This is my new toy.
I have a Moroccan cookbook coming from Williams Sonoma , but would like to know how I can use it for everyday meals.
Do any of you use a tagine to cook and will you share a favorite recipe?
Peace
April 6, 2013
January 4, 2013
Gluten Free, Soy Free Apple Crumble
Fall is here, and if you live in the North East like I do then you know that Apples are in season. Apples, Pumpkins, Cinnamon, and Corn are all over the place, so naturally I started to crave the comfort of Apple Pie. Well not really the pie but those soft, cinnamon-y Apples inside the pie. So that being said, I am happier with a crumble than a pie. Not to mention I hate to bake, so a crumble is much more my speed.
I fell victim to my cravings today, and the picture above shows that I have no regrets!
In the spirit of health I cut out the bad stuff because the more I do that, the more I realize we don’t need it. Mind you, I still kept real sugar in there, but it was organic. Does that count?
What I did was follow this recipe, but switched out things to make it gluten, soy, and dairy free;
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/dave-lieberman/apple-crumble-recipe/index.html.
Admittedly it is not the best recipe out there, but again, I do not bake, and it was real easy to follow.
I used Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Flour, and I used their Gluten Free Oats too. I also took the butter out and used Earth Balance dairy free and soy free “butter”.
Otherwise I followed it.
What I would change is that I would add more Cinnamon. And not only Cinnamon. I would also add Nutmeg and maybe even Clove.
The amount of Cinnamon that this recipe called for was not enough.
I also took the nuts out of the recipe and replaced them with shredded Coconut.
It was really quite perfect when all was said and done. I also added a big scoop of So Delicious Vanilla Coconut Milk Ice Cream.
So far out of the 4 ramekins I made, I have eaten 2. But today is not over! 🙂
Let me know if you make it and what you change along the way! Hey! Don;t forget to add the love too!
XOXO -P
October 17, 2012
Can you say Fajita Frittata 3 times fast??
from thebestfoodblog.com
Have left over chicken and not sure what to do with it?? Do what I did.. Make a Chicken Fajita Frittata! Seems like Friday night is a popular night for roast chicken, so when a weekend brunch comes along why not use the inevitable left over chicken for a quick and fun take on a brunch classic?I have been kind of obsessing over frittatas lately, They are so easy, pretty healthy, and pretty cheap to make too. With a little cash you can feed like 8 people. That is not too shabby if you are counting your pennies!
So what I did was saute slices of different colored bell peppers and onion in my cast iron pan with a little olive oil, and when they started to develop color I added in the meat I had pulled apart from one chicken breast. I seasoned the mix with Adobo, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
While that cooked and the chicken got heated back up, I whisked a dozen eggs with a handful of chopped cilantro, a little more adobo and chili powder, and a splash of cold water.
When the peppers and onion were tender, and the chicken was hot, I took the mix out and placed them aside. I added a little more olive oil to the pan and then poured the eggs in.
I took the chicken and veg out so that the egg could set in the pan a bit and firm up for a few minutes so that all the chicken and veg don’t sink to the bottom.
When the eggs are just a little bit firm, add the chicken mix back into the pan evenly throughout the eggs, and stick it in an oven that has been preheated to 375. It will take about 20-30 minutes for the frittata to cook, and when it’s done it will be golden on top and will have puffed up and look huge. Don’t worry if it looks lopsided or strange in anyway. It’s just air and the whole thing will deflate as it cool.
I didn’t have any, but this would have gone great with a little Avocado on top, or a little hot sauce!
That’s it! Enjoy your frittata, enjoy your weekend, and don’t forget to share!
XOXO -P
September 27, 2012
Fried Smashed Potatoes
by thebestfoodblog.com
So these incredibly yummy potatoes are equally incredibly easy to make. I made these below today to blog about, but they are also a perfect solution to left over baked potatoes you might have now that the weather is cooling off, and heartier dinners are in the future for our kitchens.Whether you are starting with leftovers or not, you need cooked potatoes for this. I have only usedrussets, but any starchy white potato should work. Here is what you will need to do
Start by heating about 2-3 inches of olive oil in a pot over medium high heat.
Then take your cooked potatoes (about one or one and a half per person) and cut them in half. Then pull them apart with your hands to get that rustic, smashed look.Now take your potato pieces and role them in corn starch. No need for egg or water or anything. Just roll the potatoes in the corn starch and let them get a good covering all around. Don’t worry about them falling a little apart, it will be good to have different sizes because the little ones will get extra crunchy, and the bigger ones will get nice and soft on the inside.
When your oil is ready, drop in your potatoes. You can test the temp by dropping in a small piece of potato and see if it starts to bubble up in the oil. You want it hot but not too hot. You want then to take about 7-10 minutes to turn brown, This way the inside of the potato get supper soft like a mashed potatoes, and the outside has time to get really crispy.
When they are gold, they are done!
Take the potatoes out and let them drain on a paper towel. As they drain, hit them with some kosher salt, cracked black pepper and a little chopped parsley for color.
As they cool they will get a little crispier and cool to perfection!!
Please let me know if you try them and what you think.
They are another easy way to take something boring and turn it into something to make your friends think you are a master in the kitchen!
And as always… don’t forget to add in a little love!!
Enjoy!
XOXO – P
August 25, 2012
Simple and Elegant Baby Artichokes
from the bestfoodblog.com
It’s so much easier to make artichokes than you would think. I never tried them before now because I always thought that it was too labor intensive and that is just not my thing. I like things to be easy. But how long can you go with easy. Sometimes you need to try something new and I suggest you try this!
Whether you use the baby or the regular size artichokes it’s only a few simple steps to a crowd pleasing appetizer or an attention steeling side dish. And not only is it delicious, but artichokes are very healthy. They have more antioxidants than any other veg, and tons of fiber!
Here is the way I did them:
Start by pre-heating your oven to 375 degrees.
Next get a bowl and fill it with water and lemon juice. As you clean the chokes you will put them in the water to keep them for turning brown.
Then start to clean and trim your artichokes. You do this by peeling away the leaves until you get to the middle. The middle is where the leaves are soft and yellow. Then you cut the top off and trim and peel the stem. Yeah, most of the choke is gone now, but the part you tossed away doesn’t have much use unless you were going to stuff it.
As you clean then drop them in the water.
When you have them all cleaned, dry them off and spread them out on a baking sheet or a roasting pan. Next you have to season them. You have endless options on how to season them, but I went simple. I drizzled them with oilve oil, salt, pepper, diced garlic, and a little chopped parsley.
When seasoned to your liking, stick them in the oven for about 30 minutes. Checking them occasionally and toss them as needed.
As you may know, P2 is dairy free, but one thing I would do if he was not eating with me is add a little Romano Cheese in the last few minutes of roasting. Otherwise, these things are like potato chips. Bet you can’t eat just one!
XOXO – P
August 18, 2012
Sparkling Rosé Sangria
From thebestfoodblog.com.
Here is an AMAZING Rosé Sangria from Botella & Co. that I had to share. It promises to make any summer afternoon a little more special!
10 green grapes, halved
4 fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
1 peach, pitted and sliced
1 bottle (750 milliliters) of prosecco (Tutela is one of my favorites)
1/2 bottle of vihno verde rose Casal Garcia
1/2 cups white grape juice
1/2 cup brandy
2 sprigs fresh mint
Fill a large glass pitcher halfway with ice; add fruit. Tilt pitcher and pour the prosecco very slowly down side (to preserve bubbles). Add juice, vinho verde rose and liquor; stir gently. Stir in mint.
This festive bubbly cocktail offers the antioxidant resveratrol, which may help reduce inflammation and protect cells from damage. Cheers…
I can not wait to try it!
Big thanks to Alessandro @ Botella & Co for sharing!
Happy summer everyone!
XOXO – P
August 10, 2012
Lady of Grand Food Tour
From thebestfoodblog.com –
Lady of Grand Food Tours of the LES
Yesterday I was lucky enough to be part of a great tour of the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It was a food tasting tour with Jolie Warbet of Lady of Grand Food Tours. Jolie is the actual Lady of Grand, and is the brains and beauty behind the concept.
Jolie was born on Grand St. in the LES and as a child moved to New Jersey, but as soon as she could, she returned to the street she loved. As time went by her friends gave her the nick name “The Lady of Grand” because she was always giving people history of the area, and taking them around to check out all the hidden gems of the neighborhood. Specifically she enjoyed showing people her favorite food spots, so when the opportunity presented itself to actually turn her passion into a career she took it. What was born of that was Lady of Grand Food Tours.
The tour meets at The Essex Street Market, and it’s first few stops are there. We first got to try the Spinach Pie at Boubouki. A tiny kitchen turning out amazing home made Greek food. The owner is an inspiration to food lovers everywhere. She left an office job, and started to cook HER food for a living! BRAVO! Best Spinach Pie I have ever had, and a little bit of a great Tomato Bread too!
Our next stop in The Essex Street Market was NI Japanese Delicacies. They are a husband and wife team that create mostly vegetarian dishes, that are new to a lot of American palates. What we got to try, and what was probably my favorite taste of the tour, was the Octopus Brow Rice Balls. Typically I am not a fan of the Italian style Rice Balls, but these were sweet and firm, with a wonderful flavor. If you like octopus these are a must!
Next stop was the famous Brooklyn Taco. Maybe not quite a hidden gem for New Yorkers, but for an out of towner, it’s a huge find! We got to have their Guaco Taco, which I had before at The Hester Street Fair. It is all the goodness of Guacamole and Chips, but in a warm, soft corn torilla. A MUST if you get to the market or the fair.
After our taco we headed out to do a little walking and Jolie started to give us a little history of the hood as we strolled the street. Before you knew it we were able to get out of the rain and have a little beer to wash down the food we had been sampling. Jolie took us to Top Hops. A local shop that offers beers on tap as well as rows and rows of refrigerators that total more than 700 beers organized by the state they came from. So say you are from Maine, you can your friends can find a six pack of your fave local beer and share it at the bar or take it back to your hotel. Or, what would be better is to get some beers from around the country and set up your own tasting. The guys at Top Hops would be happy to help you out with that.
On we went to a 5 week old shop called Malt & Mold.
It’s a shop that sells beer, but also cheese, Knish, pickles, and mustard. Oh, also chocolate, and bread, and truffle oils, and cured meats. This place sells a little bit of everything, and even though it is a little bit out of the way, it’s worth the trip. Look at this Knish with pastrami. Not something I would normally seek out, but WOW!
I have to say though… I am sure this is not their goal, but they have a salted caramel there that is CRAZY good!!! It was my fave thing I had there!
Our last stop was for something sweet. A little bit of France that landed right in the middle of the LES. It’s Christian Vautier Le Concept. A little shop that is full of things that will do nothing but make you smile. I had a dark chocolate covered lemon and a Tequila Truffle. I wanted more, but was so full from all the other food from the last hour and a half.
Sadly that was the end of the tour…
Although all the food was great, and the neighborhood is always a welcoming place, the best part of this tour was the guide and the people. Jolie creates a vibe where you feel comfortable, and that leads to people talking to each other. I knew no one on this tour, but have come home with 3 more Facebook friends and a few more followers on twitter. That’s what food is for; to bring people together, and Lady Of Grand Food Tours is a great example of that point.
If you are coming to NYC you would be smart to check it out. At 50 bucks per person, it more filling than a typical brunch (and cheaper!). Not only that, but you will have more fun!Here are all the links you need;
Lady of Grand
The Essex Street Market
Boubouki
NI Japanese Delicacies
Brooklyn Taco
Top Hops
Malt & Mold
Christian Vautier Le Concept Take the tour. Have some fun. Meet new friends. Have a full belly.
Nothing wrong with any of that!XOXO – P
If you are coming to NYC you would be smart to check it out. At 50 bucks per person, it more filling than a typical brunch (and cheaper!). Not only that, but you will have more fun!Here are all the links you need;
Lady of Grand
The Essex Street Market
Boubouki
NI Japanese Delicacies
Brooklyn Taco
Top Hops
Malt & Mold
Christian Vautier Le Concept Take the tour. Have some fun. Meet new friends. Have a full belly.
Nothing wrong with any of that!XOXO – P
August 7, 2012
P2’s Jalapeño and White Bean Hummus Dip
From my son’s blog, thebestfoodblog.com
This weekend I went out to Long Island to meet P2 who had been out there working. When I arrived he had made this amazing dip for us to snack on before dinner. So amazing in fact that he made it again the next night before dinner. Knowing I would need to share it with the world, I couldn’t wait for an excuse to make it. So yesterday, my friend Cassaundra sent me a message that she and her friends were having a picnic at the park by my place, and wanted to know if I was into coming along. I said “Yes! I’ll make the dip”!
What luck. 3rd day in a row! I ran off to the store to get the ingredients.
Here is what you’ll need:
- 1 can of chickpeas
- 1 can of white beans
- half a small can of diced Jalapeño, or more if you like it spicy ( or 1 fresh Jalapeño diced)
- a handful of fresh Cilantro
- a little sprinkle of garlic powder (or 2 clove fresh garlic)
- about a teaspoon of Cumin
- salt and pepper to taste
- about half a cup of olive oil. (You may need more so just grab the bottle).
So, put everything in a food processor but the olive oil. You want to stream that in slowly while the blade is turning until the dip is smooth, but still a little thick. Taste to see if you need more salt or pepper, and that’s it. SO easy, right?
Everyoneone at the picnic loved it, and so will you. I served it with some sliced veg and thin crackers. You could even top crostini with it and serve as an app.
Enjoy! XOXO -P
July 29, 2012
Green Smoothie
There are so many great beauty products out there to use and I plan on doing just that, but part of beauty is being healthy and feeding your body.
Here is one of my favorite green smoothies to start the day or as a filling snack during the day.
- 1/4 cup water
- 3-4 ice cubes
- big handful of spinach
- 1/2 apple
- small banana
Put it all in the Vitamix and mix, using the tamper to push everything toward the blade. If you are using a blender be sure to mix at high speed and stop a few times to scrape the walls of the blender and push all the ingredients toward the blade.
Comes out thick and yummy and kids love this one too (as you don’t taste the green stuff). You may add what you like to this very basic recipe – strawberries, blueberries, mango, they all work really well. My husband’s favorite thing to add is natural peanut butter.
Enjoy!
Peace
Moonstruck in Jersey's Blog 