Tag Archives: seasonal

Leftover Local Turkey, Apple, Potato and Smoked Gouda Salad w/Cranberry Mustard Vinaigrette

04 Thursday Dec 2014

Posted by in chicken, dinner, dressing, gluten-free, lunch, salad, seasonal, Side dish

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DSCN4044Love:

So I might be a bit late on a “leftover” recipe from Thanksgiving but, I figure you can really make this salad anytime using roast chicken, or even some poached eggs. I was even thinking leftover ham from Christmas dinner would work too. Needless to say I have made many variations of this salad over the last couple months but this version just happened to work out perfect this week for lunches using what I had on hand.

I know we are all moving on from Thanksgiving onto Christmas and all the ridiculous cookies that come with, just promise me you’ll eat some salads in between all those cookies. Enjoy!

Food:

Leftover Local Turkey, Apple, Potato and Smoked Gouda Salad w/Cranberry Mustard Vinaigrette makes 6 (could make 8)

1 head romaine lettuce, chopped, rinsed and spun dry

1 head butter leaf lettuce, torn, rinsed and spun dry

1 small container baby arugula

4-6oz leftover local turkey for each salad

3 small-medium local Yukon potatoes, cubed

3 local honey crisp apples, cubed

6-8oz smoked gouda, cubed

Dressing:

2 T. Wicked Wilson Mustard (local)

2 T. leftover cranberry sauce (I used homemade)

3 T. apple cider vinegar

1 T. red wine vinegar

1/2 c. olive oil

salt and pepper

DSCN4030Directions:

1. Start by placing 6 containers with their lids out so they are ready to be filled assembly style. Process the lettuce, chop, tear, rinse and spin dry. Distribute the lettuces evenly between each container, next add the turkey, I split one apple between two salads. Next add the cheese.

DSCN40342. Cook the potatoes: Start by placing a saute pan on the stove over slightly hotter than medium heat, melt 1 T. ghee. Add the potatoes and season well with salt and pepper, toss. Take your time with the potatoes, make sure they brown evenly on all sides so toss often. When browned on each side use a lid that is just big enough to cover the potatoes, turn the heat down just a notch below medium and place the lid over the potatoes and let them steam. Take lid off and toss, place lid back on and steam until cooked through. When the potatoes are cool add them to the salad. This may seem a bit involved but the result is perfect potatoes, I cook mine like this all the time.

DSCN4039DSCN40403. For the dressing: All the vinaigrette ingredients can be measured into a jar with a tight-fitting lid, shake well.

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Spiced Apple Zucchini Muffins (Cupcakes) w/Chai Buttercream Frosting

07 Friday Nov 2014

Posted by in breakfast, dessert, Events, gluten-free, homemade gifts, seasonal

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DSCN4017Food:

Spiced Apple Zucchini Cupcakes (Muffins) w/Chai Butter Cream Frosting
makes 12-16

(In my picture below I didn’t have cupcake liners when I photographed these muffins, I HIGHLY recommend that you use them!)

2 1/3 c. flour (I use a combo of 1 c. buckwheat flour, 1 c. oat or rye flour and 1/3 c. coconut flour)

2 t. baking soda

2 t. cinnamon

1 t. allspice

1 t. nutmeg

1 inch ginger, peeled and grated

½ t. salt

3 local eggs

1 c. local honey

1 c. coconut oil

1 – 1 1/2c. zucchini grated (you could sub carrots)

1 c. apple, grated

1 ½ c. walnuts, toasted and chopped

Directions:

1. Pre heat oven to 350 degrees, line a muffin pan with liners. Sift all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl and set aside.

2. In a small saucepan melt the coconut oil and honey together until just melted, to not over heat or bring to a boil. Remove the mixture from the heat and let cool just a bit, whisk in eggs one at a time.

3. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, add the fresh ginger and whisk just to combine.

4. Add the grated zucchini and apples, fold into the mixture. Add the walnuts and fold them in until well blended.

5. Scoop the mixture into the prepared muffin tin and place in the warm oven. Bake for 30-35 or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool.

Chai Butter Cream Frosting

1 c. butter, room temp

¼ c. half and half (I think I used my homemade cashew milk)

2-4 c. powdered sugar (I use less sugar because I like my frosting a little more buttery than sugary, your preference)

½ t. cinnamon and ginger (you can use fresh ginger)

¼ t. cardamom and cloves

pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Using a standing mixer or hand held mixer blend the butter, half and half and spices until mixed.

2. Add the powdered sugar 1 c. at a time until desired frosting consistency is reached.

3. Frost the cupcakes!

DSCN4000DSCN4002DSCN4004DSCN4008 Love:

If you can believe it I still have zucchini from my garden! I thought I had planted a cucumber plant but it ended being a zucchini plant, I was overwhelmed with the abundance that just ONE plant yielded. I now know why people gift those tenacious little buggers and just like everyone else I was scrambling to find something to do with them.

Since I had all that zucchini and apples were starting to show up at my Farmers Market, these muffins where my solution to the seasons changing, utilizing what I had and the need to bake something warm and comforting.

Here’s the real deal, these are a muffin recipe that can be tricked out with butter cream frosting and passed off as a cupcake! Sneaky right? They are perfectly delectable on their own, so much so that my friend is making these for her new bakery. They are perfect with tea or coffee, a co-pilot for your green smoothie, and they are totally gluten-free! Equally as impressive frosted and served to your book club or child’s birthday party. ENJOY!

 

Cherry, Quinoa, Goat Cheese Salad w/Honey Wine Shallot Mustard Vinaigrette

27 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by in dressing, gluten-free, lunch, quinoa, salad, seasonal

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DSCN3902Food:

Cherry, Quinoa, Goat Cheese Salads w/Honey Wine Shallot Mustard Vinaigrette serves 2

For the salad:

1/2 c. cherries, cut in half and remove pit, set aside

4 c. mixed baby greens, washed and spun dry, set aside

1/2 c. dry quinoa, soaked overnight, drained and rinse, cooked and cooled- set aside (if I have soaked my quinoa I use a little less water when I cook it, so for this I use 3/4c. water to my 1/2c. soaked quinoa and cooked it over medium heat, uncovered for 15 mins)

8 tsp. local goat cheese (I use Drake Family Farms), roll each tsp. of goat cheese into little balls and set aside

2 T. chopped fresh parsley

1/2 c. walnuts, toasted in a dry saute pan, chopped, set aside

For the dressing:

1 shallot, peeled and finely chopped

2 T. honey wine vinegar (local)

1 T. Wilson’s Wicked Mustard (local)

1 T. olive oil

salt and pepper, season to taste

-Place all of the dressing ingredients in a small jar with a lid and shake to mix. Store in the fridge until ready use.

Directions:

1. Mix the chopped walnuts and parsley together, once you have formed  your goat cheese balls roll them in the walnut and parsley mixture. Press lightly to make sure the walnuts and parsley stick to the cheese, save any remaining nut mixture and scatter over the salads or use for something else. Set aside.

2. Assemble your salads- scatter your greens between two plates, season your greens with a little salt and pepper. Next divide the cooked, cooled quinoa between the two salads (you don’t have to use all of it), then add your halved cherries and goat cheese balls. Use the rest of the nut mixture if you want.

3. Pour on the dressing and EAT!

DSCN3890DSCN3892DSCN3895DSCN3897DSCN3896Love:

It’s cherry season y’all and almost every ingredient for this salad can be found at our local Downtown SLC Farmers Market, need I say more?!! Get out there and eat the bounty. Next week I’ll have another recipe using local tart dried cherries. Until then… ENJOY!

DSCN3901

 

Gluten-Free Coconut Cornbread Trifles w/ Fresh Starwberries, Lemon Curd and Coconut Whip Cream

09 Friday May 2014

Posted by in cake, dessert, gluten-free

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Processed with VSCOcam with f2 presetFood:

Gluten-Free Coconut Cornbread Trifles w/ Fresh Strawberries, Lemon Curd and Coconut Whip Cream serves 16

Coconut Cornbread muffins:

1 ½ c. corn flour

½ c. coconut flour

1/3 c. unsweetened coconut flakes

½ c. local honey

½ tsp. xantham gum (not vital)

1 T. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

1/3 c. coconut oil

¼ c. ghee (clarified butter)

2 local eggs

½ c. creamed coconut

7 oz. canned coconut milk, placed in fridge overnight (plus two cans of coconut milk, placed in the fridge as well= 3 cans total)

½ tsp. coconut extract

Directions:

Side note: When removing the coconut milk from the can place the coconut fat that has surfaces to the top in a separate bowl and just use the liquid. Place the unused solid coconut fat back into the fridge for making vanilla the coconut cream for this dessert.

1.  Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees, line sixteen cupcake tins. In a large bowl sift together the corn flour, coconut flour, xantham gum, baking powder, and salt. Next add coconut flakes. Set aside.
2. In a medium saucepan over low heat mix together honey, coconut oil, ghee, creamed coconut and coconut milk until smooth, DO NOT LET MIXTURE BOIL. Take mixture off the heat and let cool. Next whisk in the 2 eggs and coconut extract. Combine the wet and dry mixture, stirring just to combine. Fill each cupcake tin with an even amount of the batter. Bake for 8-12 mins or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of one of the cupcakes comes out clean. Let cool.

Lemon Curd:
Adapted from Alton Brown

5 local egg yolks
1 cup sugar (I used local honey)
4 organic lemons, zest and juiced
1 stick butter, cut into pats and chilled (I used ghee)

Directions:

1. Add enough water to a medium saucepan to come up about 1-inch on the side. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, combine egg yolks and sugar in a medium size metal bowl and whisk until smooth, about 1 minute. Measure citrus juice and if needed, add enough cold water to reach 1/3 cup. Add juice and zest to egg mixture and whisk smooth. Once water reaches a simmer, reduce heat to low and place bowl on top of saucepan. (Bowl should be large enough to fit on top of saucepan without touching the water.)
2. Whisk until thickened, approximately 8 minutes, or until mixture is light yellow and coats the back of a spoon. Remove promptly from heat and stir in butter a piece at a time, allowing each addition to melt before adding the next. Remove to a clean container and cover by laying a layer of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the curd. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

Fresh strawberries:

4 lbs fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
1 c. fresh mint, chopped
2-4 T. raw sugar
2-4 T. honey wine vinegar local, use any sweet vinegar you have)
Pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Place the slices strawberries and mint in a medium-sized bowl. Sprinkle over 2 T. sugar and 2 T. honey wine vinegar to start. Toss. Let sit until juice has started to form on the bottom of the bowl. If you want more juice use the other 2 T. of the sugar and vinegar. Set aside.

Vanilla Coconut Cream:

Reserved coconut fat from 3 cans of coconut milk
1 fresh vanilla bean, scraped (or 1 tsp. vanilla extract)
2- 4 T. pure maple syrup or honey
Pinch of salt

Directions:

Whip all the ingredients together using a standing mixer or hand mixer. Taste for desired sweetness. Place back in the fridge until ready to use.

Putting it all together:

1. In a half pint mason jar, start by cutting a muffin in halves length wise, crumble one half into the bottom of the jar. Next add a spoonful of the strawberries and a little juice, next add a spoonful of the lemon curd, next a layer of coconut cream. Then crumble the rest of the muffin over the already layered ingredients and layer one more time ending with the coconut cream. Garnish with a slice of strawberry. EAT!

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888Love:

This recipe was the star of the show last month, I made it three times! The first attempt was to test my idea and have my husband and girlfriends try it and give me some honest feedback, trust me they were happy to lend their taste buds and gave me really good info going forward. The second time making this was for a Welcoming Dinner at a photography retreat hosted by the lovely Brooke Davis of Blush Photography, it was a total hit. The third and final making of this dessert was at my seasonal cooking class for Slow Food Utah and Wasatch Community Gardens at Harmon’s City Creek, my students loved it! Phew, I’m tired just typing all of this! My students added that blueberries would be a great swap for the strawberries and would pair nicely with the lemon curd (why didn’t I think of this?!). You would think I would have had time to photograph the whole process, but sadly I didn’t. Between my day job, teaching classes and personal chef work it was all business last month, so I am hoping you give me a pass and just enjoy this recipe!

This dessert is more involved than most of my recipes but TOTALLY worth it, I worked really hard to get this just right!

Here are some tips and tricks:

1. The lemon curd can be made up to two weeks ahead.

2. The coconut cornbread muffins can be made a day ahead.

3. Make sure to buy FULL FAT canned coconut milk, and don’t forget to store it in the fridge.

4. Buy organic strawberries and let that be the last step before putting these trifles together.

5. Rhubarb curd would also be delicious and swapping blueberries for strawberries would be genius. Thanks Deb Mace for the idea!

I had so much making this dessert (three times!), but even more fun watching everyone else enjoy it. Good luck, and let me know if you attempt to make this, ENJOY!

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Farmers Market Egg Sandwich- It’s What’s for Lunch

04 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by in breakfast, lunch, seasonal, Snack

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DSCN3773Food:

Farmers Market Egg Sandwich

Local bread of choice- Crumb Brothers, Eva’s or Great Harvest

Fresh Local Eggs- we eat Clifford Farm Eggs, find her at the farmers market

Sunbridge Sunflower Sprouts– local (Whole Foods or Good Earth), or find sprouts at the farmers market

Fresh spring greens- farmers market

avocado

Condiments-

Amour Spreads Heirloom Tomato Jam- farmers market

Urban Pioneer Foods Cilantro Pumpkin Seed Pesto- farmers market

Favorite Mustard- we used Dijon, there is a great mustard guy at the summer market called Wicked Wilson’s Mustard

Favorite Mayo- I used homemade Lemon Garlic Aioli, (1 garlic clove, 1/2 tsp. real salt- make a paste. In a bowl add 1 local egg yolk, 1 tsp. Dijon, lemon zest and the garlic/salt paste. Next drizzle in 1/2 c. olive oil one drop at a time until it starts to thicken, continue with the rest of the oil until gone, squeeze in some fresh lemon juice to taste. Store in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and place in the fridge until ready to use.)

DSCN3764For the eggs– I use mason jar lids (I got this idea from my friend Christy who owns Mamachari Kombucha– a local kombucha brewer, find her brew at the farmers market and local retailers around town), I butter them with ghee and place them in a frying pan that has been heated over medium heat. Crack the eggs in the middle of the rings and season with salt and pepper. Wait until the whites have began to set and then quickly flip them for just a minute to seal off the yolk. Remove the eggs and the rings and let cool before you release the egg from the ring. I make a couple batches (maybe 6) of eggs at a time and store them in the fridge for easy sandwich making.

DSCN3765For the sandwich– Lightly toast your bread, spread your condiments of choice on each side of the toasted bread. I spread the aioli and pesto on one side and the mustard and tomato jam on the other side. Next add avocado slices to one side of the bread, next add sprouts, one egg and a healthy handful of spring greens. Place the other slice of bread on the sandwich, press down just a bit and then slice in half. EAT!

DSCN3767DSCN3769DSCN3771Love:

I love being in my kitchen cooking, but lately my life have been a little hectic so I haven’t had much time to cook and try all the ideas floating around inside my head. So two weeks ago as I was headed to the Downtown Winter Farmers Market I needed something easy to make for our lunches the following week that my husband could throw together on his own, and that wouldn’t require much prep time for me. Well, this sandwich has been the solution. My sweetie could eat a sandwich for breakfast, lunch and dinner if I would let him but I explain to him that I am lady (ya, right!) and ladies can’t eat like boys all the time. But I will say this, I have been loving this sandwich! So much flavor, local ingredients, not much prep and easy to make and pack for our lunches. This is a flavor explosion for your taste buds and the best part is when you cut into the sandwich and a little yolk ooze’s out. Make your life easy in the kitchen next week with this quick good eat. ENJOY!

DSCN3774

Holiday Cobb

01 Sunday Dec 2013

Posted by in appetizer, dressing, gluten-free, salad, Side dish

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DSCN3623Food:

Holiday Cobb- serves 6 as a starter or 12 at a party

For the salad:

1 medium winter squash (I use kabocha), butternut, pumpkin

6 slices of bacon (I use Clifford Farms)

heaping 1/2-3/4 c. tart dried cherries, lightly chopped (I use local ones but you can find in the bulk section of most grocery stores)

4oz-6oz blue cheese, cut into small cubes (I use Snowy Mountain Creamery Delano, you find this at the downtown market, Caputo’s or Liberty Heights Fresh, maybe Harmon’s)

2 heads of lettuce, I use one head of red leaf romaine and one head of butter leaf lettuce

1 c. spiced pistachios, recipe to follow

1/2 lemon

salt and pepper

fennel blossom (find at Caputo’s, not crucial)

For the dressing:

2 T. mustard, spicy or Dijon

3 T. apple cider vinegar

3 T. Honey Wine Vinegar, can be found at local retailers (if you can’t find this sub with your favorite vinegar, preferably one that has a little sweetness)

2 T. pure maple syrup

3/4 c. olive oil

salt and pepper

DSCN3621Directions:

-Pre heat oven to 400 degrees

-Squash of choice: peel if needed, scoop out seeds and cut into one inch chunks. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and drizzle with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and fennel blossom if using. Bake until knife tender, 30 min or more.

DSCN3605-Bacon: line a baking sheet with parchment, if you have one, place a cooling rack over the lined baking sheet and then lay the bacon in a single layer on the cooling rack. Bake 15-20 min flipping once. Best to cook this with the squash. Let cool, chop and set aside.

DSCN3606-Lettuce: wash, spin/dry and tear into bite size pieces and lay out on big platter. Squeeze the lemon over the lettuce and lightly season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

DSCN3607-Spiced pistachios: place 2 cups of raw pistachios in a mixing bowl and season with, 1 1/2 T. melted butter or olive oil, 2 t. Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 t. real salt, 1/4 t. garlic salt, 1/4 t. cumin, 1/4 t. paprika, chili powder, 1/8 t. cayenne pepper. Toss and place on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 275 degrees for 30 min, toss a few times while cooking. Let cool and set aside.

DSCN3618–Dressing: all of the ingredients go into a jar, shake, shake, shake. Season with salt and pepper to taste, set aside.

-Put it all together: you can lay the ingredients in a row like I did above or you can scatter the ingredients over the lettuce anyway you see fit. Salad can be served cold or at room temperature. The salad will last about 3-4 days UNDRESSED (no dressing) in the fridge. Weather at home or at a party I keep the dressing in a separate container and let my friends dress their own portions. EAT!

Love:

I love this salad, I have made this for two different occasions and both times it was a hit, it is a flavor explosion in your mouth! This time of year we need a few interesting recipe that are easy to throw together and will blow your friends and family away. This salad uses both local and seasonal ingredients which are pretty easy to find and can also be made vegan or vegetarian to suit your guests. Also, if you have any leftover dressing use it to season some veggies you might be roasting, like Brussels sprouts. I have family coming in this weekend and I can’t wait to make this for them. I hope this salad makes you look like a rockstar at your next get together. Happy Holidays and ENJOY!

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Persimmon Date Bars- For Sadie

26 Tuesday Nov 2013

Posted by in cookies, dessert, gluten-free, vegan

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DSCN3582Love:

I am dedicating this post to my dear friend and fellow TBC (Tall Bitches Club) Sadie. A couple of weeks ago I got an unexpected package delivered to my house, when I brought it inside and saw Sadie’s return address I thought it was one of her cool paintings (that came later!) but then I saw the word “Perishable” all over the box, it was a whole box of persimmons from the tree in her backyard in California! I was speechless (hard to believe, I know) and excited beyond believe, a whole BIG box of persimmons, do you know how much these babies are at the grocery store? A lot! It took me just a bit to come up with the perfect recipe for Sadie and her family, so in the meantime we enjoyed them for breakfast. These bars are completely decadent and sweet but there is a little a secret… they are totally gluten-free and vegan! This means everyone can enjoy them, including my thoughtful amazing friend Sadie. I’m lucky to have her in my life and you’ll be lucky to have this recipe. ENJOY!

About Sadie:

1. Sadie is sweet, tender and soft spoken but if you mess with her she’ll kick your butt!

2. The story about how her and her husband JD met and fell in love is one of my favorite stories, and when I hear the song “At Last” by Etta James I instantly think about them.

3. She’s not only a terrific friend but she’s a TERRIFIC MOM to some of the sweetest, most polite and loving little girls you’ll ever meet.

4. She’s the kind of friend who just knows when you are having a bad day and will sent a “you doing okay friend?” text. I miss her tons.

IMG_4235Food:

DSCN3563Persimmon Date Bars makes 18 bars

Filling-

2 T. local honey

3 large persimmons, diced

1 1/2 c. Medjool dates, pitted and chopped

1 lemon, zest and juice

DSCN3610Crust-

2 1/2 c. oats flour (I grind oats in my blender to make the flour)

1 c. walnuts, chopped

1/2 c. sucant (or any sugar you have)

1 c. coconut oil

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. real salt

DSCN3567Directions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees. Place a small saucepan over medium heat, add all of the filling ingredients except the lemon zest and cook until tender and soft, about 10-15. Stir a few times to make sure the fruit doesn’t stick to the pan. Take the fruit of the heat and let cool just a bit, add the lemon zest.

2. Line your glass baking (9×13) dish with parchment or rub it down real well with coconut oil. I have done both, I think the parchment might work the best. In a medium bowl add all of the crust ingredients except the coconut oil, you can either cut in the coconut oil with a pastry cutter or your fingers. The last time I made these I accidentally melted the coconut oil, they turned out fine.

3. Spread half to 3/4 of the crust mixture evenly in your prepared baking dish, next spread the filling mixture over the crust. Finish with the remaining crust mixture, distribute evenly.

4. Bake 40-50 minutes, until golden brown on top. Let cool completely, (you can place them in the fridge to speed up the process!) and then slice into 18 bars. EAT!

*Note: I keep mine in the fridge, use a sharp knife when slicing them and be careful pulling out the first one.

DSCN3615DSCN3617DSCN3584Nutrition:

Persimmons:

1. Improves weight loss- lots of fiber

2. Protect and nourish eyes- contain vitamins A, C & K

3. Improves digestive system- they help you poop!

4. Cancer fighting- neutralizes free radicals

5. Detoxify the body- they help clean out the colon

Cashew Milk Two Ways- Plain and Spiced Pumpkin

18 Monday Nov 2013

Posted by in DIY, Drinks, gluten-free, seasonal, vegan

≈ 2 Comments

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Love:

We are huge fans of cashew milk at our house, we drink it exclusively. I have made every nut milk under the sun, almond, walnut, Brazil, coconut plus many blends. The cashew milk is a little richer and full flavored and when well blended creates no waste, the nuts blend completely smooth into milk! The plain cashew milk we use for smoothies and hot cereal on the weekends, really anywhere milk is called for. I have also been trying to create a spiced pumpkin milk for all you pumpkin loving fools out there buying those yucky processed substitutes at the grocery store. Hopefully you all saw my post for Homemade Spiced Apple Cider Pumpkin Syrup, this is the next step to making your own perfect pumpkin latte at home. Whip some up, now! ENJOY!

Food:

DSCN3552

Cashew Milk Two Ways- Plain and Spiced Pumpkin

1 c. raw cashews, soaked overnight, drain and rinse

Plain Cashew Milk- makes 2 cups

1/2 c. soaked/drained and rinsed cashews

2 c. water

Directions:

1. Cashews and water go into the blender, blend well. I blend mine twice in my blentec.

2. Pour milk into your favorite glass bottle and store in the fridge. It will last 4-6 days.

Pumpkin Spiced Cashew Milk– makes 2 cups

1/2 c. soaked cashews

1/2 c. fresh roasted pumpkin puree (here is a old recipe using fresh roasted pumpkin puree)

2 Medjool dates, pits removed and chopped

1/4 tsp. EACH ground cinnamon, ground/fresh grated ginger, fresh grated nutmeg, ground cloves, ground cardamom and Chinese five spice, fresh lemon zest (use organic lemons) OR 1 3/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

pinch of Real salt, Celtic salt or Himalayan salt

1/2 vanilla bean, scraped- save pod

2 c. water

Directions:

1. All of the of the ingredients go into the blender and blend twice. Strain through a fine mesh strainer.

2. Pour into your favorite glass jar, add the reserved vanilla pod to the milk and store in the fridge. Will last 4-6 days.

Nutrition:

Cashews-Cashews are a great source of monounsaturated fats. Cashews have excellent nutritional value, they have a lower fat content and higher protein and carbohydrate content than most other nuts. The fat they contain is derived from oleic acid, a monounsaturated oil with benefits that help protect against heart disease and cancer.

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Harvest Zucchini Chile Soup w/ Goat Yogurt and Toum

21 Monday Oct 2013

Posted by in Events, gluten-free, soup

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DSCN3464Love:

Each fall, Local First Utah hosts “Celebrate the Bounty” their annual fundraiser and gala event. Featuring some of Utah’s finest fare provided by locally owned, independent restaurants, artisans and food purveyors from across the state, “Celebrate the Bounty” is the party of the year. (Local First Utah)

Okay, truth be told I wrote this post last week but the night before I was going to post it Derek and Moudi of Laziz Foods called to tell me that we had just won “The People’s Choice Award” for our soup at the Local First Celebrate the Bounty (Oct 10). The hard part was keeping quiet until Local First could announce it last Friday (Oct 18). So now, read on!

I was lucky enough to be asked by my friends Moudi Sbiety and Derek Kitchen of Laziz Foods to participate in this years “Celebrate the Bounty”. Derek and Moudi asked me to come up with a soup recipe using zucchini and their very garlicy and very unique condiment Toum. Lucky for them I was just getting ready to test out a zucchini soup I had just seen in Food and Wine Magazine, I used that recipe as a template for ours.

The night before the event the three of us got together at the Laziz kitchen to make our creation. We were all very excited to be apart of this event for the first time and also a little nervous to be surrounded by all of the wonderful foodies and food artisans in the community that we look up to (maybe I’m just speaking for myself!). The feedback about our soup was overwhelming, everyone loved the flavor of the soup and the little “kick” at the end from the chilies. The night was a success. We had so much fun, we got to chat and meet with so many new people and we got to root on our fellow foodies, but the best part was we got to be apart of “Local First” big night. I have had to pinch myself a few times, I’m still taking it all in. ENJOY!

Food:

Harvest Zucchini Chile Soup w/ Goat Yogurt and Cilantro serves 8

3 medium zucchini, ends trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces

2 medium or 1 large leek, tough green ends trimmed, pale ends chopped (make sure to rinse well)

2 poblano chilies, stems,  seeds removed and cut into 1 inch pieces

½ lb roasted hatch green chilies, charred skin, stem and seeds removed, chopped

1 T. heaping ghee or local butter

1 ½ T. Laziz Toum

4 c. veggie stock

1 Parmesan rind

Salt and pepper

1 c. Drake Family goat yogurt

1 bunch cilantro

Cilantro Oil

1 c. cilantro, mint, parsley?

1 c. olive oil

DSCN3458

Directions:

1.       Place your favorite large soup pot on the stove over medium heat, add the ghee to the pan and begin to melt. When the ghee becomes fragrant add the leeks, poblano’s, and roasted chilies to the pan and begin to sauté. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté until the leeks become soft and caramelized 8-15 min. Take your time with this step, caramelizing the chilies and leeks will add depth of flavor.

2.       Next add the zucchini and Laziz toum, stir to combine. Continue to cook with the other veggies until zucchini is still bright green but beginning to soften. Season with a bit more salt and pepper.

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3.       Add the broth and Parmesan rind to the zucchini and leek/ chili mixture and bring to a boil, turn heat to a medium-low and simmer for 30 minutes, uncovered.

4.  After 30 minutes turn heat off, remove rind and in batches begin to puree soup. Adding the yogurt and cilantro to each batch to incorporate. Taste for seasoning.

5.       Soup can be served, hot or cold garnished with herb oil of choice. EAT!

Directions for herb oil:

1.       Puree herb of choice and oil together, strain through fine mesh strainer.

     Here are some photos from the night before the event, I was too busy the night of the event to get photo’s. You can find a few on Instargram @cosmohippiechef

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Homemade Spiced Apple Cider Pumpkin Syrup

17 Thursday Oct 2013

Posted by in breakfast, DIY, Drinks, gluten-free, seasonal, vegan

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DSCN3500Food:

Homemade Spiced Pumpkin Syrup

2 c. local apple cider (farmers market) or water

1 c. fresh pumpkin puree (fresh pumpkin puree is easy, find out how here and here)

1/2 c. local honey (if vegan use pure maple syrup)

2 cinnamon sticks

4 cardamom pods, lightly crushed

1/2 vanilla bean, split and insides scraped out

4 whole cloves

Celtic salt or Pink Himalayan, a healthy pinch

1 inch nob of ginger, peeled and sliced (not pictured because I forgot!)

DSCN3475Directions:

1. Place all of the ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, turn heat down to medium low heat for 40-45 minutes until thick and bubbly and reduced by half.

DSCN34782. After 45 minutes let the mixture cool for just a bit and strain through a fine mesh strainer, be sure to push the pumpkin through the strainer and then scrape it off the under side of the strainer.

3. Pour into your favorite glass container and let it cool completely before you store it in the fridge.

DSCN3485DSCN3494Love:

This time of year everyone (including me) go nuts for all things pumpkin! Pumpkin cookies, Pumpkin doughnuts, Pumpkin risotto, and the all to favorite Spiced pumpkin lattes! It seemed silly to me to buy a spiced pumpkin creamer that is full of high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils, so I set out to make a spiced syrup I could feel good about adding to my local fair trade coffee and homemade cashew milk lattes on the weekends. This syrup is just the right amount of sweetness from the honey and spice from the spices, using fresh pumpkin and apple cider gives it that extra depth of flavor. Plus, you feel like a total rockstar that you just made your own syrup! I think this would be great on pancakes and waffles, try it and let me know. ENJOY!