Popcorn on the Cob

 

Every year we take Rice Kernel to a nearby farm to pick corn.  Until I had my little fellow, I had no idea you could pop corn directly from the kernel!  This year was Claire’s first trip and our curious little one was all too eager to pull at corn husks herself.  Can’t wait until next year when she can join in the action on ground level.

Ways to Enjoy Popcorn on the Cob….

1. If you don’t mind the mess, keep it on the cob and watch it go in your microwave…

2. For no mess, place cobs into a paper bag. Then place the bag in your microwave for 2-3 minutes and enjoy. (Times may vary.)

3. Another great favorite is to shell the kernels off of the cob and place them into a popcorn popper.

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Golden Potatoes with Caper Brown Butter Bread Crumbs

I am the potato lover in the family.  Reds, russets, yukon golds, purple potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, and, of course, purple yams… I enjoy all edible tubers.  As a child, I delighted in mashing them with chicken or turkey and vegetables, a la Irish colcannon.  Unfortunately, neither my husband nor Rice Kernel seem to share my love of creamy potatoes.  (The little one is getting there.)  So when it comes to serving potatoes, I typically incorporate them into hashes or roast them simply with salt, a generous amount of freshly cracked black pepper, and herbs. 

Looking for a different recipe to prepare some red new potatoes, I came across this preparation.  At first glance, I thought to myself, “Potatoes, bread crumbs, and butter?!  All that starch and fat!”  But I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was intrigued.  Days went by.  I couldn’t shake the idea of dressing creamy potatoes with crisp bread crumbs.  So I rationalized it: I’ll add olive oil and use whole wheat breadcrumbs.  That’s a healthy enough makeover. 

These were a delectable change of pace on our dinner table.  With a flavorful roasted crust, the creamy potatoes gain new heights with the addition of nutty brown butter (about 1/3 the amount called for in the original recipe), olive oil, briny capers, and toasty homemade bread crumbs.  I assure you it is a savory companion to any roasted meat, poultry, or fish.

Golden Potatoes with Caper Brown Butter Bread Crumbs, adapted from Gourmet Magazine

Ingredients

3 lb roasting potatoes or sweet potatoes, peeled, halved, and sliced 1/4 inch thick
1/3 stick unsalted butter or Earth Balance
4 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup drained capers, chopped
1 cup coarse fresh bread crumbs* (I use homemade from a leftover whole wheat baguette)
*Use gluten-free bread if desired.

Note: Original recipe calls for 1 stick of butter (no olive oil) and 2 cups of bread crumbs.  Adjust accordingly to suit your tastes.

Directions

1. Put a 4-sided sheet pan in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 425 degree F. 
2. Cover potatoes with 2 inches water in a 5- to 6-qt pot and add 1 Tbsp salt.  Simmer until almost tender, about 10 minutes. Drain potatoes well.
3. While potatoes simmer, heat butter and oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, swirling pan occasionally, until browned and fragrant, about 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in capers.  Keep warm, covered.
4. Toss potatoes with 3 Tbsp caper butter, then spread out in hot sheet pan.  Stir remaining caper butter into bread crumbs and scatter over potatoes.  Roast, turning potatoes once or twice, until potatoes are tender and crumbs are golden, about 20 minutes.  Season with salt.

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Afghan Yogurt-Spice Marinade

Nearly every time FHE and I came home from college, our parents would get together for a meal at a local Afghani restaurant.  Everyone delighted in the flavorful stews and soups, beautifully grilled meats, and fresh breads.  My husband grew up eating Afghani fare and his face still lights up at the mention of kebabs, sambosas, kadu, and his beloved bowl of aush.   

This is a simple marinde that is perfect for the summer grilling season – or the oven or stovetop, as is the case tonight.   Delicious paired with chicken, beef or seafood, tonight it is used as a marinade for pork chops and served with tumeric-roasted carrots and cauliflower and a side of brown basmati rice.  (I recognize Afghanistan is a Muslim country and the majority do not eat pork, but we have pork chops on hand tonight and the marinade pairs deliciously.)  The only thing to make this more delectable would be some traditional Afghan bread.

Afghan Yogurt-Spiced Marinade, source long forgotten

Ingredients

2 medium onions, peeled
2 cups plain yogurt, any fat content you wish
Dash of Lemon juice or rice vineger
Pepper to taste
2 tsp ground cumin seeds
2 tsp ground coriander seeds
1/2 – 3/4 tsp cayanne pepper or Chili paste
2 tsp Fresh ground ginger
3 Garlic cloves
Chopped cilantro to taste
1/2 tsp turmeric

Directions

1. Simply blend all ingredients in the food processor. 
2. Simmer/cook over medium heat until thickened slightly and flavor is set, about 5-7 minutes.  Season with salt and fresh ground black pepper.  Cool.
3. Marinate chicken, beef, pork, or firm fish (like tuna, swordfish) for up to 2-3 hours (marinate fish for less time, about 1 hour).  You can use whole pieces of meat or cubes to form on a kebab.  Cook as directed. 

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Roasted Carrot Garlic Dip

Rice Kernel is obsessed with dipping foods in sauces, condiments, yogurt, and even water.  (Don’t ask about the latter.  All I can say is, he’s only half me.)  While he hasn’t been keen on my hummus or roasted eggplant and red pepper dips (eating but a few bites unless a crunchy pita or terra chip is involved), I knew a carrot dip would be undeniable.  See, Rice Kernel is a carrot fanatic.  The fact that I prepared the dip without him walking away with too many carrots was remarkable.

Now, before you pour accolades about how loving a mother I am for transforming one of my son’s favorite vegetables, let me say there was a selfish motive as well.  This dip starts with one of my favorite spreads and ingredients – roast garlic.  Fragrant, creamy, and naturally rich, I have been known to eat an entire head of roasted garlic spread on chicken, eggs or crusty bread.  Roasting the carrots adds a sweet element to the dip and a beautiful orange hue (or other colors, if you delve into the exotic varieties).  Rounded out with fruity olive oil and tangy Greek yogurt, this is a nutritious, fiber-filled dip that is sure to add cheer to any summer menu or lunchbox.  Serve with pitas, chips, crudite, or spread on a sandwich for an unexpected flavor burst. 

* Thanks to Jessie at CakeSpy for featuring my Matcha Tiramisu with Adzuki and Mascarpone today.  Perfect way to celebrate our 100th post! *

Roasted Carrot Garlic Dip, from Gourmet Traveller

Ingredients

6 large carrots, coarsely chopped
1 garlic head, skin on but cloves separated
1/4 cup olive oil, divided (you can use less and stream in water to thin dip)
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/2 lemon, finely grated rind and juice

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 
2. Scatter carrot and garlic in a single layer on an oven tray lined with baking paper, drizzle 1/8 cup olive oil, season to taste and roast until golden and very tender (1-1¼ hours), cool to room temperature. 
3. Squeeze garlic cloves from skins (discard skins), then transfer carrots and garlic to a food processor.
4. Add yogurt, lemon rind and juice, season to taste and process until smooth. 
5. Add remaining oil and/or water in a steady stream, process to combine.
6. Carrot dip will keep refrigerated in an airtight container for 2-3 days.

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Coconut Flour Macaroon Pancakes

Golden, tender, and coconut-packed with just a hint of sweetness, these are decadent and delicious.   And much healthier than a similar-tasting coconut macaroon (which I was dreaming about while I was flipping these).  Made with gluten-free coconut flour, these pancakes are high in fiber and packed with protein.  If you haven’t used coconut flour it is an absorbent flour with tremendous thickening power, so you’ll use much less of it than you would all-purpose or whole wheat flour.  Why, you ask?  Good-for-you fiber.  And we can all use more fiber, right?

Well, if you don’t need more fiber, I’ve also included a coconut pancake recipe sans coconut flour.  One of the most tender pancake recipes I’ve come across, these have an intoxicating coconut essence.  And I used light coconut milk.  I can only imagine how dessert-worthy these would be with luscious, coat-the-back-of-your-wooden-spoon, full-fat coconut milk.  Too sinful.

Note:  The pancake batter can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.  

 Coconut Flour Macaroon Pancakes, from Nourishing Days

Ingredients

4 eggs, room temperature
1 cup milk (regular, soy or coconut milk all work)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp honey or agave nectar
1/2 cup coconut flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup sweetened or unsweetened shredded coconut, toasted (optional)
Coconut oil, canola oil, or butter for frying

Directions

1. Preheat griddle over medium-low heat. In a small bowl beat eggs until frothy, about two minutes. Mix in milk, vanilla, and honey or stevia.
2. In a medium-sized bowl combine coconut flour, baking soda, and sea salt and whisk together.  Stir wet mixture into dry until coconut flour is incorporated.  Add shredded coconut.
3. Grease pan with butter or oil.  Turn head to medium or medium-high.  Ladle a few tablespoons of batter into pan for each pancake.  Spread out slightly with the back of a spoon. The pancakes should be 2-3 inches in diameter and fairly thick.  Cook for a few minutes on each side, until the tops dry out slightly and the bottoms start to brown.  Flip and cook an additional 2-3 minutes.
4. Serve hot with your choice of toppings.

Coconut Pancakes, adapted from Cooking Light

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour (or white whole wheat flour or a mix)
1 tbsp honey or agave nectar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup light coconut milk (regular coconut milk would be more decadent)
1 1/2 tbsp canola oil
1 egg
1/4 cup sweetened or unsweetened shredded coconut, toasted (optional)

Directions

1. Whisk together coconut milk, canola oil, and egg.  Combine with dry ingredients.  Cook as usual for pancakes – except that these brown faster than typical pancakes. 

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