black bean burgers are my shit.

apparently, i'm not alone in feeling that. :D

(found this link via blogs of note...)

coconut forbidden rice.

this is my own variation on the recipe for purple jasmine coconut rice which i posted a few days ago, from 101 cookbooks. this was a complete stab in the dark, as i (a) didn't want cashews or shallots, & (b) had never cooked w/ forbidden rice ever in my life . . . i used heidi's measurements for the rice, coconut milk, water & salt.

2 cups forbidden (aka black) rice
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (i use the foco brand, which is hella cheap & thick as thick can be -- do NOT use lite. use regular, whichever brand. & please for the love of pete, don't use coconut creme.)
1 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
1 large clove of garlic, crushed (optional)

soak the rice in cold water for 45 minutes to an hour in the pot you'll be using to cook it. once the rice is finished soaking, drain & rinse it twice. add to the pot the water, sea salt & coconut milk. stir the mixture. place the pot over high heat, uncovered. bring rice to a boil, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. lower the flame to a low simmer. cook for about 20 minutes without stirring the rice or removing the lid. remove from heat. allow the rice to sit for 20 minutes (still covered). fluff the rice with a fork & serve with the garnish of your choice.

this was a really easy recipe.
i ended up adding about a half cup more coconut milk once i'd finished though; the taste wasn't quite right to me.

next time i'll try some shredded ginger . . .

are you lactose intolerant?

tryna lay off the cow juice?
are you looking for something more nutritive than regular old elbow macaroni?
do you love macaroni & cheese, but find it to be the kind of thing that'll ruin your insides as well as put you to sleep?

well, look no further. heidi swanson is looking out! i'm posting the link but will also come back w/ my own report on said recipe, along with any possible ingredient substitutions.

if any of you tries it first, please give me a shout & lemme know how it went. thanks!

recipe links!

so, i was snooping around/ drooling over heidi swanson's 101 cookbooks site (see the links) & discovered something that i think might change my life if i prepare it: purple jasmine coconut rice. yes, lord! i can't wait to find some rice & cook it. yay!

then i found a recipe for some meatless 'burgers' on starchefs.com, thanks to a random link on mighty foods (again, see the links).

thanks to the message boards on vegiac.com, there's an oatmeal cookie that i can eat without feeling all extra crazy. (i'm gonna get tested for celiac mid august so this site has been a BIG help as of late)

happy cooking!

a friendly reminder:

if your e-mail client automatically adds a signature, please be mindful that it WILL post to the blog when you send a recipe or helpful hint. also, i changed the remote posting e-mail address, so if you've been trying to post using the old one, see the blurb at the bottom for the new address. thanks!

cool website

spices!

hot!!! beans & rice

with a few modifications, this can evolve into a soup or chili.


ingredients:

1 cup of white or brown rice (i use trader joe's organic jasmine or brown rice, as boil in bag rice doesn't come out right)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 tablespoons sriracha rooster sauce (more or less per your taste)
1 tablespoon cilantro (totally optional. bill, i know you hate it)
1 clove of garlic, pressed
1/2 red or white onion, chopped finely
1/2 green or red bell pepper, diced
1 can of black beans, mostly drained (again, i use trader joe's but goya or la fe or whatever is fine if that's what you like)
1 teaspoon of olive or canola oil

follow cooking instructions for the rice.
add to the rice as it simmers the garlic, tomato paste, rooster sauce, cilantro, & any other seasonings you wish.
in a separate pan, saute the onions and peppers.
when the rice is finished cooking, add the beans & sauteed veggies.

serve as a side dish.

** you can also 'bake' the beans & rice to dry the dish out. about 20 or so minutes at 350 depending on how dry you like yours.

eat up!

fried fish

no mods or swipes. i type recipes i want to recall if dementia ever sets in, in little notepad files.
here's one i ran across searching for something to send you. this is just what i usually do, when i fry fish.
nothing fancy. nothing veggie. nothing especially healthy. but...it's good.
make it every once. you won't feel bad, unless you hate fish.

Fried Fish

Ingredients:
1. Whiting,Catfish, etc.
(Any firm white fish filet or whole small fish is fine, but they MUST be gutted and scaled. Preferrably, beheaded. What up, Porgies!)
2. Cooking Oil
3. Seasonings (see below)
4. Cornmeal/Flour Coating (see below)


Step 1:
Heat Oil
+ or - 1/2 cup cooking oil (your choice. peanut/veg. based oils are cool)
Enough for a shallow fry if u are cooking in a pan.
If you are cooking in a pot or fryer, you can use more oil, but make sure it is not excessive.
Oil should be boiling w/o much drop in temperature during cook time.


Step 2:
Check Fish
Have at least 3 - 6 pieces
Fish should be cleaned and deboned as much as possible.
Smell fish before cooking. If it smells, it is bad and should not be eaten.
Get new fish.
If it's good, rinse fish, cover, and set aside in the fridge.


Step 3:
Mix Coating

2 cups store bought fish fry mix

or

1 cup flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup breadcrumbs (optional. your choice. some people like panko. others like cracker crumbs. i don't care.)
2 tsp tony cachere's creole seasoning (or seasoning salt of your choice)
2 tsp old bay seasoning
1 tsp salt-free granulated garlic
1/2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried parsley
1/8 tsp cayenne (optional. this is hot. don't be an ass and overdo it or even use it unless you know you can take it.)

Place all of these ingredients in a sturdy ziploc or paper bag. Close bag. Shake to mix, and set aside.
You will have more than enough coating for the frying you are doing.
Just label the bag and put it in the freezer till you need it again.


Step 4:
Mix seasoning for fish.
Fish should be seasoned to taste, so eyeball it.

garlic
pepper
salt (you can use a season salt if you want)
lemon juice

Season meat on all sides.
Be careful not to overseason, because there is seasoning in the coating.
The fish should not be caked with spices.


Step 5:
The Fry

Place pieces of fish in coating bag 1-2 at a time, close bag, shake well.
Remove fish, holding over bag to shake off excess.
Place fish into hot oil carefully, and manage with a pair of tongs or similar utensil.
If fish happens to break, it's no big deal.
Let it finish cooking. BUT PLEASE BE SURE TO WATCH THE STOVE!
You cannot fry and multi-task. You *really* can't, if you don't have fire insurance.

Once fish floats to top of oil, it is done in a large pot or deep fryer.
If you're cooking in a pan, you can usually tell it's ready once both sides are golden brown.
5-10 mins on both sides over a medium flame should do well.
Fish should flake when tested w/ a fork. Meat should not be translucent.
If it is, it is not done. Don't be an ass and give yourself food poisoning.
You can finish it off back in the oil, or in the oven. Either way, it'll stay crispy.
No more tears.

Place fish on flat paper bag covered with paper towels or other absorbent surface.
Towels, newspaper, pampers. whatever.
Fish should be allowed to cool and drain for at least 10 minutes.

Serve hot with any condiments and sides you enjoy.
Hello, hot sauce!


thanks, myrtle, for the recipe!

the pb & jam smoothie

this smoothie could be a dessert, uber-sweet breakfast, afternoon snack, etc. it can be altered to satisfy most dietary restrictions.


3 bananas, medium sized (ripeness to your liking)
4 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
2 tablespoons honey
about 2.5 cups of vanilla almond, soy, or rice milk
1 cup frozen (or fresh) strawberries
blend together honey, milk, & bananas until smooth.
add peanut butter and blend until almost whipped.
while the mixture is blending, add strawberries.

serve chilled.
add more milk or ice for a thinner smoothie.

enjoy,

lenée

portabellas!!

portabella mushroom caps, sliced
approx. 4tbs bragg's liquid aminos or soy sauce
approx 4tbs vegetable broth
parsley
oregano
sage
a pinch of spike natural seasoning
1-2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 medium sized onion or one small onion
olive oil
salt (to taste--between the spike & veggie broth you probably won't need it)
blk or cayenne pepper (to taste)

~arrange mushrooms in a single layer in a pie or casserole pan lightly
greased with olive oil
~add seasonings, let sit for 10-15 minutes or up to overnight
~place in broiler about 5 minutes or until mushrooms shrivel a bit & onions
are caramelized

enjoy with pasta, on sandwiches, as a "beefy" main dish, etc.

**if you want "steak", leave the caps whole (or only cut in 1/2), skip the
veggie broth and bragg's and use A-1 or another steak sauce as a marinade w/
the other seasonings.

thanks to omi for posting this.