Risotto with Orange Juice

Risotto is one of those beautiful comfort foods that can compliment a variety of meals or can be a main dish. Sometimes it can be a little bit rich so it works well with lighter foods. This is a version that has just the right amount of freshness that comes from the citrus. It will definitely be a staple in our house from now on!

Risotto with Orange Juice

(Courtesy of Lidia’s Italy)

3 oranges, with bright, unblemished skins
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup onions, minced
2 tablespoons shallots, minced
2½ cups arborio rice
½ cup dry white wine
5½ cups chicken stock, or canned chicken broth
½ teaspoon salt, or as needed
½ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, freshly grated
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into bits
freshly ground black pepper

With a vegetable peeler remove the rind from two of the oranges, being careful not to include the white part- it is very bitter. Cut the rind crosswise into thin strips. (There should be about 1/2 cup lightly packed.) Juice the oranges and reserve the juice. (There should be about 1 cup.)

In a heavy, wide 3 to 4-quart casserole or pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and shallot and cook them until golden, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Add the rice and stir to coat with the oil. Toast the rice until the edges become translucent, 1 to 2 minutes.

Add the wine and orange rind. Stir well until the wine is absorbed. Add 1/2 cup of the hot stock and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring constantly, until all the stock has been absorbed. Continue to add hot stock in small batches, just enough to completely moisten the rice, and cook until each successive batch has been absorbed. When all the stock has all been added, begin adding the orange juice in the same manner. Stir constantly and adjust the level of heat so the rice is simmering very gently while adding the stock and juice until the rice mixture is creamy but al dente. This will take 16 to 20 minutes from the time the wine was added.

Remove from the heat. Beat in the butter first until completely melted, and then the cheese. Adjust the seasoning with salt, if necessary, and pepper. Serve immediately, ladled into warm shallow bowls.

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Homemade Applesauce

Ok, I know you can buy Mott’s applesauce for around $3. Just to buy apples for applesauce will cost more than that. But it will taste as good or better than gramma made! You may save money, based on how much you will yield but that’s not why you want to do it. It’s the taste and a low calorie, low sugar comfort food.

I bought apples at 10lbs for $10 and bought a mix of organic gala and braeburn, but only because those were the sale ones.

6 lbs apples, peeled and cored

½ c cane sugar

½ c water

Juice from 1 grapefruit

Zest from 1 grapefruit or candied grapefruit or other citrus if you have it

½ T Cinnamon

  1. Peel and core the apples. You don’t have to be perfect on this because it will be strained later.
  2. Add the rest of the ingredients
  3. Cook on medium low heat for 20 min, stirring occasionally
  4. When tender put through a food mill
  5. Check for the amount of liquid. If it’s too liquidy put back in the pot and reduce. It will absorb a little liquid when it cools.
  6. Serve hot or cold, alone or with grilled meats.


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Onions Are Awesome

Really, I mean it. Onions are awesome. They make so many foods better. You can make them sweet or savory. Seriously AWESOME. (Aside from being able to make me cry anytime I am in the same room).

If you, like me, love onions then this Onion Jam is for you! This is something I like to make at least a double batch and keep it on hand. I use it on everything from grilled meats and fish to pizza. If you want something really easy to impress guests, this is it. I have people who mention it for weeks after trying it. Here goes…

Onion Jam with Habanero

(adapted from the Mustards Grill Napa Valley Cookbook)

1 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 cups sliced onions

2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon soy sauce

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons red wine

2 tablespoons water

Salt and pepper to taste

3 tablespoons Habanero Jelly

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook 5-8 min until soft and translucent.

Add the sugar and cook 15-20 min until golden stirring regularly.

Reduce heat to low and add all additional ingredients.

Simmer on low to medium low for about 20 min until thick and sticky.

Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate. Serve chilled (or add to anything you love).

Make it. Try it. ENJOY!

Oh and, let me know what you like to serve it with!

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Zone Fra Diavolo

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Weeknight Dinners: Tacos

Tacos are always a family favorite. You can pretty much make them from start to finish in 20 minutes. It is great for finicky eaters because you can keep everything on the side and let everyone choose their own combo. Tacos can also be a great way to empty the fridge and the pantry.

Our tacos usually start with 85% ground beef, some kind of beans, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. Traditionally, we used Gebhardt Chili Powder, but lately we have been experimenting with some more heat (ancho and guajillo chili powders). These get added to taste to the ground beef while browning it along with salt and black pepper. When the beef is brown, remove some of the fat (we usually just use paper towels, but you can pour it off). Add onion and garlic to the browned meat and saute until the onions are soft and garlic is fragrant. Adjust the seasoning as needed. We sometimes add chili beans or tomatoes to the meat. Other times will serve beans on the side.

Some traditional Mexican toppings are radishes, cilantro (love it or hate it), onion, and salsa (pico de gallo). We also add avocado, scallions, and the ever present Tabasco. If you have a gas stove, you can just heat the tortillas directly over the flame until soft and lightly colored on both sides. Otherwise, warm them in the microwave or oven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a great meal to get on the table quickly or for a fun and hands on party where your guests can help! Get creative and make it yours!

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Get Started, Get Fit

Sneezing hurt my abs today. I guess it is just part of getting back after my fitness goals for 2011. Started slow with the fitness regime on January 1st with a very slow and VERY cold walk. In my defense, it was 1 degree! Started out the door with every intention of getting a good walk/run start to the year but when my face stung after 200 yards, I decided to ease in to the year.

We have always had fitness goals as a family and this year is no exception. We started this morning with our early morning CrossFit class (at CrossFit Julia) and started prepping for their Vision Quest Fitness Challenge starting this week. If you aren’t familiar with CrossFit, the workouts combine Olympic weight lifting with plyometrics and cardio. The workouts are short(ish) but intense. You generally start with a warm up and stretching and skills building before transitioning into the WOD (work out of the day). The workouts range from 10 min-45 min but you never stop moving. What is great about CrossFit is that you workout with people of all different levels. When starting out, it is more about beating your own benchmarks than competing with others. Anyway, I am really sore…in a good way.

In 2010, the whole family took on our first half marathon together. We all did Big Sur Half Marathon in November to finish up the year. It was a great accomplishment for everyone to be healthy and finish! We are looking for another race for this year. My dad is a dedicated runner and inspired the rest of us to get moving. If you are looking for some new inspiration for the new year, take one step at a time and make it fun! Getting fit and staying on track is always easier when it is fun. Find a buddy and mix it up. Set goals and write everything down. That is my formula for success, now just go for it! We would love to hear your goals and accomplishments as well!

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Grandma Del’s New Year’s Day Vegetable Soup

Growing up we spent most holidays at my grandparents house in Southern California. It always meant lots of people gathered around and on New Year’s, it always meant football. My Grandma Del always made soup as an easy way to feed the crowd after having festivities for several weeks.

This year, my dad decided he wanted to attempt the soup. Even though he is not the cook in our family, he followed the recipe to the letter. I think it came out just like hers. I never would have gotten it that way because I would have fiddled with it along the way. This is an old fashioned home-style Midwestern soup. It is delicious in its own right, but it we thought it needed some more oomph for today’s tastes. The ever-present bottle of Tabasco and Parmesan didn’t hurt and neither did the homemade french bread (courtesy of Peter Reinhart).

Grandma Del’s New Years Day Vegetable Soup

Shop on the 30th of December.  On New Years Eve Day morning put ½ gallon of water in big soup pot.  Cut in small pieces 2 ½ lbs of any good beef.  Round, chuck or Rump.   Add to water.  Include any bones.  Cut off green leaves of 2 stalks celery.  2 onions cut in ½ and pepper, garlic, basil,  rosemary.  Simmer all day, adding water.  Drain stock into big bowl.  Discard all except meat.

New years day while watching parade.  Return stock and beef to clean soup pot.  Cut small the two stalks celery, 2 more onions, 4 potatoes, 1 bunch carrots, salt and pepper to taste.

when first football game comes on add 1 lg can tomato sauce, salt pepper and basil.

2nd game add water – Stir.

3rd game add ¼ c rice.

At half time Rose Bowl Game add large package frozen mixed vegies.  Do not boil.  Serve w/ French bread butter cheese and leftover fruitcake and cookies.

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Happy 2011!

Courtesy fairfieldafterdark.com

We would like to kick off 2011 by welcoming you to Zest! We hope you enjoy our upcoming posts on food, fashion, fitness and anything we find fresh. We hope to share with you some useful tidbits and tips that we love and use in our everyday lives.

Share with us your favorite things as well! Cheers to a very Happy New Year from Zest!!

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