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Monday

8

June 2015

Fennel Pizza

Written by Rachel, Posted in Baking, Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Grilling, Herbs, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Main Dishes, Pizza, Quick and Easy, Vegetables, Vegetarian

It can be tough to transition from one season to the next. I never quite know what I’m in the mood for… Do I still want a hearty winter veggie soup, or am I ready for snap peas and asparagus? I have a few go to dishes that make the transition a bit easier and blur the lines, if you will. Things like pasta, soup, stir fry, shepherd’s pie, chicken pot pie, and enchiladas all work well no matter what the season.

So does pizzaaaa!

Ridiculously well.

One of the great things about pizza is how adaptable it is. For example, you could exchange the regular crust for gluten-free, make a cauliflower crust, use corn tortillas, or even grill some eggplants and top them with sauce and veggies. You can omit the cheese, change the veggies, and add more herbs. You can grill it, bake it, or cook it in a skillet.

Hello versatility!

Today I went with the spring variation. It was perfect for what we got in the Abundant Harvest Organics box this week: fennel, carrots, and basil.

I adapted this crust and cooking method recipe. It’s become a staple in our home. The crust freezes well and is a synch to make.

The recipe calls for stove top cooking, then finishing in the oven. But, it’s too hot for the oven today, so I just covered it and left it on the stove for a couple of minutes.

This allowed the veggies to soften just a bit, but they still had some crunch. If you don’t like crunchy veggies on your pizza, no problem. Just do a quick sauté before you top the pizza. You can even use the same skillet. Just wipe out any bits that are stuck to the bottom of the skillet before adding more oil and your crust.

Here are my variations by season:

Spring

Everything feels fresh and new, bursting with color and flavor. Depending on how early it is in spring, I may want to use thinly shaved asparagus instead of summer squash, bright green peas instead of fennel. But, because we’re actually right smack in the middle of one of these transition periods, I’m using what’s in season, and thankful for every bite.

Toppings: Summer squash, carrot, fennel.

Herbs: Basil and parsley (after cooking) and fennel fronds (before cooking).

Sauce: Olive oil and garlic.

Cheese: Cheddar and parmesan, or ricotta and parmesan.

Method: Skillet, grill, or oven.

Summer

During the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, I love to have a simple pizza. I would probably choose 2-3 of the toppings, so the pizza isn’t overwhelmed. I want light and easy. Serve it with a quick salad of lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and chopped almonds, with a balsamic-olive oil vinaigrette for a perfect summer treat.

Toppings: Summer squash, tomatoes, corn, bell peppers, or eggplant.

Herbs: Basil (after cooking) and thyme (before or after cooking… any time… get it?!).

Sauce: Tomato.

Cheese: Mozzarella, cheddar, or feta.

Method: Skillet or grill.

Fall

It’s finally cooled down (ahem, maybe, depending on where you live – around here fall is the hottest time of year). The first root veggies are starting to appear. Things like beets, cozy sweaters, and hot chocolate are exciting again. For this pizza, I would go for everything listed.

Toppings: Arugula (or kale or mâche), suuuuuper thinly sliced beets, halved cherry tomatoes, and a smidge of horseradish.

Herbs: Cilantro and chives (after cooking).

Sauce: Tomato.

Cheese: Blue, mozzarella, parmesan, or feta.

Method: Oven, skillet, or grill.

Winter

It’s cold! I want something hearty and filling.

Toppings: Really thinly sliced sweet potatoes and cauliflower, swiss chard (or spinach, mustard greens, collards, or kale)

Herbs: Rosemary (before cooking).

Sauce: Olive oil and garlic.

Cheese: Blue, parmesan, or feta.

Method: Oven or skillet.

Happy Eating!

Fennel Pizza

Yield: 2

Fennel Pizza

Ingredients

2 personal sized pizza crusts
olive oil
salt
pepper
cayenne (optional)
garlic, minced
summer squash, very thinly sliced
carrot, very thinly sliced
fennel, very thinly sliced
fennel fronds, torn
1 C cheese, grated (cheddar and parmesan mixture)
fresh herbs (basil, parsley, and thyme), chopped or whole

Instructions

Top crust with olive oil through cheese.
Cook using your favorite method. If grilling or cooking in a skillet, cook one side for 2-3 minutes first, flip, then add toppings. Cook for 2-3 minutes more, and either cover with a lid or cover the grill and turn the heat to low or off and cook for about 1-2 minutes more.
Remove from pan and top with fresh herbs.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/fennel-pizza/

Monday

1

June 2015

0

COMMENTS

Stone Fruit Chips

Written by Rachel, Posted in Dairy-Free, Fruit, Gluten Free, Kid-Friendly, Roasting, Snacks, Vegan

I’ve been saying for years how much I love to roast almost every kind of veggie. Last summer I took on tomatoes, drying them, not just roasting (and then promptly making them in to Bruschetta). So I knew that fruit was possible. But until today, I didn’t know the delicious satisfaction of drying stone fruit.

It started simply enough: thinly sliced fruit on a lined baking sheet. I used a silpat (silicone mat), but parchment paper would work too. I sliced the fruit a quarter of an inch thick. Thicker would make the drying process take longer, thinner would be shorter.

This is a great prep it and forget it recipe. Except don’t forget it – set the timer.

While I waited, I cleaned up, unpacked this week’s Abundant Harvest Organics box, and made a glaze of sorts for the fruit. You don’t have to brush them with anything. But, I wanted to add some seasonings, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt. I chose coconut oil, a few spices, and some maple syrup.

A few of the chips were thinner side pieces, so they dried out faster. I had a cooling rack out and as I flipped them every 30 minutes, I took off any that were done, so no one burned.

I let them cool for a little bit, then got to dipping them in some maple syrup sweetened yogurt. Sweetened silken tofu would also be great, if you’re looking to keep things in the vegan camp.

These make a great snack (I ate them all myself!), but they could also be chopped and added to Chamomile and Honey Pancakes (top or batter) or French Toast, or added to the batter of Whole Wheat Parsnip Cookies. In the cooler seasons, the stone fruit can be substituted with apples, persimmons, and pears.

Happy Eating!

Stone Fruit Chips

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours

Total Time: 6 hours, 10 minutes

Yield: 2

Stone Fruit Chips

Ingredients

2 C stone fruit, sliced about 1/4" thick
1-2 t coconut, canola, or vegetable oil (melted - coconut)
2-3 t maple syrup
pinch of any or all: cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice, ginger
tiny pinch salt
Greek yogurt or silken tofu
maple syrup

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 200F.
Lay fruit on a parchment paper or silpat lined baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes.
Whisk together oil through salt.
Flip fruit then brush with seasoned oil. Return to oven for 30 minutes.
Flip fruit and brush the other side with seasoned oil. Return to oven for 3-5 hours, or until fruit is dried (place some on a cooling rack if it dries out faster than others), flipping every 30 minutes.
Serve on their own or dipped in yogurt/tofu sweetened with maple syrup.

Notes

Most of the cooking time is hands off. Just set the timer and plan to be around for a little more than 6 hours to flip the fruit once in a while.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/stone-fruit-chips/

Friday

8

May 2015

0

COMMENTS

Whole Wheat Parsnip Cookies

Written by Rachel, Posted in Baking, Breakfast, Cookies, Dessert, Eggs, Fruit, Grains, Kid-Friendly, Quick and Easy, Snacks, Vegetarian

I’m not much of a baker. It’s just not something that comes naturally to me. With baking it’s important to follow the recipe. There’s a reason that each ingredient is there. I can’t just add what I have on hand and substitute something if I feel like it. Because it’s all science.

I was never great at science in school. I do wonder if I might have done a little better if there had been experiments that involved cooking. You know, let us make cookies with whatever we wanted to. See what works and what doesn’t. Then learn about why. Since that class wasn’t offered at my school, I’m learning now, slowly…

I think that my first substitution attempt when baking might have been when I figured that using the same amount of honey in place of granulated sugar would be fine. Wrong. I ended up with a burned outside and still liquid inside banana bread. That was disappointing. But, I learned from my mistake. Freedom to fail.

So this time I played it safe. I figured out what I thought would make up a good cookie. I think I know what the dough should be like, so it seemed like a good place to start.

I still wasn’t expecting them to turn out, but I was gonna do my best.

I wanted to incorporate parsnips. Parsnips are wonderful when roasted and dipped into a creamy sauce. But, what about something sweet, almost like what you’d do with carrots in a carrot cake? I figured it was worth a try.

I don’t make very many cookies. I’m just not a sweets person. But, I think normally recipes will have you cream the butter and sugar together. I went for more of a scone technique, where the butter was cold and added to the already combined dry ingredients.

The parsnips, apple, and some lemon zest were added to the butter-flour mixture. I figured they might do well when coated with flour. And then once the wet ingredients were whisked together, they were added too. To make what looked like cookie batter to me!

When I used to make cookies with my mom as a kid, we’d use two spoons to scoop the dough out. You could also just use your hands and roll a ball of dough between your palms. Whatever works. The spoons keep the hands clean and you don’t waste the batter that covers them.

I like fluffy, puffy, soft cookies over thin crispy ones. So I didn’t press them down.

I thought about trying to make these vegan, but decided against it since making a cookie recipe was already enough of a risk. But, here are some ways that you could adapt it, if you wanted to (at your own risk 😉 ).

Carrots or summer squash instead of parsnips.

Orange zest instead of lemon zest.

Coconut oil instead of butter (treat it the same way – make sure it’s cold, then work very quickly).

Flax seeds and water instead of egg.

Maple syrup instead of honey.

Just keep in mind that it’s science and your changes may result in cookies slightly different from mine. But, we’re free to fail, free to learn from our mistakes, free to keep on trying. If I’d stopped at ruined banana bread, I’d never have known the loveliness of these cookies. They may be my new favorite. Not too sweet, super soft, and made with whole wheat flour and honey, so I feel fine about the three that I’ve eaten this afternoon.

Happy Eating!

Whole Wheat Parsnip Cookies

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 27 minutes

Yield: 19-20 cookies

Whole Wheat Parsnip Cookies

Ingredients

1 C whole wheat flour
1/4 t salt
1/2 t baking powder, sifted
1/2 t baking soda, sifted
1/4 t cinnamon
pinch all spice
pinch nutmeg
1 C oats
1 t lemon zest (or orange zest), chopped
1/3 C apples, grated and chopped
1 C parsnips (or carrots or summer squash), grated, and chopped
1/2 C butter, cold, cut into small chunks
1/2 C honey
1 egg
1 t apple cider vinegar
1 t vanilla extract

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 350F. Place a rack in the lower third of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper (or silpat mats).
Whisk together flour through nutmeg. Mix in butter with a pastry blender or hands until pea sized chunks remain. Stir in oats, lemon zest, apples, and parsnips.
In a separate bowl whisk together honey through vanilla. Add to dry ingredients and stir to combine.
Scoop batter using two tablespoons, or hands and drop onto prepared baking sheets (do not flatten). Bake for 12 minutes, or until cookies are mostly set and golden around the edges (they will keep cooking for a bit as they cool). Cool on a cooling rack for at least 10 minutes before serving.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/whole-wheat-parsnip-cookies/

Friday

27

February 2015

0

COMMENTS

How to Feed Picky Eaters

Written by Rachel, Posted in How To, Kid-Friendly

I usually add as many veggies as I can, no matter what I’m cooking. I will often consult The Vegetarian Flavor Bible if I’m not sure about a paring. But, the more I cook and eat, the better I am at knowing what works and what doesn’t (except when I tried to make a puréed beet soup a few weeks ago with far too many turnips). Sometimes I grate them into a sauce, or blend them along with a soup. I find that, especially in things like soups, chilis, stews, sauces, and smoothies, you can hide many an un-loved food.

Of all of the ingredients to hide, I think squash is one of the easier ones. In the summer the thin skinned, more delicate summer squash will be available, like zucchini and crooknecks. When it’s colder, we will have the denser winter squashes like butternut and spaghetti squash. My mom used to grate zucchini into “Zoo Bread”. We loved it and had no idea what we were eating.

Second to squash, I’d say that greens are a good one to hide. They’re packed with nutrients and most are mild in flavor, so they will be easily hidden (maybe work your way up to stronger flavored mustard greens and arugula). Their color is a bit more noticeable, but they can go in just about anything… even a smoothie.

Two of my very favorite places to hide veggies are in soups and pasta sauces. They offending parties can be blended up and added to a tomato sauce, or to the broth of the soup. They can also be grated, diced, or chopped, depending on the level of pickiness.

Some of my favorite dishes for hiding squash include:

Rotini Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce and Vegetarian Lasagne

Summer Chili and Black Bean and Butternut Squash Chili

Three Cheese Corn Chowder and Spaghetti Soup

They also work well in things like Basil and Summer Squash Risotto, Beef and Bean Enchiladas and could almost pass for hash browns in Squash au Gratin.

Winner winner squash for dinner.

Some of my favorite dishes for hiding greens include:

Summer Pizza and Kale Pesto

Ham and Greens Chowder and Loaded Chicken and Rice Soup

Deconstructed Lasagne and Shepherd’s Pie of the South

In any of these, the greens could be blended up beforehand and added to the pizza or pasta sauce, soups, or shepherd’s pie, if there are those who prefer smaller pieces of green.

Another thing that I’ve heard is great to do with kids is to plant a garden (it doesn’t have to be overwhelmingly large – a potted basil plant on the balcony will do just fine). Let them help with the entire process from seed to table. When the plants have matured, let them select some for a dish, and, keeping with the basil idea, they could tear the leaves up and sprinkle them on some pasta. They may be more inclined to eat something that they’ve had a hand in not just preparing, but growing.

Happy Eating!

Thursday

12

February 2015

2

COMMENTS

Cornmeal Pancakes with Almond Butter and Apples

Written by Rachel, Posted in Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner, Eggs, Fruit, Gluten Free, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Main Dishes, Quick and Easy, Vegetarian

Breakfast food is good any time of the day. Take these pancakes for example. They’re simple enough to whip up in the morning when it’s a little earlier than you might like to be up. And, they’re filling enough to be eaten for lunch or dinner.

I’ve made cornmeal pancakes quite a few times before. I’ve written about different ways that I like to top them. Of course, they’re amazing just out of the skillet with nothing but maple syrup. But, I love to make a pancake breakfast (or lunch or dinner) into a hearty meal, so I like to add a bunch of toppings.

Today, I went with Burroughs Family Farms almond butter. If you haven’t tried it before, you are missing out… It’s seriously good stuff. (It would also be great on Stuffed French Toast, if you’re looking for another way to use it.) I thought that apples would be great with the almond butter (whatever fruit is in season will work: pears, persimmons, peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries… they’d all be amazing, or if you’ve got some homemade Peach Sauce, that would be delicious too). Then for a bit of brightness, I added some lemon zest. Do this. So tasty!

The pancake basics come together pretty quickly. The dry ingredients are whisked together separately from the wet ones. The wet ones include a Burroughs Family Farm egg. Love the color of that yolk!

Everyone gets whisked together to make a not too thin, not too thick batter.

These are smaller pancakes (which is why I can eat the whole batch on my own if I’m not careful). Just 2-3 tablespoons of batter is all that you’ll need for each one.

They cook a bit quicker than regular pancakes too. They just need about one minute on each side.

And then they’re ready to be topped with that almond butter.

Go for it!

You can top each one with apples and stack ’em, or just arrange them on the plate. Then add some lemon zest, a squeeze of lemon, and some maple syrup. If you wanted to make this meal even better, you could add a fried egg on the side… because a fried egg makes pretty much any meal just that much yummier. 😉

Happy Eating!

Print
Cornmeal Pancakes with Almond Butter and Apples

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 2
Serving Size: 4-5 small pancakes

Ingredients
1 apple, chopped
1 t lemon juice
1/2 C cornmeal
1/2 t baking soda
1 t baking powder
pinch salt
1 egg
1/2 T maple syrup
1 t coconut oil (plus more for cooking)
1/4 C buttermilk (or 1 T white vinegar and pour in milk to 1/4 C, stir with a fork and let sit 5 min)
almond butter, for serving
lemon zest, for serving
maple syrup, for serving
lemon juice, for serving
Instructions
Toss apples with lemon juice. Set aside.
Whisk together cornmeal through salt. In a separate bowl whisk egg through buttermilk. Add wet ingredients to dry. Stir to combine.
Heat a skillet over medium-low heat. Add a bit of coconut oil. When oil is hot add about 2-3 T of the batter. Cook for about 1 minute on first side (or until bubbles appear and do not pop), then another minute (or less) on the second side. Cook in batches until all batter has been used.
Serve topped with almond butter, apples, lemon zest, maple syrup, and lemon juice.
3.1
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/cornmeal-pancakes-with-almond-butter-and-apples/

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