Thursday, October 29, 2015

The Last of...

The last of the tomatoes_ green and red, cucumbers, jalapeno peppers, figs...

Tomatoes and Suyo Long
Fried Green Tomatoes!
Tomato, garlic, basil, S & P, Evoo_ my base, frozen in containers for future use
Spicy Stuffed Jalapeno_ individually frozen_ appetizers 
Turkey and Orzo Stuffed Peppers_ individually frozen for winter dinners

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Fresh Fig and Pecan Bundt Cake





Brown Turkey is the single fig tree we have. In years past the fruit ripens toward the end of October and is a relatively short season. However, due to the unseasonably hot summer we have experienced, figs have been in abundance since September. 
 
We eat fresh figs right off the tree; broil them with a little goat cheese; make fig jam, fig sauce, freeze them for our morning drinks, and of course share with friends and family. 

Generally dessert is not an option for us as we tend to steer away from sugar. Additionally most recipes have too much sugar for our personal taste and when using fresh fruit there is a wonderful natural sweetness that should not be masked. Stevia is an option sometimes used in limited amounts if sugar is required in a recipe and our neighbor Don introduced us to Organic Sucanat some years ago. Raw unfiltered honey is always a go-to.

My husband loves this cake_ not too sweet and nice and fruity.  And the pecans were a gift from my friend Susan who brought them to us fresh from North Carolina. 

Fresh Fig and Pecan Bundt Cake from Diana's kitchen 

2 cups organic spelt flour
1 TB baking powder 
1/2 tsp salt 
13 TB unsalted butter, at room temperature 
1/2 cup organic Sucanat 
1/4 cup Stevia 
3 fresh eggs, room temperature 
1 tsp vanilla extract 
1 cup yogurt 
3 cups roughly chopped fresh figs, divided 
1 cup pecans, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and lightly flour a Bundt pan.

In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.

In a large bowl, cream the butter, Sucanat and Stevia. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add and combine the vanilla and yogurt. With the mixer at low speed, add dry ingredients in 3-4 increments and mix until well blended. Stir in nuts. Gently fold 2 cups of figs into batter.

Spoon the batter into the bundt pan, line the top of the batter with the other cup of figs, and gently smooth the top with a spatula. Bake until golden and a cake tester (flat toothpick) comes out clean_ about 50 minutes. Allow it to cool about 10 minutes in the pan, then invert onto a wire rack to complete cooling.

Cook’s note: the additional one cup of figs may or may not be added. I chose to do so because of the quantity of figs being produced by the tree. Moist, fruity and such a treat.


 

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Senegalese Chicken and Peanut Stew

Senegalese_ from Senegal on the northwestern coast of Africa. Senegalese cuisine is a blend of local Wolof traditions and Portuguese and French colonists' influence. Chicken, lamb, beef, fish, eggs are used in cooking while pork is generally not served due to the large Muslim population. One of Senegal's primary crops is peanuts. Also grown are tomatoes, beans, black-eyed peas, rice, sweet potatoes, onions... and various other fruits and vegetables.

Last evening we had a roasted chicken for dinner, the majority of which remained and is perfect for this dish. We like the spice, the slight tartness of the lemon and the overall creamy quality. Rich and full bodied, there is nothing else required when you make this delicious stew unless you would like to add a crostini and a nice glass of white wine. We always look forward to the summer garden so additional vegetables can be added. Asparagus, spinach or kale, fresh cabbage... all come to mind, and last night my husband suggested digging and adding a few fresh parsnips. He is so clever.  

Senegalese Chicken and Peanut Stew from Diana's kitchen

1/4 cup unbleached flour
1 1/2 - 2 lbs cooked chicken, cut or torn into bite size chunks
2 TB butter
1 medium onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 TB Curry powder
1/2 tsp Cayenne pepper
2 TB coconut oil
1 quart organic free range Chicken broth
1 quart diced (crushed) tomatoes with juice
3 carrots, sliced
2 small sweet potatoes, sliced thinly or red-skinned potatoes
1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 cup fresh spinach or kale, chopped (any tough stems discarded)
1/2 cup Peanut butter
zest of a lemon
1 can coconut milk
1 lemon, juiced
large handful cilantro, chopped
Salt and black pepper, if needed
roasted peanuts, garnish

Place the flour in a deep bowl or plastic bag; cut or tear the cooked chicken into chunks and toss with the flour until the chicken is coated.

Heat butter in a large Dutch oven, add onions, a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and sauté until translucent. Add garlic and cook several minutes longer. Add curry and cayenne, stirring constantly and scraping the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Push everything to the side of the pot, add the coconut oil and heat to medium. Add the chicken and stir until it is coated with the oil. Bring the onions and garlic into the mixture and combine.


Add the chicken stock, and with the wooden spoon, scrape the bottom of the pot until all combined. Add the tomatoes, carrots, potatoes and chickpeas. Simmer for 30 minutes or until vegetables are done, and stir often to avoid any sticking. Add the spinach, stir in the peanut butter, lemon zest and coconut milk. Heat to combine. Taste, and add salt and pepper if needed. Finally add the lemon juice and cilantro, combine, and serve. Add roasted peanuts to the top of each bowl to garnish if preferred.


Crostini: Coarse bread and thinly sliced, brush extra virgin olive oil on both sides. Arrange slices on a cookie sheet. Bake until slightly brown, a few minutes on each side at 375 degrees F.

Cook's note: if you have added additional vegetables as we sometimes do, a bit more chicken stock may be necessary