentils, beans, nuts, nut butters, eggs, dairy, tofu, grains, fruits, and vegetables. I’m confident that we’re not lacking.

For example, I’ve looked at the numbers for nuts and seeds before. But, looking again today was a good reminder about one of the many reasons that nuts are so good for us. If you look at the protein content alone, some of them may surprise you. Sesame seeds have 27.3g in one cup – sprinkle them on to your favorite Stir Fry for an extra boost. Sunflower seeds have 34.8g of protein in one cup. They’re awesome on salads, in granola, or just eaten raw. And, did you know that pumpkin seeds have a whopping 40.6g of protein in just one cup?! I’ve been adding them to my granola for some extra goodness, and snacking on them raw, in a mixture with almonds and sunflower seeds. (1)

Recommended Dietary Allowance for Protein (2)
Grams of protein needed each day
Children ages 1 – 3 13
Children ages 4 – 8 19
Children ages 9 – 13 34
Girls ages 14 – 18 46
Boys ages 14 – 18 52
Women ages 19 – 70+ 46
Men ages 19 – 70+ 56

A Typical Day 

Here’s what my protein intake might look like on a typical day:

Breakfast 8g: I really enjoy smoothies. They’re an easy way to incorporate fruits, veggies, and protein into a meal. This Summer Smoothie, for example, has close to 8g protein per serving. (1)

Lunch 16.21g: Squash ‘n Eggs (13.54g), fresh fruit (0.27g), and a slice of whole grain toast (2.4g protein) with butter. (1)

Dinner 22.35g: Vegetarian Soft Tacos on a whole wheat tortilla (14.74g), 1/2 C Spanish Rice (brown rice) (7.4g), glass of red wine (0.21g). (1)

Snacks 5.62-12.07g: Stove top popped Popcorn topped with olive oil and sea salt, (0.99g) apple/orange/banana/peach/pear/plum/berries/grapes (average of about 0.93g), 1/4 C nuts and seeds (3.7-10.15g). (1)

As you can see, I’m getting plenty of protein in my diet. In fact, according to the above chart, which states that I need about 46g/day, I’m getting more than I need at 52.18 – 58.63g.

More Vegetarian Meals

You’ve seen what a day of my vegetarian meals might look like. Here are some examples of even more foods that we love to incorporate into our protein rich diet: 

Dairy

RadishFetaToasts4

Radish and Feta Toasts

Deconstructed Lasagne

Summer Smoothie

Veggie Pizza with Artichoke Hearts

Lentils on Crispy Sweet Potatoes

Quinoa

ChardWraps-1

Heart Healthy Chard Wraps

Mediterranean Quinoa

Lentil Quinoa and Carrot Supper

Slightly Sweet Granola with Quinoa

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Lentils

DillyEggsWithLentils-6

Dilly Eggs with Lentils

Lentils on Crispy Sweet Potatoes

Lentil Quinoa and Carrot Supper

Mediterranean Quinoa

Beans

VegetarianSoftTacos-7

Vegetarian Soft Tacos

Cannellini and Beet Green Soup with Feta

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Mediterranean Quinoa

Nuts, Seeds, and Nut Butters

StuffedFrenchToast-7

Fresh Fruit and Basil Stuffed French Toast

Massaged Kale Salad with Radish and Apple

Basil Pesto

Red Choi Stir Fry with Tofu and Almonds

Slightly Sweet Granola with Quinoa

Eggs

SquashNEggs-7

Squash ‘n Eggs

Winter Frittata

End of the Week Pasta

Hearty Winter Salad

Fresh Fruit and Basil Stuffed French Toast

Dilly Eggs with Lentils

Tofu

RedChoiStirFry-8

Red Choi Stir Fry with Tofu and Almonds

Grains

Red Choi Stir Fry with Tofu and Almonds

Fresh Fruit and Basil Stuffed French Toast

Fruits

SummerSmoothie-6

Summer Smoothie

Fresh Fruit and Basil Stuffed French Toast

Vegetables

VegetarianLasagneFreshPasta-2

Vegetarian Lasagne

Vegan Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

Spicy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

Winter Frittata

End of the Week Pasta

Hearty Winter Salad

Roasted Winter Vegetable Soup

Lentils on Crispy Sweet Potatoes

(1) Nutrition Almanac, Mc Graw-Hill 2001, Fifth Edition, Lavon J. Dunne

(2) From http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/protein.html, who used: Source for Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR) reference and RDAs: Institute of Medicine (IOM) Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids. This report may be accessed via www.nap.edu*

Thursday

15

January 2015

0

COMMENTS

Hearty Winter Salad with Dill Dressing

Written by , Posted in Beans, Eggs, Gluten Free, Herbs, Legumes, Lunch, Main Dishes, Potatoes, Quick and Easy, Salads, Sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian

WinterSalad-7

Very rarely do I want a break from soup when the weather is cold. But, every once in a while it’s ok to take a breather from a steaming bowl of goodness. And I really do love the crunch of raw veggies. I also like how different a salad looks in the winter, compared to summer.

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This simple meal starts with some hardboiled eggs. If you’re not in the mood for eggs, you could use tuna as an alternative.

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When I was cooking these eggs, I thought I’d try to do them a different way from the way that I always do it, the way that works every time. I’d seen it done differently on TV, or read about it on a blog, or someone said something at some point in life about a different way to hard boil an egg.

Always a sure sign that something will turn out splendidly.

I ended up with soft boiled (aka goopy not fully cooked) eggs. Not at all what I was hoping for. So I returned them to the pot and re-boiled them the way I’d always done it. The way my mom taught me.

They turned out perfectly.

Lesson learned.

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Veggies that I had on hand to go with the eggs: broccoli and radish. You could also use beets, crispy potatoes, peas, carrots, cauliflower, or cabbage.

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Since I’m still obsessed with dill, I made a creamy dill dressing. It’s mostly Greek yogurt, because I was almost out of mayo. But, I’m happy with how it turned out, so I wouldn’t change the recipe. But, if you like a little less tang, switch up the proportions to suit your tastes.

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This salad was seriously filling, with chickpeas and eggs on there. I made it to go along with the Spaghetti Squash au Gratin that I’d made for lunch the same day, but didn’t end up eating it until dinner, since the Gratin was more filling than I’d expected. As a light dinner, it was perfect (for me anyways). (I keep hitting the caps lock key so it looks like I’m screaming half of each word at you. I must have a rogue pinky finger.) A small portion of each would go nicely together.

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So that’s that. Now I can go back to eating soup. 😉

Happy Eating!

Winter Salad

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: Serves 2-4

Winter Salad

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs, hard boiled and chopped (or you could use tuna)
  • 1/2 C Greek yogurt
  • 2 T mayo
  • to taste salt
  • 1 T balsamic vinegar
  • 1 T fresh dill, chopped
  • 1/4 C olive oil
  • greens (lettuce, kale, spinach, chard), torn
  • 1/2 C broccoli, chopped into small pieces
  • 1/4 C radish, very thinly sliced
  • (could also add: grated carrots, chopped cauliflower, shredded cabbage, peas, crispy potatoes, beet chips)
  • 1/4 C chick peas

Instructions

  1. Cook eggs.
  2. Whisk yogurt through dill. Whisk in olive oil. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  3. Top greens with veggies, chick peas, hard boiled eggs, and dressing.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/hearty-winter-salad-with-dill-dressing/

Monday

5

January 2015

0

COMMENTS

Spaghetti Squash au Gratin

Written by , Posted in Breakfast, Brunch, Cheese, Dinner, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Pork, Potlucks, Roasting, Sauces, Sides, Vegetables

SpaghettiSquashauGratin-9

Haaaaappy New Year!

We’re right smack in the middle of winter squash season. I find that in the middle of a season, I have to get a bit more creative with how to use things. As much as I love Spaghetti Soup or Vegan Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, we don’t want to eat it every week. Someone posted on social media that they were enjoying some Spaghetti Squash au Gratin. I knew I needed to come up with a recipe for that. It sounded amazing.

It ended up tasting a little bit like what I think it would taste like if you took grated hash browns and smothered them with cheese sauce.

SpaghettiSquashauGratin-1

It all starts with some squash roasting in the oven for about an hour. I had three squash sitting on my kitchen island. Since I knew we’d be getting another in this week’s Abundant Harvest Organics box, I figured that I should just roast them. That way, even if I didn’t use it all in this dish, I could just freeze what was leftover. Then I remembered that some friends of ours, who just had a baby, might enjoy this too. So all the squash was perfect.

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While the squash roasts, a quick roux is made up. I used butter and olive oil and then added the same amount of all purpose flour (if you’re making a gluten-free version, skip the flour, and whisk 1 T cornstarch with 1/4 C cold water, and whisk it in later on when the milk mixture is really hot).

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To the roux I whisked in some whole milk. A little bit at a time.

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Once the milk mixture thickens, add ons go in. I chose chopped ham (but you could use chicken, beef, turkey… or omit the meat all-together), some dijon mustard, Greek yogurt, and cheese. If you had some leftover cooked veggies (like broccoli, carrots, cauliflower etc…) you could add those now too.

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I added the cheese a little bit at a time, whisking until smooth-ish between additions. Then everything else hops in.

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You know, if you wanted to double the recipe, you could use half for mac and cheese, pour some over roasted broccoli or cauliflower, or dip some crusty bread in it (it’s practically fondue).

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The squash is scraped out of it’s skin and placed in an oven-proof baking dish. The ham and cheese sauce is stirred in.

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Then it’s all topped with a bit more cheeeeeeese!

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It will bake for a little while (which is really optional – you could just top your squash and go!), then stand for a few minutes, if you can handle waiting to dig in!

Happy Eating!

Spaghetti Squash au Gratin

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 55 minutes

Yield: Serves 6-8 as a side, 4-5 as a main dish.

Spaghetti Squash au Gratin

Ingredients

  • 2 medium-sized spaghetti squash, halved and seeds removed
  • 1 medium-sized butternut squash, halved and seeds removed
  • 1 t olive oil
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1 T unsalted butter
  • 2 T all purpose flour
  • 2 C whole milk
  • 1 t dijon mustard
  • 1 C greek yogurt
  • to taste salt
  • 6 oz. chopped ham (or chicken, beef, or turkey… or omit the meat all-together)
  • 2 C cheese (combo of any of these: cheddar, gruyere, monterey jack, or mozzarella), grated, 1/2 C reserved
  • pinch cayenne
  • 1 t paprika

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350F. Drizzle squash with 1 t olive oil and place cut side down on a baking sheet. Roast for about 1 hour, or until flesh is tender.
  2. Heat a pan and add 1 T olive oil and butter. When it's hot, whisk in the flour. Cook for about 30 seconds. Whisk in milk, a little bit at a time, whisking until mostly smooth between additions. Bring to a simmer (but do not boil). Reduce heat to low and cook until thickened, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Remove from heat, stir in dijon, yogurt, and salt. Back on low heat, slowly add cheese, a bit at at time, whisking between additions until fairly smooth. Stir in ham. Continue to stir over low heat for about 2 minutes. Stir in cayenne and 3/4 t paprika. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
  4. Scrape squash from skin. Mash together in a greased 9x13 oven-proof baking dish. Stir in sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Sprinkle with reserved cheese and 1/4 t paprika.
  5. Place baking dish on a baking sheet (in case it bubbles over). Bake on a rack in the upper portion of the oven for 15 minutes. Increase heat to 375F and bake for 15 minutes more. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/spaghetti-squash-au-gratin/