Posts Tagged: natural ingredients

Sourdough Bread, Artisan Style

Artisan Bread w/Sourdough Starter

Man does not live on bread alone, but we tried. (This bread was that good.) There was a learning curve to getting this artisan bread thing right, but… so worth it.

Sourdough Starter Maintenance & Use & Other Details

Stiff Starter: 1/4 c. starter, 1/3 c. water, 1/2 c. wheat/rye flour blend

So… yeast and flour, mixed together, makes a pretty “one-dimensional” flavored bread. But. A well-tended starter, added to some dough, left to bulk-ferment and then have a final rise in the fridge, takes simple flour and water and creates a sum far greater than the parts! Which is why I bother babying my starter. OK, and obsessing about it just a tad… I have a deep respect for this little starter- it does amazing things.

Chicken Cacciatore- Hunter’s Stew

Easy Chicken Stew, Fancy Name, Chicken Cacciatore

“Cacciatore” literally means “Hunter”. And while there have been a few hunters in the family, most of my hunting will be in the grocery aisle! But I think it’ll be cool, especially if I announce we’re having “Chicken Cacciatore” with an Italian accent!

Persian Rice (AKA “Jeweled Rice”)

Rice_Salad_Pilaf_Persian_Style

Amazing colors (pistachios, cranberries, saffron) work together with other spices to make a rice dish that’s not boring! I served this with a roasted chicken, brushed with ground foenogreek,

Pasta Salad w/ Honey Mustard Dressing

Pasta Salad w/ Sweet Potato, Homemade Dressing

This pasta is so cool! There’s a tiny, tiny hole in the middle of what looks like fat spaghetti. So yummy- I love the texture! And something about homemade honey mustard dressing, with a touch of tarragon, thyme, orange, and smoky flavor. I’m a bit squeamish about eating mayo-based salad dressings, but when it’s made with olive oil, I am so OK with that!

Mayonnaise (AKA “Aioli”)

Make mayo w/ olive oil, healthy!

I use extra virgin olive oil and garlic in my mayonnaise (it’s so much healthier than the alternatives), but that means it’s almost “Aioli”. Which sounds so classy. Aioli is an emulsion of garlic and olive oil, sometimes containing egg yolk to help it emulsify. Use refined olive oil for a lighter flavor. (Or even coconut oil!)

Root Beer, Healthy Soda Style, Probiotic

Root Beer, Homemade, Healthy, Probiotic

Finally, I feel like I’ve got the right combination for a great, probiotic Root Beer “soda”. I added ginger bug to the second ferment, along with my homemade root beer extract. Tastes legit! No, I didn’t boil the bark and roots for long–maybe that was part of the secret. Yum…

Golden Milk AM Blend (w/ Power Herbs)

Golden Milk Mix for easy drinks, health

Like a lot of health-foodies, I got into making my own golden milk. I also created a blend for the morning, which includes matcha green tea, gelatin, and some serious power herbs. (The benefits of these herbs are impressive, as a quick word-search will prove!)

This recipe is not the one you stir together in the evening, in some “relaxing” ritual. (I don’t have time for that myself!) No, this is a quick, handy version, to get optimal nourishment in minimal time, Perfect for those of us who need to stay healthy and keep up with a tight, rigorous routine.

Risotto Plus Variations (+ Make-Ahead Tip)

Aborio Rice + Mushrooms, Peas, Herbs, Garlic

I took a picture showing all the possibilities for risotto–a perfect vehicle for mushrooms, peas, garlic, herbs, etc. After I took the picture, I made husband Tom and I a batch, adding all the pictured ingredients. He asked the question you want to hear: “What makes this so creamy?” (Since he knew it was “just rice”…) I could tell him about how it’s the special way you cook this special rice. So good!

German Potato Salad (Good Starch?!)

Cold_Potato_Starch_Equals_Healthy

I always figured potato salad wasn’t exactly healthy. But what if it WAS? Turns out, cold potato starch (along with other “resistant starches”) can improve gut health, which can help with obesity, inflammation, mood (etc., etc.). Wow–sign me up, right?! Not only is potato salad a great comfort food and party food, to get scientific, cold potato starch contains certain “prebiotics”, which are highly beneficial. Hooray- a superfood for the digestive system, that tastes awesome!