Nettles!!

Now that these lovely plants are abundant but still pretty young, it's the perfect time to use them! I was playing around with a bunch I picked earlier today and came up with a pretty awesome recipe (plus you're making nettle tea at the same time!). As you probably know by now, I don't do measurements... but here are the ingredients and steps.

• fresh nettles
• rice pasta (or any pasta)
• extra virgin coconut oil
• rice milk (or any nut milk, regular milk would work too)
• (optional: eggs)
• extra virgin olive oil
• fresh basil
• spices (I used salt, pepper and lots of cayenne)
• love (add liberally)

1. Pick newest shoots from nettles (using gloves) and rinse.

2. Blanch the nettles in some boiling water and set aside. Save the water (nettle tea) and drink at another time.

3. Cook the pasta and drain.

4. Place cooked pasta, nettles, coconut oil and some milk in pot on medium heat until the coconut oil is fully melted.

5. Add spices and if you're adding eggs, add them now and stir into the pasta (I didn't leave them in long because I don't like to cook my eggs too much, but leave for as long as feels right to you).

6. Remove from heat, add olive oil and mix.

7. Add freshly torn basil leaves and serve with love and candles.

With the eggs, it's kind of got this spinach and ricotta pasta taste but better (thanks to the nettles). Without the eggs, it's really good too though.

CJO

Yummy pasta dish

Hi lovelies!

It's been so windy and rainy lately and I've been playing more with my stove. I've made this dish twice (or variations of the same thing) and fell in love with it both times :-)

As you've probably guessed, I don't really do measurements when I'm creating so I've just got ingredients and directions... enjoy!

(by the way, feel free to play around with the veggies/spices and obviously if you don't have a problem with wheat/gluten normal pasta would be fine too)

Ingredients (in order of use):

• Rice pasta
• Coconut oil (organic extra virgin)
• Garlic/spring onions/onions (I used garlic once, spring onions once... a combination of these and/or normal onions and maybe even some celery woul be nice)
• spinach/peas/other veggies (I used spinach once, spinach and peas the other time, asparagus would be a really nice addition, some mushrooms would be nice too... whatever you've got in the fridge)
• dulse (sea vegetable)
• rice dream milk (other non-dairy milks including homemade nut mylks would be good too, I just happened to have rice dream on hand)
• spices (e.g. cayenne, black pepper, whatever you desire!)
• olive oil (organic extra virgin)
• Love

Directions:

1. Cook pasta as usual (you can add some veggie broth too if you've got some), drain and set aside in colander

2. Reduce heat, then in pot used to cook pasta, add coconut oil and allow to melt

3. Add garlic/onions/spring onions and saute for a couple minutes

4. Add other veggies and allow to cook down to whatever consistency you like (I just barely wilt the spinach)

5. Break up the dulse into small pieces (whatever size you like) and add to pot

6. Add pasta back into the pot and stir through

7. Add a little rice dream, stir through, repeat as often as you like -- this gives it a nice creamy consistency. If you add too much, just allow it to reduce down again.

8. Remove from heat, add spices to taste and a little bit of olive oil, stir through and serve with love, candles and good music :-)

CJO

Awesome Pesto Deliciousness

I was attempting to recreate this amazing pesto that the local coop makes (it has a different texture and taste from "normal" pesto) and came up with what is now my "go-to" recipe if I don't know what I want. I don't use measurements but really it's all about testing it and adding more/less according to what you like anyway.

Ingredients
basil (I had a gallon ziplock bag of basil)
spinach (I used a bunch of "adult" spinach, baby spinach is probably good too)
lemon juice (1/2 lemon to start then add if needed)
raw cashews (a handful or two)
2+ cloves of garlic (I used it raw but that's up to you)
organic extra virgin olive oil (amount depends on what consistency you want)
nutritional yeast to taste (a couple tablespoons?)
salt to taste
cayenne to taste

Put it all the food processor, let it whir around until smooth and there you go, easy peasy pesto


BTW, this makes a lot of pesto (I've been using it all week) so obviously adjust the amounts if it's just a one-time thing. I use it a lot though: as a spread, in collard green wraps with veggies, on pasta/kelp noodles, or even just straight up with a spoon

CJO

Veggie Carbonara

This is a recipe that I recently came across and really want to try! Hopefully I will have time to get the ingredients and make it soon. I'll let you know when I do!

Giada's Carbonara (makes 4 to 6 servings)

Ingredients

1 bunch of asparagus, ends trimmed, rubber band left on

1 pound linguine

1 cup shaved Perocino Romano Cheese (about 4 ounces)

Salt and Pepper

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

4 to 6 large eggs

for the Basil Aioli

1 garlic clove, minced

2 large egg yolks*

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil leaves

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the asparagus bundle and cook for 3 minutes. Use tongs to transfer the asparagus to a bowl of ice water - keep the salt water from the asparagus for the pasta later - and let sit until cool, about 5 minutes, Drain the asparagus, remove the rubber band, and cut into 1-inch pieces.

Make the basil aioli - while the asparagus cooks, combine the garlic, egg yolks, mustard, lemon juice, basil, salt, pepper, and cayenne in a food processor and run the machine to mix. With the machine running, slowly drizzle in the vegetable and olive oils.

Meanwhile, add the pasta to the same pot of salted water used to cook the asparagus and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta and place in a large bowl. Add 1 cup basil aioli, the asparagus, the shaved cheese, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and combine. Turn out onto a serving platter.

For the eggs on top - melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the eggs, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and fry to your liking. Place the eggs atop the pasta and serve.

* this recipe includes raw egg yolks which are not recommended for children, the elderly, or those with compromised immune systems.

The leftover aioli should keep for up to a week.

This recipe comes from Giada De Laurentiis' book Giada's Kitchen!

Much asparagus and basil love!

HB

Orzo Salad and Sangria!

Orzo with Garbanzo Beans, Red Onion, Basil, and Mint.

Ingredients:

4 cups broth or water

1 1/2 cups orzo

1 (15 - ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

3/4 Finely chopped red onion

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

1/4 cup chopped fresh mint

3/4 red wine vinegar based vinagrette

salt and pepper

Boil the broth in a large, heavy saucepan over high heat. Stir in the orzo. Cover partially and cook, stirring frequently, until the orzo is tender but still firm to the bite, about 7 minutes. Drain the orzo and transfer to a large, wide bowl, and toss with a little olive oil so it doesn't stick. Let the orzo cool completely.

Mix the cooled orzo with the beans, tomatoes, onion, basil, mint, and enough vinagrette to coat - this may not be all 3/4 of a cup. Season the salad to taste with salt and pepper, and serve at room temperature.

This is a recipe from Giada De Laurentis, and is especially great at the end of summer with fresh tomatoes. It also keeps very well for a few days if you don't eat it all.

White Wine Sangria from Heaven (courtesy of Starfish)

Ingredients

2-3 peaches, peeled, pitted, and sliced

3 cups grapes, cut in half

1/3 cup agave nectar

2 bottles of white wine

1/2 cup brandy

1 liter sparkling water

Combine, chill overnight, and indulge.

Charlotte (who I call Starfish) sent this recipe to me ages ago. It is truly delicious and perfect for hot summer days.

Much sunny and crunchy love from the West Coast!

HB

Hot Chocolate Fudge Cakes

Makes 10 servings

Ingredients
3/4 cup all purpose flour
2/3 cup unsweeting cocoa
5 teaspoons instant espresso powder
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup egg replacer
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/6 oz. dark chocolate, finely chopped
2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Recipe
1. Sift together flour, cocoa, espresso powder, baking powder, and salt.

2. Place butter in large bowl: beat with a mixer at medium 1 minute, add granulated & brown sugars. Beat until well blended (5 min). Add egg replacer and vanilla extract.

3. Fold flour mix into sugar mix. Fold in chocolate. Divide batter evenly among ramekins, arrange ramekins on a pan.

4. Cover & refridgerate 4hours --> 2 days

5. Preheat oven to 350F

6. Let ramekins stand at room temp. for 10 min. Uncover and bake for 21 minutes or until cakes are puffy and slightly crusty on top. Sprinkle evenly with powdered sugar. Serve immediately.

Banana Bread Recipe

Haven't made this in a couple years but it was always really good and really easy :-) I need to try making it without dairy/gluten but haven't tested that out yet... So for those of you without those issues:

Ingredients
8 Tbsp. (1 stick) sweet butter, room temperature
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup whole-wheat flour (I usually used 2 cups whole-wheat)
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
3 large ripe bananas, mashed
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ cup shelled walnuts, coarsely chopped (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F/175 C. Grease a 9 x 5 x 3 inch bread pan.
2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Sift all-purpose flour, baking soda and salt together, stir in whole-wheat flour and add to creamed mixture, mixing well.
4. Fold in mashed bananas, vanilla and walnuts.
5. Pour mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted (wooden toothpick) in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then on rack.

*hugs* Claudia