The E-Wife Blogs Again

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

WDW - Pumpkin Gingerbread Crock-Pot Oatmeal

I love oatmeal, and especially making oatmeal in the crock pot overnight. It's always so nice to wake to a warm, hot breakfast on these cool fall mornings. And the crock pot makes steel cut oats so creamy and delicious. My normal recipe is 1 cup steel cut oats, 4 cups water, and 1/2 tsp. salt overnight in the crock pot for 8 hours, on low setting.

Incidentally, did you know that 1 cup of cooked steel cut oats has only 170 calories but packs in 7 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber? Oatmeal is known to lower "bad" cholesterol, contains special antioxidants, and boosts your immune system. It is also a good source of magnesium. And it's totally economical! I could go on and on.... Some of my favorite ways to enjoy oatmeal are with sauteed apples or pears (with a touch of maple syrup & vanilla), or fresh bananas & walnuts and a sprinkle of brown sugar on top.

Recently I came across this recipe and it sounded so yummy. I'm crazy about pumpkin and the spices in gingerbread so I knew I needed to give it a try. I put it in overnight last night and boy was it GOOD! It is perfectly spiced and tastes like dessert. We will definitely be making this often!

Crock Pot Pumpkin Gingerbread Steel Cut Oats

1 cup steel cut oats
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree

1 ½ cups milk (I used homemade almond milk)

1 cup water

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon ginger

½ teaspoon nutmeg

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

¼ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

½ cup brown sugar or maple syrup

Place all ingredients in crock pot.

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

Yield: 4 servings

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

WDW - Butternut Squash, Quinoa & Kale Salad

OK, this salad is my new addiction!

We all know that kale is good for us - right? If you don't, read this.

I love sauteed kale with garlic, or putting it in a smoothie. But, kale salad has been a bit difficult to love. However, I have recently learned that the secret to a great kale salad is to massage it. I know, sounds kind of weird, but it's essential to soften the kale and make it a palatable salad green. I even got my sister to like kale salad with this one (wink, wink Suz)!

To massage kale, wash, dry, and cut it into bite sized pieces (remove tough center membrane & discard). Then place it in a bowl, and squeeze a lemon over it. Drizzle with about 1 tbsp olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Then, get in there with your hands and start "massaging" the kale. Just squeeze the leaves and toss it around at the same time. Do this for a few minutes. At this point, you can add in any ingredients you might like (we love radishes or fennel, toasted nuts, dried cranberries or apple). Now toss again with a vinaigrette of your choice... voila! Yummy kale salad.

When I saw this kale salad recipe I knew I would love it! I LOVE butternut squash and usually roast it along with apples or pears, or make soup with it. And, quinoa is such a great source of protein and adds great texture to any salad. We eat it often.

This recipe didn't call for the kale to be massaged -- so I did my little trick on it first, then followed the rest of the recipe, and it turned out fantastic.

You can buy your butternut squash whole or pre-chopped. Unless I'm going to use it right away, I don't buy the pre-chopped kind. To use a whole butternut squash, simply peel the outside, then cut in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and cube. A medium size squash yields about 2 cups of small cubes.

Butternut Squash, Quinoa, & Kale Salad

1 cup quinoa (I used half golden, half red)

1 medium sized butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/2" cubes (about 2 cups)

extra virgin olive oil

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

8-10 cups kale, cut into bite sized pieces and "massaged" with lemon, olive oil, & salt (see above)

¼ cup dried cranberries

¼ cup walnuts, chopped

Vinaigrette: 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 Tbsp. honey, salt & pepper

Preheat the oven to 400ºF.

Cook the quinoa according to package directions on stove top. Set aside to cool.

Using a lined baking sheet, spread out the butternut squash cubes evenly. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for about 15-20 minutes. Watch to ensure they don’t burn.

When squash is done, remove from oven. Cook the walnuts on a baking sheet for 5-8 minutes or until toasted.

Make the vinaigrette by whisking together the olive oil, vinegar, & honey. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

In a large serving bowl, mix together the cooked quinoa, the roasted butternut squash cubes, massaged kale, walnuts, and the dried cranberries. Drizzle on the dressing and toss to coat (you may not need all the dressing). Serve immediately.

Notes:

I find it helpful to cook the quinoa and butternut squash a day ahead so they are well chilled when the salad is made. You can also wash, dry and cut the kale ahead of time.

You can skip the massaging part if you are able to obtain baby kale. It is much more tender than regular.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Are you hungry? Where to eat in L.A.

Recently I was asked by someone to provide a list of some of my favorite restaurants in the L.A. area. I had fun compiling it and thought I'd share that list with my fellow foodie blog readers.

I can't take the time to list all my favorite dishes at these places but if you do want to know about a certain place, feel free to drop me an email at harasick@ca.rr.com.

Also please comment if you have a suggestion for my list- I love recommendations of new/unknown places to eat in this great city.

On my current list of places to try:

Casa Bianca - Eagle Rock

Proof Bakery - Silver Lake

Canele - Los Angeles

L.A. Cafe - Los Angeles

Nobu - Malibu
Pedaler's Fork - Calabasas (been for coffee but not food)

Some of the restaurants here are longtime old favorites (and/or nostalgic L.A. eateries) and some are new discoveries. Enjoy!

Italian & Pizza

Boccali’s – Ojai http://www.boccalis.com/Menu.html

Tony’s Bella Vista – Burbank http://tonysbellavista.com/

Dino’s Pizza - Burbank http://www.dinosburbank.com/