Category Archives: recipes

Silverlake Saturday Market Survives the Polkadots

There were quite a few haters in the hood when the little parklet seemed to appear overnight at Sunset Junction. Mostly folks were worried about parking. I’m a regular at the Saturday Farmer’s Market and understood the fear. I also love the polkadots. As predicted by my sunny disposition, everything was wonderful as usual. I snagged a parking place right in front of El Conquistadores and cruised the gifty aisle. These shiny kale chips  from London Manori caught my eye.

It’s really kale… and leaves they dippity doo, so pretty.

It was a glorious day, the polkadots really added POP and the youngsters love them too.

The sensational citrus offerings made it a perfect day to share an orange with a friend.

We love the oranges too, and this recipe from the Kitchn for a blood orange crostata is just like ours. I like them even better with the cara cara oranges, they don’t get the bitterness of the blood oranges when baked. They are super simple to make and I love the handmade look.  Just remember,  there’s a fine line between rustic and sloppy, fold with intention. And be generous with the finishing sugar.

Happy Peppershroom to U

This classic Jennie Cooks recipe goes out to Mitch.  He worked as a hospitality professional back in the 90′s, catering jobs  for “Mad About You”, Everybody Loves Raymond”, a few other shows at CBS Radford and about town. I promised  him this recipe for peppershroom steak he was craving. The mushrooms are insanely delicious. The atomic horseradish sauce is good on everything, not just the steak. Happy birthday Mitch!

Peppershroom Steak with Atomic Sauce

Ingredients and Method for the Steak

Marinate one Grass fed Tri Tip in a little red wine and olive oil. Coarsely crush enough black peppercorns to make a nice peppery crust on the steak, about 2 tablespoons or so. We have a dedicated coffee grinder we use for spices and previous to that, we wrapped them in a linen towel and whacked them with a rolling pin.  Encrust the steak with the crushed peppercorns and pressing the pepperinto the steak a little bit. Grill or pan sear the steak, and roast to an internal 120 degrees for a perfect medium rare.

Ingredients and Method for the Golden Shrooms

Turn on the exhaust fan. Melt a little butter and add equal parts olive oil in a large saute pan or dutch oven.  (I like to have the sides because the mushrooms are jumpy). add 2 pounds of button mushrooms. Add 2 bay leaves,  a few hearty shakes of Worcestershire sauce  and  fire up the heat! Get it really hot, move the mushrooms around and get a serious heat going. THEN, when it’s really hot, pour in 1/4 to 1/2 bottle of Marsala wine. IT WILL CATCH ON FIRE! If that scares you a little bit turn down the heat. It still works – And if you want a fire an it didn’t catch right away, light it with a crack lighter. keep the heat going and pay attention to your pan, don’t walk away. Let it burn off a little bit, give it a stir when the fire goes out, turn it on  medium heat and let it simmer till all the juices evaporate and the butter and olive oil glaze the mushrooms to a golden deliciousness.

Ingredients and Method for the Atomic Sauce

Combine equal parts of mayo and sour cream or adjust to your favorite combination of  the two, you could even use greek yogurt. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of horseradish.  If it’s storebought, squeeze a little liquid out  and  add a little extra for a real kick.  Grate a fresh apple into the sauce.  Adjust with salt and white pepper.

Serving Suggestions:

Slice the beef, top with mushrooms, send atomic sauce on the side. And Syrah.

June Glee

I wait all year for June to come. It’s one of my favorite months of the year (and my birthday is in November).  It is the beginning of barbeques and beach time and bathing suits. Of long days and gloomy mornings, which are something to relish since they leave as quickly as they come. But one of my absolute favorite things about this early summer season in Los Angeles is, of course, the fruit.

Oh all that delicious fruit that floods the farmers markets and our bellies. I tend to eat the first batch of peaches, cherries, apricots and berries so fast that I forget all the wonderful things I can do with them.  While I am a big fan of juices and salads, I am an even bigger fan of PIES. Especially since they make me feel like I am being healthy with all that fruit in them.  I have found a simple but delicious recipe for a vegan pie crust, compliments of VegFamily, to combine with whatever fruity-filling of your choice.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup margarine
  • 5 to 6 tablespoons cold water

Directions:

  1. In a medium bowl with fork, lightly stir together flour and salt.
  2. With pastry blender or two knives used scissor fashion, cut in margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  3. Sprinkle in cold water, a tablespoon at a time, mixing lightly with a fork after each addition until pastry just holds together.
  4. With hands, shape pastry into ball (if it’s a hot day you may have to refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes or so).
  5. For a two crust pie, divide pastry into 2 pieces, one slightly larger, and then gently shape each piece into a ball.
  6. On lightly floured surface with lightly floured rolling pin, roll larger ball into a 1/8 inch thick circle, 2 inches larger all around than pie plate.
  7. Roll half of circle onto rolling pin; transfer pastry to pie plate and unroll, easing into bottom and side of plate. Fill as recipe directs.
  8. For top crust, roll smaller ball as for bottom crust; with sharp knife, cut a few slashes or a design in center of circle; center over filling in the bottom crust.
  9. With scissors or sharp knife, trim the pastry edges, leaving 1 inch overhang all around the pie plate rim.
  10. Fold overhang under; pinch a high edge. Bake pie as recipe directs.

Father’s Day is coming up and what better way to celebrate your father, grandfather, uncle or husband then to make them a pie. My grandpa’s favorite was cherry. And luckily for me, cherries are all the rage at the farmers markets right now.  So in honor of both cherries and my grandpa, my family will be getting a delicious home-made vegan cherry pie this weekend. I try not to tell them about the vegan part until after they tell me how good it is. I found the recipe for the cherry filling on Almost Vegan and use just one cup of sugar and any kind of margarine, as most are vegan and soy can be hard to find. If making pies seems like a daunting task, don’t fret. Word on the street is that Jennie will be hosting a few pie making classes in the upcoming months. So stay tuned, making pies is way more fun with friends anyway.

6 Cups of Fresh Tart Cherries (pitless)
1 1/2 Cup of Sugar
1/4 cup of Corn Starch

Pinch of Salt
1 Tablespoon Soy Margarine, Cut Up

1.) Preheat oven to 425 F. In large bowl, stir together sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Add cherries and mix with spatula or spoon.

2.) Put in the pie crust that you already made with the recipe above.

3.) Place pie on cookie sheet to catch any overflow during baking. Bake 20 minutes. Turn oven down to 375F, bake 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes, until filling bubbles in center. If necessary, cover edges loosely with foil to prevent over-browning during baking. Cool on wire rack at least 1 hour to serve warm, but the longer you cool it the less it will run.
- miranda

Contrary Claire’s Chocolate Cookies

I call claire my  contrary baker. Why you ask?  Because when I ask her to do something MY way, She tells me why she does it HER way, and continues on, doing it  HER way. Example: cookies. I like small cookies, she likes big cookies.  As it turns out, lots of folks like big cookies. Claire won a  prize last year at the Good Food Pie Contest, so I cut her a little slack.  (Shoulda been my prize)

I’ve had a request for her chocolate white chocolate chip cookies so I’m going to share it.  Even though it’s not MY recipe. (this one’s for Keith)

Contrary Claire’s Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients
1 cup of butter
2 cups of white sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups of flour
3/4 cup of good quality cocoa
1 tsp salt
2 cups white chocolate chips
Method: Preheat oven to 350*.  Cream butter with sugar and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time and incorporate. Fold in the dry ingredients. Mix till it looks like cookie dough.  Make big cookies and leave room so they can spread about the cookie sheet.  Bake for about 11 minutes or until perfectly done.
Good Luck.

White Vegetable Lasagna Recipe

This recipe goes out to producer  Jenn.  She’s a busy bee commercial producer who in all the years we’ve been working together has never asked for a recipe until she tried our white lasagna last week.  Enjoy my love!

Nice day for a White Lasagna

Ingredients

Oil or butter

1/4 cup minced shallots

2 teaspoons minced garlic

3/4 pound mushrooms, sliced

3 zucchini, sliced

fresh spinach ( optional)

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 cups grated Parmesan

15 ounces fresh ricotta ( my sister uses cottage cheese)

2 – 3 cups grated mozzarella (  fresh motz is also delicious)

1 pound lasagna noodles  – uncooked

Cook the vegetables

In a large skillet, heat some fat ( about a TBS)  over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the mushrooms, and crank up the heat, and cook, stirring, until the mushrooms are tender and have given off their liquid, about 5 minutes. Set aside, and in the same pan give the zucchini a good sear. Combine the vegetables, including the fresh spinach if you like that, and lightly season to taste with salt and pepper.

Make the bechamel sauce (see recipe below)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Assemble the lasagna

Across the bottom of a deep dish lasagna pan (13 by 9-inches), spoon enough bechamel sauce to cover (about 1/2 cup). Then add 1/4 of the vegetable mixture. Arrange a layer of noodles side-by-side across the sauce. Spread another layer of bechamel over the noodles and top with the  vegetables. Add each of  the cheeses evenly over the noodles, not worrying too much about it. Repeat layering with sauce, noodles and vegetables until you use it all up, ending with noodles on top. Coat the top  layer with remaining sauce and a light sprinkling  of parmesan. Cover tightly with aluminum foil, and bake until the noodles are tender and the lasagna is hot and bubbly, about 45 minutes to and hour and 15 minutes.  (stick a knife in the middle and make sure the noodles are soft – then it’s done!) Uncover and continue baking until golden brown on top, about 10 minutes.

Let rest for 10 to 15 minutes before serving so the cheese sets up. Serve hot.

 

Delicious Bechamel

Ingredients

5 tablespoons olive oil or butter

4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

4 – 6 cups  organic 2% milk (or whole)

salt and pepper to taste

minced garlic

Directions

In a medium saucepan, heat the fat over medium-low heat  and add the garlic , cook a minute till fragrant, but not browned ( unless you like that)  Add the flour and stir until smooth. Over medium heat, cook until the mixture turns a light, golden sandy color, about 6 to 7 minutes.

Add the milk to the fat mixture 1 cup at a time, whisking continuously until very smooth. Bring to a boil. Cook 10 minutes, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside until ready to use. If it’s too thick add more milk. Consistency should be the same as a nice marinara.

 

 

I Made Body Cream

2 parts melted coconut oil 1 part EVOO

I have sensitive skin. From an early age I preferred my lotions straight up  starting with  baby oil and Vaseline.  I progressed to spray on Pam in my high school years (I loved  the aerosol application) and then graduated into a life long relationship with olive oil.  During my pregnancy I was a big fan of  the cocoa butter stick which I would melt during bathing. A few years ago I was led to coconut oil. It’s great in the  the hottest of summers because it melts, but as a rule it’s a solid block of saturated fat. And guess who loves it? Dr Mercola of course. He mentioned it was good for callouses  so  I’ve been using it on my hooves for a while with soft results. The problem is it eventually grows a fuzzy black mold  from cross contamination which grosses me out, but just a little.  I rinse the mold off and proceed.  Then I got to thinking… emulsify.

This is the result of 2 parts melted coconut oil emulsified with 1 part extra virgin olive oil.  I imagine with the addition of some coconut milk Kaya Toast would be the obvious direction.   It”ll  keep you soft. And it takes away the dry skin itch, very soothing and smells good too. It’s a nice spreadable consistency.

Six Jars I'm storing in the freezer

I overheated it in the Vita mixer so I threw it in the freezer then thawed it the next day. There was a foam on top and I  whisked it in,  and I think it helped  the texture.  It melts really fast once it’s on you, but not nearly as messy as straight coconut oil. I recommend storing in small containers to avoid the   fuzzy black mold.  OH – and you can cook with it!

Sweet Potato Gratin

This is a delicious recipe.  It adapts well to a springform ( cheesecake pan). Allow to  repose slightly before cutting to set the layers.  For an extra KICK – add some curry…

Vegan or Vegetarian Sweet Potato Gratin

Ingredients

3 cups coconut milk ( or heavy cream, milk or ½ and ½)

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 pounds sweet potatoes (about 8 sweet potatoes, depending on size), peeled and sliced thin with a mandoline

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves

GRATIN

2 tablespoons butter, cut into chunks, plus more for baking dish   1/4 cup panko bread crumbs, 1/4 cup grated Cheddar ( optional )

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 3-quart baking dish. In a large saucepan combine milk, cream, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Gently fold in sweet potatoes. Bring to a simmer and allow sauce to thicken. (Alternatively, layer potatoes in a casserole and  pour warm sauce over the top.)

Combine the bread crumbs, butter and cheese to make the gratin topping. Transfer the potato mixture to the baking dish and sprinkle with the gratin topping. Bake until the potatoes are cooked through, about 35 to 45 minutes.

Serve in the baking dish, garnished with chopped parsely.


From your Front Porch to the Plate – Stuff it!

What to do with that sweetie pie? Here are two recipes to recycle your decorative pumpkins into your dinner plans.  The best pumpkins for stuffing are either the sugar pumpkin or the sweetie pie pumpkin.  Any pumpkin will do, but these two varieties were bred for sweet meats and a future in pie.

These stuffings can be filled into any hard squash. My particular favorites being the delicata and the kabocha. Here’s a picture of a stuffed fairy tale pumpkin.

Be forewarned they are LARGE and make enough for a small army, or at least 14 folks, where as the petite sugar or sweetie pie pumpkin is good for 4-6 guests

This is an excellent recipe for improvisation, and can easily be vegan, vegetarian or omnivorous (add some bacon or pancetta)

Savory Stuffed Sweetie Pie Pumpkin

Prepare your pumpkin like you’re making a Jack o’ Lantern.  Cut the top wide, making more of a bowl than a lantern with the squash.

Preheat the oven to 400*.

Make the stuffing.

Stuffing Ingredients

A rough-cut mirepoix of onions, celery,  carrots  shallots and garlic – cooked.

Enough breadcrumbs, plain or flavored

(I love cornbread – olive bread is fun too – but not gluten free – turns to rubber inside the squash)

Sage, thyme,  California bay, rosemary from your garden, your neighbors garden, or your neighborhood. Forage! Any combination is delicious

Butter or olive oil

Salt and pepper

Grated  gruyere cheese, local Chevre or your family favorite

2 to 4 cups of cream, milk, vegetable stock, chicken stock – any combination will do

Optional: an egg or two, nuts and berries ( or bacon)

Method: Oil or butter the cavity of the squash and season with salt and pepper.  In a large bowl, mix together the mirepoix, breadcrumbs, cheeses, herbs nuts and berries.  I like to add whole cranberries and walnuts.  I also like sliced almonds and dates.  Toss together, taste and season with salt and pepper.

Chop your herbs and add no less than a teaspoon, no more than a tablespoon. Start sparingly; the flavors will bloom while cooking.

Tuck the stuffing into the prepared cavity.  Don’t pack it in. Pile it in nicely with little to no pressing depending on the density of your dressing.

Pour the liquid of choice ( stock or cream)  over the dressing till it pools at the top.

Place the pumpkin on a cookie sheet.  Place the top of the pumpkin next to the pumpkin.

Bake the pumpkin at 400* till the filling bubbles (anywhere from ½ hour to 45 minutes depending on the size). Check the lid, when it’s soft remove it from the oven.

Reduce heat to 325 and continue cooking till pumpkin is soft. You should be able to stick a pick right through the flesh and into the center of the pumpkin.  I use a skewer.

When the pumpkin is soft through and through, it’s ready!

Allow it to repose for a ½ hour before serving.  The best presentation  is when it’s sliced like a cake, and served in wedges.  Alternatively, it can be scooped out.

Pumpkin Pudding

These little darlings make good eats and beautiful place settings.  (That’s what we call stacking in Permaculture) You can find this delicious dessert in high end Thai restaurants through out Los Angeles during our autumnal  season ( still 70 and sunny!)

Recipe for Coconut Custard Pumpkins

Prepare a steamer.

Slice the top off and remove the seeds scraping a nice size cavity into 4 little pumpkins. Set aside.

Mix: 5 eggs, 1/3 cup of white sugar, pinch of salt and 1 cup of canned coconut cream. Pour into the pumpkins and steam for 20 to 30 minutes or until pudding is set, and the flesh is soft.

Slice or serve whole as dessert.  For added bling, bake pomegranate seeds into the custard. Add after the top has set if you want them to bake into the top.

Indian Cooking Class FUN! (recipes)

Seriously GREAT night! Our leaders , Sunita and Indra Led us through 10 different recipes.

Sunita and Indra getting ready for the students
Sunita and Indra getting ready for the students

Sunita and Indra were flawless in there demonstrations and assistance and we made a FEAST! You’ll notice that some recipes have few to no amounts listed. If you weren’t at the class this may seem a little strange. I suggest you mix the spices together before adding and taste! The leading ladies suggested all the chefs that night could have used more onions. Make sure you have a gracious portion- don’t be skimpy, this is the base for much of the flavor.

Indra’s Recipes

Indra’s Sri Lanken Chicken

Clean and washed 5 Chicken Pieces ( boneless thighs preferred)
½ tsp each salt and pepper, 2 tsp chile powder, pinch of tumeric
2 cloves, 2 cardamom pods, ¼ tsp fenugreek
1 inch of cinnamon, 2 tsp curry powder from your cousin, ½ tsp soy, 1 tsp oil

Combine all to marinate chicken 2- 4 hours or overnight

Saute :
1/2 to 1 onion, bay leaves ( curry leaf)
¼ tsp mustard seeds – look for the small ones
1 green chile, ½ inch of ginger – minced
2 cloves of garlic – minced, ½ tsp cumin seed
2 tsp of dry roasted curry powder

Add chicken. Stir 5 minutes. add 1.5 – 2 tomatoes, mix. Cover for 5 minutes.
Add ½ cup of water and ½ cup of coconut milk. Adjust to suit.
Reduce.
Enjoy!

Taking in the Spice extravaganza
Taking in the Spice extravaganza

Parippu ~ Lentil or Dal curry

1 Cup of Dal, triple washed.

1.5 cups of water
tumeric
1 clove of garlic
onion bits and green chile
1 inch of cinnamon stick

Simmer together till done.

Saute: Onions, garlic, chile powder, bay leaves, red chiles, mustard seed in olive oil
( feel free to add maldib fish)

Then: add the dal, ¾ cop of coconut milk and ¾ cup of water. Salt at the end.
Sprinkle with curry powder, just a bit.

Cucumber Salad – A Delicious Cold Pickle

Peel and cut the cucumber in quarters lengthwise.
1 tomato – Decide by taste whether to remove or leave the seeds. Slice small.
Add ¼ of a red onion, sliced the same size as the cucumber.
add green chile rounds.
Salt and Pepper to taste.
Squeeze on the juice of lime.
(Add Maldib Fish if you like.)
Chill and Enjoy

Potato Curry

Boil 2 to 3 potatoes till just cooked through, cool, peel and cube in 1 inch pieces.

Saute:
¼ onion, 2 garlic cloves, 1 green chile, ¼ tsp mustard seed, ½ – to 1/3 tsp tumeric
oloo har ( fenugreek)
fresh bay ( curry leaf)
1 or 2 red chiles

add ¾ cup of water and ¾ cup of coconut milk.
Add potato.
Heat and reduce.
Sprinkle with Curry powder from your cousin ( or the spice man) before serving.
(add Maldib fish if desired)

Enjoying our Indian Feast Together
Enjoying our Indian Feast Together

Sunita’s Recipes

Baingain bhartha

oil
mustard seeds
asoefetida
turmeric
sliced onions
salt
chili powder
garlic cloves
chopped tomato
globe eggplant
cilantro for garnish

1) Poke a few holes in the eggplants. Roast until they are collapsed, turning every 20 minutes, for about an hour. Cool, and peel off charred skin. Set pulp aside.
2) Heat oil on medium-high heat in pan. Add some mustard seeds and asoefetida. When the seeds start popping, add the turmeric and sliced onions.
3) Sautee onions until clear. Add the salt, chili powder, garlic, and chopped tomato. Sautee a little longer.
4) Add the eggplant pulp and cook for a bit. Shouldn’t take too long as the eggplant is already roasted.
5) Garnish with chopped cilantro.
——————————

Spinach-Lentils

(Note this one can take a while unless you decide to pressure cook the lentils first)
Soak the lentils first.

oil
mustard seeds
chopped onions
turmeric
chopped garlic
ground coriander
salt
masala
chopped spinach
soaked mung lentils

1) Heat the oil in a pan. Add the mustard seeds.
2) When the seeds start popping, add the coriander, onions and turmeric.
3) Sautee until the onions are clear.
4) Add the garlic, coriander, sal, masala, spinach and lentils. Add a little water to cover.
5) Cook on medium low heat (for quite a while) until lentils are cooked through.
——————————

Toor Dal

ghee (or oil)
cooked toor dal (in pressure cooker)
mustard seeds
curry leaves
masala
chilli powder
tamarind pulp
jaggery (or brown sugar)
salt

1) Heat the ghee in a pan on medium high heat. Add the curry leaves, mustard seeds, and chili powder.
2) Lower the heat and add the cooked dal and stir well.
3) When it starts boiling, add salt, masala, tamarind pulp and jaggery.
4) Add water to make it the consistency you desire.
——————————

Cauliflower

oil
cumin seeds
asoefetida
chopped green chilies
chopped cauliflower
salt
fresh ginger
cilantro

1) Heat oil in pan. Add cumin seeds.
2) When seeds begin to sizzle, add asoefetida and chilies.
3) After a minute or two, add cauliflower and salt. Stir well to coat and cook.
4) Grate in fresh ginger to taste near end of the cooking.
5) When finished cooking, stir in chopped cilantro.

The Amazing Corn Sensation

This is my most requested recipe. Old fashioned corn pudding with a California twist – Masa instead of flour for a delicious tamale like flavor.

The Amazing Corn Sensation

 Ingredients  for the pudding

3 1/2 cups of corn pureed with a ½ a cup of  water  ( or 2 cans of creamed corn)

¼ cup melted butter or oil

2 TBS sugar

3 beaten eggs

¼ cup Masa Harina

½ cup milk or half and half

 Topping:  2 cup frozen corn, 1 cup grated cheddar and a spritz of oil  to brown the corn ( I like the corn on top but not every chef does)

 Method:  Mix together creamed corn and melted butter (or oil). Beat in eggs, masa, sugar and milk until well combined.  Pour into 9 x 13 greased baking dish. Bake at 350* for 1 hour or until fork comes out clean. Top with cheddar and corn, return to oven until cheesy deliciousness is to your satisfaction.

Vegan Variation: sub Egg Replacer as per instructions on the box, use Earth Balance or olive oil and soy milk.  I haven’t tried it with coconut milk, but I bet it would be DEE lish. Oh yeah, and subbing agave syrup for the sugar would be good too.