EASY, PEASY LACTO-FERMENTED CARROTS

Hats off to Sally Fallon for really getting people interested in lacto-fermentation.  I love it, it's so easy, tastes great and is awesomely good for you too.  One of my favorite recipes from her book Nourishing Traditions is a really simple shredded carrot.  In the book Sally recommends adding fresh ginger, but to be honest, I think it tastes better without.  So, after harvesting the carrots out of our garden before we move to the new digs, I made a batch and thought I'd show you how I did it.  

LACTO-FERMENTED CARROTS

adapted from Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions

4 cups grated organic carrots

1 Tbsp sea salt

4 Tbsp organic whey

Method:  Add the salt and whey to grated carrots.  Bash with a pestle until the juices start to ooze, then pack it into a glass jar.  Cover and let sit at room temperature for three days to ferment, then refrigerate. Keeps for at least 3 months.

POT ROAST WITH GARLIC MASHED

Autumn is definitely here, the days are cooler and the kitchen is warming up.  Pot roast is the ultimate comfort food, especially when you serve it with mashed potatoes.  The great thing too is that you have to make this meal early because it takes 4 hours to cook in the oven.  That way you can cozy up with a book or finish little projects you have going on.  I took the time to finish sewing up the diapers I am making for the baby.  Sigh.....loving the season.

POT ROAST with Garlic Mashed Potatoes

2 Tbsp organic vegetable oil

1 5-6 pound organic and/or pasture raised beef chuck roast or any other cut suitable for pot roast

sea salt and pepper

1 cup organic beef or chicken stock

1 1/2 cups organic red wine

3 organic onions, cut into wedges

4 cloves organic garlic, chopped

2 organic bay leaves

3 sprigs fresh organic thyme

2 Tbsp organic tomato paste

2 pounds organic carrots, cut into chunks

1 organic parsnip, cut into chunks

2 celery stalks, chopped

Method:  Preheat oven to 350*.  Heat the oil over medium high heat.  Season the roast with sea salt and pepper.  Brown the meat on all sides and then add the stock, wine, herbs, onion, garlic and tomato paste. Bring to a simmer, cover and place in the oven and roast for 3 hours.  Then add the carrots, parsnip and celery.  Cook until the vegetables are tender, about 1 more hour.  Serve on garlic mashed potatoes.

GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

Just add chopped raw garlic to your mashed potatoes.....

GREEN SMOOTHIE

Even though I try to make sure I serve my son vegetables often, he doesn't always eat them.  Rather than fret over this I've decided to transform them into something I know he will consume - juice.  If there is one thing that can lure this kid into doing most things he generally does not want to do, it is juice.  So here is a recipe for a smoothie that includes beets, carrots, and kale, along with some sweets like apple and banana.  Yum!  Here is a picture of my wee one drinking his smoothie in his stainless steel bottle and straw.  Don't mistake that look on his face for disgust, he genuinely enjoyed it and asked for more.

GREEN SMOOTHIE FOR MY SWEETY

2 organic apples

2 organic carrots

1/2 organic beet

3 small leaves of organic kale

1 organic banana

1/2 tsp organic spirulina powder

Method:  Juice the apples, carrots and beet.  Pour into a blender along with the banana and spirulina.  Blend and enjoy!

MAPLE STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING with Vanilla Ice Cream

     My in-laws were coming by to pick up my son for a sleep over and were staying for supper. I had already planned to make a casserole for supper, but now I had an excuse to make a dessert! And what a dessert it was. Maple Sticky Toffee Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream.  After my third piece of this heavenly concoction I have decided that this is my absolute favorite dessert.  Everyone should try this once before they die.  That's how good it is.

     Rather than bake the maple date cake in a square pan, I thought using a muffin tin would work really nicely, making individual portions that plate nicely once you cut the top off.  The caramel sauce was a bit on the thin side when hot, so I recommend you let it cool to a nice thick consistency before spooning over the cake and ice cream.  In fact, make it the day before, refrigerate and just spoon on top of the warm pudding.

     Next to the dessert, our main course pales in comparison. It's not a pretty dish, but very tasty, and a great way to use millet!

CARROT MILLET CASSEROLE

1 cup organic millet, cooked in 2 cups water until light and fluffy

4 cups organic carrots, shredded

6 Tbsp e.v olive oil

6 Tbsp organic tamari

4 cloves organic garlic, smashed and minced

2 tsp dry marjoram or 1 Tbsp fresh

1 pound organic firm tofu, crumbled

10 Tbsp nutritional yeast

2 organic onions, chopped

1/2 cup fresh organic parsley, chopped

Method: Combine all ingredients in a covered casserole dish. Bake at 350* for 40 mins.

MAPLE STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

1/2 cup organic unsalted butter, softened

8 oz pitted dates

1/2 cup light rum or water

1 cup organic all purpose flour

1 cup organic whole wheat flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp ground organic cinnamon

1/4 tsp baking soda

3/4 cup maple sugar

2 organic eggs

Toffee Sauce:

2 Tbsp organic butter

1/4 cup maple sugar

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup brown rice syrup

1/3 cup organic whole milk

Method: Preheat oven to 450*. Butter 12 cupcake spots in a pan, or a square 8" pan. Combine the dates, rum and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan, bring to a boil, and then simmer for a couple of minutes until the dates are soft. Remove from heat and use a hand blender to puree. Set aside to cool.

Whisk the flours, baking powder, sea salt, cinnamon and baking soda in a bowl. Whip the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, scrape the bowl and then add flour alternatively with the date mixture in 3 additions. Scoop into the pan and bake for about 2-25 minutes. 

Make the sauce by combining the butter, sugar and syrups together in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook for 3 minutes. Whisk in the milk and cook one more minute. Remove from heat and let cool until thick. Serve the sauce over the pudding.

CORN BREAD SLOPPY JOE

     Every now and then I feel like I am stuck in a rut when it comes to the ingredients I buy to cook with.  Our freezer is chock full of frozen organic meats which is very nice and very handy, but when it comes to chicken all we have are whole chickens which can be limiting when you're in the mood for something different.  So this weekend I decided to pick up some Holdanca Farms Pastured Perfection Ground Chicken.  I have to say I think this is the first time I've ever bought ground chicken if you can believe it. 

    Flipping through my cookbooks I came across this recipe and man was it ever good.  After making it though there are a few things I'd change in addition to my interpretation of the original.  I didn't have any tomato sauce so I used half tomato salsa and pureed canned tomatoes for the other half.  I also added the spinach and carrot and omitted the green pepper because they're not in season and I didn't have any.  Since I love my own cornbread recipe so much I substituted making it from scratch rather than using a boxed corn muffin mix, while at the same time omitting the fresh corn kernels because I didn't have any of those either.  The original recipe also calls for way more cornbread, as you can see in the photo.  Scott and I both ended up cutting the bottom crust off so we could have thinner pieces and it was way better that way so the recipe I've included uses a smaller batch.  Enjoy!

 BBQ SLOPPY CHICKEN PAN PIZZA

(adapted from Rachel Ray 365: No Repeats)

1 cup organic finely ground cornmeal

1/2 cup organic unbleached flour

1/2 cup organic whole wheat flour

2 Tbsp coconut sugar or maple syrup

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 cup organic milk

2 organic eggs, lightly beaten

3 Tbsp melted organic butter

2 Tbsp e.v olive oil

1 pound ground pasture raised and/or organic chicken

3 cloves organic garlic, smashed and chopped

1 organic onion, chopped

4-5 cups organic frozen or cooked and chopped fresh spinach

1 organic carrot, shredded

sea salt and pepper to taste

1 Tbsp organic chili powder

1 1/2 tsp ground organic cumin powder

2 tsp hot sauce

1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce

1 cup tomato sauce or salsa

3 Tbsp local honey

10 oz shredded organic cheddar

3 Tbsp chopped organic cilantro

Method:  Preheat oven to 400*.  In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flours, baking powders, sea salt and sugar.  Mix in the eggs, milk and butter.  Rub some olive oil into a large cast iron skillet, pour in batter and bake until the cornbread becomes light golden in colour 12-15 mins.

     Place a second skillet over medium high heat and the 2 Tbsp of olive oil.  Add the chicken and break it up with a wooden spoon.  Once the chicken begins to brown, add the garlic, onion, spinach, carrot and season with salt and pepper, chili powder, cumin and hot sauce.  Cook for 5 minutes then add the worcestershire, tomato sauce, and honey.  Stir to combine and reduce the heat to low.  Simmer until the cornbread is ready.  Adjust the seasonings to taste.

     Remove the cornbread from the oven and cover it with the chicken, then sprinkle with the cheese.  Put the pan back into the hot oven and cook for 5-10 minutes longer to melt the cheese. Remove from oven and top with cilantro and serve.

LEMONY FINGERLING POTATOES AND HORSERADISH CARROTS

A surefire way to get the most smiles and compliments about dinner from my husband is to make a meal that features meat, and lots of it.  After taking two steaks out of the freezer to thaw, I discovered that Scott was working late tonight.  This sucked for two reasons; now I had to BBQ them, and he wouldn't be here to eat with us.  No worries though, the BBQ'ing was actually kind of fun.  I just had to make sure Faegan was all dressed to play outside, and coordinate the rest of the meal so that nothing burned or got cold before the steaks were done.  The other bonus was I got to cook them well done.  Scott like his steak really rare but he wasn't here to complain, was he?

FINGERLING POTATOES with Fresh Spring Onion and Lemon Juice

20 organic fingerling potatoes

1/2 organic lemon, juiced

2 organic spring onions, sliced

a few glugs extra virgin olive oil

sea salt and pepper to taste

Method:  Bring the potatoes to boil in a large saucepan.  Add a pinch of salt to the boiling water and cook the potatoes until they are fork tender.  Drain the water and add the onion, lemon juice, olive oil, sea salt and pepper to the potatoes, stir and serve.

ROASTED CARROTS in a Creamy Horseradish Sauce

1 pound organic carrots, peeled and cut either in two or four sticks

2 Tbsp natural horseradish

2 Tbsp organic mayonaise

sea salt and pepper to taste

minced garlic chives or parsley

Method:  Preheat oven to 375*.  Steam carrots for a few minutes, being careful not to cook them too long, you want them to still be crispy.  Then combine the carrots with the horseradish, mayo and sea salt and pepper, stir and spread out in one layer in a cast iron skillet or baking sheet.  Roast in oven for about 20 minutes or until they are tender but not mushy and starting to brown on the edges.  Sprinkle with the chives and serve.

RED WINGS

I don't think I've ever mentioned how I was a vegetarian for about 14 years.  When you go without something for so long, your memory tends to lean more towards a nostalgic romanticization of reality.  A lot of things I used to like, don't actually appeal to me anymore (like a lot of junk food I used to think was amazing).  When it comes to chicken wings, the memory definitely mirrors reality...they rock. They tasted even better (if that is possible) tonight dipped into the creamy blue cheese dip I made to accompany it.  My son really liked them too.

     Still testing out the new camera.  I really should read the flash manual and spend a few hours, in the house ALONE! and with no pressure to take the picture before the food gets cold.

As you can see the chicken wings are a wee bit charred due to the fact that I was so busy taking pics of the veggies and dip that they were forgotten about in the oven.

RED WINGS

2 pounds organic chicken wings

1/4 cup organic ketchup

2 Tbsp saracha thai chili sauce

sea salt and pepper to taste

Method:  Preheat oven to 400*.  Sprinkle the wings with the salt and pepper.  Place on a rimmed baking sheet or cast iron skillet and broil the wings for about 15-20 minutes, turning halfway.  When the wings start to brown, they are ready to be taken out of the oven.  Place the ketchup and hot sauce in a large stainless steel bowl.  Toss the wings into the sauce and stir until evenly coated.  Return to the oven and cook for another 5-10 minutes, or until the wings get crispy.

BLUE CHEESE DIP

1/2 cup organic blue cheese, crumbled

2/3 cup organic sour cream

1/3 cup organic yogurt

juice of one organic lemon

sea salt and pepper

1 tsp local honey

Method:  Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir until well blended.  Serve with carrot and celery sticks.

Spiced Haddock

What a gorgeous sunny and warm day it was today.  So much so that I didn't get around tocoming insided to prepare supper until 4:30, so a quick fish dish was the perfect thing.  The whole thing kind of morphed into an Indian meal with a vegetable biryani from a foil packet spice mix and a lovely carrot cilantro slaw.  The whole thing turned out a little to spicy so I am making the necessary adjustments so you don't suffer too.

SMOKY SPICED HADDOCK 

1 lb hook and line haddock fillets

1 clove organic garlic, chopped finely

1/2 tbsp cumin powder

1/2 tbsp paprika

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp chipotle powder

1/4 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp dried thyme

2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

1 Tbsp olive oil

Method:  In a small bowl combine garlic, cumin, paprika, salt, chipotle, oregano, thyme, cilantro and oil.  Pat dry the fish and smear with the spice mixture.  Let it sit for 15 minutes.  Place the fish in a cast iron skillet and roast in a preheated 425* oven for about 20 minutes.

CARROT CILANTRO SLAW

5 organic carrots, peeled and grated

1 cup organic cilantro, roughly chopped

1/4 of an organic red onion, chopped

1/2 cup organic cashews

2 Tbsp organic sesame oil

1/4 of an organic lemon, squeezed

pinch of sea salt

fresh black pepper

1 Tbsp mango chutney

Method:  Combine all ingredients and toss.

Sweet and Sour Stir Fry

I was so happy to discover that this sweet and sour sauce required the use of my (new) blender.

SWEET AND SOUR STIR FRY

1 pound organic extra firm tofu

2 Tbsp organic tamari sauce

1/2 tsp organic cumin powder

organic black pepper

1 tsp toasted sesame oil

1 Tbsp organic sesame oil

1-2 cups chopped organic broccoli

1 organic onion, chopped

3 organic carrots, chopped

6 organic mushrooms, sliced

1 clove organic garlic, chopped

1 Tbsp organic ginger, grated

Sauce:

1 1/2 cups canned crushed organic pineapple

2 Tbsp arrowroot powder

1/4 cup organic tamari

1/4 tsp organic paprika

1/2 cup organic coconut sugar (or brown sugar or maple syrup)

1/2 cup organic apple cider vinegar

Method:  Preheat oven to broil.  Chop the tofu into cubes and toss in a bowl with the 2 Tbsp tamari, cumin, oils, and black pepper.  Let it sit for 5 minutes to soak up the marinade.  Then lay the tofu into a cast iron skillet and broil in the oven for about 10 minutes, turning them over halfway.  

     While the tofu broils, get your sauce started by tossing the pineapple into your blender and process until smooth.  Mix the arrowroot with some of the pineapple liquid until it is smooth.  Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan, bring to a light boil and then reduce and simmer until it is as thick as you like it.

     Heat a wok over medium-high heat.  Drizzle in some sesame oil and then stir fry the onion, broccoli and carrot for about 3 minutes.  Then stir in the mushrooms and stir fry for another 2-3 minutes.  Add the garlic and ginger, stirring for about 1 minute.  By now your sauce should be ready.  Stir it in and cook for about 1 minute.  Remove from heat and serve with noodles, rice or quinoa.

Juicing and the living is easy

I am living up to my promise to myself to juice creatively. Here is another combination we came up with and enjoyed thoroughly.

CARROT, CELERY, APPLE AND BROCCOLI JUICE

About 6 smallish local organic carrots

3 organic celery stalks

1 local organic cortland apple

1 organic broccoli stalk

Method:  Juice and chug.

Carrot Banana Smoothie with Fresh Ginger and Spirulina

This carrot juice smoothie was a great way to start the day.  I love juicing because it is an easy, delicious way to get more veggies in me and my toddler!  Lately I've been making my own yogurt because I am trying to avoid buying food in plastic containers that are not recyclable plastics #1 and #2's.  It is so easy, especially with the handy yogurt machine my sister picked up for me at Value Village for $1.99.

CARROT BANANA SMOOTHIE with Fresh Ginger and Spirulina

1 organic banana

1/2 cup fresh organic carrot juice

1/2 cup organic yogurt

3/4" organic fresh ginger root

1 tsp organic spirulina

Method:  Juice the carrots and ginger together and blend with the banana, yogurt and spirulina.

Soup Day

A perfect foggy rainy day soup for this time of year.

CARROT CARDAMOM SOUP with Red Lentils and Squash

2 Tbsp organic coconut oil

1 organic onion, chopped

3 Tbsp peeled, grated fresh organic ginger

1 tsp organic ground cardamom

1/2 tsp organic ground turmeric

1/2 tsp organic ancho chili powder

1/8 tsp organic ground cinnamon

5 large organic carrots, cut into small pieces

2 potatoes, peeled and cubed

8 cups organic chicken or vegetable stock or water

1 cup organic butternut squash, cubed

1/2 cup organic red lentils

1 Tbsp maple syrup

sea salt and pepper to taste

a few squeezes of fresh lime juice

organic yogurt for garnish

Method:  Heat the oil in a large stock pot over medium heat.  Add the onion, ginger, spices, carrots, potato, and squash.  Stir to coat the vegetables in the spice and saute for 5 minutes, stirring. 

     Add the stock, lentils, and maple syrup.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until vegetables are tender.  Remove from heat.  Keep soup chunky or blend until smooth.  Stir in salt, pepper and lime.  Add a dollop of yogurt into each bowl before serving.

SPINACH SALAD with Feta, Celery and Cabbage in an Apple Balsamic Vinaigrette

Okay, so I strive to eat locally.  Come winter though, I admit to buying the odd package of salad greens and celery.

Organic spinach leaves

Organic celery, chopped

Grated organic carrot

Feta cheese, crumbled

Organic sunflower seeds

Organic cabbage, shredded

Boates apple balsamic vinegar

E.V Olive oil

Sea Salt and Pepper

Method:  Combine all ingredients and enjoy!

Winter Salad

Lately our salads have been coleslaw type salads made with cabbage because that's what is available this time of year in Nova Scotia!  To switch things up a bit I decided to use up an avocado that was perfectly ripe on our counter to make a salad using frozen green peas.  Last year I actually froze some local green peas, but I have to admit these ones are regular supermarket peas, prepared in an unusual manner.  Can you believe I was able to buy tomatoes this time of year at the Farmer's Market?  Norbert is amazing.  He had yellow, green and red peppers too!

PEA SALAD with Grated Carrot, Avocado and Tomato

2 organic carrots, grated

1/2 organic avocado, cubed

1/2 organic tomato, cubed

1 cup frozen peas, cooked

1/2 Tbsp umeboshi vinegar

1/2 organic lemon, squeezed

drizzle of organic sesame oil

black pepper

Method:  Combine all ingredients and toss.

I've started a new business called Earth's Oven Organic Bakery (www.earthsoven.etsy.com).  I sell at the Halifax Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings.  We offer lovely baked goods, and as a special item, Organic Whole Wheat Pizza dough.  I had one left over at the end of market day so we are having it for supper......this is just a picture of the basics.

Real Deal BBQ

We love fire.  All winter we warm our home with a woodburning stove, and all summer we gather around the outdoor firepit.  We also love to cook outdoors on the fire using our grill from the gas bbq we rarely use now.  

This afternoon Scott and I decided tonight would be a good night to grill over the coals.  So as Scott finished up repairing out chimney for our winter fires, I got the campfire ready.  The thing with cooking over the fire is you need to get it going at least an hour and a half before you want to begin cooking.  You need a good base of coals, not flames so your food doesn't catch on fire or burn.

     Seeing as I had that lamb that I purchased this morning at the market, we decided on a menu of lamb with roasted potatoes and vegetables.

FIREPIT LAMB

Lamb Chops or Lamb Shoulder

Garlic

Fresh Rosemary

Fresh Thyme

Salt and Pepper

Olive Oil

Smash the garlic with the rosemary and thyme in a mortar and pestle.   Drizzle in some olive oil and salt and pepper.  Smear this all over your lamb.  Let rest while you get the firepit started.

FIREPIT ROASTED VEGETABLES AND POTATOES

Onion, Beets, Potatoes, Carrots, Parsnips, String Beans, Zucchini, Cherry Tomatoes

Cut all the vegetables in chunks.  Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper and fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme) and toss into a large cast iron skillet.  Cover with foil and cook on grill over coals.  Turn and stir often to prevent sticking and burning.  (About 40 mins)