Who doesn’t love pudding? I see no one raised their hand…which brings me to the ultimate comfort food and life’s simple pleasures. This recipe came about from my favorite of all food sites: 101Cookbooks. Heidi Swanson not only creates the most wonderful combinations of seasonal, wholesome flavors; she is also a master photographer. Whenever my husband asks me to credit my source, for hers I simply say: “it’s another Heidi.”
I’ve been a bit of a TV junkie of late watching the Olympics in prime time, pushing the limits of my shut eye. After this week comes the Academy Awards on March 7th, which is another excuse to create a party around a food theme. Certainly with Julie and Julia in the mix we will see Boeuf Bourguignon or this lovely adaptation of pumpkin soup from Shirley at GFE. For the Oscars, I tend to lean toward a variety of nibbles and small plates – don’t want to miss a glimpse of George Clooney! – and one of my favorite winter snacks are fresh baked kale chips.
There is something so satisfying about a dish that combines sweet and savory. It may be because I can’t make up my mind which is more desirable. In this case I don’t have to choose – succulent prunes are married with tender chicken to make one of my favorite entrees, Chicken Marbella.
I received pears in my CSA box yesterday which was a bit of a surprise, as I tend to focus on them more in the fall. But I’m always game to put produce to new uses, and I love the combination of pears and almonds. This recipe was adapted from a friend who was in my chef program. Its flour-less and therefore gluten free. The result was light and decadent (if that makes sense) – and just in time for Valentine’s Day…
In my CSA box this week was a beautiful bunch of broccoli. Add that to the beautiful bunch I got at the farmers’ market, and another soup was in the making. I love blender soups – you steam the veggies, saute some onions, measure the stock, pull out the Vitamix and voila! Dinner is served…and lunch the next day.
I know you’re all planning your menus for the big game on Sunday…OK, not ALL of you. Nonetheless, this time of year begs for soups, stews and beans! The beauty of cold, wet weather is that it gives us ‘permission’ to stay inside and create dishes which require low and slow methods. Beans fall into that category, with their pre-soak and longer cook time, enabling the flavors to permeate from the stove to the table.
Chia seeds are the new flax. Of course we’ve been ahead of that curve for awhile, but it was fun to see the many applications for them at the Fancy Food Show in SF last week. Not only a fabulous source of Omega 3s and fiber, another big advantage that chia has over flaxseeds is that they’re shelf stable. So when you’re rushing out the door in the morning and need a quick fix for breakfast, here is an easy recipe to jump start your day.
We are gearing up for a series of storms on the west coast this week…so to me, that begs for soup. Soup is the best way to get mega-doses of vegetables all in one serving, with so many variables on combinations. And as part of our monthly Gluten Free Progressive Dinner Party, I thought it was fitting to offer this recipe as the first course. Let the flood gates open (so to speak…) as we savor soups in the season of the storm…
I’m getting crafty with my recipe titles again. Experimenting in the kitchen can do that to a person, especially when it comes to dessert. Over New Year’s we picked up the last of a pumpkin crop in Bolinas and I promptly added them to my collection on the front porch. Even if that decor is SO autumn…these pumpkins are still offering sweet, fleshy flavor when roasted. So I combined a few recipes to make a combo souffle and flan, introducing pumpkin ’soufflan.’
Last night my cooking class featured easy, low-calorie foods. Two of them have appeared before – cauliflower couscous and raw kale slaw. The addition was halibut ‘en papillote,’ or the fancy (French) way of saying ‘fish in a pocket.’ It is the easiest preparation ~ no fuss, no mess. And the ‘wow’ factor for those at the dinner table is the ultimate endorsement.
