Salads

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Collards & Quinoa with Sorrel Sauce

Never heard of sorrel? Neither had I, until last May when we moved into our house. Our new neighbors were enthusiastic about our garden plans as much as their own. They quickly introduced us to a friend of theirs who lived just around the corner and who happens to work at this wonderful place. One afternoon Scott found himself going over to this friend of a friends house to help him pick up something.

An hour or so later Scott comes home arms full of what looked like some spent grassy weeds and a few cuttings of mint. Scott had the biggest smile on his face because he knew how excited I’d be about these new plants, but then he couldn’t remember the name of the said plant and we played a quick round of me asking “what did it start with?” or “what did it sound like?”. Somehow we finally came up with sorrel. I had nowhere to put it at that moment so I threw the whole plant into a large bucket filled with dirt and called it good.

The plant looked totally dead and I may have neglected it a little, but it still managed to grow last year and the next thing I knew the whole plant was going to seed before I had a chance to use it. Luckily it’s a perennial and a hearty one around here at that; the light green, sour lemony leaves came back this month so I could finally give them a try. They look a bit like spinach, but a little lighter and yellower in color. They’re great tossed into salads or soups to add a fresh brightness.

I pureed the sorrel leaves with yogurt for a tasty cooling sauce to top off the slightly spicy collard and quinoa mixture. It’s not totally necessary and if you can’t find sorrel leaves you could possibly use fresh lemon juice instead. However, I made extra to so I could spread it on top of sandwiches and tuck it inside some scrambled eggs.

Collards & Quinoa with Sorrel Sauce / serves 4

1 bunch collard greens
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
2 leeks, white and light green parts only, cut into half circles
pinch red pepper flakes
3 cups cooked quinoa (about 1 cup dry)
1/3 cup Asiago cheese
salt and pepper
1/3 cup toasted almonds, roughly chopped
sorrel sauce to serve, recipe below

De-stem the collards and thinly slice the leaves into 1/4-inch wide strips. Then finely chop up the stems, this is optional, but I try to avoid wasting perfectly edible food when I can.

Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large pan. Add the leeks, garlic, collard stems (if using), red pepper flakes and a pinch of salt, and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add in the finely sliced leaves and cook down until they turn dark green and soften up.

Place the cooked quinoa in a large serving bowl and toss with the collard mixture. Stir in the cheese and season to taste with salt and pepper. Just before serving top with the toasted almonds and serve with the sorrel sauce on the side.

Sorrel Sauce
Adapted from Plenty
3 cups sorrel leaves, washed
1/2 cup plain whole milk yogurt or Greek yogurt
1 garlic clove
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
salt to taste

Place everything into a food processor or blender with a pinch of salt and blitz into a light green sauce. Taste then add more salt if desired. Keeps, covered, in the fridge for a couple days.

Gluten-Free, Proteins, Salads, Sides, Spring, Vegetables

Cauliflower & Lentil Salad with Crispy Lemon Zest & Carrots

I (again) have grand ideas about gardening this year. Seed catalogues, detailed spread sheets, and gardening books have been strewn about our dining table for the last two weeks. One evening, I looked up from my barricade, laughing and told Scott, “it feels like I’m in school again”. Although, lets be real, I probably never studied with this much enthusiasm when I was in school.

Growing at least some of our food is something I’ve been doing for the past 4–5 years now, but it’s still something I’m learning; possibly something I’ll forever be learning. When we moved last May, I realized that the idea of a Spring garden was out of the question. That still didn’t stop me from telling Scott we must put in four garden beds, 2 weeks after moving in, because I didn’t want to miss out on the Summer and Fall season. Our new neighbors watched as we built them out of some scrap wood we had and filled them, shovel full by shovel full of dirt. It was quite a lot of work, but it paid off when the lettuces, zucchini, cucumbers, greens and tomatoes shot their green leaves and vines up and set fruit.

Towards the end of Summer, we put in a low picket fence, ripped out our small front lawn and mulched the top with cardboard, leaves, and other composted materials. It’s ugly now, but the plan is to turn it into an edible and ornamental garden. The walkway will be lined with lavender, rosemary, and thyme, spreading into various other herbs, blueberry bushes, edible flowers, a rainbow of quinoa, and various other vegetables that need more room to spread than the garden beds in back will allow.

This brings me to cauliflower. I have no idea why, but this is the one vegetable I’m scared to grow on my own. It’s large milky white, green, or orange heads seems like something best left to the pros. I think it mostly stems from when I once grew broccoli and as soon as the green heads started forming they were infested with hundreds of aphids. I know this was something that maybe could have been prevented, but I’m not so sure I eat enough cauliflower to take the risk in my small garden space for it.

However, this salad may have changed my mind. Roasted cauliflower, like pretty much all roasted veggies, takes on a whole new vibe from raw or steamed, and roasting is pretty much my go–to when faced with the question of what’s for dinner tonight. But I don’t often take it further than a little salt and pepper, maybe an herb or two as well. The combination of fresh parsley leaves, lentils, capers and crispy lemon and carrots take it from routine to something I’d serve to friends. It now has me questioning if cauliflower has finally earned its right in a section of my garden. If you’ve had success in the NW with cauliflower, please let me know! Otherwise I’m still fine with picking it up, with new enthusiasm, at my local co-op or the markets once they start up again.

Cauliflower & Lentil Salad with Crispy Lemon Zest & Carrots / serves 4
This is basically vegan, but I was out of a neutral cooking oil and didn’t want to heat the olive oil over high heat without adding butter. If you are vegan, this is an easy change. I’ve also added an extra carrot to the list of ingredients, as the single one I used was not nearly enough.

1 cup cooked French lentils (or 1/2 cup dried)
1 large head cauliflower, cut into medium-small florets
olive oil
2 carrots
1 small lemon
knob of butter
large handful parsley, about 1/2 cup packed
3 tablespoons capers
salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 425F. If you don’t already have some leftover French lentils, cook them now and let them cool slightly while the cauliflower roasts.

Toss the cauliflower florets in about a tablespoon olive oil and spread out on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle on a pinch of salt and roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until the cauliflower gets golden brown around the edges.

Meanwhile, use a vegetable peeler (or a zester that makes long strips) to thinly shave the peel off the lemon and use a knife to slice them into small strips. Using the peeler again, thinly shave the carrots into long strips.

Heat the butter and another splash of olive oil in a small frying pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the lemon peel and let fry until it begins to turn golden, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Use tongs to remove lemon peel and set aside. Bring the butter/oil back up to med-high heat and add in the carrot strips. These will take a little longer and, depending on pan size, you may need to do in 2 batches so they can lay evenly on the bottom. Remove and set aside with the lemon peel.

In a large serving bowl, toss the cauliflower, lentils, parsley, and capers with the oil remaining in the frying pan. Squeeze over juice from half the lemon and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Top with the crispy lemon zest and carrots and serve warm or room temperature.

Gluten-Free, Proteins, Salads, Sides, Vegan, Vegetables

Broccoli & Black Bean Salad

One of the walls in our dining area is painted with chalkboard paint. It’s been a fun way to write little notes and make semi-permanent wall art, but the other day I noticed Scott had drawn up this message: 2013, The Year To:

I’ve often said here that I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions, but I’d be a liar if I told you the thought of them still doesn’t cross my mind. How can it not, especially with blogs these days posting the things they accomplished in the previous year and what they are aspiring to do more of in the year to come. And I think that’s great. Maybe I’m just a little more introverted in my goals then some and feel no pressure to exclaim the next big thing I want to come into my life.

So when I saw the first thing Scott had written, it got me thinking. He wrote “eat pancakes with a fork and knife.” And coincidentally he did that that very morning. I thought about small changes. Changes that may seem minor, but without them the whole picture can sometimes be lost.

In the days that followed, I wrote down a few silly things in the same general category, but then I read about the Peace Pilgram. A lady named Mildred Norman, who in 1953 set her New Year’s goal of walking across the entire country for peace. She left everything behind, except the clothes she wore and called herself Peace Pilgrim. But get this, she walked for 28 years. Twenty eight years people! And not once did she ever use money, she got by on the generosity of strangers. She was quoted saying the following:

“I own only what I wear and carry. I just walk until given shelter, fast until given food,” she said at the time. “I don’t even ask; it’s given without asking. I tell you, people are good. There’s a spark of good in everybody.”

I just love that. She has to be one of the most beautiful and inspiring people I’ve read about in awhile. She also said:

“The world is like a mirror: If you smile at it, it smiles at you.”

This is something I’ve always strongly felt in myself, but never could describe in words, but it’s so true! I feel everyday my strengths and weaknesses, but looking at the world positively and truthfully and genuinely being excited for each new day and opportunity is something I value in myself and others greatly. And I do believe that because I have this outlook I am surrounded by, and meet, so many amazing people.

Norman’s goal was considerably large and life changing the day she made it, but she followed through and spread her important message. I’d love to tell you that my goal is to walk from the west coast to the east in the name of peace, but with a loving husband, family & friends and life I would not want to leave behind, that is not my goal for the year. What I can do, is take away a smaller portion of the whole story; to smile more and see the good in everyone.

Peace and love to you all in 2013.

Broccoli & Black Bean Salad / serves 4
The next day I used the leftovers inside of a couple of warmed corn tortillas and called them broccos; they were delicious. Add in some cheese at the end if you like. I think a nice feta or cotija would work well.

1 bunch broccoli, chopped into bite sized florets
1 cup black beans
1 avocado, cut into small cubes
1 tablespoon white miso
1/8 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
juice of 1/2 a lemon
salt to taste

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the broccoli florets and let simmer for about 1 minute or until the broccoli is bright green and slightly tender. Drain and allow to cool slightly under cold water or in an ice bath. Then place the broccoli in a large in a large serving bowl and add the black beans and half the avocado.

In a small food processor or mortar and pestle, combine half the avocado, miso, spices, and lemon juice. Pour over the salad and toss to combine. Season with salt to taste and serve.

Gluten-Free, Proteins, Salads, Sides, Vegan, Vegetables

Brussels Sprout Kale Salad with Pomegranate, Hazelnuts & Creamy Avocado Dressing

It was June when I started the brussels sprout seeds inside. I carefully filled little pots with seedling mix and made sure to keep them moist. Soon enough there was a push up from the soil and a little green leaf waving it’s head at me. I coddled these things, taking them outside to get a feeling of the breeze and bright sky they were soon going to be under, then bringing them back in before evening. Soon they were stalky little guys starting to outgrow their pots, but I didn’t have a single place to put them because by that time it was July and the whole garden was filled with plants already given there allotted space. I remember during that week I was either giving lettuces away or eating salad almost 3 times a day just so nothing was wasted and the brussels sprouts would soon have a place to occupy.

Once they were in their new home, I could tell they were happy. Large, dark leaves formed and they seemed to grow taller overnight. I was getting worried that I timed everything all wrong that on top of all the tomatoes, green beans, kale, lettuce, carrots, and parsnips, I was going to have a ton of brussels sprouts to eat too. Not that big of a problem I guess, but I really wanted these to make it at least to October. It wasn’t until September though that I started noticing the little sprouts begin to form right up on top of each leaf. As the days got shorter and colder everything began to grow at a much slower pace, and here I am now, with 8 stalks of big green brussles sprout plants. Granted, the aphid infestation I tried so hard to fend off still took over a few of the sprouts, with a good and thorough cleaning, they were perfectly edible.

I offer you up this gem of a salad days before Thanksgiving, not because I want you to change you traditional Thanksgiving meal, but because I think it offers up a nice balance to the days leading up to and after the big meal. But if you do happen to be looking for that one last salad idea, I think this one would be refreshingly welcome next to your mashed potatoes, green beans, and turkey. Enjoy friends and have a lovely holiday weekend!

Brussels Sprout Kale Salad with Pomegranate, Hazelnuts & Creamy Avocado Dressing / serves 4-6

1/2 lb. brussels sprouts, washed, dried and leaves separated
4-5 kale leaves (I used lacinato kale)
1 celery stalk
seeds from half a pomegranate *how to remove tip below
large handful of hazelnuts (about 1/3 cup), roasted
juice and zest from one small lemon, about 2-3 tablespoons juice
1 avocado
pinch of sea salt

Remove the kale leaves from the center stalk and cut into bite sized pieces. Roughly chop the brussels sprout leaves the same size, place in a large bowl.

Scoop out 1/2 the avocado and place in a small bowl with the lemon juice, zest, and a pinch of salt. Mash with the back of a fork then pour dressing over the greens. Using your hands, massage the dressing into the leaves and let everything sit while you prepare the rest of the salad.

Cube the rest of the avocado, thinly slice the celery and roughly chop the roasted hazelnuts. To serve top the salad with all the last ingredients, plus the pomegranate seeds and give a good toss at the table.

* My favorite way to remove pomegranate seeds without making a mess is to first remove the top where the skin folds up. Then, using a sharp knife, carefully score from one end to the other, making an X through the skin. Just be careful to not go all the way inside where the seeds are. Then grasping each side, give the pomegranate a good twist over a bowl of clean water. The sides should remove without too much trouble, then keeping the pomegranate submerged, use your hands to pull out the seeds and loosen as you go. The white parts will float to the top and the seeds to the bottom, making it easy to separate everything and bonus, nothing gets stained!

Fall, Fruits, Gluten-Free, Salads, Sides, Vegan, Vegetables, Winter

Smashed Potatoes with Olive Tapanade

Last Sunday we found ourselves in a not to far, large wooded park. It’s a treasure to have parks like this when you live in an urban area and we find ourselves there pretty often. This one is lined with lots of trails, through tall cedar trees and cliffs that overlook the puget sound. This day however, we were there for more than just the scenic beauty and fresh air, we were on a mushroom hunt.

Have you ever gone mushroom hunting? This was my first. I lived in five acres of densely wooded land when I was growing up, and always admired the mushrooms I found for their silent beauty and fairy tale-like mesmerization, but never had I dared to pluck one from the ground, stow it in my pocket, and bring it home to eat. I had heard the stories of mushroom poisonings or hallucinogens that can happen if you have no idea what you’re looking for, so I treaded on the safe side and instead felt humbled in their presence.

Following the foragers number one rule “never eat something unless you are 100% sure what it is,” we joined a friend who knows what he is looking for. We followed the trails until we came to a few spots where he picked chanterelles in the years before. Then it was into the bushes and over fallen logs, each step sunk into pine needle and mossy ground. We were out there for hours, but it only felt like we had just begun. We came out with only two mushrooms; one for him and one for us.

We were expecting so much more, but it was thrilling and so natural to just be out there that I didn’t even care once we got home. I held the chanterelle close to my nose and took in the earthy forest smell, then sliced into it, sauteed it in a little butter, garlic and herb mixture and served it on a slice of toast. It was delicious and enough. At least until we forage for more.

There are so many things that are seeming to come back into our lives these days. Foraging, a forgotten hunt and gather, that our ancestors relied on for food and livelihood is one, but also print. The one tool that has been around for centuries and is used to tell stories, send letters, document, enjoy over a cup of coffee or tea, and line itself up on bookshelves. None of these things are going away per se, but less and less are becoming tangible things. I like when I can touch something and write my own notes in it, or the thrill of finding my own grandmas handwriting on a scratch of paper.

There has been a decline of print magazines because everything is going online these days, but there are still a few who have claimed it is not yet gone and are paving the way. Wilder Quarterly is one of those magazines. Here’s a little of what they’re about from their website:

“Wilder Quarterly is a publication for people enthralled by the natural world. In our pages you’ll find green thumbs, rooftop gardeners, foodies and chefs, seed savers, architects, hobby farmers, horticulturalists, innovators, amateurs, and experts. Just your everyday mix of growing enthusiasts. Wilder is ‘life through the lens of the growing world’— indoors and out, culture, travel, food and design. Published seasonally for this generation of growers and the next.”

The first thing I noticed, besides the beautiful cover shot, was the paper choice. This may not be something many people think about, but coming from a design background, it kinda means a lot to the whole experience. Inside, every single image or drawing is absolutely beautiful and pulled from talent all over. I found myself curled up with each story and took away knowledge of subjects I never new I was interested in. There’s a handful of recipes mixed in throughout and I pulled out this one to share with you here. A lovely recipe for smashed potatoes that get a golden crunchy crust and are topped with a briny salty olive tapanade. I served mine over a bed of arugula for a light salad meal, but they would be the perfect starter to any meal if you have a few people around to share with.

Smashed Potatoes with Olive Tapanade
Recipe by Francis Mallmann’s Seven Fires of Argentina via Wilder Quarterly: Fall 2012 Issue

for the tapanade
1 cup kalamata olives, minced
2 tablespoons capers, minced
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
fresh ground black pepper

Mix everything together in a bowl and allow to stand for a while to blend. You can whiz everything in a food processor to make it easier. Don’t skip the lemon zest and juice. They are delightful in this.

for the potatoes
about 1 1/2 lbs. of waxy small red or white potatoes
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 bay leaf
6 black peppercorns
salt

Wash potatoes. If not uniform in size, cut to size and boil, with all added seasonings, until tender. Drain and discard seasonings. Allow the potatoes to cool slightly, then gently crush them with your palm so they break open, but don’t bust them apart too much.

Heat a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Cast iron works beautifully for this. Add a small amount of butter and oil and swirl to coat the pan. When hot, place potatoes in a single layer in the pan. Cook 10 minutes or so, until a good crust forms on the bottom. Dot the top with about 1/4 cup of the tapanade, and carefully turn the potatoes over. Allow to cook on the other side for an additional 5 to 10 minutes. Serve with tapanade on the side.

*Full disclosure: Recipe re-printed with permission from Wilder Quarterly. I was not paid to endorse Wilder Quarterly, but all photo’s, text, and opinions are my own.

Gluten-Free, Salads, Sides, Vegan, Vegetables

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