We've had several major attacks of life, over the last few years, between illness and family obligations, and the blog just fell by the wayside.
Cooking, however, did not. If anything, I am more convinced than ever of the value of the Inhabited Kitchen. With everything going on, it was vital that we could count on a good meal - nourishing, revitalizing (and affordable...)
We spent time with The Parents, helping them prepare their house for sale, and then move. Within a short time, I was cooking, so that everyone else could concentrate on the work they were doing, and then sit down to a delicious, relaxing meal. (And, eventually, I emptied the pantry.)
And I have been dealing with chronic illness. Debilitating, rather than dangerous... but, even so, most days we've eaten home cooked food. Often I was able to cook. Other times, we ate premade meals from the freezer, or Himself could put something together from the assortment of prepared ingredients I now keep on hand. It meant a lot to me that I still could make that contribution - and, also, that I could still control what I ate. No wondering about an ingredient, no concern that my food was not the best for my poor body, but confidence that I was still providing us both with the best nourishment possible.
So, more and more, I want to be sure others have the same options. I find that people are often intimidated by cooking, afraid that one needs a full range of equipment, or massive amounts of time to cook. There is so much Cooking Mystique - and it feels easier to just go out, or pop something from a package into the microwave. But I started cooking for myself in a college dorm... with one saucepan, one frying pan, and one oven safe soup pot. This can be done.
And few other activities are so rewarding.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Monday, July 6, 2009
Herb sauce
Another recipe.
This is a nice basic, low fat, creamy sauce. Feels rather luxurious, but it is really very nutritious - low fat, some protein. And you're not heating up the kitchen - a nice bonus in summer!
I made this last week with dill, and served it with salmon and potatoes. Wonderful. Dabs of the leftovers went into salads the next few days.
Creamy Herb Sauce
One bunch of herbs
1 12 oz pkg Silken Tofu
soy milk
opt.-
salt
pepper sauce
garlic, raw minced, or roasted,
Take the herbs, wash them, and remove any woody stems. Chop coarsely. Place in a blender.
Add the silken tofu. Make sure it is silken - regular has a different texture, and this works best for a sauce. If you cannot find it, use soft, but the sauce won't be as creamy.
Blend until smooth. Add soy milk as needed to make a smooth sauce of the consistency you want. Add other flavoring, as desired.
In general, use more herbs and flavoring ingredients than you might think you want. The tofu absorbs a good bit of the flavor, and it can be bland without enough herbs.
This can be served as is, or gently heated (don't let it boil!) Serve it at the table - pasta, especially, will absorb this sauce if allowed to sit, and will seem dry.
I have done this mostly with dill and basil, but it would be delicious with cilantro or parsley as well. (I must confess that I found the sauce I made with purple basil delicious, but the lavender color was... disconcerting... though beautiful.)
This is a nice basic, low fat, creamy sauce. Feels rather luxurious, but it is really very nutritious - low fat, some protein. And you're not heating up the kitchen - a nice bonus in summer!
I made this last week with dill, and served it with salmon and potatoes. Wonderful. Dabs of the leftovers went into salads the next few days.
Creamy Herb Sauce
One bunch of herbs
1 12 oz pkg Silken Tofu
soy milk
opt.-
salt
pepper sauce
garlic, raw minced, or roasted,
Take the herbs, wash them, and remove any woody stems. Chop coarsely. Place in a blender.
Add the silken tofu. Make sure it is silken - regular has a different texture, and this works best for a sauce. If you cannot find it, use soft, but the sauce won't be as creamy.
Blend until smooth. Add soy milk as needed to make a smooth sauce of the consistency you want. Add other flavoring, as desired.
In general, use more herbs and flavoring ingredients than you might think you want. The tofu absorbs a good bit of the flavor, and it can be bland without enough herbs.
This can be served as is, or gently heated (don't let it boil!) Serve it at the table - pasta, especially, will absorb this sauce if allowed to sit, and will seem dry.
I have done this mostly with dill and basil, but it would be delicious with cilantro or parsley as well. (I must confess that I found the sauce I made with purple basil delicious, but the lavender color was... disconcerting... though beautiful.)
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Hot Spinach Salad
I've been waffling a bit on the direction I want this blog to take.
I have now found myself, however, both offering to provide recipes to my CSA, and helping encourage new cooks in a different venue. Now that I'm actually writing recipes, I'm going to start posting them.
Right now, the fresh vegetables have finally started coming into Greenmarket. For a month, I've been buying huge bags of spinach. I've sauteed most of it, but I thought this salad would make a nice change.
Hot Spinach Salad
1 bunch spinach
mushrooms, sliced
1T olive oil
1t butter
balsamic vinegar
scallions or green onions, chopped
hard cooked eggs (opt.) chopped
Cut off just the pink root tips of the spinach, freeing the leaves. Place the leaves in a large bowl of water, and gently swish them around. Lift the leaves gently out of the water. This leaves any sand down in the bottom of the bowl, not in your spinach! Let them dry in a colander or strainer. If you want, pat the leaves dry with a soft clean dish towel.
Heat the olive oil in a fry pan. When it is warm, add the butter. As soon as it is melted, add the mushrooms. Cook over a low heat until done to your taste.
Meanwhile, tear the spinach in bite sized pieces, and place in a serving bowl. Pour the hot mushrooms onto the spinach. Pour a splash of vinegar in the pan and swirl it around to get all the flavor, and pour it over the salad. Toss. Garnish with scallions and eggs, if desired, and serve at once. The hot oil will lightly cook the spinach where it touches.
For simpler service, just use the mushrooms uncooked, and make a salad dressing of the oil and vinegar (omitting the butter.)
I have now found myself, however, both offering to provide recipes to my CSA, and helping encourage new cooks in a different venue. Now that I'm actually writing recipes, I'm going to start posting them.
Right now, the fresh vegetables have finally started coming into Greenmarket. For a month, I've been buying huge bags of spinach. I've sauteed most of it, but I thought this salad would make a nice change.
Hot Spinach Salad
1 bunch spinach
mushrooms, sliced
1T olive oil
1t butter
balsamic vinegar
scallions or green onions, chopped
hard cooked eggs (opt.) chopped
Cut off just the pink root tips of the spinach, freeing the leaves. Place the leaves in a large bowl of water, and gently swish them around. Lift the leaves gently out of the water. This leaves any sand down in the bottom of the bowl, not in your spinach! Let them dry in a colander or strainer. If you want, pat the leaves dry with a soft clean dish towel.
Heat the olive oil in a fry pan. When it is warm, add the butter. As soon as it is melted, add the mushrooms. Cook over a low heat until done to your taste.
Meanwhile, tear the spinach in bite sized pieces, and place in a serving bowl. Pour the hot mushrooms onto the spinach. Pour a splash of vinegar in the pan and swirl it around to get all the flavor, and pour it over the salad. Toss. Garnish with scallions and eggs, if desired, and serve at once. The hot oil will lightly cook the spinach where it touches.
For simpler service, just use the mushrooms uncooked, and make a salad dressing of the oil and vinegar (omitting the butter.)
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