Tag Archives: side

Kale Waldorf Salad

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This is a fantastic kale salad! You can make it in a few minutes with the right tools – I use a food processor and run the veggies through the slicer blade. And yes – you eat the kale raw and it is delicious! 🙂

kale waldorf salad blog (2) kale waldorf salad blog (1)

Salad ingredients

  • 1 large bunch curly green kale, rinsed
  • 1-2 apples
  • 2-3 stalks celery
  • 1/2 cup nuts or pumpkin seeds, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup raisins, dried appricots, figs, dates or cranberries, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup red grapes, halved (or whole, to save time!)

Dressing

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • Juice from a small lemon
  • 1 tsp mustard
  • Salt/pepper to taste

Directions

  • Run the kale, apples and celery through the food processor on the slicer blade
  • Toss with nuts or seeds, raisins or grapes
  • Mix the dressing ingredients and toss with salad
  • Keeps very well covered in refrigerator for several days

Excellent with poached or fried eggs – paleo breakfast for champions!

dit-elle-Esther

Roasted Broccoli

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This is a really yummy way to cook broccoli. I usually steam broccoli until it’s bright green and just tender (which is super quick and easy), but we seem to end up with leftovers. This took a few more steps, but there were no leftovers. A delicious crispy roasted broccoli recipe and such a great side dish for this time of year! Even the kids loved it. Never thought I’d say broccoli and yum in the same sentence, but there you go! 🙂

roasted broccoli blog (2) roasted broccoli blog (1)

Ingredients

  • 1 head of broccoli, chopped into florets
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt

Directions

  • Oven to 400*
  • In a large bowl, toss broccoli with olive oil and salt
  • Spread in single layer on baking sheet
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes, until broccoli is tender and crisp and starting to brown
  • Cool a bit and serve!

dit-elle-Esther

Heirloom Tomatoes

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Nothing says late summer like heirloom tomatoes! Now I realize it’s fall, especially with the rain in Seattle this week, but I found the last of the heirlooms of the season this weekend!

One of my favorite snacks used to be tomato sandwiches: fresh bread, mayo, slices of juicy heirloom tomatoes. Heirlooms in particular are rich in flavor and super delicious. I am strict GF now and eat few grains, but tomatoes are so good just on their own!

heirloom tomatoes basil blog (3) heirloom tomatoes basil blog (2) heirloom tomatoes basil blog (1)

Ingredients

  • Tomatoes, sliced
  • Olive oil
  • Fresh basil, chopped (optional)
  • Sea salt (optional)

Directions

  • Drizzle olive oil on tomatoes and sprinkle with a little sea salt and fresh basil

dit-elle-Esther

Stuffed Mushrooms

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It’s mushroom season! White or Crimini Mushrooms work great for this recipe. This is a great paleo snack. Make them with or without cheese!

mushrooms stuffed blog (2) mushrooms stuffed blog (1)

Ingredients

  • 6 oz white or crimini mushrooms
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 1/2 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 lb mild Italian sausage, casings removed
  • 1 cup celery, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup red bell peppers, finely chopped
  • 2 Tbsp fresh oregano leaves, minced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 egg
  • 3 tsps. fresh Italian parsley, minced (or 2 tsp dried parsley)
  • Salt/pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)

Directions

  • Oven to 350*
  • Clean mushrooms with a damp cloth and remove stems
  • Finely chop just the stems
  • Place cleaned mushrooms, caps down on baking sheet and set aside
  • Heat butter and saute onion for 4-5 minutes or until golden
  • Add sausage to skillet and cook until browned
  • Add celery, red bell pepper, and finely chopped mushroom stems and cook for another 5-7 minutes
  • Add oregano and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes
  • Place meat mixture in food processor with egg and parsley and pulse until mixture is finely chopped
  • Spoon meat mixture into each mushroom cap, top with cheese (optional and bake for ~20-30 minutes until mushrooms are tender and filling is starting to brown
  • Enjoy! 🙂

dit-elle-Esther

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Toasted Cheese

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Root veggies are in season with an abundance to select from already. You can use sweet potatoes, yams or garnet yams for this recipe. You are dairy free? No problem. Bake them the same way as described below and omit cheese. They are super delicious either way! 🙂

yams with broiled cheese blog

Ingredients

  • 4 small sweet potatoes, halved lengthwise
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 3 oz Fontina cheese, grated (3/4 cup) – I could not find this in my local grocery store and used Comte cheese instead.. you can’t really go wrong with any cheese though, so use your favorite cheese or just Parmesan works great!
  • 1 1/2 oz. Parmesan, grated (1/3 cup)

Directions

  • Heat oven to 425*
  • Rub potatoes with oil and season with salt and pepper
  • Bake, cut side down, on a baking sheet or glass pan until golden brown and tender, ~20 minutes (fork inserts very easily)
  • Turn over to broil
  • Combine cheeses and sprinkle on potatoes cut-side up
  • Broil until cheese is melted and golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes
  • Serve warm

dit-elle-Esther

Creamy Feta Dip and Veggies

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The thing that makes this Feta Dip unique is the cumin spice. It is creamy and fresh and delicious and wonderful paired with fresh veggies!

Mom tip of the day: I left some stems and leaves on the carrots and asked my kids if they wanted “bunny carrots”? They were so intrigued they ate the carrots up (don’t eat the leaves or stems!). Funny how something slightly out of the ordinary is so interesting! 🙂

feta buttermilk and veggies dip blog (2) feta buttermilk and veggies dip blog (1)
Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup buttermilk or Greek Yogurt
  • 6 oz Feta, crumbled (about 1 1/4 cup)
  • 3/4 tsp cumin (optionally for richer flavor – heated in a small skillet until just fragrant)
  • 2 tsps. fresh lime juice
  • Pepper, to taste
  • Olive oil
  • Radicchio leaves, carrots, cucumber or other favorite veggies

Directions

  • Combine buttermilk, 1/2 cup of the Feta, cumin and pepper in a food processor and process until smooth
  • Add remaining feta and pule a few times to combine
  • Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days
  • Before serving, stir in lime juice and serve the dip drizzled with olive oil and a sprinkle of black pepper
  • Serve with fresh cut veggies

dit-elle-Esther

Tricolor Autumn Salad

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This is made with purple cabbage, romaine lettuce and carrots.. full of nutrients, all raw ingredients, crunchy and delicious! Toss with Tahini Dressing and enjoy.

Blog tricolor winter salad blog

Ingredients

  • 1 small head purple cabbage (grated)
  • 1 small head romaine lettuce (finely chopped)
  • 1 cup grated carrots
  • 1 batch Tahini dressing

Tahini Dressing (makes 1.5 cups or so)

  • 1/2 cup roasted tahini
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp sea salt

Directions

  • In a large bowl, toss veggies
  • For dressing, puree ingredients until smooth
  • Toss salad with 1/2 cup or up to all dressing and serve

Source: Thanks Paleo Cooking from Elana’s Pantry

dit-elle-Esther

Baked Parmesan Zucchini

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Crisp, tender zucchini sticks are brushed with oil, topped with parmesan and herbs, and roasted to perfection. Totally yummy! I had to make a second batch just for the photos as the first batch disappeared pretty fast. 🙂

Blog baked zucchini-2 Blog baked zucchini-1

Ingredients

  • 4 zucchini, quartered lengthwise
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a cooling rack with nonstick spray and place on a baking sheet; set aside.
  • In a small bowl, combine Parmesan, thyme, oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Place zucchini onto prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Parmesan mixture. Place into oven and bake until tender, about 15 minutes. Then broil for 2-3 minutes, or until crisp and golden brown.
  • Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.

Thanks http://damndelicious.net/2014/06/21/baked-parmesan-zucchini/

dit-elle-Esther

Insalata di Arance (Orange Salad)

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I would never have thought of these ingredients being perfectly complimentary and surprisingly delightful! Sweet tangy oranges, the subtle flavor of fennel, salty olives, a handful of parsley.. so good!

Blog orange fennel salad-2 Blog orange fennel salad-1

Ingredients

  • 4 oranges, peeled, sliced in bite size pieces
  • 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • Dried red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper, to taste (optional)
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 handful kalamata olives (or pitted black olives)
  • 1 handful fresh parsley, finely chopped

Directions

  • Mix together oil, lemon juice, cumin, paprika, red pepper flakes and salt.
  • Toss with oranges, fennel, onions.
  • Sprinkle with olives and chopped parsley.
  • Serve and enjoy or make ahead of time and let marinade overnight

Thanks PCC Natural Markets for the inspiration. I modified the recipe slightly from the original here.

dit-elle-Esther

Mashed Potatoes

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What says comfort food like hot mashed potatoes with very simply some melted butter, salt and pepper..! Mashed potatoes are incredibly easy to make. And you can do so much with them. Mix in some fresh or roasted garlic, sour crème or milk, finely chopped chives or green onions, bacon bits and cheddar cheese. The combinations are endless! The secret to good mashed potatoes however is simple.. it lies in the quality and type of potatoes. I’ve found red potatoes and gold potatoes to be excellent options for mashed potatoes.

Blog mashedpotatoes

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs potatoes
  • dash of salt
  • Butter and/or other favorite toppings

Directions

  • Peel potatoes (if desired), chop in 1″ pieces
  • Cover potatoes with water in pot and bring to boil
  • Cook until knife inserts in a potato easily
  • Pour off water and let cool a bit
  • Use an inversion blender to mix, adding butter and other toppings as desired

dit-elle-Esther