Archive for April, 2011
Lamb Tagine with Makfoul
Beef & Lamb • Tags: Ethnic Exploration, lamb, makfoul, Moroccan, ras el hanout, safflower, saffron, tagine
This month’s Ethnic Exploration may seem very different from its predecessors as it is not attached to a specific market that touts amazing ethnic products. A market of that kind was difficult to find, we were scrambling for time to get to any market, and none of the markets had the most coveted spice that would make our dish sing. That sounds like a let down in a way, but we are more than positive that you will not be disappointed in our attempts and with the final dish. Just above these rambling words, you’ll find a gorgeous tagine with two hearty lamb shanks just waiting to be, well, tagine’d if you will. It was Amir’s chance to choose the month’s excursion, and he excitedly declared Moroccan to be the topic. I was more than ready and willing to get on board, and so we set about to create another meal worthy of a gold medal.
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Pimento Mac and Cheese
Vegetarian • Tags: Bon Appetit, Guest Test Kitchen, macaroni and cheese, panko, pimento, spicy
Everyone. Meet Ralphie. Ralphie. Meet everyone! He is a wonderful friend who turns up to most of our meal gatherings, and he never arrives empty handed. Whether it’s a tower of roasted brussels sprouts and grapes, or a peach and blueberry upside down cake (always casually thrown together by the way), Ralphie makes every entrance with a beautifully decorated platter of something amazing in hand. It was just a matter of time until it was his turn to share in our monthly Guest Test Kitchen section. We hope you enjoy this edition. We know you’re gonna love him as much as we do!
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Blueberry Ginger Muffins
Breads & Muffins • Tags: almond pulp, applesauce, blueberry, ginger, muffin, soy milk, vegan
Hopefully we’re not turning into one trick ponies? When something works once, sometimes you search for other ways to continue the streak. There was a batch of almond milk that resulted in lots of leftover almond pulp, which found its way into Banana Almond Bread. Well, there was more almond pulp that popped up, so why not try it in another bread? Well, actually a muffin this time. Blueberries are all over the markets right now. With bunches of berries and almond pulp in hand, it seemed like the perfect match.
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Lentil, Sausage and Kale Stew
Poultry & Pork • Tags: crockpot, kale, lentil, sausage, stew, Tofurkey, vegan
Weren’t we just talking about ushering in the Spring with sorbet? Well don’t judge us for posting a stew recipe today. This stew may be hearty, but it doesn’t feel too heavy to eat right now. It’s full of vegetables, lentils and sausage. Actually, that is vegan tofu sausage as this is a stew that was created a few weeks ago when Chrystal was in the middle of her vegan challenge. There have been a few vegan recipes that have popped up on the site, and usually there will be a footnote for ways to make it with real meat, if you so choose. It’s those types of quick fixes and changes that make almost any dish adaptable no matter what your eating preference may be. If you’re open to whipping up one last stew while the weather is still up in the air, here’s one to add to your list.
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Lemon Mint Sorbet
Other Sweet Treats • Tags: fresh mint, homemade sorbet, ice cream maker, limoncello, spring desserts
Spring is here! At least, according to the calendar, Spring has sprung. Admittedly, the season has been temperamental. We’ve had several days of torrential rain, followed by temperatures in the high 80s, then a mercury plunge down into the 50s and 60s, and we’ll be freezing. Freezing is the word to use as you must understand that once you live in California for a prolonged period of time, you develop a very thin layer of skin. You are susceptible to freezing as soon as the thermometer registers anything until 70 degrees. As our weather decides where it wants to reside, many of us are moving along and cooking seasonally appropriate treats. Treats such as sorbet. It’s light, bright and funky, which is kind of how you want to feel on an awesome Spring day. Whether the sun is shining or not.
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Mini BLTA Whoopie Pies
Special Events • Tags: avocados, Avocados from Mexico, Bootleg Theater, Matt Timms, savory, The Takedown, whoopie pies
For the last few days, you may have heard us talking about the big Avocado Takedown that took place yesterday at the Bootleg Theater. We have been knee deep in avocados over the last few days, and we can thank the folks at Avocados from Mexico and Matt Timms of the Chili Takedown for that. Matt’s name may be new to you, but he’s been taking the East coast and other cities by storm with his local cooking competitions that always find themselves centered around one special ingredient. Call it Iron Chef for the people, if you will. This was his first Takedown in Los Angeles, and he had the illustrious avocados of Mexico as the weapon of choice for all participants. About three weeks ago, we signed up for the event, and of course, we started racking our brains for a submission idea. Little did we know, this contest would take on a life of its own.
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Sun-Dried Tomato, Mushroom and Lemon Ricotta Pizza
Vegetarian • Tags: Children in Film, pizza, ricotta, sun dried tomatoes, video
We both have a college classmate, Heather, who currently lives in Los Angeles and works withChildren in Film, a member-based website that provides information and direct connections to industry insiders for children and their families who are interested in breaking into the entertainment world. Recently, the organization held an event, and we were asked to provide a few nibbles for the occasion. We decided to do something that all kids can enjoy–pizza! We fashioned up five ideas for pizzas and went to work flipping dough, spreading toppings and pulling hot slabs out of the ovens. This event just inspired us to go to town with pizza making for many, many days afterwards.
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