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Pico de Gallo, a Garden Fresh Salsa

Pico de Gallo, a Garden Fresh Salsa

Mayday, mayday!  Stress overload during this first week of May and it’s not about to get better so apologies in advance for any one-and-lonely posts in the weeks to come.  In a whirlwind of house touring last week, we did find the perfect house to move into, 

Tandoori Chicken

Tandoori Chicken

Nothing beats a flavorful grilled steak or chicken.  Especially when it’s had a nice long marinade in an Indian spiced yogurt mixture overnight to let the flavors soak in and soften the meat to pure tender perfection.  Don’t let this tandoori chicken intimidate you.  It looks challenging and has many ingredients but 

Feta and Asparagus Crepes

Feta and Asparagus Crepes

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Oh sunshine, I have missed you!!  I’ll ignore the fact that it is still really chilly and I had to pull out my winter coat only days after sitting outside in shorts and a tee shirt.  I’ve learned to expect this sort of misbehavior from a Minnesota spring.  With the warm weather from last week, I’m itching to get a garden together which may not happen to its full extent this summer since we’ll be moving in June.  Gardens make me happy and eating their produce makes me happier.  I’m planning to have a small asparagus patch somewhere in or close to my garden too.  Those tender green spears of goodness have spring written all over them.  Naturally, this has me thinking of light savory lunches that can be eaten on my patio, like these feta and asparagus crepes.

Just a few posts ago, I made these amazing triple berry banana crepes which I loved so much that I wanted to make a more savory cousin that would be just as tasty.  Making the crepe out of banana seemed like it would be too sweet so I chose to use a ripe plantain instead for a plantain crepe.  It worked fabulously!  The method is simple, peel a very ripe plantain (the kind with dark brown spots) and combine with eggs, water and tapioca flour in a blender and blend until smooth.  It should be fairly runny.

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Next, grab your frying pan and heat it up with a dollop of coconut oil on medium low heat until the oil is hot.  It’s very important to have a hot pan before you start pouring in batter and also important to have it oiled well or they will stick.  You’ll then end up with little scrambled crepes rather than cute ones that can be filled with awesome yumminess, so keep it well greased.  When your pan and oil are hot, pour about 1/4 cup batter into the pan and immediately swirl the pan to distribute the batter into a thin circular crepe.  Let this cook for 3-4 minutes until the top appears dry.  It is very important to be patient. If it doesn’t look dry, don’t try to flip it or it’ll fall apart. Just let it cook a little longer. With a thin spatula, flip the crepe over and let the other side cook 2-3 minutes.  Lift out onto a plate and let cool while you make the rest with the same method.  You will most likely need to add more oil between each crepe for them to not stick to the pan. You can make the crepes ahead of time and keep them in a sealed container after they have cooled or freeze them with layers of parchment in between.

Once your crepes are cooked, gently sauté the chopped asparagus with spinach and salt just until the spinach is wilted. The asparagus should be warmed through and the ends beginning to wilt but will still be tender crisp. Sprinkle feta in the pan and give it a good stir to incorporate and melt a bit of the feta. It doesn’t need to be completely melted in, just a touch so that it coats the asparagus and spinach.  To plate the crepes, place a plantain crepe in the middle of the plate and spoon filling in center. Roll up both sides of the crepe and top with a sprinkle of feta and chives.

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Feta and Asparagus Crepes
 
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Author:
Recipe type: Breakfast
Cuisine: vegetarian
Serves: 5
Ingredients
  • CREPES:
  • 1 ripe plantain
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 teaspoon tapioca flour
  • pinch of salt
  • coconut oil for oiling the pan
  • CREPE FILLING:
  • ½ pound asparagus, chopped
  • 1 cup spinach, chopped
  • ¼ cup feta cheese plus more for garnish
  • chives, for garnish
  • pinch of salt
Instructions
  1. Peel plantain and add all remaining crepe ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
  2. Over medium low heat, heat up a frying pan or crepe pan with 1 tablespoon coconut oil.
  3. Once pan and oil are hot, pour ¼ cup batter into pan and immediately swirl pan to distribute batter into a thin circle.
  4. Cook about 3-4 minutes until top looks dry.
  5. Carefully flip crepe and cook on other side 2-3 minutes.
  6. Lift onto a place to cool and repeat for rest of crepes.
  7. For the filling, sauté the asparagus, spinach and salt until the spinach is wilted and asparagus is heated through and ends are beginning to wilt. Asparagus will be tender crisp.
  8. Add feta into the pan and let melt just until it coats the asparagus and spinach.
  9. Assemble crepes by placing a spoonful of filling in the center of each crepe and rolling up both sides.
  10. Garnish with additional feta and chives.
Notes
The crepes can be made ahead, cooled, and kept in a sealed container in the fridge until ready to serve.
You can also freeze the crepes by layering parchment paper between them in a freezer proof container.
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 crepe Calories: 159 Fat: 8g Carbohydrates: 16g Sodium: 464g Fiber: 2g Protein: 8g

 

One-Pot Vegetable Curried Rice

One-Pot Vegetable Curried Rice

I’m ready to shake things up a bit and add a lovely little spice to the table with a vegetable curried rice.  Even better, you only need one pot! There is a particular order to go about this if you want to keep it all 

Breakfast Skillet

Breakfast Skillet

Breakfast, I think, is my favorite meal.  I eat breakfast for lunch, or breakfast for dinner quite often.  So many options!!!   Plus, when you get ten dozen beautiful farm fresh eggs while heading back “home” for the Easter weekend, delicious protein rich breakfast gets to happen 

Squash and Cheddar Mac and Cheese

Squash and Cheddar Mac and Cheese

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I don’t usually make pasta but I’ve been seriously craving the comfort of a good mac and cheese that I can actually eat by the boatload.  Maybe it’s the gloomy weather or the stress of having our house sold and not knowing yet where we’re moving to in just over a month.  Eeeek!!!   This recipe is not totally dairy free but it is reduced.  Let’s be honest.  A mac and cheese cannot be a mac and cheese without the cheese.  I’ve tried a few of the recipes out there for cheese-less mac and cheese and they’re AWFUL. Anyone who says that vegan mac and cheese is delicious, is completely lying or has no tastebuds. Yes, I’ve tried it with nutritional yeast which mimics the taste of cheese and all the other tricks. I did my research to make it the best possible that it could be.  It was still a big fat fail. The night that I made a vegan mac and cheese (from a recipe that had super high ratings and favorable reviews), my family set their forks down and went to get pizza, and I don’t blame them.  Mac and cheese just cannot BE without cheese.

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However, it IS possible to have a delicious and creamy mac and cheese that is made without liquid dairy and can be gluten free as well if you choose. Why cheese but not liquid dairy like cream or milk?  Many of us with dairy sensitivities can often tolerate aged or fermented dairy much better than soft (or liquid) dairy as the lactose is nearly or completely gone. Plus, aged cheeses like a nice sharp cheddar have enzymes and cultures in them so they are not as likely to cause issues.

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The creaminess of this squash and cheddar mac and cheese comes from, you guessed it, squash!  I’ve used the basic ingredients of squash and cheddar cheese fondue and converted it into a creamy mac and cheese sauce. It starts with a roasted squash like acorn or butternut which also will help give the mac and cheese a bit of color.  Add to that a béchamel made with unsweetened coconut milk or almond milk, mix in some shredded sharp cheddar cheese and you’ve got the perfect ooey, gooey, creamy mac and cheese with an extra nutritional punch! I used smoked salt when I made this recipe for a slightly smoky flavor.  This cheese sauce is also simply divine poured over lightly sautéed broccoli.  Next up, I’ll need to master a baked mac and cheese with a crunchy crust 🙂

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Squash and Cheddar Mac and Cheese
 
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Author:
Recipe type: Main Dishes
Serves: 6 servings
Ingredients
  • 12 oz package noodles of any kind (I used a brown rice variety for GF)
  • 1 cup cooked and pureed squash (butternut or acorn work well)
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups unsweetened coconut milk (I used the kind in the carton this time since it's less coconut flavored - or use any other non-dairy milk)
  • 1 teaspoon pink himalayan salt
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. Cook noodles according to their directions to al dente.
  2. Combine all other ingredients in a saucepan and heat while whisking until hot and bubbly.
  3. Drain noodles once they are cooked and place in a large bowl.
  4. Pour cheese sauce over noodles and stir to combine.
Notes
This cheese sauce is also divine served over sautéed broccoli

For a baked mac and cheese, add 3 tablespoons flour (GF works too), stir into the mac and top with a ¼ cup panko and 3 tablespoons melted butter. Bake 30 minutes.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 418 Fat: 20g Carbohydrates: 48g Sodium: 475mg Fiber: 4g Protein: 12g

 

 

Triple Berry Banana Crepes

Triple Berry Banana Crepes

You guys!!! It’s warm out and maybe, just possibly, actually the start of Spring!!   Plus,  I made these triple berry banana crepes!!!  With a super yummy vanilla bean custard to smear inside and drizzle on top.  These are quite a treat and can be made for either breakfast or dessert. 

Pancetta Bok Choy Pasta

Pancetta Bok Choy Pasta

Oh my.  My two elementary school age daughters are off this week for spring break and by the end of this week, I’m going to need a break.  Or lots of coffee.  Or a stiff drink.  Or all of the above.  I’m trying really hard 

Chipotle Bean Dip

Chipotle Bean Dip

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Last weekend we were over at my mother-in-law’s house to celebrate the March birthdays.  I did manage to make my daughter’s cake and she chose to have a Minecraft theme so it was decorated with little Minecraft figurines.  I’m glad she kept her idea simple this year as it made it that much easier!  For the meal, my MIL made us some amazing tacos which I admit, I only had one because I was so full from the super scrumptious bean dip appetizer she made.  I fell in love on first bite and kept eating.  It was so addictive, it was ridiculous. I swear I ate half of the small crockpot all by myself.  Her chipotle bean dip was a dippable perfection of creamy mashed pinto beans, chipotle pepper, black beans, diced tomato and chorizo sausage.

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Armed with the main ingredients, I immediately set to work improvising the rest of the concoction to come up with my own recreation of a chipotle bean dip.  I made this two days ago and have since had two glorious meals of it.  Since my husband wasn’t feeling so hot the last couple days, I got to enjoy this awesome bean dip all to myself!!   To the beans, chorizo and tomato, I added some garlic, oregano, coriander and cumin rounded out with a topping of scallions and cilantro.  Of course, if you choose to add cheese to the mix, I know that would be delightful as well!   Grab yourself some tortilla chips and dig in!

Chipotle Bean Dip
 
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Author:
Recipe type: Sauces and Dips
Serves: 4 cups
Ingredients
  • ½ pound chorizo sausage, cooked and drained
  • ½ onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can pinto beans
  • 1 can black beans
  • 1 can diced tomatoes (I used fire roasted)
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon coriander
  • ½ teaspoon Mexican oregano
  • 2-3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce - take out the peppers from the can and chop finely
  • 1-2 teaspoons of adobo sauce (from the chipotle pepper can)
  • 2 scallions, chopped - stir white part into the dip and keep greens for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped for garnish
Instructions
  1. Brown chorizo in a frying pan with onion and garlic. Drain fat and set aside.
  2. Puree pinto beans in a food processor or blender until smooth and place into a small crockpot.
  3. Add chorizo and all remaining ingredients (except garnishes) to crock and stir together.
  4. Heat in crockpot 2-3 hours until hot and bubbly.
  5. Top with garnishes and serve with tortilla chips!
Nutrition Information
Serving size: ¼ cup Calories: 125 Fat: 6g Carbohydrates: 11g Sodium: 353mg Fiber: 3g Protein: 7g

 

Dairy Free Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Dairy Free Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Growing up I’d gladly have mashed potatoes and gravy with every meal.  Oh, who am I kidding… I’d gladly do that now!   Here’s the kicker: the way I used to make them had loads of butter and heavy cream and man, were they delicious!  Since