Day: August 25, 2009

Tuesday Twister

/ Ren

Each Tuesday, Wardeh at gnowfglins.com encourages us to share what we’ve been up to in our kitchens over the past week.

So fire up some Tuesday music and have a look back..

1) Just a good old grilled cheese sandwich.  I usually manage to put away at least one of these a week

2) Roasted Fig Salad.  Over-orchestrated, but very good.

3) Smoked Chili Powder (hot, hot, hot).  I’ve been using this all week.

4) Frijoles Rojas.  Like I said, chili powder  🙂

5) Spanish Eggs.  Poached in boiling oil/butter.  Oh, Lord.

6) Black Pepper & Rosemary Sweet Potato Crisps.  Adding Parmesan next time.

7) Black Quinoa Pudding.  Seriously good.

8) Roasted Maitake Mushroom.  Très Zen.

9) Grilled Patty Pan Squash.  Anything with äioli is automatically good!

Now go see what else has been twisting..

Blue Cornbread

/ Ren

Organic, stone-ground blue cornmeal, fresh buttermilk, pastured eggs..

Blue Cornbread

Blue Cornbread

(adapted from a recipe by Crescent Dragonwagon)

1 1/2 cups organic stone-ground blue cornmeal
1/3 cup organic, unbleached all-purpose flour
1/3 cup roasted corn kernels
1/2 tablespoon dried jalapeño (optional)
1 1/4 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
1/2 teaspoon aluminum-free baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 pastured eggs
3/4 fresh buttermilk
1 cup fresh whole milk
2 tablespoons pastured butter

Cut corn from the cob and toast in a skillet with a little butter (and jalapeño, if using) until golden brown.  Set aside to cool.

Sift the dry ingredients together in a bowl

Whisk the eggs into the buttermilk, then add to the flour mixture.  Add corn and stir to combine, using as few strokes as possible.

Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a 10-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat.  Use a bunched-up paper towel to rub melted butter up the sides of then pan, then pour the remaining butter into the cornbread batter and stir to combine.

Pour the cornbread batter into the hot skillet and bake in a 350-degree oven until it passes the toothpick test, about 50-60 minutes.

Allow to cool and serve with raw honey butter.

Pickled Red Onions (probiotic)

/ Ren

Love the idea of making and eating healthy, pro-biotic, homemade sauerkraut or kimchi, but not too crazy about the flavor, or just want to try something different?  You might like this super-easy, not-too-tart recipe for pickled red onions..

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Pickled Red Onions

(adapted from recipes by David Lebovitz and Sally Fallon)

3/4 cup organic white vinegar
1-1/2 tablespoons non-refined sugar
1 pinch of sea salt
1 bay leaf
5 whole allspice berries
5 whole cloves
1 dried chile pepper
1 large red onion, peeled, and thinly sliced into rings
2 tablespoons whey

Heat all ingredients except the onions and whey in a non-reactive pan until boiling.

Add the onions, reduce the heat to low and stir for 60 seconds.

Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.

Stir in 2 tablespoons whey, then transfer all to a glass jar, allowing at least 1 inch headroom.

Cover and let stand at room temperature for 48-72 hours before transferring to the refrigerator for up to 2 months.

Serve as a condiment or side-dish- pickled red onions are particularly good with Mexican-style pork dishes.

Ready for more?  Try  10 Ways to Get More Probiotics (without Dairy)
at The Nourished Kitchen