ROASTED SHALLOT SALAD DRESSING

If I remember correctly, this recipe also came from my friend, Chantal, one of the best cooks I know. This salad dressing became a family favorite immediately. It is so nice to have a dressing that tastes "gourmet" but is ready and waiting in the fridge.
Enjoy.

Ingredients:1 Small Bag Shallots (6 to 8 count)
2 teaspoons Coconut Oil
1 cup Balsamic Vinegar, plus extra for deglazing
2 cups Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:1) Peel and slice the Shallots; then sauté them in Coconut Oil until they begin to caramelize.
2) Deglaze the pan with some balsamic vinegar, and remove from heat.
3) Pour the shallots and vinegar into a blender, and add more balsamic vinegar – approximately one cup.
4) Turn the blender on, at first to a low setting, and then increasing the speed as the shallots are incorporated.
5) Once the high setting has been established, stream in approximately two cups of olive oil, very slowly so the dressing will emulsify.
6) Taste. Add salt and pepper as needed.
Store in refrigerator

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Valentine's Day cards and chocolates are in the stores already! There must be a massive corporate conspiracy to get all North Americans to buy and eat all the sugar and grains in all the stores, regardless of what they will do to our health, as long as there is a profit for the sugar and grains companies! This calls for a revolution! Sugar-free, grain-free chocolate cupcakes.
Enjoy.

Ingredients:•
 2 cups pecans
• 1/3 cup cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/4 cup coconut flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup (I stick) butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (no sugar - check the label)
• Stevia equivalent to approximately 1 cup of sugar, or to taste
• 1/2 cup water (or unsweetened almond milk – I use the chocolate flavor) (You could use coffee.)

Preparation:
Heat oven to 350 F. Line a muffin tin with silicone cups or paper liners.
1) Process pecans in food processor ‐ pulse until they are meal, not quite as small as corn meal.
2) Add the rest of the dry ingredients and pulse again.
3) Add the wet ingredients and process until well‐blended.
4) Separate into muffin cups and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. When you can smell them baking, it is a good time to start checking for doneness. When toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, the cupcakes are done.

p.s. If you are not a fan of chocolate, there is a basic Almond Flour cupcake recipe in GOOD FOOD. This will give you a "vanilla" cupcake result.

LIME & WALNUT COLESLAW

Limes or chilis left over from the Chili Lime Butter recipe? Try this. It has been a family favorite at my house for years. Leave out the jalapeno if you like it milder.

Enjoy.
Ingredients:1 1/2 cups raw walnut pieces
1/2 of a medium‐large cabbage
1 basket of tiny cherry tomatoes, washed and quartered (optional – not pictured here)
1 jalapeno chili, seeded and diced
3/4 cup cilantro, chopped (I use parsley because I prefer it to cilantro)
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Preparation:
1) Cut the cabbage into two quarters and cut out the core. Using a knife shred each quarter into whisper thin slices. The key here is bite‐sized and thin. If any pieces look like they might be awkwardly long, cut those in half.
2) Combine the cabbage, walnuts, tomatoes, jalapeno (optional), and cilantro or parsley in a bowl.
3) In a separate bowl combine the lime juice, olive oil, salt. Add to the cabbage mixture and gently stir.

CHILI LIME BUTTER FOR FISH

I always make a double batch of this. Everyone loves to add a dollop of it over steamed vegetables, or on a piece of flax seed bread.

Enjoy.

Ingredients:1/2 cup unsalted organic butter, softened
2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot
2 teaspoons finely grated fresh lime zest

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

2 teaspoons minced fresh Serrano or Jalapeno chili, (including seeds or not, depending on how much heat you want)
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation:

Wear Gloves when chopping any chili.1) Combine all ingredients. I use a food processor.
2) Serve a dollop of this butter with each fillet of any whitefish you prepare.

Note: 2 teaspoons minced fresh Serrano or Jalapeno chili is approximately one average sized chili.

AMARETTO CAPPUCCINO SMOOTHIE

If you are wondering if there is a way to “Maximize” an Iced Cappuccino, here it is. Sometimes, I impress myself.

Ingredients:3/4 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
1/4 cup coconut milk
1 scoop Chocolate Organic Whey Protein
1 teaspoon Instant Espresso Powder
1 tablespoon “Spoonable” brand stevia, or equivalent, or to taste
1 teaspoon raw almond butter
4 strong coffee “ice cubes”

Preparation:1) AHEAD OF TIME: Prepare an ice cube tray with strong coffee and freeze. I use approximately 10 oz. of water to 3 generous teaspoons of instant espresso powder, and mix the coffee in a drinking glass before pouring it into the ice cube tray. Adjust the strength of the coffee to your taste. Once frozen, keep the coffee ice cubes in a re‐sealable plastic bag in the freezer.
2) Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
DO NOT consume after 3:00 P.M.

PAN SEARED SALMON WITH AVOCADO REMOULADE

This time of year, my nails, hair, and skin can become so dry. What a great excuse to eat one of the healthiest foods on the planet - avocado. The good fats supplied by this gorgeous fruit can not be duplicated. This avocado remoulade is a sort of "mayonnaise" without all the un-pronounce-able ingredients and trans fats you find in a mayo jar. The taste is absolutely delightful. It can be used in a thousand ways, as long as you eat it all up once you prepare it. (Avocadoes do turn brown - if they last that long.)
Ingredients:• 2 large avocados, cut and peeled
• 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (you can substitute lemon juice)

• 3‐4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon minced shallots or green onion
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard or to taste (no sugar – check the label)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of wild caught salmon fillets
• Coconut Oil
Preparation:1) Put avocado pieces and lime juice into a food processor or blender and pulse until blended.
2) Slowly add olive oil, pulsing, until you reach desired consistency of sauce.
3) Add minced shallots (or green onions) and parsley, pulse just until combined.
4) Remove to a bowl, add mustard, salt and pepper to taste.
5) Coat the bottom of a sauté pan with coconut oil. (Earth Chef or Green Pan Cookware is the only non‐stick cookware I recommend. It is available at Zellers in Canada or Target in the United States.)
6) Season both sides of the salmon fillets with salt and pepper.
7) Carefully lay the salmon into the pan, skin side down first.
8) Cook the salmon until it is done, and flakes easily when pressed with a fork (approximately 4 to 6 minutes per side).
9) Serve salmon with avocado remoulade sauce.

Serves 4

ALMOND PROTEIN BARS

ALMOND PROTEIN BARS 

Ingredients:

2 cups raw almonds

½ cup hemp seeds

½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut

2 scoops Organic Whey Protein (optional)

½ cup raw almond butter (I sometimes use Organic Peanut Butter. Not as healthy as Almond Butter)

½ teaspoon kosher salt

 1 teaspoon (approx) Vanilla 

½ cup coconut oil

3 - 4 ounces Lily’s Chocolate Chips 

Topping:

3 - 4 ounces Lily’s Chocolate Chips 

1/4 cup coconut oil

Preparation:

1) Place almonds, hemp seeds, shredded coconut, (Organic Whey Protein - Optional), almond butter, vanilla and salt in a food processor.

2) Pulse briefly, until you get a “sandy” consistency 

3) In a small sauce pan, melt coconut oil over very low heat.

Add 3 - 4 oz. Chocolate chips and very gently, melt with the coconut oil 

4) Remove chocolate and coconut oil from stove, add mixture to food processor and pulse until ingredients form a coarse paste.

5. Press mixture into an 8 x 8 silicone baking dish. **

6) Chill in refrigerator while you prepare chocolate topping

Topping:

7) Melt chocolate and 1/4 cup coconut oil

8) Spread melted chocolate over bars; return to refrigerator until protein bars harden (an hour or two)

9) Remove from refrigerator, cut into 32 bars, and serve.

** Until you purchase a silicone baking dish, you can use glass - lined with parchment paper. The silicone is definitely worth buying.

Baked Wild Halibut Steaks

An Italian-style vegetable and feta cheese topping is the perfect enhancement to this delicious, light, baked halibut. The herbs and tomatoes will make you think it's summer!

Enjoy.

Ingredients:1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1 cup diced zucchini
1/2 cup minced onion
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
2 cups diced fresh tomatoes
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 (6 ounce) wild caught halibut steaks
1/3 cup crumbled imported Greek feta cheese

Directions:1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly grease a shallow baking dish with extra virgin olive oil.
2. Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat and stir in zucchini, onion, and garlic. Cook and stir 5 minutes or until tender. Remove saucepan from heat and mix in tomatoes, basil, salt, and pepper.
3. Arrange halibut steaks in a single layer in the prepared baking dish. Spoon equal amounts of the zucchini mixture over each steak. Top with feta cheese.
4. Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until fish is easily flaked with a fork.

Chicken Savoy

Want a chicken dinner recipe that you can leave in the oven while you prepare the rest of the meal? This chicken is juicy and delectable. Anyone can prepare it, and everyone will enjoy it.

Happy New Year, Everybody.

CHICKEN SAVOY

Ingredients:
4 Organic free range boneless, skin-on or skinless chicken breasts
1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil
2/3 cup water with 1 Tablespoon kosher salt
2 or 3 cloves of garlic, minced or grated
½ to 1 teaspoon dried oregano or basil (your preference)
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ cup freshly grated, real, imported, Italian Romano (or Parmesan) cheese
3 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar (optional)

Note: It is important that you choose your cheese wisely. Raw is best. Failing that, I have found that good quality imported cheeses from Italy and Greece are the next best thing. The problem with other cheeses is that they come from our poor, North-American, corn-fed, feed-lot cows. We don't want to eat these cheeses.

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees

1.) Place the chicken breasts in a 9 x 13 or other shallow baking dish.
2.) Cover the chicken with a mixture made of the water, kosher salt, and olive oil.
3.) Grate or mince the garlic and sprinkle it on the chicken breasts.
4.) Sprinkle the salt, pepper, and other seasoning over the chicken.
5.) Sprinkle the Romano cheese over the chicken.
6.) Bake at 450 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
7.) Remove the dish from the oven, and pour off the excess fluid, leaving the chicken in the baking dish.
8.) Drizzle with the Balsamic Vinegar (if using) and serve.

PUTTANESCA SALSA

One more blog before the year ends, in the hope that you might be able to use it over the holidays. I can think of about one hundred ways to use this salsa. Over fish (pictured here), chicken, or lamb; as an ingredient in an organic sour cream dip; or tossed with Zucchini noodles or Cauliflower "rice." You will no doubt think of other ways once you taste this highly flavorful and extremely versatile salsa. No cooking required!

Enjoy
Ingredients:
1 ½ teaspoons anchovy paste
2 to 3 cloves garlic, grated
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 lemon, zested and juiced
3 tablespoons capers, chopped if necessary
½ cup pitted black olives, chopped
½ cup flat‐leaf parsley, coarsely chopped
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved, or cherry tomatoes, quartered
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Preparation:
1) In the bottom of a medium bowl, combine anchovy paste, grated garlic, red pepper flakes, zest and lemon juice; and whisk in ¼ cup olive oil.
2) Add capers, olives, parsley, and tomatoes.
3) Toss and season with black pepper (optional).
4) Serve immediately. Refrigerate for up to 5 days.

If it lasts that long.

Asparagus Frittata

Asparagus Frittata has been a family favourite for Christmas brunch for years. Everyone enjoys the beautiful look of it, not to mention the delectable savory taste. But I have always enjoyed using it as the centrepiece of the brunch because it finishes in the oven while I put the finishing touches on the table and other specialties of the festive family meal.

Enjoy.

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 small yellow onion, or two small shallots, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pound asparagus, tough ends snapped off, spears cut diagonally into 1‐inch lengths
4 to 6 large (preferably organic, free range) eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup shredded raw organic (Imported) Gruyere or (Domestic) Swiss cheese

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees
1) Gently heat olive oil into a 10‐inch oven‐proof frying pan (see our blog on cookware) over medium high heat.

2) Add onions and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are softened, about 3 minutes.
3) Add asparagus, reduce heat to medium‐low, and cook, covered, until the asparagus are slightly tender, 6 to 8 minutes.
4) Pour in eggs and cook until almost set, but still runny on top, about 2 minutes.

5) Sprinkle cheese over eggs and put in oven to bake uncovered until eggs are set and cheese is melted and browned, about 5 to 7 minutes. (You may want to turn on the broiler during this baking time, to better brown the top.)
6) Remove from oven with oven mitts and slide frittata onto a serving plate. Cut into wedges.

Coffee Ice Cream

My first interest in creating food came not as a well-meaning bride or young mother, but much later. I watched Emerill Lagasse prepare unbelievable meals on late night television as I was falling asleep, and I was hooked. This means two things.
1.) I was trained by a chef.
2.) I am lucky to be alive.
However, Emerill's recipe for Coffee Ice Cream, using stevia rather than sugar, is a winner. If you are worried about what kind of dessert you can serve with a late afternoon Christmas dinner, maybe this is just what the (Maximized Living) doctor ordered.
Enjoy.

Ingredients

• 2 cups organic heavy cream
• 2 cups organic whole milk
• Stevia to equal the sweetness of 3/4 cup of granulated sugar (See the blog on Stevia)
• 2 tablespoons instant coffee granules
• 6 egg yolks

Directions
Combine the cream, milk, stevia, and coffee in a medium, heavy saucepan. Stirring gently, bring to a heat point just before a boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat.
Beat the egg yolks in a medium bowl. Whisk 1 cup of the hot cream into the egg yolks very slowly in a steady stream. This will temper the egg yolks so they do not scramble when they are added to the hot cream mixture.
Gradually add the egg mixture, again in a slow, steady stream, to the hot cream. Cook over merium-low heat, stirring, until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon and reaches 170 degrees F. on an instant-read thermometer, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain through a fine mesh strainer into a clean container. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing down against the surface to keep a skin from forming. Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
Remove from the refrigerator and pour into the bowl of an ice cream machine. Freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. After the ice cream is made, transfer to an airtight container. Cover tightly and freeze until ready to serve.
My ice cream maker delivers a soft-serve consistency ice cream in approximately 30 minutes. I would love to tell you exactly how long to freeze the finished product before serving, but hubby and I nearly finished the batch at this soft serve point. Therefore, there wasn't enough left to estimate a required time in the freezer compartment of your refrigerator. If you like the idea of a soft serve consistency, you could certainly have the ice cream machine running while you finish your dinner. I have often done this with frozen yogurt during summer meals.

Anne Willan's Home Canned Tomatoes and an Elegant, Easy Cream of Tomato Soup

This is one of the simplest methods for canning fresh tomatoes I have ever heard of. The method is the creation of Anne Willan, a respected chef who has written over a dozen internationally published cookbooks, and is the founder of one of the best cullinary schools in the world, La Varenne, in France. Once processed, the jars of fresh whole tomatoes will last for one year, and can be used for soups and sauces all winter long. Although you will probably use this method next summer at tomato harvesting time, I promised one of the blog followers to post the method over the weekend. (Sorry I am a day or two late.)
Directions:
Pack whole, well washed, unpeeled tomatoes with stems and any leaves removed, into quart/litre jars with a few sprigs of thyme, a couple of bay leaves, and an onion slice or two. Close the sealer lids and set the jars on a rack in a deep canning pot. Add enough water to cover generously. Weight the jars down (with a brick or other weight) so they don't float. This can be tricky. My suggestion is to weight the jars down before adding all the water. One other tip: If you do not have, and can not find, a round rack to fit in the bottom of the deep pot, use a clean kitchen towell or two in the bottom of the pot. This worked well for me after I scoured my town for a round rack.
Bring the water to a boil, and then simmer for an hour and a half until the tomatoes begin to lose their shape and collapse. Let the jars cool in the water so the lids form a tight seal. When done, each jar will look only half full of tomatoes. See the photo.
Elegant, Easy Cream of Tomato Soup
Open one of the jars of canned tomatoes and remove the bay leaves and sprigs of thyme. Put the remainder of the contents into a blender and puree until smooth.
Add the puree to a soup or sauce pan, and add approximately 1/4 to 1/2 cup of organic heavy cream (or a combination of cream and unsweetened almond milk) to taste. Bring the soup to temperature, add just a touch of salt, and enjoy one of the freshest tomato soups you have ever tasted.
Note: I used about two tablespoons of cream and approximately 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk. Suit yourself. You won't believe how wonderful the soup tastes.

Chicken or Steak with Balsamic Mustard Sauce

The cover of GOOD FOOD is a photograph of one of my favorite "go-to" quick and delicious meals - free range, organic chicken thighs with Balsamic Mustard Sauce. The sauce is tangy and delectable, requires no effort, and gets raves every time I serve it. The recipe below uses grass-fed beef steaks for those who love a good steak, although any grilled chicken variation would be my personal favorite. Either way, the sauce is the real star of the show. Hmmmm. I wonder how it would taste on left-over Turkey. . . .

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

4 grass-fed, organic beef strip steaks, 6 to 8 ounces each, (approximately 3/4 inch thick) seasoned to taste with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup Dijon mustard (No sugar – check the label)

Preparation:1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season steaks generously on both sides with salt and pepper; place in skillet. Cook, turning once, until browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium‐rare.
2. Transfer to a plate; cover with foil.
3. Add vinegar to skillet; boil until syrupy, 1 to 2 minutes.
4. Remove from heat; whisk in mustard and any accumulated juices from steaks.
5. Serve sauce with steaks.
See our notes about cookware.

Notes:
Bar‐b‐que is a fair weather cooking option. If I were making the sauce only, I would begin with a dash of olive oil and one clove of minced garlic, and then work from step 3.

The organic grass-fed beef steaks recipe will serve 6 to 8 people. Most of us consume too much protein at one sitting. When the meat is from a grass fed animal, it is so nutrient dense that half of what we are accustomed to eating is quite filling.

Cinnamon Strawberry Flax Muffins

These muffins will keep for a week in the refrigerator (if they last that long), or 3 months in the freezer.
Enjoy.

Ingredients:
1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
1 1/4 cup flax seed meal
1/2 cup “Spoonable” brand Stevia (or equivalent - I use 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon KAL brand concentrated Stevia powder)
1 teaspoon aluminum free baking powder
3 tablespoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs, beaten
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon pure vanilla (no sugar – check ingredients)
2 tablespoons grated orange peel (optional)
3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional for topping)

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 F
Line muffin tins with paper or silicone liners.
1. Chop strawberries into a medium sized dice.
2. Mix dry ingredients and wet ingredients (minus the strawberries) separately, then, mix them together.
3. Let mixture stand for 10 minutes to thicken.
4. Fold in strawberries.
5. Fill each muffin cup about half way, and sprinkle with nuts.
6. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Variation: Substitute fresh or frozen blueberries for the strawberries.

Note: If you are going to freeze the muffins, I recommend beginning with fresh berries.

Fresh Tomato Soup

When I grew up, Fridays always meant Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Tomato Soup for dinner. Over lunch this past week, at least a dozen of my co-workers admitted that one of their favourite food memories from their own childhood was the grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup combo.
Now that I am grown up, but don't want to grow out, I've made some changes. I rarely eat grains at all, so that generally eliminates the grilled cheese sandwich. Bummer. They really were delicious. Of course, if you do eat grains, stone ground whole grain bread with a slice of organic cheddar cheese can make one beauty of a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich. But the best way to ruin a Maximized gourmet style soup and sandwich combo is to open a can of condensed tomato soup containing very few tomatoes and very many additives, preservatives, bad fats, and sugars.
Try this tomato soup recipe. It is made with fresh tomatoes, and takes very little time to prepare.
Enjoy.

Fresh Tomato Soup

Ingredients:
4 peeled, seeded, and roughly chopped fresh tomatoes
1 roughly chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, grated or diced
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
3 to 4 cups of organic chicken stock
2 to 3 tablespoons tomato paste (no sugar - check the ingredients on the label)
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup organic cream, milk, unsweetened almond milk, or a combination

Preparation:
1.) Remove the core and cut an "x" into the bottom side of each tomato. Drop them into boiling water for approximately 1 minute and then remove. The skins will literally fall off the tomatoes. Chop them into quarters and squeeze out the seeds.
2.) In a soup pot with 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, gently saute onion and garlic.
3.) Add the chicken stock and the tomato paste.
4.) Bring the soup to a boil; season to taste, and simmer for approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
5.) Puree the soup in a blender, in batches if necessary.
6.) Return soup to pot, add the cream, or milk, or almond milk, or a combination. (I used unsweetened almond milk only, and found the soup delicious. But then, I usually do impress myself, if no one else.)
7.) Bring the soup back up to heat and serve.

Home Made Chicken Stock

It is almost impossible to buy chicken stock that isn’t ruined by the food industry's additives, sugar, or bad fats. I have not found a single ready-to-use stock that I want to consume. Fortunately, homemade chicken stock is not difficult to make, and it is well worth the time and easy effort.
In the London area, we have an Organic chicken farm, McSmiths, which I have blogged about in the past. I cannot overstate the importance of a quality protein supplier. The chickens in the grocery stores are loaded with hormones and, in most cases, antibiotics, which do not make for healthy or delicious meals. Find an organic chicken farm in your area. It will mean the world to your family, and to the farmer who is working so hard every day to provide quality food for so many of us.
Once you make a big batch of this golden, hearty stock, you can freeze it in 1 quart containers. It will be the basis for so many beautiful soups all winter long. In fact, my next post will be an old family favorite - Cream of Fresh Tomato Soup. Wait for it. . . .

Enjoy.

Ingredients
2 organic, free range chicken carcasses (locally available at McSmith's Organic Chicken Farm)
2 small carrots, peeled, trimmed
2 small onions, peeled, trimmed, and quartered
2 small celery stalks, trimmed
3 peeled, smashed, garlic cloves
Stems from 1 bunch parsley (optional)
3 to 4 green leek leaves, sliced (optional)
1 sprig fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
4 quarts water, approximately

Directions
In a stockpot, place the chicken bones, then add all of the remaining ingredients, except the water. Add water to cover by 2 inches, bring to a boil and reduce the heat. Simmer uncovered for 2 to 3 hours, skimming as necessary.
Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean bowl and cool. Refrigerate, covered, for up to 3 days, discarding the hardened layer of fat before using or freezing.

Note: for more about McSmith's Organic Chicken Farm, see August, 2009 blog.

Portobello Mushrooms with Leeks, Spinach, and Cheese

If you are always on the look-out for a lovely, sophisticated, and easy side dish for Sunday dinner or for dinner parties, you will enjoy this. The recipe is for four portobello mushrooms, although I prepared only half of it, using my unbelievable math skills. Depending on the size of the portobellos, two mushrooms might be enough for four people. Still, one of my favorite cooks always said, "You eat with your eyes first." Serving these whole makes such a beautiful presentation, I was thinking of her while I served our Sunday dinner.
Enjoy.

Ingredients:
2 leeks
4 Portobello mushroom caps
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Kosher or sea salt and black pepper
2 cups chopped fresh (preferably organic) spinach (about 2 ounces)
1 cup crumbled soft goat cheese, or Greek feta cheese (your preference)

Preparation:
Pre‐heat oven to 450 degrees
Leeks are sandy by nature. Their flavor is well worth the preparation. Here’s an easy way to clean them.
1) Trim dark‐green parts from leeks; slice leeks crosswise, and soak in cold water. Swish leeks to help loosen dirt. Repeat with fresh water until you no longer see any grit at bottom of bowl. Lift leek slices out of water, leaving grit behind; drain them thoroughly on paper towels.
2) Place mushroom caps, gill sides up, on a rimmed baking sheet; drizzle with oil and vinegar, and season with salt and pepper. Bake until caps are just tender, about 20 - 25 minutes.
3) Top with leeks, spinach, and cheese; season again if desired.
4) Bake until spinach wilts and cheese starts to brown, 10 to 12 minutes.

Leek and White Asparagus Soup

This soup is comfort unlimited! The white asparagus are slightly sweeter than the green, and whenever I see them at the market, I just have to get at least one bunch of them for this soup. I usually cave in, though, and buy another bunch to grill up and then wrap with smoked wild salmon slices (an appetizer extraordinaire if I do say so myself).
But back to the soup. This recipe takes less than 30 minutes to prepare, and will make about 8 cups of soup, once you puree it. Because it is such an easy soup to drink, I love to divide it into 2 cup mason jars to take to school for lunch. Makes my day.
Enjoy.

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 or 2 cloves of garlic, grated or finely chopped
1 bunch of white asparagus (approximately 20-25 spears), chopped
3 leeks, whites only, cleaned and cut into rings (as shown)
5 to 6 cups organic chicken stock or vegetable stock
2 to 3 cups almond milk
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste See note.

Saute all the vegetables in the olive oil, adding the garlic last, for 2 to 3 minutes, just until soft. Add the stock, and bring the soup to a boil. Lower the heat, and simmer for about 10 minutes, until the asparagus is cooked through.
Remove the soup from the heat, and let it cool slightly.
Transfer the soup into a blender, in batches if necessary, and blend until smooth.
Return the soup to the pot, add the almond milk and bring it back to heat.
Check for seasoning.
Note: Purists may want to use white pepper, because the soup is a very light color. This is entirely up to purists.

Chocolate Truffles

O.K., so we managed to make a Pumpkin Pie for Thanksgiving without poisoning ourselves with sugar and white flour. What now?

Christmas will be here before we know it. Some stores ridiculously display their Christmas trimmings right along side the Halloween decorations. Here is a recipe for Chocolate Truffles which will compliment your Maximized Christmas table without killing you. The recipe is also in GOOD FOOD, listed as Chocolate Ganache, since it can also be used as a frosting for the Chocolate Cupcakes in GOOD FOOD. If that's not enough sweet treats for Christmas, your problems are probably more far reaching than I am professionally capable of handling.
Enjoy.

Ingredients:

· 8 oz. (squares) unsweetened baker’s chocolate chopped into tiny pieces
· 1 cup organic heavy cream
· 1 teaspoon pure vanilla (no sugar – check the ingredients)
· 1/4 teaspoon salt
· Stevia equivalent to approximately 1 cup sugar
· 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder (optional) Note: If you use the espresso powder, you may have to add extra stevia. Taste it.

Preparation:

1) Heat the cream, vanilla, stevia, espresso powder (optional) and salt until bubbles form.
2) Remove from heat. Add chocolate pieces and let melt, stirring occasionally.
3) Let the mixture cool to room temperature, and then chill slightly in the refrigerator. At this point it can be rolled into truffles, which you can then roll in chopped raw nuts, unsweetened shredded coconut, or unsweetened cocoa powder.

Butternut Squash and Green Apple Soup

For those of you who enjoy the tastes of fall, and the aroma of fall spices, this soup really fills the bill. I particularly liked the distinctive, slightly sweet taste. The recipe is so simple. The most difficult part is peeling and seeding the butternut squash. Once that's done, you are 15 minutes to a delightful first course.

Ingredients:

• 1 large yellow onion, chopped


• 1 tablespoon organic butter


• 1 butternut squash, peeled, seeds removed, chopped


• 1 or 2 tart green apples, peeled, cored, chopped (squash and apple should be a 3 to 1 ratio)


• 3 to 4 cups organic chicken broth (or organic vegetable broth)


• 1/4 teaspoon salt, a pinch of pepper


• pinch of nutmeg (to taste - freshly grated is best)


• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon


• 1 cup unsweetened Almond Milk (original or vanilla flavor)

Preparation:

• Combine butter and onion, saute gently for 5 minutes.


• Add squash, apple, and broth. Bring to a boil.


• Simmer for 10 minutes, or until squash is tender.


• Puree.


• Stir in Almond Milk and spices to taste.

Enjoy.

Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Pie
Thanksgiving and Christmas are back! Here is a pumpkin pie you can really enjoy without complications (to your health or your waistline). It is sugar free and grain free, and tastes delicious. Sometimes, I impress myself.

Enjoy.

Ingredients:

1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin puree (no sugar or other additives, check the label)
¾ cup “Spoonable” brand stevia or equivalent OR 2/3 cup xylitol (See blog about Stevia)
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
4 oz. organic cream
8 oz. unsweetened almond milk, original or vanilla flavor
1 almond pie crust (see recipe)

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees
1) Combine all the ingredients.
2) Pour into a cooled almond pie crust.
3) Bake 15 minutes at 425 degrees.
4) Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 45 minutes.
5) Cool and garnish with whipped (organic) cream, flavored with cinnamon and stevia.

Almond Pie Crust

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups almond meal or almond flour
3 tablespoons “Spoonable” brand stevia, or equivalent, or 2 tablespoons Xylitol
3 tablespoons melted organic butter

Preparation:

Heat oven to 350 degrees

1) Melt the butter.
2) Mix the melted butter with the almond meal and stevia.
3) Pat into a glass pie plate with your fingertips.
4) Gently heat in the oven for about 8 minutes. Do not let the crust go brown.

I hope you enjoy this pie as much as my family does. Happy Thanksgiving!

My friend Chantal's Roasted Cauliflower, Leek, and Garlic Soup

If you have been looking at the beautiful leeks in the grocery store, and wondering what you might do with them, here is one of my favourite fall soups. I have been having a giant cup of it for lunch every day at school, and it makes me feel so warm and full, although the actual calorie load is extremely light. Thanks to my friend Chantal for this delicious recipe.
Enjoy.

Ingredients:
· 3 Leeks – white ends only (To clean the leeks, which can be quite sandy, slice them half way through, lengthwise, and open them out slightly under running water. You are going to put them through the blender later anyway, so don't worry too much about the shape they're in when you roast them.)
· 1 Head Cauliflower
· 1 Head Garlic
· Olive oil
· Nutmeg to taste
· Salt and pepper to taste
· 3 cups organic chicken stock
· 1 cup organic milk, or unsweetened almond milk


Directions:

1) Clean, prep & place all ingredients on a baking sheet. Spray or drizzle with some olive oil, and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and a bit of freshly grated nutmeg.
2) Roast at 425 degrees for 30 minutes.
3) Remove vegetables from oven and put into 3 cups of organic chicken stock.
4) Simmer another 30 minutes.
5) Puree in a blender - or by using an immersion blender.
6) Add 1 cup organic milk, or unsweetened almond milk.
7) Bring back to heat and serve.

One of my Favorite Lunches - Avocado Halves Stuffed With Tomato and Feta

This is one of my favorite lunches from GOOD FOOD. The presentation makes it beautiful enough for company, and the taste is lovely. The trick is to use just ready avocados. I like to buy them when they are under ripe and very firm, and leave them on the kitchen counter for a day or two until they are just giving way to the touch. I also sometimes substitute a handful of diced grape tomatoes for the whole roma variety.

Enjoy.

Ingredients:

1 ripe avocado
1 small ripe roma tomato, cut into 1/4-inch dice
1 tablespoon crumbled feta cheese
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon snipped fresh parsley, or basil, or chives (to your taste)
2 teaspoons raw pumpkin seeds
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1) Halve avocado lengthwise, and remove the pit.
2) Top each half with tomato and feta.
3) Drizzle with lemon juice, and garnish with chives and pumpkin seeds.
4) Season with salt and pepper, and serve.

Serves 2

Garden Fresh Basil Pesto

This recipe is so simple and so delicious. Right now, before the weather changes, you will want to harvest your beautiful basil and make up a giant batch of pesto. It will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks (if it lasts that long), or you can freeze it in ice cube trays and use little amounts later. (See below for more on freezing.)

All you do to make a big batch of Basil Pesto is this:
Put two to three cups of basil leaves in a food processor with 2 or 3 cloves of garlic, about 1/2 cup of pine nuts, olive oil (the amount of olive oil depends on the texture you desire - so more or less depending on how thick you want the pesto to be), and approximately 1/2 cup grated quality Italian parmesan cheese, and YUM!

Note: If you intend to freeze some of the pesto in ice cube trays or small containers, this is easily done, and works very well. However, it is wise to omit the Parmesan cheese from the recipe, and add it when you thaw the pesto for use within a week or two.

Pesto is wonderful as a side sauce over an otherwise ordinary grilled chicken breast, or, for you grain eaters, it is always a wonderful pasta sauce or pizza topping (used in place of tomato sauce).
I am making myself hungry.

Enjoy.