Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Carrot Soup with Chimayo Chili and Yogurt Sauce

Midterms start on Friday and I'm nervous.  On our last day, we have to make pureed carrot soup and a salad with a traditional emulsion vinaigrette in 90 minutes.  We cannot request ingredients to be had on hand, so we have to be creative and playful.  For practice, a classmate has required her husband to set out a few random ingredients from which she must devise dinner.  Fun!

Carrot Soup is not my favorite of things and after making it a few times this week, I've about had my fill.  But this tasty version is worth mentioning: tangy yogurt balances the carrot's sweetness and Hot Chimayo chilies play at the back of your tongue, staving off boredom. 

Sunday, November 20, 2011

French Lentil Salad

Several years ago, I shared a small flat with a charming middle aged Breton woman in Rennes, France.   She was an incredible cook, having inherited the miraculous French ability to produce four course dinners after getting off work at 6.  Arguably the most important thing I learned from her was just how much crème fraîche I could eat in a day.  We spread it on bread with jam in the morning, on bread with shaved carrots for lunch, on savory galettes with dill and potatoes for dinner, and we ate it straight for dessert.

This French lentil salad is a healthy tribute to the effervescent Yvonne, queen of crème fraîche.  Flavorful lentils, julienned red peppers, red onions and green apple are tossed in a light apple cider vinaigrette and topped with generous heaps of dilly crème fraîche.



Photo by Crystal at zen-eats.com


By the way, I lost 10 pounds in the months I lived in Rennes...

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Pumpkin Tarts

We're having a gluten-free Thanksgiving this year, and my mind is going off in a million directions about what to serve for dessert.  Should we choose to stick to tradition, this tart we made in class could be just the thing.  Creamy pumpkin puree, lightly sweetened and heavily spiced, contrasts a crunchy nut crust for a beautiful and nostalgic dessert. 

Photo by my classmate Crystal at Zen-eats.com

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Chicken Marbella

Last Friday in school, we began our tour of World Cuisines.  We are slowly feasting our way across the globe, and Friday we were in the Western Mediterranean.  Olives, mint and citrus abounded, with dishes such as fennel orange salad, Greek lemon soup, artichoke ragout, and wild mushroom risotto. 

This Chicken Marbella I made isn't much to look at, but the taste is rich, simple and comforting, like the hug of a plump Spanish Mama welcoming you into her home for a meal.  Olive oil, dry sherry, red wine vinegar, capers, prunes, garlic and green olives comprise the braising liquid for juicy chunks of fresh chicken.

Photo by my classmate Crystal at zen-eats.com

Friday, November 11, 2011

Raw Chocolate Mint Truffles

The meal on "Vegetarian Proteins" Day was delicious, and the finale even more so: raw chocolate mint truffles with spirulina.  To make them, just blend up some sunflower seeds, dates, coconut cream, spirulina powder (just a pinch or two), a pinch of salt, a few drops of peppermint oil and raw cacao powder.  Then add a splash or two of water until the mixture comes together.  Shape into balls and roll in flaked coconut, chopped fresh mint, or cacao.

Photo by my classmate Crystal at zen-eats.com

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Lamb Chops with Rosemary Cherry Reduction

Last week at Bauman College was all about Animal Proteins.  We made papiottes, we pan-roasted, we stewed, we poached, we braised, and above all, we learned how to butcher a chicken in no time flat.  With a sharp knife and some know-how, it's almost easier than getting those chicken breasts out of the packaging from the grocery store!

The recipes on Lamb Day were far and away the favorites.  Lamb stew with lemons and figs, lamb stew with leeks and baby artichokes, and lamb chops with rosemary-cherry reduction.  The lamb chops, accompanied by their sweet glaze, will certainly be made again chez moi.  The sauce is based on the delightful flavors of shallots, aged balsamic vinegar, cherries and fresh rosemary.     

Photo by Crystal at zen-eats.com

Monday, November 7, 2011

Garam Masala Gingerbread

Earlier this week, a mid-afternoon rush at the spice shop left me frenzied enough to accidentally dump a jar full of allspice into the Garam Masala bin.  My punishment- taking home several ounces of the resulting allspice/Garam Masala mix to turn into something yummy for my coworkers.  The result- Garam Masala Gingerbread with Maple Cashew Cream.  The gingerbread turned out delightfully dense, chewy, and not-too-sweet.  The maple cream balanced it perfectly, it's sweet creaminess humbling each exotically spicy bite.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Spicy Sake Mustard

An asian take on traditional Dijon-style mustard.  White wine is replaced with sake, wine vinegar by brown rice vinegar.  A little pinch of star anise mixes it up. This mustard added some excitement to this morning's otherwise uninspired breakfast of eggs on toast.




Making your own mustard at home is extremely easy.  Start by soaking about 6 T. whole mustard seeds in about 2/3 cup acid.  (I used a 1:1 blend of vinegar and alcohol; you can use sour fruit juice, ie. cherry, in place of the alcohol).  Add a scant t. salt, a grind of pepper, and a dash of spice.  Let stand, covered, overnight.  Blend to desired consistency and store in a glass jar.  Keeps about 2 weeks.  This will produce a spicy mustard.  If it is too intense, balance the flavor with a splash of olive oil and/or honey.  If you want a totally mellow flavor, you will have to heat the liquid, which allegedly deactivates the enzymes that create the fire!  But, if you're like me, you would wonder why anyone does that?...

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Welcome to winter...

It is only the second of November and already Boulder has experienced two rather heavy snow storms.  Of the two, today's was much kinder, sparing us the explosions in the night and accompanying power outages.  Luckily, I tucked a fresh round of groceries safely into cabinets yesterday under clear skies, so I am well prepared for all of the cooking that the weather beckons me to do.   Just off the patio, red-leafed trees are bending with the weight of fresh snow, lending my kitchen a delightful, protective tranquility.   

What's coming to mind for the week?  Some inspirations:  Masala Gingerbread with Maple Cashew Creme; Curried Goat Stew; Chipotle Black Bean Squash Soup; Homemade Spicy Sake Mustard; Stuffed Delicata Squash; Baby Bok Choy Kimchee. 

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Buckwheat Crackers with Pear Ginger Compote

These lovely buckwheat crackers are simple to make and have become a favorite at our house.  I started making something similar with ground oat flour, but now I've branched out to many other flours and combinations.   Sometimes I add whole oats, toasted sunflower seeds, millet or dried fruit.  I usually make a batch at the beginning of the week and eat them on busier mornings, served with nut butter and apples, slices of avocado and sea salt, or aged cheddar and arugula.  In this week's fancier version, they are served with lebni and pear ginger compote. 



For the buckwheat crackers: Throw about two cups of flour in a bowl with a scant teaspoon each of salt and baking powder.  Mix that, rub in a couple tablespoons of solid fat (butter, ghee, coconut oil), then add warm water until it comes together into a ball.  Roll out the dough onto a floured surface and stamp out rounds with a cookie cutter or an inverted glass.  For a quicker, rustic cracker, simply flatten 1" balls of dough between your palms.  Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. Makes about 20 crackers.

For the pear ginger compote: Skin and slice two or three ripe pears and add to a medium saucepan on low heat with a splash of maple syrup and a teeny pinch of sea salt.  As the pears soften, grate a bit of fresh ginger into the pan (a 1" piece if you like it gingery!).  Stir occasionally, breaking up and squishing some of the pears with your spoon as you go along, for about 15 minutes.  Take off the heat, add a squeeze of lemon and store in a glass jar.  Makes about 1 cup compote and keeps for about 1 week in the fridge.