Fennel Salad

I am giving life without gluten and high GI foods a try. I developed some acne after hitting my late 20s / early 30s, and wanted to give this remedy a whirl after speaking with the lovely Natalie Lapointe. This is day one, and I am already inspired by my forgotten veggie recipes. It's crazy how much there is to eat out of the ground. Even if I eat a snickers tomorrow, it's really nice to shake up my food rut a bit.

Serves 2

fennel bulb (1) sliced paper thin

lemon (1 tbs) freshly juiced

olive oil (splash)

thyme (1 tsp) chopped

parsley (1 tbs) chopped

salt (to taste)

Cut off the fennel fronds, base, and core. Slice paper thin. Throw in everything else and mix with hands.  

If you want, experiment with more thyme and parsley, the flavor changes tremendously with these quantities.

Chicken Soup for the Blogger's Soul

whole chicken (aprox 4lbs) 
onion (1) chopped
celery (1 1/4 cup) chopped
carrots (1 1/4 cup) chopped
water until it covers the top of the chicken
olive olive 
fresh lemon juice (1/4 T) 
bay leaves (3)
garlic cloves (4)
fresh ginger (1/2" piece) sliced
majoram (1 t)
salt (1 t)
black pepper (1 t)
honey (1 T)


Heat oil with medium heat in a large pot. Add onions, celery, and carrots and cook until they soften. Add water, bring to a boil then lower to a simmer. 


Quarter chicken, remove skin, and add to pot along with seasonings. Simmer for 60-75 minutes. 


Remove chicken and let it cool until you can easily handle it. Pull chicken from bones and return the meat to the soup. Let cook at low heat for about 15-30 minutes. Let it cool and adjust seasoning to taste.


You can also cook some pasta and/or potatoes separately and add to soup before serving.

Pasta Bolognese

(From Sarah!) This is an Italian sauce recipe I learned from my friend Cristina, and tweaked a little bit.  The celery is KEY.  And, if you are not a pork eater, you can use more of the other meat, and it is definitely just as good.  Also, I like to splurge on the San Marzano crushed tomatoes - definitely worth the few extra bucks!
 
pasta 
ground beef (1/3 lb)
ground veal (1/3 lb)  
ground pork (1/3 lb)
celery stalks (2-3 stalks) diced finely
carrots (2-3 medium) chopped
onion (1 medium) chopped
garlic (2-3 cloves) crushed
olive oil 
salt & pepper (to taste)
red pepper flakes (to taste)
parsley (to taste)
basil/oregano (if desired, to taste)
crushed tomatoes (2 big cans)


Pour a few tablespoons of oil into a large sauce pot, and heat on medium. Add meat, celery, carrots, onion, garlic, and spices to taste. Saute until meat is cooked through, stirring consistently to break up the meat and make sure the veggies don't burn.


When all is cooked, add crushed tomatoes, stir in, and reduce heat to low/medium. Let simmer for about 45 minutes, stirring every 5-10 minutes, and adding more spices as needed.


Cook pasta according to directions on package. Serve sauce over pasta and top with grated cheese if you'd like.


*If it tastes a bit bitter, you can always throw a bit of wine or balsamic vinegar in there to sweeten it up!

Meyer Lemon & Thyme Truffles

Matt & I made our local friends various kinds of truffles this year, and this was one of my favorites!  The lemon and thyme give them a little bit of a different spin, so not all may love, but if they suit your tastes, they are a real treat!


70% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate (9 oz) chopped
Heavy Whipping Cream (1 1/4 cups)
Fresh Thyme Leaves (1 1/2 tsp)
Fresh Meyer Lemon Juice (1 1/2 tsp)
Meyer Lemon Peel (1 tsp) finely chopped
Cocoa Nibs


Bring cream to simmer in small saucepan. Add Thyme leaves, remove from heat, and let steep for 20 minutes.


Meanwhile, stir 7 ounces chocolate in metal bowl over saucepan of simmering water until smooth. Remove from heat. Add 2 ounces chocolate; stir until smooth.


Stir lemon juice and lemon peel into cream. Stir cream into chocolate. Chill truffle base until firm enough to roll, about 3 hours.

Line rimmed baking sheet with waxed paper. Roll 2 teaspoons truffle base between fingertips into ball. Drop each truffle into a bowl of cocoa nibs, and turn to coat. Transfer to prepared sheet. Repeat with remaining truffle base. 

Enjoy!!!!! - Sarah

Israeli Salad

Nothing fancy, but close to my heart.  I dice the veggies as finely as possible (without making it into a gazpacho) - that way each bite is nicely balanced.  Israeli Salads are deeply personal.  The ratio of everything is completely up to your palette, but this is the recipe my tongue personally loves (Serves 4):

Not the finest dice, but yummy still!

persian cucumbers (5) diced
small tomatoes (5) diced
red onion (3/4) diced
olive oil (1 T)
lemon (1) squeezed
salt & pepper to taste


*Word about the tomatoes: one of my all time favorites is the Japanese aka Tough Boy aka Momotaro tomato. It is super sweet and flavorful...and expensive and usually only available at Farmer's Markets or the like.  So!  I usually end up using tomatoes on the vine from any grocer.

Veggie Paella with Rock Shrimp

While the veggie paella is pretty nice all on its own, Matt is a fish cutter/butcher, so we threw in some rock shrimp in too :).  I say, make together or separately.


PAELLA
water (1/2 cup)
saffron threads (1/4 tsp)


olive oil (2 Tbs)
red bell pepper (1) diced
onion (1 medium) diced
artichoke hearts (1 can, in water) quartered
garlic cloves (2 large)
paella rice or arborio rice (1 1/2 cups)
vegetable stock (3 cups)
green chard (2 cups) chopped
canned tomatoes (14 oz.) diced
paprika (3/4 tsp)
salt (1/2 tsp)
cannellini beans (1 14 oz can) rinsed
peas (1 cup) shelled fresh or frozen


Bring water to a boil in small saucepan.
Add saffron, cover, & remove from heat.
Let stand at least 10 minutes.


Heat olive oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat.
Add bell pepper and onion, and saute until onion is golden.
Add garlic, and saute 5 minutes more. 
Reduce heat to low.  Add rice and stir to coat with oil.
Add vegetable stock, chard, and tomatoes, and bring to boil, stirring frequently.
Add saffron water, paprika, & salt.
Reduce heat to medium-low.  Cover & cook 15 minutes.
Mix beans, peas, & artichokes into rice, cover, & continue cooking until liquid is absorbed & rice is tender (about 5 minutes).
Remove saucepan from heat.  Let stand 5 minutes & serve with lemon wedges.


ROCK SHRIMP
rock shrimp 
salt
pepper
garlic powder or garlic


Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a saucepan.
Add rock shrimp & spices, & cook until cooked through.
Add to paella and serve with lemon. 

Miso Glazed Scallops with Asian Slaw

I found this recipe a few years ago, and have been making it ever since! We love it, and hope you do too :).


white miso (1/4 cup)
sake or mirin (1/4 cup)
grated fresh ginger (2 Tbs)
sea scallops (1 lb)


rice vinegar (1/4 cup)
sugar (1/2 tsp)
salt to taste
sunflower oil (4 Tbs) or another healthy substitute
sesame oil (1 Tbs)
napa cabbage (1 small head) shredded
carrots (2 medium) peeled & shredded 
shallots (2) thinly sliced


In large bowl, stir together miso, mirin/sake, and ginger. Add scallops, turn to coat evenly, and marinate at least 15 min.


In another bowl, whisk sugar, vinegar, salt, sunflower oil (2 Tbl), sesame oil, and mix well. Add cabbage, carrots, and shallots; toss to coat evenly.


Heat large nonstick frying pan over high heat until very hot. Add remaining sunflower oil to pan. Remove scallops from marinade, shaking off excess (very important!).  Place in single layer in pan. Sear until crisp & brown, about 1 min. Turn scallops and sear until crisp and brown on other side, about 1-2 min.


Place scallops over slaw and serve immediately.  Enjoy!