Monday, March 12, 2012

Roast Veggies/ Fruits

Roasted Heirloom Tomatoes and Plums
[seen w/ Morrocan spiced short ribs]

Tomatoes are actually fruits, work with their sweetness and acidity when preparing with heavier foods like red meats to give a warm and light flavor contrast

the key to great veggies is to not overcook and let their naturally delicious flavors come out

1 qt heirloom tomatoes
3 plums cut into ~1" cubes
1 Tbsp honey/agave nectar
grapeseed oil
sea salt

place tomatoes and plum cubes in roasting dish, drizzle with oil and honey/nectar, dash of salt, toss to coat the fruit
roast at 350°F and remove as soon as tomatoes start to split

Raw Veggies I



raw veggie dip


3 raw Brussels sprouts
3 green onions
1/2 avocado
2 garlic cloves
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp grape seed oil
1/2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
salt
steak seasoning



put all ingredients into food processor
[to prep avocado: slice in half around pit, twist the two halves, use spoon to remove flesh from skin]
season to taste
eat with naan, rice crackers, or celery
or leave corsely processed and serve as a slaw

Preparing Veggies I


simple salads: dark leaf base, 2+ tasty veggies, protein / starch, acid, and oil

here:
baby spinach
1/2 bell pepper-julienne
1/2 onion- sliced
toss with 1/2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar and 1Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, pinch sea salt/cracked pepper
topped with roasted red potato and white cheddar wafer

to make cheddar wafers: heat small non-stick pan to low-med, lay single layer of shredded white cheddar. allow to melt, use paper towel to soak up extra oil. once it can be moved with a spatchula, flip for 10 seconds, remove from pan to paper towel, and shape quickly while warm

Preparing Veggies II

easy tasty veggies... if they were this good when i was a kid, i woulda eaten 'em


Green Beans
4 Red Potatoes
1 lemon cut in wedges
1 TBSP butter


Blanch a hand full of whole green beans :
- use beans at room temp
- bring pot of water to a boil
- add green beans and boil until they are neon green ~5 min, quickly strain

- cut red potatoes in ~1" cubes
- heat non-stick pan med-heat, melt 1 TBSP butter
- add lemon wedges and potatoes - once potatoes start to brown, add blanched green beans
- toss in the pan until potatoes are just browned ~3-5min - don't need to be cooked through, the raw crunch adds to the texture
- pinch salt/pepper