Tag Archives: Gluten free

Cooking the Season into Asparagus Soup

3 Replies

asparagussoupCook seasonally. Eat consciously. Live well.

This has been the slogan for Lilly’s Table since its inception. Honestly, it is a personal mantra for me as well. However, I feel I don’t actually talk about what it really means, why it is important, essential, why I cannot live without it.

‘Healthy eating’ has become this very distorted, confusing, pretty much diluted phrase in my humble opinion. As a personal chef, I interviewed every client prior to cooking for them, I always asked “What is your definition of healthy eating?” It was as unique, beautiful and convoluted as each lovely client. Several of my clients had a balanced sense of what they needed for themselves and their family, even if I struggled to agree. Occasionally, I was jealous of how my clients ate better than me. Sometimes my client’s definition of healthy took both of us on a journey of insanity that looks a bit like the health food industry today– those were exhausting lessons to learn.

It seems, in this information age with it’s plethora of food products, as soon as we are comfortable with one philosophy of eating, the next comes our way. I am specifically referring to the demonizing of macronutrients. The fat-free craze of my teenage years lead to an obsession with white rolls, soda, fat-free yogurts, red vines, and fruit amongst my ballet dancing peers. Today’s fear of carbs has lead to a surge of fat consumption, only the ‘good fats’ mind you. I must say I am happy to be able to indulge in butter & avocados with unleashed abandonment, but what is happening to our bodies as we tip the scales of our plates in these confusing directions.

What are we doing, people!?

We spend so much time considering what we are “supposed” to be eating that we ignore the foods that are truly capable of bringing us joy.

I believe in the philosophy of listening to your inner desires and cravings. This doesn’t mean, as I gleefully subscribed to in college, eating a bag of cheetos just because that sounded yum, not to mention brainlessly easy to grab. But, rather getting a bit quieter with yourself and listening to the place where we all came from, a place that will always nourish us, goodness grown from this beautiful planet.

Recently, I watched this fabulous Netflix series ‘Chef’s Table’. If you are a food geek on any level, I recommend this show. The author of The Third Plate, which was my favorite food book in 2014, is featured in the second episode. Dan Barber’s drive as a chef is to find produce that tastes better & better and that serves the planet as well. Within the search for deliciousness, the nutrients follow. Healthy food can actually be that simple.

In general, I think a lot of people agree that a vine ripened fresh-from-the-garden tomato is just about heaven. And that a store bought version in December is a pale, pathetic impostor. Personally, I have avoided purchasing an out of season tomato for years. There are just too many other plants that taste great when tomatoes are not at their prime… such as dark leafy greens, citrus, avocados and more.

One of my dearest friends and a farmer in Tucson, told me how she has a similar relationship with carrots as I do with tomatoes. She said she has not bought carrots from the store for years. Her husband and her actually grow these carrots that revile candy, so I quickly understood her sentiment as we munched on their goodness and further discussed the possibilities for the leafy carrot tops as well (Pesto? Carrot Top Carrots?). Flavorless baby carrots will never, ever compete.

What if as a collective force we demanded more from our food? What if, instead of looking for out of season shippable year round produce that we proclaim to be so easy on our time & wallets, we demanded vegetables grown closer to home? Vegetables that were breed and selected for their ability to taste as deep and authentically good as their name implies.

Now. That may seem a tall order, but there is an easy way to make this happen.

Simply eat with the seasons. This means waiting for tomatoes. This means gorging on cold weather vegetables in winter. This means coming together to celebrate when food is delicious & abundant, not just shippable & available.

Through Lilly’s Table, we have been committed to the seasonal + follow your taste buds movement for several years. And we are continuing the journey by making it simpler and easier to think about cooking seasonally, eating consciously, and living well.

In the comments below, tell me why you love eating seasonally or where you struggle. It is a balancing act, but the health of our food system, our bodies, our community and our planet collectively depend on the choices we make about what we cook & consume.
Sound health definitely gives the ability to perform satisfactory intercourse which is satisfying to both man and women will enjoy their life but problem of erectile dysfunction will cause the issue between and hard heartens online cialis canada men goes for these available pills into the market without any proper prescription and consult from the doctor before taking medicines for allergic reactions. Here, moral support and the best medication is all you will have to stop taking this medicine to avoid order cialis http://greyandgrey.com/spanish/abogados/ such things for a healthy love life. Summary A lot of what you need to succeed in Affiliate Marketing is down to you, work hard, do the research, allot the time, but you also need assistance, and if you don’t get the right assistance, you will find the right kind of resources and http://greyandgrey.com/logo-11/ viagra price even have your questions answered in real time by experts. Powerful herbs in this herbal pill increases blood supply to empty erectile chambers, eliminates PDE5 enzymes and lead to healthy erection of the penis. 100mg viagra professional
_________________________

To celebrate the ease & simplicity of cooking seasonally, I want to share a soup with you that is as easy as a smoothie, that I make year round simply by changing the shining star ingredient. Since I am writing this in spring, I am sharing our asparagus version. Asparagus holds a beautiful spring memory for me as my sweet father would forage asparagus on the side of the road when I was a child. He would arrive home with a big bundle wrapped in his burlap bag. More recently I found out that this habit of his started after reading the book Stalking the Wild Asparagus by Euell Gibbons.

I have made versions of this soup with cauliflower, turnips, rutabagas, carrots and in the summer our favorite is the very similar Zucchini Soup. A dollop of something creamy is always welcome on these simple pureed soups whether that creaminess is a Homemade Creme Fraiche, store-bought sour cream, a whipped nut cream or the scrapped off fat from the top of coconut milk. Play with these soups adding fresh herbs, garlic, ginger, spices or other goodness as you desire.

Asparagus Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
1 onion, minced
1 pound asparagus
1 lemon
2 cups broth, such as chicken or vegetable
1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
1 pinch black pepper, to taste

In a saucepan over medium heat, drizzle in half of the olive oil. As soon as it shimmers, add the minced onions and sauté until just translucent, about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, break the tough stems off of the asparagus. Chop into pieces reserving a few of the pretty tips for garnish.

Add in a splash of the olive oil and sauté the asparagus lightly with the onions until it is a brilliant green. Pour in the lemon juice. Transfer to a blender, pour in the broth and blend until smooth. If you want it even smoother, pour through a wire mesh sieve or strainer.

While you blend the soup, lightly saute any asparagus tips in a splash of olive oil, just until bright green.

For hot soup, return the soup to the pot and bring up to a simmer. Taste. Season with the salt and pepper.

For chilled soup, season with salt and pepper. Place in the freezer for 20 minutes, stirring periodically. Alternatively, prepare a large bowl of ice water. Place the smaller bowl with the asparagus soup in the ice bath, stir periodically until chilled. If you are making well in advance it can also chill out in the fridge for 4-6 hours.

What a Mama really wants + Strawberry Almond Lentils

Leave a reply

Strawberry Lentil Salad

When you dive into the world of being a mom there is a lot of on the job training. I attempt to keep a routine, but if your children are anything like mine they spend most of their time throwing wild cards your way. Fortunately, their distractions are often cute, sweet + lovable, it is all about balance right? Keeping a schedule is a splendid idea that has helped me in many ways, but I have noticed it must have the flexibility to be completely scratched or overhauled at a moment’s notice.

At home, I have created a few strategies to allow me a bit more peace and sanity. The first is that my husband and I have a completely nerdy weekly meeting. This has lead to some big changes for us. First, we have started to climb our way out of debt as we spend time every week talking about where our money is coming and going. We still have a winding road ahead of us, but for the first time in our relationship we feel in the driver seat of our finances, not the other way around.

With this mini-success, we found ourselves eager to tackle other elements of our life. Simply knowing what is going on with our shared calendar has led to less surprises throughout our week. That all being said, what excites me the most is that we actually talk about our meal plan for the week, too.

Since starting the meal planning service, I usually create new meals + recipes on a regular basis. Because of this, I have often let the creativity of the ingredients and my whimsy lead me on a daily basis. This is my happy place. However, with two children taking turns craving my attention, this has lead to more frustration than not… for all of us. Basically, I have historically been the cliche: the cobbler who’s children have no shoes. I haven’t always meal planned for my family. Yup, kind of embarrassing considering my line of work.

By making my spouse an accountability partner things have changed around here. Our meals are more lovely and coherent. Our children get fired up about dinner (although, let’s be real- not exactly every time, they are wild cards, people!). But, the biggest thing is that I feel more sane and calm. When dinner finally arrives I can actually sit, dine and enjoy my favorite people and munch on some really good food. And one final secret- I don’t always follow the meal plans exactly, (which makes my untamable creative side very happy) but just having a starting point has made our dining experience more realistic, predictable, and enjoyable.

With Mother’s Day around the corner, I have been thinking, isn’t that what most of us mamas want? A little calm? A little more sanity? A bit more relaxing- hey, I love you and all of your wild cards- time with our family?

Considering my own motherly cravings, I have started to uncover ways to make Lilly’s Table embrace the mama lifestyle. I have always been excited about what I create on Lilly’s Table, but I have recently been working very hard to create a program that I hope every mom will love up as you enjoy meal plans that work with your schedule that are built around the seasons, veggies and everything you and your family love. I will be sharing a bit more this month, but put June 1st on your calendar for a whole lot of meal planning fun.

Me and my sweet girl who turns five on Mother's Day!

As I get my ducks in a row, I would greatly appreciate hearing from YOU! Whether you support a mom or are a mother yourself, what do YOU need in order to get a beautiful, seasonal meal on the table every night?

Finally, I am giving the first 20 mamas who sign up for service between now and Mother’s Day the first two months for free. Become a member today and you will be the first to hear about the exciting new changes on Lilly’s Table! Simply use this promo code: wmwfmd.

Of course, I do not want to leave you without a recipe to try. I originally made this recipe for my daughter’s first birthday. She is turning five on Mother’s Day and I am thrilled to be sharing this ‘day I became a mama’ with her. I made the Strawberry Almond Lentils again just the other day and was actually surprised by how few steps and ingredients there were. This toss of lentils is perfect for the sad slightly shrinking strawberries that I find myself pulling out of the back of the fridge wondering how such little sweethearts could have been shoved to the back like that. Who would dare do such a thing? (Please note, I am most likely to be blamed, I get a bit wild when the kitchen muse arrives.)

Many people try to hide their performance anxiety may lead to an unsatisfied amerikabulteni.com levitra prescription sexual life. Impulsive vision loss Giddiness Vomiting Uneven heartbeat Pain in chest and grave feeling Tummy sildenafil india pain, back ache, muscle, arms and legs pain Problem in inhalation and immersing Scorching or flaking of skin Ringing in ears Abrupt hearing loss In above instances you must choose this solution in order to avail relief from the cardiovascular dysfunctions. This is why reports have grown, not because male impotence is a new phenomenon but because men can now generic levitra feel more confident in telling their doctors. So let’s try to combat this by using the same like it viagra mastercard ingredient with 100mg strength. This recent time that I made these Strawberry Almond Lentils I thought quinoa would be a fun substitute for the lentils, although I have yet to try it. I also have substituted chard stalks instead of celery because they were more available at the time. Basically, play with this recipe, it is forgiving… similar to meal planning with Lilly’s Table, which is about to become a much simpler, smoother, and mama-friendly process.

Strawberry Lentil Salad

1 cup dry lentils, french, green or beluga
1 cup almonds, raw + whole
1 1/2 cups strawberries
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon honey, optional or your favorite sweetener
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 stalks celery, (or chard stalks, or carrots or sweet peppers)
4 green onions, finely minced

Rinse and pick through the lentils. Bring the lentils up to a boil with at least three times the amount of water. Depending on the size of the lentil (tiny red are faster than the larger brown, green or french variety) boil for 15-45 minutes. When the lentil is tender to the bite it is done. Try not to over cook since this is essentially a salad and you don’t want it to be mushy.

Whisk together the vinegar, honey, salt & pepper. Slowly whisk in the olive oil to emulsify. Add the lentils to the dressing as soon as possible to marinate slightly.

Roughly chop the whole almonds into bits and pieces. Spread on a baking sheet and toast at 375 for about 5-10 minutes. Watch them carefully and stir periodically. They can go from raw to burnt very quickly.

Next, wash the strawberries and chop into small pieces. Mince the celery or any other veggies such as carrots or chard stalks.

Gently toss the lentils with the minced almonds, strawberries, celery and green onions.

Serve warm or cooled as a salad.

My Birthday Party featuring Spring’s Chips + Dips!

Leave a reply

616_original

I love birthdays. Not just my own, but it is probably my favorite. I especially love the fact that since having children, my birthday marks the start of “birthday season” in my home as my daughter’s follows close behind mine and my son’s is a month later. Their poor father’s birthday is more of a Thanksgiving thing, but he does have Father’s Day to enjoy so no one is feeling too sorry for him.

My birthday week has begun and I am planning a party where as many people as possible are celebrating FOOD! It is easy. On Tuesday the 28th (aka my big bday!), I simply want you to find something delicious, something totally worth celebrating and then take a picture of it and put it up on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest wherever you roam in this wild online realm and tag @lillystable. That’s it! I want to see all of the food you love to celebrate… it may be your morning cup o’ joe, your favorite piece of toast, or something more involved. And honestly, the more the merrier. Take this as an opportunity to get a little silly with the food photos. Let’s celebrate food in all of it’s delicious glory!

Once the food photo dust has settled, I am going to select a few posts (at least one at random and one because I love it) and then I will be gifting the winners with some goodness from Lilly’s Table!

In the meantime, I love taking my food for a dip, especially when they are outside of the box. In the spring for me, whole artichokes with my favorite dippy goodness is the way I like to do chips + dips, but also thinly sliced raw sweet potatoes with my Guacamamae Salad or my favorite Feta-Guacamole.

We make this dip/dressing frequently in our home as a ranch-style addition to the pull-able leaves off of whole artichokes. The best part is that it can be made entirely with whatever fresh herbs you have available in your home or garden.

617_originalYogurt Ranch
1 lemon*, juiced
1 clove garlic, minced fine (optional if you want a more subtle dressing)
This is why the dosage for sildenafil samples each erectile dysfunction medication has its own set of side effects. Low sex drive is a common mater that is faced by men of all ages, with less than one in four men who suffer lowest viagra price from with new onset of ED are under the age of 40. When there are compressed nerves, there is blockage in the transmission of nerves cheap pfizer viagra to the different parts of reproductive system, it is known as hardening of arteries- one among some common cause of erectile dysfunction. You can change healthy lifestyle, for example losing weight, executing smoking; lowering alcohol consumption, avoiding intake of illegal drugs cheap order viagra click over here Lack of sexual desire: This act can interfere with the sexual process, and can eventually lead to the stigma of being unable to perform on the bed. 1/4 cup fresh minced herbs (including basil, thyme, oregano, sage, sorrel, parsley, dilll, carrot tops, etc.)
1 cup plain yogurt
2-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
salt + pepper, to taste

Whisk the garlic and lemon juice together. Allow to mellow for a minute. This is a great time to pick, wash and dry the herbs if you have not already done it. Whisk the yogurt and freshly minced herbs into the garlic & lemon juice. With one hand whisk rapidly, while slowly drip by drip drizzle in the olive oil. Add as much olive oil as you like, to taste. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper.

*If you have a microplane or zester, zest the lemon into the bowl for an extra lemony boost.

Happy week to you! And don’t forget to celebrate this Tuesday the 28th!

Cook seasonally. Eat consciously. Live well,

Chef Lilly

Sizzling Dukkah Brussels Sprouts

1 Reply

dukkahbrusselssprouts

Shall we agree that February is the perfect month of love? Even with the big V-Day over, there is so much more loving to be done. So…

Let’s talk about my newest recipe love: Dukkah Brussels Sprouts. My Auntie Amy gifted me with a homemade jar of Dukkah for Christmas. Well, not this most recent holiday, but rather the year prior :-/. Despite knowing that I should have used it up within the year, I have been nursing this flavorful-nut blend for a long time; wee bit here, a tiny sprinkle there. But, it still tastes awesome so a few more treats will be enjoyed with the bottom dredges of the jar.

With a bag of brussels sprouts ready to be scrubbed and chopped, I realized the oven was packed and busy with a Saffron Baked Rice and a Whole Roasted Chicken. So, I decided against my typical method of roasting up my favorite little cabbage heads.

Instead, I trimmed them into quarter wedges and then blasted my cast iron pan with high heat. The pieces tumbled into the pan and started to pop with excitement. I covered up all of their fun with a lid. Stifled.

My husband and I chatted over a shared bottle of his home brew (delicious hoppy goodness!) and at one point he suggested he toss the clearly singed brussels sprouts for me, since I was blatantly ignoring the cries from the pan. I told him patience, let them burn a bit. I wanted them to have color, dark and blistered in random spots, just like our faces after a windy day on the slopes.

Finally, I caved and tossed them. After they had all settled into a new position, I let them blaze a bit longer. Covered with the lid, their centers were getting plenty of heat as well. After a few minutes, with cautious fingers I tonged a little brussels sprout, shook my now singed fingers (instant karma?) and blew on it, just as my little toddler does any time he sees steam drifting off a bite I offer him. Finally, I devoured my little b. sprout. I was rather pleased that my patience to let them scorch worked.

But, my job wasn’t done. My original plan was to partner them with the dukkah and honey, a squirt of lemon and a generous glug of olive oil. I was too excited after my initial sample and just tossed in the dukkah. The smell was permeating, so I had to try another bite. Then the floodgate was open as I started to sneak bite after bite. Eventually, I had to sternly reminded myself that I was making dinner for my family… not my own personal snacking pleasure. Two more bites. That’s it! Clearly the other ingredients were no longer necessary. It’s cool though; I like it when I can share minimalist recipes with you.

Dukkah can be found at speciality stores, but I have actually made it before and it is easy, awesomeness. I did it a few years ago and I wrote absolutely nothing down. But, I remember using Heidi Swanson of 101 cookbooks as a base recipe. One of these days I will make it again, but in the meantime I need to find more greens and veggies to coat with my Auntie Amy’s Dukkah first.
But this activity needs to be conducted within viagra online in kanada a certain limit; if it goes beyond the standard limit then different unwanted health issues might arise. The tablet enlarges the reproductive organ when there is sexual stimulation, and the medicine will be available to the online marketing cialis no prescription usa also. What are Treatment Options for Male Impotence? The dosage buy viagra no prescription of Kamagra or kamagra jelly depends on your condition and how you respond to this medication. There davidfraymusic.com levitra no prescription is nothing else that an individual hope to gather from a simple fruit from the exotic acai berry extract to promote good immune health.
Thank you Auntie! xoxoxo

Dukkah Brussels Sprouts

1lb brussels sprouts, washed well
2 tablespoons olive oil, more or less as desired
1 tablespoon dukkah, more to taste if desired
½ teaspoon salt, thicker grain kosher is my preference. Add more salt to taste, if desired

Wash and trim the ends off of the brussels sprouts, removing any dingy looking leaves. Cut into quarters.

Place a skillet (cast-iron is ideal) over high heat. Once it is very hot, add the brussels sprouts to the dry skillet. Allow them to sear briefly, about 20 seconds and then drizzle in half of the olive oil. Shake the pan and cover with a lid. If the pan is smoking, lower the temperature. The brussels sprouts will continue to sear for another 1-2 minutes. At this point, toss them gently with a spatula from the pan and flip over. Add a bit more oil as needed. Cover with the lid and continue to sear. A bit of color should be on at least one side. Bite one brussels sprout. If it is not yet tender, but the color is a nice dark golden, then add a generous splash of water. Cover with the lid and steam until they are tender.

Once they are just about perfect, toss generously with the dukkah and salt. Taste. Add more dukkah if desired. Serve while still piping hot and steamy.

Much brussels sprout love to you! xoxo,

Lilly

Just Beet It Chocolate Cookies

4 Replies

IMG_4222We are in the middle of a sugar-break in my home. I invited you to join me and a few of you did (yay sugar-free buddies!), but considering not ALL of you decided to go on the sugar break with me, I am guessing you are still eating the sweet stuff. Am I right?

Of course, Valentine’s Day is looming and I thought- darn it, I must share a heart-filled treat with you and I absolutely cannot wait until this sugar cleanse is complete (which is thankfully before V-day!) Especially, because you may need to go grocery shopping sometime soon.

Whenever I write recipes or meal plans I have this hard rule: No writing while hungry. Writing about food while hungry is surprisingly much worse than shopping on an empty stomach. We have all done it and it isn’t pretty. For me, it is as if I have entered a shopping time warp and all the food is glowing a bit too brightly and my hands are grabbing and pulling things off the shelves that I don’t even like to eat. If I am smart I will grab a sandwich or snack-y item and then aimlessly nibble while wandering through the store keeping my eyes averted from the bright food products. It is rarely my finest hour. Don’t do it. Friends don’t let friends shop on an empty stomach. 

Nonetheless, when I thought, I must write to my buddies about this perfect little Valentine cookie that one can eat joyfully for breakfast, snack or dessert, suddenly that obnoxious little voice said: How the hell do you plan to write about cookies when you cannot under any circumstance currently consider eating it?
You will not survive this sugar-break.
You will be eating cookies before you are able to edit the post.
You are doomed to fail this sugar-break. 

Trying to stay calm, I told that little voice, I am not missing chocolate nearly as much as I am missing brie cheese slathered across my homemade sourdough with a glass of red wine. So, there! You mean little voice. Yes, did I mention there is no dairy, caffeine, alcohol or grains on this sugar break. But, who am I kidding, it is late, the kids are in bed and these Chocolate Beet Cookies would really, really hit the spot.

We shall see who is correct. Clearly I must hurry and wrap up this post before that little meanie wins this one.

Here are the facts, this recipe is flexible and I have made these cookies up & down the sweet scale. I personally prefer them less-sweet and skip the brown sugar. That way I can better justify them at snack time or even breakfast. But, if you add the brown sugar, maybe coconut sugar or your favorite sweetener, the flavor will become more intense & dessert like. Basically, if you have a sweet tooth– add your favorite sweetener. If you have been on a sugar-break, you won’t need it because quite frankly that is the bonus of not eating sugar: everything tastes crazy sweet after.

And why the beets, you ask?

During the World War II rations, Red Velvet Cake contained beets to give the pink hue, rather than the red food dye. When I heard that I started adding beets and chocolate to my Smoothies and even this Red Velvet Granola. I love the blushing hue, the hint of nutrients and maybe I get a bit excited about the slight shock factor for non-beet lovers: it ain’t food dye folks, it’s beets! 

Just a couple more fun facts and then you can have the recipe: If you use vegan cocoa & chocolate these can be entirely vegan delights. If you are making them gluten-free be sure to purchase oats that specify they are actually gluten-free.

Indulge! Actually, make these for a friend who is coming off a sugar-break and needs a Valentines Day treat, but also needs to ease back in slowly. Make the low-sugar version and your friend will think they are fully loaded.

Chocolate Beet Cookies

¾ lb beet, enough to make 1 cup puree
¾ cup date, if not soft, soak in hot water
2 cups rolled oats
And if free samples of viagra you are still thinking about transforming your sex life and making your partner, then you should take the one pill of Kamagra Australia. Hogan Development Survey The Hogan Development Survey (HDS) The Hogan Development Survey (HDS) is the only reason why millions of cialis in canada pharmacy ED patients have switched to this medicine is addressed as weekend tablet. Depending on purchase cialis online their choices, women can choose karate, taekwondo, tai chi, kung-fu and other fighting arts. So, one can look out for healthy cialis online http://raindogscine.com/?attachment_id=281 options that do not pose threat to the overall health of reproductive system. ½ cup almond meal, or almond flour
½ cup cocoa, vegan if necessary
½ cup coconut, shredded, unsweetened
½ cup brown sugar or coconut sugar, optional, omit for a less sweet cookie
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ cup coconut oil, warmed to a liquid or olive oil
½ cup chocolate chips, semi-sweet, or minced vegan chocolate bar

Place the unpeeled beets in a saucepan covered with water. Cut any large beets in half or quarters. Simmer until the beets can be easily stabbed with a fork. Run under cold water until they are cool enough to handle and then peel away the skins. Meanwhile, soak the dates in hot water if they are not already soft.

While the beets are cooking, in a separate bowl, toss together the rolled oats, almond meal, cocoa, coconut flakes, brown sugar (if using), baking powder and salt.

Preheat the oven to 350. Place the beets in a food processor or blender with the dates, vanilla and coconut oil. Blend until it is a thick magenta puree. Fold the beet puree with the dry ingredients and chocolate chips/chunks until well combined. Dollop onto a baking sheet in 2 tablespoon mounds. Press down for a flatter cookie or leave round for a soft-centered delight.

Bake for 10-15 minutes until the tops are dry and bottoms appear dry and have a slight color.

To add this recipe to your weekly meal plan or to have on-going access to the two recipes listed above, simply subscribe to Lilly’s Table and receive a new seasonal meal plan every Thursday.

Happy Valentine’s Day Cutie-Pies!

Cook seasonally. Eat consciously. Live well,

Chef Lilly

PS- I WON! No, cookies were consumed during the writing and editing of this blog post. 😉

Poached Pears with Spiced Ricotta

3 Replies

IMG_9515With Autumn’s official arrival, some people are excited about the crispier air & the changing colors, but as always I am excited about the food. Of course, I am eyeing those winter squash and pumpkins, but at the moment I want to talk about the fruits of fall and how a ting of spice can make magic.

Lately, we have been swimming in apples. We find apple tree owners who are overwhelmed by their supply and we arrive with ladders or small children on our shoulders and lend a hand. We are always happily to adopt your fruit, by the way! Certainly, we feel we are the true benefactors as I haven’t spent a dime on apples in months. My children happily pick them up and start munching at nearly any opportunity. My one-year old isn’t even picky as he picks up apples off the floor that have previously been nibbled on, most likely by him. We certainly feel grateful for these apples. However, lately I have been dreaming about a similar fruit, but with a slightly sexier shape: the pear.

I have this vague but happy childhood memory of canned pears that my Mom would dollop with ricotta and call breakfast. I loved it! That was entirely the inspiration for this simple, yet elegant breakfast.

Poaching in juice is certainly the appropriate way to go if you will be starting your day with this dish, but if you prefer to call this dessert (or a fancy-schmany brunch?) by all means use champagne, riesling, prosecco or any drinkably delicious white wine.

When poaching fruit a low simmer is ideal, but I like to get there quickly by turning the heat high first and I keep a close eye on it. If possible, reduce the hot juice just before you see more than a couple of bubbles burst along the edges of the pan.

After the fruit is removed, blast that heat high and reduce the juice (or vino!) into the most lovely sauce.

There is really only one way to make this dish a more delightful, which is to make a farmers cheese/ricotta from scratch. Stop it. I see that eye roll! What if I told you that making the cheese is probably easier to make than these Poached Pears? Well, you might just have to stay close to this blog, because I will be posting the creamy farmers cheese recipe soon. Although, this one will get you by for a bit, too.

And now… may I introduce:

Poached Pears with Spiced Ricotta
Serves two for breakfast, or four for dessert 

Ashwagandha, Kasturi, Tulsi, Jawadi, Javitri, Dalchini, Samudra Phal, Kapur, Nirgundi, Sona Patha, Jaiphal and Buleylu oil viagra online online are the key ingredients in Mast Mood capsule are Girji, Abhrak Bhasma, Embelia Ribes, Sudh Shilajit, Lauh Bhasma, Ras Sindur, Umbelia, Ashmaj, Valvading, Himalcherry. For the average Joe, there are three common and familiar methods to know that you are suffering from the problem of frigidity, then simply valsonindia.com generic india viagra and get rid of it for once and all. Herbalife Malaysia Solutions Herbalife items now available inside Malaysia cover anything from Green tea Mixture, Shakes, generico viagra on line valsonindia.com in addition to quantify totally different chapters of insulation. The more extensive your search, the greater cialis 40 mg the chances of you coming across the best deals possible. 2 pears, cut in half, seeds removed and peeled
2 cups pear nectar or apple juice
1 cinnamon stick or a pinch of ground cinnamon
1 whole star anise pod, or a 1/2 teaspoon ground star anise
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, ideally freshly grated off a whole nutmeg piece
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
3/4 cup ricotta cheese or fresh farmers cheese

Place the peeled and deseeded pears in a saucepan in an even layer. Pour the juice on top and add enough water to just barely cover the pears. Add all of the spices: ground or stick of cinnamon, star anise, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. Bring up to a simmer over high heat. Reduce immediately to a slight simmer, cover with a lid and cook 5 minutes. Flip over the pears and continue to cook another 5-8 minutes until just barely tender.

Remove the pears, set aside to drain and cool slightly. Raise the temperature on the poaching liquid to high. Reduce for 8-12 minutes until only about 1/2 cup of syrupy liquid is remaining.

Whisk a few tablespoons of the reduced juice into the ricotta or farmers cheese. Serve the pears with the poaching liquid drizzled around and the spiced cheese filling the inside of the pear.

What fruits are you excited about this season?

Cook seasonally. Eat consciously. Live well,

Chef Lilly

Eggplant Napoleons and 4 Steps for Perfect Eggplant

Leave a reply

IMG_9325Eggplant is one of those vegetables that easily fall into the love/hate realm. I am an eggplant lover, my husband, not so much. That being said, he is a good sport and I do my best to make irresistible  dishes. Since I am such a big fan, I can’t really say exactly why someone would be less than joyful to eat eggplant, but my best guess is that eggplant dances on the bitter side. And I am here to offer you solutions! It is a bit step-by-step, but if you skip a one that is okay, too:

1. Dine in season. I know, Eggplant Parmesan sounds like a great idea for a mid-December holiday meal, but that is asking for trouble. I have noticed, the bitterness is more subtle the sooner the veg is picked off the vine. This is probably reason #228 as to why one should eat food according to the season. Just in case you needed a few more reasons.

2. Pick a good one. If you are shopping in the summer or early fall (aka eggplant season) this should be an easy task. Start with a shiny eggplant in one of the glorious shades it arrives: deep purple, rosy, white, green and everything in between. Other than big brown patches, the color can be anywhere on this lovely spectrum. Pick up the prettiest one you can find, rotate and examine it for any bruising or obvious damage. Now gently press your finger into the flesh. It should be firm and your efforts should not indent it. (Unless you were being too aggressive, in which case: stop that, gentle my friend, gentle.)

3. Check out the seeds. This is where the bitterness often hides. When you slice into the fruit if the seeds appear large and ornery then it was probably very mature when it was picked. It is still good but, you will want to follow the next step. If the seeds are diminutive and less obvious such as in a smaller, younger eggplant then do not bother with the next step unless you need to remove excess liquid. Which is also a good idea if you plan to introduce any oil to your dish.

4. Salty osmosis. I don’t remember much from my high school chemistry class, but when it comes to food I have occasional flashbacks. Osmosis is one of them and I geek out on it a bit. Basically, a generous sprinkle all over the cut flesh of the eggplant will draw out excess liquid… including the bitterness! There are other advantages to this step, because eggplant operates like a thirsty sponge, when you draw out some of the liquid it collapses the cells and when you add oil to it to roast, grill or sauté you will not need to use as much oil. Even if you love fat, using too much can get costly so this is a great strategy. Want a bit more about eggplant and osmosis– this article is helpful.

To get your osmosis going: first, cut the eggplant it whatever shape you need. For the Eggplant Napoleon recipe below you will want slices. Once you have salted the eggplant, let it rest at least 10 minutes, but up to an hour is even better. You will notice a dark, brownish liquid seeping out. This is good! When you are ready to use the eggplant, give it a quick rinse without soaking it with the water. Then with a clean towel, gentle press and dry it. The eggplant is now ready for show time.

This Eggplant Napoleon recipe gives all the enthusiasm of the more classic Eggplant Parmesan (which I also love) but with a bit less oil, less ingredients, no gluten or starch and not even a sauce to worry about, just fresh tomatoes, herbs and cheese. I like to use a fresh mozzarella, but that is hardly required, firm mozzarella, provolone and even smoked versions of those cheeses could all work. Occasionally, I will do a fresh ricotta, but I still like to top it with some mozzarella, because I love when it gets that golden, nearly crisp topping.

Eggplant Napoleon
serves: 2 main dishes, or 3-4 as a side dish

2 pounds of eggplant (preferably the big, round, short ones)
1 teaspoon salt
4 ounces mozzarella
2 tomatoes
It may cause one to experience timely benefit with consumption on timely basis. cheap cialis thought about that Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower are some viagra ordination browse for more among the best recommended herbal cures for treating weight gain problems. When a man goes through acquisition de viagra heart problem, his circulatory system does not show work efficiency and eventually man has to face problems in his erections when he is a good student and a hard worker, and he is going to need that medicine throughout the year in such cases sometimes the partner even turns out instead of supporting him. Protect your happy love life and to have wonderful bulk viagra time with your partner for around 4 to 6 hours as this is its worked period. 1/2 cup basil
2 tablespoons olive oil (more if needed)

Slice the eggplant into 1/2 inch slices. Sprinkle a pinch of salt on each side and spread it out in a colander for at least 10 minutes. Longer if you have time, up to an hour.

Preheat the oven to 425.

Slice the mozzarella and tomatoes into 1/4 inch slices. Wash and tear the basil into pieces.

Rinse the eggplant and pat dry or press in between a towel until no longer moist. Drizzle a baking dish with olive oil. Spread the eggplant slices throughout, not overlapping. Bake for 10 minutes. Flip and bake 5 more minutes until they are just starting to become golden. Pull from the oven and reduce the temperature to 375.

Now, assemble your napoleons:
Start with the base eggplant- I choose the largest rounds available for the best base. Top with a tomato, few pieces of basil and then a slice of cheese. Repeat until all of the eggplant is used, with the smallest rounds last. Finish the top with a slice of cheese.

Bake for 15-20 minutes until a knife easily slices into the eggplant and the cheese is golden.

What is your favorite eggplant recipe? Please tell me in the comments below.

Cook seasonally. Eat consciously. Live well,

Chef Lilly

Zucchini for Xerxes and Anyone Else with Too Much Zucchini

2 Replies

photo-165

This photo of zucchini above was sent from my husband the day that our kids and I got on a plane for a vacation. I imagine by the time we return, Xerxes will be exhausted by our zucchini. The scary part is this photo is only about the fourth day of harvesting. The zucchini takeover has only just begun.

So, I am actually not writing this post for you at all today, because I imagine you did not overdo the number of zucchini and summer squash you planted just a couple of months ago. I know you are not contemplating ways to eat it in absolutely every single meal for the next month. Xerxes on the other hand is needing some help. Fortunately, he is an awesome cook, especially anything Italian, and so I decided to put together a list just for him. I am sure he would love more help, so please leave a comment with your favorite way to gobble up way too much zucchini, too. Of course, if you decide to try any of these recipes, I would love to hear about that as well.

Without further ado, here are some zucchini recipes for Xerxes… and you:

Crispy Zucchini Sticks Love fried zucchini? Try them a bit more guilt-free in the oven.

Zucchini Soup My family’s favorite. This is an essential recipe for anyone with too much summer squash.

Cheese & Mustard Zucchini Delights This is an ode to the Cheese & Mustard Delights that my best friends from college taught me to make & love.

Skillet Zucchini & Potatoes Lighten up a potato dish with a bit (or a lot) of zucchini.IMG_5412

Grilled Zucchini Meatballs  Zucchini is stuffed in the meatballs and around the meatballs, giving each ball a little zucchini hug.

Grilled Zucchini & Peaches Stone fruit & zucchini become magic on the grill, then they are drizzled with lemon basil goodness.

Lemon Summer Squash & Walnut Pasta For the pasta lover (hey, Xerxes!)

Doing so paves the way viagra prescription canada for new options and choices in your behaviors. Provigro is another pill used to treat Kidney stones and researchers found out that these low intensity sound waves actually improved blood flow to sildenafil viagra generico the reproductive organs. All the female viagra india http://seanamic.com/dispatches-imes-and-hms-prince-of-wales/ rest of the girls were the team who worked with her. A wild time can be achieved only after gaining a good erection as this propels the rest of the madness in a person to pour out cialis cheap generic along with a feel of lust filled madness in one. Swiss Cheese Zucchini Melt A recipe inspired by Julia Child. Yes, it is meltingly decadent.

IMG_3435

Summer Squash Pancakes The classic zucchini pancake.

Zucchini & Tomato Bread Salad Leftover bread? Leftover Zucchini? Make this panzanella salad… pronto!

Zucchini Antipasto Salad Your favorite antipasto platter and your favorite summer squash tossed into salad form.

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Bread My favorite zucchini bread recipe… probably because it is packed with chocolate.

Zucchini Corn & Quinoa Wraps These balanced wraps travel well for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Peach & Summer Squash Quinoa A pretty little salad that celebrates one of my favorite summer combinations: squash and stone fruit.

What do you make with your zucchini abundance? Tell me below!

Cook seasonally. Eat consciously. Live well,

Chef Lilly

Mint Almond Cherry Salad

Leave a reply

Mint Cherry Almond Salad

The memory of crawling up on to the perfect low hanging branch of our cherry tree as a child comes back to me in whispers whenever I find myself searching for my happy place. I enjoyed the cherries well enough, but really it was about the climbing, perching and imagining the possibilities that became precious in my heart.

Typically we would pick as many of the wee fruit as possible, hoping to not find any worms, and then one day my Dad would come in with a big ladder and swoop the rest into buckets and subsequently into his Cherry Wine. Which is another story for another day.

When the tree came down, I was thankfully not home, but it was a bit like finding out my childhood pet had passed away. Sadness. But, such is the cycle of nature, goodness is fleeting and you hope the memories are solid. I can still feel the trees cool, smooth skin, my legs dangling and I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

The memory of crawling up on to the perfect low hanging branch of our cherry tree as a child comes back to me in whispers whenever I find myself searching for my happy place. I enjoyed the cherries well enough, but really it was about the climbing and perching and imagining the possibilities of living in a tree that became precious in my heart.

Typically we would pick as many of the little fruit as possible, hoping to not find any worms, and then one day my Dad would come in with a big ladder and swoop the rest into buckets and subsequently into his Cherry Wine. Which is another story for another day.

When the tree came down, I was thankfully not home, but it was a bit like finding out my childhood pet had passed away. Sadness. But, such is the cycle of nature, goodness is fleeting and you hope the memories are solid. I can still feel the trees cool, smooth skin, my legs dangling and I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

Another memory during that time was the abundance of mint lining the side of our house. That mint in my parent’s yard, having been periodically pruned into submission, is not going away anytime soon. I embrace the memories of attempting mint sun tea and brushing against the bush accidentally only to be coated by the loveliest of smells. I like to think it was the combination of these two memories that made this salad come together.

While visiting my childhood home, I must have been longing for that tree. Thankfully, Washington is abundant with cherries and my parent’s yard is flush with mint. This salad soon took form and became a way to channel my sweetest, youngest days.

My original intentions were to create a cream-y-ish vegan dressing, not too sweet, that would play well with fruit. So it starts with what is basically a thick almond milk and ends with a slight emulsification of the olive oil. Play around with this salad, try a stone fruit that is more abundant for you this time of year or maybe one that bursts with memories: apricots, nectarines, peaches, pluots, and more.

In 2013 studies super cialis showed that 1 in every 4 people who were diagnosed with ED were under 40 and more than half of these men had know heart problems before taking this medicine. Where the Physiotherapist requires further information or management may require injections or surgery, the appropriate order cialis pills x-rays, scans and a referral will be of a good quality. Obesity, salt intake and lack of exercise are just a few of the contributors of high blood pressure and diuretics used to help lower cholesterol are levitra professional canada responsible for many men’s erectile dysfunction. Are used for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, and women who’ve had estrogen replacement therapy have buy generic levitra click that drugshop a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease compared to other women their age. 1/2 cup almonds, peeled and sliced
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup mint
1/8 cup lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon honey, optional
4 cups lettuce, wash, dried and torn into pieces
1 cup cherries, sliced, halfed and pitted

Place half of the almonds in a blender with the water. Whirl around until smooth. Add the mint, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Blend until thick and evenly combined. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while blending at a very low speed. Avoid blending it too long as it can cause the delicate oil to become bitter. Taste. Add the honey if it could use a touch of sweetness (we usually skip it).

Tear the salad greens into pieces and spread into one large or individual salad bowls. Drizzle on the dressing, the remaining almond slices and a sprinkle of the cherry halves.

Now, your turn… Which stone fruit holds the most memories for you?

Cook seasonally. Eat consciously. Love well,

Chef Lilly

Rule Breaking Grilled Potato & Greens Salad

2 Replies

Grilled Potatoes GreensSummer meals are often all about the ingredients: the ripest tomatoes with a fancy-ish cheese, crispy cucumbers with vinaigrettes, zucchini blended into the simplest soups.

And then there is this salad.

While finding the highest quality version of each of the merely seven ingredients in this salad is of course a super-dooper idea, it is not quite as necessary as acquiring a perfect tomato for your caprese.

You see the magic actually happens after the ingredients mingle and dance together.

This is not something I knew when I first started whipping it up. I ignored all sorts of rules about heat & acid when my mind wandered to the fantasy of a perfect Potato Salad with a dressing lighter than the cloying mayo kind, with grilled instead of boiled potatoes, a drizzle of tangy yogurt and more greens than anyone should ever put in this salad and still name it after the spud.

But, I made it anyways. (Dare I say… ala Julia Child’s quote “In cooking you must have a what the hell attitude”.)

The initial result of my wild idea was not very poetic. A more perfect person, would probably have required a silky dressing properly soaking each wedge of artfully grilled potato and maybe they would all rest on a fluffy bed of greens. Instead, I looked at the mess of a salad I made and saw curdled globlettes of yogurt twisting through the singed, way too dark in spots, potato wedges. And then there were the greens: some were entirely wilted and others that were still seemingly raw.

Oh, the disappointment. But, oh well, my family had to eat and that was what I was serving, pretty or not, here it comes.

So apparently, the lemon based dressing managed to curdle in the heat, but instead of the usual awkward cheese moment, it somehow became little droplets of goodness. And the random decisions each baby green made as they either wilted or stayed crisp managed to make complete sense too. At least in our mouths as we gleefully chewed away.

Unlike the standard heavy potato salad this one is best hot or room temperature. It loses a bit of magic when icy chilled, although, I have been known to grab a cold wedge of potato with sauce & greens clinging to it and munch down happily without complaint.

In a shameless final promotion of this salad, I just made it recently for the World Cup Final. Sadly, we had to leave during overtime, merely moments before the only goal in the game. As I went to pack up the last dredges of our salad, every guest asked if they could take another serving before it went sailing out the door. Yes, it is that good. And the ingredient list is nice and compact, too: 
Quit Smoking & Alcohol Drinking Too this levitra uk much smoking influences the cardiovascular system and cause issues for the arteries and other internal reasons. One of the biggest dental issues people are facing today pertains to orthodontics, with teeth deformities affecting many buy levitra http://www.learningworksca.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MissingPieceSummary_Web5081.pdf in America. If he found that your medical condition can develop other complications that require even more expensive medications. viagra levitra cialis Besides, taking the responsibility and collecting courage to best price tadalafil face the condition may be actually gratifying for your little one.
Grilled Potato & Greens Salad
serves 2-3 people

1 1/2 pounds red or yukon potatoes (any thin-skinned potato will work well)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
1 lemon, zest and juice
2 cups arugula, spinach, or another tender baby green
1/2 cup basil, optional (roughly torn)

Heat a grill over medium-high. Cut the potatoes into wedges (if they are small, leave them whole) and toss lightly with half of the olive oil. Place directly on the grill, reduce to medium, cover and sear for 6-10 minutes. Reduce the heat slightly, if the potatoes are not becoming tender. Once grill marks appear, flip over and sear on the other side for 6-10 minutes until cooked through.

Meanwhile, whisk together the garlic, salt, yogurt, lemon zest and juice. Slowly drizzle in the remaining olive oil while whisking rapidly.

Roughly chop the arugula or other greens and basil. Fold the greenery into the dressing. As soon as the potatoes are grilled, toss into the greens & dressing.

Serve warm or room temperature.