De Ma Cuisine

gluten-free Archive

Monday

1

September 2014

2

COMMENTS

Irish Nachos

Written by , Posted in Appetizers, Cheese, Dinner, Gluten Free, Herbs, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Main Dishes, Potatoes, Quick and Easy, Roasting, Sides, Snacks, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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Confession: I’ve never actually had Irish Nachos. I’ve seen some pictures though, so maybe that counts for something. Tim had them once when he was out with friends. He came home and talked about how good they were.

They seemed like something that I could make.

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It all starts with potatoes. You could slice them thin and round if you’d like. I cut them in to chunks because it’s quick and easy.

I need more quick and easy when it comes to meal preparations.

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Since we get a weekly box of produce from Abundant Harvest Organics, I try to add as many veggies as possible to our meals. The longer I do it the easier it is and now it’s become second nature. All the times that I’ve made my Irish Nachos, I’ve added some sort of greens. I just love their flavor when they’re roasted.

This particular version of Irish Nachos has more veggies than Tim would prefer (just a little too piled on for him). I’ve made them two or three other times with less. He liked those better. So use my recipe as a suggestion box and tweak it and adapt it to suit your family.

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I feel like Irish Nachos ought to have some sort of green onion sprinkled over top. That might just be me. In any case, I really like what they add to the dish.

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Crisped up potatoes are gathered into piles.

Mmmmm piles of potatoes.

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Then all of the toppings are piled on. You can do them in whatever order you’d like.

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Don’t forget the cheese. They are nachos after all.

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Since I recently cut a bunch of corn off the cob, I’m using it in everything. Summer Pizza, Squash and Egg Wraps, and Quinoa Salads… It’s good to have corn on hand.

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My favorite part, whenever there’s hot cheese involved, are the crispy bits of cheeeeeese. Every last bit needs to be scraped off the pan.

Every last bit.

Happy Eating!

Irish Nachos
Recipe Type: Main, Dinner, Side, Snack, Potatoes, Vegetarian
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2-4
Ingredients
  • 4 potatoes, cut into long chunks
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1/2 t (or more) salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 1/2 to 1 C greens (collards, kale, spinach, chard) cut in a chiffonade (thin ribbons)
  • 1/2 to 1 C green onions (or chives), chopped
  • 1/2 to 1 C cheese, grated
  • 2 cobs corn, cut off the cob
  • yogurt, for topping
  • lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350F.
  2. Toss potatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place on 1-2 baking sheets (don’t overcrowd them – use two sheets if needed), and bake for 15 minutes, flip them (and rotate the position in the oven if using two sheets), and bake about 15 minutes more (or until potatoes are crispy outside, tender inside).
  3. Gather potatoes into piles (as many piles as there are people eating), and top with greens, onions, cheese, and corn. Bake for 10 minutes more.
  4. Serve topped with yogurt and a squeeze of lemon.

 

Monday

18

August 2014

0

COMMENTS

Beef and Bean Enchiladas

Written by , Posted in Baking, Beans, Beef, Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Kid-Friendly, Legumes, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Potlucks, Vegetables

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Enchiladas are one of my go-to meals when I want to bring dinner to friends. It’s pretty quick and easy to make, it’s hearty, and it can be pretty healthy.

They’re also one of Tim’s favorites.

I try to have some in the freezer at all times.

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I mean, take a look at all of the veggies I’ve piled in here. I had celery on hand, but normally I’d use bell peppers (note: if you’re using celery, make sure it’s really cooked down and soft). I also have been putting summer squash in everything, so why not these too?!

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Also corn. In everything. I am addicted.

This winter when we had a million spaghetti squash I cooked a bunch of ’em and froze the flesh. I’ve been slowly using it. If you don’t have any cooked spaghetti squash you could just add more beans and summer squash.

Tim doesn’t mind when I sneak spaghetti squash into things like this. But, he did note that he got a pretty squashy bite, so stir it in pretty well if that might bother someone in your family. 😉

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I like to cook up the filling first. That way they take less time in the oven. Plus then I can make sure that all the veggies are soft. No one wants a crunchy this or that, unless it’s supposed to be there.

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Tim built me a beautiful, huge kitchen island when we moved. So I have tons of space to lay out all the tortillas I could ever need.

I’m thankful for this workspace.

The sauce gets divided evenly between the tortillas.

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The ends get folded in and then it’s rolled up. My whole wheat tortillas cracked a bit. No big deal.

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I like a bit of sauce in the bottom of the pan. If you like it extra saucy, add more! I used what I had in the freezer, so normally I’d make it a bit juicier than this looks (the recipe is adapted to be saucier).

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Rolled up and ready for cheeeeeeeeese.

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You could add way more cheese if you’d like, but I didn’t want to go overboard. Moderation, right?!

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After these came out of the oven, I put half of them into freezer safe containers so they will be ready for lunches. The rest we devoured.

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If you’re gonna bring these to some friends, send along a container of Greek yogurt (or sour cream), salsa, corn chips, and guacamole (if you’re feeling extra generous). Make them a simple green salad with some chopped fresh tomatoes and a container of homemade Ranch dressing (whisk together a bit of yogurt, mayo, fresh herbs, garlic, salt, and pepper). And for dessert, how about some Fruit Crisp that can be added to the leftover Greek yogurt for breakfast the next morning?

If you’re serving it tonight for your family, serve it exactly the same way.

Happy Eating!

Beef and Bean Enchiladas
Recipe Type: Main, Easy, Beans, Beef, Vegetables, Dinner, Main Dishes
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4-6
Perfect for a hearty dinner tonight, or to make to take to a friend in need.
Ingredients
  • 1 t olive oil
  • 1/4 to 1/2 C bell peppers (or celery), chopped
  • 1/2 to 1 C summer squash, chopped
  • pinch salt
  • 1-2 C Chili (I used Beef Chili), or 1 lb. ground beef
  • 8-15 oz. kidney beans
  • 1 1/2 C cooked spaghetti squash (or add more beans and summer squash)
  • 1/4 C salsa
  • 1 C corn
  • 1/2 t chili powder (or more if using ground beef)
  • pinch ginger
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 1/2 to 1 C tomato sauce (add an extra 1/4 C if using ground beef)
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 8-10 tortillas
  • 1 C cheese, grated (Monterey/Pepper Jack or Cheddar)
  • Greek yogurt, for topping
  • 1-2 fresh tomatoes, chopped, for topping
  • jalapeño, chopped, for topping (optional – if you like it extra spicy)
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350F.
  2. Heat a skillet, add olive oil. When oil is hot, add bell peppers/celery, summer squash, and a pinch of salt. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until veggies are tender, over medium heat, stirring occasionally. (Note: if using raw ground beef, cook first, then add veggies when beef is almost done. Add the extra 1/4 C tomato sauce with the beans in the next step.)
  3. Mix together chili, beans, spaghetti squash, salsa, corn, chili powder, ginger, salt, and pepper. Add to skillet. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook for about 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  4. Mix tomato sauce with salt and pepper. Pour into the bottom of a greased 9×13 baking dish.
  5. Divide the beef and bean filling between the tortillas. Fold ends in and roll up. Place seam side down in tomato sauced pan. Top with salsa and cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, uncovered, or until cheese is melted.
  6. Serve topped with yogurt and fresh tomatoes (and jalapeño if desired).
Notes
Gluten-free if you use corn tortillas.

Monday

11

August 2014

6

COMMENTS

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Written by , Posted in Beans, Cheese, Dinner, Eggs, Gluten Free, Grains, Herbs, Kid-Friendly, Leftovers, Legumes, Low Carb, Lunch, Main Dishes, Potlucks, Quick and Easy, Quinoa, Salads, Sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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We took a sick day a while back. But, we still needed to eat. I was going to make this quick salad and head back to bed. I felt a cold coming on and had done something to my back. So I was enjoying many many episodes of Gilmore Girls.

The tough thing about working from home and working as a food blogger is that every meal that is deemed good enough for the blog has to have photographs. It takes a lot of effort to stop working. It takes a lot of self control to force myself to just focus on dinner and not wonder whether or not I’m making a mistake by not photographing or writing it down.

Sometimes I’m glad when the sauce breaks.

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One of my go-to easy meals to make for a sick day, or to take to a potluck (that hopefully doesn’t fall on the same day), is a quinoa salad. This one is full of veggies and protein. Just what we needed to give us a little lift when we weren’t feeling our best.

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A veggie that will add both flavor and color is corn. Corn season is in full swing, so I’m using it in just about everything I can think of. Cutting corn off the cob when it’s not going to be used right away is a good idea, since the sugars turn into starch after a few days, making it less sweet. Corn that you’re not going to use can be frozen raw, for another time.

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Collard greens, kale, or chard are cut chiffonade-style (thin ribbons). They add extra nutrients to this already healthy dish.

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My in-laws went to Nazareth last year and brought me back some saffron. I’d never used it before and it was fun to experiment with in this dish. If you don’t want to use saffron, feel free to leave it out. If you want to use it, just a pinch will do.

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The dressing is made up of some of my favorite things: lemon, honey, olive oil, and garlic.

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I like a bit of feta in a salad like this. If you wanted to make this a vegan salad, omit the feta and honey and use your favorite vegan cheese and some maple syrup instead. For added protein (quinoa has lots too) I added garbanzo beans (chick peas).

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There are plenty of fresh herbs, lots of cucumber and squash, and kalamata olives (for those of us that like them – Tim does not, but I love them).

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I served this simple meal with some nectarines and plums, and a slice of lemon to squeeze over top.

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There were leftovers, so a day or two later we had the same thing for lunch, topped with a fried egg.

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My favorite way to fry eggs is covered over pretty low heat. Cracking the eggs into a bowl before adding them to the pan will allow any shells to be removed without scorching your finger on the bottom of the hot skillet.

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Serve the salad cold, topped with a hot egg.

Perfection.

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If you’re good at poaching eggs, those would be great on top too. One of my summer goals is to learn how to make Eggs Benedict, so hopefully my poaching skills will improve slightly. However, I’ve been distracted by our lovely front yard and the beautiful weather and haven’t done much learning.

I think we have about three more months of summer here in L.A., so I’ve got time.

Happy Eating!

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Recipe Type: Main, Salad, Side, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Eggs
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1-2 C cooked quinoa
  • 1-15 oz. can garbonzo beans
  • 1/2 C summer squash, chopped
  • 1/2 C cucumber, chopped
  • 2 T basil, chopped
  • 1 T oregano, chopped
  • 1 stalk green onion, chopped
  • 1 cob corn, cut off the cob
  • 1/4 C feta (optional)
  • dressing: juice from 1/2 lemon
  • small pinch saffron
  • 1/8 to 1/4 t smoked paprika
  • good pinch pepper
  • to taste salt
  • 3 T apple cider vinegar
  • 1 t honey
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • pinch ground ginger
  • 1/4 C olive oil
  • olives (optional), for topping
  • lemon slices, for serving
Instructions
  1. Combine the quinoa with the beans, veggies, herbs, and feta.
  2. Whisk together lemon juice through ginger. Slowly add the olive oil, whisking it in, creating an emulsion.
  3. Mix dressing with salad.
  4. Serve topped with olives and a squeeze of lemon.

 

Thursday

7

August 2014

6

COMMENTS

Peach Sauce

Written by , Posted in Breakfast, Brunch, Canning, Condiments, Dessert, Fruit, Gluten Free, Kid-Friendly, Sauces, Vegetarian

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Last week I ordered twenty pounds of peaches as an add on from Abundant Harvest Organics. I thought I’d bitten off more than I could chew (haha, no pun intended) and worried that they may spoil before I got to them.

None did.

And now I have a yummy peach sauce to share with you!

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Feel free to substitute your favorite stone fruit if you’d like. Plums, nectarines, apriums, pluots, apricots… they’d all be amazing.

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Start by halving the peaches. Remove the pit, and slice or roughly chop. It’s going to be blended in a bit, so don’t worry about the shape.

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About eight to ten cups will do just fine. Out of my twenty pounds of peaches, I ended up with roughly 45 cups of sliced peaches in total. This sauce was just a small portion (I froze the rest – more about that another week).

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I added two tablespoons of butter to a large hot pot. If you don’t want to use butter, coconut oil would be just fine. The fat adds a rich quality to the sauce that I love. If you don’t want to add either, that’s cool too.

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Peaches are dumped into the hot browning butter.

Get ready for the smell. It’s amazing!

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After the peaches have cooked for about twenty minutes (and then rested for ten – not a must, I just needed more time to work on a different recipe, so they had to wait), they should look something like this.

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I had a few oranges still hanging around from spring boxes (wow they lasted a long time!!), so I whisked them up with the zest and juice from one lemon, a bit of coconut palm sugar, and a pinch of salt.

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And then, orangy-lemon juice meet smooshy peaches.

Orangeyou glad I didn’t say… I don’t know… banana?!

Sorry. Kinda.

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After the sauce cooked up for a while longer, I blended it up with my hand blender. A regular blender will work just fine too (just be sure to remove the middle part of the lid and cover the hole with a clean kitchen towel).

One more tablespoon of butter is stirred in after the sauce is blended.

Extra richy richness.

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This is gonna be good… I’m hoping that Tim will make some more Vanilla Bean Ice Cream so I can top it with some of this sauce. You could make this even more awesome by roasting some fruit to plomp on top. It would be great over French Toast or Cornmeal Pancakes, or used in place of jam.

Or, just eat it by the spoonful…

Happy Eating!

Peach Sauce
 
Recipe Type: Dessert, Sauces, Stone Fruit, Gluten-Free, Breakfast
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Sweet summer peaches are cooked up in butter and blended to make a delicious sauce.
Ingredients
  • 3 T unsalted butter (divided 2 T, 1 T)
  • 8-10 C ripe peaches, sliced or roughly chopped
  • 1 t vanilla extract
  • pinch salt
  • juice from 1 lemon
  • zest from 1 lemon
  • juice from 2-3 oranges
  • 3 T coconut palm sugar (brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey will work too)
Instructions
  1. Heat a large pot and add 2 T of butter. When butter is hot, add peaches. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes, or until peaches are very soft. Let stand 10 minutes (optional).
  2. Whisk together vanilla through sugar. Add to peaches. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.
  3. Blend with a hand blender (it helps to tip the pot to the side a bit to prevent splattering) or a blender (in batches, with the middle part of the lid removed and a clean towel covering the hole). Stir in remaining 1 T of butter.
  4. To store, ladle into clean pint jars, leaving at least 1/2″ of room at the top. I prefer to store the sauce in the freezer, freezing uncovered, then adding the lids once the sauce is frozen.
 
Notes
Yields 3 pint jars.

 

Thursday

31

July 2014

0

COMMENTS

Summer Smoothies

Written by , Posted in Breakfast, Brunch, Drinks, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Lunch, Quick and Easy, Snacks, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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At Williams-Sonoma, they’re celebrating Smoothie Week. Are you celebrating too?! Smoothies are a celebration of delicious ingredients that blend up to make a wonderful drink.

We have all these amazing goodies to eat right now. Their flavors are fresh, cheerful, and fun.

It’s the season for light and bright (not to be confused with the child’s toy Lite Brite). For berries, peaches, and fresh basil.

A smoothie seems like the perfect way to collect all of this goodness in one place.

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Starting with some milk and Greek yogurt. Any kind of milk will do. Same with the yogurt. You could start with just a little bit of milk, and add more later depending on how thick you like your smoothies.

I like them kinda thick.

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Since I just had two small frozen bananas, I froze half of the berries too. That’s not necessary, but I like a really cold smoothie. Just my preference.

To freeze or not to freeze… it’s up to you.

Any frozen fruit that you don’t use, keep frozen to use in your favorite summer drinks.

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I haven’t used my blender in about 5 years. I made some tomato soup and didn’t know that you’re supposed to take the plug out of the lid when blending hot liquids… I know now! So I got an immersion/hand blender and have been using it ever since. But this recipe, it needed a blender, because I wanted to make a lot!

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I added a touch of honey and some lemon zest too. Because I can. Because I’m a little bit obsessed with lemon zest, basil, and fruit right now. It just tastes so gooooood!

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Chard, for a little extra green. Spinach, kale, even lettuce can also be substituted. It may seem a little crazy to add vegetables to a sweet smoothie, but trust me, then blend right in. 😉

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You could simplify and make this just a peaches and cream smoothie (with the basil, of course). You could just do berries. You could add more greens… But, I love all that the many ingredients bring to this drink. Not just in taste, but health benefits too. We’re supposed to eat a rainbow of fruits and veggies… this smoothie brings color to the table.

In the fall and winter months, you could choose fruits that are in season, like pears and apples, and change the basil out for mint.

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Make a big batch and share with your friends. Add it to your family’s breakfast. Serve it alongside a special brunch where you’re eating Squash’n Eggs or Fresh Fruit and Basil Stuffed French Toast. Or freeze some for other breakfasts. Pop ’em in to the fridge the night before and they’ll be ready in the morning. Nice and cold, but not so frozen solid… and if they are still frozen solid, they work well as a popsicle on a hot day (you can freeze in a popsicle mold or ice cube tray with toothpicks too).

Happy Eating!

Summer Smoothie
Recipe Type: Breakfast, Dessert, Drinks, Smoothies, Gluten-Free, Kale, Chard, Spinach, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Quick and Easy, Raw, Recipes, Snacks, Vegetarian
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 4-5
Ingredients
  • 1 C Greek yogurt (or any yogurt)
  • 1/2 to 1 C milk (any type)
  • 1 C peaches, roughly chopped
  • 3/4 C strawberries, fresh
  • 1/2 C strawberries, frozen
  • 1/4 C blueberries, frozen
  • 1/2 C blueberries, fresh
  • 1 large or 2 small bananas, frozen, broken into chunks
  • 1 T honey
  • 1 C greens (swiss chard, spinach, or kale), roughly chopped
  • 1 t lemon zest
  • 1/2 t fresh basil
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend to desired consistency (adding more milk if desired).
  2. Freeze leftovers in half pint jars.