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Thursday, April 26, 2012

spinach and nut pesto quiche

Hello again,




When I found myself left with a whole bunch of parsley and not in the mood to make a tabouleh salad, I decided to work it in a batch of nut pesto. I often make something like this, but never quite the same thing. basically, I toast some nuts or seeds, grab a bunch of green leafy herbs and put it all in the processor with some olive oil, shallot or garlic and seasoning. Its great to have in the fridge as it can be used to top a salad, on toast, in a sandwich and on pasta of course. 

Here, I worked it into a quiche, with sauteed spinach. I usually keep some uncooked pie shells in the freezer, so this made for a really quick, light meal. 







Pre-bake the crust with pie weights or perforated with a fork. Sauté the spinach with salt, pepper and olive oil in a large pot, finish with a finely diced onion. To prep the wet ingredients, whisk some eggs, add freshly grated parmesan, yogurt, mustard and nut pesto. season with salt and pepper. Fill the prepped pie-shell with the spinach mixture and pour in as much egg mixture as you can fit. Bake for +/- 30 minutes or until the quiche has set and  no runny egg can be detected. 

How do you like your nut pesto?

Liza xoxo


Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Crab salad in the real sense of the word





Hello again,

My local seafood merchant sells these boiled crab legs. They have been asking for my attention for a while now, but since I am not a big mayonnaise eater (except for with my fries, and I wouldn't be a real belgian if I didn't), I decided to make a salad with crab instead. 








I added what I had on hand, which is often a combination of salad ingredients that happen to be available at the veggie market. Sprouts are great for spring. Radishes are still available and give a nice bit of bitterness and crunch. Always avocado, I think there is no substitute for the richness and creaminess an avocado can add to a salad. And I need only half as much dressing for full satisfaction. I also added cucumber, because it is fresh and makes the salad much lighter. I do leave the seeds in there. I like the hidden bite of water, and if you eat the salad right away, there should be no danger of getting a pool of cucumber juice at the bottom of your bowl. Do dress your greens separately before adding them to your bowl, if you try to get them coated in dressing inside a bowl with heavy ingredients, your greens will wilt and bruise under the pressure. I also like to finish a salad with some toasted nuts and seeds. This time I used flax and sesame.







Note on the crab leg, put it in a ziplock bag and use a hammer. be careful not to add any bits of shel to your salad. you teeth will appreciate your concern.  

Note for the dressing: add to a small jar, a bit of whole grain mustard, salt, pepper, lemon or lime juice from one small fruit and a 1/3 cup of nice cold pressed olive oil. Shake well, and serve. 

Does anyone have a crabby salad they would like to share?

Liza xoxo



Sunday, April 22, 2012

coffee in a jar


Hello again,

More and more I am convinced that coffee and espresso machines are not worth buying. Sure, a decent tavern style espresso machine can make a great cup, but the kinds that are available for the home are just not strong enough. 

I have been eyeballing this gadget. It doesn't use use any electricity and it's strength is irrelevant because its mussel pulled and therefore as strong as you are. If I ever get around to getting one, ill keep you posted. 


In the meantime, this is how I brew my coffee at home. It is a method I came up with, holding in mind all the important factors that influence the flavor of your coffee, e.g. the ratio of coffee to water, the temperature of the water, the freshens of the grind and the amount of time the grinds are in contact with the water. Also, no expensive coffee nerd items are needed and yet this coffee is superb. Here is how it goes: I add 2 tblsp of freshly ground coffee (ground on the regular setting) to a jelly jar and fill it up with hot water. The water is just under the boiling temperature. I let I sit for 3 minutes and then I strain it through a coffee filter. I would say this method is a mix between french press and drip coffee. Notice the nice layer of foam? 



I will be getting a better filter system, this is the one I have in mind.


Let me know how you like your coffee. For the frothed milk lovers, I will keep doing some research,...

Liza xoxo