Saturday, February 2, 2013

All About Quinoa. February.



Great article and photos from Cathy at Straight Up Food

Site:  http://www.straightupfood.com/blog/

Quinoa Holiday Dressing


Quinoa makes an excellent whole-grain alternative to bread or rice in holiday dressing. This recipe is traditionally flavored with fresh sage, thyme, and rosemary, with the addition of mushrooms, greens and almonds.
QuinoaStuffing2_0131
Ingredients:
3 cups water
1-1/2 cups dry quinoa
1 large yellow onion, chopped
3 ribs celery, sliced
10-12 mushrooms, sliced
1 teaspoon granulated onion
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
2 ½ teaspoons salt-free poultry seasoning
1-1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1/2 to 1 cup water
2 teaspoons fresh thyme, minced
2 teaspoons fresh sage, minced
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, minced
1 head of greens (kale, chard, collards, spinach), chopped into very small pieces
½ cup raisins
½ cup sliced or slivered almonds, or chopped pecans
Directions:
1. Cook the quinoa in a saucepan by bringing the quinoa and water to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to very low and cook for 20 minutes. Remove lid and set aside.
2. Heat up a large skillet or soup pot, add the onions and sauté for 2-3 minutes, adding just a tablespoon of water at a time if the onions stick, stirring frequently. Add the celery, mushrooms, granulated onion and garlic, poultry seasoning and dried basil, and sauté for 5 minutes.
3. Next, add in about a 1/2 cup of the water, fresh herbs, greens and raisins, and cook for about 5 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Add water as needed to end up with a thin layer of liquid in the bottom of the pan.
4. In a large bowl (or in your soup pot), mix the cooked quinoa and almonds with the vegetables/spices. Spoon into a 9”x13” baking dish (no pan treatment is needed). Bake for 20 minutes at 375 degrees uncovered.
Preparation: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 40 minutes
Serves: 8
NOTES
Quinoa: Quinoa comes in yellow/white, red, and black (see photo below). Feel free to use any color, or a mixture. You can also use 3 cups cooked wild rice in the place of the cooked quinoa. The addition of 1/4 cup cooked barley would also be a nice complement to any version.
Mushrooms: Any kind of mushroom can be used here. I used white, crimini and shiitake. If the mushrooms are large, use a few less; if they are very small, use a few more. You can read more about mushroom types (with photos) in myCreamy Mushroom Soup post.
Raisin alternative: I know not everyone likes raisins in their stuffing, so feel free to leave them out or replace them with dried cranberries or cherries (diced first). While dried cranberries are usually pre-sweetened, be sure they don’t have oil on them (I see this in the bulk section a lot).
QuinoaStuffing3_0174w
WHAT IS QUINOA? Quinoa is usually categorized as a whole grain but it is actually a seed. It is often used in place of other whole grains, such as rice or barley. I like it as a breakfast cereal instead of oatmeal. Quinoa is great because it takes less time to cook than other whole grains, just 15 to 20 minutes, compared to rice or barley at 45 minutes. Quinoa is gluten-free and high in protein, and was a staple food for thousands of years in the Andes region of South America.
2013 is being recognized as the “International Year of the Quinoa” by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), who say, “We realize that quinoa remains unfamiliar to many people, especially in the practical sense of cooking and recipes. But we hope that situation will change, given the remarkable nature of this easily-prepared, nutrient-rich food.”
QuinoaTypes

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Super Bowl Sunday.

Super Bowl Sunday Ideas
I am rooting for my team which gets me hungry especially with all those food ads. Actually I feel like I play the game more than watch it. It takes a lot out of a "participational viewer" and here is a wonderful solution to the food component for the big event from Healthy Girl's Kitchen.

Enjoy.   Happiness and health.    Elin.

http://healthygirlskitchen.blogspot.com/2011/02/our-plant-strong-super-bowl-party-recap.html?m=1

Our Plant Strong Super Bowl Party--The Recap

What can I say? Our Plant-Strong Super Bowl Party was a smashing success. Everyone in attendance was really happy--probably because they didn't leave the party with regret and a stomach ache! Here are my opinions on all of the things that I prepared for the party:

Three of the dips, from front to back: Dr. Fuhrman's Eggplant Hummus was a great idea in theory--cut out lots of the calories in hummus by using roasted eggplant as the main ingredient. For my taste buds, there was too much raw garlic for a dip and it was a little too thin. It would probably be great as a spread on a sandwich or in a collard wrap.

Isa Moskowitz's Guacamame from Appetite for Reduction. I also did not love the consistency of this dip as a dip. It used cooked and pureed edamame as the base of a traditional guacamole. However, when I dolloped it over leftover brown rice and beans for dinner tonight, it turned an otherwise ordinary dish into something extraordinary, so I give it props for that. I think I have to give this one another try and puree the edamame longer.

Terry Walter's Carrot Cashew Miso Spread from Clean Start. A complete hit it out of the ballpark home run. All of the guests agreed. It will be a staple in my entertaining arsenal.

Beautiful, colorful, perfectly plant-strong.

My plant-strong 11 year old daughter Sophia. Yes, it is possible!
Be afraid, be very afraid . . . there is a room in my house that looks just like a barn. Must have been the style in the late 60s.


I changed plans at the last minute and added Gena's Vegan Spinach and Artichoke dip (you'll want that recipe so click here) to the menu for my plant-strong super bowl party. My husband's family had been making and serving the traditional version long before I entered the scene 16 years ago. Well, no one missed the traditional version, not even one bit. Everyone was raving about the vegan version. Gena is some kind of miracle worker. This is going to be a new family tradition for those special holidays when we want to indulge!

The Healthy Librarian's All-American Chili was perfect for this crowd. It had depth of flavor without being spicy. If I made it for a different crowd, I would have added the red pepper flakes that Debby suggested, but I was very careful knowing who I was serving. And Debby was right, this is a definite make ahead dish. In this case, I made it 4 days in advance and the flavors were perfect on game day!

Not overly sweet, the Engine 2 Dark Chocolate Brownies were enjoyed by everyone, both young and old. I recommend making these at least one day before you want to serve them as the flavor definitely improved the day after they were baked.

The crowd went wild for Jane Esselstyn's Incredible Unnamed Dessert. There is just no disputing it, this is one awesome dessert.

So there you have it folks, one very successful vegan bash. No carnivores were disappointed by this meal!

Thoughts? Comments on how the meal was if you were at our party . . . or how your own Super Bowl Party food went down!

 

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

All about spices with Ami

Enjoy.

ADVENTURES WITH AMI: SPICE IT UP!

When foregoing fat, salt and sugar in dishes that you are cooking, it’s important to consider the flavors that are inherent to the ingredients and what spices may compliment the flavor and enhance the dish.  Herbs and spices are an important part of the plant-strong kitchen.  Most cooks have use a standard set of spices including:
  • cinnamon
  • garlic powder
  • Italian seasoning
  • chili powder
  • paprika
  • onion powder
Walking past the spice section at your grocery store, you’ll notice a plethora of choices.  Many of them may be mysteries, others for special occasions, some for ethnic dishes all mixed it in with the simple basics.  Branching out and making use of spice blends can make old favorite dishes new and exciting.  Here are some great ideas and resources for your spice adventures!
For vegetables, try one or more of these combinations:
  • Carrots: Cinnamon, cloves, dill, ginger, nutmeg, rosemary, sage
  • Corn: Cumin, curry powder, onion, paprika, parsley
  • Green Beans: Dill, curry powder, marjoram, oregano, tarragon, thyme
  • Greens: Cayenne, lemon pepper, onion powder, pepper
  • Potatoes: Dill, garlic, onion, paprika, parsley, sage
  • Summer Squash: Cloves, curry powder, nutmeg, rosemary, sage
  • Winter Squash: Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, onion
  • Tomatoes: Basil, bay leaf, dill, marjoram, onion, oregano, parsley, pepper
General Rules for Amounts. If you don’t know how much of a spice or herb to use, follow this advice…
Remember to use more herbs if using a fresh or crumbled dried form:
Begin with 1/4 teaspoon of most ground spices or ground dried herbs for these amounts and adjust as needed:
  • 4 servings;
  • 1 pound of tofu or beans;
  • 1 pint (2 cups of soup or sauce)
Start with 1/8 teaspoon for cayenne pepper and garlic powder; add more as needed.  Red pepper intensifies in flavor during cooking; add in small increments, wait and taste before adding more.
When doubling a recipe:
1) DO NOT double spices and herbs.
2) Increase amounts by 1-1/2 times.
3) Taste, add more if needed.
Try spice blends for easy amazing flavor without having to buy several bottles.  Every spice brand has their own salt-free blends.  I love Mrs. Dash, widely available and a vast array of flavors.  Find out more at:  http://www.mrsdash.com
Learn more about the flavor profiles and uses of various herbs and spices check out a great site that includes so much information on origin and use: Frontier Natural Products Co-op http://www.frontiercoop.com/prodlist.php?ct=spicesaz
Spices don’t last forever. Check ground or crushed herbs and spices for freshness at least once a year. Test by crushing a small amount in your hand. If no aroma is detected, the seasoning needs to be replaced. Buying the smaller size jar instead of the economy size container will save you money if you won’t use it all while it is still fresh.
Heat, sunlight, and dampness cause herbs and spices to lose their flavor and aroma quickly.
  • Store away from moisture. Dampness causes caking and loss of quality.
  • Store in tightly covered jars.
  • Use clean, dry spoons for measuring.
  • Store in a cool place.
  • Do not store in a window or in sunlight.
  • Do not store near heat sources such as above the stove or dishwasher.
Enjoy the adventure of trying out new flavors.  Look for spices that come in small 1 oz. sized jars at your grocer.  Buying a little often for around a dollar can be a great way to try new twist on your old favorite soup or salad recipe.  Don’t feel constrained by the spices you have always used in a particular dish.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ami Mackey
Ami Mackey is a graduate of eCornell's Plant-Based Nutrition program and is currently studying Fitness Nutrition at the National Academy of Sports Medicine. http://www.plantbasedadventures.com @amiannmackey