get your yummy back

musings from a health supportive culinary artist

Easy Peasy Strawberry Jam + Lavender Infusion July 29, 2012

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 10:45 am
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We are hosting two Italian exchange students for two weeks – it’s been an adventure! Giovanni and Giacomo are 17, from Genoa, love volleyball and eat us out of house and home. It’s been a lot of fun introducing them to some of our favorite dishes – Watermelon + Tomato Salad, Grilled Lemon Chicken Salad,  and other seasonal favorites like this Strawberry Jam.

I made the jam yesterday morning before anyone was up. We used it to top Belgian waffles for breakfast. It’s that simple and that easy and yes – that delicious! I infused it with lavender from the garden. Classic strawberry jam is a wonderful thing, but the lavender infusion makes it really something special.

Yesterday was my birthday. Under the guise of going for a bike ride to the beach, the Italians went shopping and surprised me with an apron that boldly states “Keep Calm and Bake On.” Perfection!  

 

Seasonal Fruit Tartlets with Crumble Topping July 22, 2012

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 12:56 pm
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For the past several weeks, we’ve had a friend bringing us boxes upon boxes of stone fruit from his frequent visits to California’s Central Valley. It’s such a gift! We prefer eating these juicy little gems while they are fresh. What we don’t eat fresh, we bake, grill, dehydrate or puree to make fruit leather.

This week, I made a batch of Seasonal Fruit Tartlets with Crumble Topping. As you will see, this entry into the GYYB Recipe Index is less of a recipe and more of a process guide.

I’ve always used my Mom’s recipe for pie crust. It’s a simple, straight forward, butter-based crust. No chilling required. Nothing fancy. Maybe that’s why it works. Every. Single. Time.

Once you make a pie crust and a crumble topping, the possibilities are endless.  I’ve used this process for making tartlets with plums, nectarines, blueberries, peaches, apples and combinations thereof. Grab some fruit and get going! 

 

Black Bean Burgers July 15, 2012

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 6:51 pm
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Black Bean Burgers are easy to make at home. Simple pantry items (including oats!), herbs and spices come together in the food processor. They make a great meal, with or without a bun. They are very portable, so they also make a great lunch. Dress them up with traditional burger fare or top them with avocado and salsa. They deliver lots of flavor for not a lot of fuss.

If you cook your own black beans for this recipe, cook a lot and use them during the week in soups, sides and salads including one of my favorites – Polenta and Black Bean Casserole.

 

Roasted Rock Fish + Chicken Posole July 8, 2012

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 10:46 am
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Alaskan Rock Fish

As expected, it was a great week with that break smack-dab in the middle!

I created two new dishes that I want to share. The first was Roasted Rock Fish in a chunky tomato sauce. Our friends caught the fish while in Alaska and were kind enough to share their bounty. When I opened the package, it smelled like the ocean. So fresh! So delicious! This dish is really great for entertaining because the tomato sauce can be made ahead of time and it only takes about 15 minutes for the fish to roast. If you can’t find rock fish, black cod or halibut would be good alternatives.

I also made Chicken Posole, a hearty broth-based chicken and hominy soup garnished with radish, avocado and cabbage. I roasted a chicken for the meat and used the carcass to make  chicken broth. Don’t let that deter you from trying it. There are short cuts, of course, like buying broth and using a pre-roasted chicken. Delicious either way.

 

Celebrate Something New! July 1, 2012

Filed under: how to make it — chezdesblog @ 1:39 pm
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I love it when July 4th falls on a Wednesday. A day off in the middle of the week – what’s not to love about that?! It’s like a bonus vacation day without the pressure of making some grand plan for a 3-day weekend. And, of course, there are the fireworks at the beach. Need I say more?

Whether you’re putting burgers on the grill, cooking over the campfire, or beating the heat with no-cook summer meals – it’s time to try something new!

Some of my seasonal favorites include Watermelon Tomato Salad, Haricot Vert and Red Onion Salad with Pistou and Basil-Blackberry Crumble. Visit the Recipe Index and let me know if you try something new.  I’ll do the same. Happy 4th!

 

 
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