Posts tagged ‘almonds’

November 16, 2012

Green Beans with Chili and Roasted Red Peppers

I’m trying to plan a Thanksgiving for two.

We had an Australian version of the holiday last week, but I wanted to plan something closer to the actual day.

With the exception of pasta, I’m pretty skilled at figuring how much food will feed me and my very strong and handsome fiancé, and leave me a little extra for lunch the next day. (I just can’t figure out dammed dried pasta portioning!)

But a Thanksgiving feast for two is a whole different gig. I want a range of foods and familiar dishes just like the real thing, but I don’t want to have an out of control leftover situation.

So far, here’s my plan of attack:

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May 28, 2012

Almond and Pumpkin Seed Dukkah

Let’s ease back into this whole thing…

This whole dang thing….new season….new schedule…new opportunities…just easing in.

I’m talking about being kind to yourself.
I like to be kind to myself by pre-cooking a boat load of quinoa and roasting heaps of veggies to prepare for a busy week. And by making time to get outside every day. And by easing back into the kitchen with countless comfort meals centered around soft scrambled eggs…with dukkah.

Say it with me: dukkah. Doo-kah. Sure, it sounds a little funny, but no biggie. We’re all adults here.

It’s an Egyptian spice and nut blend that adds unexpected crunch and a zesty, nutty flavor to simple things. My favorite ways to eat it include: on good crusty bread after its been dipped in olive oil (pure joy!), sprinkled on roasted veggies and chicken, over sauteed greens, or laced through just-cooked, super fluffy, bright yellow scrambled eggs.

Add a bit of flair to everyday things to kindly get your brain moving again…that’s being straight up kind to myself right there.

Almond and Pumpkin Seed Dukkah
Adapted from Chocolate and Zucchini
Makes 1 1/4 cup
- 1/3 cup almonds
- 1/4cup (150g)pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup (150g) sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoons coriander seeds
- 1 tablespoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon black pepper berries
- 1 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Toast the almonds in a dry skillet and set aside. Toast the seeds and berries (from pumpkin seeds to black pepper) one at a time in the skillet for 2 minutes, until fragrant, shaking the skillet frequently. Let cool completely.

Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and chop until all elements are nearly uniform in size. (The almond pieces will be a bit bigger.)

Pour into a jar, close tightly, and keep somewhere cool and dry.

Dukkah scrambled eggs for one:
Heat a little oil or butter in a small pan over a medium-high heat. In a bowl, beat two eggs well.
Pour eggs into the pan and using a rubber spatula, scrape the eggs at the sides and down the middle, allowing them to move to different parts of the pan. After about a minute, add dukkah to still runny eggs and remove from heat, folding the eggs over once or twice to finish cooking. (The residual heat will continue to cook the eggs, but will still leave them a little wet.)

Serve immediately with an extra sprinkling of dukkah on top.
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March 7, 2012

Cauliflower and White Bean Salad

I’ve learned that when I’m lacking inspiration with my cooking the best thing I can do is take stock of my fridge and pantry, then immediately leave the house. I run or walk. (For exercise, not like a crazy lady.)

I took a quick look inside my crisper drawer just before I hit the pavement this morning.  It’s becoming a habit.

While I’m moving, I let my thoughts drift and casually think about food. (Probably not what I should be thinking about whilst exercising, but whatever.) Sometimes these thoughts become ideas that involve what I have at home already. It works 80% of the time, every time.

Sometimes I’ll even jot a note down on my phone. This is hard when you’re trying to maintain a jogging pace. I wouldn’t recommend this method of note taking. It’s potentially very dangerous.

I think the note for this one looked something like: “Caulifower wit paprika white jens alludes and raisins.”

I hate auto correct up in my business more than my sloppy typing. But it works…sorta.

This salad totally works. Roasted cauliflower, with white beans sauteed in onions and two paprikas, along with some crunchy almonds and sweet little sultanas.

Cauliflower and White Bean Salad
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil, divided. Plus more for drizzling
- 1 small head of cauliflower or 1/2 of a large head of cauliflower, chipped into small florets
- 1 can of white beans, rinsed and drained well
- 1/2 red onion, finely diced
- 1/4 teaspoons smokey paprika x2
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon sweet paprika
- sea salt
- 2 tablespoons slivered toasted almonds
- 2 tablespoons raisins
-1 handful of chopped parsley and/or coriander/cilantro

Preheat oven to 400 F/ 205 C.

Combine cauliflower, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon smoky paprika, cumin and a sprinkle of salt, toss well to coat the cauliflower and spread out on a baking tray. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden.

Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan over a medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add white beans, the other 1/4 teaspoon smoky paprika and the sweet paprika. Cook for about 3 minutes, until the beans are warmed through and coated in the spices, onion and olive oil. Remove from heat.

When the cauliflower is done, combine with white beans and onions. Top with toasted almonds, raisins, herbs and more salt to taste. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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