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Tuesday

10

September 2019

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COMMENTS

Kale and Farro Salad with Bacon

Written by Rachel, Posted in Dairy-Free, Dinner, Fruit, Grains, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Pork, Quick and Easy, Salads, Vegetables

I have eighteen kale plants in my garden. That’s a lot for a family where only one of us likes kale. I’ve got everything from huge three foot wide plants, to a couple that I transplanted later in the season that are still pretty small. It was definitely the most successful thing I planted this summer.

I have plenty of uses for kale on here. Some of my favorites are: Massaged Kale and Tuna Salad, Hearty Kale and White Bean Quesadillas, and turning it into pesto to go alongside Spicy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes. I prefer it when it’s smaller, tender, baby kale. Tim, I believe, prefers it when it’s not served at all.

Today, I’m craving bacon, but feel a bit guilty about how much kale I have grown and not eaten. So, I’m gonna use them together. They’ll go alongside farro and some apples from our tree to make a quick lunch.

The dog is reverse hiccuping. Anyone else have a dog that does this? It freaks me out, even though our vet says it’s not dangerous.

I got advice for farro cooking from Bon Appètit. Their technique treats it like pasta. I can do that. I started with six cups of water, added a good amount of salt, and brought it to a boil. I toasted the farro in a dry skillet while the water heated. It ended up taking five minutes. Oh, and I rinsed the farro, before I toasted it (just gonna work backwards for a sec). I’m not sure if I was supposed to. But, I think that’s a thing with other grains, so I did it. I’m quite the authority on food.

I may not know a lot about farro, but when it comes to bacon, I know what I like: Mazzeo’s Danish bacon, cut pretty thick. Prefect for BLTs or cutting into lardons, like I did today. I totally didn’t cook enough though. I made two slices. I should have done six. What even was I thinking?!

I cooked the bacon and left about a tablespoon of the grease for the kale. I know that kale will wilt down considerably, but still I second guess myself when I add the whole salad spinner’s worth of kale to the pan. It will work. Right?!

Yes. It will.

Here’s what I like about this salad: the kale is bitter. Wait, I don’t like that. But, bitter kale, when accompanied by sweet apples, nutty farro, and salty, crispy bacon, mellows. And then I do like it.

If I’m honest, I mostly just want to eat the bacon. But, the rest of it is pretty good too. Ok, really good.

Top it all with Sir Kensington’s Golden Citrus Vinaigrette and, well, you’re golden… (are puns still allowed?). If you can get your hands on Sir Kensington’s products, I’d strongly recommend them. If you can’t, I’d whisk together some lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, and extra virgin olive oil. I’d add a splash of maple syrup, a plomp of dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt. That’s my go-to dressing and I think it would taste great here too.

Sometimes after I eat a meal like this I feel so healthy that it makes me want to eat a huge pizza. You know, for balance.

Happy Eating!

Kale and Farro Salad with Bacon

Serves 2

Ingredients

1 C rinsed farro
6 C water
1-2 T salt
2-4 bacon slices, cut into lardons
6-8 C kale, stems removed, leaves washed and torn
1/2 t salt
1/4 C Sir Kensington’s Golden Citrus Vinaigrette
(Or whisk together some lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, and extra virgin olive oil. Add a splash of maple syrup, a plomp of dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt.)
1 chopped apple, for topping

Directions

Bring the 6 cups of water and 1-2 tablespoons salt to a boil. While it’s heating, toast the farro in a dry skillet until it gets a bit nutty smelling, about 3-5 minutes. Add the farro to the boiling water and cook until it tastes good, about 15-30 minutes (yeah, it can vary a lot – for me, 15 minutes was perfect). Drain the farro and set it aside.
While the farro cooks, cook the bacon. Then drain on a paper towel lined plate. Reserve 1 T of the bacon grease and leave it in the pan.
To the grease add the kale and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Toss it until it wilts down (it will, I promise) and gets darker green and tender.
Toss the kale with the farro and 1/4 cup of dressing. Top with bacon and apple slices.

Tuesday

23

July 2019

0

COMMENTS

Summer Daze – Scrambled Egg Tacos

Written by Rachel, Posted in Breakfast, Brunch, Cheese, Condiments, Dinner, Eggs, Gluten Free, Herbs, Lunch, Main Dishes, Quick and Easy, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Summer is a season I just want to get through. It’s hot and muggy and buggy and I don’t like any of that. I’m trying to enjoy it as much as a person like me can. But, if I’m honest, I’m really just waiting for fall.

There are some perks to summer. My garden is thriving… Ok, my kale is thriving and the potatoes went crazy. Everything else is still mini. I dunno why. I’ll take the kale though. I have plans for a kale pesto on some savory pancakes. The garden provides a place for simple summer meals. At this time of year I feel like I need less food and more drinks. Makes sense. The produce that’s available right now is more water-laden than its winter friends. Think zucchini compared to butternut squash. Both delicious, but who’s craving winter squash right now?!

Last week I made Tired Spaghetti. It was a simple and easy meal for a tired workday. It had burst grape tomatoes, garlic, chickpeas, pasta water, cream, Italian Hot Salt, Kosher salt, and pepper. I cooked the pasta while the tomatoes did their thing in some olive oil. Then I added some pasta water to the tomatoes and other saucy ingredients. I drained the pasta when it still had a bit of a bite, and let it finish cooking in the sauce. It was exactly what we needed that night.

Today, I’m sitting at the kitchen table to work. On days like this, lunch needs to be quick and filling enough that I don’t need a snack break twenty minutes after I eat. Our fridge is stuffed with food… but it’s mostly condiments. I don’t know if we really need a whole shelf of jars of mayo, pickled veggies, and different varieties of Asian sauces. But, somehow we can’t bear to part with any of them. So we shrug our shoulders and use them up bit by bit.

I have some mayos by Sir Kensington’s that I really love. I eat the Sriracha and Chipotle mayos most days. Usually I stand at the counter and shove fistfuls of corn chips dipped in both mayos into my face. If we don’t have dinner planned and started as soon as we get home from work, this is what I eat. And I usually eat so much that I’m not hungry when dinner is ready. It’s a problem.

This morning I planned our menu for the next two weeks. But, I forgot to plan something for today’s lunch. I almost gave in and just ate corn chips and mayo. It would have tasted so good. But, I saw the eggs and corn tortillas and figured that with a little bit of effort I could make something a little bit more substantial.

It was really good. I’ve got the basic recipe below. But, it’s more of a use what and however much you want kinda thing. So, do that.

Happy Eating!

Scrambled Egg Tacos – Serves 1

Ingredients

pat of butter
2 eggs
pinch of salt
2 corn tortillas
pinch of grated cheese for each taco
Sriracha mayo
Chipotle mayo
1 French breakfast radish, very thinly sliced
chopped chives or scallions
Maldon salt

Directions

Heat the tortillas.
Heat a skillet and add the butter. Whisk the eggs with a bit of salt (you can add a splash of water/milk/cream to them too). Add them to the hot pan and cook until they’re softly scrambled. Don’t overcook them!
Top each tortilla with a scoop of eggs, some cheese, either or both types of mayo, some radish slices, the chives, and a few Maldon salt flakes.

Wednesday

26

October 2016

0

COMMENTS

Eating on the Road – Nutella Raspberry Shake

Written by Rachel, Posted in Breakfast, Brunch, Dairy-Free, Drinks, Fruit, Gluten Free, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Quick and Easy, Thoughts, Travel, Usana, Vegan, Vegetarian

Life on the road has been great. It’s been filled with adventure and relaxation, smooth highways and bumpy gravel roads, time with people and time alone. It’s been a joy to be on this journey. We’ve loved it all. Part of what’s been fun is getting away from the norms of our everyday life.

Our normal routine includes a weekly menu, planned so that the grocery shopping is done efficiently and practically, so that there is something planned for all meals. We don’t eat out a lot. Eating out doesn’t agree with our budget or our healthy lifestyle choices. However, life on the road includes a lot more eating out than normal. It’s not the norm-norm, but for a while it’s a bit more so. I thought about menu planning before the trip. I could have figured out exactly what we’d eat and where. But, we wanted to have lots of freedom as we travel. Plus, we had such a short amount of time to plan that it got left off of the to-do list. So we’re doing the best we can with what we have. And it’s been great!

When we’re staying with people and are invited to share a meal, we gladly accept. When we’re asked out to a meal, it’s a fun treat. We’ve had delicious pizza in Boston, fabulous barbecue in Texas, and Philly Cheesesteaks in West Philadelphia.

Since about half of our time has been spent in the car, we generally munch on a mix of healthy, homemade foods and of course snacks (with a smattering of DQ and Steak’n Shake stops).

Before we left I prepped as much as I could. I made granola bars, sourdough bread, and scones. We bought crackers, cheese, and fruit, jerky, chips, and chocolate covered gummy bears (ok, not all that we brought was healthy). We even had a small pantry that included items like canned beans and tomatoes, tuna, olive oil, and a few of my favorite kitchen tools (we totally brought some cast irons). We borrowed a camping stove from some friends so we have options, which means freedom. Nevermind that we have yet to use it – I’m determined that we will before the end of the trip so that it’s worth it to have lugged it all this way. 😉

Our stays with both sets of parents have been more extended stays (thanks a million moms and dads!). So we’ve had time to unpack and relax. Tim loves English muffins with ham and eggs, so he made those one morning. We’ve also baked quite a bit, using some great recipes from our friend John Park, and made one of my favorite comfort foods, Texas Stuff. One thing that we’ve enjoyed while on the road are protein shakes. They’re great for sipping while reading a good book as we listen to the wind rustle the leaves on the fall trees. They’re also a great breakfast to grab when we’re in a rush to get on the road (because let’s be honest, we almost always leave way later than we’d planned). While it’s just fine to use water and a powdered shake mix, I love to add a little more and make a meal that will really keep me full until lunchtime. My favorite shake includes banana and peanut butter. Tim’s includes Nutella. His is the recipe I’ve shared below. I’ll share mine another time.

We’re exercising moderation, trying to make wise decisions, and showing ourselves grace. All of which has added up to a wonderful trip. Lots of great times together that we will cherish for a long long time.

Nutella Raspberry Shake

Ingredients

1/4 C Nutella (or your favorite vegan hazelnut spread)
1/2 C raspberries (frozen or fresh)
5-6 oz milk (any type)
5-6 oz water
2 scoops protein powder (whey, plant, or soy)
splash maple syrup

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a container and blend with a hand blender or regular blender.

Wednesday

12

October 2016

0

COMMENTS

Food and Family – Roasted Garlic Three Squash Soup

Written by Rachel, Posted in Dairy-Free, Dinner, Gluten Free, Lunch, Main Dishes, Roasting, Soups, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Something my family does really well is food. We like to eat it, talk about it, think about it… We live to eat, we don’t eat to live. Usually as we’re finishing up one meal discussion about the next meal begins.

As is the custom in many places, many of our events take place around food. Christmas morning means brunch. Birthday dinners mean a special meal to celebrate the birthday person. Watching a movie in the evening means popcorn and snacks.

While we were in town an aunt and uncle from Mom’s side were also visiting. So we got together with some of the extended family for a meal. Many in our family have dietary restrictions. So we just said we’d do it potluck style and people could contribute with something they can eat. All the diets were accounted for. We range from gluten-free to vegan. But, one thing that all of our restrictions can tolerate is veggies. So I made soup.

The summer veggies were on their way out. The lighter, less nutrient dense summer squash being replaced with the heartier winter varieties. I used both. I roasted them, along with some onions, and a whole head of garlic. It was simple – olive oil and a hot oven for all of them. An hour later I plomped the roasted veggies into a soup pot with some water and let them simmer for a while. Simple and delicious.

Let’s talk about the roasted garlic again for a second. I used a whole head. I wouldn’t have done that had it been raw (unless I wanted to be the only one to enjoy the soup ;)). Roasting garlic mellows out the sharp, strong flavor. It’s one of my favorite things. It’s perfect if you need something to spread on toast, to mix in to hummus, and to add to soup.

I like to add a bit of acid to most recipes. I add it near the end, or just after it’s come off the heat. It adds a bit of brightness and finishes off a dish really nicely. Lemon or lime juice works well, so does white vinegar.

The soup was a success. My family loved it (unless they were just being polite). Squash soup is one of my favorite ways to usher in fall and soup season.

Happy Eating!

Roasted Garlic Three Squash Soup

Ingredients

2 large pattypan squash, halved, seeds scraped out
1 large summer squash (zucchini or any other type), halved, seeds scraped out
1 large spaghetti squash, halved, seeds scraped out
3-4 onions, peeled and halved
1 head garlic, top sliced off
oil
10-12 C water or vegetable stock
1 t mustard powder (or 1 T grainy mustard or dijon)
sprinkle cayenne
2 C (approx.) coconut milk
1 t honey
to taste salt
2 1/2 t lemon juice

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 350F. Drizzle the squash and onions with oil and place cut side down on a baking sheet. Drizzle the garlic with oil and wrap in tin foil. Roast summer squash for about 30 minutes (or until tender and flesh pierces easily with a fork) and onions, garlic, and spaghetti squash for about 60 minutes (or until tender and flesh pierces easily with a fork).
Let garlic cool a bit before handling. Scrape squash out of skin. Add veggies through cayenne to a soup pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 1 hour or so. Add coconut milk through salt. Heat for a few minutes. Blend until very smooth (using a hand blender, or in a blender with the plug in the lid removed and the hole covered with a clean towel). Add lemon juice. Taste for seasoning.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/search-obergness-pt-4-squash-soup/

Tuesday

1

March 2016

2

COMMENTS

Spicy Cabbage and Cauliflower

Written by Rachel, Posted in Breakfast, Brunch, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Eggs, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Lunch, Main Dishes, One Dish Dinners, Quick and Easy, Sides, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

You ever have a day (or a week) where you just need to eat your feelings? One day, about two weeks ago, I had ice cream three times. It was a rough day. But, the ice cream helped. So did the wine that I drank after the ice cream. And the popcorn that I had for lunch. Sometimes I need to allow myself to not think. To just eat because I want to. It’s not usually like that. Meals are planned in advance, food is purchased, time is carved out to cook.

On those days when I’d rather reach for the ice cream, or potato chips, or just run to In-n-Out, there are meals like this one.

It’s a synch to prepare and it was so good that I almost licked the plate.

I sautéed some quarter inch thick slices of cauliflower in olive oil. It was generously seasoned with salt, pepper, cayenne, and paprika. Partway through I added some cabbage. Well seasoned, just like the cauliflower. I love a fried egg on almost anything, so I scooched the veggies over and cooked one once the veggies were done. I moved the whole skillet over on the burner so the egg would be over the flame. But, keeping the veggies in there allowed them to stay nice and hot while the egg cooked.

The veggies were topped with a squeeze of lemon, some garlic chives, and finally the fried egg. The veggies were really the star, so if you want to make this a vegan dish, you won’t be missing out. I made it a second time the other day when I had lunch with my friend Billye, who is a vegan, and served it with some crispy chick peas. Crispy sweet potatoes would also be great. Whatever you serve it with, a slice of toasted sourdough slathered with salted butter or olive oil and coarse sea salt is the perfect accompaniment.

Happy Eating!

Spicy Cabbage and Cauliflower

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Yield: 2

Spicy Cabbage and Cauliflower

Ingredients

2-3 T olive oil
2-3 C cauliflower, sliced about 1/4" thick
2 C napa cabbage (or any other type of cabbage), sliced 1/4" thick
to taste salt
to taste pepper
to taste cayenne
to taste paprika
1 egg/serving (optional)
1 T garlic chives (or regular chives, spring onions, green onions, green garlic), chopped
lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions

Heat a large skillet over medium. Add oil. When oil is hot add cauliflower in a single layer (if possible). Season with salt through paprika and cook for 3-5 minutes. Flip and cook for about 3-5 minutes more (or until browned and crispy). Push to one side and add cabbage. Season it with salt through paprika and cook, stirring often, for 3-5 minutes (turning the cauliflower from time to time so it doesn't burn).
If serving with eggs: Push the veggies to one side and move the skillet over so the veggies are off the flame. Add a bit more oil, and cook eggs as desired. Season with salt.
Serve veggies topped with egg (optional), chives, and a squeeze of lemon, alongside a piece of toast with salted butter or olive oil and coarse sea salt.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/spicy-cabbage-and-cauliflower/

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lunch Archive

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Kale and Farro Salad with Bacon

Kale and Farro Salad with Bacon

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Summer Daze – Scrambled Egg Tacos

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Eating on the Road – Nutella Raspberry Shake

12

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Food and Family – Roasted Garlic Three Squash Soup

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Spicy Cabbage and Cauliflower

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