Brunch Fare: Quinoa Curried Homefries, Poached Eggs, Florentine Cream

"curried" potatoes...

par-boil 8 medium russet potatoes, then chop coarsely
fry in a few tspn's neutral oil with:
1/2 large onion, chopped...

sprinkle in
2 TBSP turmeric
1/4 cup Quinoa flour
1TBSP sweet paprika
1/2tsp Oregano
pinch Thai chili flakes

freshly ground:
1 TBSP mustard seed
1/4 tsp fennel seed
pinch fenugreek seed
pinch cumin seed

salt and pepper to taste,

slowly fry over medium heat, allowing aromas to permeate the house,
finish with :

handful dried currants,
light drizzle of agave syrup

cook a few mins longer,

enjoy with creamed spinach and poached eggs ;)

kids favorite dinner: baked eggs in spaghetti nests

simple to produce, savory and hearty...

cook spaghetti until al dente...
toss with a little garlic infused olive oil
preheat oven to 350...
twist cooked pasta into nests in muffin tin...
toss a few sautéed oregano dredged mushrooms and sweet onions inside.
add a little of your favorite sauce, thinned out slightly with water ...
crack an egg over the top
finish with more sauce and bake for ~15 mins...

Chilled Fresh Pineapple Rice Salad

2 C. short grain rice, rinsed
4 C. cool water
1/2+ C. fresh Pineapple
1/2 + C. shredded Coconut

... Bring to a boil, drop heat to lowest setting, place tight fitting lid,,
cook until tender, ~18 mins

once done, fluff and chill to room temperature
(I use a sheet pan and my freezer)

dressing
3/4 C. mayonnaise
few TBSP rice wine vinegar
few TBSP raw sugar or honey
few TBSP pureed apple
a few shredded beet greens
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 C. roasted, puréed pumpkin
salt, pepper to taste...

Wild Salmon en Croute with Blackberries Fennel and Sweet Onions

Here is a simple

first: slowly sauté sweet onions and fennel seeds on butter

stack fresh filets of salmon with onion mixture,
gently place ripe succulent blackberries,
top with puff pastry strips
brush with egg
Bake @375 for ~20 mins

blackberry sauce
cook blackberries with orange zest
and a little hot sauce
strain...
drizzle and serve... :)

West African Almond Soup

sweet and rich, this vegan soup is satisfyingly aromatic and delicious...


recipe
one sweet onion, julienned
two medium leeks, sliced
a few carrots, sliced
a cup of celery, chopped

1/4 cup good neutral oil
a heavy bottomed pot

sautéed until translucent and add
2 Tbsp turmeric,
1 Tbsp garlic, crushed
1 tspn fennel seeds
2 Tbsp sriracha
when aromatic, add 1 Cup tomato paste.

breathe for a moment...

add 2 Quarts water or vegetable stock
stir...

stir in 1 cup Almond butter
1 Cup butternut squash, chopped
1 Cup cauliflower, chopped
1/2 Cup green onions, or more leeks

simmer until squash is tender,
add 1/4 cup sugar

salt and black pepper to taste

perfect cheescake

makes one 10 inch cake

crust:
1/2 lb graham cracker crumbs
3 oz Sugar
4.5 oz butter, melted
dash cinnamon, clove, ginger

… bake 350 F 7 mins or until golden in a spring-form pan.

filling:
1 3/4 C. sugar
6 TBSP cornstarch
2.5 lbs cream cheese, softened
4 eggs
2 egg yolks
1/2 oz vanilla extract
1/4 oz lemon zest
5 fl oz heavy cream

…sift together flour and sugar…

...cream with softened cream cheese…

…beat until smooth…

in a separate bowl: combine eggs, yolks, vanilla, zest…

…add 1/4 of the egg mixture at a time to the cream cheese,

…fully incorporate and scrape bowl with each addition…

… add cream, blend until smooth…

…pour mixture into cooled crust…

Bake 300F for 60-90 mins, until the cake has just "set". "it jiggles as one"

remove from oven...

…carefully run a knife around the edge and allow to cool completely before serving...

many layered tortilla soup

for warming the soul
on a foggy day...


it begins with a good stock
roasted garlic, celery ends, carrot peelings, onion roots and skins, fennel stalks
a few bay leaves salt pepper and time..


the mirepoix: one medium sweet onion, diced, a few celery stalks (save the leaves) couple of carrots diced,a diced yam, handful of chopped pasilla peppers
sauté in olive oil in a large pot. develop the flavors,

push vegetables to the side and anoint the hot oil with:
2+Tbsp each of paprika, chili, cumin, black pepper, when aromatic,
add a cup or so of tomato paste
stir
add enough water to cover
toss in fresh or dried thyme, oregano
. simmer...

assembly:
add stock, I like ~2 parts stock to one part base
add a can of pumpkin purée
a large can of diced tomatoes
thicken with corn masa paste if you wish
salt to taste
. simmer...

service:
garnish with diced fresh sweet peppers, green onion, tomatoes, cilantro, yogurt, and fresh tortilla strips (I make mine from corn tortillas, sliced like fettucini, fried and salted)

enjoy!