Author: binner216@comcast.net

Summer Vacation, Scarborough Farro, and Artichoke & Tomato Salad

Summer has arrived in Mama D’s Kitchen. I’m officially on Summer vacation for 3 whole weeks! Instead of rising before 5 every morning to get on a school bus, I can get up early (if I want) and do what I want. Morning walks, afternoon swims, puttering in the garden, and more than a little time with my grandsons. It also means that I have more time to spend in the kitchen and with the bounty of fresh produce around, inspiration is always arriving.

Once summer is firmly entrenched meals just naturally get lighter. Recently we feasted on Grilled Turkey Italian Sausage that was accompanied by a simple Artichoke and Tomato Salad and a riff on my Farro Risotto that I affectionately call Scarborough Farro.

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Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme, of course, feature prominently in this dish. If you haven’t listened to  Scarborough Fair lately, take a few minutes to go back to a time that was simpler, yet very complex. Superficially a peaceful song based on an old English ballad, it intertwines with an anti-war song not so subtly protesting the Vietnam War.

Farro has been cooking up in my kitchen a lot lately. I followed the same steps that I did for the Farro Risotto, cooking onion as well as garlic along with the uncooked  farro in some olive oil. I added some chicken stock and let it cook for a good 20 minutes.Towards the end I added my herbaceous quartet. These four herbs get along really well together with a sweet harmony much like Simon & Grafunkel. The best part was they all came from our garden.

Click on the link to the farro risotto recipe above. Once you’re there, do a few substitutions. Leave out the spinach and roasted peppers (though I think they could stay in if you like) and add a good 1/3 – 1/2 cup of chopped fresh herbs near the end of the cooking. My personal preference was to let the thyme and parsley take the lead vocal while the rosemary and sage provided the harmony. Make a blend that will sing your own song. 

Now to that Artichoke  and Tomato Salad:

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I used a can of whole artichoke hearts, I find that I get better pieces when I cut them myself. If you can find fresh baby artichokes, by all means go for it. They are hard to find in this part of the country, but if you do find them it will make this salad even more amazing. I used a combination of red grape and yellow cherry tomatoes, mainly because it’s what I had on hand. Sweet onion was the final component.

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I made a straight forward vinaigrette. I added just a touch of Agave Syrup. Since my dressings tend to be light on the oil, this bit of sweetness balances the acidity and creates a better texture. Everything went together early in the day so that when it was time for dinner everyone was well acquainted.

Artichoke and Tomato Salad
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Servings
3
Servings
3
Artichoke and Tomato Salad
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Servings
3
Servings
3
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Combine the artichokes, tomatoes, and onion in a bowl. Toss gently to mix.
  2. Combine the remaining ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Close tightly and shake until all of the ingredients are thoroughly blended.
  3. Pour the dressing over the vegetable and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (more is better).
  4. Serve with your favorite grilled meat, fish, or poultry.
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Summer is here and the Kitchen of Love is bursting with inspiration. I have lots of adventures to share with you and a memory or two as well, so keep tuning in.             Love, Mama D

 

 

I’d Like That On The Top, Please

When Harry met Sally she always wanted things “on the side” I’ve spent a lot of time sharing recipes for great main dishes and sides. Sometimes I include a garnish or topping, but for the most part I present my recipes”naked” or with the sauce served separately. This does not mean that I do not like toppings on my food. Often it’s because my healthy eating practices make me want rich toppings “on the side.” I do make and enjoy toppings on occasion and its high time that I share some with you.

Toppings can be the dressing on a salad, the crowning touch on a vegetable, or a sauce that enhances an entrée. It can be a garnish that adds that irresistible touch to something. Looking back in Mama D’s Archive of Love, I did find a few recipes.

The Orange Mocha Barbecue Sauce that topped some ribs last summer was wonderful and really made the ribs sing an octave higher. A lightened up vinaigrette has given life to many a salad with a lot less fat but plenty of big flavors. Mama can’t rest on her laurels so I’ve come up with a new idea that will be perfect for summer’s lighter fare. I’ve also put a recipe together for an avocado dressing that would make an old shoe taste good.

First up, that light topping. I was grilling some sweet potatoes a few days ago and wanted to top them with something. I wanted to keep it on the light side as well as use a lime whose time had come. Since the whole meal had a southwestern theme, I thought I’d use some cilantro from the garden. 003006Speaking of the garden…we have lots of little lettuce shoots, a hardy batch of radish leaves and budding tomato and pepper plants. That’s the nature of gardens; they grow just enough to get you excited and slow enough to make you appreciate the time involved.

Back to what was to become a Cilantro Lime Yogurt Sauce. This was super easy and will be super easy to adapt to other flavors and dishes. A carton of plain non-fat Greek yogurt, a handful of chopped cilantro and the juice and zest of a lime were all I needed to make a refreshing sauce that was great on the sweet potatoes and found its way onto the chicken and zucchini as well.

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I added a little Agave Syrup to tone down the sour and a pinch of Chipotle Powder to crank up the heat. I’ll make this easy and call it a non-recipe recipe. Those are the measurements I used and I’m sticking to them.

The Avocado Buttermilk Dressing was another spur of the moment idea inspired by what was on hand. A ripe avocado, some buttermilk and the desire for something that was like guacamole but really not.

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I wasn’t sure if I was making a dip, a soup, or something entirely different. The avocado flesh and buttermilk went into a bowl. I heated some garlic in a little olive oil to tame the flavor. This is a technique I use often as I’m not a fan of raw garlic (nor is my stomach). A little lemon juice brought out all of the flavors. A few seconds contact with my immersion blender and it was ready. It was absolutely delicious. So good in fact that I couldn’t relegate it to being “on the side.”

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The recipe is a blank canvas that would enjoy the company of any herbs and spices of your choosing.

Buttermilk Avocado Dressing
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Servings
1 Cup
Servings
1 Cup
Buttermilk Avocado Dressing
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Servings
1 Cup
Servings
1 Cup
Ingredients
Servings: Cup
Instructions
  1. Heat a small fry pan and add the olive oil, swirling to coat the bottom of the pan.
  2. Add the garlic and saute for 2 minutes or so. The garlic should be fragrant but not brown. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes.
  3. Scoop the avocado flesh into a deep bowl or the pitcher of a blender. Add the buttermilk and cooled garlic and olive oil mixture.
  4. If using the bowl, blend with an immersion blender until smooth. If using a blender, whirl until smooth.
  5. Add the herbs and spices, if you choose, along with a pinch of salt. Whirl/blend one more time and give it a taste.
  6. Adjust the seasonings to your liking and transfer to a bowl or jar with a tight fitting lid. Refrigerate for an hour or so to let the flavors get better acquainted.
  7. Serve as a dressing on salad, a sandwich spread, a dip for veggies or chips, a topping for chicken, or just lick it off of a spoon.
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On the side, on top it’s all relative. Use these ideas as a springboard to your own sauce inspiration. A little something extra may be the perfect addition to lighter summer meals.

 

Heading Into Summer with a Slew of Slaws

Do you remember when every sandwich you got in a restaurant came with cole slaw? Casual burger joints served a paper souffle cup of creamy slaw. Fancier places put that dollop of tangy goodness in a little metal cup. Then there were the places that gave you an ice cream scoop of slaw. It was actually enough to call a serving of vegetables. There are still places that serve a side of slaw, but often it’s as a substitute for fries. It seems that a complimentary cup of cole slaw has all but gone the way of car hops and table side juke boxes. I, for one, would love to see this tradition return. The cole slaw, not necessarily the car hops, but a little music that I could choose while I eat instead of management’s idea of dinner music would be great. In the meantime I’ll create slaws in my kitchen and this is the perfect time to start.

As summer officially gets rolling, Cole Slaw will be making appearances at parties and cook outs. The days of cole slaw only being cabbage and carrots swimming in a creamy dressing are all but gone. Now slaws come in lots of variations but, they usually hold to the original meaning of being a cabbage salad (from the Dutch “koolsla”). The main ingredient can be cabbage or any of its cruciferous cousins. In a broader definition I’ve heard that any shredded vegetable salad can be a slaw. With all the veggies, fruits and dressings out there,the only limitation is a cook’s imagination. 

I like making slaws. It’s one of the only salads that you can make ahead that actually gets better. While lettuce gets soggy the longer it sits, cabbage salads get sweeter and mellower with a little time. I’ve shared a few recipes and before I give you my latest take on the cabbage salad, I thought I’d stroll down memory lane and give some links to previous adventures. Just click on the red links to see where I’ve been.

Cabbage slaws can complement most any cuisine and can even become a main dish with the addition of a protein. My Asian Chicken Salad comes to mind. Red cabbage, broccoli and carrots join grilled chicken in a spicy oriental inspired dressing. Crispy rice noodles and sliced almonds gilt this Asian lily.DIGITAL CAMERACole Slaw can even become a seasonal dish with the addition of fruits and flavors of a particular season. Apple Cabbage Slaw with Honey Mustard Dressing and Walnuts tasted like fall when it was paired with roasted pork tenderloin and sweet potatoes.DIGITAL CAMERAI’ve even borrowed an idea from another blogger for “Kaleslaw”. After I read the Proud Italian Cook’s post about this salad whose time had come, I had to make one of my own. This was a direct to Facebook post of a “non-recipe” recipe. I didn’t go to the kale-o-naise route, but my garlicy dressing hit all the right notes.

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The other thing that I like about Cabbage salads is that a few ingredients can come together to create a salad that is as tasty as it is colorful. Add the fact that it can be made ahead and this is a cook’s dream come true. That is definitely the case with this Orange Honey Mustard Slaw. Broccoli slaw blend, red bell peppers and green onions provided the vegetable action and created a symphony of color, too.

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The dressing was only four ingredients, but they came together to create a delicious tangy sweet coating that had that extra zing of citrus.

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If you want to really put that orange flavor up front, add a little grated orange zest. In fact, that’s where I’ll head next time. So with minimal chopping and mixing and a brief respite in the fridge, I had a side dish that was wonderful with grilled pork chop sandwiches. However, this salad would be great next to any sandwich, metal cup or ice cream scoop optional.

Orange Honey Mustard Slaw
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Servings
4
Servings
4
Orange Honey Mustard Slaw
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Servings
4
Servings
4
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Place the broccoli slaw in a large bowl. Add the onions and peppers.
  2. Combine the mayonnaise, orange juice, honey, and mustard in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake until the ingredients are completely blended.
  3. Pour the dressing over the vegetables. Toss to coat well. cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or as long as 24 hours.
  4. Serve with your favorite sandwich or grilled meat.
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So, shred that veg, blend that dressing and come up with your own “Koolsla”

 

 

 

 

Here Comes Summer: Grilled Sausage Kabobs with Farro “Risotto”

Looking out over our balcony, I get the feeling that we are inching ever closer to summer. Trees are now wearing lush green headdresses instead of sparse crowns of twigs. The grass is green and thanks to the gardeners always cut and lush. (the hubby has gone on record as not missing mowing in the least).

I’ve even ventured into the suburban farmer’s life by planting some things in our complex’s community garden. This large plot has been adopted by a dear woman named Lois. She is in her sophomore year in the garden and has sown quite an impressive variety of seeds, My meager contribution of tomatoes, peppers, spaghetti squash, and zucchini joined beans, carrots, onions, potatoes, and a mind-boggling variety of lettuce and greens.

DIGITAL CAMERAWhile it is little more than a rectangle of dirt with colorful signs and a few sprouts, our typical weather pattern of rain and sun will transform it into something green, beautiful, and delicious in the coming weeks. I can hardly wait!

Our little grill on the balcony has been seeing a lot of action lately as we take advantage of the warmer weather. We are also experimenting to learn what it does best. These kabobs were a major success. Pre-cooked sausage and quick cooking veggies were the perfect match-up for the grill’s moderate heating abilities. Everything cooked together and there was even a distinct taste of the grill.

DIGITAL CAMERAThis dinner was a raid on the pantry, freezer and fridge. The variousDIGITAL CAMERA packages traveled from their homes and converged on the counter in vivid array. Mini tomatoes, crimini mushrooms, and zucchini joined red onion to create the kabobs. Farro, frozen chopped spinach, and roasted red peppers were simmered with chicken stock and garlic to create a toothsome side dish reminiscent of risotto. These simple ingredients resulted in 3 generous servings that made a wonderful dinner for two and a spectacular lunch for the cook.

The veggies marinated for the better part of the day in a simple vinaigrette. They joined the pre-cooked chicken sausage to create a patchwork quilt of colors on the skewers.

DIGITAL CAMERAThese took only a few minutes to cook so they waited in the wings while I made the farro. I’ve shared several farro adventures already and you know that it is one of my current favorites. This time I treated it like risotto. I sautéed it in some olive oil with a very generous amount of garlic then gradually added stock. I added spinach and roasted red peppers, both from the freezer. The whole process took about 35 minutes which as we all know is about the right amount of time to enjoy a glass of wine.

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So, the kabobs took 20 minutes on the grill where they were frequently turned with love and basted with the vegetable marinade. Everything came together beautifully; a colorful and healthy dinner that hinted at the delights summer will soon deliver. I’m already looking forward to making this again, with a few homegrown veggies of my own.

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Grilled Chicken Sausage Kabobs with Farro Risotto
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Servings
4
Servings
4
Grilled Chicken Sausage Kabobs with Farro Risotto
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Servings
4
Servings
4
Ingredients
Sausage Kabobs
Farro Risotto
Servings:
Instructions
Chicken Kabobs
  1. Combine the zucchini, whole tomatoes, onions, and whole mushrooms in a large container. You can use a skewer to create a "pilot hole" in the vegetables. This may help the marinade to penetrate more as well as make skewering easier later.
  2. In a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine the oil, vinegar, garlic, chili flakes, herbs, and salt. Cover tightly and shake to completely blend.
  3. Pour the dressing over the vegetables. Toss to coat and store covered in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours and as long as overnight.
  4. When you are ready to assemble the kabobs, slice the sausage into 1 inch chunks. Remove the vegetables from the marinade with a slotted spoon. Save the dressing to baste with later.
  5. Skewer the sausage and vegetables in random order. (Don't worry about a pattern unless that's your thing).
  6. Heat the grill to high ( or as high as it will go) and lightly coat with grill spray. Place the skewers on the grill and brush with the reserved dressing.
  7. Continue to grill, turn, and baste until everything is beginning to brown. This will take 15 - 20 minutes depending on the heat of your grill.
  8. Remove the kabobs from the grill and carefully slide the meat and veggies off the skewer.
Farro Risotto
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large fry pan, swirling to coat the bottom. Add the farro and cook for 5 minutes or so until it begins to brown. Add the garlic and cook another minute or so.
  2. Add the vermouth (or dry white wine) and cook for 2 - 3 minutes. Most of the wine should evaporate.
  3. Add the spinach and about 1 cup of the stock. Allow to simmer, stirring frequently until most of the stock has been absorbed.
  4. Add the red pepper and another cup of stock. Continue the simmering process allowing the stock to be absorbed.
  5. Give the farro a taste at this point. If you like the texture, it's done. If you like it softer, add a little more stock and continue to cook until the texture makes you happy.
  6. Season with salt and pepper to your taste and serve it with the kabobs.
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Cleaning Out the Fridge Quiche

The refrigerator is a wonderful invention. It allows us to keep a supply of fresh food at the ready. It provides a safe haven for the treasures we find at the store, keeping them safe until we are ready to turn them into something wonderful. I confess that sometimes I buy a little more than I can chew and open the refrigerator to find an array of food that has begun to lose its luster.

What’s Mama D to do? I don’t have the heart or the budget to throw it all away, and it is still quite usable. The time has come to combine things into a delicious meal and quiche is a perfect solution. Flaky pie crust and creamy custard are the blank canvas that will hold the vegetables and meats that the fridge has to offer.

This adventure included some crimini mushrooms and asparagus along with some thyme and onion. They were a bit past their prime, but perfect for this quiche.

DIGITAL CAMERAMy protein of choice was peppered bacon.  I found three lonely slices that I chopped up and browned on the stove.

The veggies were chopped and cooked in the same pan (minus the drippings, but with the yummy brown bits) to give them a little extra love before they jumped into my “not home-made” crust. Yes, the crust came out of the fridge, too. Would homemade pastry make this dish better? Maybe, but I had a box of the pre-made variety and it needed to be used,too.

Whatever pastry crust you use always “blind bake” it before you add the fillings. Once the dough has been fit into your vessel of choice, line it with some parchment paper and fill it with dried beans. Bake it in the oven until it is nice and golden. A clear glass pan allows you to check the bottom as well. Remove the beans and paper and add your fillings. No soggy bottom crust here.I topped the sautéed goodies with some grated Swiss cheese. Any cheese will work here. Use what you love or what you have on hand. Only use about a cup. The custard is rich enough and you want the veggies to be the star here.

DIGITAL CAMERAEggs, cream, and milk create a luscious custard that only requires a little salt and coarse ground pepper. I’m not a fan of nutmeg, a traditional ingredient here, but add some if it floats your boat. In fact you can add any herb, spice, etc. It’s your quiche after all.

When you are ready to add the custard to the quiche, put it on a rimmed baking sheet. This too, is a required step. The pie will be very full and eggs being eggs, it will grow before it sets. A baking sheet is much easier to clean than an oven. I speak from experience.

DIGITAL CAMERAThe quiche needs to bake for 30 – 40 minutes then it needs to set for at least 20 minutes more. Add the blind baking step and you are approaching the 2 hour mark on prep time. If you like a late supper (and this is the perfect dish for that) make it part of your weeknight wonderland. I think it’s a delightful Sunday night supper that puts a delicious topper on the weekend.

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Cleaning Out the Fridge Quiche
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This is my version of quiche. Feel free to use whatever fillings you want.
Servings
6
Servings
6
Cleaning Out the Fridge Quiche
Print Recipe
This is my version of quiche. Feel free to use whatever fillings you want.
Servings
6
Servings
6
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
Blind Bake the Crust
  1. Fit the pie crust into a pie or quiche pan. Use a fork to poke small holes all over the crust. Place a sheet of parchment paper into the crust (crumple it a bit to allow it to fit better). Pour dried beans onto the parchment paper. A pound of dried beans will fill a 9 inch pie plate nicely.
  1. Bake the crust in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 - 30 minutes. The crust should be light golden all over. Do not rush this step; the non-sogginess of the crust depends on it. Remove the crust from the oven. Carefully remove the parchment paper and beans (these will become your official "blind baking" beans). Set the crust aside.
Filling
  1. Chop the bacon into thin pieces and cook in a medium fry pan over medium high heat. The bacon should be crisp. Transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain. Remove the drippings from the pan but leave the brown bits of deliciousness.
  2. Add the onions to the fry pan and cook for 4 minutes or so until they begin to soften.
  3. Add the mushrooms and continue to cook another 5 minutes until the mushrooms begin to brown. Add the asparagus and cook for a few more minutes until the asparagus is tender crisp.
  4. Add the reserved bacon bits back to the pan along with the thyme leaves and cook for 2 - 3 minutes more.
  5. Pour the vegetable/bacon filling into the pie crust. Sprinkle the grated cheese on top.
  6. Beat the eggs until the are very thick. Add the cream and milk and beat with a whisk until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add salt and pepper and any other spices or herbs you like.
  7. Place the filled pie crust on a rimmed baking sheet. Carefully pour the custard into the crust stopping when it is filled to the top. You may have a little custard left, but not much.
  8. Place in a 350 degree oven and bake for 30 - 40 minutes. The filling should be puffed and golden and a knife should come out clean when poked in the center.
  9. Remove the quiche from the oven and allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before cutting.
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This is far from the traditional preparation for a quiche. It doesn’t however, make it any less delicious. This is a versatile recipe that can be adapted any number of ways. Have some fun with it and come up with your own fridge cleaning masterpiece.