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Dinner, Italian, Japanese, Lactose Free, Pasta, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Pistachio Pesto Ramen

October 27, 2020

Pistachio Pesto Ramen

This dish typifies a summery meal that is refreshing and can be prepared with minimal time spent at the stove.  The ramen takes just a few minutes to cook and the pesto itself is quick to make and does not require any cooking.  The bright flavors of fresh basil, pistachios and lemon will delight your palate.

Pistachio Pesto Ramen

Pistachios

To make things easier, buy shelled, salted pistachios.  Shelled or not, they make a tasty snack while you are preparing the dish.

Pistachios, Basil, Lemon & Garlic

Basil From the Garden

During the summer months when the temperatures reach into the 90’s, there’s not much we can grow successfully in the garden.  But herbs such as basil can take the brutal heat and grow nicely all year long.

Pistachio Pesto

This pesto does not call for cheese which makes it the perfect pesto for vegetarians, vegans, and those who are lactose intolerant.  The pistachios provide all the richness necessary.

Fresh Ramen

I use fresh Sun Noodle ramen (soup base packets are discarded) that I buy at Island Grocery here on Maui.  I like the texture of the curly noodles and the way the pesto clings to them.  If you don’t have access to fresh ramen by all means use your favorite dried ramen or pasta.

Fresh Ramen

This delicious pesto ramen is definitely going into my regular rotation.  We made a frittata the following morning with the leftovers and it was so delicious.

Pistachio Pesto Ramen

Pistachio Pesto Ramen
 
Adapted from LA Times
Author:
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • ¼ cup roasted and salted shelled pistachios, plus more for serving
  • 1 small garlic clove, smashed and peeled
  • 1 cup tightly packed basil leaves
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 lemon: 2 tablespoons lemon juice + zest of half the lemon and a few wedges for serving
  • 2 packages fresh ramen (about 10-13 ounces)
Preparation
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, combine the pistachios, garlic and basil in a food processor. Pulse until very finely chopped, scraping down the bowl as needed. Transfer to a large bowl. Stir in the olive oil, lemon zest, and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice (use 1½ tablespoons for less tangy sauce). Mix well and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  2. Cook the ramen according to directions on the package, discarding any seasoning packets that may have come with the ramen. Drain noodles in a colander and rinse under cool water just until noodles are warm. Shake the colander to remove excess water. Transfer noodles to bowl with pesto.
  3. Toss until the noodles are evenly coated with the pesto. Taste and add more lemon juice, oil and salt if needed. Divide among serving dishes. Top with additional chopped pistachios and lemon slices (optional)

 

 

Cookies, Dessert, Lactose Free, Recipes

Fudgy Flourless Chocolate Pecan Cookies

October 18, 2020

Fudgy Flourless Chocolate Pecan Cookies

These flourless cookies are decadently rich with pockets of melted chocolate tucked beneath their crinkly tops.  They are light, with crisp edges and chewy, chocolatey centers.  They are pure delight for anyone who enjoys a chocolate treat occasionally (or frequently).

Cocoa Powder, Egg Whites, Powdered Sugar, Chopped Chocolate & Pecans

With just 7 ingredients these cookies are easily made in 30 minutes.  Two types of chocolate and toasted pecans pair up beautifully.

Frothy Egg Whites

Egg whites and powdered sugar are what brings the batter together, giving these cookies a wonderful texture.  Stash some in the freezer for an anytime chocolate fix.

Fudgy Flourless Chocolate Pecan Cookie Dough

Fudgy Flourless Chocolate Pecan Cookies

Fudgy Flourless Chocolate Pecan Cookies
 
Adapted from Southern Living
Author:
Serves: 24
Ingredients
  • 3 cups (360g) powdered sugar
  • ⅔ cup (65g) unsweetened cocoa
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 3 large (90g) egg whites, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 (4-oz.) semisweet chocolate bar, chopped
  • ¾ cup (90g) toasted chopped pecans
Preparation
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Sift together powdered sugar, cocoa, and salt in a large bowl.
  3. Whisk egg whites until frothy (hand mixer works great). Stir egg whites and vanilla into powdered sugar mixture. The batter will be very thick. Stir in chopped chocolate and pecans until well combined.
  4. Drop cookies 3-inches apart using a 1½-inch cookie scoop (about 2 tablespoons) on a parchment-lined baking sheet lightly greased (otherwise they will stick) with cooking spray.
  5. Bake until tops are shiny and cracked, about 8 - 10 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

 

Appetizers, Dinner, French, Fruit, Gardening, Recipes, Side Dishes, Veggies

Tomato Galette

October 11, 2020

Tomato Galette with Thyme

One of the delights of a galette is its free-form crust.  The dough doesn’t require any trimming after being rolled out.  In fact, the ragged edges of the crust are what gives a galette its beautiful, rustic appearance.  Whether you are making a savory or sweet filling, a galette is a gorgeous dish to bring to the table.

Tomatoes & Thyme

This year we grew Katana beefsteak tomatoes (Kitazawa Seed Co.) which turned out to be our new favorite.  They are meaty, juicy, and so flavorful with a gorgeous deep red color.  They are the perfect tomato for this galette and on a side note, they make for an exceptional BLT sandwich.

Katana Beefsteak Tomatoes in the Garden

Sharp Cheddar Sprinkled Over Galette Dough

A sprinkling of sharp cheddar cheese is all you’ll need.  The small amount of cheese is just enough to add a bit of richness allowing the tomatoes to really shine.

Preparing Tomato Galette with Thyme

Choose tomatoes that are meaty and hold up well to slicing.  I prefer to peel the tomatoes (except for the mini ones) because the skin has a different texture than the tomato flesh and it is especially noticeable once tomatoes have been cooked.

Preparing Tomato Galette with Thyme

Fresh thyme and tomatoes are a perfect match.  I included a handful of colorful sweet cherry tomatoes that added a nice contrast with the red beefsteaks.

Tomato Galette with Thyme Ready to Bake

The edges of the dough are folded over the tomatoes to make a rustic crust that will bake up beautifully.

Tomato Galette with Thyme

Tomato Tart
 
Galette dough adapted from Dorie Greenspan's recipe
Author:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • For the dough:
  • 1½ cups (204g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt (1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt if using unsalted butter)
  • 1 Earth Balance Buttery Stick (8 tablespoons, 4 ounces, 113g), frozen for 30 minutes, then cut into small cubes
  • ¼ cup ice water
  • 1 tablespoon milk or cream for brushing the crust (optional)
  • For the tomato galette:
  • 1 cup coarsely grated sharp cheddar cheese, not packed
  • 1 pound meaty ripe tomatoes, peeled and sliced into ⅓-inch rounds
  • handful of assorted cherry tomatoes sliced (optional)
  • olive oil for brushing
  • Maldon sea salt or other flaky salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • a few fresh thyme sprigs
  • julienned basil (optional)
Preparation
  1. Place flour, sugar and salt in a food processor. Pulse a few times to blend. Add cubes of cold Buttery Sticks and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add some of the ice water and pulse. Continue to add more water, pulsing each time (about 3 additions). Use longer pulses until dough holds together when you pinch it (dough will not be formed into a ball). Transfer dough to a clean work surface and use the heel of your hand to smear small pieces of dough, which will help to incorporate the Buttery Sticks. Gather the dough and form into a flat disk. Place between 2 sheets of parchment paper. Roll out dough into a 12-inch circle. Place dough with parchment papers onto a sheet pan. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Keep refrigerated until you have all other ingredients ready to go.
  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees ½ hour before you bake the galette. Meanwhile, place sliced tomatoes on paper towels if very juicy. This will help to avoid a soggy crust. Strip thyme leaves from stems and set aside.
  3. Remove galette dough from the refrigerator. Discard top layer of parchment paper. Sprinkle cheese over the dough leaving a 1½-inch border. Place tomatoes over the cheese in a single layer. Brush tomatoes with olive oil. Sprinkle Maldon or other flaky salt over the tomatoes along with a few grinds of black pepper. Sprinkle fresh thyme leaves over the top. Gently fold the pastry over the tomatoes, making pleats as you go. Brush edges with cream or milk (optional). Bake galette for about 35 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Let galette cool for a few minutes before cutting into wedges. It is best served just warm or at room temperature. Sprinkle with julienned basil if using. The galette makes for a terrific meal served with a crispy green salad.

 

Breakfast, Dessert, Lactose Free, Recipes, Vegetarian

Whole Wheat Buttermilk Granola Muffins

October 5, 2020

Buttermilk Granola Muffins

Not long ago, my sister gave me an excellent bag of locally made granola.  I wondered what would be the best way to make it shine.  At first, I thought about just sprinkling it over yogurt for breakfast but then decided that granola muffins would be much more exciting.   This simple recipe turns out some mighty tasty muffins.

Buttermilk Granola Muffins

Hawaii Made Granola

I love the name of Deb’s baked in Hawaii granola.  Besides the more common ingredients such as oats and almonds that you might find in many granolas, this one includes rich and buttery  macadamia nuts and coconut chips that get nice and toasty when sprinkled over the top of the muffins.

Buttermilk Granola Muffins Batter

Besides the granola in the batter, you’ll want to sprinkle more granola over the top of each muffin before baking.  This lends a very tasty and crispy texture to each bite.

Buttermilk Granola Muffins

Buttermilk Granola Muffins

Buttermilk Granola Muffins
 
Adapted from King Arthur Flour
Author:
Serves: 12
Ingredients
  • 2 cups (227g) King Arthur white whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup (213g) light brown sugar, packed
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 cup (99g) granola + ¾ cup (74g) for muffin topping
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅓ cup (67g) canola oil
  • 1½ cups (340g) lactose free buttermilk
  • (To make lactose free buttermilk add 1½ tablespoons of white vinegar to a 2-cup liquid measuring cup. Pour lactose free whole or 2% milk over the vinegar to measure 1½ cups. Allow the milk to sit for 5-10 minutes to thicken a bit).
Preparation
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease the cups of a standard muffin pan.
  2. Whisk together all of the dry ingredients including 1 cup of granola.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the vanilla, canola oil and lactose free buttermilk. Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients, stirring just to combine. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling nearly full. Sprinkle the remaining ¾ cup of granola over the tops of the muffins.
  4. Bake the muffins for 16-18 minutes. Test for doneness by inserting a toothpick in the middle of one of the muffins. The toothpick should come out clean.
  5. Remove the muffins from the oven and set pan on a cooling rack for at least 5-10 minutes. When they are cool enough to handle, remove muffins from pan and cool on a rack. Muffins freeze well for a few months.

 

Beef, Dinner, Eggs, Korean, Lactose Free, Recipes, Rice Dishes, Veggies

Korean Soybean Sprouts Rice Bowl

September 26, 2020

Soybean Sprouts Rice Bowl with Sunny-Side Up Egg

To say that I love rice would be an understatement, so making this umami filled rice bowl was an easy decision.  Once you do a little prep work, everything goes into a rice cooker.  It’s a suitable meal for lunch or dinner.

Soybean Sprouts & Kimchi

Even thought the sprouts are cooked with the rice and other ingredients, they still retain a nice texture.  The kimchi adds such a wonderful flavor to the rice, with just a bit of heat.

Soybean Sprouts

Soybean Sprouts, Kimchi & Filet Mignon over Rice

The original recipe from Korean Bapsang calls for adding a bit of seasoned beef or pork to the rice dish as an option. However, you can omit this for a vegetarian version. I have cooked this dish with and without meat and both are equally delicious.  All ingredients are added on top of the rice (pictured above) then cooked together.

Cooked Soybean Sprouts, Kimchi & Filet Mignon over Rice

Once your rice timer goes off, you are ready to serve your meal.

Rice Bowl Sauce

The sauce is drizzled over the rice bowl.  I couldn’t resist adding a sunny-side up egg to mine.

Soybean Sprouts Rice Bowl with Sunny-Side Up Egg

Soybean Rice Bowl
 
Adapted from Korean Bapsang blog
Author:
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 1 cup (measuring cup for rice cooker) short grain white rice
  • Vegetables & Meat:
  • 8 ounces soy bean sprouts, rinsed and drained well
  • 3 ounces filet mignon, thinly sliced (omit meat and next 4 ingredients for vegetarian version)
  • ½ teaspoon minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon mirin
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • ½ cup kimchi, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon kimchi juice
  • Sauce:
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • ½ teaspoon gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes)
  • 1 teaspoon roasted sesame seeds
  • ½ teaspoon garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • 2 green onions, finely chopped
  • 2 sunny-side up eggs (optional)
Preparation
  1. Rinse rice and drain well. Place in rice cooker. Add water to 1 cup line minus 1 tablespoon.
  2. Marinate meat (if using) with garlic, soy sauce, mirin and sesame oil. Meanwhile, heat a small skillet with a 1½ teaspoons of canola oil over medium high heat. Stir fry kimchi for 2 minutes, adding some juice from the kimchi to intensify the flavor. Remove to a small plate. Add meat (if using) to the same pan and stir fry for a minute or two, just until barely cooked through.
  3. Spread soy bean sprouts over the the rice, followed by the kimchi, and meat. Start the rice cooker (do not use quick cooking option).
  4. While the rice is cooking, mix all of the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl. When the rice is nearly done, cook your sunny-side up eggs. When the rice timer goes off, gently fluff the rice distributing the bean sprouts, kimchi and meat. Serve in bowls with sauce drizzled over the rice and top with sunny-side up eggs.

 

Dessert, Lactose Free, Recipes

Fudge Brownies

September 19, 2020

Fudge Brownies

These fudge brownies are ultra moist with tons of chocolatey flavor thanks to both the Dutch-process cocoa and chocolate chips.  This combination makes for a divine brownie that will surely satisfy any chocolate craving.

Miyoko's Vegan Butter, Guittard Dutch Process Cocoa, Guittard Semisweet Chocolate Chips

Dutch-process cocoa powder is treated with an alkali that neutralizes its acidity that makes it darker in color with a milder flavor than natural cocoa powder.  When baking, Dutch-process cocoa powder is usually combined with another neutralized ingredient such as baking powder.  When a recipe calls for Dutch-process cocoa powder, it is not always interchangeable with natural cocoa powder especially when baking.  Many brownie recipes that call for natural cocoa such as Hershey’s, do not use any leavening, or very little (baking soda).  So for this recipe, it is essential to stay with Dutch-process cocoa.  Safeway stores carry the excellent Guittard brand in their baking aisle.

Fudge Brownies

Rich, decadent brownies with crackly tops.

Fudge Brownies

Fudge Brownies
 
Adapted from King Arthur Baking Company
Author:
Serves: 16
Ingredients
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup + 2 tablespoons (53g) Dutch-process cocoa
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon espresso powder (optional)
  • 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 8 tablespoons (113g) MIyoko's cultured vegan butter (or 1 stick regular unsalted butter)
  • 1⅛ cups (224g) granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup (89g) King Arthur unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (170g) semisweet chocolate chips
Preparation
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 8" x 8" pan.
  2. Beat eggs with a hand mixer on medium speed with cocoa, salt, baking powder, espresso powder (if using), and vanilla for about 1 minute until smooth.
  3. Melt butter over low heat in a medium saucepan, then add the sugar. Stir to combine. Continue to stir until mixture is hot, but not bubbling (about 110-120 degrees). Add the hot butter/sugar mixture to the egg/cocoa mixture, stirring until smooth. Add the flour and chips, stir until smooth.
  4. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top to make an even layer. Bake the brownies for about 32 minutes (check after baking for 28 minutes as oven temperatures vary). A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs clinging to it. Remove pan from the oven and cool on a rack before cutting and serving, about 45-60 minutes.

 

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