poppies

poppies
Golden Poppies our State Wildflower

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

TGGD SPANISH STYLE VEGETABLE & SAUSAGE STEW RECIPE

Although this recipe originates from Majorca in Spain where it is made with locally produced "sobrasada" (a pate like, soft, hot paprika sausage).
This soup is just as well at home on a mountain ski lodge in Aspen or the Alps.
Just use whatever is available in your local markets for any hot/spicy sausage.

This is a fantastic one pot meal, and it WILL help you sleep...not recommended for driving afterwards.

This serves 4

1 1/2 pounds white cabbage sliced very thin (4 cups)

4 tbsp olive oil
2 cups finely chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrots
 
4 cloves garlic smashed and minced
1 x15ozs can chopped tomatoes in their juice
salt and pepper to taste
hot sauce to taste ( optional)
6 cups vegetable/chicken stock

Cook the cabbage in boiling salted water for 10-12 mins until tender, drain and set aside.

In a large saucepan,
Cook the base vegetables as in TGGD Soups and stews.
Add the tomatoes, minced garlic and stock and bring to boil, then lower to simmer and cook for 15mins.
season with salt & pepper..keep warm


Preheat oven 400F

1 French bread sliced thin
2 cups dry red wine
1 pound hot sausage, cooked or dried, sliced thin
4 tbsp chopped fresh herbs( thyme, parsley, oregano, basil & etc).


Line the bottom of 4 ovenproof pots (clay traditional)  with sliced crusty bread.
Drizzle with wine, top with a layer of sliced sausage and white cabbage, repeat this process 2 more times, ending with a topping of bread.

Ladle the warm soup into the pots, add chopped herbs and maybe a drizzle of olive oil ( optional)
Bake for 10 mins..remove from oven and serve hot.

Yes I know this might remind you of your last vacation.


Happy New Year to all my readers!!!

Wishing you all a Healthy, Wealthy and better eating New Year, and thanks for all your support over recent months,
John Nigel

Monday, December 30, 2013

Rock Star Chicken, Turkey and vegetable enchiladas, soups, waffles, sides.."how to" photos, today's delivery menu

Did you know that Cilantro is one of the most widely used, fresh kitchen herbs, on the planet?
It is used all over the world to add pungency and freshness to dishes.
I love the flavor it adds to any soup or side dish...here along with inspiring prosperity for the New Year, it features in many dishes.
Happy New Year!


Yam and carrot blended soup

Green Minestrone finished with fresh basil leaves & extra virgin olive oil



heat the corn  tortillas in a dry skillet, then keep them warm, wrapping in a cloth kitchen towel

The ground turkey, bell peppers, garlic, onions, celery, carrots, chicken stock, tomatoes, yams..place over a colander to strain out some of the  sauce before filling the tortillas

Dip the warm tortillas in tomato sauce before filling


The tomato sauce for dipping and baking the enchiladas

Sauteing Brussel's sprouts, and broccoli stems

The dipped, filled and topped enchiladas to be baked at client's home

Enchiladas may be topped with cheese, and/or even filled and topped with cheese


Sauteing broccoli & Brussel's sprouts makes them taste sweeter and actually caramelizes them

Topped with black sesame seeds and cilantro


Roasted potatoes and yams topped with chopped scallion greens

Cooked black beans topped with dried oregano
Whole wheat sourdough, flax seed, banana-walnut waffles (dairy free, and sugar free)

"Rock Star" roasted chicken with rosemary


Thursday, December 26, 2013

Boxing Day Delivery..Full Menu in Photos..breads, soup, chicken, cookies, roasted veggies



Fat free, dairy free, sugar free, whole wheat sourdough with caraway seeds


Chicken and Avocado, Vegetable soup


Apple-Pie bar cookies (recipe on yesterday's blog)

Steamed basmatti rice with smoked paprika

Roasted yams, potatoes and butternut squash

"Rock Star" roast chicken with own grown rosemary, just out of oven

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Avocado-chicken soup, Apple-Spiced Bar Cookies, ( Like mini apple pies)RECIPE & photos

Fresh apples cooking in butter, sugar and water with ground cinnamon, cloves and ginger

The spiced cookie base and topping, butter sugar and all purpose flour, sea salt

The thickened buttery-spiced apple filling

Ready for baking, a partially baked cookie crumb crust topped with spiced apples, and more cookie crust crumbles and sugar, baked 25mins in 350f oven...cool on wire rack and cut into bars before fully cold

Fresh avocado's for the soup

Cut into chunks, drizzled with lemon juice and cracked pepper

Own made chicken stock, carrots, leeks, onions, garlic, butternut squash, kale, celery, pinto beans, garden peas, avocado, lemon juice,roast chicken breast..fantastic soup for delivery tomorrow





These cookies (now baked and cooling) make a great alternative to rolled pie crusts and are so flavorful just a cookie size is enough for all the pleasures of REAL apple Pie



Quick apple-pie bar cookies:

makes 18-20

2 CUPS cored, chopped fresh apple
enough water to cover
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1/4-1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground ginger

place all in a pan and bring to boil, simmer until apples are halfway cooked, then
blend 1 tbsp cornstarch  in cold water and add to the mix, stir to thicken.
remove from heat and allow to cool
The cookie base and topping: 1 cup butter, softened, not melted
2 1/2 cups all purpose  flour ( or 50:50 with  whole wheat)
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground ginger

Process to fine crumbs..


Preheat oven 350F middle shelf
Lightly Press 2/3 into bottom of a greased 13 x 9inch x 2inch oven proof baking dish or smaller dishes..

Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 10 mins

Remove from oven and pour over the cooled apple filling.

Top with the remaining cookie base, crumbled.
Top with 2 tbsp sugar ( optional)
2 tsp cinnamon ( optional_

bake 25-30 mins ( until golden on top)

Remove from oven, and cool in dish on wire rack, when cool enough to handle, cut into pieces.

This is a fantastic way to make a "quick pie' without rolling out pastry..and the flavors are fresh and fabulous, great served as a cookie or with sour or whipped cream as a dessert

 Variations use any fresh fruit,( keep it to 2 cups) and change the spices accordingly.

You may also add some jam to berries & etc. for the filling.
make it your own style, just keep the cookie base ratios the same.

Happy Holidays (today in Los Angeles it is going to be a record breaking 85F in my back garden..roses are blooming like crazy!)
Georgia Peace Rose today, flower is 6 inches in diameter, Christmas Day 2013


This is part of the delivery for tomorrow, also doing roasted chicken, roasted vegetables and sage and leek stuffing; caraway wholewheat sour dough breads..more photos tomorrow

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS to all my readers



THANKS TO ALL THE READERS (700,000+) WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS BLOG AND MY OTHER 2  & WEBSITE AND SHARED/DOWNLOADED OVER 2 MILLION PAGES OF IDEAS AND RECIPES, IN THE PAST 2 YEARS.

WELCOME AGAIN TO THE WORLD OF GOOD EATING AND LIVING WELL.





I WANT TO WISH YOU ALL VERY HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR