De Ma Cuisine

vegetables Archive

Wednesday

6

November 2013

4

COMMENTS

Vegetarian Enchiladas – In the Kitchen with Rachel O – Video

Written by , Posted in Baking, Beans, Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, In the Kitchen with Rachel O, Leftovers, Legumes, Main Dishes, Rice, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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Sometimes I feel like I can’t quite get ahead. Like I’m stuck in a downward spiral. Overwhelmed by a never ending list of things to do. Sometimes. Or right now.

I understand why people resort to take out and pre-made meals. My go-to meals have been random leftovers, grilled cheese, and pancakes. I feel like I don’t have time to cook. I feel like I don’t have time for anything… except work. Isn’t it funny that my job is food, but I don’t have time for it?!

I’m realizing that part of the fault lays in my time management. I can make list after list after list, but if I spend all my time on figuring out when to do it all, I’ll never have time to get it done. So I’ve put away the day planner… for a while. I’m focusing on getting things done. I’m trying to do my best at what I love. I’m working on more than just feeding us so we have the calories we need, but instead finding a balance between working hard and having time to spend on the rest of life. I don’t know that I’m finding much success. Yet. I’m working on it.

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For days like these, there are meals like this one. It can be made ahead of time and frozen. It can be whipped up the night of in no time at all. It’s yummy enough to serve to guests, simple enough to eat on a weeknight. And the leftovers, if there are any, are perfect for the next day’s lunch.

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Enchiladas to the rescue!

Vegetarian Enchiladas
Recipe Type: Main Dish, Easy, Dinner, Vegetarian, Vegetables, Legumes, Beans, Rice, Stove Top, Oven, Leftovers
Cuisine: Mexican
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4-6
A veggie filled twist on enchiladas.
Ingredients
  • Filling: 1 t olive oil
  • 1 zucchini, chopped
  • 1 carrot, grated
  • 1/2 serrano pepper, ribs and seeds removed, minced
  • 1/2 t salt
  • 1/4 t pepper
  • 1/4 t cumin
  • 1/4 t ginger
  • 1 t chili powder
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 C black beans
  • 1 C mixture of cranberry and kidney beans
  • 1 1/2 C cooked brown rice
  • 1/2 C corn (frozen is fine)
  • Sauce: 2 C tomato sauce
  • 1 C vegetable stock (optional)
  • 1 t chili powder
  • 1/4 t cumin
  • to taste, salt
  • to taste, pepper
  • 1/2 serrano pepper, ribs and seeds removed, minced
  • For assembling: 6-8 tortillas
  • 1 to 1 1/2 C pepper jack cheese, grated
  • salsa, for serving
  • Greek yogurt, for serving
  • tomato, chopped, for serving
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350F.
  2. Heat a skillet and add olive oil. When oil is hot, add zucchini through chili powder (in filling section). Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, over medium-low heat.
  3. Add rice, beans, garlic, and corn. Cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  4. Whisk sauce ingredients together. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Pour about 1/2 into the bottom of a large greased ovenproof dish.
  5. Divide filling between tortillas. Tuck ends in and roll up. Place seam side down in sauce.
  6. Top with remaining sauce (or enough sauce to partially cover), and sprinkle with cheese.
  7. Bake uncovered for 20-30 minutes, or until cheese and sauce are bubbly.
  8. Serve topped with yogurt, salsa, and tomatoes.

 

Monday

4

November 2013

2

COMMENTS

Mediterranean Veggies and Rice – Quick and Easy

Written by , Posted in Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Leftovers, Main Dishes, Quick and Easy, Rice, Vegetables, Vegetarian

MediterraneanRiceVeggies_5It seems like more often than not, as of late, when it comes time for dinner, I’m too pooped to make anything, well, good. Don’t worry, we’re not starving or anything. I’m sure we’re even getting a fairly nutritious diet. But, we haven’t been eating as well as we could be.

Even though I was bone tired last Wednesday, I decided that we needed something full of veggies, good fats, and whole grains.

Enter rice, veggies, herbs, and Bari olive oil.

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Rice lends a nutty, wholesome, hearty aspect to this dish.

The veggies range from carrots with the slightest hint of a crunch, to eggplant that melts in your mouth.

The herbs, some fresh, some dried, add an earthy, savory comfort.

The olive oil adds a bright finishing note that’s not like anything else I’ve ever tasted.

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It’s a good dish, this one.

If you’re out of eggplant ideas, I’m here for you.

If you love zucchini but can’t think of another way to prepare it, I’ve got you covered.

If you’re exhausted and would rather crawl into bed than fix dinner, I understand.

If you love food, good food, food that’s wholesome and nutritious, I’m with you.

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Happy Eating!

Mediterranean Veggies and Rice
Recipe Type: Main Dishes, Rice, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Vegetables, Herbs, Quick and Easy
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2-3
Ingredients
  • 1 – 1 1/2 C leftover rice
  • 1/4 C water or vegetable stock
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 1 zucchini, chopped
  • 2 small skinny or 1 small fat eggplant, peeled and sliced
  • 1/2 t (or more) salt
  • pinch pepper
  • 1/4 t dried basil
  • 1 t fresh oregano,
  • 1/8 t red pepper flakes
  • 1 t fresh savory
  • 1/4 t dried parsley
  • 1 t fresh thyme
  • 2-4 cloves roasted garlic, mashed
  • 1/4 C tomatoes, chopped
  • 1/4 C kalamata olives, chopped
  • 2-3 T balsamic vinegar
  • 2 T water
  • parmesan cheese, shaved, for topping
  • olive oil, for topping
Instructions
  1. Re-heat leftover rice with water or stock.
  2. Generously salt eggplant and let stand for 15 minutes. Rinse and pat dry, then chop.
  3. Heat skillet and add oil. When oil is hot, add carrot, zucchini, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 10 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.
  4. Add eggplant, herbs, and red pepper flakes and cook 5 minutes more.
  5. Add garlic, tomatoes, olives, balsamic vinegar, and water. Cook 1-2 minutes more.
  6. Combine with rice and let stand for a few minutes. Taste and add more salt if needed.
  7. Serve topped with a drizzle of good olive oil and some parmesan cheese.
Notes
If using uncooked rice, cook 1 C rice in 2 C water or stock. Cook according to directions on package. Cooking time will increase, but not by much, as the rice will cook while the veggies do.

 

Friday

1

November 2013

0

COMMENTS

Amazing Roasted Tomato Soup

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

RoastedTomatoSoupNC-3There is plenty of roasting that goes on in our home, no matter the season. But, there’s just something about the cool, crisp days of autumn that invite cozy, warm, roasted meals… and SOUP!

As we’re getting close to the end of tomato season, why not combine the end of summer with the cool of fall.

I’m into it. I’m always into soup.

Especially this one.

Ever since I was a kid, Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup was a comforting meal. We usually had it on cold and rainy days. I have a distant memory of one of the two times I went to summer camp, it was a rainy day and we had this meal. That was a long time ago, but I can still feel the warmth of the soup, the crunch of the sandwich.

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There are plenty of great soups to be bought at the grocery store. Some include roasted red peppers, some are just full of tomatoey goodness. But, there is something to be said about homemade tomato soup. It just can’t be beat.

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I made this soup on my show for the first time last fall. I had made homemade tomato soup once before, and ended up blending the plug that goes in the center of the lid of my blender (hadn’t learned the lesson about blending soups with a towel covering the hole, not the plug… now I know… now I use a hand blender…) and spraying hot soup all over the walls, counter, and myself. I had the choice to laugh or cry. I laughed. Some of the soup was salvaged. It was good, but it didn’t compare to this one… This one’s a keeper.

Make a huge batch and freeze it for an even colder winter day. That’s what I plan to do.

Happy Eating!

Roasted Tomato Soup
Recipe Type: Soup, Main
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 60 mins
Total time: 1 hour 15 mins
Serves: 4-6
Comforting, homemade tomato soup. Perfect for a chilly fall day.
Ingredients
  • 10 tomatoes, each one cut in 6 or 8 pieces
  • 2 carrots, roughly chopped
  • 1 onion, roughly chopped
  • 6 cloves of garlic, tip chopped off
  • 4 C veggie stock
  • 1 1/2 C water (or stock)
  • 1-2 t salt
  • 3/4-1 t pepper
  • 1 t sweet paprika
  • 1 t fresh thyme
  • 1/2 t dried oregano (or 1 t fresh)
  • 1/3 C garlic chives
  • 1/2 C basil
  • 3 T balsamic vinegar
  • 2-3 T olive oil
  • 1 T heavy whipping cream (or half and half, or milk… whatever you use in your morning coffee) per bowl
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350F. Place tomatoes on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place onions and carrots on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast veggies for about 30 minutes (carrots might not be tender, that’s OK, we’re par-baking them, as they will cook more later).
  2. Add stock, thyme, oregano, garlic chives, paprika, salt, and pepper to soup pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook until veggies are done roasting.
  3. Add roasted veggies to the soup pot. Bring to a boil and cook 15-30 minutes, or until carrots are tender.
  4. Add basil and balsamic vinegar and cook 5 minutes more.
  5. Using a hand blender (or a regular blender – if you do this method, please remove the plug in the lid and cover it with a towel instead, this allows steam to escape, and results in a non-disastrous soup making experience… trust me, I’ve learned this the hard way), submerge into soup, then begin to blend. Be careful, it may splash, and it’s very hot (I know you know this). Blend until smooth.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add a drizzle of good olive oil.
  7. Serve it topped with a drizzle of cream, alongside a grilled cheese sandwich.
Notes
This soup will freeze and reheat well. To store, cool on counter for a while, then place in the refrigerator. Once it’s completely cooled, freeze in an airtight container. It can be reheated to use in pasta sauces, to add to Minestrone Soup, you could add pasta to it, other veggies, or just reheat it and have it with another grilled cheeeeeeese! You could also eat it chilled, as a Gazpacho.

 

Wednesday

30

October 2013

0

COMMENTS

Shepherd’s Pie – In the Kitchen with Rachel O – Video

Written by , Posted in Beef, Cheese, Dinner, Gluten Free, In the Kitchen with Rachel O, Leftovers, Main Dishes, Meat, Potatoes, Potlucks, Vegetables

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Right now we’re kinda in between seasons. It’s technically fall. But produce-wise, we’ve still got a few summer treats hanging on (hello zucchini!), yet are simultaneously moving into the winter goodies (hello root veggies!).

This Shepherd’s Pie is a mash of the two (no pun intended, hello mashed potatoes!).

This is a great dish for using leftovers. Mostly on the mashed potato end. You may want to bookmark this one for Thanksgiving, along with Shepherd’s Pie of the South. One uses up the leftover turkey or chicken, the other uses up the mashed potatoes. No, it’s not too early to start planning what you’re going to do with your Thanksgiving leftovers. It’s never too early to menu plan. 😉

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Back to October, which is a great month, by-the-way. We celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary a couple weeks ago, and the baseball postseason is in full swing. Yeah, both of these make me happy. Add to that the cooler weather and falling leaves and you may understand why this is my absolute favorite time of the year.

Since it’s my favorite month, we should eat some of my favorite foods. We should enjoy hearty, warm meals. We should bring out the quilts and hot chocolate mugs. We should eat Shepherd’s Pie (and Chicken Pot Pie, and Chili and Cornbread, and… oh I’m getting hungry).

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One thing that I love about Shepherd’s Pie is that it’s a great way to use yesterday’s dinner. I’m a big fan of making yummy foods and then repurposing the leftovers. Want to see how it could work? Say Sunday’s dinner is Roasted Chicken, with Mashed Potatoes and Mushroom and Savory Gravy, and Steamed Carrots with Honey and Butter. By making a little more than you will need the first night, you give yourself the starting points for the rest of the week’s dinners. Monday: Chicken and Rice Soup. Tuesday: Shepherd’s Pie. Wednesday: Honey Mustard Chicken Sandwiches. Thursday: Chicken Club Pizza. Friday: Sheppy Pasta (make extra Shepherd’s Pie filling and toss with pasta and tomatoes). Saturday: Soup Day (Taco SoupMashed Potato Soup, and definitely remember to make some Chicken Stock with the chicken bones). (Of course make sure that foods are frozen if they will be saved for more than a few days, and re-heated to a safe temperature… but you knew that.)

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Another thing that I love about Shepherd’s Pie is that it just tastes so darn good. Starting at the top, we’ve got some cheese. It’s all melty and maybe a bit crispy where it touches the skillet. Then a layer of Mashed Potatoes. Well, I love those on their own, so I can’t really go wrong here. And the foundation of this dish, ground beef (you could also use tempeh, chicken, maybe even tofu), veggies, and a bit of sauce. Well, sure, don’t mind if I do. You can make a big skillet to feed the whole family, or make individual portions and heat them up one or two at a time (I like to use medium-sized ramekins for this). It freezes well, so once everyone has eaten their fill, pop them into single serving containers and they can be saved for lunches. I wonder, maybe you could even fry an egg and slide it on top of the pie, then toast some bread, top it with a tomato slice and a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and a drizzle of good olive oil, and have it for breakfast… stranger things have happened.

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However it’s eaten, this meal is a winner in my book. Husband’s too. We love pie… especially the savory kind.

Happy Eating!

Shepherd’s Pie

Yield: 4-6

Shepherd’s Pie

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb. ground beef
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 1 zucchini, chopped
  • 4 small radishes, chopped
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • to taste, salt
  • to taste, pepper
  • 1/2 t chili powder
  • 1/2 t coriander
  • pinch nutmeg
  • pinch cumin
  • 1 C peas (frozen are fine)
  • 5 cloves garlic, diced
  • 2 T balsamic vinegar
  • 2 T tomato paste
  • 1 T cornstarch
  • 1/4 C cold water
  • 1 C stock (chicken, beef, or vegetable)
  • 4-6 C warm/hot mashed potatoes (4 large potatoes)
  • 1/2 to 1 C Gruyere cheese, grated
  • sprinkle coriander
  • sprinkle chili powder

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat oven to 375F.
  2. Heat oven safe skillet. Add beef. When partially cooked, add carrots through cumin. Cook covered, stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes, or until veggies are tender.
  3. Add peas and garlic, cook 1 minute.
  4. Add balsamic vinegar and tomato paste, cook 2 minutes.
  5. Whisk cornstarch with water and stock. Add to veggies and beef. Bring to a boil and let sauce thicken.
  6. Taste and adjust seasonings.
  7. Smooth out and top with mashed potatoes, cheese, and sprinkle with coriander and chili powder. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and potatoes are hot.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/shepherds-pie-video/

Monday

28

October 2013

0

COMMENTS

Wilted Kale with Walnuts and Bacon

Written by , Posted in Dinner, Farm to Dinner Party Table, Gluten Free, Meat, Pork, Sides, Vegetables

 

Wilted Kale with Walnuts and Bacon
Recipe Type: Side, Vegetables, Meat, Pork, Nuts, Stove Top
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients
  • 4 slices bacon
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 3 bunches kale, stems removed, sliced into long ribbons
  • pinch nutmeg
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 2 T balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 C walnuts, chopped
Instructions
  1. Cook bacon. Drain on paper towel. When cooled, crumble and set aside. Discard fat from pan (or reserve a bit for cooking).
  2. Add olive oil (if all bacon fat was discarded), when hot, add kale and some seasonings. Use tongs to turn and mix kale, as it wilts down, add more kale and more seasonings. Cook over medium-low heat for about 10-15 minutes, or until all kale is wilted. Add 2 T balsamic vinegar. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  3. Serve topped with walnuts and bacon.