Author: Twin Cities Herbs

Gourmet kitchari (moong dal)

I don’t know if the ground hog’s prediction is right or wrong but it is still cold here. So let’s go to a more exotic place like India and get a popular dish called kitchari. No worries, no exotic foods will be used. You should be able to find all the ingredients here in the US. If your grocery store does not have them, you can try any Indian or Asian store but really all these ingredients are common in the US. I serve the dish with whatever vegetables I can get in the store, spinach, kale, cauliflower etc.

Kitchari is a traditional nourishing soup from India that is made with mung beans and rice infused with some amazing Indian spices. It is great when you want something grounding and warming. It is often consumed during Ayurvedic cleanses or as a light meal to support digestion and overall well-being.

This dish is more of a gourmet version of the simple kitchari with the addition of mustard seed, cinnamon, cardamom and chili pepper to suit our winter needs. You can also add your favorite vegetarian dishes to make it more complete and fun. I used spinach, paneer, fried mushrooms and rice.

RECIPE

Ingredients

  • 1 onion
  • 1 cup of uncooked mung beans
  • oil (I used home made ghee. )
  • 1 Tbsp fresh ginger, minced
  • 10 – 15 pieces mustard seeds
  • seeds of 3 green cardamom pods (discard green shell)
  • 1 tomato, chopped (canned is fine)
  • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1 stick cinnamon
  • 1 cup stock or water (more if you want a soup)
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • yogurt
  • cilantro
  • lime or lemon

Direction

  • Clean and soak mung beans overnight but at least for 2 hours. Remove soaking liquid, discard. Set aside the beans.
  • Making the gravy. Saute the onion on medium high heat for 5- 10 minutes. When you smell the nice aroma of the onion, add the ginger, cardamom seeds, mustard seeds and cumin seeds, Stir for about 5 minutes.
  • Add the powders (turmeric, cumin, coriander) and garlic, stir for 1 minute. Add cold stock, stir.
  • Add 1 chopped tomato and cook for about 5-10 minutes until tomato becomes saucy.
  • Add mung beans prepared earlier. Bring to a boil, turn down heat and cook for 30 minutes.
  • Add cinnamon stick in the last 10 minutes.
  • When done, add chili pepper, salt and pepper to taste.
  • Serve warm with rice, yogurt, cilantro and lemon.
  • I also used paneer with spinach stew and fried mushrooms.

enjoy!

chopped chili pepper

Recipe, photo and text by twincitiesherbs.com.

Sauerkraut dish with kielbasa

This delicious dish is very easy to make. I probably should have called it the bachelor/bachelorette sauerkraut dish … but it is not just for the bachelors/bachelorettes, it is the perfect dish whenever you want to make something quick but tasty and healthy. Of course, you can never go wrong with sauerkraut, it is so healthy.

It is a super easy recipe but I would like to note a few things. The onion has to be finally chopped and the dish needs to be cooked well otherwise it will have a raw taste.

There are two types of sauerkraut. One is preserved with vinegar and the other is processed with salt. I prefer the salted version as it is less acidic and is better for health. This version acts as a probiotic and supports gut health and digestive functions. Of course, the vinegar version would be fine to use, too.

RECIPE

Serves 6-8 people

Ingredients

  • 1 onion, finally chopped
  • oil (sunflower, lard)
  • 4 large slices of bacon, chopped into small pieces (optional)
  • 1 tsp sweet Hungarian paprika
  • 2 cup cold meat stock
  • 1 tsp caraway seeds
  • 1/2 tsp mustard
  • couple of cloves garlic, crushed
  • 2 lbs of sauerkraut, rinsed
  • few springs of thyme or 1 tsp thyme
  • red chili pepper (optional)
  • 1 lb of kielbasa or sausage
  • sour cream to serve
  • rice or potatoes to serve
  • bread
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  • Chop the onions making sure they are finally chopped. Also chop the bacon. Sauté onions in some oil for about 5 minutes on medium high heat. Add the bacon (if using) and continue sautéing for another 5 minutes.
  • Add the paprika and garlic for 1 minute. Stir. Add the cold stock, stir.
  • Rinse sauerkraut with water, strain.
  • Add the sauerkraut, mustard, red chili pepper (optional) and caraway seeds. You can add the meat too. Stir. If the meat is already cooked, you do not have to add it at this point. Although I personally like it if any meat is cooked in the dish regardless whether it is precooked or not. If you don’t include it at this step, just add it at the end.
  • Cook for 50 – 60 minutes until the sauerkraut is well cooked.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Serve with sour cream and your choice of bread, potatoes or rice.

enjoy!

Ghee

Every time I make ghee I wonder how it was invented. Perhaps someone left some butter cooking on the stove by mistake … Ghee is not so well known in our culture but is widely used in many countries especially in India. It is called drawn oil in English and is served with steamed lobster and crabs in the United States. Chefs like to use it because it has a high boiling point so it does not burn easily. In fact, ghee is one the best cooking oils. In addition to its convenience, people in India use it for its numerous health benefits and is considered to be a sacred food.

What is ghee? Ghee is basically butter with the milk solids removed resulting in clarified butter. It is made by gently boiling butter and removing the separated milk solids that are formed during the process. Ayurveda, the ancient Vedic Natural Medicine of India, believes that the milk solids are toxic and should be discarded. In the absence of the milk solids, butter is more suitable for cooking at higher temperatures and is better for health.

So why should one make ghee?

One, it is cheaper. If you make it yourself, it is half the cost of the store bought ones or might be even less. Also, I like to know what is in my ghee. The store bought ones are definitely lesser quality even when you buy the organic ones. When you make your own, you have control over what butter is used. After all, ghee is all about being a healthy alternative to butter. And it is easy to make for sure. I just cook it on one of the back burners during breakfast or while I’m making dinner.

What do you need to make ghee?

You will need a pot with a heavy bottom to prevent butter from burning. In addition, you will need a strainer and a cheese cloth that will help you remove the unwanted protein. You will also need jars to store ghee. 1 lb of butter yields 1/2 quart of ghee. Try to use a jar with a wider mouth that is not too deep.

How can you use ghee for?

Of course, you can use it to make Indian dishes as they generally call for ghee. It can also be used any time when the recipe calls for butter. I like to use it for baking pancakes. It is great if you are like me and prefer your pancakes to have that nice buttery flavor and you don’t want to worry about burning the butter. In addition, as I have mentioned before, it is used as a dipping sauce for steamed lobster and crabs. Feel free to experiment and include it in your cooking any time.

So let’s look at all those claims, I’ll try not to be too long. Ghee is considered to be a big health remedy in Natural Medicine. In Ayurveda, it is considered to be pitta and vatta pacifying which means it is good for hot conditions like inflammation and also dryness when nourishment is needed in the body. It is great for the entire body from the joints, tissues, digestion to the nervous system and many more. In addition, it is especially a great remedy for longevity.

It is great for digestion. The big issue with fats is that they can slow down digestion. Well, ghee actually helps this process as it increases the digestive fire and enhances absorption and assimilation so it can even be used by kapha type people. Kapha type people are individuals whose digestion tends to slow down by oils and they can gain weight easily. These people are advised to use ghee as an oil in moderation -of course. It keeps the gastrointestinal tracts healthy, thereby helping digestion. Also, people with dairy allergy can often tolerate ghee without problems.

RECIPE

Ingredients

1 lb of organic unsalted butter (possibly grass fed)

Preparation

  • In a medium sized pot with a heavy bottom, start melting butter at medium high heat. Set your burner to 2-3 on your stove but try to find the appropriate temperature. Make sure the butter does not burn. After the melted butter starts bubbling, cook it for another 10 minutes on medium low heat. It will start turning a lovely golden color with whitish particles that kind of look like popcorn.
  • Do not cover the pot because the liquids need to evaporate from the butter.
  • The butter will foam and sputter for a while and then start quieting down. You can stir the mixture but I haven’t seen any difference when I don’t. When done, turn the heat off. I let the mixture cool for 5- 10 minutes and strain off the solids. When you let it sit, the solids will settle on the bottom of the pot.
  • Line a fine strainer with a double layer cheese cloth and set them over a bowl. Pour the melted butter through the cheese cloth into this bowl. Discard the separated solids. Pour the clarified butter into the jar.
  • Store in a cool, dark space. It can keep for up to one year.

Source

Vasant Lad: The Complte Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies

Soup with sauerkraut, potatoes and beans (Jota)

In the summer when we were hiking in the Julian Alps in Slovenia, we found a quaint little restaurant that served simple and very tasty dishes. When we went hiking, we treated ourselves to a delicious lunch every time. Here, I found this interesting soup with sauerkraut, potatoes and beans.

Jota, the Slovenian soup with sauerkraut, potatoes and beans is just a simple dish that can warm your body and soul on a cold winter night or a cool, rainy day in the mountains in the summer.

RECIPE

Ingredients

  • oil
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 2 strips of bacon
  • 2 cloves of garlic clove, crushed
  • 1 tsp of sweet paprika powder (optional)
  • 1 tsp caraway seeds, 2 bay leaves, 1 Tbsp black peppercorns (optional)
  • 2 cups of uncooked kidney beans or 30 oz canned kidney beans
  • meat stock
  • 1 fresh tomato, diced or canned
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 pound potatoes (diced)
  • 1 pound sauerkraut (drained and rinsed)
  • 1 heaping Tbsp of flour
  • sour cream
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • eggs or sausage
twincitiesherbs.com

Method

  • Clean and soak the beans overnight or for at least 8 hours. Rinse soaking water off. Add fresh cold filtered water, bayleaves and cook the beans for 1.5 hour or until soft but not mushy. Set aside.
  • In a large pot, sauté onion and bacon for 10 minutes. Add paprika, stir and add garlic, stir. Add a tomatoes, tomato paste, stir and cook for 10 minutes. Drain and rinse sauerkraut. Add potatoes, sauerkraut, caraway seeds, bay leaves, pork and stock. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, for at least 30 minutes or until potatoes and sauerkraut are very tender and the mixture is thick.
  • At the end, in a small bowl put 1 Tbsp of flour, mix it with some cooking liquid until smooth. Add into soup and cook for 5- 10 minutes.
  • If you like your soup to have a thicker consistency, you can take out the potatoes and put them in a blender with some of the cooking liquid.
  • Add the cooked beans with some of its liquid and warm up the pot so the beans are warm. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Serve with bread, sour cream, eggs/sausage.
  • This can be served right away but will taste better the next day or even just a few days later.
The menu

enjoy!

Photos and text by twincitiesherbs.

Beet salad with caraway seeds

This is a simple tasty salad that is great for the winter. I just cook the beets and then use vinegar, oil, caraway seeds and salt to prepare the salad. I like to make a big jar full and keep it in refrigerator, it will keep for at least a month. You can serve it as a side dish.

For me, beets are the perfect plant to transition from the the winter into spring. Yes! Spring will come sooner or later, OK most likely later in the Midwest …

Beets are grounding, nourishing, and detoxifying. These qualities make them the perfect vegetable for this time of the year, for both winter and spring. They are sweet and rich in nutrients with important vitamins and minerals. They nourish and detoxify the liver, getting the body ready for the spring.

I used only one spice, caraway seeds. The bitter and aromatic caraway seeds have been around for a long time. They are used in many European countries to enhance the flavor of our food. It is one of the herbs that the ancient Greek doctors added to cooking for its health benefits. It is especially beneficial for digestion. I often take caraway seeds for granted but it is such a neat little herb that needs a little more attention. Please check this website for more info on caraway seeds .

RECIPE

Ingredients

  • 4 medium sized beets (about 1 lb)
  • 1 Tbsp caraway seeds
  • 1/8 cup vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp vegetable oil (I used sunflower oil)
  • 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
  • black pepper, to taste

Preparation

  • Cook beets for 1 hour until soft but not mushy. I like to put them on a steamer.
  • When done take the peel off with a sharper small knife. Slice or shred the beets thin. You can do this with a knife or a slicer.
  • Make the dressing. Put 1/8 cup of vinegar in 1 cup cup. Add enough water so the cup is full so you are adding 7/8th of a cup of water. Pour it in a medium sized bowl.
  • Add sliced cooked beets, caraway seeds, salt and oil. Mix.
  • Grind some black pepper on the salad if you wish. Mix.
  • Serve at room temperature on the side of any dish. You can add sautéed beet tops.

enjoy!

Source

Photos, recipe and text by twincitiesherbs.

White black bean chili soup

-can be vegetarian

This tasty soup is a fun twist to the regular chili soup. The difference is that the beef is replaced with turkey or chicken and the chili beans are replaced with white or black beans but otherwise it is very similar to the well known beef chili soup. Of course, you can add all your favorite ingredients that you would otherwise add to a chili soup.

The biggest change in the recipe is the meat. Many people prefer the lighter turkey or chicken meat. The chicken or turkey is very nice here, the thigh gives more flavor and is cheaper but the breast would work well too.

Perhaps it would be more accurate to call this soup black and white chili soup. The white makes sense with the white meat but I used black beans instead of white beans because I think it has more flavor. Of course, you can use either.

I decided to post this recipe now because beans especially black beans are great in the winter. The warming black beans have a sweet flavor and nourish the kidneys. They are antibacterial, anti-parasitic, detoxifying and have high levels of disease fighting antioxidants, numerous vitamins and minerals, protein and fiber. In addition, it has heart, skin protecting and anti-cancer properties. It also improves digestion and is great for overall health. It is native to the Americas and have been used for thousands of years. No wonder the natives ate it with almost every meal.

I like to make up my own chili spice, please follow the recipe below or buy it in a store already made.

You can experiment with the vegetables of course, I added corn, carrots and green beans. In the summer, I like to add zucchini too. But please feel free to add whatever you would like.

Vegetarian readers might be wondering if this soup could be made vegetarian. The answer is yes! – you can take out the meat and just use vegetarian stock and I also added eggs. I have made it without meat, it is tasty.

Surprise your guests at a party or just treat yourself. Honestly, we believe that this version is even tastier than the original soup.

RECIPE

Ingredients

  • 1 large onion
  • vegetable oil
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 3 medium sized carrots, sliced
  • 2 strips of bacon (optional)
  • 1 lb ground chicken or turkey thigh or breast
  • 2 large tomatoes or 29 oz canned chopped tomatoes
  • 5 tsp of chili seasoning (please see recipe below)
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 8 cups chicken stock
  • 4 oz corn (frozen)
  • 8 oz vegetables. I used green beans. Also zucchini would be fine
  • 2 cups of uncooked black beans or 28 oz of canned beans
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • yellow cheddar cheese
  • chips
  • sour cream
  • cilantro

Chili seasoning ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp (3 tsp) chili powder
  • 2 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

Preparation

  • Wash and soak beans in cold water for 8 hours or overnight. Pour off the liquid and wash well. Add cold filtered water and cook for 2 hours or until soft but not falling apart. Omit if using canned beans. The home-made beans are well worth the extra effort though, they taste so much better.
  • Make the stock. Omit if using ready made stock.
  • Heat oil in a large pot with a large surface area. Sauté the chopped onion for 5 minutes. Mix. Add the celery. Sauté for 10 more minutes.
  • Render the bacon.
  • Add the chili seasoning and the crushed garlic cloves for 1 minute. Stir.
  • Quickly add the tomatoes, stir. Cook for about 10 minutes or until the tomatoes make a nice sauce.
  • Add the carrots, vegetables and jalapeño pepper. Add enough stock so the liquid covers the soup well. Cook for 1 hour or until the carrots are soft.
  • Add the black beans with its liquid and more stock if needed to cover everything.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Serve hot with sour cream, chips, cilantro.

enjoy!

Text and photo by Twinctiesherbs.

Roasted potatoes with rosemary

My recipe today is potatoes with rosemary … yes that is it, just the two main ingredients plus the garlic, oregano and the salt. They should complement many winter meat or vegetarian dishes easily. I like using them in cooking because they both taste great and are good for digestion. I get very excited about rosemary in general as it has such rich and colorful history steeped in the culinary world, legends and folklore.

Rosemary is such a culinary delight, a popular plant in the kitchen especially during the colder months. Chefs use it in a wide variety of dishes from soups, bean dishes to meats particularly for lamb and chicken. It is not just used for enhancing the flavor of a dish but it also helps digestion. Also, it can preserve food, an important consideration in the old days before refrigerators were invented so I can imagine that rosemary was essential in a Medieval kitchen…

The aromatic rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) has been around for thousands of years. It is native to the Mediterranean region. Its Latin name is derived from the words ‘ros’ which means dew, and ‘marinus’ that means sea and as its name suggest it can in fact survive on the spray of the sea air. Persian doctors valued it as one of their best remedies. It has also been recognized as a powerful medicine in the Mediterranean countries. Rosemary along with the other digestive remedies of the region like thyme, oregano, fennel have been used in the culinary world for their medicinal values. Earlier, the ancient doctors started using them in dishes so people could get their benefits on a daily basis. So yes we can thank these wise doctors for all these fabulous dishes.

Ancient cultures thought of rosemary as a protective plant that could ward off evil. If we look at all the benefits that rosemary has, this statement would become more clear and less mysterious. Its health benefits come from its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-cancer abilities. It is also a restoring remedy as it can improve heart, liver, gallbladder, brain and kidney functions, circulation, digestion and the nervous system. It brings warmth to a cold, debilitated body. In the 13th century, Queen Elizabeth of Hungary claimed that rosemary wine was the secret to her long life and cured her paralyzed legs.

I’m now sitting here at my desk with a bunch of rosemary and sniffing its aromatic oils…

RECIPE

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs of red potatoes
  • 2 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 garlic cloves (crushed)
  • leaves of 4 stalks of fresh rosemary or 2 tsp of dried rosemary
  • 1/4 cup of oil

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 475 F.
  • Soak the potatoes in cold water so the dirt can come off easily. I like to leave the peel on but if you prefer, you can peel the potatoes without soaking. If using fresh, take the rosemary springs and pull the rosemary leaves back on the vine to get the leaves off. Cut the potatoes into cubes (halves and quarters) and put them in a larger bowl with the oil, crushed garlic, oregano, salt and the rosemary. Toss until the potatoes are well coated.
  • Oil a baking sheet and spread the potatoes on it.
  • Bake in a preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until potatoes are golden and tender. Flip the potatoes twice during baking to ensure even browning.
  • Serve warm, preferably the same day.
  • enjoy!

Sources

Matthew Wood: Earthwise

Photo, recipe, text by twincities.herbs.com

Stuffed turnip (Фаршированная репа)

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Hope you all had a lovely Holiday and got to eat lots of delicious food. Now I feel that it would be nice to eat something refreshing, more cleansing though … and turnip is a tasty vegetable that could be used. I always think of the Russian folk tale, The Giant Turnip when I hear the name, turnip. In fact, turnip is an important staple in the Northern countries like Russia. So let’s go to Russia and get their famous recipe for stuffed turnip.

This is a very simple dish at its best. The main ingredients are the nutty buckwheat, the earthy mushrooms and the pungent turnips that mainly create this special dish. There are no exotic ingredients or spices. Honestly, I only used thyme, salt and pepper to flavor.

I got this recipe from a website called http://www.Russianrecipebook.com but I made some minor changes. I cooked the buckwheat in stock instead of just water. In addition, when cooking, you need to be careful with the turnips as they cook fast. They need to be boiled for only about 10-12 minutes to get the right consistency. Otherwise, it is a very easy and quick recipe. This dish is more like the everyday people’s food.

Wonder if we had cooked tasty dishes like this in my Russian classes, I would speak Russian now …

Turnips have been used in folk medicine for thousands of years. A cold climate loving vegetable, it is native to Northern Europe and is still popular today. Turnips have many beneficial properties. They are great source of vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and fiber and may be used among others for indigestion, detoxification, diabetes, jaundice. In Chinese Medicine, they have a neutral thermal nature and have pungent, sweet and bitter flavor at the same time. They are considered to be useful for their dispersing abilities in lung ailments; however, this quality is only available in its raw form. They are also used for improving circulation and remove damp conditions in the body. The green top is also valuable.

RECIPE

Serves about 2-4 people. – I cooked 1 cup of raw buckwheat to have some on the side (adjust other ingredients accordingly).

Ingredients

  • 4 smaller-sized turnips or less if bigger
  • 8 oz fresh mushrooms, chopped (I used crimini)
  • 1/4 cup uncooked buckwheat (1/2 cup of cooked buckwheat)
  • 1/2 cup of bone or vegetable broth or water
  • 1/8 cup shallots or half of a small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley 
  • 1/4 cup grated cheese (mozzarella, provolone, cheddar, or Parmesan for extra flavor)
  • 3 tablespoons bread crumbs
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Vegetable oil and/or butter
  • 1 tsp fresh or 1/2 tsp dried thyme (optional)

Directions

Preparing the buckwheat

  • Clean buckwheat kernels and soak for a couple hours.
  • In a medium sized pot, start boiling the stock or water. Add the buckwheat to the boiling liquid and cook for about 10 – 15 minutes or until they are soft but not mushy. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aide.

Preparing the turnips

  • Clean well and peel the turnips. Boil them for about 10 – 12 minutes or until they are just soft enough to scoop out the insides. The bigger ones will take more time. This is the most difficult part of the recipe. You really need to keep an eye on those turnips, they should be slightly cooked. Try not to overcook them. When done, take out turnips and let them cool. You can put them in cold water.
  • Cut off enough of the bottoms to create a flat surface that will allow them to stand upright on a baking sheet. Save the cut portion. With a spoon and/or a small knife, scoop some of the flesh out of the top end to form a cup. Save the scooped flesh as well, they are so tasty. (You can scoop the inside of the turnip out with a watermelon scooper or a measuring spoon).

Preparing the stuffing.

  • Sautee the onions or shallots in some oil for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile thoroughly clean the mushrooms and chop them up. Add them to the onions and continue to sauté them for about 10 more minutes or longer for some wild mushrooms and then let them cool.
  • Add the cooked buckwheat, bread crumbs, grated cheese and the saved chopped turnip pieces. Mix well. I would like to invite you to take a bite of the stuffing, try to see if you like how it turned out.

Stuffing the turnips

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • On a well-greased baking sheet, arrange the turnips in an upright position with the scooped-out wider portions facing up (like cups). (I used tomato sauce for the bottom of the pan). Fill the turnips with stuffing. Ideally the stuffing should be above the surface of the turnips, although this will depend on the size of the turnips, and the amount of stuffing.
  • Put a small piece of butter on top of each turnip and bake in the pre-heated oven for about 20 minutes, until the turnips are heated through and crusty on top. The turnips should not be raw but nicely baked. If it is still raw, just bake it a little longer.

Mushroom sauce recipe

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces of mushrooms
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 3/4 tsp dried sage or 2 fresh leaves
  • 1/4 tsp of dried rosemary crushed or 1 fresh spring
  • 1 Tbsp oil
  • 1 cup of stock
  • 1/4 cup of creme

Directions

  • While the stuffed turnip is baking, prepare the mushroom sauce. In a saucepan, warm oil over medium heat, add rosemary for 1 minute. Add mushrooms and cook until they release their liquid and mushrooms are well browned. Stir frequently. Add thyme, sage and let cook for one minute. Add stock, stir, and let simmer for 10 minutes and reduce heat to low.
  • Transfer half of gravy to a blender and puree until completely smooth. Add pureed mushrooms back into mushroom mixture and stir. See if you like the consistency. If not thick enough, puree a little more of the mixture.

Serve turnips hot, with sour cream and mushroom sauce. Decorate with parsley. I also made additional stuffing to serve on the side.

Enjoy!

Source

Photos and text by twincitiesherbs.com.

Old fashioned popcorn

I figured folks might not be very interested in complex dishes after the holidays and I would like to spend time with my family, so I decided to post a recipe for something simple, making popcorn- the old fashioned way … no gadgets needed, just a pan with its lid that you already have in your kitchen.

Corn does not necessarily have a connection with the winter but I chose making popcorn for now because I enjoy listening to the popping sound that the corn kernels make as they are popping. As our lives are slowing down, our sense of hearing is more heightened, we can hear things that we might not have paid attention to before. And those warm popcorn straight out of the frying pan hmm so delicious ….

This is a nice and tasty snack to be enjoyed during the long winter nights. You can add a little butter, salt and pepper and other seasonings of your choice. I personally like to have it without anything added.

There are 4 things you should try to watch out for:

Pan should be hot before you put the kernels in.

Keep lifting the top of the pan to release the extra steam.

Keep shaking the pan to avoid the kernels from burning.

When the kernels stop popping, take the pot off immediately.

RECIPE

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup of corn kernels or more if you have a bigger pan.
  • seasoning of your choice to taste

Instructions

  • Heat up a pan or a pot with a lid. My pan is 10″ in diameter. When it feels hot, put in about 10 kernels for testing. After they start popping, shake the pot a little so your kernels don’t burn. When they stop popping pour them in a metal bowl.
  • Add in 1/4 cup of corn kernels. About every 1 minute, lift off the top of the pan allowing the steam to escape for one second until you stop hearing the kernels popping. Keep shaking the pan. When you start hearing the kernels pop less frequently, get ready to take pot off the burner.
  • Pour popcorn into the metal bowl.
  • Allow to cool, season if you wish and eat.

enjoy!

Photo, text, recipe by twincitiesherbs.com

Crustless apple, walnut and poppy seed cake (Flódni)

naturally gluten-free , dairy-free

Flódni is a unique traditional Jewish Hungarian dessert. The original recipe uses apples, poppy seeds, walnuts, plum jam and all these ingredients are baked into a flour crust. This recipe uses the three main ingredients: apples, poppy seeds and walnuts plus the plums but has no crust. It is a gluten free recipe, in fact it is a very clever gluten free twist to the original recipe as the carbohydrates come from the poppy seeds. Its sour, bitter and sweet flavors come together to give a distinct culinary experience.

Traditionally, it is made at the end of the year for Christmas and Hanukkah but can be eaten any time during the year. It is filled with symbolic meanings for the end of the year. Each layer is rich and decadent and according to folk traditions can supposedly bring prosperity, health and protection for the entire family.

I was inspired by the recipe that came from a website – credited at the end. I have been making this delicious alternative at Christmas time for years. I made some changes to the original recipe. I moved some sugar from the nut filling into the poppy seed filling. I also added plums to the poppy seed mixture and some alcohol to the apples. Oh and honestly adding a little ginger to the walnuts did wonders.

The poppy seeds need to be soaked for 1 hour. I think if you follow my recipe, the poppy seeds should have enough time to soak. I think assembling the poppy seed mixture first and then continue making the apple mixture should be adequate time. By the time you place the dish in the oven, the poppy seeds should have had enough time to soak if not feel free to wait longer before putting the dish in the oven. (This is just my addition to the recipe).

RECIPE

INGREDIENTs

Ingredients for the poppy seed layer

  • 200 g (about 1 cup) poppy seeds
  • 1 Tbsp melted butter (coconut oil for dairy free version)
  • 3 eggs, divided
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • handful of raisins
  • prunes, chopped (I used 3 prunes but feel free to experiment)
  • 1 orange or 1/3 cup orange juice + 1 Tbsp dried orange peel

Ingredients for the apple layer

  • 1 kg (about 7 larger) tasty cooking apples
  • 1 Tbsp fresh chopped ginger or 1.5 tsp dried ginger ( cut and sifted)
  • 4 Tbsp sugar or honey
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon + 1/4 ground cloves
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 Tbsp rum (optional)

Ingredients for the top egg-white layer

  • 150 grams (5 oz) ground walnuts
  • 4 egg whites
  • 1/4 – 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger or 1/2 tsp dried cut and sifted ginger
  • salt

METHODS

  • Preheat oven to 300 F (150 C). Lightly butter a baking pan (8 x 11.5 x 2″).
Preparing the poppy seeds
  • Please read my notes above on letting the poppy seeds soak.
  • Grind the poppy seeds. (Coffee grinder works well).
  • In a smaller bowl, mix the ground poppy seeds, melted butter, sugar, 3 egg yolks, prunes, raisins, orange juice and peel, pinch of salt. Set aside.
  • Beat the 3 egg whites until stiff. Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the poppy seed mixture from earlier.
  • Spread the poppy seed mixture onto a lightly buttered baking pan.
Preparing the apples
  • Wash, peel and core the apples. Grade them through the large holes of a cheese grader. Put the grated apples in a medium sized pot and cook it in a large pot on high medium heat until the liquid evaporates. When done add rum, ginger, ground cinnamon and cloves, pinch of salt and 4 Tbsp of sugar/honey. Set aside.
  • Spread the apple mixture on top of the poppy seed mixture. Place the dish in the preheated oven. Bake for 40 minutes.
Adding the nut mixture
  • Walnut/egg white topping: Have the ground walnuts ready. By the end of the 40 minutes, beat the 4 egg whites until stiff. Gently fold in the walnuts and the sugar. Spread this mixture on top of the apples and put the dish back into the oven. Decrease the temperature to 250 F (120 C). Bake for another 30 – 40 minutes.

Let it cool and settle. Serve at room temperature.

enjoy!

Source

Text and photos by twincitiesherbs.com