Celery Root, Apple Cilantro Salad

04 Monday Feb 2013

Posted by cosmohippiechef in appetizer, dressing, salad, seasonal, Side dish

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Tags

apples, arugula, celery root, cilantro, gluten free, lemon, nuts, seasonal, tart dried cherries

Food:

Celery Root, Apple Cilantro Salad– serves 4

Salad:

1 medium celery root- peeled, sliced and julienned

2 medium apples- cored, sliced and julienned (I used 1 granny smith and 1 red variety I got at the farmers market)

1/2 c. fresh arugula

1 c. cilantro leaves- whole leaves torn off stem and lightly packed

1/2 c. pistachios- lightly toasted in a dry saute pan over med-low heat

1/2 c. tart dried cherries- chopped (you can find these in the bulk section of the grocery store, mine are from the farmers market)

juice of one lemon

Dressing:

1/4 c. yogurt (I used Drake Family Farms Goat Yogurt)

zest of 1 lemon, juice of half the lemon

1 T. olive oil

1 T. maple syrup

1 inch ginger- peeled and grated

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. After you have prepped the celery root and apple, place then in a bowl and squeeze the juice of one lemon over the juilenned pieces. Toss lightly with your hands.

2. Next add in the arugula and cilantro leaves, toss lightly.

3. In a small bowl combine the dressing ingredients, season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Divide the salad mixture between 4 plates, drizzle the dressing over the salad and top with the pistachios and tart dried cherries. EAT IMMEDIATELY! ENJOY!

*This salad is best eaten fresh, it will last up to one day in the fridge BUT do not top the salad ingredients with the dressing or nuts and cherries until ready to eat.

Nutrition:

Celery root: Celery root has a number of vitamins and minerals, most notably vitamin C, potassium and phosphorus. Can be used in mashed potatoes, stews and pairs well with meat.

Pistachios: Pistachios are good for heart health, diabetes, healthy blood, nervous system, eye health, the immune system and skin health. Great raw or slightly toasted.

Cilantro: Helps to eliminate the heavy metal build up of mercury and lead from the bones and the tissues in the body. Cilantro contains, folates, vitamin B-6, vitamin C, A, K and loads of iron and manganese.

Love:

One of the reasons I love living in Utah is the change of seasons and all the possibilities of food exploration that it brings with each changing month. I love warm savory dishes in the winter, but this last week I have been craving lighter fresher flavors, probably because we have been bogged down with loads of smog and snow. All of us are longing for our backyards and deck hang outs, but for now we will have to settle for Super Bowls parties and hopefully some cuddling for Valentine’s Day (I have a love filled recipe coming up next week, stay tuned!). In the meantime we can start by enjoying this refreshing, light and crunchy salad that is a vacation in your mouth. Especially after the Super Bowl junk food you might just need this salad to get you back on track. Celery root is a fun seasonal veggie and thank goodness for something fresh during this time of year, it may make you long for summer with its light bright flavor, but hopefully if you are like me it will remind you that those backyards and decks are closer than we think.

Stuffed Acorn Squash

27 Sunday Jan 2013

Posted by cosmohippiechef in Events, seasonal, Side dish

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

brown rice, cheese, garlic, gluten free, kale, local, seasonal, squash, vegetables

Food:

Stuffed Acorn Squash serves 5-10

5 acorn squash, cut in half seeds removed

1 lb. local grass-fed beef (I buy Lau Family Farms)

1/2- 3/4 lb mushrooms of choice, chopped (I used shiitake)

1 large onion, chopped

1 c. celery, chopped

4 garlic cloves, chopped

1 bunch of kale or swiss chard, stems removed and leaves chopped

1 T. each rosemary, thyme and sage, chopped

1 c. cooked brown rice, millet, wild rice or non-glutinous grain of choice

3/4 c. parsley, chopped and divided

1/2 c. pecorino or parmesan cheese, grated

2 T. ghee

salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees. Place the prepared acorn squash cut side down on a parchment lined baking sheet. Place the squash in the oven and bake for 30 min. Take baked squash out of the oven and set aside. Turn the oven down to 350 degrees.

2. Place a large saute pan on the stove top over medium heat , add the ghee and when melted add the mushrooms and begin to saute. Don’t touch the mushrooms for a minute or so to give them time to brown. Next add the onions, celery and garlic and begin to saute with the mushrooms, salt and pepper the veggies just a bit. Saute for 5-7 minutes.

3. Next add the beef, use a potato masher to incorporate the meat into the veggies, season with a little more salt and pepper. When the beef is just about cooked, another 5-10 minutes add the rosemary, sage and thyme. Stir to combine.

4. Pull the beef and veggie mixture off the heat and add 1/2 c. chopped parsley, cooked brown rice and chopped kale, stir well to combine all the ingredients.

5. Scoop the mixture into the acorn halves, in a separate bowl combine 1/4 c. remaining parsley and cheese, season lightly. Spoon this mixture over the stuffed acorn squash (there will most likely be extra filling, save for a snack). Bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and began to brown and the mixture is warmed through. Serve hot with a drizzle of good quality olive oil. ENJOY!

Nutrition:

Grass-fed beef: http://www.laufamilyfarm.com/why-grass-fed/

Shiitake Mushrooms: These meaty flavorful mushrooms contain a substance called eritadenine, which encourages body tissues to utilize cholesterol and lower the amount circulating in the blood. Shiitake also have antiviral and anti-cancer effects.

Acorn Squash: Acorn squash is an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C and beta-carotene. It is also a very good source of thiamin, vitamin B6, potassium, magnesium,and manganese, and a good source of iron. It is a great seasonal choice in place of traditional bell peppers which are a late summer crop.

Love:

I made these bad boys for my Holistic Nutrition class last weekend. I wanted to show my students what eating a more plant-based Holistic diet looked like. We started with Raw Oatmeal made with Homemade Almond Milk and served it with local Drake Family Farm Goat Yogurt, our lunch item was Lentil Stew w/Kabocha squash and for dinner we had these Stuffed Acorn Squash. When people hear the word plant-based they think vegan or vegetarian, but to me it means whole foods in the natural state that are local and seasonal, not processed packaged foods. I live by a 90-10 rule, 90% of my diet consist of plant foods, this includes beans, legumes, grains, rice, nuts and seeds, and lots of fresh fruits and veggies, the other 10% leaves room for local, sustainable QUALITY animal foods, this includes local beef and chicken on occasion, wild fish, yogurt and cheese. It’s not the quantity but the quality of the choices we make, this is what Holistic Nutrition is all about. I hope you enjoy this recipe, my students sure did!

Roasted Brussels Sprout and Romanesco Soup w/ Leeks

06 Sunday Jan 2013

Posted by cosmohippiechef in seasonal, soup, vegan

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

brussels sprouts, garlic, gluten free, lemon, romanesco broccoli, seasonal, soup, vegan, vegetables

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Love:

I lovingly refer to this soup as “Lean Mean Green Soup.” Why you ask? The holidays are over which means most of us are trying to push the restart button on our diets, our loved ones have gone home and here in Salt Lake the inversion has set in and we are all getting sick. In an effort to ward off the dreaded cold/flu and the seasonal depression that comes out of no where in January, I whipped up this soup which is loaded with vitamins and minerals and is vegan and gluten-free. Most of the time we eat for pleasure sometimes we need to eat for our heath, lucky for all of us this Roasted Brussels Sprout and Romanesco Soup w/ Leeks supports both. Here’s to a happy healthy 2013, ENJOY!

*This soup is perfect if you are on a New Years cleanse or eating clean, if not add your favorite local cheese and you’ll have yourself a ‘broccoli cheese’ soup!

Food:

Roasted Brussels Sprout and Romanesco Soup w/ Leeks- makes a big ‘ol pot

2 leeks, cleaned and chopped (don’t use the fibrous ends)

2 c. celery chopped

2 lbs. brussels sprouts, ends trimmed and cut in half

2 lbs. romanesco, cleaned, stalk and leaves removed and cut into chunks

10 small garlic cloves, pulled away from the bulb but left in skins

2 T. olive oil (I used ghee)

4 c. organic low sodium veggie broth (homemade is best)

2. water

1 bay leaf

salt and pepper (I used pink pepper)

To finish/garnish-

Lemon olive oil (if you don’t have use regular olive oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon)

Fresh chopped parsley and cilantro

a sprinkle of real salt or celtic salt and pink pepper (you can use regular pepper)

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1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. On one baking sheet place the prepared brussels sprouts, on the other place the chopped romanesco. Drizzle both with just a bit of olive oil and sprinkle w/salt and pepper.

2. Prepare the garlic, place the 10 small cloves still in their skins but pulled away from their bulb in a piece of tin foil big enough to wrap up. Place this foil packet on one of the baking sheets. Place the brussels sprouts, romanesco and garlic foil packet in the oven and roast for 25 minutes.

3. After that 25 minutes remove the brussels sprouts and romanesco from the oven, turn off heat and leave the garlic packet in the oven for another 15 minutes. Remove and set aside until cool enough to handle, then remove the roasted garlic from their skins, discard the skins and reserve the garlic to be used in the soup.

4. Heat your favorite soup pot over medium heat. Add 2 T. olive oil and the leeks, stir and season with salt and pepper. When the leeks begin to soften and get fragrant add the celery, stir to combine and season with a bit more salt and paper. After 5-7 minutes add the roasted brussels sprouts, romanesco and garlic. Stir to combine. Add the veggie broth, water and bay leaf. Bring mixture to a boil, turn heat down to low, place the lid on the pot and simmer for 20 minutes.

5. When the soup has simmered for 20 minutes pull pot off the heat. Let cool just a bit. Working in batches puree the soup and return it to the soup pot. Keep warm or eat immediately. Check for seasoning, garnish and EAT!

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Nutrition:

Brussels Sprouts: Brussels sprouts are loaded with vitamin K which promotes healthy bones, prevents calcification of the body’s tissues and serves as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, essential for proper brain and tissue function. One cup of brussels sprouts contain 161% of our daily dose RDA of vitamin C which ensures a healthy immune system. They also contain over 20% of our RDA for vitamin A which also helps boost our immune systems. One cup of brussels sprouts contains almost 25% of our RDA for folate. A biochemical event called methylation cycle relies folate to properly transcribe DNA, transform norepinephrine into adrenalin as well as transform serotonin to melatonin. (Translation- keeps us feeling happy!)

Romanesco: Helps fight viral infections, protects from free radicals, improves healing, HELPS PROTECT FROM COLDS AND FLU, reduces depression.

*My other favorite go to immune boosting soup is my Homemade Chicken Soup

Pork and Beans- Thank You Italy

01 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by cosmohippiechef in beans, seasonal

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Tags

beans, gluten free, kale, seasonal, tomatoes

Love:

At the request of my sweet husband I’m going to start this post in the ‘love’ department. The idea for this recipe has been swimming around in my head since we got back from Italy. We were in Italy to attend the Slow Food International Conference Terre Madre, as I was chosen to be a USA Delegate at this years Conference. The mission of Slow Food and Terre Madre is good, clean and fair food for all, something I try to practice on a daily basis in my kitchen. While in Italy I was surrounded by great food but I was missing the plant-based diet I’m used to eating at home, and I was just missing home. Towards the end of our trip while in Florence we stumbled upon this family style hole in the wall restaurant. At the bottom at their menu listed “sides” I found white beans in tomato sauce and braised kale, I thought I had died and gone to Italy food heaven. Needless to say they were a great choice and I haven’t forgotten those dishes since I’ve been home. Fast forward just a bit to the week before Christmas, I had put together the grocery list for the upcoming weekend events and the Christmas Eve breakfast I was hosting. We always have Christmas morning at my in-laws and for some reason I totally forgot about Christmas night! I was not about to go back to the grocery store so I started to take inventory of my pantry and refrigerator and realized I had all the makings of this dish, I couldn’t have been happier. I found dried beans, my own canned tomatoes, leftover Clifford Farm bacon (from a dish I had made for a party earlier in the weekend), kale, farro, herbs a and just enough vodka for my Pasta alla Vodka sauce. Lucky us, this dish was warm, comforting and felt like home. This dish just might be a new Christmas dinner tradition for us. ENJOY!

Food:

For the sauce-

I used my previous recipe for Pasta alla Vodka

After you have gotten all the ingredients together and they begin to simmer, add the cooked white beans and let the beans simmer in the sauce while it thickens.

For the beans-

1. Place 1 1/2c. dry white beans (also called northern beans) in a bowl and cover with water over night at least 12 hours.

2. The next day drain the beans, place the beans in a large pot and cover with just enough water to cover. Turn on high, when the beans come to a boil- boil for 5 minutes with the lid off and skim off any foam. After that 5 minutes turn the heat down to low, place the lid on and simmer for 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours.

3. Keep checking on the beans by spooning out a few, if they smash easily with your thumb they are done. Let cool and drain. Can be used right away or refrigerated up to a week. Check out my other recipe for cooked beans here.

Putting it all together-

Cooked farro (I wanted to make creamy polenta but didn’t have any, lucky for me I brought farro back from Italy).

Laddle the Pork and Beans over the farro, drizzle with olive oil, a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese and top with Kale Chips.

Nutrition:

I believe eating a plant-based diet is essential to our over all health. Eating this way forces you to have a varied diet of non-glutenious grains, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits. Meat and dairy only playing a small part, and hopefully those items are sustainable, local and organic. EAT MORE PLANTS in 2013.

Homemade Sweet Potato Falafel and Homemade Naan

16 Sunday Dec 2012

Posted by cosmohippiechef in beans, DIY, seasonal, vegan

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

beans, garlic, gluten free, lemon, parsley, seasonal, squash, vegetables

Food:

Sweet Potato Falafel makes about 18 (Adapted from My New Roots)

2 medium sweet potatoes (orange inside), roast on a baking sheet lined with parchment @375 for about 1 hour or tender inside

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

2 small cloves of garlic, chopped, plus 2 t. Laziz Toum (garlic condiment)

1/2 teaspoons ground coriander

2 big handfuls of fresh cilantro/coriander, chopped

Juice of half a lemon

a scant cup chickpea flour, (you can buy or make your own by placing 1 1/2c. chickpeas in blender and grind yourself. Be sure to sift before using)

salt and pepper

Pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg (about 1/2 t. each

Gomashio for topping

Directions:

1. After you have roasted your sweet potatoes and they are cool enough to handle, peel and place in a bowl. Smash with the back of a fork, next add all the rest of the ingredients EXCEPT the gomashio. Stir to combine. Taste for salt and pepper and add more if needed. Place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes for the mixture to firm up.

2. Take the sweet potato mixture out of the fridge, using a medium size cookie scoop, scoop the sweet potato mixture out a scoop at a time. I like to flatten mine into an oval shape. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Sprinkle with gomashio (if you don’t have gomashio roll the falafel in sesame seeds). Bake in the oven @400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden and slightly crispy. Take out and let cool just a bit.

Homemade Naan makes 8 (recipe from the magazine Homemade Bread)

2 tsp. sugar (I like sucant)

1 c. warm water (105-115 degrees F)

1 1/2 tsp. active-dry yeast

3 c. all-purpose flour (I used organic whole wheat flour)

1 tsp. salt

3 T. yogurt (I used buttermilk it’s what I had on hand)

6 T. ghee (clarified butter-love!)

Directions:

1. Dissolve the sugar in warm water, add yeast. Set aside until foamy about 10 minutes.

2. Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. Add the yeast mixture and yogurt. Using your fingertips, mix with the dry ingredients until a soft dough forms.

3. Turn dough out onto a floured surface, knead it until it is smooth and elastic. Form dough into a ball.

4. Oil a large mixing bowl, roll the ball of dough in it until the surface of the dough is oiled. Cover with plastic wrap and let dough rest in the bowl until it has doubled-about an hour.

5. Place a cast iron griddle or skillet in the oven and preheat to 400 degrees (I used a pizza stone).

6. Turn the risen dough onto a floured surface, and knead for 10 minutes (I know a long time but it’s totally worth it!). Divide the dough into eight equal sized round balls. Pat each ball between your palms or an on a lightly floured surface until you have an oval about 5×7 inches in size. Apply ghee to each oval with your fingers or a pastry brush, sprinkle with salt.

7. Place naan on the hot cast iron griddle (I used a pizza stone, and I cooked 2 naan at a time) oe skillet until they puff and brown lightly- about 5 minutes. Flip each naan, apply a bit more ghee and bake about 2 more minutes.

8. Remove from the oven and serve hot!

Putting them together:

1. Homemade falafel

2. Homemade naan

3. Parsley and cilantro leaves

4. Sunbridge sunflower sprouts

5. Laziz Hummus and Muhamara

I cut 1 naan in half, slather hummus on one side and muhamara on the other. Sprinkle parsley and cilantro on one side and sunflower sprouts on the other. I cut the falafel in half and lay them on one side, top with the other side. EAT!

Nutrition:

Sweet Potato: Sweet potatoes contain unique root storage proteins, which have been shown to exert significant antioxidant effects. The presence of these proteins, along with the high content od carotenes and vitamin C, makes sweet potatoes a valuable food for boosting antioxidants in your body. Sweet potatoes have been shown to help stabilize blood sugar levels and improve the response to hormone insulin.

Chickpeas: Garbanzo beans are a good source of fiber, folic acid and manganese. They are also a good form of protein as well as minerals such as iron, magnesium, copper and zinc. Garbanzo beans can help lower cholesterol and improve blood sugar levels making them a great food for diabetics and insulin-resistant individuals. If served with high quality grains, garbanzo beans are an extremely low-fat complete protein.

Love:

This blog post is LOADED! It is very involved but the work is worth the end result. There is a number of reasons I wanted to get this post on the blog.

1. I have made these falafel a number of times last fall and fell in love with how simple they are. You can make a sandwich with them or a salad. Quick, easy and great to have on hand. They are from one of my favorite blogs, My New Roots.

2. If you haven’t met Moudi and Derick the (cute) men behind Laziz you’ve been under a rock. They are all over the place right now showcasing their wonderful products. You can find them at a number of Farmers Markets as well as some of our great local retailers from Harmon’s to Liberty Heights Fresh. Their hummus is creamy, their muhamara is just the right amount of sweet and spice and their Toum (garlic condiment) is like nothing you’ve ever had- think straight garlic mashed with olive oil and lemon. Translation- YUM!

3. I was totally inspired my one of my local fellow bloggers Becky over at Vintage Mixer. I told her we must have been on the same wave length with our cooking, she made lamb falafel and homemade pita bread. She also highlighted Laziz.

4. I have been on a kick of making my own bread. Every year I try to learn a new skill from roasting my own chicken, making my own almond milk or learning to make beans from scratch. Bread is my project this winter and getting to make homemade naan for these falafel was so gratifying.

Whole foods are always best, yes it takes more time to make things from scratch BUT the quality, flavor and nutritional value are far greater than anything you can buy. For me there is no greater joy than tackling a great new recipe and there is also no greater joy than being inspired by the wonderful people around me. ENJOY!

Bean and Bacon Soup w/ Crispy Sage

08 Saturday Dec 2012

Posted by cosmohippiechef in beans, seasonal, soup

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

beans, garlic, gluten free, local, parsley, seasonal, soup, squash, vegetables

Food:

Bean and Bacon Soup w/ Crispy Sage makes a lot! (About 20 cups!)

5 c. carrots, chopped

5 c. celery chopped

5 c. butternut squash, peel, seed and cube (leftover from summer’s farmers market)

2 large onions, chopped

5 garlic cloves, chopped (left over from summer’s farmers market)

1 T. each thyme and rosemary, chopped (I used Kenyon Organics)

20 sage leaves (Kenyon Organics)

1/2 Clifford Family Bacon, chopped (if vegan or vegetarian sub coconut oil 2-4 T.)

5 c. broth (I used the broth I made from the thanksgiving turkey bones)

5 c. water

1 c. chopped parsley

2 bay leaves

salt and pepper

8 c. cooked beans, recipe to follow*

Directions:

1. Place a LARGE soup pot on the stove top over medium heat. Start by sautéing the bacon until crisp, spoon out and drain on paper towel. (If you are using oil and not bacon heat the oil over medium heat until hot and then proceed). Throw in the sage leaves and cook until just browned, careful not to burn. Spoon out and drain on paper towel.

2. Next saute the carrots, onions and celery in the leftover bacon oil. Season with salt and pepper. Toss until the veggies to soften, maybe 5-8 minutes. Next add the butternut squash, garlic, thyme and rosemary, season with a bit more salt and pepper (just a little you can always add more!). Toss again, then place lid on the pot and sweat the veggies for about 10 minutes.

3. After that 10 minutes with the lid on, take off lid and add, broth (any kind you like), water, beans and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, turn heat to medium low and simmer for 20-30 minutes.

4. Check to make sure butternut squash is tender, check for salt and pepper, add more if needed. If all is good pull soup of the heat and add the parsley. Stir to combine.

5. Serve piping hot, garnish with crispy bacon and sage. Drizzle with olive oil and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

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*Basic beans

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1. Cooking your own beans is easy, cheaper and healthier! Soak three cups of your favorite beans in water overnight (at least 20 hours). For this soup I would suggest white beans, garbanzo beans, or I used these gorgeous adzuki beans I scored at the farmers market this summer.

2. Drain the beans, place them in heavy bottom pot and cover with enough water to cover about two inches above the beans. Throw in a finger long piece of kombu (kombu is a sea vegetable that helps tenderize the beans and adds minerals. You can find kombu at most health food stores or asian markets). Bring beans to a boil and let boil for 5 minutes, skim any foam that forms on the top. Then turn down heat to medium low, place lid on the pot and simmer for 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours depending on the beans. You’ll need to check them, you do this by taking one out and lightly smashing it with your finger, if it does this effortlessly they are done.

3. When done, turn off heat and let them cool. Drain. Ready to use!

Nutrition:

Beans- Adzuki beans are not only high in protein but easier to digest than most beans. Surpassed in importance by the soybeans. Adzuki beans are an excellent source of fiber and protein. They are also rich in vitamins, folic acid, B3, a very good source of B1, B6 and B2. Rich in high levels of trace minerals molybdenum, copper, manganese and zinc. In addition to supplying high levels od soluble fiber and protein the trace mineral molybdenum which is necessary for the production of an enzyme called sulfite oxidase, one of the most important enzymes in a liver detoxification pathway called sulfoxidation. Poor sulfoxidation is associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease and with inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, delayed food sensitivity, multiple chemical sensitivities, and diet-responsive autism. Food is so powerful, eating a variety and an abundance of plant-based nutrient dense foods is vital for a happy healthy life.

Love:

I am a sucker for soup, especially this time of year. The first time I made this soup was for Sunday dinner with friends a week before we left for Italy, the best part is that I had just attended our last farmers market of the season and ALL my ingredients were local! The whole time I was in Italy I yearned for a bowl of soup, I couldn’t wait to get home and make another batch of this Bean and Bacon Soup w/ Crispy Sage. Soup to me is love, love for veggies, love for beans and love for a bowl of warmth. I have mentioned before that I think soup is the perfect lunch, I made it for this last weeks lunches. This soup is portable, full of vegetables, protein and light put filling. This batch made so much I froze some for one of those weeks I might just need a break from cooking. Soup is love. Whip up a pot and love and sit back and ENJOY!

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

03 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by cosmohippiechef in breakfast, cake, cookies, DIY, homemade gifts, seasonal

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Tags

bread, chocolate, gluten free, pumpkin, seasonal

Love:

I need pumpkin bread in my life, here’s to hoping you do to. ENJOY!

Food:

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread- makes 2 loaves

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Dry ingredients:

2 3/4 c. oat flour, (you can make your own by placing thick raw oats into the food processor or blender and grinding down into flour)

3/4 c. coconut flour (can be found at Whole Foods, Harmon’s, Good Earth, adds fiber, flavor and can replace up to 20% of flour in a recipe)

1/2 tsp. salt

2 1/4 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. clove

1/4 tsp. ginger

2 c. chocolate chips (semi-sweet)

1. Sift all dry ingredients together in a bowl. Toss in the chocolate chips and set aside.

Wet ingredients:

4 eggs

3/4 c. almond milk (I used homemade)

1 c. applesauce (I was given a jar of homemade from my favorite apple farmers’ wife this summer at the Farmers Market)

3/4 c. honey (I used Clifford Family Farms)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 c. fresh pumpkin puree (*recipe to follow)

2. Place all the wet ingredients in the food processor or blender and pulse till all wet ingredients are mixed together.

3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix well, be sure not to over mix.

4. Pour into two greased loaf pans (regular sized, not small) and bake @350 for 1 hour.

5. Let cool completely before diving in!

*Fresh Pumpkin Puree

1. Wash your pumpkin. Cut the pumpkin in half, scoop out the seeds (dry seeds and make roasted pumpkin seeds). Place cut side down on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake @400 degrees for about an hour. Half way through turn right side up.

2. Let pumpkin cool enough to a handle, scoop flesh out into your food processor or blender. Puree. You may need to add a bit of water to get things moving.

3. Place a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth over a bowl, scoop the pureed pumpkin into the strainer. Let this strain for about 1 hour. Ready to use!(I use my leftovers in our hot cereal or our raw oatmeal!)

Nutrition:

Pumpkin- Winter squash especially the darker-fleshed varieties like pumpkin and acorn provide exceptional amounts of carotenes, which as been shown to exert a protective effect against many cancers particularly lung cancer. In addition to cancer and heart disease, diets rich in carotenes also appear to offer protection against developing type 2 diabetes, with pumpkin consumption being the most protective. Pumpkin seeds have also been shown to be helpful in reducing symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

BAKE SALE

03 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by cosmohippiechef in cookies, dessert, Events

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

gluten free, local, Slow Food Utah

We’re Having a BAKE SALE!

Slow Food Utah and Liberty Heights Fresh are hosting a bake sale for me!

WHERE: on the patio at Liberty Heights Fresh

1290 S. 1100 E., SLC

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 7, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

WHAT: we will be selling baked goods of all kinds, mostly homemade

WHY: this is a mini-fundraiser for our delegate, Brooke Cordray, to attend the International Slow Food Conference – Terra Madre – in Italy later this month

Come and treat your taste buds to some delicious baked goodness!

P.S. I will be making the gluten-free/ vegan baked goods for our friends with dietary restrictions.

Bok Choy Quinoa Soup with Miso, Herbs and Lime

25 Tuesday Sep 2012

Posted by cosmohippiechef in quinoa, soup, vegan

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

bok choy, garlic, ginger, gluten free, miso, quinoa, soup, vegan

Food:

Bok Choy Quinoa Soup with Miso, Herbs and Lime- 4 servings

4 c. veggie broth (I used homemade, *recipe to follow)

4 c. water

3 c. cooked quinoa

4-6 baby Bok choy, cleaned and chopped

2 large cloves of garlic, peeled and cut in half

2 inch long pieces of ginger, peeled and cut in half

1 Fresno chile, chopped (remove seeds if you don’t want it to spicy)

1 tsp. coconut oil

1/4 c. Bragg’s Liquid Amino’s (you could use tamari or low sodium soy sauce)

1/4 c. mirin (rice cooking wine, find in the international isle)

2 T. chopped mint

2 T. chopped parsley

2 T. chopped cilantro

1/4 c. scallions, chopped and divided

2 limes, one for the broth and the other divided into 4 wedges for garnish

4 tsp. unpasteurized miso (I like Westbrae Natural Organic Mellow Red Miso)

*sesame oil and or chile oil to drizzle on top

*Gomashio to sprinkle on top

Directions:

1. Place a medium size soup pot on stove over medium heat. Add the coconut oil, when the coconut oil is warm add the garlic and the ginger. Let the garlic and ginger brown on each side for just a minute. When the garlic and ginger are toasty add the Fresno chile and saute for another minute. When the Fresno chile becomes fragrant and browned just a bit add the veggie broth and water. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat to a simmer and simmer for 20 minutes, add 2 T chopped scallions.

2. While you are waiting for the broth, divide the Bok choy and the cooked quinoa (3/4 c. each) between 4 bowls (don’t worry the broth will wilt the Bok choy just enough). In another bowl mix together the chopped mint, parsley, cilantro and scallions. Divide the herb/scallion mixture between the 4 bowls.

3. When the broth has simmered for 20 minutes fish out the garlic cloves, place them on your cutting board and smash them with a fork. Add the smashed garlic back to the broth along with the Bragg’s Liquid Amino’s and the mirin and simmer for another 5-10 minutes.

4. When you have simmered the broth for the last time take the soup pot of the heat and whisk in the miso (heat will kill all the good stuff in miso this is why it is important to remove from the heat before adding) and the juice of one lime. Divide the broth between the four bowls and garnish with sesame oil and or chile oil, a little gomashio and a wedge of lime. EAT IMMEDIATELY! (or place in individual containers like I did for lunch…mmm!)

*Homemade Veggie Broth

I like to make my veggie broth with whatever I have hanging out in the fridge at the end of the week, this week it was…

Carrots, celery, onions, scallions, bell peppers, garlic and broccoli stems.

Then I added, fresh swiss chard and tomatoes from my garden along with parsley and cilantro stems.

Add a gallon of water and 1 T. each of celtic gray salt and white peppercorns. Simmer for three hours. Let cool. Strain through a colander and then through a fine mesh strainer. Store in freezer safe bags in the freezer until ready to use. My last batch made 9 c. of veggie broth!

Nutrition:

Ginger- Ginger is a classic tonic for the digestive tract. It stimulates digestion and keeps intestinal muscles toned. Is an anti-inflammatory agent, it also helps support healthy cardiovascular system.

Garlic- Broad-spectrum antibiotic that combats bacteria, intestinal parasites and viruses. Lowers blood pressure and blood cholesterol, discourages dangerous blood clotting. Contains multiple anti-cancer compounds, antioxidants, and tops the National Cancer Institutes list of potential cancer preventative food. Great for colds and helps boost immune system.

Parsley- A blood builder and purifier, good for stimulating brain activity. High in iron and rich in copper and manganese. Helps release retained water from the body.

Cilantro- Helps to eliminate the heavy metal build up of mercury and lead from the bones and the tissues in the body.

Mint- Great for an upset stomach, helps soothe the intestines.

Miso- Is rich in active enzymes and probiotics, or friendly bacteria.

Love:

This soup is very similar to my other recipe The Soup which is a staple in my house. But what I like about this version is that it is a great transitional soup from summer to fall and fall to winter. It is very light because of the quinoa and Bok choy but warm from the spicy ginger, garlic and Fresno chile, soothing from the herbs and has fresh kick from the lime. I like to believe it is very healing like Homemade Chicken Soup but a vegetarian or vegan version. I made this for our lunches this week and what I great idea that was considering the last two days have been a little cooler. I was happy to get my garlic, herbs and Bok choy from the Farmers Market this last weekend. I hope you are all starting to slow down a bit like us, this soup is a good place to start. ENJOY!

Monday Housewife Day Roundup

17 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by cosmohippiechef in breakfast, DIY, quinoa, Snack

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

gluten free, quinoa, salad, seasonal, tofu

Love:

I posted the picture above on Instagram with a caption that read “I can’t tell you how many dishes I wash on Monday’s!” I lovingly refer to Monday’s as ‘Monday Housewife Day’ and this day is by far the busiest day in my kitchen. Most weeks I feel lucky to have a day that is dedicated to the prep of our meals, other weeks I feel like a slave to my kitchen. Today was one of those days that I just wanted to bust out of here and get lost in Lululemon (which I actually did but quickly got my butt home and back to work!). Our weeks tend to be busy and having breakfast, lunch and dinner prepped makes things a whole lot easier. Even though it’s sometimes a struggle to get through all the recipes I have for myself, I’m always thankful the rest of the week is easy in the kitchen department. I thought I would share the recipes I am using this week to make my life a little easier. Who know’s maybe one of these ideas with help make your life in the kitchen a little easier.

Food:

Here’s what I have going on in the fridge-

1. DIY Coconut Granola: Breakfast is organic plain yogurt, blueberries (farmers market) and granola topped with chia seeds and Dandy Tea to drink. *I should mention that I like to pre-portion out the blueberries into conatiners so in the morning all I have to do is add the yogurt, granola and chia seeds. This makes them portable, which is great when your sweetie is running out the door!

2. Lunch: Brown rice, steamed broccoli (farmers market) and sautéed Bok choy (farmers market) and Caramel Cooked Tofu.

3. Dinner: tonight is Toasted Millet Salad, this is a new favorite in our house. I made it last Thursday and made extra which is what we ate tonight. BUT, we will probably be having it again this week! Easy and super delish.

4. Dinner for tomorrow (I made this ahead because I have a very long work day tomorrow) and leftovers for lunch later in the week: Roasted Potato Onion and Rosemary Crustless Quiche. I thought I could just warm it up when I get home and serve it with a quick arugula salad. (We had a little slice with our Toasted Millet Salad tonight and it was very delicious.)

5. I make a batch of Gluten Free-Vegan Zucchini Muffins for my clients this week, as well as DIY Almond Butter to dip my apple slices in!

6. Snack: last but not least I made Pan-Fried Quinoa Cakes that I found in the Oprah Magazine at work (shh… don’t tell them it was me who ripped out that page!). I actually baked mine @375 degrees for 35 minutes. I had to eat one to make sure they were okay and they were fabulous and will make a great snack on the go.

Well, that just a taste of what it looked like today in my kitchen on Monday Housewife Day. Hope you all enjoy these new recipes as much as me.