Sunday, February 4, 2018

Back to Work: Easy Soups for the Working Mama

I started back to work full time in January and have been trying to collect some easy recipes I can either put in the slow cooker or prepare before heading out to work.  I had great luck with the following two soups.

Sausage, Potato, Spinach Soup
Found here: https://damndelicious.net/2014/10/29/sausage-potato-spinach-soup/


and

Spanish-style White Bean and Kale Chorizo Soup
Found here: https://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/spanish-style-white-bean-kale-and-chorizo-soup-1914944

To do: Stop Buying Siggis Yogurt and Attempt the Same Technique

Icelandic style strained yogurt. Thick creamy. And expensive. I haven't attempted my own yet but I came across the best resource to do it.  I am most excited about versions that fold in whipping cream.

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017991-creamy-homemade-yogurt

Baby Approved: Banana Oat Pancakes

Some time ago I tried a version of this recipe with great success. At that time the recipe I found called for pulverizing the oats to make an oat flour, then folding it into the other ingredients.  In my search for the recipe online I came a cross an easier approach altogether: blend all four ingredients, rest the batter, then fry the cakes.  This is a very healthy version of pancakes containing only: bananas, eggs, oats, baking powder, and salt. My piggy baby ate six pancakes in one sitting.  Do make sure to let the batter rest for the full twenty minutes before starting to griddle the cakes.

Ratio of ingredients:

-one banana
-one egg
-1/4 cup oats
-1/4 tsp baking powder
-dash salt

Found at: http://simply-delicious-food.com/easy-healthy-banana-oat-pancakes/

Recipe Reviews: Pizza Beans and Sheet Pan Meatballs

This past week I tried out two of the recipes on Smitten Kitchen. Pizza Beans and Turkey Sheet Pan Meatballs with Crispy Turmeric Chickpeas. Both recipes were also enjoyed by my 13 month old and will likely make a regular rotation in our weekly meals.

Pizza Beans: Not much to critique here. Delicious buttery beans soaked in tomato sauce and coated in bubbly mozzarella. The recipe incorporates a few other healthy vegetables like carrots and kale and is already gluten free so there was no need to make major modifications other than finding a gluten free french bread to accompany the dish. I like Against the Grain's baguettes.

https://smittenkitchen.com/2017/09/pizza-beans-cookbook-preview/


Sheet Pan Meatballs: I served these meatballs and chickpeas next to a pesto pasta (gluten free). Next time I make it I'll skip the pre-cooking of the chickpeas as I'd prefer them less crispy--or not crispy at all. I can imagine that having a crunchy topping on a pita sandwich would be great but the appeal wanes when you eat this meal as a dish in and of itself. Plus, my practically toothless baby will be able to better enjoy the chickpeas if they are soft and flavorful.

https://smittenkitchen.com/2018/01/sheet-pan-meatballs-with-crispy-turmeric-chickpeas/

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Chicken Salad with Potatoes

This is another salad recipe compliments of my Mama.  I can't take credit for making this, only devouring it late at night after I came to visit my parents.

Ingredients:
1/2 pound new potatoes
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 1/2 to 2 pound rotisserie chicken
2 bunches (about 3 cups) of arugula with the stems removed
2 tablespoons fresh tarragon leaves, chopped
1/4 cup Parmesan, shaved

Directions:
1. Cook the potatoes in a large pot filled with cold water.  Bring the water to to a boil. Then add the salt and reduce the heat to simmer the potatoes until they are tender.  Drain the potatoes and immediately run them under cold water. After the potatoes have cooled. slice them.

2. Whisk the olive oil, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper together.  Set the dressing aside. To prepare the chicken shred the meat and remove the skin and bones.

3. When ready to serve the salad, combine the arugula, chicken, fresh tarragon, and potatoes.  Drizzle with the dressing and sprinkle shaved parmesan overtop.

Watercress Salad with Egg, Goat Cheese, and Seeds

My mom found this in the Wall Street Journal.  She's just as surprised as I am about how good it is.  If watercress is scarce or too expensive Mama recommends arugula as a bitter greens substitute.  When we ate this for lunch Mama left out the dill and used an herbed goat cheese.  Per usual the recipe is a guide, not absolute.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 Tablespoons raw almonds chopped medium-fine
1/2 Tablespoon coriander seed
1 1/2 Tablespoon pumpkin seeds
2 teaspoons sesame seeds
Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
2 eggs, hard boiled

1/2 to 1 glove of garlic minced or finely grated
1 Tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice or more to taste
3 1/2 Tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

3 cups watercress or arugula
1 cup dill, roughly chopped
1 cup basil leaves, chopped roughly
1 cup cilantro leaves, tightly packed
1 3/4 ounces fresh, mild goat cheese

Directions:
1. Put almonds, coriander seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and optional red pepper flakes in a skillet and toast them over medium heat for about three minutes while shaking the pan often.  When sesame seeds begin to turn brown remove the seed mixture from heat.

2. Cook the eggs in a saucepan of water until they reach their desired consistency. Some like a runnier yoke to their hard boiled eggs.  I prefer to cook them until the yolk is firm but still a wet/deep yellow color. This often means cooking them just a little less than a well done hard boiled egg requires.

3.  Whisk prepared garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil.  Season to taste with salt and pepper and add more lemon juice if necessary.

4. Toss the greens (watercress or arugula) with the prepared herbs in a bowl.  Serve the greens with goat cheese dollops, dressing drizzles, and seeds overtop. Slice eggs and serve in the salad as well.