Eggplant Caponata Bruschetta

There is a version of this recipe in this months Food and Wine.  I have been trying to  make anything that includes the last of this season's heirlooms. I omitted the red pepper because they tend to over power every dish. (in my opinion)
This takes 10-15 minutes to make.

1 large egg plant- peeled and diced
2 tablespoons golden raisins (i could not find golden raisins I used regular and it was great)
21/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion diced
1 celery rib diced
1-2 garlic cloves minced
1 jalapeno seeded and minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 medium tomato diced
2 tablespoons chopped pitted green olives
1 tablespoon capers. (the original recipe calls for a half of tablespoon but i love capers)
1-2 tablespoons chopped parsley (not in the original recipe but was a great topping) 
1/2 tablespoon sherry vinegar ( I subbed with balsamic)
and sourdough baguette sliced to toast and top 

1) toss the eggplant on the side in a colander or bowl with salt and let it sit while you prepare the rest.
2) soak the raisins in a cup of warm water for 10 minutes and drain 
3) heat the olive oil , add the onion and celery cover and cook med to low for 4 minutes. add the garlic and the jalapeno and cook another 4 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook about one minute. Transfer all to a large bowl.
4) in a non stick skillet, heat the remaining olive oil and cook the egg plant until translucent (not to much or the consistency will be terrible) 
add all together with the capers, raisins , balsamic vinegar and salt and toss and top toasted sour dough  crustinis. 

This was so easy and tasty

xo,
C

Snake Oil I am fond of

This Week anyway. There are so many vegan supplements, protein powders and veggie enhancers. That  all tout vegan goodness but a couple of these are effective because they provide absorb-able sources of vitamin B12.
 

Mega Greens plus MSM
a powdered mixture or roots and leaves. Is suppose to balance your body's PH while providing vitamins and and plant proteins. (tastes awful)

Rice Protein - Plus Flax Seed
Pretty innocuous when added to a shake and has 12 grams of protein per serving

Aloe Life Super Fruit
High Antioxidant Juices plus Aloe
Aloe is suppose to be a vegan absorb-able form of  B12 . (tastes like it is doing something.)

Buried Treasure "B" Complete Vitamins
balanced B complex with C

I will report back ..
if you try one let me know

Gather Restaurant

Finally a restaurant that Chad and I can agree on, Gather Restaurant . Has an array of Vegan options as well as Prather Ranch and some fish. (for Chad)
I doubt we will make it to Berkeley all that often to eat there but the Vegan Charcuterie plate is amazing.

The Plate included:
-Tartar of tomato and corn, roasted tomato polenta
-Eggplant "brandade," braised Jimmy Nardello peppers, saffron braised olives
-Bruschetta, crispy tofu skin, avacado, tomato, smoked garlic "aioli"
-Carpaccio of watermelon radish and turnip, horseradish salsa Verde, grapes , grapes, grated almond
-Summer mushroom pate, grilled nebrodini mushrooms

and the vegan pizza was great as well

Linda's baby torpedo onions , olive caper herb sauce , cashew olive oil puree, roasted shitakes
yum!

Shannon's Wedding, Detroit & the Nori Roll

After getting back from Shannon's wedding  in Northern Michigan and spending a night in Detroit I have been craving Nori Rolls all weekend (weird craving, for sure). Lake Michigan had much more of a beach scene than I had imagined. I was also reminded that I still appreciate vintage clothing. I also decided I need better pictures for this blog because blogs that are only recipes aren't all that fun.

 The Beach at  Lake Michigan

 My new dress from Lost and Found - I love it. 

I read the recipe for the Nori Rolls  in the Kind Diet a while back and added the items that I  enjoy to the rolls. They are so good. 
Did you know that Michigan is known for Polish food? There's also delicious cherries and amazing vintage finds that we haven't seen in SF in years. It was so great to hang out with long time  pals Sasha & Shannon  as well as  meet new ones.
And most importantly , here are a couple of  photos from the wedding:

The Newlyweds

Gorgeous Bride and her extra tall buddy

Congratulations Shannon and Dan!

Toasted Sushi Nori - made by Sound Sea Vegetables
1 cup of brown rice
Umeboshi Plum - just a dab to spread on to the rice and Nori paper
Daikon- optional
Mung Beans
Cilantro- chopped as a spice
Basil - chopped as a spice
Avacado - optional
Kale - Sauteed with olive oil, garlic,  lemon and chopped
Raw Kim Chee
Baked tofu  - optional (Chad wants to replace this with fish one day)
Apple slices
Carrots - optional 

Saute the kale with lemon and garlic and cool and chop. Cook one cup of brown rice and
layer it after it's done on the above in any combo. The kim chee , umeboshi plum, apples, cilantro , basil and mung beans combo really makes this dish great.

I'm not very good at rolling these Japanese style, so I make them into a hand roll that looks kind of like a burrito 

Love,
C

Ceasar Salad

I have been meaning to post this recipe for a while now but every time I make it , it gets eaten so fast that I never get a photo.
I have tried several Ceasar recipes and this version is the best and so easy.

4-5 ounces of firm Tofu (wildwood is the best)
Juice from 2 lemons
2 T caper
1-2 tsps of chopped garlic
1 -2 T nutritional yeast
Salt and pepper to taste
2 T olive oil
Romaine lettuce
Viper milk

Puree in vita mix or food processor , mix with salad and top with croutons

Raw Power

This is by far the best raw, flavorless, soy free protein powder that  I have found.
It is made by Garden of Life and does not have a chalky after taste when added to shakes.
I have purchased it at Rainbow before but you can also buy it from the GOL website.

XO,
C

Bring on the BBQ - Zucchini & Arugala Salad, Kobocha Squash with Cilantro Pecan Pesto + BBQ'd Tempeh

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New patio furniture is in place as well as a new BBQ so it seemed perfect to have pals over to celebrate the first BBQ of the season.  The first item on the menu was a
zucchini ,yellow neck squash and arugula salad.
It takes this:
4-6 small zucchinis
2-4 small crook neck squash
2 T olive oil
4 cloves of garlic
2 lemons
1/4 cup sliced almonds 
sea salt + pepper

Slice all of  the squash in to ribbons and salt and start to chill while preparing the dressing.
Mix garlic , lemon , salt and pepper together to taste , add 3-4 cups of arugula and sliced almonds to the zucchini and mix together and serve .

Kabocha Squash with Pecan Cilantro Pesto
In the picture the squash looks a little crisp but it was actually perfect. I intended to grill the squash on the BBQ initially and then ended up baking it .

To make:
Cut medium Kobocha Squash in 4 coat with olive oil and bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until tender.
You will need a food processor for the pesto - my inspiration was from a recipe book  I spied on the Whole Foods app. (yeah,  I peruse recipes every chance i get -DORK!)

1/4 cup pine nuts
1/4 cup pecans
3/4- 1 cup cilantro
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
3 cloves of garlic
1/2 lemon
course sea salt to taste
puree until tender and top the squash , burgers, bread , and everything else with this deliciousness!

 

BBQ'd Tempeh
The marinade for this one is great on everything!!
Tamari or soy sauce, olive oil, garlic,and fresh chopped ginger. Let it sit for a few hours before you grill.
The variation is slightly different by batch , as long as it is light brown it is a success and as with any marinade the longer you can leave it the better.

When I took a tofu/tempeh class with Compassionate Cooks last Fall one of the tips Colleen Patrick Gordeau offered up was to steam tempeh for a few minutes before you do anything with it to make it chewy and less crumbly.

Grill on medium until crisp. This is a great salad addition.
and as always there were Boca burgers at this BBQ topped with avocado, red onions, dill pickles, tomatoes that aren't quite in season just yet. (therefore not from these parts)  so, i wait!!
Would you believe Whole foods , Faletti's and all markets in between were sold out of burger buns ?!


Thank you Stephanie , Josh and Joaquin for the all the treats.
Everything was delicious but the most important ingredients for this past weekend : good friends, good music, great food , goofy dogs and a very tired Chad.
XO,
C