Crispy Basil Leaves & Marinade for Tofu or Chicken

My CSA box came with a glimpse of summer a few weeks ago: a small bag of beautiful basil leaves.  It was a bit unexpected, and I was at a loss for a clever way to prepare the beautiful leaves.  Pesto seemed too obvious and my husband vetoed that idea.  He suggested a Thai basil dish--something I had never made at home before.  I started to do some research and decided to crisp half the leaves in an oven instead of frying them.  I decided to use the remaining basil for a lovely Asian style marinade.


The recipe below was excellent with tofu but would work as well on bite size pieces of chicken.  If you are gluten free or wheat free, please be aware that soy sauce is a common source of hidden wheat. 

By the way if you are looking for an excellent CSA in the Seattle area: Jubilee Farm is a great one to support.   I am as hooked on the fresh produce they send me as I am on farmer Erick's weekly newsletter which is included in every box.  They've started their own blog as well: The Growing Revolution .

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Crispy Basil Leaves Wait until serving time to add the crispy leaves to your dish to retain the contrast in texture between the leaves in the marinade and the ones you've crisped.   Preheat oven to 350F. Oil two cookie sheets. Coat basil leaves with vegetable oil of your choice and lay flat onto the cookie sheets. Sprinkle sea salt on top. Bake for 10-13 minutes or until crisp.  Remove and let cool. Reserve to top your cooked marinated chicken or tofu. Basil Asian Marinade for Tofu or Chicken This recipe will make enough marinade for 1 lb of firm tofu, or bite size pieces of chicken tenders. 1 tbsp rice vinegar 2 tbsp GF soy sauce  1 tbsp toasted sesame oil 1 tbsp chili sauce 1 cup basil leaves, cut into thin strips 1 tbsp garlic, minced 1 tsp of brown sugar, or maple syrup Mix all the ingredients in a large dish.  Add your protein of choice and let sit in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.  You can leave it marinating all day or overnight for convenience.     Print this recipe

The Perfect Way to Start The New Year

Years ago, when we lived closer, my sister and I used to get our families together for New Year's Eve. We'd eat, drink, and play board games. In the morning, my sister and I would prepare a brunch: a cozy way to usher in a new beginning. I miss those yearly rituals.

My sister lives too far for that sort of thing these days, but my husband and I still carry on the tradition with our kids: a special dinner preceded and followed by various board games. In the morning we go for a long walk, eat a wonderful brunch and phone our extended families to express season's greetings.

I am always on the look out for new dishes to serve on the very first day of the year. This crustless quiche is perfect for any meal. It makes great use of leftovers. A mixture of pre-roasted potatoes and sauteed spinach mingles beautifully with cottage cheese and eggs to form the perfect brunch center piece.

Potato Spinach Crustless Quiche (serves 6-8) 1 1/2 cups sauteed chopped spinach 1 1/2 cups roasted potatoes, diced size 16 oz lowfat cottage cheese 1/2 cup egg whites 3 eggs 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 cup shredded cheese (mild cheddar or italian mix) 3 tablespoons GF breadcrumbs Preheat oven 375F Oil a ceramic lasagna dish Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl. Transfer to the baking dish. Bake for 1 hour. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

More dishes for a New Year's Brunch:
Quinoa Spaghetti Squash Casserole
Eggs with Asian Tomato Salad

Oh, Dukkah--Where Have You Been All My Life?

Every once in a while flavors find their way into your kitchen that renew your enthusiasm for good food. I discovered an Egyptian spice mixture called Dukkah on epicurious.com earlier this month. I couldn't resist the name. The ingredients in the mix include some of my favorite spices. The original recipe was for lamb chops--an excellent marriage of flavors. I used the leftovers to sprinkle on soup and almost everything I could think of--it's that good!

Authentic Dukkah is a mix of hazelnuts or chickpeas, seeds and a variety of spices. It is used as a dry dip for olive-oil soaked bread and to flavor everything from salads to meats.



The mixture from epicurious was made with pistachios instead of the more traditional hazelnuts or chickpeas. I altered it slightly. It was excellent and so easy to make. I am planning on concocting a new batch for our new year's eve meal this year. It will add an exotic flair to our celebration.

Pistachio Dukkah 1/2 cup roasted salted pistachios, shelled 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 tablespoon ground coriander 1/4 teaspoon sea salt Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until a finely coarse mixture is obtained. Store in an airtight container.

Artsy-Foodie's Tip: Spice mixtures keep in airtight containers at room temperature for a limited amount of time depending on the spices' oil content. However, the addition of nuts to the mix makes it more likely to spoil faster. You can still keep it at room temperature but just for a day or so before the oil in the nuts starts to break down. It's best keep it in the refrigerator if you are going to need it at a later date. You can always toast it slightly in a dry pan to revive the flavors. But be careful, it burns fast.






Other great ways to use spices:
Pumpkin Seeds with Spices
Cinnamon Izmir Kofte-Meatballs
Pea Vines and Zucchini Patties

Snow and Stick-to-Your-Ribs Meals

The weather has been unbelievable lately. Our city is paralyzed by snow. We are as stuck as the snowmen forming on front lawns all around us. It is a reminder that this is the season for slowing down and a perfect excuse to enjoy our families.

My children are loving it. They spend their days outside building snow caves and sledding down the hill. The cold air makes them ravenous by the time they're ready for the warmth of our home. I love stews for their ability to bind the people that share them. The aroma that fills the air as they simmer provides an open invitation to rest, chat and enjoy.


I'll take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy holiday season.

Happy Hanukkah!
Merry Christmas!
Joyful Kwanzaa!
Happy New Year!

Turkey and White Bean Stew with Millet Polenta For the Millet: 1 tsp olive oil 2 cups organic millet 6 cups water 1 tsp salt 1 tablespoon butter 1/4 cup sour cream 1/4 cup freshly shredded parmesan salt to taste For the Stew: 1/2 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 cup sweet onion, minced 1 large garlic clove, minced 1 Lb organic ground turkey, not extra lean 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon dried basil 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper, or more to taste 2 cups cooked white beans, cannellini or white navy beans 26.4 oz carton chopped tomatoes 1/4 cup chopped parsley, optional for garnish To Prepare the Millet Polenta: In a medium to large pot, heat the oil and saute the millet for a minute then add the water and salt. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer covered, stirring every once in a while. Cook for 25-30 minutes or until mixture is cooked and creamy (like polenta). Add butter, sour cream, parmesan and more salt to taste. Keep warm until ready to serve. To Prepare the Stew: In a large pan, heat the oil and saute the onions, garlic until cooked and slightly caramelized. Add the ground turkey and cook, mixing to break a part the clumps. Once the meat is cooked, add the salt cinnamon, oregano, basil and red pepper. Saute for another minute then add the cooked beans and chopped tomatoes. Mix well. Bring to a low boil and simmer covered for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve on top of the millet polenta. Top each portion with freshly chopped parsley (if using).

Spicy and Sweet Squash

This puree is a nice side-dish I came up with the other day when I was trying to tone down the natural sweetness squash. My husband loves spicy food and I have acquired quite a taste for it myself. When the kids were little, I use to make spicy condiments that he and I could add to our dishes, in order not torture our children's sensitive palates. I no longer have to do that for the three oldest ones. My six year old, on the other hand, uses the spiciness as the perfect excuse not to eat his vegetables. It makes him feel empowered which I think is healthy once in a while. All I have to do is steam some broccoli which he'll gladly eat instead of anything suspect like: Spicy Squash Puree.

This is a great side-dish paired up with a strong flavored protein such as lamb, a blackened fish or smoked tofu.

I love how simple it is to make. It literally takes five minutes to assemble, after baking the fruit/vegetable.
The spiciness of the smoked pepper is a really nice contrast to the sweetness of the squash. Add some sea salt and you are in business.

Spicy and Sweet Squash Puree Everything I have added for richness such as the butter, sour cream or cheese is pretty much optional. It does add a lovely dimension to the dish. 2 medium size squash such as delicata, carnival or acorn (seeds scooped out and cut into halves) 1 tablespoon of butter, or olive oil 1/4 cup lowfat sour cream sea salt to taste 1/4 cup goat cheese gouda (optional) 1-2 tsp smoked chipotle peppers Preheat oven to 375F. Place squash halves on an oiled cookie-sheet, cut side down. Bake until tender when pierced with a knife (about 30 minutes) Take out of oven and cool for ten minutes. Carefully, scoop pulp out into a bowl. Mix in the remaining ingredients and mash until creamy. This dish will keep for a day or two. However, the longer it sits the spicier it gets.

Artsy-Foodie's Tip: Isn't it frustrating when a recipe calls for only 1 tablespoon of a 5oz can of something like tomato paste or smoked chipotle in adobo sauce? Here's what I do: I take my muffin pan and divide the can into individual tablespoon portions then I transfer the whole thing to the freezer. Once they are frozen, all I have to do is put them into an airtight container and keep them in the freezer for future use.

Pear Butter and Muffins

I came upon a cornucopia of pears through my CSA and decided to turn them into a light pear butter. Pears take on the loveliest velvety texture when baked and blended. It reminds me of the baby fruit purees I use to make for my children--yes, I would lick the leftovers. Since silkiness is provided by mother-nature, I just have to add the right complementary ingredients for my fruit spread. I chose maple syrup to provide some additional sweetness and richness, but the spices are really what makes this recipe special.



The batch will yield two jars. You can enjoy it as a spread or a nice change from applesauce. I used one jar for our morning toast and then turned the rest into a batch of delicious gluten-free pear muffins.



My kids loved them and immediately requested another batch.

Oven-Baked Pear Butter The Pear Butter is vegan. 4 cups ripe pears, peeled and sliced 1/4 cup maple syrup 2 teaspoon orange zest juice of one orange (1/4 cup) 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg Preheat oven 350F. Mix all the ingredients in an oiled ceramic dish (lasagna pan). Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 20 minutes. Transfer pears to blender and pulse until smooth. Cool and transfer to jars. Refrigerate for up to a week.

Pear Butter Muffins (makes 12) 1/2 cup almond meal 1/2 cup millet flour 1 cup[ brown rice flour 1/2 teaspoon xantham gum 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 cup Sucanat (evaporated cane juice) or granulated sugar 1 cup Kefir or other liquid yogurt (buttermilk will work fine) 1/2 cup egg whites 2 tablespoons canola oil 1 teaspoon GF vanilla extract 6 tablespoons pear butter 1/4 cup walnut pieces Preheat oven 375F. oil a muffin pan. Mix the first seven ingredients in a bowl. Mix the next 4 ingredients (yogurt-vanilla extract) in a bowl. Incorporate the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix well. Divide half the batter into the twelve muffin cups. Add 1/2 tablespoon of pear butter on top of each muffin. Then, top each dollop of pear butter with the remaining batter. Top each muffin with a sprinkle of walnut pieces and bake for 25-30 minutes or until nice and golden. Let cool for about 10 minutes before serving or transferring to a platter.

Similar recipes for you to enjoy:
Pumpkin Butter with Candied Ginger
Simple Fig Jam

Picture Perfect Edamame Millet Bowl

What is it with little children and mixed ingredients? If I serve my six
year-old millet, carrots, seaweed and cilantro, he will happily eat them as long these foods are not mixed together. However, if I dare to serve them in a one-dish-meal: it's all over. I know he will outgrow this aversion eventually. It's fascinating though--it's like an artist refusing to mix paint because it alters the purity of each color.



I have obviously outgrown this tendency since I love one-dish-meals. I play around with the colors, textures and flavors. It's comfort food to me. This edamame millet bowl is so delicious. The millet provides a great change from rice. You can use whatever seasonal vegetable you have on hand. Try to contrast the textures and sweetness/saltiness ratio and you'll have a winning dish. The secret, frankly, is the sauce which is generously poured over the mixture.

Edamame Millet Bowl with Ginger Miso Sauce (serves 8) Feel free to use your own mix of vegetables such as: baby spinach leaves, asparagus, and corn. Cook your millet the same way you would brown rice. I like to saute the grains in a little bit of olive oil for a minute or so and then add the water (1:2 millet to water ratio) and salt to taste. Then, simmer covered for about 35 minutes or until the water has been absorbed and then fluff with a fork. 4 cups of cooked millet 2 cups shelled edamame, steamed 1 cup shredded carrots 1 cup cooked pumpkin, cubed 1/4 cup green onions, chopped 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped 1 cup baked tofu, diced 1 sheet of roasted nori seaweed, sliced into thin strips Sauce: 1/2 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated 1 1/4 cup fresh orange juice 1 tablespoon GF soy sauce 3 tablespoons rice vinegar 1 tablespoon roasted sesame oil 3 tablespoons white miso paste Toasted seeds for garnish Mix all the warm ingredients in a large bowl or platter and set aside. In small pot, under medium heat, bring to a boil the ginger, orange juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil. Reduce heat to a low simmer and reduce for about 10 minutes, stirring every once in a while. Turn the heat off. Put the miso in a small bowl and add about 1/4 cup of the orange/ginger sauce. Mix well until fully combined. Add miso mixture to the rest of the pot and mix well. Pour sauce over the millet edamame mixture. Mix to combine, garnish with sesame seeds and serve.

Other great tofu recipes:
Tofu Saute in Peanut Sauce
Pomegranate Marinated Tofu
Caramelized Tofu

Pumpkin Dal with Rice

My family loves legumes. We enjoy them in a variety of dishes from salads to comforting stews. They're an easy way to create a satisfying vegetarian course full of flavor and protein. The advantages of making them a staple in your meal-planning go beyond good taste--they are economical as well.



Legumes are fruits that have been dried. In France, the word "legume" means vegetable, while in the english language it identifies specifically the dried fruits inside pods. Its wide-spread use is not surprising. One can imagine how easy it would have been for different varieties to cross borders, as people migrated. Through-out history, it has been used as an excellent source of protein or an extender when meat was scarce. From the tiny lentil to the fatty peanut, they vary widely in size, taste, fat content and texture.

This recipe is a perfect example of how you can turn legumes into a fantastic meal. It features split peas and chana dal, as well as creamy pumpkin, an array of spices and fragrant basmati rice.



Legume Puree with Pumpkin and Rice (serves 6-8)
If you cannot find chana dal (available at natural/health food stores and Indian markets), replace it with some yellow split peas instead and proceed as per the recipe.

1 cup chana dal
1 cup green spilt peas
4 cups diced pumpkin, or butternut squash
1 tsp ground turmeric
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1 tablespoon dried funegreek leaves

4 cups water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tsp black mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 cups cooked basmati rice

Yogurt Sauce:
1 cup plain yogurt (I favor goat yogurt)
1 1/2 tablespoon lime juice
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chaat masala seasoning (available in international or indian markets)


Soak the chana dal and split peas overnight. Rinse well. Transfer to large pot with diced pumpkin, turmeric, ground cumin, water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until the peas, beans and pumpkin are very tender.

In a small pan, heat the oil. Add the mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Saute until they start to sizzle and crackle. Pour fragrant mixture into the dal pot along with the cooked rice. Mix well. Let simmer, uncovered, until the mixture thickens slightly. Make sure you mix often.

Make the yogurt sauce by mixing all the ingredients in a bowl (keep refrigerated until ready to serve with the dal).

Serve the dal/rice mixture in a bowl, topped with a generous spoon of the yogurt sauce.




Artsy-Foodie's Announcement:
During this busy time of the year, in order to keep up the quality of my posts, I feel the need to go to biweekly postings. From now on, I will be posting on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and additionally for special events such as Daring Bakers. I have some wonderful recipes in the works-- I look forward to sharing them with you.






More legume recipes:
Edamame Avocado Spread
Black Lentil Soup with Kale and turnip chips

Keeping It Fun with Acorn Squash

Eating locally means going with the best the season has to offer. I receive a box from my CSA farm every week. Summers are so easy and bountiful, Autumn is more of a challenge for me. There is only so much winter squash I can eat before I start to crave the stunning greens of Spring and Summer. My solution is to diversify how I prepare the Fall cornucopia that crosses the threshold of my kitchen.



There are many recipes on the internet for eggplant glazed with miso. I decided to take the concept and apply it to the humble acorn squash. I had the perfect miso glaze in my recipe box. The saltiness of the miso brings out the natural sweetness of the squash while the sesame seeds add visual appeal. This beautiful dish would make a great addition to any Autumn meal.



Miso Glazed Acorn Squash (serves 4)
This dish can be made with any firm fleshed winter squash.

1 acorn squash, seeded and quartered

1/4 cup white miso
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
2 tablespoons agave nectar

2 tablespoons black sesame seeds



Preheat oven to 400F
oil cookie-sheet or baking dish

In a bowl, mix well: miso, vinegar, water, ginger, and agave nectar.
Place the squash skin down onto your oiled dish. Coat the squash with the miso glaze, letting it puddle in the center. Sprinkle the sesame seeds over the whole thing.

Bake for 30 minutes and then carefully, using a soup spoon, reglaze the squash using the puddled marinade in the center of each quarter. Bake for another 30 minutes or until the squash in started to look golden and is cooked through (check by inserting a toothpick or small knife in one of the pieces. It should go in easily)




More squash recipe...
Spaghetti Squash and Quinoa Bake
Pumpkin Butter with Candied Ginger

Flip and Flops in the Kitchen

Well, 10 lbs of raspberries later and I am afraid that I do not have much show for it except a lot of lessons. I have had more flops than flips in the kitchen this weekend. The custard, the jam, the muffins, the almond-raspberry pudding never made it through my harsh criteria of blog-worthiness. Some of it was okay though, but none was excellent. I could blame it on the kids, the dog or my husband, but the truth is the dog can't be blamed because we don't have one, and the kids and husband are just perfect.


So here goes:



The custard was made with soy milk and agar agar. The end result was too thin and too blend. The raspberries which had simmered in the soy milk, honey and other flavorings were not enough to carry the taste through once the mixture solidified. Then, I mixed some of the homemade jam with fresh raspberries and poured it on top of the custard. That part was kind of nice, except the seeds got in the way and the abundance of flavor from the jam pointed an accusing finger at the custard. There was no chemistry between those two. The judges voted them out. Sorry, there is no room for mediocrity here. Thank you for playing. Harsh, I know.

The jam was pretty good, a little runny which was fine for my purposes-- but those seeds... I couldn't forgive. When you have to lean over for the floss every time you bite into your jam infested bread there's just no point. Note to myself: use a sieve next time before sealing those pretty jars.

The muffins were not bad if you like to have bricks for breakfast-- I don't. The flavor was very nice, not too sweet. The raspberries came through nicely showing off their beautiful perfume but the texture was just too dense. When my teenage son, who's growing like a weed, declined to have a second one, I knew I was in trouble. Usually he'll eat the whole pan and ask for more. No wonder he's sprouted a full 6 inches in just the last six months... No thanks to this morning's muffins, though. So here is the thing about gluten-free or wheat-free baking: it's a tricky, fickle beast. A mixture of flour that works for one batch of muffins might turn into a load of bricks the next, when you cleverly try it with different ingredients. It's all chemistry, which I can't remember if I flunked or aced in college. I am having brick-muffin induced amnesia, now. Anyway, I did some reading up in my chemistry of cooking books and I think I might know where I went wrong. Seeing how I can get pretty obsessive about these things, I'll have to try them again. I am going for fluffy this time, hold the mortar.

The almond-raspberry pudding, what can I say: I ran out of floss...