Napa Farmhouse 1885™

I "retired" from the corporate world a couple of years ago because I wanted to experience a real life after years of 80 hour work weeks and constant travel. A year later I realized that I was having a really good time, was always busy (how did i ever fit in a job??) and needed a creative outlet to share my experiences. Now I split my time between California and New Mexico but, wherever I am, I write about delicious, fresh, local, organic/sustainably grown food.

Showing posts with label brassicas. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Five Fast & Fantastic Spring Side Dishes

Wow! My schedule has become super crazy. I am on the board of directors for four nonprofits, am the president of one and the treasurer of another, have my consulting business, my blogs and, since late January, have been creating and filling the position of volunteer coordinator for our local animal shelter. This means that most nights I don't have a moment to breathe much less prepare dinner. So I keep a list of fast and easy side dishes that pair perfectly with a protein. Grill a steak, broil some fish or, even easier, pair with a purchased rotisserie chicken. Dinner is served!

Broccoli Salad
1 head broccoli
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
3/4 cup mayonnaise (or veganaise)
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp agave syrup or honey
1 tsp aglio, olio, peperoncino or red pepper flakes
sea salt
freshly cracked black pepper
1 tbsp Italian parsley

Stem broccoli, break into florets and chop into bite sized pieces. Place in a steamer pot and steam for just a few minutes...until the broccoli is bright green and crisp-tender. (ensure you keep it very crunchy). Add broccoli, raisins, and onion to a medium sized bowl. In a small bowl, add the mayo, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, agave syrup or honey, aglio (or red pepper flakes), a pinch of salt and a pinch of pepper. Mix well. Pour 1/2 of dressing over broccoli mixture and stir to combine. Taste and add additional dressing as desired. Taste again and adjust seasonings as necessary. Serve as is or, if you have time, Refrigerate for 4 hours. When ready to serve, garnish with parsley.

Purple Cabbage Slaw
3 cups red cabbage, shredded
1 red delicious apple, cored and diced
2 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp honey
pinch sea salt
pinch black pepper
1/4 cup chopped pistachios, optional

Add cabbage and apple to large bowl. In a jar with tight-fitting lid (I use mason jars for my vinaigrettes) add vinegar, e.v.o.o., honey, salt, and pepper. Screw on the lid and shake vigorously until combined. Drizzle half of vinaigrette over cabbage mixture. Stir to combine. Add more vinaigrette to your liking.

This slaw keeps in the refrigerator for a couple of days.

Three more fast and fresh recipes to try:

italian green beans with tomatoes & pesto
spicy green beans in asian chili sauce
white bean and garlic scape dip

It is "Quickest Side Dishes Ever" week at Food Network's Sensational Sides roundup. Do you have a favorite quick recipe to share? Please list (or link) in the comments below. And be sure to check out the other delicious sounding recipes from my blogger friends and Food Network.

Feed Me Phoebe: 5-Ingredient Za'atar Beet Toasts
Devour: Beat the Clock with Easy, Under-15-Minute Side Dishes
Healthy Eats: 7 of the Quickest — and Healthiest — Side Dishes Ever
Creative Culinary: Pasta with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes (Pasta Ponza)
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Five Fast & Fantastic Spring Side Dishes
TasteBook: Asparagus Ribbons with Lemon Juice and Shaved Parmesan

The Wimpy Vegetarian: Cilantro-Lime Cauliflower Rice (with Coconut)
Taste with the Eyes: Teacher Appreciation Luncheon and Corn with Sweet Chili Butter
FN Dish: Counting Down the 5 Quickest Spring Side Dishes Ever

best,

diane

napa farmhouse 1885

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California Girl in Taos

MoseyLove

napa farmhouse 1885

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Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Sauteed Broccolini With Garlic And Chile On Toast

I always like to add one dish with a bit of spiciness to a holiday menu. Take Easter for example. Roast lamb, or ham or turkey with a potato dish, salad, vegetable. Delicious and perfectly fine but just a bit bland. Now add a dish with garlic or chile and it perks everything up.

This broccolini on toast recipe is the perfect example. Crisp-tender vegetable sauteed in olive oil with loads of garlic and a heaping spoonful of one of my favorite condiments Calabrian Chile Paste. I love the Silanfunghi brand of chile paste and used to buy it by the case at NapaStyle, Michael Chiarello's store, and catalog. They are "rebranding" and not taking orders at this time, so I have found other brands on Amazon. I am pretty addicted to this sauce and always have a number of jars in my pantry. Pile the broccolini on toast, top with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and you have the perfect side dish. Or, if you are like me, place a couple of portions on your plate, pair with a glass of wine, and dinner is served!

Sauteed Broccolini With Garlic and Chile On Toast
(serve 6)

1 1/2 lbs broccolini, trimmed
extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon Calabrian Chile Paste (I like the Silafunghi brand)
sea salt
black pepper
6 pieces Italian or French bread, toasted or grilled
grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

Fill a large skillet 1/2 with water. Cover and bring to a boil. Add the broccolini, cover pan and boil until crisp-tender. (approximately 4 minutes). Remove broccolini and set aside. Drain water and dry skillet.

Heat skillet until hot. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil and the broccolini and garlic. Saute for 2 minutes. Add the chile paste and stir to combine. Taste and add a pinch of salt if necessary. Stir in a pinch of black pepper.

Drizzle olive oil over grilled bread. Top toast with broccolini and grated cheese. Serve hot

Click Here For Printer Friendly Recipe

It is Easter Sides week at Food Network's Sensational Sides roundup. Do you have a favorite Easter side dish recipe to share? Please list (or link) in the comments below. And be sure to check out the other delicious sounding recipes from my blogger friends and Food Network.

The Lemon Bowl: Roasted Asparagus and Tangerines with Toasted Almonds
Devour: Have a Hoppin’ Easter with These Remixed Brunch and Dinner Dishes
Creative Culinary: Deviled Eggs with Lemon Zest, Capers and Chives
The Mom 100: Spring Greens Salad with Kohlrabi and Golden Beets
Elephants and the Coconut Trees: Vanilla Pudding with Fruit Jam Topping
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Sauteed Broccolini With Garlic And Chile On Toast
Red or Green: Pasta With Kale, Garlic & Calabrian Chile
Big Girls, Small Kitchen: Fennel & Cherry Tomato Salad with Toasted Pistachios
Healthy Eats: 5 Spring Sides for a Healthier Easter Feast
Taste with the Eyes: Butter Lettuce Cups with Fried Goat Cheese, Green Apple, Meyer Lemon Cream
The Wimpy Vegetarian: Creamy Feta and Asparagus Casserole with Orzo
FN Dish: 5 Side Dishes That Are More Important Than the Easter Ham

best,

diane

napa farmhouse 1885

red or green?

California Girl in Taos

MoseyLove

napa farmhouse 1885

Promote Your Page Too

I have started sharing my newest blog "California Girl in Taos." Please visit and let me know what you think.

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Pesto Pizza

Brussels Sprouts or Brussel Sprouts? Which is correct? Actually, Brussels is the answer. According to Grammarist:

Brussels sprouts—the variety of cabbage with a stout stem and a budlike head of tightly folded leaves—are named after the city of Brussels. The modern version of the plant was originally grown primarily in the area of Northern Europe now known as Belgium, of which Brussels is the capital. In the name of the cabbage, Brussels is usually capitalized like the name of the city, though some publications don’t capitalize it.

However you pronounce it, Brussels sprouts are delicious and one of my favorite vegetables. (I just learned that you are supposed to capitalize Brussels...who knew?) One of the best ways to prepare is roasting. It sweetens and caramelizes the sprouts. And adding pesto, sweet onion, and cheese? Heaven! This pizza recipe demonstrates the deliciousness of this fact. Enjoy.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Pesto Pizza

(makes one large pizza)

1/2 lb Brussels sprouts, trimmed and cut in half (quartered if very large)

extra virgin olive oil

1 cup basil pesto, purchased or try this recipe
3 oz mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
1 sweet white onion, chopped

1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, shredded and divided

1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes

sea salt

black pepper

prepared pizza crust (recipe below) or best quality purchased dough

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread Brussels sprouts in the bottom of a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle 2 tablespoons olive oil over sprouts and sprinkle with a pinch each of salt and pepper. Roast in preheated oven for approximately 25 minutes or until the sprouts are very tender and beginning to caramelize. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Set aside

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Using a pastry brush, cover the bottom of pizza crust with 2 tablespoons olive oil including the "naked" crust edges. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese over oil. Bake in preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until light golden brown.

Remove from oven and spread the pesto over the crust. Place the mozzarella over the pesto and scatter the Brussels sprouts including any oil from the pan, the onion, the remaining Parmigiano and the pepper flakes over top. Add back to the oven and bake an additional 7-10 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and crust is deep golden brown.

Remove from oven, cut into serving pieces and serve immediately.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Pizza Crust

1 package active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
pinch sea salt
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp honey
1 1/2 cups unbleached white flour
1 cup white whole wheat flour

Add the water to the bowl of an upright mixer and sprinkle yeast over the top. Using the paddle attachment, mix until yeast has dissolved. Add salt, olive oil, and honey and mix to combine. Add the white flour and process just until incorporated. Add the whole wheat flour and process until incorporated. Process an additional minute until the dough has formed into a ball. Do not over mix. Remove the dough from bowl, form into a smooth ball and place in an oiled bowl. Turn the dough a few times to ensure it is totally covered in oil, cover the bowl with Saran wrap and place in a warm area. Allow to rise until doubled in size, 40 minutes to 1 hour.

Remove the dough from bowl and place on a lightly floured surface. Use a rolling pin to roll out dough in a free form circle. The dough should be about 1/2 inch thick. Place on pizza stone or baking sheet that has been lightly oiled with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkled with coarse cornmeal. (the cornmeal adds a delicious flavor and helps ensure the pizza dough will not stick to the pan.)

Set aside until needed.