Buckwheat & Coconut Muffins

Count 'em down, folks! We're seven weeks away from the most body-punishing event of the year: Christmas. I'm already hyped up on Halloween candy and pumpkin pie. Now comes the downward spiral of unwinding..or unraveling with cinnamon rolls, chocolates, christmas cookies, eggnog and liquor.  By January 2nd, I'll feel like I've been hit by a sugar truck.

This muffin recipe is low in sugar and a candida diet favorite. Candida is a yeast that grows naturally in the intestine. Excess consumption of sugars and yeast can apparently spark its' overgrowth, which some natural medical practitioners link to a myriad of symptoms, from bladder and yeast infections to acne and fatigue. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, there isn't much scientific evidence to support this ailment which could either mean not much research has been done and/or the research wasn't conclusive. Whether candida overgrowth is a real condition or not, consuming less sugar and processed foods in one's diet is supported by both the science-based and alternative medicine fields and I'm heeding their advice.

I've been eating these with Greek yoghurt in the morning. Ruedi added sliced banana and dried cherries to his serving today. Also remember to buy the unsweetened versions of the ingredients below.  I know the coconut was available sweetened, as was the almond milk. If you want a little more sweetness to the muffin, I would double up on the stevia instead.  I vow to feel a little better this Christmas. Lord knows there will still be plenty of opportunities to overdo it. 

From: http://www.thecandidadiet.com

Makes about 15 muffins

Ingredients

• 2 cups buckwheat groats
• 1/2 cup coconut flakes
• 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup walnut pieces
• 2 T chia seeds
• 1/4 cup flax seed meal
• 1 t cinnamon
• 1/4 t salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups almond milk
• 1/4 cup of almond butter
• 1.5 t stevia
• 1 T alcohol free vanilla

Method

Preheat oven to  375 F.  Oil or butter a 12 cup muffin pan and set aside.  Soak the buckwheat groats in water will a pinch of salt for 6-7 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse thoroughly. Mix all dry ingredients except the stevia in a bowl. Mix all wet ingredients and the stevia in a bowl and whisk until frothy. Combine the wet and dry ingredients and spoon a third of a cup of the mix into each cup of the muffin pan. Bake for about 20 minutes or until muffins are brown around the edge and firm to the touch.

Sausage & Bean Cornbread Skillet

Aaaaah, the magic of the one-pot meal...or, the ease of it. Either way I love doing fewer dishes and having leftovers.

This recipe, like most of the ones I choose offers a number of options to substitute. The cornbread mix can be swapped out for a biscuit mix if preferred or the filling can be vegetarian if you trade the sausage for more beans or lentils. I like it just as is, with the sausage and cheese combination, but this likely comes as no surprise.

I'm not sure how my addiction to sour cream evolved, but I serve dishes such as this one with a little spoonful of it because I like the cool, tangy balance it brings to spicy dishes. Perhaps I can persuade you to get on the sour cream bandwagon too.

Adapted from: http://spicysouthernkitchen.com

Serves 6

Ingredients

Filling

• 8 smoked sausages, cut lengthwise and then into 1/4" slices
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2, 15 oz cans black eyed peas, drained
• 1 15 oz can of chicken broth
• 1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce (if you like heat, that is)
• 1, 10 oz package of frozen spinach
• 2 T finely chopped cilantro

Cornbread Top

• 1 1/2 cups, plus 6 T cornmeal
• 2 T baking powder
• 1 t salt
• 2 t sugar
• 1 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg beaten
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Method

Preheat oven to 400F.  Brown the sausage, onion and pepper in a 12-inch cast iron pan for about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Follow with the remaining filling ingredients except the cilantro and simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes.

For the cornbread mix, combine all the dry ingredients into a bowl and mix well. Add the buttermilk, egg and oil and stir until all the ingredients are combined. Fold in the shredded cheese and stir until well combined.

Spoon the cornbread mix over the filling in the cast iron pan, leaving a hole in the centre of the pan. This allows the bread to cook more evenly. Cook the skillet in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the cornbread is lightly browned.

Butternut Squash, Leek, Feta, Spinach & Pine Nut Quiche

I had stretched myself thin the other day and needed backup badly. Ruedi wound up making the quiche pastry and then the quiche filling for this post and the result was magnificent. Maybe all the more so because I didn't make it myself. 'Tis good not to be the only cook in the house. Now if I could just get Cat to vacuum, I'd be set.

This recipe was intended to be crustless, but I dig crusty quiches, so we had one with and one without.  Take advantage of whatever you have in the fridge that needs to be used up as alternative ingredients. This is why quiches are such favourites: there are so many options as far as ingredient combinations.  Make a big salad to accompany it and pat yourself on the back for having created a light, but gourmet meal. Then proceed to dig your secret stash of brownies out of your bedside table and pound them back after dinner to help balance your chi.





























Filling Adapted From: http://bibbyskitchenat36.com

Crust From: http://www.food.com

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

Crust

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup ice water

Filling

• 3 T olive oil
• 2 cups roasted butternut squash
• 1 shallot, sliced
• 2 leeks, chopped
• 200g spinach leaves
• zest and juice of half a lemon
• pinch of nutmeg
• 6 eggs
• 1/4 cup of milk
• 1 t wholegrain mustard
• 1/2 t oregano
• 1/3 cup mature white cheddar
• 100g feta
• handful of pine nuts
• salt and pepper

Method

Crust: Mix the flour and salt together with a fork. Beat oil and water with a whisk or a fork to thicken. Pour into flour and mix with a fork. Press into a 9" pie crust. Bake for 10 minutes at 350F and then remove from heat.

Filling: Preheat oven to 400F. Peel and cube the butternut squash. Toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper and place on a baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

Heat a pan with a tablespoon of oil. Add shallot and saute for 2 minutes. Add the leeks and let cook until soft. Toss in the spinach, allowing to wilt and then follow with the lemon, zest, nutmeg, salt and pepper.

In a bowl combine the eggs, milk, mustard and oregano. Add a pinch of salt and the grated cheese, combining well.

Place half of the squash in the bottom of the crust-covered pie pan and the other half in a pie pan without crust that has been greased with a little olive oil. Follow with the spinach and leek mix in both pans and then the egg mixture. Top with crumbled feta and the pine nuts. Bake at 400F for 30-35 minutes.

Don't Fear the Vegan: Cheezy Quinoa & Chick Pea Skillet with Heirloom Tomatoes

When I found this recipe, I went back to my blog to compare it with my other vegan recipes and...

Well, there wasn't much there. I have a vegetable side dish and a creamed soup made with coconut milk.

I truly am on the 'eat less meat' bandwagon. I got on it a long time ago and have found some delicious vegetarian recipes while appreciating a low-cost meal by comparison to many of my meat-filled options. It's just that the bandwagon has so many great detours through steak village and sausage alley. I get distracted!

This one got my attention though, because as I read through the recipe, I figured it had a shot at being flavourful. For one, the basil, tomato and balsamic topping is a favorite combination in this household. It's fresh and chalked full of dynamic tastes. The second sign was that the two neutral components are well seasoned before they're combined. The quinoa is salted and mixed with nutritional yeast and the chick peas are toasted and seasoned with an interesting mix of paprika and maple syrup.

Finally, I've read about nutritional yeast and wanted to try it. For those of you who know about as much as I did a week ago, it's a pure form of yeast grown for its' nutritional value. A tablespoon's worth has about 8 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber. It's also a good source of magnesium and a host of other nutrients (http://bestnaturalfoods.com/nutritional_yeast.html). It has a lovely umami flavour and often binds ingredients like cheese does.

Try it. I enjoyed it, Ruedi enjoyed it, it was an easy weeknight meal to prepare and it goes great with bacon! I'm kidding...kind of.

From:  http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com

Serves 4-6

Quinoa

• 1 1/4 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 t salt
• 1/2 cup nutritional yeast

Chick Peas

• 3 cups cooked chick peas (if you're buying them dried, I've made some notes below)
• 1 t paprika
• 2 t maple syrup
• 1/2 t ground pepper
• salt to taste
• 2 t olive oil

Tomato

• 2 cups fresh chopped tomatoes
• 1/4 cup fresh chopped basil
• 2 T balsamic vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 t red pepper flakes
• 2 T lemon juice

Method

Quinoa: Boil the water and add the quinoa and salt, covering the pot and simmering for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow the quinoa to sit for another 10 minutes, still covered. Remove the lid and fluff the quinoa with a fork. Mix in the nutritional yeast and set aside.

Chick Peas: If you are using dry chick peas, rinse and soak them in a pot overnight, and then cover and simmer them for 45 minutes. This will give you a chick pea akin to the canned variety. Heat the olive oil on medium heat. Toss in the chick peas, coating them with the oil and letting the chick peas toast for a few minutes. Add the paprika and stir well. Pour in the maple syrup and toss with a little salt. Set aside.

Tomatoes: Combine all ingredients in a bowl.

Together: Toss a few spoonfuls of chick peas in with the quinoa. To serve, pour the quinoa on to a platter and spoon the remaining chick peas on top. Add the tomato mix on top of that and sprinkle a little sea salt over the entire platter.

Khow Suey: Burmese Noodle Soup

Check out my bowls for a minute. Yes, I said my bowls! BOWLS!! Home Sense, people! Get on it!

On to the subject of this post: Khow Suey.  Apparently Khow Suey is an egg noodle dish served with either curried chicken or beef, coconut milk and an assortment of condiments. This particular version is more of a soup with a number of colourful vegetables in it. While it has deviated somewhat from its roots, it looks and tastes like a hot damn.

Wait for it......

Another bowl shot! Those colourful vegetables sure compliment my lovely new bowls.

On the subject of colourful vegetables, my friend Scott started growing peppers on his patio this year. His interest in all things pepper-related got a little out of hand, as his patio and indoor plant growing operation could be a candidate for the next episode of Hoarding: Buried Alive. One night, we were rummaging through the fridge looking for a snack and wound up preparing a dish of cheese, crackers and sliced jalapeños. I tried not to be impressed, but the flavour combination was pretty terrific. Now I can't seem to get enough of the hot stuff in almost everything I prepare. I can't eat enough heat.

I wouldn't call this dish a hot number, but there is plenty of opportunity to heat things up. Garnishing each serving with jalapeños is a great way to use up the insane number of chili peppers I seem to have on hand. The coconut-curry combination helps combat the heat and just compliments the flavour altogether.

Whether heat is your thing or not, Khow Suey offers a wholesome chicken and vegetable soup with a ton of dimension. Frankly, nothing will make your new bowls 'pop' in photographs quite like it either.

Adapted from: http://www.spicechronicles.com

Ingredients

• 2 T vegetable oil,
• 1 medium red onion, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1T fresh ginger, minced 
• 1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
• 2 t dried coriander powder
• 1 t cumin
• 1/2 t turmeric
• 1 t cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup pureed tomatoes
• 2 T tamari
• 750ml chicken broth
• 250ml coconut milk
• juice of one lime
• fresh cilantro, chopped
• rice noodles

Method

Heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the onion, cooking until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and sauté for about 2 minutes. Add the chicken and spices, cooking until no longer pink, about 3 minutes.  Add the tomatoes and tamari and combine well. Pour in the broth and coconut milk and simmer for about 5 minutes. Squeeze the lime juice into the pan and pour in the chopped cilantro.

Boil 3 cups of water in a large pot. Add rice noodles and simmer for two minutes. Use a set of tongs to remove the noodles and place them in serving bowls. Ladle portions of the soup on top and add handfuls of cilantro and sliced jalapeños to garnish.

Sloppy Cabbage Rolls

Yes, 'tis the season. I'm working my way out of the salad scene and into warm meals to complement the fall weather. Prepare yourself for soups, casseroles and everything cozy.

I can't say I've ever been sold on cabbage rolls, but I'm also not much of a connoisseur on the item. I did, however, have an enormous cabbage given to me and no interest in making five different types of coleslaw to use it. Pickling the thing was an option, but I wasn't up for that either. Given our current weather situation, this warm and easy one pot dish sounded like just the ticket. I spiced it up with some Worcestershire and Chorizo to enhance the recipe's subtle flavours. Depending on your cabbage size, this dish could wind up serving ten to twelve. It should freeze well, but I didn't get the chance now that the Ruedi-vac has returned.

If you're on a low-carb diet, eating this dish on its own would make a good meal. I served it with some roasted buckwheat that I found at the Italian Centre (now with a location in South Calgary!). Yes, I'm as surprised as you to come across yet another grain I haven't cooked with. Of course, rice or potatoes are another option.

I'm also surprised by how ready I am for fall when it arrives, as it means the end of summer, another favorite season that zips by quickly. It has to be the return to a reliable and healthy routine that I need so badly by the end of August.  Cooking regular, healthy meals are part of that routine.

Adapted from: http://www.passthechallah.com/unstuffed-cabbage/

Serves 8

Ingredients

-1 T olive oil
-1 small cabbage, chopped
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-1 onion, diced
-11/2 lb ground beef
- 300g chorizo, peeled (usually covered in paper) and sliced
-1, 28oz can diced tomatoes
-1, 14oz can tomato sauce
-1 T apple cider vinegar
-1/2 t salt
-3/4 t ground pepper
-2 T sugar
-2 T Worcestershire sauce
-1 T sugar
-juice of 1/2 lemon
-1 cup chopped flat leaf parsley

Method

Heat the oil in a large sauce pan on medium heat. Add the onion, stirring occasionally for about 4 minutes. Make a hole in the centre of the pan and add the garlic, letting it sit until its' aroma is released. Add the ground beef, breaking it up and cooking it until it has browned; about 5 minutes.

Add the cabbage, tomatoes, vinegar, salt, pepper and Worcestershire to the pan, combining well with the existing ingredients and simmering for 45 minutes with the lid ajar.

Once cooked, add the sugar and lemon juice and continue to simmer for another 5 minutes. Serve topped with the chopped parsley.

Rge Rd Farm Dinners

This is year 5 of Rge Rd's Farm Dinners, hosted at Nature's Green Acres adventure farm. We had chilly weather and a lot of wind, but hunkered down in tents and wrapped ourselves in blankets whilst sipping boozy ice tea in anticipation of good eats. 'Twas lovely.

 A little beef carpaccio, pate with pickled beets and sausage with grainy dijon kicked off the evening. With pork smoking nearby we dove onto wood boards lined with mixed greens, flowers, pickled beans and other veg drizzled with milk thistle vinaigrette.

Then came the meat....

Chicken
Pork
Beef

The chicken was accompanied by baby potatoes and a subtle onion puree.

The pork smoking prior to dinner was a cut of loin and belly rolled with herbs into a wanna be roast. The skin crisped up like bacon angels and accompanied each serving along with broad beans and roasted onions. Beef tenderloin followed with a light chimichurri and a root vegetable gratin. What's that fancy stuff on top you ask? A carrot mousse! A meat celebration it was and I was loving it!

This is an eclair ----->

It's what I ate for dessert, filled with raspberry and honey cream, a spoonful of mint mascarpone and a little streusel to accompany it. 

Hats off to the staff of both Rge Rd and Nature's Green Acres who worked tirelessly to pull off this event. Serving a 75-person meal is enough of a challenge, but the crew cooked and plated it outdoors in unusually chilly weather. Canadian booze flowed throughout the evening piss-strong cowboy coffee wrapped it up. I get juiced about good local food and drink. Rge Rd covered some of the best Alberta has to offer and prompted me to dream up a few kitchen ideas of my own. The only thing that could have made this night better would be cats; lots and lots of cats. 

Nailed it!