Polenta with Squash, Herbs, and Parmesan

Our screens are rattling from the wind outside. Slippers? Check. Robe? Check. Coffee? Check.

Good morning, Sunday. Nice to see you.

It is finally the time of year for the "stick-to-your-ribs" type of food.

Can we just talk about polenta for a second? It's gluten free. It's vegan. It's easy. And you can flavor it any way you want. Um, hello, Awesome. It's such a great change from pasta, rice, or couscous. Plus, if you pour it into a ramekin (or a mug) while it's still hot, the polenta will conform to its shape. Friends and family will be like "Ooooo… fancy schmancy". And all you did was pour it from your stovetop into a mold. To us, there is only one way to cook the stuff in the autumn months. And it is from this book: Harvest of Pumpkins & Squash. It is a must for every bookshelf.

Next, let's talk squash. Yes, Butternut Squash is always a favorite. But it should not be the only squash you reach for at the market. Like I mentioned in our last post, there are so many to choose from! Don't be afraid to break the mold and try some random variety. Don't know how to cook it? Ask someone at the store. Or look it up on the internet. You will be surprised and glad you did.

The recipe called for butternut, but we used a red kuri pumpkin. Do you like chestnuts? Then try this squash. It tastes just like chestnuts (and has a similar texture). Added bonus: the color is beyond gorgeous.

Because we used someone else's recipe, we will refrain from posting the method of cooking. (Did you buy this cookbook already?) We will say this much, however: Melting butter (it doesn't have to be a lot, guys) with salt, herbs, and tossing in squash will give you such an appreciation for the vegetable. Pumpkin pie is great. Breads are nice. But really just eating roasted chunks of the stuff - there is nothing better. And it is not sticky-sweet like all of the popular American uses for pumpkin and squash. If you are going to take the time to cut and roast pumpkins savor and enjoy your efforts. You might never buy the canned purees again.

Happy fall! And happy squash picking! Now go out and buy yourselves a bag of polenta and have some fun.

Squash and Feta Tacos with Salsa Verde

On nights when I just want to disconnect from it all—whether it's a stressful day at work or family banter via text—I find that cooking really grounds me. The jazz goes on, the wine gets poured, the cutting board gets put on the counter and BAM! I'm in my happy place.

Cooking from scratch brings Charlie and I such joy. We live in such a fast-paced, technology-driven world. The art of making, using your hands, feeling the textures of food—these are the things that ground us. It's a reminder of who we are and where we are.

So let's talk Mexican Tortilla's, guys.

Vegan? Yes.

Gluten Free? Yes.

Are they difficult to make? No.

Seriously. Make tonight "taco night".

If you have corn flour and water—surprise!—you can make tortillas. It's a 2/2 ratio: 2 cups of corn flour (masa harina) to 2 cups of hot water. (I also added 1 tsp salt.)

1. Knead mixture into a ball
2. Let the dough sit for 30 minutes
3. Mold smaller balls from the rested dough
4. Press to form your tortilla (this part helps relieve office stress)
5. Toast on a skillet

The fact that these are so easy will make you never want to buy store bought again. Ever. And think of the economics: That one bag of masa makes a LOT of tortillas.

My farmers market (shoutout to DC's FreshFarm Markets) has some really great vendors. The stand where I like to buy most of produce from (Garner's Farms) has the coolest stuff. And organic, too! Plus they are just super nice people—always willing to answer questions that one might have. Last week, they had this basket of gorgeous squashes. People, we are talking magazine-cover type stuff. In the bag went two types: Kabocha (Charlie's favorite) and a Red Kuri (the color blew my mind—I had to have it).

If you have not cooked with either of these before, I highly recommend that you do. Acorn and Butternut are popular for a reason, but there are so many more types of squash to sample. The Red Kuri, in particular, had a very chestnut-like flavor. Who could say "no" to that? Move over, Butternut.

My taco filling was a mixture of feta cheese with the above squashes roasted. (You could easily replace this with avocado to keep it all vegan.)

Now let's talk Salsa Verde, guys. In fact, let's talk hot peppers. Scared? I know, me too. I was chicken to touch it and used a sandwich bag in lieu of gloves. Did it work? Yes—so you should try it too. What a difference from canned. They were fresh, smoky, and vibrant. I used half a Serrano, no seeds or ribs. (I told you I was chicken.) That amount provided just enough heat.

A friend of mine has recently been using cashews in what she cooks. I was inspired. Having cooked for my lactose-intolerant cousin, I have been educated on the power of cashews, and nuts in general. Using soaked cashews, I pureed this along with leeks and chard to make my Salsa. That's right: Chard. Chard is great and everything, but aren't you all tired of the tried-and-true sauté with garlic and oil? I know I am. This was a super cool way to use the vegetable, keep it raw, and not know that you're eating leafy greens. Trust me. You're vegetable-phobic friends will never know.

Salsa Verde: Puree 1/2 bunch of de-ribbed Swiss Chard with 2 Tbs leeks (washed and chopped), 1-2 tsp cumin, 2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp oregano, and 1/2 cup of cashews (soaked in hot water for 30 minutes). It's delicious and it's vegan. Again, you're friends will never know.

And that's how I spent my glamorous evening off in the city: cooking. Sometimes pressing out a batch of tortillas (along with some tunes and wine) is all you need to wind down from the day's stresses.

Socca

Hailing from Nice, France, socca is a hidden gem for those on a gluten-free (and dairy-free) diet. I cannot imagine a better project for the Piccolo Gourmet. Socca is a cracker-like crepe made from gram (chickpea) flour. The Italians from Pisa and Genoa have their version as well, farinata, and is made in a similar way.

Our research led us to find that, in France, they are usually cut into triangles and served plain. In certain parts of Tuscany, Italians add toppings like a focaccia. Tonight, I tried both ways. Many thanks to David Lebovitz's Parisian blog for providing the recipe. Gluten-free vegans rejoice!

Socca or Farinata
1 cup gram flour
1 cup water
1.5 TSP of olive oil
1/2 tsp sea salt
some crushed black pepper

1. Blend all ingredients into a bowl and let rest for 30-45 mins. (I went for a jog and came back.)

2. Preheat broiler and place a non-stick cookie sheet (with a lip) in the oven to pre-heat for 10 minutes.

3. Pour batter onto the hot sheet and (using a mitt) roll dough around to coat the surface as evenly as possible.

4. Place under the broiler until it has blistered in spots and set.

5. Cut into squares, triangles, whatever, and enjoy warm.

The socca were sooo good plain with a glass of white wine. Also good with toppings, though try to stay on the lighter side. I topped my farinata with a roasted tomato slice, fresh chopped basil, and sliced olives (see photograph). The tomato was very heavy for such a delicate base. It held up fine, but something lighter (like caramelized onion slices or just some chopped herbs) would have been preferable.

The dish is so simple to execute. Weeknight fare for sure. However, like most gluten-free dishes, it requires some trial and error before hand. Did it turn out edible? Absolutely. I'm bringing leftovers to snack on tomorrow at work. However, I would love to squeeze in a couple of more trials before my cousin comes over next week. (He has gluten and lactose allergies, so this dish is PERFECT for him.) A second post with further experiments are in order, so keep your eyes peeled. Happy cooking!

Savory Tarts

Tomato-Herb Galette

Summer Squash Galette

Sweet Potato-Spinach-Goat Cheese Tart

Spring is here, which means chilled white wine, dining al fresco, and time spent in the sunshine. Light meals are on the horizon. And the French know how to cook light. Well, just filling enough, let's say. Vegetarianism, I have written before, is challenging when dealing with French cuisine. It is not a secret that I have been on a tart kick, perhaps because they are so versatile. And easy. Finally I am writing on this trend in our kitchen.

In past weeks, I had made a type of tart which almost mimics a custard. The dough is extremely wet, however, when poured into a smoking hot dish, it puffs up, and cooks quickly. The other type that I had become an expert at making is a galette. The dough is presented in an extremely rustic way. Mistakes are ok. In fact, they might even make your galette look better. Both dishes are versatile, easy to make, and can be altered to suit your taste. 

I must give credit where credit is due. I used this dough recipe (http://www.tarteletteblog.com/2012/03/recipe-gluten-free-heirloom-tomato.html). Um, fabulous. Whole wheat flour was added, though. My proportions were 1 cup white, 1/4 cup whole wheat. My tomato tart was seasoned with sea salt, garlic, and basil. 

Another challenge is making this a complete meal—and at the current moment I have no protein in this tart. Plus, I wanted this galette to be cheese free. My answer was adding legumes. I added shell beans that I soaked and cooked earlier to a puree of sauteed farmer's market vegetables. It looked like a Mediterranean hummus, but it served as a great base. All liquid from the tomato would be caught in this spread—It served a dual purpose. Protection and nutrients.

Tomato-Herb Galette (Serves 3-4)

Slice and sauté 1/2 large onion in olive oil with 4 garlic loves (chopped). Add a nice handful of washed, de-stemmed chard. Add 2 Tsp. of dried basil (don't forget to grind these dried herbs in between your palms to extract the oils and deepen the flavor.) Add a pinch of chili flakes and salt to taste. Puree this with 1 cup of pre-cooked shell beans (or use canned).

Spread the puree on the base of your galette. Fan out thinly sliced plum tomatoes (about 3) and fool up the sides of your galette dough. Cook for 50 mins. at 350. Broil on low for 10 minutes but keep a watchful eye that this does not burn. You want your tomato edges to darken and your dough to toast. Cool on a rack and sprinkle liberally with coarse sea salt. 

Other notes on past tarts can be read in posts earlier last month. Making this one again for sure. Enjoy and have fun!

Tarte de basilic et légumes grillés

 Slice of Tarte

In the pan

More notes on this to come, but we wanted to share some visuals in the meantime. I am extremely confident in the making of this dough. It is the filling(s) that I still need practice with. However, if you have 45 minutes and some pantry staples, a savory French tarte is an easy (yes, easy) light dinner. 

Tarte aux patates douces et fromage de chèvre

The Piccolo Gourmet had a great time tonight. This bread was so much fun to make that we might try it again tomorrow. This tarte base is only three ingredients: 3 eggs, 1-1/2 cups flour, and 1-1/2 cups milk. To it, you could add some salt, some fresh herbs, whatever! The trick is to oil your pan extremely well and to have it heat in the oven on its own for 10 minutes at 425 degrees. When your pan is smoking hot, add your batter and whatever toppings you wish. We were hesitant adding our toppings to such a wet, raw batter, but everything sets up beautifully! We won't tell you what kind of tarte to create—the possibilities are endless. Be creative! Our crust tonight was a combination of Whole Wheat and All-Purpose flours. Though the majority of our dish consisted of sweet potatoes and goat cheese, we also included spinach and caramelized onion. We seasoned it with garlic, sage, sea salt, and crushed black pepper. If you have all your ingredients ready to go, this dinner can be made in 45 minutes. An easy, healthy, after-work treat.

Torre de Batata

April has been colder than we would have hoped. Despite the chill, we decided to start Spring with a salad—but a roasted vegetable salad instead of jumping into the lettuce catagory. There will be plenty of time for that later. Besides, we had some great surprises show up in our produce delivery this past week!

It is no secret that The Piccolo Gourmet loves to roast vegetables. Inspired by our favorite local spot, we hope you enjoy this warm, Mexican-influenced salad.

This recipe is as delicious as it is foolproof. Big flavor with a minimal amount of prep time.

INGREDIENTS
2 sweet potatoes
1 bag of fresh brussel sprouts
1 cup of white (or black) beans
olive oil
sea salt
chipotle powder
ancho chili powders
goat cheese* (optional)

Peel and slice potatoes in 1/4 inch disks. Clean the brussel sprouts and slice in half. Toss the vegetables in olive oil and lay (cut-side down) on a foil-lined baking sheet. Roast in a 400 degree oven for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and toss liberally with sea salt. Lightly dust the vegetables with both chili powders (Ancho can be quite hot, so add this powder to your taste).

Lay one slice of potato on a plate and top with 2 or 3 of the brussel sprout halves. Continue adding layers until a mound is formed. Top with a spoonful of white beans and drizzle olive oil over the dish. Enjoy.

*note: I originally ate this without the cheese. I added a crumble of goat cheese on top to balance out the heat of the chili powder on my second helping. It tasted fabulous, (when is adding goat cheese a bad thing?) but, this can be easilly left out to keep the salad vegan. It is delicious either way.