get your yummy back

musings from a health supportive culinary artist

Take the Challenge! Lemon Herb Cheese March 31, 2012

Filed under: how to make it,where to get it — chezdesblog @ 8:43 am
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I’ve never made cheese. I’ve never even really thought about making cheese – until now. Earlier this year I signed up for the Urban Farm Handbook Challenge. This month’s challenge – cheese making!

This recipe for Lemon Herb Cheese could not be more simple or delicious! The result  is light, spreadable, herby goodness. It’s delightful and unlike anything you buy at the store. Have some friends over, serve it with sliced baguette and then tell them YOU MADE IT.

Soup to nuts, it takes about 2-3 hours, but most of that is draining time – you don’t have to be there. I took photos all along the way, you can check them out here. I picked herbs from my garden – basil, cilantro and parsley. I think minced green onions, thyme, or oregano would also be delicious.

Note ~ the only special equipment required are cheese cloth and a candy/oil thermometer, both of which are readily available at kitchen supply stores and some grocery stores. Don’t let that be the reason you pass this up!

 

Food Photographer! + Black Bean Hummus March 25, 2012

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 11:38 am
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There are lots of exciting things happening at GYYB headquarters. I’ve been baking all sorts of samples for folks – vegan cookies, gluten-free brownies, whole grain muffins – you get the picture. Then I had a thought – I need someone to come take pictures of all this beautiful food! A few phone calls later, I had a full-blown photo shoot under way in my kitchen. See photos here. It was really fun, educational and exciting.

As for this week’s new recipe, I chose Black Bean Hummus. I am always looking for new ways to make lunch interesting. In addition to being a great dip for crackers or veggies, this dip makes a tasty spread for sandwiches and wraps.

In the meantime, it’s a totally rainy Sunday in my neck of the woods and I have the ingredients for Lemon Herb Cheese (for the Urban Farm Handbook Challenge). Another perfect day for playing in the kitchen!

 

Slow Cooker: Lamb, Apricot and Olive Tangine March 18, 2012

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 6:38 pm
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Marcus Nilsson for Real Simple

Oh goodness. This Lamb, Apricot and Olive Tangine is delicious. I set it to stew one day while I went to work. Got home, made couscous, a mixed green salad and – voila! Awesome dinner!

The ingredients in this dish remind me a bit of Chicken Marbella, which combines green olives, capers and prunes in an oddly delicious way. In this recipe, the green olives lend a brine-y-ness, which in combination with the sweet plump apricots is totally yummy.

I used a lamb shank because I could not find a lamb shoulder at the market. I added enough water to the pot to cover the shank and it worked perfectly. One lamb shank was enough to serve two for dinner plus a little leftover.

On another note, the Urban Farm Handbook Challenge for March is all about dairy. I’ve never gone the path of making my own dairy product (cheese, kefir, or whey for example), so I’m super psyched to try making Lemon Herb Cheese. I’ll report back!

 

Pork Tenderloin Stir-Fry with Orange Chili Sauce March 11, 2012

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 5:29 pm
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The trees are dripping with oranges. I am juicing, zesting and supreming them by the bagful. It’s a wonderful thing. This recipe for Pork Tenderloin Stir-Fry with Orange Chili Sauce adds oranges to the main dish. Love it!

This quick stir-fry is healthy and versatile. Lean pork tenderloin is sauteed over high heat with a variety of vegetables. I used asparagus, green onions, carrots and a red bell pepper just because I had them. You can use whatever you’ve got – snow peas, broccoli, green bell peppers, bok choy – just to name a few.

Chinese five-spice powder is a mix of ground pepper, star anise, cloves, cinnamon and fennel seed. It’s a great addition to your pantry. Buy it for this recipe and use it over and over again. Enjoy.

 

Another Delicious Pan Sauce! Chicken Adobo March 4, 2012

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 12:49 pm
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source: cook's illustrated

Remember how simple and delicious it was when we made the Pork Tenderloin with Orange-Ginger Pan Sauce? All together now – “mmmm….delicious…”

The next tasty main dish with a killer pan sauce to try out is Chicken Adobo. Chicken breasts are browned and then poached in a combination of vinegar, soy sauce, whole cloves of garlic, bay leaves, pepper and coconut milk.

Once the chicken is cooked and removed from the pan, after about 7 minutes of simmering, the poaching liquid has become a rich and delicious pan sauce worthy of sopping up with a hearty scoop of brown rice. The whole cloves of garlic turn creamy, mellow and quite tasty. Make it this week!

 

 
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