Feeling a bit under the weather, I needed a warm, hearty meal for dinner, but did not want the heaviness associated with most comfort meals. I had a couple of leeks in the fridge, then discovered this rustic recipe from Americas Test Kitchen, fulfilling my craving perfectly. The aroma emitted during the sauteing of the leeks in butter is intoxicating. Red potatoes are a must. They are waxy and low in starch so as to not become water-logged. Cooking the potatoes so they were tender but not mushy was the key. Of course, I like a little bit thicker soup, so I doubled the flour amount – just make sure…
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Creamy Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
These creamy Parmesan mashed potatoes were a great alternative to baked potatoes, which we have most Friday nights. This recipe has a simple twist. These potatoes are not only creamy but very rich. Be careful just how much cheese you add. Consider leaving on the skin of the potato for the beneficial nutrients. What makes these potatoes different? At The Fresh Market, I found a different kind of potato, I have never used before; Cinacia Buttercream Potatoes. Cinacia is an organic, sustainable farm in Colorado. Very similar in aroma and color of the russet potato, but the buttery texture makes them perfect for mashed potatoes. Jo Ann Burrington’s recipe that…
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Pasta Can Be Healthy
DAY 6 of my 100 Days of Real Food Challenge and my #1 issue is PASTA! I crave it constantly. Scientific research claims when we crave carbohydrates, it is usually due to the association of comfort and our mood. Besides the energy boost, carbohydrates provide solace during stressful times. Although I don’t feel it, subconsciously, I probably am stressed due to my food restrictions for 100 days!The Process of Pasta Most standard pasta is made with refined bleached or unbleached flour, which is on the restricted list. During the refining process, the nutrient-rich outer bran shell and inner germ layer are removed from the grain, leaving just the starchy endosperm. …
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Fish Tacos: 100 Day Real Food Challenge
Challenge is an UNDERSTATEMENT. When your household hates vegetables and you are a foodie, this 100 days of real food is nearly impossible. Today’s recipe is in Lisa Leak’s new cookbook, 100 Days of Real Food: Fast & Fabulous: The Easy and Delicious Way to Cut Out Processed Food. Easy Fish Tacos with Pico de Gallo Fish tacos are not my husband’s favorite, unless, the fish is coated in a fatty batter. Of course, my “real food” plan does not include enriched wheat flour or bleached flour. In Lisa’s plan, no ingredient or condiment can have more than 5 ingredients. It cannot contain hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn…
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Quick Lunch Sauteed Bella Mushrooms
Baby Bellas are Cremini mushrooms that have been allowed to mature for up to seven days longer than commercial Creminis. Available in most supermarkets year-round, baby Bellas have an intense, meat-like flavor when cooked. They are at their peak in fall and winter. A dark-brown, slightly firmer variation of the everyday cultivated white mushroom. They have a smooth, rounded cap that ranges in size from 1/2″ to 2″ in diameter. The Portobello mushroom is the fully matured form of this mushroom. Storing Mushrooms Most agree fresh mushrooms should be stored with cool air circulating around them. I found recommendations of placing them on a tray, in a single layer, covered…
