get your yummy back

musings from a health supportive culinary artist

Lemon-Poppy Seed Polenta with Blueberries April 29, 2011

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 8:17 pm
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If you’ll recall, I am temporarily (um, since November) without an oven at home. It’s like a curse. Even though I cook and bake all day at work, I find myself craving all sorts of things at home, probably because I know I can’t make them. For example, I really miss baking muffins, scones, and quick breads. Some of my favorite combinations of flavors include lemon-blueberry, blueberry-corn, and lemon-poppy seed. This recipe for Lemon-Poppy Seed Polenta with Blueberries is my attempt to satisfy this craving. I am happy to report – it worked! This recipe turns polenta into a lovely hot breakfast porridge, much like Orange Polentina

Regularly eating a healthy breakfast is a critical part of maintaining a healthy weight. It boosts your metabolism and fuels your mind and body. This gluten-free breakfast comes together as quickly as oatmeal. The blend of polenta, lemon, poppy seeds, blueberries, and honey is almost like eating a breakfast muffin without the added fat. (Although, if you’re feeling especially indulgent, you could top it off with a pat of butter.) Do yourself a favor and enjoy a healthy breakfast every day!

 

Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes with Spinach and Basil April 22, 2011

Filed under: how to make it,where to get it — chezdesblog @ 8:00 pm
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These Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes with Spinach and Basil are totally awesome. No cream, no butter – and trust me on this – you won’t miss them. In addition to olive oil and chicken broth, these mashers include sautéed spinach and basil. “Creamy” and aromatic, this dish takes mashed potatoes to a new level. I noticed that the recipe calls for drying the potatoes out in the pot after cooking and draining them. Don’t skip this step - it guarantees that the potatoes will be dry and fluffy before getting mixed with the remaining ingredients. The simple, healthy additions of sautéed greens, olive oil, and chicken broth make this recipe a real keeper. Enjoy!

As a source of inspiration, I just purchased Heidi Swanson’s Super Natural Every Day cookbook – so excited to get it! I am a regular reader of her blog, 101 Cookbooks. For a link, see my blogroll on the right…

 

Feta Wheat Berry Salad + Gluten-free Option April 15, 2011

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 11:29 pm
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I love, love, love whole grains and especially whole grain salads. High in fiber, whole grains contain many important nutrients. In addition to making you feel full longer, fiber makes you, um, regular, and can provide many other health benefits including lowering cholesterol and controlling blood sugar levels.

The getyouryummyback recipe index is full of recipes featuring whole grains including polenta, quinoa, brown rice, wild rice, barley, oats, bulgur, and wheat berries.

This recipe for Feta Wheat Berry Salad is the latest addition. It’s delicious! Feta cheese, cucumber, green onions, red peppers, olives and fresh herbs add flavor, color, and nutrition to the pleasantly chewy wheat berries. For a gluten-free version of this salad, simply substitute kasha for the wheat berries. For other recipes using wheat berries, try Wheat Berry Waldorf Salad and Creamy Wheat Berry Hot Cereal.

I usually find plenty of whole grains at the market. It’s also nice to buy them in bulk at the local co-op or health food store, so you can get just the amount you want. You can also buy whole grains online from Bob’s Red Mill (one of my favorites – recipes too!). Whole grains are best kept refrigerated or frozen in an air-tight container. When shopping for whole grain products, including bread, try to find options with at least 3 grams of fiber per serving. Enjoy!

 

Seasonal Sunchoke Salad April 11, 2011

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 12:47 am
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‘Tis the season when you will see sunchokes, a root vegetable, at the farmer’s market. Commonly known as Jerusalem Artichokes, they have nothing to do with Jerusalem, nor are they related to artichokes. In fact, they are related to sunflowers.

Select sunchokes that are pale brown without any dark or soft patches. Most recipes involve peeling them, so selecting ones with fewer knobs just makes it that much easier to do (with less waste).

Like apples, sunchokes will discolor when exposed to air, so place the peeled and/or sliced vegetables in a bowl of water with lemon until ready to use. Or, toss them immediately with fresh orange juice like I did in this Seasonal Sunchoke Salad, and they won’t turn brown. This salad is crunchy, nutty, and fresh with flavors from oranges and mint. On a bed of baby spinach, it’s a delicious, colorful Spring salad. Sunchokes can also be roasted like potatoes or sliced and sautéed. Store them in a cool dark place, as you would potatoes, and they’ll keep for about 10 days.

This post is linked to the Real Food Wednesday blog carnival..a first for me!

 

Wild Rice with Radishes & Spring Greens April 3, 2011

Filed under: Uncategorized — chezdesblog @ 10:18 pm
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We’re at that weird time of year, between seasons, when winter crops are starting to fade and the promise of spring is upon us, yet the spring harvest is not quite ready. At the farmers’ market these days, I’m seeing lots of spring greens, green garlic, asparagus, snap peas, radishes, and promise of good things to come!

Today, I made a delicious salad of Wild Rice with Radishes & Spring Greens. Wild rice is simple to prepare. Boil it, as you would pasta, for 45 minutes to one hour. You will know it’s ready when it “butterflies” and has a pleasurably chewy texture. Accompanied by a zesty orange-Dijon vinaigrette, this recipe is very versatile and can be modified to satisfy your taste and suit your pantry. My version includes thinly sliced radish, chopped baby greens, minced shallots, toasted nuts and golden raisins. Arugula, green onions, dried apricots, dried cranberries, and fresh green peas would make tasty substitutes. I’m sure you will have other ideas of your own…

Another great use for your radishes is the Sugar Snap Pea Salad with Radishes, Mint, and Ricotta Salata. If you go this route, save some sugar snap peas for another one of my all-time favorites, Grilled Lemon Chicken Salad. Be well, eat well!

 

 
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