Monday, January 20, 2014

channa dal rice ...


-  channa dal rice  -

This is one of my FAVORITE rice dishes ever!!

I truly believe that healthy food does not have to be boring and flavorless . . .
this one definitely proves my point! :)



 I was originally inspired by several different rice recipes . . .
adding a few touches of my own along the way.

This is such an easy recipe . . .
and it has so many of my favorite ingredients.

It is pure, simple, and has a wonderful mix of textures and flavors . . .
with - cashews . . . channa dal . . . jalapenos . . .
and an amazing mix of spices!!


Channa Dal Rice - Ingredient List . . .

2 cups cooked basmati rice
1/4 cup channa dal
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup chopped cashews
2 jalapeƱo peppers minced
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon salt
pinch of saffron
1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
2 dried, or 3 fresh curry leaves, or 4 frozen, chopped into small pieces
2 or 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
lemon zest

The Toppings . . .

fresh green onions
lemon zest
fresh coconut
fresh cilantro



To start with measure out each of the ingredients . . .
and then mix the spices in a bowl and set aside.


Make the rice and allow to cool with the lid off.

Boil some water in a pan for the channa dal . . .
take the pan off the heat, add the channa dal, and soak the channa dal for approx 45 minutes . . .
then drain off the water.

On medium-high to high heat - saute the cashews and channa dal
in a little Olive Oil for about 4 to 5 minutes


add in the peppers for a couple minutes . . .

 
and then add in the spices for a couple minutes more . . .


( be sure to stir consistently while allowing time here and there to brown nicely )


Cool it down for a bit and then add the mixture to the cooked rice
along with the lemon zest . . .


and then mix thoroughly . . .
allowing for the rice to obtain a little color from the spices . . .


put into individual serving bowls . . .
and then top it off with some of your favorites toppings . . .



here are a few of mine . . .


crisp green onions . . . fresh coconut . . . tangy lemon zest. . .
and of course - one of my very favorites . . . cilantro!!
 

Now it is time to enjoy your rice - my very favorite part!



Be sure to make an extra batch for leftovers . . .
if you don't - you will wish you had!! :)

 Hope you try this wonderful little rice dish!
until next time . . .

. . . . . . .

food dreams and a kiss . . .
from my kitchen . . . to yours!!

xoxo - liz


Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Making Marshmallows . . .


The other night . . .
I asked my 9 year old daughter Hattie to pick a recipe or two
from an old Martha Stewart Holiday issue I had sitting on the counter . . .

I thought it would be fun to make some holiday goodies together!


Hattie sat at the table a long time!!

She then came back with this huge list - and I mean HUGE . . .
starting with these very cool marshmallow snowflakes!

Hmmm - I thought . . .
I have never made marshmallows before . . .

  
Let's just say it was an absolute BLAST . . .
from watching the mixture become this white . . . thick . . . sticky foam-like substance . . .

to spreading it in a pan and sprinkling them with powdered sugar . . . just like snow . . .
and then cutting them up into fun holiday shapes . . .

The stars were our favorite!!  
 

 Yes - I truly felt like a kid again . . . laughing and smiling the whole time . . .
playing - like a child!!

I am not really sure who had more fun - Hattie or myself!
I just know that I can't wait to try them in some hot cocoa!!

Are you dreaming of a White Christmas?  I know I am!! 
And - if the snow doesn't come . . .
you will find me making more of these - perhaps in the shape of a snowman! :)

Happy Holidays everyone! Peace and Blessings to all of you!!
xoxo - liz

. . . . .

The Marshmallow Snowflake Recipe
can be found here on the Martha Stewart website!!

Just add the confectioner's sugar for dusting . . .
and pretend it is snowing!!



Sunday, December 15, 2013

Island Style - Spice Rub ...


Introducing our very own . . .
IRONSTONE KITCHEN - Island Style Spice Rub!!!


A perfect Spice Rub for Pulled Pork, Chicken, Brisket, etc...!!

Just rub it on the meat . . . wrap it up in plastic-wrap . . . marinate it overnight . . .
then roast it . . . bbq it . . .

and then - trust me when I say you will absolutely LOVE it!!! :)
 


When my son was young . . .
we used served up these Island Style Pulled Pork sandwiches using this spice rub
in our Bainbridge Island Junior Football Snack Shack . . .

It ended up being a hit that I did not expect.

Since then - people have asked me to make it for them . . .
so here it is . . . finally!!


A 6oz container of Spice Rub goodness . . .
in a wonderful reusable glass container!

Available here in our Online Shop!!


I will also be sharing a few recipes using the spice rub
on the Ironstone Kitchen blog as well!

And - if you are wondering about whats up with that green sauce above??

Well - we served it on our Island Style Pulled Pork Sandwiches 
along with grilled onions . . . jalapeno peppers . . .
cilantro . . . and more . . .

Sooooo Delish!!
 
Can't wait to share it all with you!! :)

 
More on all of this to come . . . along with some great recipes . . .
so stay tuned!!

Peace and Love to all of you!!
xoxo - liz

. . . . .

Island Style Spice Rub - available here!!

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Warm Summer Toast . . .


Sometimes one recipe and a few pictures say it all . . .

this was one of those times!!!


Amazing toasts - from one of my new favorite recipe books . . .

 

What Katie Ate!!


Warm Crusty Bread . . . piled high with goat cheese,
 sauteed mushrooms, thyme, and walnuts . . .
and topped with shaved parmesan, chopped parsley,
cracked pepper, sea salt . . .
 and - a drizzle of olive oil!!

(I have also drizzled a little honey on this one!)

Warm Toast Perfection!!


Thank you Katie for your lovely book . . .
 I am thoroughly enjoying it!!

 

Happy Summer Everyone!!


A kiss from my kitchen to yours . . .
xoxo - liz

Friday, April 5, 2013

my favorite scones . . .



I love scones . . . especially on the weekends!!
Lately I have been making all sorts of scones - some better than others . . .
most of them being too sweet for my liking!

But these . . . well - these are truly my favorite!!

Scones with a little lemon zest and currants!!



And on top of that . . . they are super easy to make!!


komedal road scones lemon zest and currants

I usually make several batches as they freeze really well . . .
and are perfect for the work week!

The ingredients . . .


2 cups flour (I use "Cup 4 Cup" to make them Gluten Free!)

2 Tbls. sugar

1 Tbls. baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

5 Tbls. unsalted butter

1 meyer lemon (both zest and juice)

1/2 cup currants

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup heavy whipping cream (a bit more for brushing)

raw sugar - for sprinkling

komedal road favorite scones

1 - quickly mix the dry ingredients together in a food processor

2 - add butter until blended and just a bit crumbly - place in a separate bowl

3 - add currents, zest and juice from meyer lemon, vanilla, and heavy whipping cream . . .
mix with dry ingredients until just blended

4 - place on lightly floured surface - knead just a bit  . . . until you can form a 1" thick rectangle.

5 - cut into triangles - brush with the extra whipping cream and top with the raw sugar

6 - bake in a 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes
(I usually cover scones with a bit of parchment paper - to keep from over browning the tops)

7 - remove from oven and transfer onto a wire rack to cool

Note:  the scones can be frozen to enjoy at another time . . .
just be sure to reheat them for a couple of minutes in a hot oven to crisp them up.

komedal road lemon zest and current scones

Sometimes I even drizzle with a little lemon glaze . . .
which is so simple to make!!
Just mix together a little lemon zest, lemon juice, and powdered sugar to the consistency of your liking.

komedal road blueberry scones and fruit smoothie

but of course . . .
my kid's favorite scones are the blueberry ones
along with a fruit smoothie of course!

The kids are always the ones who make the smoothies in our house . . .
and I have to say - they are getting pretty good at it!! :)

Happy Weekend Everyone!!

Peace and Love to all of you!!
xoxo - liz

. . .


all photos - liz le dorze


Saturday, March 2, 2013

strawberry tarts . . .




Would you like a bite . . .
of one of these sweet little tarts?

ironstone kitchen - raspberry tart with fork

I thought you might . . . : )

ironstone kitchen - raspberry tarts

such a special way to end an evening meal . . .
by adding a little bit of summer sunshine - regardless of the season!

Well - they are really pretty easy to make . . .
but I will admit to you that  the crusts do take a little bit of time.
This wonderful recipe is adapted from . . . Tarts (by Maxine Clark)

We will start off by making a simple Pate Brisee crust . . .
a simple . . . unsweetened shortcrust . . .
which is strong - and can easily support the fresh berries!

ironstone kitchen - pate brisee

Simple ingredients are used to make the tart shells . . .
flour, salt, unsalted butter, egg yolks, and cold water . . .
it is as simple as that!

ironstone kitchen - pate brisee - sifting flour

sift the flour and salt together - and set aside . . .
then in a food processor . . . mix together the butter and egg . . .
once mixed together - add the ice cold water
and blend again until smooth.

ironstone kitchen - pate brisee - food processor

add the flour/salt mixture to the butter mixture . . .
and mix until it is barely blended . . . and makes a crumbly mixture as shown.

ironstone kitchen - pate brisee crumbles

On a lightly floured surface . . .
knead the dough gently and then roll it into a ball.
Flatten it out and wrap it up in plastic wrap . . .
and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator and bring it back to room temperature . . .
roll out dough to about 1/8" thick or less . . . then line the little tartlette pans.
(be sure to press the dough evenly into the fluted sides)
Prick with a fork and return to the fridge for about 10 minutes.

ironstone kitchen - pate brisee - tart shells

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees . . .

Once at temperature . . .
bake the tart shells by placing parchment paper on top of the crusts . . .
and adding baking beans / pie weights on top of the parchment paper.
Bake for about about 5 to 7 minutes
.
Remove from oven . . .
remove parchment paper and baking beans / pie weights.
Return to the oven and cook for approximately 5 more minutes.

Glaze the tart crusts with egg to seal them . . .
 and return to oven for 5 to 7 minutes more . . .
or until they are a BEAUTIFUL golden brown!
(be sure that the egg has been cooked!)

Let cool.

ironstone kitchen - pate brisee - tart shells - egg wash

and voila - you have some beautiful tart shells . . .

ironstone kitchen - pate brisee - baked tart shells

beautiful in color . . . light and crispy . . .

ironstone kitchen - pate brisee - tart shells on cooling rack

and ready to be filled!!

ironstone kitchen - pate brisee - baked tart shells on cooling rack

Now it is time to make the filling and glaze for the berries . . .

ironstone kitchen - raspberry tart filling ingredients

you will need some beautiful raspberries . . . some creme fraiche. . . some heavy whipping cream,
a bit of Framboise (a raspberry malt type beer) . . . some homemade raspberry jam . . .
and also some homemade berry jelly for the berry glaze.

ironstone kitchen - raspberry tarts - filling ingredients

First of all - you will need to strain the jam to remove the seeds . . .
then place the jam in a separate bowl . . .

ironstone kitchen - straining jam

add the heavy whipping cream, the cream fraiche . . . and the Framboise to the strained jam . . .
and whip until beautiful peaks form
(be careful not to over whip!!)
Refrigerate until the berries are ready to go!

Warm up the berry jelly on the stove . . .
and gently coat the berries in a large bowl.
Refrigeratethe berries until cooled.

Now it is time for the fun part . . .
time to fill the tart shells with the filling . . .
and top with those beautiful glazed berries . . .
These raspberry tarts need to be served as soon as possible after they are made!!

ironstone kitchen - raspberries and raspberry filling into tart shells

This is one of those recipes that will look absolutely beautiful . . .
just like in these pictures - seriously!!

ironstone kitchen - pretty raspberry tarts

but even more importantly . . .

ironstone kitchen - raspberry tarts - yum

these little raspberry tarts are soooo fresh and delicious . . .
just like a sweet taste of sunshine on a summer day!!

ironstone kitchen - delicious raspberry tarts

Mmmm . . . Mmmm . . .

ironstone kitchen - raspberry tart - fork

A few notes and tips about this recipe . . .

*only use homemade jam and jelly for this recipe . . .
I made it both ways . . . and it truly does make a difference!!!

**The tart shells can be made ahead of time . . .
but the tart is best when assembled at the last minute.
(if you make them ahead of time - be sure to crisp them up for a few minutes in a hot oven!)

*** I made this Gluten Free by using Williams Sonoma's "Cup - 4 - Cup" Flour . . .
and by excluding the Framboise as it is malt based.
(I do believe that a little fruit liqueur could be used in place of the Framboise . . .
one that is made without malt of course)

Hope you will try these sweet treats - I think you will love them!!
A Kiss from my kitchen to yours . . .
Peace and Love to all of you!!
xoxo – liz

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Here is the ingredient list . . .

The pate brisee crust . . .
2 cups all-purpose flour (or Williams Sonoma "Cup 4 Cup" flour)
1 teaspoon salt
9 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 extra large egg yolk
2 1/2 to 3 tablespoons ice water

The filling . . .
2-3 tablespoons homemade raspberry jam
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1 1/4 cups creme fraiche
2 tablespoons Framboise

The berries . . .
5 cups fresh raspberries
1 1/4 cups berry jelly
. . .


all photos / liz le dorze


Sunday, October 28, 2012

autumn quesadilla . . . .


caramelized mushrooms and onions . . .
fresh sauteed asparagus . . . and a bit of parsley . . .
a little "Guinness" beer to deglaze the pan . . .
mix in a handful of our local "Beechers" flagship cheese - which has a robust, nutty flavor . . .
and add a bit of tangy goat cheese . . .

fold it all up in a fresh locally made corn tortilla . . .

and you have a very tasty . . .

Autumn Quesadilla!!

 
YES - life just got a little better!!  :)

. . . . . . .

 The inspiration for this dish came from a recent trip I took to LA 
with my best bud Maresa!  She and I both like good food . . .
with fresh ingredients and amazing flavor!!

One of our favorites spots that we always like to stop by is . . .
"Joan's on Third"!!

One of the things we ordered this time was . . .
a wonderful and mild mushroom, mozzerella and goat cheese quesadilla.
We also ordered some curried chickpeas that were to die for!!

Maresa and I enjoyed every minute of it . . .
sitting around watching celebrities stopping by, talking about how amazing the food was . . . and wishing there was something similar here in Seattle!

A lunch at "Joan's on Third" is always a memorable one . . .
and this time - I just couldn't get this quesadilla out of my mind!

So - I bought some fresh local mushrooms . . . and some tangy goat cheese . . .
as well as some local "Beechers" flagship cheese (as I wanted to give it a more hardy flavor). 
I also looked around the internet and found similar recipes adding spinach, asparagus, fresh herbs, etc.

Well - I looked in the fridge and found an onion, some fresh asparagus and some parsley - a combination that sounded perfect as far as I was concerned.  
I also wanted to pair it up with a plum chutney that my friend Rick gave me recently . . .
and I thought this combination might just be perfect.

One recipe I found said to deglaze the pan with some white wine which does sound wonderful . . .
but in this case I wanted it to be a bit more earthy . . .
My dad happened to be visiting and he always loves a good dark Guiness beer . . .
and since it is still October - I thought this made a much better choice.  :)

Well - we made a bunch of these up . . .
and it will now be on our favorite recipe list - forever!!

These are Perfect for Football Sundays . . . or even Football Mondays!!


 I am sure you all know how to make quesadillas . . . 
but - I am adding these photos to show you how quick and easy it really is!!


caramelize onions and mushrooms in some butter . . .


add some sliced asparagus . . . cook for a bit longer . . .
throw in a bit of chopped up parsley . . .
then deglaze the pan with a bit of "Guinness" beer (or a dark beer of your choice) . . .
cook until the asparagus is cooked - yet still has a snap to it . . .
and the alcohol from the beer has been cooked down!


put a tortilla in a heated pan . . . warm it up and flip it once . . .
add the "Beechers" cheese first and a bit of goat cheese . . .
and then add the mushroom-onion-asparagus mixture . . .


top with a little more goat cheese . . . and the "Beechers" on top . . .


you can now top it with another tortilla . . .
 or . . .


in this case . . . I just fold it over for a easy hand-held treat.
This is definitely my preferred way to make these - as you don't have to cut them up
and the presentation is already perfect!!

And there you have it . . . one of the best little recipes I have made in a very long time!
I guess I should go to LA a little more often!!  Maresa??? :)


And - if you want to add an even more complex flavor to this . . . 
just knock on my friend Rick's door for a bit of his amazing plum chutney . . . 
the perfect finishing touch to this little meal!!

Thank you again Rick!! :)


Well . . . I hope that you are now inspired as well!! 

Fall is here . . . Football season is here . . .
and my Favorite recipes of the season are also here . . .
right here on this little blog of mine.  :)

I hope you will join me from time to time and see what we are up to!!!


now for another one of these yummers . . .

yes I know, I know - I got a little carried away with the cheese on this one . . .
I guess salad is definitely on the menu for tomorrow . . . :)

until next time . . .

. . . . . . .

food dreams and a kiss . . .
from my kitchen . . . to yours!!

xoxo - liz