Category Archives: appetizer

Tart Dried Cherry Quinoa Salad w/ Walnuts, Parsley and Olive Oil

29 Saturday Oct 2011

Posted by in appetizer, quinoa, salad, vegan

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I love this dish! It was a perfect side dish for lunch with my Market Squash Soup (recipe on the blog). Delish! Easy, healthy and totally gourmet. You can mix in different dried fruits and nuts to suit your taste. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 c. cooked, cooled quinoa (quinoa is a great source of protein and it’s gluten free, a major staple in the Cosmo Hippie Chef kitchen)
1/2 c. tart dried cherries, chopped (I got mine at the Farmers Market, but you can find them in the bulk section at the grocery store)
1/2 c. fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 c. walnuts, chopped
2 T. olive oil
salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Cook quinoa according to the directions (Simple: Boil 2 c. water and a pinch of salt, when boiling add 1 c. quinoa, rinsed, to the boiling water. Bring to boil and then turn heat to medium and simmer for 15 minutes until all the water is absorbed.) Let cook completely.
2. Scoop cooled quinoa in a large mixing bowl, add all the rest of the ingredients- tart dried cherries, parsley, walnuts, olive oil and salt and pepper (salt and pepper to taste). Mix all together. Taste to check salt and pepper.
3. Let chill in the fridge for a least one hour for flavors to mell together. Serve as a side dish, snack or for lunch.

-A drizzle of Sesame Oil just before you eat puts this dish over the top. (Thanks Brenna for the idea)

X96 and The Radio from Hell Show featuring Creminelli Meats

16 Tuesday Aug 2011

Posted by in appetizer, breakfast

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‎’ASK A SAUSAGE MAKER’ Thursday August 18 @ 8am X96 and The Radio from Hell Show (FM station 96.3 KXRK) will be featuring Cristiano Creminelli of Creminelli Meats for their ‘Ask A’ segment. This is a great way to learn more about one of our local food artisans. I can’t wait! I get to be a guest in the studio that morning along with my food buddy Chantelle Bourdeaux. Hope you tune in.

 This is Enrico w/ Creminelli Fine Meats at the Downtown Farmers Market w/ our friend Christiane a Slow Food Utah buddy.
 This is a pic of a Muffaletta sandwich I made with Creminelli ham.
 Big Bill’s (my father-in-law) famous Eggs Benedict featuring Clifford Farm Eggs and Creminelli ham.
 Remember this sandwich? It is was kept Billy fed the weekend I was really sick. Thanks Creminelli, Beehive Cheese and Crumb Brothers for helping a girl out.
One of the dishes I made for Mother’s Day after the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer walk, sliced cucumber and Creminelli salami.

Bruschetta- Summer Fave

20 Wednesday Jul 2011

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This wonderful, easy recipe is actually my creation, but I have to say that it is a hybrid of a recipe from the cookbook ‘Small Plates, Appetizers as Meals’ by Marguerite Marceau Henderson (who is actually a SL local). No matter who I make this recipe for they always end up loving it. I have made it with roasted peppers in place of the tomatoes and I’ve also tried it with fresh and roasted tomatoes, just this last July 4 I added artichokes to the mix. So whatever your preference I’m sure it will be amazing. Enjoy!

-Bruschetta- (measurements are exact but pretty close)

2-4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 shallots or a small onion, diced
1-2 T. capers, liquid drained
1/2 olives, chopped (I think I used a kalamata olive mix)
1/2 c. basil, chopped
8 Roma tomatoes, chopped (I have roasted the tomatoes to add more flavor, in the above pic I used roasted tomatoes in olive oil from Tony Caputo’s)
8 oz artichokes in olive oil, chopped (I got my at Caputo’s but you can totally used canned)
1 t. salt (I like Celtic gray salt)
1/4 tsp. fresh ground pepper
1/3 c. balsamic vinegar
1/3 c. olive oil

1. Place the first 7 ingredients in a bowl.
2. Mix the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper in a bowl. (A little trick I do is put pour the balsamic in first and then slowly whisk in the olive oil. I think it mixes better that way.)
3. Pour the wet mixture over all the other ingredients and mix well.
4. Marinate in the fridge for at least an hour. Serve.

Can be served with:

Sliced baguette (I love Crumb Brothers, or Volkers)
Over grilled fish or chicken
Or made into a sandwich w/ fresh sliced Mozzarella (when I do this I use the roasted bell peppers in place of the tomatoes)

Cherry Rhubarb Jam

27 Monday Jun 2011

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I found the recipe for the jam in Sunset Magazine. I have to say my first batch didn’t turn out, probably because I followed their recipe with no regard for the pectin that I was using. Super bummer. So I followed the ingredient list but merged it with the directions for the pectin I was using. So my recommendation is that you find a recipe you like and follow the directions or merge like I did. Second batch: SUCCESS!

Komen Walk and Mother’s Day Dinner- Boobs, Friends and Food

09 Monday May 2011

Posted by in appetizer, dessert, DIY, vegan

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 Our group for the big Komen Breast Cancer Walk, Yeah Team!
 Jenn, Mom and Me
 Breakfast at Squatters- Yum Fun
 Creminelli Sopressatta Salami over Fresh Cucumber
Urban Oven Crackers topped w/ local Goat Cheese, Fresh Anchovies and a slice of Fresh Lemon
 The dudes chillen, waiting for food. (Billy and Big Mike)
 View of our beautiful table
 Close up of Greek Salad (made by Mike, recipe on the blog) and Homemade Pasta (made my me) topped w/ local Sunbridge Pesto
Dessert- Homemade Coconut Ice Cream topped w/ Strawberries that were marinated in Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar
-Homemade Coconut Ice Cream-
1 14oz can organic coconut milk
1/4 c. agave
1 T. Bourbon Madagascar Vanilla (I get mine at Williams Sonoma)
a pinch of salt
1. Mix all the above ingredients in a bowl and pour into your ice cream machine and process for 20-25 minutes.
2. Scoop into a freezer container and freeze for at least a few hours before serving.
3. When ready to serve take out of freezer and let sit for awhile to soften just a bit, serve. ENJOY!

Quinoa- Tabbouleh Style, It’s What’s For Lunch

21 Thursday Apr 2011

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I wanted something light and fresh for lunch this last week and I’ve been on a Quinoa kick so VIOLA! this is what I came up with- Quinoa Tabbouleh! Enjoy!

-Quinoa Tabbouleh Style-

2 c. cooked Quinoa
1 cucumber- peeled, seeded and diced
4 scallions, chopped
1/2 c. parsley leaves
1/4 c. chopped mint
1/2 c. Cerignola olives, chopped (I get these at Tony Caputo’s, you could use your favorite olive)
2 lemons, both juiced and 1 zested
2 T. olive oil
1/2- 3/4 c. chopped dehydrated tomatoes or sun dried tomatoes
salt and pepper

1. In a large bowl combine quinoa, cucumber, scallions, parsley, mint, olives and tomatoes. Toss lightly to combine.
2. In a separate bowl combine lemon juice and zest with olive oil and salt and pepper.
3. Pour the lemon and olive oil mixture over the quinoa and toss together lightly to combine. Taste for salt and pepper, add more if needed.
4. Refrigerate for a few hours to let flavors combine.

Hummus # 2

16 Saturday Apr 2011

Posted by in appetizer, beans, Snack

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The last time I posted a Hummus recipe was June 20, 2009 it is one of the first recipes I blogged and this is just a hybrid of that original. Billy is the snack king, he is always looking for something to snack on so if I have veggies and hummus in the fridge he’s happy, I’m happy, we’re all happy. This is a great healthy snack to have around for dipping or a great topping for a veggie hummus sandwich. Enjoy!
-Hummus #2-
15oz can garbanzo beans (drained, and rinsed- *optional: after you drain and rinse cover with fresh water and a piece of kombu and soak for 24 hours, save 1/4 c. soaking water for the hummus)
1/4 c. tahaini paste
1/4 c. olive oil
1 lemon, zest and juiced
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 small purlpe onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 tsp. celtic salt
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 c. sliced almonds or chopped walnuts
1. In a food processor pulse the garlic and onion just a bit to chop into smaller pieces.
2. Next add the beans, tahaini, lemon zest and juice, salt and garlic salt, cayenne pepper. Pulse to combine, add soaking water, or regular water and mix again.
3. Scrape down sides and with the motor running drizzle in olive oil.
4. Add the almonds or walnuts and pulse lightly to combine.
*Beans and nuts make a complete protein, and nuts and seeds make a complete protein. This is why I wanted to revise this recipe and add the nuts.
*Kombu helps tenderize beans and adds minerals.

Parmesan, Arugula Cottage Cheese Dip

21 Monday Mar 2011

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This recipe was inspired by one I saw in Sunset Magazine during the holidays. I thought it would still appeal to having a rich dairy dip but be a little more balanced, due to the fact that it is made from cottage cheese and not sour cream and cream cheese. It’s great for a dip or a great topping for a baked organic russet potato (this is how Billy and I enjoyed it yesterday for lunch). Try it out for your next get together. Enjoy!

-Parmesan, Arugula Cottage Cheese Dip-

16 oz organic cultured cottage cheese (I use low fat)
5 oz baby arugula or baby spinach (I use a combo of both)
1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 lemon, juiced and zested
salt and pepper

1. Place the contents of the cottage cheese tub in the food processor, season with a little salt and pepper. (If you like pepper, use a little extra) Pulse a few times to smooth out just a bit.
2. Lightly saute the arugula or spinach in a little oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute just until the greens start to wilt, but are still green.
3. Add the greens and garlic to the food processor along with the lemon juice and zest. Pulse enough to mix well together.
4. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and pulse again to mix in. Taste to check salt and pepper, add more if needed.
5. Scoop into a bowl and refrigerator for a few hours, serve when ready.

Cranberry Relish

08 Tuesday Feb 2011

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I was introduced to this delicious recipe at a recent book club meeting from my fellow Slow Food Utah book club buddy Kate Holbrook. I asked her permission to share the recipe with all of you and she told me she got the recipe from a friend- who got it from a friend. Isn’t that the way it always go?! Let me tell you that this dish was a big hit, and the fact that it is easy makes it even better.
It is very hard to find fresh cranberries at the market this time of the year, probably because they are in season during the holidays. Normally I would not do a recipe like this with produce that is out of season but I was able to find frozen cranberries at the market. I feel good about buying these because they come from a Sustainable Farm in Oregon called Stahlbush Island Farms. These cranberries are flash frozen, so they are super fresh and there is nothing added to them- just cranberries! This company also uses their remaining fruit and vegetables material to produce green energy, naturally chic. Enjoy!
-Cranberry Relish-
10-12oz fresh cranberries
1 green onion, chopped (I forgot this time to get green onions, so I used 1/4 chopped purple onion)
1 medium jalapeno, chopped (seeded for those who can’t handle the heat)
3/4 c. sugar (I use sucant*)
1-2 T. cilantro leaves (I actually used more)
1/4 tsp. cumin (I used 1/2 tsp)
pinch of salt
block of cream cheese, or log of goat cheese
1. Blend all the ingredients (except the cheese) in a food processor until blended, but still chunky. Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.
2. Serve over cheese of your choice with a fresh sliced baguette or crackers.
*Sucant- Minimally processed sugar made by pressing the juice from the cane, clarifying, filtering and evaporating it, then crystallizing the resulting sugar. Sucant retains many of the minerals, vitamins and trace elements found in sugar cane.

DIY- Herbed Crackers (Vegan and Gluten Free)

17 Monday Jan 2011

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I wish I could take credit for this recipe but I can’t, this one belongs to Elana’s Pantry. I have made these crackers more times than I can count, they are easy, taste fantastic and are probably not like any other cracker you’ve had. They are great with soup or with your favorite dip. I recently made these for my mom to go with this yummy, warm, spicy roasted squash soup after her last chemo treatment (YEAH!). This was a perfect combination because I wanted something delicious and comforting, but good for her. Did I mention these crackers are high in protein due to the fact that they are made with almond meal. Enjoy!
-Herbed Crackers-
2 c. almond meal (the last time I bought almond meal I bought it at Cali’s Market, but I’ve also seen it in the bulk section at Whole Foods)
3/4 tsp. real salt, or Celtic salt
2 T. Herbs de Provence (I use Bragg’s Organic Sprinkle)
1 T. olive oil
2 T. water
1. Preheat the oven to 350.
2. Mix all the dry ingredients together first. Then add the olive oil and water, mix again well.
3. Using a parchment lined baking dish (8×8 or 9×9 in size) pour the mixture into baking dish. Press the mixture into the bottom of baking dish, making sure to even out the mixture. Make sure the mixture is pressed down firmly and evenly.
4. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the top of crackers mixture is browned a little.
5. Take out of the oven and let cool 20 minutes. Then cut the crackers, I get 16 crackers out of my batch.