deb's pots

Potato Crusted Halibut with Spring Vegetables

Posted on May 2, 2017 by debspots

It would be easy to argue that the morel is one of the most prized treasures a forager can find. So imagine my surprise and utter delight when I walked out my front door the other day and discovered dozens of perfect specimens in my “lawn.” I put that word in quotation marks because we don’t really have a lawn here in the woods. We have a motley collection of weeds which I mow once a week during the warm weather.

A quick count before I ran inside to get Bob: 51 morels. He was as dazzled as I. The immediate question: Harvest immediately, or wait a couple of days in the hopes that they would be safe and grow a bit bigger, giving us an even greater yield. I guarded them carefully for two days, during which time they did indeed grow. At that point, I felt they would soon begin to deteriorate and we decided, reverently, to gather them.

I admit, I was so excited (and suffering from hay fever), that I was unable to sleep, and texted Meg to see if she was still up and wanted to chat. We had a lovely 2 am chat during which I asked her what she thought I should cook with the morels. She did not hesitate: “Halibut.” I was speechless because, in fact, I had already decided I would make halibut. She was not as impressed as I was by the resonance. It was, she said, simply the correct answer.

I developed this recipe to showcase our abundance of foraged produce, both the morels and the season’s bounty of fiddleheads. Asparagus is a natural, perfect addition. But I don’t expect most of my readers to have ready access to these wild foods, and cultivated substitutes are absolutely wonderful here.

Potato Crusted Halibut with Spring Vegetables

I’ve suggested spinach as a substitute for the fiddleheads. Frozen or fresh peas or artichoke hearts would be equally good.

Serves 2

For the fish:
¾ lb. skinless halibut, cut into two pieces
2 tbs. softened butter
1 cup good quality potato chips
¼ cup toasted, salted almonds
¼ cup panko (gluten free are fine)
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375°. Use a teaspoon of the butter to grease an 8 inch baking dish or pie pan.

Season the fish liberally on both sides with salt and pepper. If you have time, do this a few hours ahead of preparation and refrigerate until ready to cook.

Place the potato chips and almonds in the bowl of a small food processor, and grind until fine crumbs. Add the panko, and process to mix.

Rub the fish with the remaining butter and place the filets in the prepared pan. Sprinkle the crumbs over the top. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the fish is just firm to pressure.

For the vegetables:
½ lb. asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
½ lb. fiddlehead ferns or spinach
½ lb. morels or other wild or cultivated mushrooms
wild or cultivated chives or scallions, minced
2 tbs. butter
¼ cup white wine
salt and pepper, to taste

Sauté the mushrooms in the butter for a few minutes, then add the other vegetables and continue to sauté until they are almost cooked through. Add the wine and cook over high heat for a minute or two more. Add the chives or scallions.

Serve the vegetables in shallow bowls, topped with the fish.

Blog notes: Happy birthday to Brian, who is hiking Everest today, on the day he turns 24!

If you are local or within traveling distance, please join us this Friday, May 5, 5-8:00 pm for our annual Empty Bowls Event at the WVSD High School. I’ve unloaded 3 dozen or so new bowls and they will be available at the event. Come choose a bowl, enjoy some soup, and help feed the hungry!

Posted in dinner, entertaining, entree, fish, seafood, dinner, gluten free, healthy, main, party, Uncategorized, vegetable | Tagged asparagus, fiddleheads, foraging, halibut, morels, spring, vegetables | 2 Comments

Spinach Stuffed Portobellos

Posted on April 21, 2017 by debspots

I fell in love on Wednesday. Twice.

Sitting opposite a lovely new friend at lunch, I felt a tiny presence at the left side of my chair. I looked down into a radiant smile from the toddler who had ventured from his mama’s side on a nearby couch. He wandered back and forth from me to mom several times before deciding to climb up and sit with me.

I gave him a little boost, and he turned so he could see his mother as he settled his back against my side, and relaxed against me. Instantly, I was transported back a quarter century, the sense memory of my own children’s tiny bodies next to mine. Sweet peace for my tender heart.

That evening, Bob and I took our after dinner walk and saw a sudden movement on a hillock beside our road. A tiny kitten? The little animal turned and sat down, looked at us intently, checking us out as we focused back. Fox. We watched each other for long seconds and then the baby “spoke,” a sound I can only describe as a bark. The vocalization was answered from within the hill. Mama? Our new friend quickly returned to his den, but we’ve seen him several times since. We are entranced, spending a lot of time near the burrow, hoping for another encounter with “our” baby.

I’m sure, like me, your heart opens in spring, making room for new life and new love. The recipe I share with you this week is loaded with fresh, bright flavor and plenty of green. It is based on a recipe from Cook’s Country, with a few of my characteristic modifications. Enjoy it and fall in love!!

Spinach Stuffed Portobellos

Serves 4 as an appetizer or side, 2 as a main course.

Remove the gills from the mushrooms with a spoon. Gluten free panko work well here.

4 medium portobellos, gills removed
2 baby or 1 small leeks, cleaned and diced
1 ½ cups baby spinach
¾ cup panko
zest of 1 lemon
1 ½ oz. feta, crumbled
2 tbs. olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste
fresh mint for garnish, optional

Preheat oven to 450°. Line a sheet pan with parchment. Brush the mushrooms with 1 tsp. of the oil, sprinkle them with salt and pepper, and place them, gill side down, on the sheet. Roast for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and turn the mushrooms over.

While the mushrooms roast, saute the leeks in the remaining oil over med-high heat until they begin the soften, about 5 minutes. Add the panko and continue to cook until the crumbs begin to brown, about 4 more minutes. Add the spinach and cook until wilted, 2 or 3 minutes. Off heat, add the zest and cheese, and stir to combine.

Divide the stuffing mixture between the mushroom caps. Return to oven and bake for 7-8 minutes, until the stuffing is well browned and piping hot. Serve with or without mint.

Blog note: Aren’t these new white porcelain dishes gorgeous? Perfect for food styling! Find some of them on Propped!

Posted in appetizer, entree, gluten free, healthy, lunch, main, main course, roasted, supper, Uncategorized, vegetarian | Tagged feta, mushrooms, portobellos, spinach | 1 Comment

Pecan Macaroons

Posted on April 8, 2017 by debspots

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macmac

I am so excited about sharing this recipe with you! It’s a new twist on a traditional family favorite. I’m tempted to claim that I was inspired to try this variation, but the truth is, it happened simply because I failed to plan ahead. So again, this is a case of necessity being the invention of mothers. Or however that goes…

I don’t remember the first time I baked Cook’s Illustrated’s Almond Macaroons. The kids were really little, so it was probably twenty years ago or so. I’m sure I made them for Passover, since we’ve always done some sort of seder, during which we pretend to care about flour and leavening.

It became something of a tradition to serve what Brian called “macayoons,” (and they will always be thus), with big bowls of Chocolate Dip and fruit for dessert at the end of the Passover meal, after the ritual of the afikomen and the cursory acknowledgement of the evils of slavery.

So, I decided to resurrect (see, I’m thinking Easter, too) our old ritual this year, but I forgot to buy almonds. I did have a beautiful new bag of pecans. Since my husband is a huge pecan fan, I decided to see if the recipe would work as well with those. Stunning success!!!

These are ultra-full of pecan goodness, pleasantly dense, tender, and chewy, unapologetically sweet. They contain no flour, so are kosher for passover and gluten free.

Pecan Macaroons

Makes 20-24 cookies

3 cups pecans
1 ½ cups cane sugar
3 egg whites (1/3 cup)
1 tsp vanilla
pinch salt

Preheat oven to 325°. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.

Grind the pecans in a food processor fitted with the steel blade, 1 minute. Add the sugar, and process until finely ground. Add the egg white, salt, and vanilla and process until mass gathers around blade.

Form rounds using about 2 teaspoons of dough per cookie. You may do this using a portion scoop or spoon, or form balls by rolling them between your palms. I’ve also used a piping bag or a zip-top bag with a corner snipped off. Place them about an inch apart.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until very lightly browned. Cool slightly before serving. These freeze well, bring to room temp before serving.

Posted in baked goods, baking, dessert, easy, gluten free, party, sweets, Uncategorized, vegetarian | Tagged cookies, nuts, passover, pecans | 11 Comments

Caboodles

Posted on April 2, 2017 by debspots

I can’t say it looks or feels much like spring yet, but last night, a visitor reminded me that hibernation is over! The biggest black bear I’ve ever seen came right up to my kitchen door to swipe the bird feeder. By the time I crossed the room for the camera, he’d inhaled the seed and ambled away, no posing for a silly photographer-potter in pajamas.

We did have a respite from the chill last weekend when we flew to Florida for Wendy and Rick’s wedding. It was a beautiful, untraditional, meaningful, and joyful event. Held in deep woods, the ceremony included a four winds ritual, blowing of the shofar by the bride’s ex-husband, and a slide show of selfies of the couple on their many adventures. The “chuppa,” a ship’s sail, was held by the bride and groom’s surviving siblings, and the officiant was their therapist, a dear man whose sweet husband sobbed through the taking of the vows.

It was a huge honor to stand beside my sister as she celebrated her love for a truly wonderful partner. I wish them a long and happy life together. You may know that this has been a troubled time for our family, both of our parents struggling with terrible health problems. It was a blessing for all of us to celebrate a happy occasion.

Wendy and I share many things, including a love of running and hiking, and a commitment to healthy eating. We both eat lots of vegetables, and cabbage happens to be a favorite. It’s affordable, and Mom taught us to value a bargain. We believe that if you eat a big pile of cabbage, you feel like you’ve had something substantial. I can’t remember which one of us invented Unstuffed Cabbage, but we almost always make it when we’re together.

So, with my sister very much in my heart, I was immediately drawn to this recipe when I saw it on Food 52. As noodle lovers who are always trying to cut down on carbs, anything remotely pasta-ish seems worth a try. Now, of course, cabbage is not pasta. But I gotta say, this does hit some of the notes. It is soft and deeply savory. The sauce is rich and clings beautifully to the strands of vegetables. And the color is pure spring.

cabgawk

Caboodles

Serves 4

The Food 52 recipe calls for savoy cabbage. I used regular cabbage. I made a few other changes to their recipe because that’s how I roll.

This makes a perfect main course with the addition of a fried egg or two, a piece of fish or chicken, or pork. I’m thinking Easter or Passover, ya know?

½ large head cabbage
1 large leek
½ stick (4 tbs.) butter
½ cup grated parm, plus extra for serving
1 tsp. cracked black pepper
zest and juice of ½ lemon
salt to taste

Trim the leek of all dark green. Cut it in half and then into eights lengthwise, so you create thin strands. Cut the cabbage into thin ribbons. Wash well, and dry in a spinner or pat dry with towels.

Melt half the butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Begin to sauté the leeks over med-high heat until they start to wilt. Add a good pinch of salt. Throw a couple of tablespoons of water into the pot, stir, cover, and turn heat to low. Cook for 5 minutes.

Now add the remaining butter and the cabbage, turn the heat to high and get the cabbage all heated, stirring, for a few minutes. Add a pinch more salt. Throw another couple tablespoonfuls of water into the pot, cover again, and turn heat to med-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes or so. Make sure that the bottom of the pot doesn’t get dry; if it does, add more water.

Taste a strand of cabbage for doneness; it should be quite soft, cook a bit more if needed.

Off heat, add the lemon juice, zest, parm, and pepper, and stir vigorously for a few minutes. Serve, passing extra parm, pepper, and lemon.

Blog note: I just unloaded the kiln; lots of terrific new pots. It’ll take a few days for me to get them photographed and listed on Propped and Etsy. Keep an eye on my Instagram Feed for news.

cabood

Posted in gluten free, healthy, low carb, lunch, main, one pot meals, side dish, Uncategorized, vegetable, vegetarian | Tagged cabbage, easter, passover, recipe makeover, spring, veggie pasta | 2 Comments

Spring Gomasio Veggie Tofu Pan Roast

Posted on March 21, 2017 by debspots

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gomash

The light changes dramatically here in Warwick in the very early spring. Right around the time we change the clocks, the angle of sun makes everything glow with the promise of long, soft days and warmer nights. This year, we have a deep, sparkling blanket of snow from last week’s blizzard; it feels a little peculiar to have sunlight for a walk after supper when the landscape looks so wintry.

The snow pack has given us a chance to get out into the woods on our cross country skis. It’s a terrific workout followed by a cup Totally Luxurious Comforting Hot Chocolate and a slice of toasted Mindfulness Bread with almond butter in front of the fire.

It’s time for some food that feels springy, even as the grill is still buried and are toes are as yet too cold for salad suppers. One of my Instagram followers asked me for the recipe for my homemade gomasio, and thinking about that budding mind a direction; I love that sort of inspiration.

I have my Instagram friends, especially Jill @feedtheswimmers, to thank for the gomasio idea; I’ve been making my own because I’m such a committed diy-er. But Nancy, @urbankitchenapothecary, specializes in the stuff and I’d encourage you to check out her feed and her website for extra inspo and purchasing options.

Gomasio, or gomashio, is a Japanese condiment consisting of ground toasted sesame seeds and salt. Sometimes herbs and/or pepper are added. My version uses both black and white seeds, but you may use either. Unhulled seeds are traditional. I buy organic seeds and encourage you to do the same.

This recipe will give you a taste of this lovely condiment. And I’m sure you’ll think of many other uses. Here are some to get you started:

Top raw veggies, like carrots and cucumbers
Top a salad
Sprinkle on scrambled, hard-cooked or fried eggs
Top a chili or soup
Sprinkle on homemade crackers
In a grilled cheese sandwich
Garnish a stir fry
Sprinkle on bread dough before baking
Perfect crust for a roasted piece of salmon or chicken
Top a fruit salad
Top ice cream (I know, you’d be surprised)

Spring Gomasio Veggie Tofu Pan Roast

Gomasio

Makes a little more than a cup.

½ cup white sesame seeds
½ cup black sesame seeds
1 tbs. coarse sea salt

Toast the seed in a dry skillet until the white seeds just begin to color and the mixture is fragrant. Mix in the salt. Grind in a mortar and pestle or mini food processor until most of the seeds are broken up. I hold out a few tablespoons to leave whole just because it’s prettier.

Tofu

The cornstarch helps form a nice crust. Skip it if you don’t want the carbs.

Extra firm tofu
Drizzle of walnut or olive oil
Sprinkle of soy sauce
Gomasio

optional: a bit of cornstarch and/or honey

Preheat the oven to 450°.

Press the tofu between two towel-lined plates for 15 minutes or so. Cut into sticks or cubes. Place on a baking sheet and drizzle with oil, soy sauce, honey and cornstarch (if using). Toss very gently. Sprinkle on the gomasio. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the tofu pieces are browned and crispy. Cool for a few minutes to let them firm up before you try to move them to a plate.

Veggies

I’ll list the veg I used here, but feel free to substitute your favorites.

Purple and green cabbage, cut into wedges
Purple cauliflower, cut into wedges
Purple carrots, sliced
Asparagus, trimmed
Purple potatoes, cut into wedges
Purple onions, cut into wedges
Frozen artichoke hearts

Line baking sheets with parchment. Toss the veggies with a bit of your favorite oil, salt, and pepper. Lay them in a single layer. Roast for 20-25 minutes or until each veg is tender. You may need to remove the quicker cooking ones (like asparagus) as they are done. Sprinkle with gomasio.

Serve immediately, though roasted veggies and tofu reheat well and are also terrific at room temp or cold. Maple Sesame Dressing, Tahini Lime Sauce, or Peanut Sauce, are all terrific with this.

Posted in condiment, dinner, entree, gluten free, healthy, low carb, lunch, main, roasted, Uncategorized | Tagged asian, gomashio, gomasio, japanese, low carb, one pan supper, pan roast, topping, vegan, vegetarian | 6 Comments

Candy Pork

Posted on March 12, 2017 by debspots

candy pork gawkpork

I was trying to remember when we renamed Chinese Barbecue Pork. In my memory, it is connected to a trip Megan took to the Pacific Northwest when she was a teenager, about a decade ago. Something about eating freshly grilled nuggets of native salmon on a beach; the sweet, Asian inspired salmon was called Candy Fish. Or was it Fish Candy?

Then, I looked up the recipe that was the original inspiration for Candy Pork, and the Cook’s Illustrated listing is dated 2007, the same year as that trip. So, I would say we’ve been enjoying Candy Pork in our family for ten years, and it’s about time I share it here on the blog.

My rendition is very similar to the ATK version. Strips of pork shoulder or country ribs are soaked in an Asian marinade; a portion of which is used as the base of a glaze that coats and lacquers the meat, making it sweet, gingery, savory, and pleasantly chewy. It is terrific served as the basis for supper, just serve with rice or a grain (here, I went with bulger, lightly season with sesame oil), and a steamed veg. Sliced, the pork is wonderful on top of a salad or slaw. It would be great in Phake Pho! Throw leftovers into fried rice (or cauliflower rice), or fold into a wrap with some of the extra glaze and a few leaves of arugula or kale.

pppork awkpork

Candy Pork

Serves 4

2 pounds pork shoulder or country ribs, cut into 2 inch wide strips
¼ cup cane sugar
¼ cup soy sauce
3 tbs. hoisin sauce
2 tbs.dry white wine
2 tbs. toasted sesame oil
2 tbs. ketchup
2 tbs. honey
1 scallion, sliced
2 pieces candied ginger, minced
black pepper, to taste

extra scallions for garnish

Using a fork, prick the pork all over on both sides to help the marinade to penetrate the meat.

In a bowl, mix the sugar, soy, hoisin, wine, sesame oil, scallion, ginger, and pepper. Remove half a cup of marinade and set aside. Place the meat in a large ziplock bag and pour the marinade over, smooshing to mix. Press out extra air, seal the bag, put it on a plate (in case of leaks), and stash in the fridge for at least a half hour and up to four hours.

Place the reserved marinade in a small saucepan and boil to reduce by half. Add the ketchup and honey to make the glaze.

Preheat the oven to 300°. Line a sheet pan with foil and then place a rack into the pan. Remove the pork from the marinade and lay the slices on the rack. Pour ¼ cup water into the pan and cover the pan tightly with foil. Roast, covered, for 20 minutes. Remove the foil, and roast until the meat begins to brown, 40 minutes.

Heat the broiler and broil 7-9 minutes until the meat is fairly dark. Use a brush to paint with a generous layer of glaze; return to broiler. Watch carefully; broil for 3-4 minutes until the glaze is bubbly and dark brown in spots. Flip the meat and repeat the process.

Cool slightly and serve with remaining glaze and extra scallions.

flatpork

Posted in dinner, gluten free, low carb, lunch, main, supper, Uncategorized | Tagged asian, barbecue, chinese, glazed, leftovers, oven barbecue, pork, roast | 6 Comments

Loaded Blondies

Posted on March 4, 2017 by debspots

I learned to bake blondies 50 years ago when I was a girl scout. I was a terrible girl scout, a total flop. I don’t think I ever earned a single badge. But I got this recipe at one of the meetings, and five decades later, it’s still a hit. The original recipe was simple, kid-friendly, and fool-proof.

These are similar, but a bit more sophisticated. They are soft, cakey, and chewy all at once. Caramelly, a little salty, sweetness tempered by whole wheat, sour cherries, toasty pecans, and slightly bitter dark chocolate.

I decided to work on a recipe for a slightly smaller batch than is common for blondies. That way, you can make them more often and explore a greater range of variations. Once you get started, you’ll want to try tons of different combinations. And then write me a note here on the blog (in Comments), and tell me about it!

bbb

Loaded Blondies

Feel free to make these with all ap flour if you prefer. I like the slight savoriness and chew contributed by the whole wheat.

Makes 16 blondies, about 2 inches each

You will need a metal, square, 8 or 9 inch pan.

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cool room temp
½ cup cane or white sugar
½ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
1 egg, room temp
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. vanilla
1 cup ap flour
½ cup whole wheat flour
½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. baking soda
1/3 cup each: dried sour cherries, chopped toasted pecans, coarsely chopped dark chocolate*

Preheat oven to 350°.

In a small bowl, whisk the flours, salt, and baking powder and soda.

In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle, cream the butter and sugars. Alternatively, use a hand mixer or a wooden spoon and some elbow grease. Add the egg and vanilla and beat well, scraping down the sides once or twice. Add the flour mixture on low speed and when almost combined, add the cherries, nuts, and chocolate. I like to finish mixing by hand to avoid overbeating or breaking down the add-ins.

Spread the dough evenly in a 9 x 9 pan. I think the blondies turn out best if you refrigerate them at this point for a half hour or so, but if you’re in a rush, they’ll be fine if you bake them right away.

Bake for 20 minutes or until they are uniformly puffed and very slightly browned on top.

Cool on a rack for 15 minutes and then cut into squares and serve.

Blondies keep well at room temp for a day or so, and freeze wonderfully.

*Variations are endless. You may use hand-chopped chocolate or chips. Any combination that totals 1 cup of add-ins. Here are some combinations to get you started:

White chocolate, dark chocolate, and almonds
Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate
Dark chocolate, raisins, and walnuts
Milk chocolate, peanut butter chips, and chopped peanuts
Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and toffee bits
Dark, milk, and white chocolate (kid tested fave)

blondish

Posted in chocolate, kid friendly, simple recipes, sweets, treats, Uncategorized, vegetarian | Tagged bars, blondies, cookies, dessert, squares | 2 Comments

Warm Roasted Broccoli Salad with Maple Sesame Dressing

Posted on February 25, 2017 by debspots

broc

I am a fake homesteader*. The idea of growing and/or raising my own food, of making things from scratch, appeals to me tremendously. I love the idea of living off the grid, of being free of the corporate economy, of living off the land.

Although I’m a pretty accomplished DIY-er, I can’t really grow much of anything here. The woods are just too dense for me to have enough hours of sunlight without knocking down a lot of trees. And anything I do grow is immediately inhaled by my deer friends. So, I forage, grow herbs, rely on local farmers during the warmer months, and try to be conscious about my supermarket purchasing during the winter.

Right now, I’m tapping my maple trees again. As I type, the sap is flowing into containers, and I am boiling down gallons using a hot plate just outside the kitchen door. Once it’s down to a cup or two, I bring it in and finish on the stove. It’s pretty labor intensive, but the process is incredibly satisfying to me, making the resulting syrup all the sweeter for the experience.

I love making things from scratch. Homemade ricotta, for example, is far more delicious than the supermarket kind. I adore my own Mindfulness Granola, no store bought product even comes close. I’ve had some success making peanut and almond butters, though I can’t seem to get them super smooth. And last week, it occurred to me that I could make tahini from some of the huge tub of organic black sesame seeds I bought.

The tahini, spiked with a bit of the new maple syrup and some citrus, reminded me of a favorite terrific Charred Broccoli and Lentil Salad from Food 52. Riffing off that recipe, I cut broccoli into thin planks and roasted, then drizzled it with the updated, maply dressing. The resulting warm salad is fresh, smoky, creamy, sweet, and citrusy, fresh and comforting. If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself craving it again and again.

Warm Roasted Broccoli Salad with Maple Sesame Dressing

Serves 4

You may make your own tahini or use prepared.

For the Broccoli:
1 ½ pounds broccoli, trimmed
1 tbs. olive oil
salt, pepper, and sugar, to taste

For the Dressing:
¼ cup tahini
2 tbs. maple syrup
juice of 1 small orange
juice of ½ lime
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper, to taste

Optional: black and/or white sesame seeds, toasted, for garnish. Or store bought or homemade gomasio.

Preheat the oven to 450°. Line a sheet pan with parchment.

Cut the broccoli into ¼ inch planks. There will be plenty of smaller pieces that fall off the larger planks, don’t worry, they will be delicious, too.

Pile the planks and smaller stuff onto the baking sheet and drizzle with the oil, salt, sugar, and pepper, and smooge everything around a little. Roast for 10 minutes, or until the broccoli is bright green with some frizzle black around the edges.

While the broccoli cooks, make the dressing by combining all the ingredients. Add water, as needed, to get a thick sauce consistency. Taste, and adjust to your liking.

Place the broccoli in a wide, shallow bowl, drizzle with some of the dressing, and garnish if you like. Serve remaining dressing at the table.

This salad is terrific as a side dish or appetizer. Make it the center of meal by adding some grilled or roasted tofu, fish, poultry, or meat. Or simply top with a few perfectly cooked eggs.

If you have any dressing leftover (or decide to make another batch), it is great on just about any cooked or raw veggie or salad, terrific on grilled or roasted meat. I mixed some into yogurt with a little extra maple syrup and it was wonderful!

Blog note: Make sure to check out my Q and A on Propped. There are some beautiful new pots listed in my Propped Shop, including some of the bowls you see in this post. And keep an eye on mye, Etsy Store, which will be updated soon.

*Not to be confused with my amazing, beautiful friend, Kristin, The Ardent Homesteader, who is a real homesteader. I admire her tremendously and everyone should follow her blog and Instagram feed.

Posted in appetizer, dinner, dressing, easy, gluten free, healthy, low carb, lunch, salad, sauce, side, Uncategorized, vegan, vegetable, vegetarian | Tagged broccoli, maple, roasting, sesame, tahini, warm salad | 4 Comments

Seriously Craveworthy Coleslaw

Posted on February 18, 2017 by debspots

slaw

So, when was the last time you woke up in the morning and said to yourself, “I’m really in the mood for some coleslaw!”? I know, right? Coleslaw can be tasty, satisfying, perfect with certain favorites, but rarely crave-worthy. Unless you’re my dad.

My father, Don Bernstein (he was Donald first, and that makes the name safe from reproach IMO) turned 82 the other day, and this blog post is dedicated to him. Happy Birthday, Dad!! Dad always has coleslaw in the house. When I was a kid and I’d come down for a drink of water in the middle of the night, I’d often find Dad, in his boxers, standing in front of the fridge, munching on big forkfuls of coleslaw. Sometimes, he’d make it himself, but often, he’d pick it up at the deli.

A few months ago, when Brian was home, I saw a big, ugly, hairy knob of fresh horseradish at the market, and bought it on impulse. Have you ever ground your own horseradish? It’s kind of a revelation. It’ll blow your sinuses out when you make it, and again when you eat it. I learned how from Amy Theilen. Peel the root, cut it into chunks, and pulverize in the food processor until it’s finely ground. Then, mix in a little vinegar, salt, and sugar to taste. It is very fumish, and tastes super strong at first, so if you try it, be careful!

I think it was Brian’s idea to try adding the horseradish to coleslaw. I’d already made a version of my traditional creamy slaw with blue cheese. Throwing in some horseradish didn’t seem intuitive at first, but when we tried it, we were hooked. Creamy, spicy, savory, crunchy, a little bit sweet…this is a salad that tastes great with so many things. And you very well may wind up standing in front of the fridge in the middle of the night eating right out of the bowl!

Special thanks to my angel, Mary for helping with the post. And for making a MOVIE about it!!! So fun!

Also, before I get to the recipe, I have a bit of news. I did a Q and A for Propped! If you haven’t checked out Propped yet, you must! So wonderful, “a marketplace for modern day heirlooms.” I love these folks. Their work is stylish, grounded, and thoughtful; simultaneously homey and utterly current. It has been a terrific honor working with them and I am expecting great things to come.

swaw

Seriously Craveworthy Coleslaw

I shred the cabbage using the slicing disk of my Cuisinart. But you can do it by hand if you prefer. The technique for preparing the cabbage comes from Cook’s Illustrated.

½ head green cabbage, shredded
2 tsp. fine sea salt
2 tsp. cane sugar
1 carrot, grated
2 tbs. prepared horseradish
2 oz. blue cheese, preferably Roquefort, crumbled
1 scallion, sliced
2 tbs. white balsamic vinegar
¼ cup mayo
¼ cup sour cream
optional: a dash of Worcestershire

Place the cabbage in a large colander and sprinkle with salt and sugar. Toss well and let stand for ½ hour or so for the cabbage to wilt.

Mix up the ingredients for the dressing (everything below carrots).

Use a towel or paper towel to blot excess moisture from the cabbage. You don’t need to be fanatical about this, a little juiciness is ok, but you don’t want to water down the dressing too much.

Now, place everything in a really big bowl or pot and mix with your hands. Yes, you can do it with a spoon or tongs, but your hands are better. Serve immediately or refrigerate until bedtime.

ole

Posted in appetizer, condiment, gluten free, healthy, low carb, lunch, picnic, salad, side dish, snack, Uncategorized, vegetarian | Tagged cabbage, coleslaw, gluten free | 20 Comments

Marbled Chocolate Dip (Topping or Tart Filling)

Posted on February 11, 2017 by debspots

This recipe is dedicated to my number one recipe tester, ski partner, co-parent, and sweetheart, Bob McGrath. After 30 years of marriage, we probably should be getting tired of each other, but I love him more deeply every day. The smartest, fairest, and most substantial person I know, he is also funny, sweet, and HOT. I’m so happy he was here when I tested this recipe, or I would be in a sugar coma instead of writing a blog post!

Just kidding. This stuff is satisfying enough that a minor dunk on a piece of fruit is a terrific treat. A little warm, creamy, dreamy, chocolate goes a long way. Unless you’re my fit runner husband, who can get away with slurping it right out of the bowl.

I found this recipe on Serious Eats and ran right out to buy the ingredients. I used Ghirardelli’s melting wafers, and was very happy with both taste and texture. And no, this is not a sponsored post.

tartyfarty

dipping

dipity

Marbled Chocolate Dip (Topping or Tart Filling)

You may use high quality block chocolate or disks. Don’t use chips. Make a vegan version using full fat coconut milk and vegan chocolate.

2/3 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup dark chocolate, chopped (or use disks)
1/3 cup white chocolate, chopped (or use disks)
pinch salt

fresh or dried fruit, pretzels, cookies, marshmallows, and/or cake for dipping

Bring the cream to a boil. Put the chocolates in separate bowls. Divide the hot cream between the bowls. Let stand 30 seconds. Add a pinch of salt and stir.

Now pour half of the dark into another bowl. Pour half the white in the middle. Then the remaining dark, finally the remaining white. You’re making a kind of chocolate bull’s eye. Swirl with a chopstick. Serve immediately.

If you have leftovers, rewarm in microwave and serve over ice cream.

This ganache makes a beautiful and delicious tart filling. I used the dough from my Caramel Apple Upside Down Cookie Tart recipe to form little tartlet shells in muffin cups, and filled them with this heavenly stuff.