OK in the previous article I gave you a pictorial of my latest adventure. It’s been two days since the pickles have been put in the crock.
And here is the video review:
Part 2: Plot twist Pickles
Category Archives: NomNomNoms
My Timing is Perfekt
I found a pretty simple looking recipe for pear wine at: CommonSenseHome. The tips were helpful and it looks like something I might have a hard time messing up. I began amassing the ingredients.
I put the first batch of pears up to ripen on the porch. I turned them daily. The tiny imperfections that I’d overlooked deepened in color, spreading like a bad relationship across the surface. I had to rethink my strategy.
I’ll purchase the pears! Two 3-pound bags of pears delivered to my door. With greedy anticipation, I waited. Alas, they only had one 3-pound bag available with no substitutions. Abuh.
Adjust the sails! Farmers market before a 10 am service? Sure thing. I dress for the occasion:
Did you know that pears in East Tennessee come into season primarily in September. Did you know that I lost track of time for several months and learned it today? Thwarted, but not without hope. Now what?
I recently gained access to the family recipes from my client’s deceased mother. She had many duplicates of the same recipe for two-day pickles. I read it several times as I sorted through the recipes enough that I felt confident enough to buy pickling cucumbers and I like onions so I bought enough to make a gallon of brine.
Crap. No dill. Good thing I had onions? Onward!
Now we wait. That was quite a few switchbacks to arrive at pickles from pear wine. Such is life. I’ll update when I’ve tested the goods.
I confess, I’m not typically one to experiment with an untested recipe, but no grits, no glory, right? Right?!
Pass it onward!
Quinoa Vegetarian Meatballs
I found this recipe and decided to try it because I’m looking to eliminate or at the very least reduce the flesh I consume. I know many who do quite well without even any animal products, but I’m cool with vegetarian for now.
I’ve decided that I’d rather cook for myself. If the other people in my house don’t like it, they can be the ones to make their own dinner. I’m cooking one meal, the healthy alternative one.
The following is not my original recipe. I found it, tried it, liked it, shared it.
Quinoa Vegetarian Meatballs {Gluten Free Option}
By: Lindsey
Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Yield: 18 Meatballs
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked quinoa [instruction below] (Mare’s Note: I used Success Quinoa in a bag (use two bags)
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated (Mare’s Note: I used shaved to great result)
- ¼ cup asiago cheese, grated
- ¼ cup fresh basil, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, minced (Mare’s Note: I do not like cilantro so I left it out; recipe still delicious)
- 1 teaspoon fresh oregano, minced
- ½ teaspoon fresh thyme
- 3 small garlic gloves, minced fine (Mare’s Note: I used three large cloves but I don’t plan on breathing on anyone anytime soon.)
- 1 large egg (Mare’s Note: I used two to hold it together better)
- 2 large pinches kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- 1 pinch to ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a fine sieve strainer, pour 1 cup quinoa, pick over for stones, and rinse with cold water. In a medium saucepan mix the quinoa with 2 cups cold water (or broth). Add about 1 tablespoon olive oil and a large pinch of kosher salt, and stir to mix. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, stir, reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Cook covered for approximately 30-40 minutes or until all the liquid has been absorbed and the quinoa is soft.
- Preheat your oven to 350°. Heat a large cast iron skillet or pan over medium heat until searing hot.
- Mix together all ingredients in a large bowl. Pour a little olive oil into the preheated skillet. Form a meatball a little smaller than a golf ball and place the meatball in the skillet starting in the center. Working as quickly as possible, repeat with the remaining meatballs, radiating them out from the center in a spiral pattern. [You could certainly pre-form all the meat balls and have them ready for this step, but I am all about cutting out wasted time, and that, is wasted time.]
- Once you have finished placing all the meatballs in the skillet, it is time to start turning them! Gently turn each meatball once it has browned on the opposite side. My burner causes my large cast iron skillet to be unevenly hot, so I swap some of the middle meatballs for the outer meatballs to ensure an even sear.
- Bake in skillet or transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
Notes:
To make these meatballs gluten free, simply use gluten free breadcrumbs. You could also try substituting gluten free flour for the breadcrumbs but I cannot vouch for how that will work.
I like to make a large pot of quinoa at the beginning of the week, so that I can make these or anything else quickly without having to wait for the quinoa to cook.
(MARE’S NOTE: I whipped up a jar of spaghetti sauce instead of fussing with it, making an easy meal. The meatballs are really worth the wait. My uber-carnivorous roommate and husband devoured it.)
Pass it onward!
Binge reader
I gush distracted through my days
but when I choke with disgust, starve for poetry,
I dig out their works and cover my ears to the world
The common world where words are disposable,
no longer present pleasure
but tedious imaginings
of short-handed, short-sighted vulgarities.
The world where “u r ok” is acceptable bastardization.
Ready for a binge
I burrow into my favorite comfort foods
like a fork bringing sustenance to my body
I allow them to enter my veins with lusty anticipation.
When I ingest Joel, E.I. Wong, Roads, or Cardiff
I’m blissfully transported, transposed into a new trajectory,
rescued by the unsuspecting, unaware, shiny knights
The breathless depths of my immersion
puddle into my lap, spill onto my blouse
leaving me with short-lived shielding against ignorance
besotting my sensibilities with undulating vocabulary
I lift one last feather towards the wings of Queen Bird.
The final dollop of delectable dessert.
Deep sighs topped with a satisfied burp from my binge-filled indulgence;
Gratefully sated by the authors of still-life slices.
Pass it onward!
Herb and Plow CSA: Week 11
Swiss Chard is one of the multitude of ground candy coming to Herb and Plow CSA shareholders.
I’ve recently moved home to Michigan due to unforeseen circumstances. The weather here has ranged from blistering hot to hokey toot get out the slippers and the sweatshirts. That may not seem weird at the changing of the seasons, but it is weird when it’s happening in the same day.
Despite the radical weather that mimics the falling rain at Herb and Plow Farms, the CSA’s here are equally abundant with their enticing seasonal fare. This week, I’m sharing a family favorite of ours (Spaghetti Squash Casserole), a forgiving Kale/Swiss Chard recipe, a quick Sweet and Sour Swiss Chard, and a One bowl vegan apple gingerbread cake. May the calories not go to waist.
Spaghetti Squash Casserole
1 spaghetti squash (about 8 inches long)
2 T. butter
1 cup chopped onion
2 medium cloves minced garlic
½ pound fresh, sliced mushrooms
½ t. oregano
1 t. basil
Dash of thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
2 medium chopped tomatoes
1 c. cottage or ricotta cheese (I like the cottage best)
1 c. grated mozzarella
1 cup fine bread crumbs (Italian style is a staple)
¼ c fresh chopped parsley
Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Halve the squash, scoop out the seeds. Bake face-down on oiled sheet until easily pierced by a fork about 30 minutes. (Placing the halves on parchment paper before baking will make your clean-up SO much easier)
Let stand until cool enough to handle, then scoop out pulp and place in large bowl. Meanwhile, heat butter and sauté onions, garlic, and mushrooms with herbs, salt, and pepper. When onions are soft, add tomatoes and continue to cook until most of the liquid evaporates. Stir this mixture into squash pulp with remaining ingredients except Parmesan. Spread into buttered 2-quart casserole. Top with Parmesan. Bake uncovered, 30-40 minutes. (Makes 4-6 servings)
Savory Kale/Swiss Chard
(NOTE from contributor Nancy Brubaker: “A tasty side dish that can be tucked into wrap-type sandwiches. “Refried beans, shredded cheese and kale in a whole-wheat, homemade chapatti is a favorite combination at our house. Swiss Chard can be used interchangeably with Kale to help use up the plentiful greens.”)
1 thinly sliced onion
In a large frypan sauté in 1-2 T. olive oil over medium heat until brown and crisp, not just soft. Remove to a serving dish
1 large bunch fresh kale, collards, or Swiss chard
Stack leaves, roll together and slice about ¼”/5 mm thick. Sauté in the frypan for 1 minute. Add several Tablespoons water ¼ t. salt to taste. Add cover, reduce heat and steam until tender. Add water as needed. Kale and collards cook in 10-15 minutes, Swiss chard a bit faster. When the greens are tender, drain in a colander. Return onions to pan and heat to sizzling!
1 T. Tomato paste
Add and stir. When this mixture is hot, return the greens to the pan. Mix, heat through, and serve.
Sweet and Sour Swiss Chard
(NOTE from contributor Alison Froese-Stoddard, Winnipeg, Manitoba: “The first year we bought a share of an organic co-op garden we were astounded by the quality and sheer quantity of greens we received. We had to find ways to eat several pounds of lettuce, kale, and Swiss chard every week! This recipe became a quick favorite.” Side note: It’s easy to see why after tasting this dish.
1 lb Swiss chard
Rinse, pat dry, and remove stems. Chop stems diagonally into small pieces. Stack leaves, roll up, and slice in 1-inch strips; keep separate from stems. Set aside.
1 medium diced onion
In deep frypan sauté in 2 t. olive oil over medium heat until softened, about 5 minutes.
¼ cup dried cranberries or raisins (diced apple chunks will work too)
2 cloves minced garlic
3 T. white or cider vinegar
1 ½ t. sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
Add along with chard stems, cover and cook for 8 minutes. Place chopped leaves on top of the mixture (DO NOT STIR IN), cover and cook another 2 minutes. Remove from heat, stir, and serve.
1 Bowl Apple Gingerbread Cake
Prep time 25 mins
Cook time 35 mins
Total time 1 hour
A hearty, 1-bowl vegan apple cake infused with gingerbread flavors and rolled oats. A healthier cake perfect for holiday gatherings and cozy afternoons alongside tea.
Ingredients
CAKE
- 2 flax eggs (2 Tbsp flaxseed meal + 5 Tbsp water)
- 1/4 cup organic cane sugar
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 3 T. molasses
- 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup grape seed oil (or sub canola, olive or melted coconut with varied results)
- 1 1/4 cup grated apple, loosely packed (~3 apples, a mix of sweet + tart)
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk (sub up to 1/2 cup with water)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 cups Whole Wheat Flour
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
- 1/2 cup vegan cream cheese, softened (such as Tofutti or Trader Joe’s brand)
- 1/3 cup vegan butter, softened (such as Earth Balance | butter sticks are best, not the spreadable tub)
- 2 1/2 – 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup flour (this is optional for thickening | alternatively sub more powdered sugar)
- 1 cup chopped pecans for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and butter two round cake pans, or an 8×8 baking dish. Add flour to coat, then shake out excess and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, prepare flax eggs by mixing flaxseed and water and let rest.
- Core apples (no need to peel) and grate. I recommend a mix of finely grated, and coarsely grated. Place grated apple on a clean dish towel and gently squeeze to remove about half of the juice. Set aside. (P.S. you should totally drink that apple juice.)
- To the flax egg, add sugars, molasses, oil, vanilla, almond milk, grated apples, and whisk.
- Set a sifter over something to catch fall out and add dry ingredients in this order: 1 cup whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ginger, cinnamon, remaining 1/2 cup whole wheat flour. Stir gently with a spoon, then sift over wet ingredients and stir to combine, being careful not to over mix).
- Lastly, add oats and stir again to combine, being careful not to over mix. The batter should be thick but pourable. If it appears too thick, add a bit more almond milk to thin and stir.
- Pour batter into prepared cake pan(s). If you’re dividing between two pans, it may look like there’s not enough batter but there is! Spread it in an even layer and it will rise while baking.
- Bake for about 30-35 minutes if using 2 round cake pans, or about 40-50 minutes for an 8×8. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean and the edges should be visibly browned. Remove from oven and set out on counter to cool completely.
- While the cake is cooling, prepare frosting. To the same mixing bowl (rinsed clean), add softened cream cheese, softened butter and beat or whisk vigorously to combine. Then add powdered sugar in 1/2 cup increments until thick and spreadable.
- Add flour at the end to thicken (optional – or just more powdered sugar). You want this frosting to be pretty thick so it won’t slide off the cake, so keep adding flour and/or powdered sugar until it reaches the right consistency.
- Once the cake is completely cooled, add 1/3 of the frosting to the top of the bottom layer and spread into an even layer. Then add the top layer of cake and frost generously with remaining frosting, coating sides last. Add crushed pecans on the edges (optional), slice and serve.
- The cake should be stored covered in the fridge for optimal freshness, and should keep for 3-4 days. Move to the freezer after that, and thaw at room temp before serving.
Notes
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 of 10 slices with a generous amount of frosting and pecans.
* Recipe adapted from my Vegan Gluten Free Apple Muffins
* Frosting recipe from my Gluten Free Zucchini Cake
Pass it onward!
Flower Patch Farmgirl: 10 Minute Refrigerator Dill Pickles
Flower Patch Farmgirl: 10 Minute Refrigerator Dill Pickles.
Mare Martell 