Roasted Artichokes


4-6 medium artichokes

Ingredients

  • juice of 1 lemon
  • water
  • olive oil
  • 1/2t salt
  • freshly ground pepper
  • bouquet garni consisting of 4 thyme sprigs and 2 bay leaves
  • 2T dry white wine or water

Directions

Snap off several layers of the tough outer leaves of artichokes by pulling them downward so that they break off at the base. Stop when inner leaves become a lighter yellowish green and look tender. Trim stems and slice off top third of artichokes. With a paring knife, smooth rough areas around base, removing any dark green parts. Cut trimmed artichokes into sixths. Remove fuzzy chokes of heart with paring knife. As you work, drop trimmed artichokes into bowl with lemon juice and enough water to cover. When all are done, drain, pat artichokes dry with towel and toss with enough oil to moisten well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Place in a single layer in lightly oiled 13×9 baking dish. Add bouquet garni and wine, cover with wax paper, then with foil. Bake at 400 35 minutes, then uncover and bake until crisp around edges and beginning to brown, about 25 minutes more.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Shallots with Balsamic Vinegar



Serves 8 to 12

Ingredients

  • 3lbs brussels sprouts, split in half
  • 8 medium shallots, sliced thinly
  • 1/4c extra virgin olive oil
  • kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 2T balsamic vinegar

Directions

Preheat oven to 500. Toss sprouts, shallots, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl and toss to combine. When oven is hot, working quickly, remove the baking sheets with a dish towel or oven mitt. Divide brussels sprouts mixture evenly between both trays, shaking to distribute into a single even layer. Return pans to oven. Roast until brussels sprouts are deeply charred and fully tender, about 20 minutes, tossing sprouts and rotating and swapping pans top to bottom halfway through cooking.

Immediately after removing from oven, drizzle sprouts with balsamic vinegar and shake to coat. Season to taste with more salt and pepper is desired and serve.


Scallion Kimchi



Ingredients

    Main ingredients:
  • 100 scallions (1 1/2lb)
  • 1/2c fish sauce
  • 1/2c hot pepper powder
  • 1T sugar
  • 1T sesame seeds
  • 1T garlic, minced
  • 1t ginger, minced
  • Sweet rice paste ingredients:

  • 1c water
  • 2T sweet rice flour

Directions

Cut off roots and any bad parts of scallions. Wash them. Put them in a large bowl and pour 1/2c of fish sauce evenly over the top. Gently turn the green scallions to get them covered with the sauce. Set aside for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the sweet rice paste for the kimchi. Combine paste ingredients and mix well.

Cook paste on medium-high until it starts to bubble. Keep stirring it. Turn off heat and let it cool down.

While salting the scallions with fish sauce, occasionally turn them over, so that they will get salted evenly. After the 20 minutes are up, remove the scallions from the bowl and set them aside. The bowl will have some remaining fish sauce.

To make the kimchi paste, mix together the cooled sweet rice paste, 1/2c hot pepper powder, 1T of sugar, 1T sesame seeds, 1T minced garlic, and 1t minced ginger into the bowl with the fish sauce.

Put the scallions into the bowl with the kimchi paste.

Mix everything gently until the green onions get covered with the kimchi paste. I recommend wearing plastic gloves to protect your skin for this process.

Put the scallion kimchi into a glass jar or container. Set it aside for a day or 2 at room temperature. Then put it in the fridge for about 2 weeks, or until it has finished fermenting.


Simple Chawanmushi



Ingredients

  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 T soy sauce
  • 1 t sugar
  • mushrooms, veggies, tofu (optional)

Directions

Whisk everything together in a bowl (make sure the broth isn’t very hot!) then strain. Put optional veggies into 4 separate custard/Pyrex bowls or mugs. Cover with egg mixture. Then steam on high for about 15 minutes.

Instant Kimchi



Ingredients

  • 2.5lb cabbage, sliced thin
  • 1c water
  • 1/4c salt
  • 1/4c (or less!!!) hot pepper flakes
  • 1T sugar
  • 1/4c soy sauce
  • 2T lemon juice
  • 1/4c garlic
  • 1/3c scallion (or onion)
  • 1/4c grated carrot
  • 1T ginger
  • 1T roasted sesame seeds
  • 1T oil

Directions


Mix cabbage, salt, and water together. Sit for 10 minutes. Rinse(?) then
add remaining ingredients. Voila!

Mangu (Mashed Plantains)



Time: 25 mins

Serves: 4


Ingredients

  • 4 unripe plantains
  • 4 T butter
  • 2 T oil
  • 2 large onions
  • 1 T vinegar
  • 1 c cold water
  • salt

Directions

Peel the plantains and cut into 8 pieces. Boil the plantains adding 2 t of salt to the water. When the plantains are very tender turn off the heat.

While the plantains are boiling, heat a tablespoon of oil in a shallow pan. Sauté the onions, add the salt and vinegar. Reserve.

Take the plantains out of the water and mash them with a fork. Add the butter and the cold water and keep mashing until it is very smooth. Garnish with the onions and serve with scrambled eggs or deep-friend slices of salami.


Marinated Artichokes



Ingredients

  • 2 lemons, juiced
  • 1/4c olive oil
  • 2t salt, or to taste
  • 2t black pepper, or to taste
  • 2t Italian seasoning
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped (optional)
  • 2 (14 oz) cans quartered artichoke hearts, drained

Directions


Combine lemon juice, olive oil, salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning,
and garlic in a sealable plastic container.

Seal the container and shake to emulsify the mixture.

Remove the lid and add artichoke hearts. Reseal the lid and continue
shaking the container until the artichoke hearts are completely coated.


Mustard Greens



Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 1/2c thinly sliced onions
  • 2 cloves garlic, mined
  • 1T olive oil
  • 1lb mustard greens, washed and torn into large pieces
  • 2-3T veggie broth
  • 1/4t salt
  • 1/4t pepper
  • 1/4t dark sesame oil

Directions

In a large sauté pan, sauté onions in olive oil over medium heat until the onions begin to brown and caramelize, about 5-10 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook a minute more, until fragrant.

Add the mustard greens and broth and cook until the mustard greens are just barely wilted. Toss with sesame oil. Season with salt and pepper.


Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes



Ingredients

    For the baked potatoes:
  • 8 large russet potatoes, scrubbed
  • 2 T olive oil, divided
  • 1/4 t salt
  • For the cheddar cheese sauce:

  • 1/3 c vegan margarine
  • 1/4 c chopped onion
  • 1 c chopped potatoes, peeled
  • 1/4 c chopped carrots
  • 1/2 t minced garlic
  • 1 t smoked paprika
  • 1 t salt
  • 1 c water
  • 1/4 c raw cashews
  • 1/8 t Dijon mustard
  • 1 T fresh lemon juice
  • For the cashew sour cream:

  • 1 c raw cashews
  • 1 c water
  • 2 T miso
  • 4 t white wine vinegar
  • For the mashed potato filling:

  • 1/4 c vegan margarine
  • 3/4 c unsweetened non-dairy milk
  • 1 t salt
  • 1 t freshly ground black pepper, plus more for garnish
  • 6 scallions, thinly sliced, divided

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a sheet pan, place potatoes and rub with 1 tablespoon oil and salt. Pierce each potato several times with a fork. Bake for 70 minutes until soft.

For the cheddar cheese sauce, in a sauté pan over medium heat, add margarine and onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add potatoes, carrots, garlic, paprika, and salt and sauté for 5 minutes. Add water and bring to a boil. Cover pan and simmer for 20 minutes, or until vegetables are very soft. In a dry blender, process cashews into a fine powder. Add mustard, lemon juice, and potato mixture. Process until cheese sauce is smooth and set aside.

For the cashew sour cream, in a blender or food processor, blend cashews, water, miso, and vinegar until completely smooth.

Remove baked potatoes from oven and cut in half, lengthwise. Using a spoon, carefully scoop out potato from skins, leaving 1/4″ layer of potato. Brush potato shells with remaining olive oil and return to preheated oven for 15 minutes.

For the mashed potato filling, in a medium bowl, mash potato filling with margarine, non-dairy milk, salt, and pepper. Fold in half the cheese sauce, half the sour cream, and half the scallions. Fill each baked potato skin with mashed potato mixture. Top with a dollop of cheese sauce and a drizzle of sour cream. Garnish with remaining scallions and pepper as desired. Bake loaded potato skins for 15 minutes, until thoroughly heated and tops are browned. Serve warm.


Crunchy Baked Okra



Ingredients

  • 1 c yellow cornmeal
  • 1/2c bread crumbs
  • 1/2 t kosher salt
  • 1/2 t freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 t crushed red pepper
  • 1/2 c buttermilk
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 lb fresh okra, trimmed and cut into 3/4 inch slices

Directions

Preheat oven to 450. Combine dry ingredients in a shallow dish, set aside. Whisk wet ingredients in a large bowl. Add okra to wet ingredients, toss to coat. Let stand minutes. Dredge okra in dry mixture. Place okra in a jelly roll pan, coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with additional salt. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until okra is golden brown and crispy.