Thursday, March 25, 2010

Gratin Dauphinois--Scalloped Potatoes French Style

gratin dauphinois 4
 I've decided to give you a break from all the chocolate recipes and go back to something savory.  For this recipe, I reached back to childhood memories of my mother's Gratin Dauphinois: a casserole made from layers of potatoes, crême fraiche (french sour cream) and cheese. 

I am not sure how this one compares to my mom's--memories have a way of making something special even more so-- but it was very tasty and a thumbs-up from my little diners.  It's a real treat paired up with grilled fish or with a colorful salad.

Gratin Dauphinois 1

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Gratin dauphinois 2


Gratin Dauphinois--Scalloped Potatoes
I like to use organic potatoes so I don't have to peel them. The nutritious benefits of potatoes are concentrated in the skin.
(serves 6-8)

8 medium size organic rose potatoes, washed, dried and sliced thin
Sea salt, to taste
Garlic Powder
2 cups Parmesan or Swiss cheese, shredded
1 cup creme fraiche
1 1/2 cups lowfat or whole milk
+ 1/2 cup more of milk
1 large egg, beaten


  1. Oil a 9 x 13" dish.
  2. Preheat oven to 350F
  3. Place one layer of the sliced potatoes on the bottom of oiled dish.
  4. Sprinkle a pinch of salt over the layer and then a pinch of garlic powder (1/4 tsp).
  5. Spread 1/4 cup of the cheese over the potatoes.
  6. Repeat steps 3-5 until all the potatoes are used or until you have 1/2" of space left in your dish. You should have 4-5 layers.
  7. Mix 1 1/2 cup of mix with the crême fraiche and pour over the potatoes.
  8. Sprinkle with the leftover cheese.
  9. Bake for 1 hour
  10. In a bowl mix in the additional milk with the beaten egg, add a pinch of salt and carefully pour over the baked dish.
  11. Return to the oven for another 10 minutes.  A golden crust should have formed on top.
  12. Remove from the stove and let cool at least 10 minutes before serving.

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Friday, March 19, 2010

Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

chocolate hazelnut spread2

I grew up on Nutella and pain brioché (a rich and buttery bread popular in France). My family could empty a jar at light-speed, no problem. Once looked at as a gourmet product, it is now everywhere: on the shelves of Costco and at your local grocery store.  These days I prefer to make my own concoction.  I favor flavor over sugar and I like my own palette of ingredients much better than what you get in the store-bought kind.

chocolate hazelnut spread apple

My kids loved this creation.  My husband agreed that it was really good but he would have liked it better sweeter--he was outnumbered.  The good thing about making it at home is that you can adjust the sweetness according to your taste.  It always turns out just right!


I am about to enter a week of finals and I know that this spread will get me through the long hours of studying--just like Nutella used to do all those years ago.  Only this spread is healthier!
 
 

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chocolate hazelnut spread1

Chocolate Hazelnut Spread                       
I used both a food processor and a blender for this recipe.My blender could not handle the hazelnuts at the beginning and then I switched to the blender to make the spread smoother. If you don't mind a chunkier spread you can make it entirely in the food processor.  Or if your blender is powerful enough to handle it, you can make it entirely in the blender.

1 1/2 cups hazelnuts
2 tbsp roasted hazelnut oil
2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
3 tbsp cocoa powdered, unsweetened or more to taste
2 1/2 tbsp evaporated cane juice (sugar)
1 tsp GF vanilla extract
1 tsp agave nectar or honey (optional)

Place all the ingredients in a food processor and process for five minutes, scraping the sides as needed. Transfer to a blender to obtain a smoother paste.  Taste and adjust the sweetness to your liking.  Transfer to a jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator.


Print this recipe


Monday, March 15, 2010

Amazing Teff Chocolate Chip Cookies

Teff cookies in jar

These unusual cookies came about out of necessity:  we were in the middle of our weekly family night pizza dinner when I realized that we had forgotten about dessert.  Within fifteen minutes, and with the help of two of my children,  a big batch of scrumptious cookies was baking in our oven.  The whole house smelled wonderful by the time the timer beeped.

Teff tastes nutty and earthy.  It goes really well with almond or peanut butter and (as I found out) dark chocolate as well.  These vegan cookies are quite addictive but full of wholesome ingredients.  They are sweetened with maple syrup, which adds a buttery sweetness that does not overwhelm.  The dark chocolate chips are less sweet than regular semi-sweet chocolate chips. I prefer it that way, it allows the flavors to really come through.  My teenage son thought they were even better the next day.

My next post will feature a sinful hazelnut-chocolate spread.  Nutella doesn't stand a chance...

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Teff cookies



                                                                                        Print this recipe

Amazing Teff Chocolate Chip Cookies
 
1 cup roasted almond butter, unsalted
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 oz unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup pure maple syrup

1 1/2 cups teff flour

1/8 tsp salt
dark chocolate chips


  • Preheat oven to 350F.
  • Oil two cookie sheets.
  • In a food processor, place the almond butter, vanilla, apple sauce and maple syrup.  Mix to cream the ingredients together (2 minutes scraping the sides as needed)
  • Add the Teff flour and salt to the food processor and pulse until combined.
  • Scoop batter to make balls 1 1/4" in diameter and then arrange in rows--leave an 1" of space around each one.
  • Flatten with the back of a fork each ball of batter.
  • Arrange dark chocolate chips evenly on top of each cookie.
  • Bake for 13 minutes in the center of the oven.  The bottoms should be slightly golden but the tops will still be slightly soft.
  • Let cool on a rack.
  • Keep in an airtight container in your pantry or on the counter for a few days.



Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Creamy Chocolate Goodness

chocolate cream bar

I can do without a treat on most days but every once in a while a creamy, rich, delectable dessert calls to me--and it usually involves chocolate. 

chocolate cream trio


Silken tofu is the perfect conduit for the rich taste of dark chocolate.  It has other traits to recommend it as well: it is packed in convenient little cartons which you can keep on hand in your pantry; it is relatively healthy if you tolerate soy; and with the help of a food processor, it yields a lovely dessert in minutes.

If you're in the mood for more chocolate treats, be sure to check back for my next posts...

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Chocolate cream top jar

Dark Chocolate Cream 
(serves 6)
If you use agave nectar this treat is completely vegan. The coconut oil is optional but it gives the cream a wonderful extra creaminess and richness.  You might want to serve this dessert with some homemade biscotti or other cookies of your choice for dipping.

2 12.3 oz packages of firm silken tofu
1 tsp GF vanilla extract
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp unsweetened pure cocoa powder
2 tbsp evaporated cane juice
2-4 tbsp honey or agave nectar (according to your taste) 
2 tbsp virgin coconut oil, melted (optional)

Place all the ingredients in a food processor fitted with a blade. Process,  scraping the sides occasionally.  Stop blending when the mixture is smooth and creamyTransfer to a serving dish or individual dishes and store in the refrigerator for at least two hours before serving.

Printable Recipe

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Crockpot, or not, Albóndigas Soup

Albondigas soup1

Winter started out in the Fall this year with pipe-bursting temperatures.  Although mother nature has been kinder to us with the new year in the Northwest, I still crave steaming pots of bubbling soup when I come home from a full day of classes.  I have become a bit of an expert at whipping out my crockpot at 5 o'clock in the morning.  I chop my ingredients with a knife in one hand and a hot cup of coffee in another.  It takes some planning ahead but it is worth the effort.  This allows me to spend time relaxing and catching up with my family as soon as I arrive home in the evenings without having to worry about dinner preparations.


Albóndigas soup is one of my husband's favorites.  I use to make it regularly in the early years of our marriage.  It's been at least fifteen years since the last batch--way overdue. This Mexican meatball soup bursts with warm spices and colorful vegetables.  Don't let the long list of ingredients chase you away from making this delicious Latin dish--it's not hard to make and a lot of the prep-work can be done ahead of time.  I have posted two methods for you to choose from: simmer it slowly in the crockpot for 8 hours or for 30 minutes on the stove-top if you are short on time.  The choice is yours but either way it's sure to please everyone at your table. 

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Albondigas soup2

Crockpot or not Albóndigas Soup 
(serves 6)
Here's how to save time:  Chop and prepare all the vegetables the night before and refrigerate until ready to use.  I like to use my food processor and pulse a few times to chop each one finely.  

1 stick cinnamon, cut in three pieces
1 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 tsp ground cloves
2 tsp coriander seeds
1 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cups yellow onion, finely chopped (reserve 1/4 cup for the meatballs)
3 cups red cabbage, finely chopped
4 stalks celery, finely chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, finely chopped 
2 turnips, peeled and diced
4 rose skin potatoes, diced (makes 2 cups)
1 cup delicata or butternut squash, diced
1 lb grass-fed lean ground beef
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 cup basmati rice, uncooked
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp oregano
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp sea salt or more to taste
1 tsp chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, chopped (optional)
32 oz  chicken or vegetable broth
15 oz fire roasted tomatoes, chopped + juice

Optional toppings for Serving: 
Chopped cilantro
Pepitas
Diced avocado
Crushed tortilla chips

Crockpot Method:                   Printable crockpot recipe

Cooking time may vary depending on the make and model of your slow-cooker.  You may need to adjust the cooking time according to manufacturer's instructions.                                     

Place a large pot under medium heat, and saute the cinnamon, cumin, ground cloves, and coriander seeds for a minute or two until fragrant.  Place in a spice grinder and pulse until finely ground.  Set aside for now.


Using the same pot, heat 1/2 tbsp of olive oil.  Add the onions mixing occasionally until they start to soften.  Add the cabbage, celery, bell pepper, 1/4 tsp sea salt and continue sauteing for another five minutes.  Transfer to the crockpot.  Add the potatoes, turnips, and squash and mix together.


In a large bowl, combine the meat, egg, rice, 1/4 cup of chopped onion previously set aside, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, 1/4 tsp sea salt, and two teaspoon of the spice mixture.  Mix until thoroughly combined.  Form meat mixture into golfball sized meatballs and set aside.


Add the remaining spice mixture along with the chipotle (if using), the broth, the tomatoes as well as the bay leaf into the crockpot  and mix well.


Heat remaining 1/2 tbsp of olive oil in the pot under medium heat.  Brown the meatballs in batches until each one is golden brown on all sides.  Transfer into the crockpot.  Gently mix into the broth-vegetable mixture.  Set your crockpot on low temperature and cook for at least 8 hours.  If you have a timer, you can set it so that it stops cooking after 8 hours but still keeps it hot for your dinner.


Serve with bowls of various fun toppings at the center of the table and enjoy!



Stove-top Method:               Printable Stove-top recipe

Place a large pot under medium heat, and saute the cinnamon, cumin, ground cloves, and coriander seeds for a minute or two until fragrant.  Place in a spice grinder and pulse until finely ground.  Set aside for now.


Using the same pot, heat 1/2 tbsp of olive oil.  Add the onions mixing occasionally until they start to soften.  Add the cabbage, celery, bell pepper, 1/4 tsp sea salt and continue sauteing for another five minutes, stirring often.  Transfer to a large bowl.  Then add to it the potatoes, turnips, and squash and mix together.


In another large bowl, combine the meat, egg, rice, 1/4 cup of chopped onion previously set aside, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, 1/4 tsp sea salt, and two teaspoon of the spice mixture.  Mix until thoroughly combined.  Form meat mixture into golfball sized meatballs.



Heat remaining 1/2 tbsp of olive oil in the pot under medium heat.  Brown the meatballs in batches until each one is golden brown on all sides.  Return all the meatballs to the pot.  Add broth, all the vegetables, tomatoes, bay leaf, remaining spice mixture, and chipotle (if using).  Gently mix together and bring to a boil.  Cover and lower the heat to a simmer.  Continue simmering for 30 minutes.  

Serve with bowls of various fun toppings at the center of the table and enjoy!


 

 
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