Coconut is ridiculously easy to make. Hot water, coconut, and a blender. Whenever I would randomly feel like making some Thai dish that required coconut milk, I would never use it all and it would spoil. Since I order dry goods in bulk for my bread business I have access to a 25lb bag of coconut. I use shredded and unsweetened. But you don't need a 25 lb bag of coconut to make coconut milk.
This recipe is perfect for using in soups, stir fries, or to drink (just add vanilla, or honey, or whatever flavor you are looking for).
Ingredients:
2 cups of shredded coconut
4 cups of hot water
Directions:
Place the water and coconut in a blender and puree for a few minutes. Let sit for about 1-2 hrs. Place in a colander or cheesecloth to separate the coconut from the liquid. Squeeze as much liquid from the coconut as possible. Place in the fridge and use within a week.
~3 1/4 cups of Coconut milk
With the leftover coconut you can dry it for coconut flour (gluten free) or use it for body scrubs.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Coconut Lentil Soup
This soup is fantastically flavorful and something new to add to your soup repertoire. I found this recipe on 101 Cookbooks and interchanged a few things. I use onions vs scallions, green split peas vs yellow, and regular white lentils vs red split lentils. It doesn't take too long to throw together and an easy tasty meal during the week.
Ingredients:
1 cup yellow or green split peas
1 cup red split or white lentils (masoor dal)
7 cups water
1 medium carrot, cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 tablespoons fresh peeled and minced ginger
2 tablespoons curry powder
2 tablespoons butter or ghee
8 green onions (scallions), thinly sliced or regular onions
1/3 cup golden or regular raisins
1/3 cup tomato paste
1 14-ounce can coconut milk
2 teaspoons fine grain sea salt
one small handful cilantro, chopped
Directions:
Rinse the split peas and lentils until the water is clear. Place into a large pot and cover with water. Once it comes to a boil, add carrots and 1/4 of ginger. Turn down the heat and let simmer for ~30mins or till tender.
I use a large dutch oven cast iron pot because it does great with sauteing onions and I like to cook the final soup in this pot. Place butter in a pan and saute onions till almost caramelized. Add in the rest of the ginger and onions. Saute for a few minutes and then add in the curry powder. Next add the tomato paste and saute for another 2 minutes.
Combine the lentils and onion mixture together in the same pot and add in the coconut milk and salt. Simmer for 20 minutes or till desired consistency/thickness.
*** Another addition to the soup that is delicious is a jalapeno sauteed in with the onions.
Serves 6.
Ingredients:
1 cup yellow or green split peas
1 cup red split or white lentils (masoor dal)
7 cups water
1 medium carrot, cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 tablespoons fresh peeled and minced ginger
2 tablespoons curry powder
2 tablespoons butter or ghee
8 green onions (scallions), thinly sliced or regular onions
1/3 cup golden or regular raisins
1/3 cup tomato paste
1 14-ounce can coconut milk
2 teaspoons fine grain sea salt
one small handful cilantro, chopped
Directions:
Rinse the split peas and lentils until the water is clear. Place into a large pot and cover with water. Once it comes to a boil, add carrots and 1/4 of ginger. Turn down the heat and let simmer for ~30mins or till tender.
I use a large dutch oven cast iron pot because it does great with sauteing onions and I like to cook the final soup in this pot. Place butter in a pan and saute onions till almost caramelized. Add in the rest of the ginger and onions. Saute for a few minutes and then add in the curry powder. Next add the tomato paste and saute for another 2 minutes.
Combine the lentils and onion mixture together in the same pot and add in the coconut milk and salt. Simmer for 20 minutes or till desired consistency/thickness.
*** Another addition to the soup that is delicious is a jalapeno sauteed in with the onions.
Serves 6.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Broccoli Slaw
Because I haven't posted in a while and I actually have a moment, I'll post another favorite recipe. Plus I just made this the other day and realized I hadn't posted this one yet. This recipe is from Smitten Kitchen. She has a lot of great recipes that changes up what you bake/cook. Perfect during the summer or whenever you can get fresh broccoli.
Ingredients:
2 heads of broccoli
1/2 cup thinly sliced almonds, toasted
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
Buttermilk Dressing
1/2 cup buttermilk, well-shaken (or milk, which I typically use)
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
Directions:
Toast sliced almonds if they are raw. I place them on a baking sheet at 350 and keep an eye on them till they turn golden. Trim broccoli and cut it into bite sized pieces.
Toss the sliced broccoli with the almonds, cranberries and red onion in a large bowl.
Whisk the dressing ingredients in a smaller bowl with a good pinch of salt and black pepper.
Pour the dressing over the broccoli and toss it well. Season well with salt and pepper to taste.
Ingredients:
2 heads of broccoli
1/2 cup thinly sliced almonds, toasted
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
Buttermilk Dressing
1/2 cup buttermilk, well-shaken (or milk, which I typically use)
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
Directions:
Toast sliced almonds if they are raw. I place them on a baking sheet at 350 and keep an eye on them till they turn golden. Trim broccoli and cut it into bite sized pieces.
Toss the sliced broccoli with the almonds, cranberries and red onion in a large bowl.
Whisk the dressing ingredients in a smaller bowl with a good pinch of salt and black pepper.
Pour the dressing over the broccoli and toss it well. Season well with salt and pepper to taste.
Moussaka
This recipe comes from a cookbook that I picked up when Chris and I were on our honeymoon in Norway titled Norwegian Cooking for Everyone. It's a great cookbook, although it does have a recipe for whale :( but we will ignore that one. Honestly it is one of my favorite ways to use eggplant; the mix of ground lamb or beef with cinnamon, tomatoes, thyme, and rosemary matches so perfectly that it's hard to only make this when eggplant is in season.
Ingredients:
2-3 eggplant
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp olive oil
2 onions
2 garlic cloves
1 lb ground lamb or beef
1 cup stock
14oz chopped tomatoes
1/2 tsp thyme, rosemary, and cinnamon
Bechamel sauce
2 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour
1 2/3 cup milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 eggs
1/2 cup grated mozzarella or swiss cheese
Directions:
Cut the eggplants into thin slices (the long way) and place on a paper towel and sprinkle salt on both sides. Let marinate for 1 hr, then rinse under cool water and dry. Brown eggplant on both sides (either in a frying pan, grill, or if I have a lot then I'll use the oven).
Mince onion and garlic and brown lightly. Add in the meat and fry till golden. Add stock, tomatoes, and seasonings. Let simmer over low heat for 25-40 mins. Add more liquid if necessary.
Preheat your oven to 450 F
Bechamel sauce:
Melt the butter and stir in the flour. Whisk in the milk and seasonings. Cook until thickened. Whisk in the eggs.
Layer the eggplant, meat sauce, Bechamel sauce, grated cheese in a casserole dish.
Bake for 30 mins
Ingredients:
2-3 eggplant
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp olive oil
2 onions
2 garlic cloves
1 lb ground lamb or beef
1 cup stock
14oz chopped tomatoes
1/2 tsp thyme, rosemary, and cinnamon
Bechamel sauce
2 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour
1 2/3 cup milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 eggs
1/2 cup grated mozzarella or swiss cheese
Directions:
Cut the eggplants into thin slices (the long way) and place on a paper towel and sprinkle salt on both sides. Let marinate for 1 hr, then rinse under cool water and dry. Brown eggplant on both sides (either in a frying pan, grill, or if I have a lot then I'll use the oven).
Mince onion and garlic and brown lightly. Add in the meat and fry till golden. Add stock, tomatoes, and seasonings. Let simmer over low heat for 25-40 mins. Add more liquid if necessary.
Preheat your oven to 450 F
Bechamel sauce:
Melt the butter and stir in the flour. Whisk in the milk and seasonings. Cook until thickened. Whisk in the eggs.
Layer the eggplant, meat sauce, Bechamel sauce, grated cheese in a casserole dish.
Bake for 30 mins
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Sour Cream Muffins
This recipe I tried for the 1st time today and it is delicious. It's a perfect base to add in blueberries, peaches, strawberries.... whatever your heart desires. I've made muffins before, but never had a recipe that I would try again...till now. I am loving this recipe book King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking. There hasn't been a recipe that I haven't wanted to make again and again. Plus you feel better eating muffins/cookies/brownies since they have more whole grains in them.
***This recipe can hang out in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you are not using all the batter at once, then wait to add the fruit.
Seriously you might want to double the recipe because my 2 year old and I just ate 3 muffins a piece, in one sitting.
Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose or bread flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 baking soda
1 tsp salt
4 tbsp soften unsalted butter
1 cup of sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cup of fresh or frozen fruit
Directions:
Mix up all the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl.
Cream together sugar and butter till light and fluffy
Add eggs one at a time and make sure they are incorporated
Add the vanilla and sour cream, mix until incorporated.
Add the dry ingredients a little bit at a time on low speed, till the batter is smooth.
Fold in the fruit and refrigerate at least an hour.
Preheat the oven 400F. Scoop the batter into a muffin pan.Top with course sugar, strudel, cinnamon/sugar.
They recommend using papers if you are using fruit, so they won't stick to the pan.
Bake 22-26 minutes or until cake tester is clean.
Let sit in the pan for 5 minutes before putting them on a cooling rack.
***This recipe can hang out in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you are not using all the batter at once, then wait to add the fruit.
Seriously you might want to double the recipe because my 2 year old and I just ate 3 muffins a piece, in one sitting.
Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose or bread flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 baking soda
1 tsp salt
4 tbsp soften unsalted butter
1 cup of sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cup of fresh or frozen fruit
Directions:
Mix up all the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl.
Cream together sugar and butter till light and fluffy
Add eggs one at a time and make sure they are incorporated
Add the vanilla and sour cream, mix until incorporated.
Add the dry ingredients a little bit at a time on low speed, till the batter is smooth.
Fold in the fruit and refrigerate at least an hour.
Preheat the oven 400F. Scoop the batter into a muffin pan.Top with course sugar, strudel, cinnamon/sugar.
They recommend using papers if you are using fruit, so they won't stick to the pan.
Bake 22-26 minutes or until cake tester is clean.
Let sit in the pan for 5 minutes before putting them on a cooling rack.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Sweet Potato Sausage Soup
This soup is one of my favorites that is out of the ordinary. Sweet and white potatoes mixed with Chorizo sausage and spinach. Yum! Even my 2 year old loves it. Perfect for a rainy chilly day. I've been making this soup from Bon Appetite and you can find the link here
Ingredients:
Heat up the olive oil in a large pan and cook up the sausage till it is brown. Remove and place in a bowl with a paper towel.
Next saute up your onions and garlic till cooked to your liking (5mins).
Add in the potatoes and cook till softened.
Add in your stock and bring the soup up to a boil.
Cook till potatoes are tender. Mash up about half of the potatoes.
Add in the sausage and spinach.
Cook till spinach is wilted (5mins) and serve with bread.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 10- to 11-ounce fully cooked smoked Portuguese linguiça sausage or chorizo sausage, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 2 pounds red-skinned sweet potatoes (yams; about 2 large), peeled, quartered lengthwise, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
- 1 pound white-skinned potatoes, peeled, halved lengthwise, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
- 6 cups low-salt chicken broth/veggie stock/leftover whey
- 1 9-ounce bag fresh spinach
Heat up the olive oil in a large pan and cook up the sausage till it is brown. Remove and place in a bowl with a paper towel.
Next saute up your onions and garlic till cooked to your liking (5mins).
Add in the potatoes and cook till softened.
Add in your stock and bring the soup up to a boil.
Cook till potatoes are tender. Mash up about half of the potatoes.
Add in the sausage and spinach.
Cook till spinach is wilted (5mins) and serve with bread.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Tortillas
Burritos, soft tacos, wraps, and quesadillas are all great meals that require the basic flatten tortilla. This recipe of very quick and doesn't require much for equipment that's already in your home. I will make this dough recipe then begin on my burrito filling. Once the filling is just about done, I can begin to cook my tortillas.
Ingredients:
2/3 cup warm water
1 2/3 cup all-purpose or bread flour
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp softened butter
Directions:
All all the ingredients into your mixer or a large bowl if hand mixing. Mix till dough is soft, but not sticky. Let it rest for 30 minutes.
Divide dough into 5-8 pieces depending on large you would like them.
Roll each into a ball first, then flatten with a rolling pin or a tortilla press.
Cook on a hot griddle or heavy skillet over medium heat, for about one minute or till it has some light brown spots. If you like them crispier go longer, if you would like them softer then stick closer to the one minute. Cook both sides.
Keep warm under a cloth while cooking the rest.
Ingredients:
2/3 cup warm water
1 2/3 cup all-purpose or bread flour
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp softened butter
Directions:
All all the ingredients into your mixer or a large bowl if hand mixing. Mix till dough is soft, but not sticky. Let it rest for 30 minutes.
Divide dough into 5-8 pieces depending on large you would like them.
Roll each into a ball first, then flatten with a rolling pin or a tortilla press.
Cook on a hot griddle or heavy skillet over medium heat, for about one minute or till it has some light brown spots. If you like them crispier go longer, if you would like them softer then stick closer to the one minute. Cook both sides.
Keep warm under a cloth while cooking the rest.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Veggie Burger-Quinoa and Roasted Red Pepper
I discovered a great new recipe blog called How Sweet It Is. Beautiful photographs and many new recipes to try out. I found this one for Quinoa, Roasted Red Pepper, and White Bean Burger. I like to have some vegetarian recipes (other than pasta) up my sleeve for our meatless friends and family. Plus it's nice to do something different every so often.
Ingredients
1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed ( I did about a cup of dried beans)
1/2 cup cooked quinoa
1/2 cup chopped roasted red peppers
3 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon flour
3 tablespoons olive oil
favorite bun or pita bread
Directions
Mix together bread crumbs and spices in a separate small bowl.
Mash up cooked beans into a large bowl. Add quinoa, peppers, garlic and mixed till combined. Add in egg and bread crumb mixture. Once combined add in the flour. Shape into balls and then flatten.
Heat up skillet with olive oil and place patties in carefully. Cook on each side till crispy (about 5 minutes).
Serve with your favorite condiment -ketchup, mayo, aioli (something I have to try some time).
Don't forget the bacon!
Ingredients
1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed ( I did about a cup of dried beans)
1/2 cup cooked quinoa
1/2 cup chopped roasted red peppers
3 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon flour
3 tablespoons olive oil
favorite bun or pita bread
Directions
Mix together bread crumbs and spices in a separate small bowl.
Mash up cooked beans into a large bowl. Add quinoa, peppers, garlic and mixed till combined. Add in egg and bread crumb mixture. Once combined add in the flour. Shape into balls and then flatten.
Heat up skillet with olive oil and place patties in carefully. Cook on each side till crispy (about 5 minutes).
Serve with your favorite condiment -ketchup, mayo, aioli (something I have to try some time).
Don't forget the bacon!
Monday, March 18, 2013
Whole Wheat Brownies
I'm back. I can't believe its been since July (of last year) that I posted. Last August I started wholesaling my breads at this lovely country store in Hardwick, MA call Clover Hill. Chris transformed part of our basement into an incredible 230 square foot kitchen with a commercial oven too! I cannot tell you how much I love that oven. The convection just bakes everything so perfectly, even with 30 loaves in the oven at once. So yes I have been busy. I now wholesale to three places (Clover Hill Country Store, Rutland Marketplace, and Princeton Mountainside Cafe). I will be back at the West Brookfield Farmers Market this summer and I think with all that baking I will set.
So this post is especially for my friend Jill and the others who I promised this recipe to for a while.
I wanted to incorporate more whole grains into my baking so I picked up King Arthur's Whole Grain Baking. I seriously sat down and read the whole thing (600 pages) and dog-eared every page I just had to try. So far I've done the scones, whole wheat brownies, and New York crumb cake.
Double Fudge Brownies
Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 cups (15 oz) packed brown sugar(light or dark)
3/4 cup (2 1/4oz) Dutch-process cocoa
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp espresso powder (optional) - I haven't tried that yet
1/2 tsp orange extract (optional)- I absolutely love this stuff
1 tbsp Vanilla extract (be real- don't use imitation. Have I done a post on making it yet?)
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups (6 oz) whole wheat flour
2 cups (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips ( i've used less @ 8oz and they were still good)
Directions
Preheat your oven to 350F and grease a 9x13 inch pan
Melt the butter in a pan on your stove over low heat, add your sugar and stir to combine. Reheat the mixture till bubbly (this gives you a shiny crust on your brownies).
Stir in the cocoa, baking powder, salt, espresso powder or orange extract, and vanilla.
Let mixture cool till you can test it with your finger.
Whisk in your eggs one at a time. Then add in your flour and chocolate chips. Stir till smooth.
Pour into your prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes.
If you can wait let the brownies sit overnight before serving. This gives the bran a chance to soften and making them even better.
No one will believe you only used whole wheat flour. I will never go back to my original brownie recipe again. This is my absolute favorite.
So this post is especially for my friend Jill and the others who I promised this recipe to for a while.
I wanted to incorporate more whole grains into my baking so I picked up King Arthur's Whole Grain Baking. I seriously sat down and read the whole thing (600 pages) and dog-eared every page I just had to try. So far I've done the scones, whole wheat brownies, and New York crumb cake.
Double Fudge Brownies
Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 cups (15 oz) packed brown sugar(light or dark)
3/4 cup (2 1/4oz) Dutch-process cocoa
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp espresso powder (optional) - I haven't tried that yet
1/2 tsp orange extract (optional)- I absolutely love this stuff
1 tbsp Vanilla extract (be real- don't use imitation. Have I done a post on making it yet?)
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups (6 oz) whole wheat flour
2 cups (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips ( i've used less @ 8oz and they were still good)
Directions
Preheat your oven to 350F and grease a 9x13 inch pan
Melt the butter in a pan on your stove over low heat, add your sugar and stir to combine. Reheat the mixture till bubbly (this gives you a shiny crust on your brownies).
Stir in the cocoa, baking powder, salt, espresso powder or orange extract, and vanilla.
Let mixture cool till you can test it with your finger.
Whisk in your eggs one at a time. Then add in your flour and chocolate chips. Stir till smooth.
Pour into your prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes.
If you can wait let the brownies sit overnight before serving. This gives the bran a chance to soften and making them even better.
No one will believe you only used whole wheat flour. I will never go back to my original brownie recipe again. This is my absolute favorite.
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