Another Busy Week of Cooking

I haven't posted in a few days because I've been cooking, of course!

Last night my second CSA box arrived with loads of fresh organic vegetables and fruits. I was so excited to start preparing delicious food that I couldn't sleep. My CSA box contained the most beautiful arugula, red leaf lettuce, baby spinach, rainbow chard, kale, sage, rosemary, oregano, red potatoes, and onions. Along with juicy blood oranges, tangelos, d'anjou pears, red pears, and lemons. For those of you who read a previous post about my first CSA box, you might remember that I was a little disappointed to receive a few items that traveled from distant farms. Well, I found a way online to make modifications to my order. Thus, this week I replaced a few distant items with more local pears and oranges. I also added fresh herbs that are grown in Duvall, WA.



Arugula and Blood Orange Salad

 

For lunch today I put my fresh ingredients to good use and made an arugula salad with blood oranges and balsamic vinegar. It was delicious, and I can't wait to make more fresh food. Earlier in the week I made pizza dough and used half the dough to make a pasture-fed beef sausage tomato based pizza. I now have enough dough left over for one more pizza and plan to top half the pizza this time with tomatoes, basil and pecorino romano and the other half with olive oil, fresh oregano, pecorino romano, and maybe a little arugula when it comes out. So excited!



  

Homemade Almond Milk



In addition to pizza dough and inspired by a friend, I also made homemade almond milk. It was so easy. Just soak the almonds for 48 hours, rinse, blend with water, and strain (I used a cheese cloth for straining). Voila! Almond milk! I used the milk for making oatmeal, and I used the crushed bits of almond/almond meal in pancakes. I have to say I loved the nutty addition to my pancakes.

I also made pate brisee for the first time this week. Basically, it's a basic crust for pie and quiche. I used mine for a caramelized onion and goat cheese quiche. I LOVE quiche, and it's on the menu for dinner again tonight (leftovers, that is).

  

Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Quiche



Pate Brisee



  

Eat well and be well. If you'd like any of these recipes, just leave me a comment, and I will post them. Thanks!