Tag: food

Focaccia Bread..EASY PEASY! Is it food? Is it art?

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This post is dedicated to George Morris, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday. A man of great talent, wisdom, and character, George has been a true inspiration to all who know him. His quiet strength and generosity have made a lasting impact, and his life is a testament to the value of kindness, integrity, and dedication. It’s an honor to celebrate him in this small way.

Don’t let the name intimate you. ‘Focaccia’ bread is the easiest and tastiest bread on the planet. When you have freshly baked focaccia with pasta, chili or make a sandwich ..life is good! YUM! You can make it right in your own home! Don’t forget I said EASY!

This is the best video I found on making focaccia bread, and could not say it better. In my mind, the overnight proofing is very important. And, it breaks up the work time – another bonus. The first time making focaccia may be daunting. Make it again and again. Forget those store bought breads.

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 cups (512 g) all-purpose flour or bread flour
  • 2 teaspoons (10 g) kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons (8 g) instant yeast
  • 2 cups (455 g) lukewarm water: Hint: combine 1/2 cup boiling water with 1 1/2 cups cold water
  • butter for greasing
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • flaky sea salt, such as Maldon or kosher salt
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons whole rosemary leaves, optional 

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Make the dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and instant yeast. Add the water. Using a rubber spatula, mix until the liquid is absorbed and the ingredients form a sticky dough ball. Rub the surface of the dough lightly with olive oil. Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel, cloth bowl cover, or plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator immediately overnight. NOTE: It is important the dough really be slicked with olive oil especially if you are using a cloth bowl cover or tea towel as opposed to plastic wrap or a hard lid.If you are using a tea towel, consider securing it with a rubber band to make a more airtight cover.If you do not slick the dough with enough oil, you risk the dough drying out and forming a crust over the top layer. 
  2. ·  Line two 8- or 9-inch pie plates or a 9×13-inch pan ( high sides) with parchment paper or grease with butter or coat with nonstick cooking spray. Glass baking dishes, butter is a must.
  3. ·  Pour a tablespoon of oil into the center of each pan or 2 tablespoons of oil if using the 9×13-inch pan. Using two forks, deflate the dough by releasing it from the sides of the bowl and pulling it toward the center. Rotate the bowl in quarter turns as you deflate, turning the mass into a rough ball. Use the forks to split the dough into two equal pieces (or do not split if using the 9×13-inch pan). Place one piece into one of the prepared pans. Roll the dough ball in the oil to coat it all over, forming a rough ball. Repeat with the remaining piece. Let the dough balls rest for 3 to 4 hours.
  4. · preheat oven to 425°F. If using the rosemary, sprinkle it over the dough. Pour a tablespoon of oil over each round of dough (or two tablespoons if using a 9×13-inch pan).  Rub your hands lightly in the oil to coat, then, using all of your fingers, press straight down to create deep dimples. If necessary, gently stretch the dough as you dimple to allow the dough to fill the pan. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt/ kosher salt.
  5. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the underside is golden and crisp. Remove the pan(s) from the oven and transfer the focaccia to a cooling rack. Let it cool for 10 minutes before cutting. Note: each oven temperature is different. Judge the cook time, if you are making it for the first time.

Healthy THAI Chicken Soup 🔥

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It’s New Years Day 🔔. Today it’s “heat and serve” day!

Thai soup with chicken is packed with flavor thanks to the combination of curry paste, coconut milk, fresh ginger, and lime 🍋‍🟩 [I made it in advance] There are many version of chicken soup 🍲🥣. This is my favorite. It has so much flavour and a light soup. Very satisfied feeling. You don’t feel stuffed.

LESS STRESS ~ USE A PRESSURE COOKER* One Pot Cooking

Thai Chicken Soup RECIPE

Recipe

  • Servings: 6
  • Difficulty: easy
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INGREDIENTS

▢ 2 Tablespoons cooking oil, such as vegetable or canola oil
▢ 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
▢ 1 medium red bell pepper*, cored and seeded then sliced into thin 2-inch strips
▢ 8 oz mushrooms, white or cremini recommended
▢ 4 cups chicken broth
▢ 6 oz chicken breast, diced or cut into bite-sized pieces (or chicken thighs)
▢ 2 teaspoons fish sauce
▢ 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
▢ 1 teaspoon lemongrass paste, or 1-2 stalks lemongrass, optional
▢ 1 can coconut milk
▢ 2 tablespoons red curry paste
▢ 1 teaspoon Sambal Oelek chili paste, or Asian Garlic Chili Paste/Sriracha
▢ 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
▢ Cilantro, parsley, basil
▢ Lime juice

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Make this soup as you like! If you love bold flavours, go ahead and add more of the lemongrass, curry paste and Sambal etc., to your taste preference.
If you don’t want any heat, simply omit the Sambal altogether. Don’t forget to taste and add salt at the end of cooking, as needed, to really bring out all the great flavours.
2. Start the rice cooking. *You can cook the rice ahead and refrigerate or you can use left-over cooked rice.
3. Heat a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add 1 Tbsp. oil. When hot, add mushrooms and cook until golden and tender. Remove to a plate. In the same pot, add another 1 Tbsp. oil and heat. Add the chicken and cook, stirring, until no longer pink. Remove chicken to the plate with the mushrooms. Add a splash more oil, if needed. Add the onion and red pepper* and cook, stirring, just until softened. Return the mushrooms and chicken to the pot. Add the broth and heat through. Add the fish sauce, Worcestershire sauce and lemongrass paste (if using) and simmer 5 minutes. Add coconut milk, turn heat to low, then cover and simmer 2 minutes.
4. In a small bowl, combine curry paste, Sambal Oelek and cornstarch and mix until incorporated. Stir into soup until combined and heat until soup simmers, thickens slightly and has a velvety appearance. Taste the soup and season with salt and pepper, as needed.
5. To serve, spoon some hot rice into a bowl, then spoon hot soup over-top. Serve immediately garnished with cilantro, parsley and/or basil leaves and lime wedges to add a drizzle of fresh lime juice to the soup.
6. Store any leftover rice and soup separately, as the rice will soak up all the soup broth if store together
NOTE: Serve the soup with a tablespoon of cream, sour cream, or high fat yogurt.

Assemble all the ingredients in one pot. Give your taste buds a performance!

* a pressure cooker the heat is distributed evenly. Takes 10 minutes for most soups and tastes like it was simmering all day. [not like a slow cooker, where the bottom gets heated and heat slowly rises and longer cooking time.]

*Dr.Gundry recommends using a pressure cooker for your soup and many other dishes. Nutrients are preserved in a pressure cooker and it’s convenient. Reduces cook time.

  • Add*red pepper whole and remove the skin with your hand then chop or separate the pepper into bite sized pieces. Otherwise the skin floats in the soup and you get strands of skin in your spoonful. You can roast the pepper on a gas stove or oven roast to remove the skin.

Pickled Carrots and DUQQA (dukkah)

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EGYPTIAN Duqqa ~DUKKAH

SPICE OF LIFE! Sesame seeds found on bagels and hamburger buns are now enhanced or “stepped up a notch” with this century old mixture called Duqqa adds protein, rich nuts and spices to make your taste buds sing. 🎵

There are as many recipes for DUKKAH as there are Egyptian cooks. I like the protein from nuts and seeds. Tonight, having rainbow trout that I will dredge in DUKKAH. Sesame seeds are a must. Mix hazel nuts, walnuts, pistachio nuts, and/or pine nuts with the classic almonds.

Egyptian Dukkah Recipe

  • Servings: A Topping
  • Difficulty: easy
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INGREDIENTS

▢ Nuts: 3-4 tbsp each Hazelnuts, almonds and pistachios 
▢ Spices:
▢ 4 tbsp (1/4 cup)Sesame Seeds
▢ 1 tbsp Fennel Seeds
▢ 1 tsp cumin seeds (or powder)
▢ 1 tsp coriander
▢ 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
▢ 1/2 tsp. kosher salt (I use Celtic Salt)

INSTRUCTIONS
Toast/roast the nuts in the oven at 350F. Toast the sesame seeds in the oven in a separate small baking sheet. Watch for doneness!!
Dukkah depends on the freshness of the ingredients. Typically the spices are used whole, then crushed.
Combine the nuts, seeds and spices in a bowl. Crush and blend with the classic mortar and petal, or a food processor.
Pulse the processor until the nuts are well crushed. Do not over process to a powder form.

ROASTING NUTS AND SEEDS

Attempted to toast in a dry skillet on the stove top ends up with a burnt exterior and completely raw, untoasted interior. I have burned my share. Using the oven to toast your nuts is ideal because an oven provides uniform, even heat, which means that the nuts are going to be toasted from the inside out.

ROASTING TIPS🔥

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Oven must be at a low temperature. Use an air fryer for convenience and speed. Cook the nuts only until they start to turn golden (a light brown) with parts still appearing raw. Your nose also tells you when they are done too.

Is Dukkah The Same As Za’atar?

I get asked this question a lot. The answer is: no. While Dukkah and Za’atar are two Middle Eastern blends that can be used similarly, they are clearly not the same in texture or flavor profile. DUKKAH is crunchy and granular. Za’atar , a finer blend, is a mixture of toasted wild thyme and sesame seeds along with sumac.

Pickling Instructions 🥕🥕🥕

Pickled Carrot Presentation

  • Servings: 2-3
  • Difficulty: easy
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INGREDIENTS

▢ 2 cups of pickled carrots (add zucchini + cucumber -optional)
▢ 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves (or basil)
▢ ½ cup of home made yogurt (see recipe) ~you decide how much per person)

INSTRUCTIONS/PRESENTATION
Add a large dollop of yogurt on your plate and spread it around
Place carrots (and zucchini) on top of the yogurt followed by fresh chopped mint or basil.
Finish with a sprinkling of DUKKAH on top of the vegetables with a drizzle of your favorite olive oil.

PICKLING PROCESS: Use a vegetable peeler to make carrot/zucchini/cucumber ribbons. Submerge veggie ribbons in a bowl with a mix of 1/2 apple cider vinegar and 1/2 water. Ready in one hour! Or, refrigerate overnight. I like adding pear ribbons. Tastes great. 🙂

FAST PICKLED CARROTS

You don’t have to roll your carrots and zucchini like I have done here. Alternate with carrot on the outside. Or place in jars randomly. These pickled veggies were placed in a large steel bowl marinating overnight and then placed in jars stored in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. You will use them up quickly. Hint: If you get peckish. Take a veggie roll from the jar and enjoy! Healthy snack!

Pickled Carrots 🥕 Is Good For Your Gut Health

PICKLED CARROTS offers vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.They are low in calories and fat, making them a healthy snack option. The fermentation process involved in pickling carrots (added mustard seed, 1/2 water, 1/2 vinegar) creates beneficial bacteria that support gut health.Cooking carrots depletes nutrients. Consuming pickled carrots in moderation can aid in weight loss due to their high fiber content. Adding pickled carrots to your meals provides additional nutrients.

DUKKAH (duqqa) with hummus is enjoyed as a dip or sandwich spread. Add pickled veggies as a burger topper. Sprinkle the Dukkah directly on the burger, chicken or seafood.

Using DUKKAH on so many foods encourages healthy choices as we develop good eating habits for better living!

Sprinkle Dukkah On Top Of Your Saurkraut/Carrot Side Dish!!

Add pickled carrots to sauerkraut. It softens the tanginess of the SAURKRAUT and adds good flavour. I also shred a raw potato to the sauerkraut and heat it up all together with the pickled carrots.(my German relatives recipe). OPTIONAL: serve with pork chops or sausages. 1 PROTEIN/Fat (sausage/port chops) plus 2 VEGGIES (carrot and cabbage).

Low Carbohydrate !!

Carrots are Complex carbs and Keto friendly. Very low carbohydrates. Carbs A cup (128g) of chopped raw carrots has 12.3 grams of carbohydrates, with 3.6 grams of fiber and 6.1 grams of natural sugars. Carrots are sweet! Almonds are not nuts they are classed as a stone fruit. Cashews are a fruit of the Cashew trees. As olive is a fruit too. The nuts you choose should come from a tree not in the ground(peanut).

AWE NUTS! Tree Nuts?

All these nuts are 15-18 gm weight. Eating dukkah does not involve a lot of calories since it is sprinkled on food.

Bone Broth Trending ➡️ Classic Gelatin

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GELATIN ~ BONE BROTH Reduction ~

My bone broth is different every time since I use various leftover veggies. I make sure I add two onion, garlic and celery. Magic touch: add 1 tbsp. chicken powder (from flavour town). You will see the difference!

When collagen (from the bones) is cooked, it turns into gelatin. The sign that a bone broth has been made properly and is full of collagen is that as the liquid cools it solidifies into gelatin. NOTE: If you bone broth turns into a thick gel then you made it right, the secret is good bones [ chicken wings has the most collagen in the chicken ], DO NOT to over boil the stock. Small bubbles/boil is okay -MEDIUM LOW TEMPERATURE.. Keep an eye on your boil, that you don’t get a vigorous boil. (One big secret). Over-boiling breaks down vegetables for nutrition loss. The steam takes nutrition away along with H2O evaporation.

Mom’s chicken aspic was a favorite of mine as a child. I now know how healthy and nutritious bone broth/ jelly is for our body. Mom’s was the best…Here’s a salute to you mom..for bringing good, healthy food into our lives.

Gelatin /Collagen

Cooled BONE BROTH turns into a gelatin. TIP: Soak bones with Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) before cooking to encourage gelatin to be made. Chicken wings have the most gelatin. Also, chicken feet. But, chicken feet are hard to get. Never boil bones. Simmer or medium-boil to get good collagen; 8-10 hours. Over boiling will thin out collagen. Aides in Anti aging. Plugs up the holes from Leaky Gut.

JELLY ~ GELATIN ~ ASPIC: was first made way back in the Egyptian times (Kitab al-Tabikh). French boiled calves feet and bones and made bone soup. When done, the French put the soup into a cold cellar to chill.

Jelly from the 30’s and 50’s were at every picnic and summer desserts and main course. Today, BONE BROTH IS TRENDING. After you jar your bone broth and tuck it into the frig the liquid turns into a gel. It’s summer and I wanted to make something other than soup. My learned friends informed me there was a lot of natural collagen in bone broth; especially from the wings and feet. How about making collagen and gelatin laden aspic/jelly? Here we go! I believe the spices will do most of the talking. The additions to the jelly are endless.

RECIPE: Cover the bones and veggies with water. Simmer (LOW boil) for at least one hour. The more you simmer , the more gelatin and flavour seeps into the water. You may simmer the bone soup overnight. I have done it -by accident and its still good! (The longer the simmer..the more gelatin is extracted from the bones.)I also add cumin, caraway seeds, pepper flakes, pepper corn. Then, sea salt..towards the end

GELATIN : VIDEO The Classic Recipe!

Chicken Feet (if you can get it!) has a lot of Gelatin /Collagen. This is a Russian recipe from grandma!

Find something around the kitchen for a mold like silicon cupcake molds. Even the disposable aluminum containers for a potluck or a picnic.

from nutritionTactics.com —>

Get Your Gelatin/Collagen In Food 🐓Not Pills. 💊

SUGGESTED: Grass fed organic bones. Ask your butcher where you can get chicken feet or have him provide chicken feet for you. Dr. Greger of NutritionFacts notes, “Without presoaking, it takes 45 minutes in a pressure cooker to get rid of all lectins, but an hour to make kidney beans edible.

VEGETABLE BROTH

YOU CAN ADD CHILI PEPPER, FLAKES, GINGER AND LEMON GRASS.

FEED YOUR ‘GOOD ‘ MOOD

Oven Roasted Tomato Sauce

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ROASTING FRESH TOMATOES, carrots and onions until they’re soft brings out natural sweetness. All you need is simple seasonings, like aromatic oregano (or herbed de province ) and a good hit of garlic, to enhance this delicious, velvety tomato sauce. Make a big batch to freeze for the winter.

Recipe

  • Servings: MANY
  • Difficulty: easy
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INGREDIENTS
3 pounds Roma tomatoes, halved
1 yellow onion, halved and sliced into ¼-inch half moons
6 large garlic cloves
2 carrots, peeled and cut into large pieces
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning (or herbs de province)
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes or Aleppo pepper, (add more to your liking)
Kosher salt
Black pepper
Extra virgin olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat your oven to 450°F.
2. Prep the tomatoes and vegetables. To a large sheet pan (or two medium ones), add the tomatoes, onions, garlic, and carrots. Sprinkle on the Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and a big dash of salt and pepper. Drizzle a generous amount of olive oil (about 3 tablespoons). ( I use a spray bottle ) all over the vegetables and toss to coat. Spread the vegetables well so that they are in one single layer and the tomatoes are cut side down.
3. Roast. Cook on the middle rack of the heated oven for about 35 to 45 minutes, or until the tomatoes have fully collapsed and the veggies have gained some color and charred in some parts.
4. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool briefly. If you like, use a pair of tongs to remove the tomato skins and discard (sometimes I just leave the skin on for texture when I want a chunkier sauce).
5. Blend. Transfer the tomatoes and their juices and the vegetables to the large bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade. For a smooth and silky sauce, close the lid and blend until you reach the desired consistency. If you want a rustic, chunkier tomato sauce, pulse until the tomatoes and vegetables are broken up to your desired consistency.
6. Use or store. Use immediately, or let cool fully before storing.

Tomatoes are the major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. Technically a fruit, tomatoes are found with vegetables—and they belong to the infamous nightshade family, which also includes eggplants, peppers, and potatoes. The carb content of tomatoes consists mainly of simple sugars and insoluble fibers. These fruits are mostly made up of water (95 %).

What to Serve with Roasted Tomato Sauce

Poaching eggs: Use just like the base Eggs. Bring the sauce to a simmer in a large, wide saucepan, then make holes to add the eggs, and cover until they’re set.
Meatballs or sausage: You can simmer the meatballs right in the sauce, or serve spooned over……
Pizza: Use as a base for homemade pizza.

meatballs with sauce/gravy – roasted sauce & poached eggs on a bed of hummus

To store: Transfer the cooled tomato sauce to airtight mason jars or plastic containers and refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 4 months. If freezing, leave 2-inches of headspace. Once frozen the sauce will expand in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using.

Are TOMATOES Good For Your GUT HEALTH?

Whether they’re adding a delicious pop of color to summer salads, or making your savory sauces sing, tomatoes are one of the most well-loved prebiotic foods around. Tomatoes support a healthy, balanced gut. Antioxidants in tomato sauce (cooked tomatoes) boost the helpful effects of L. reuteri, resulting in the overall positive effect on gut health.

FOOTNOTE: I added 🥕carrots after I learned they are a preventative measure against Alzheimer’s ( mom’s disease). Onions are good for your immune system and much more. Along with the roasted garlic, I would add one fresh minced* garlic to each jar. (A garlic farmer’s suggestion) at the very end! Feel free to enhance the recipe to your liking. Make it healthy!

Let me know what you think of this recipe. Do you have a favorite ❤️ way to ‘can’ or preserve tomatoes?