Posts Tagged recipe

On Mushroom Foraging + A Recipe for Cream of Chanterelle Soup

For most of my life, I despised mushrooms. I hated the taste and color of mushrooms, but most of all I hated their slimy texture. I viewed mushrooms as an obstacle between me and a delicious slice of pepperoni pizza.

Granted, I had good reasons for hating mushrooms. When I was a kid, I ate a small handful of mushrooms I found growing in the backyard. My mom freaked out, naturally, and had me take some sort of medication that forced me to puke up all the potentially poisonous mushrooms. It was not my finest hour. In fact, I remember the whole experience was absolutely miserable.

That day, I decided I hated mushrooms and I never looked back.

Fast forward 20+ years and I am now living in Oregon. I am married to a mushroom-loving Oregonian. Mushrooms grow like weeds in Oregon, so I am literally surrounded. Eventually, I gave in. I can actually remember the first bite of a mushroom I tried that I actually liked. It was a morel that had been sauteed in a bit of butter — and it was nothing like those sad, grey mushrooms slivers I habitually pick off my pizza. It was meaty and dense, full of flavor and texture. It was delicious.

And now, I find myself wandering in the woods in search of wild mushrooms. I’m that person. (To be fair, I still don’t get mushrooms on my pizza. Old habits die hard, I suppose.) I have been converted to the wonderful world of mushrooms, and there is no looking back.

Here’s the thing, I am very new to the world of mushroom hunting. I am no expert, by any stretch of the imagination. But, I think that foraging for mushrooms is a blast and I thought I’d share a few tips and tricks with you all.

The first rule when hunting for mushrooms, is know thy mushroom. Do your homework! Buy an identification guide. Before you go picking (and eating!) wild mushrooms, you should know what you’re looking for. Secondly, be safe! Do not hunt for mushrooms on private property and be sure to wear bright colors when wandering about in the woods. Lastly, pack lightly. When I forage for mushrooms I bring a knife (to cut/harvest the mushrooms), a sack for carrying the haul (burlap or something porous, so the mushrooms will spread their spores), a bottle of water, and my iPhone (for Instagramming, of course). That’s really all you need!

Since we are in the midst of chanterelle season, here a few notes about hunting for these particular mushrooms. (Thankfully, chanterelles are one of the easier mushrooms to identify and there aren’t many ‘false’ chanterelles.) Chanterelles do not have typical gills like other mushrooms, rather, they have shallow ridges. Chanterelles are not hollow and they are usually orange in color and grow out of the moss and dirt. (Note: there is a variety of mushroom that looks something like a chanterelle and it grows on wood. Chanterelles only grow out of the ground and do not grow on wood, which is a helpful identifying tip).

As I said, I’m no expert. I’m very new at this, but I’m having a blast! Oregon is teeming with an amazing array of mushrooms, and I’ve only begun to scratch the surface. I can’t wait for more mushroom hunting adventures! As for now, I have chanterelles coming out my ears. :) My last few foraging trips have been quite successful and I’ve cooked a lot of chanterelles in the past few weeks. Of all of the recipes I’ve tried, this one is my favorite, so I thought I’d share. Keep in mind that this recipe does not have to be made with foraged chanterelles — you can also purchase them in stores!

Cream of Chanterelle Soup

Serving Size: 4

Ingredients

1 pound chanterelle mushrooms, cleaned and roughly chopped
4 large shallots, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
4 sprigs fresh thyme
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups chicken (or vegetable) stock
1 cup heavy cream
Salt, pepper, nutmeg and cayenne

Instructions

In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Cook shallots and garlic in butter for 5 minutes, or until translucent.
Add chanterelles and continue to cook for 5-10 more minutes, or until all the liquid has evaporated.
Pour in the chicken stock, bay leaf, thyme, and season with salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne. (Be sure there is enough liquid to full cover the mushrooms.) Bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer. Cook for 30 minutes.
Remove bay leaf and thyme stems. Using an immersion blender (or food processor), puree the soup. Stir in the cream and return the pot to the stove and cook for 10 minutes. Taste, and adjust seasonings as needed.
Optional garnish: cook a few cook a few extra chanterelles with butter, salt, and pepper for 5-10 minutes over medium heat. Sprinkle the mushrooms atop the soup for added texture and color.

Notes

Adapted from Saveur

http://rosemarried.co/2013/10/02/hunting-mushrooms-recipe-cream-chanterelle-soup/

Slow Cooker Blueberry Plum Butter

Canning in the summertime presents a funny conundrum.

On the one hand, this is the best time of year to preserve fruits and vegetables. We are in the peak of summer and farms and gardens are bursting with an amazing array of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. The fields are plentiful. My fridge and pantry are full of the goodness of summer. This is a wonderful time of year.

On the other hand, there is the issue of warm weather and the unbearable temperature of my kitchen. My kitchen is, by far, the hottest room in my house. So let me tell you,
the idea of firing up the ole canning pot on a hot August afternoon sounds ludicrous to me. When it’s sweltering outside, I would rather not hang out with boiling pots of water and jam.

Thankfully, there is good news. There’s always the option of the slow cooker. Granted, you cannot actually can or preserve using a slow cooker. You must process jars in boiling water, which requires a large pot and a stovetop. There’s just no getting around it. However, you can make your jam or preserves in a slow cooker, which drastically cuts down the amount of stove time. This, in turn, drastically reduces the sweltering temperatures in my kitchen. And, for that, I’m thankful.

This recipe is incredibly simple and yet, it is so rewarding. The blueberry butter is smooth, luscious, and full of the flavors of summer. And through the simple act of canning, I can enjoy these summery flavors all year long.

Slow Cooker Blueberry Plum Butter

Ingredients

10 cups fresh blueberries
4 large black plums
2 cups white sugar
Zest and juice of one lemon

Instructions

Wash and drain blueberries. Remove any stems, leaves, or debris. Cut the plums in quarters and remove the pits.
Using a food processor, puree the blueberries and plums. Process until smooth. (You should end up with 8 cups or so of puree.)
In a slow cooker, cook the fruit puree on high heat for one hour. After one hour, stir the butter and crack the lid for the remainder of the cooking time. (This allows steam & water to escape so the butter reduces and thickens!).
Cook the butter on low heat for 6 (or more) hours. (Note: slow cookers do vary depending on size, brand, etc.) Stir the butter once an hour.
In the final hour of cooking, add the sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Stir well. Turn the heat up to high and continue to cook with the lid slightly ajar.
Meanwhile, prepare your canning jars and lids. Sterilize jars and lids by boiling in hot water for 10 (or more) minutes. Keep the jars in hot water until ready to use.
Once the butter is thick and creamy (similar in thickness and texture to ketchup), it is ready for canning! (Note: I pureed my butter with an immersion blender at this point in the process, because I wanted it to be super smooth. I highly recommend it!)
Remove jars from the canning pot and fill with butter. Wipe the rims with a clean, dry cloth. Seal jars with lids and rings and place back in the canning pot. Bring the water back to a boil and process the jars for 10 minutes.
Remove jars from the canning pot and place on a dry towel or rack to cool. After the jars have cooled, check to ensure that all jars sealed properly. If properly sealed, jars may be kept on the shelf or in your pantry for 6-12 months. (If they did not seal properly, the jars can be stored in the fridge and will keep for a week or two.)

Notes

Slightly adapted from Simple Bites

http://rosemarried.co/2013/08/19/slow-cooker-blueberry-plum-butter/

Sparkling Blueberry Lavender Lemonade Cocktail (with DIY Blueberry Vodka)

Last week, I bought a rather large flat of local blueberries. Since then, I’ve been happily immersed in the wonderful world of blueberries. I canned blueberry plum butter. I froze a few bags of blueberries. I’ve been eating handfuls of blueberries with Greek yogurt and honey.

And, I made a few jars of blueberry vodka. Just because it seemed like a good thing to do.

Let me tell you, it was a great thing to do. Fruit vodkas are ridiculously easy to make and they don’t taste half bad, either. (No, really: Just soak some fruit in some vodka for a few days. Strain out fruit. Simple as that.)

This blueberry vodka is great with soda water or tonic, and is a great base for summer fruit, citrus, or herb cocktails. Give it a try!

Sparkling Blueberry Lavender Lemonade Cocktail (with DIY Blueberry Vodka)

Ingredients

For the lavender simple syrup:
1 cup water
3 Tablespoons dried culinary lavender
2 cups white sugar
For the blueberry vodka:
1 cup fresh blueberries
3-4 cups vodka
For the cocktail:
1.5 ounces blueberry vodka
2 teaspoons lavender simple syrup
The juice of 1 lemon
Sparkling water, to taste
Blueberries, for garnish
Ice

Instructions

To make the lavender simple syrup: Combine water, sugar, and lavender flowers in a small pot. Heat over high heat until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat and stir, and let the syrup simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Strain out the lavender and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The simple syrup will keep for one week.
To make the blueberry vodka: Place blueberries and vodka in a large jar or airtight container. Store at room temperature away from sunlight. Shake the jar a few times a day, and allow the vodka to infuse for at least 3 days. When the vodka has a distinct blueberry taste (and color), strain out the blueberries. Store the vodka in a sealed bottle or jar at room temperature.
To make the cocktail: In a large glass (or cocktail shaker), mix together the simple syrup, blueberry vodka, and lemon juice. Taste, and adjust levels if needed. Fill a cocktail glass with ice and pour mixture over ice. Top with a splash of sparkling water and garnish with fresh blueberries. Enjoy responsibly!
Makes one cocktail.

http://rosemarried.co/2013/08/12/sparkling-blueberry-lavender-lemonade-cocktail-with-diy-blueberry-vodka/

Chilled Cantaloupe Soup with Ginger and Mint

Summertime was made for cold soups. (Or is it the other way around?) Whatever, the case, I’m a sucker for a cold cup of soup on a hot summer day.

Chilled soups are simple, refreshing, and they require little or no cooking whatsoever. In the past, I’ve always made chilled vegetable soups: garden gazpacho, cucumber yogurt soup, beet soup with cilantro creme.

However, this was my first attempt at a chilled fruit soup. It’s light and refreshing, with a perfect balance of sweet and savory. The Greek yogurt gives the soup a creamy texture, but it’s the addition of fresh ginger and mint that makes this soup something special. It’s really quite lovely.

I would like to stress that this is not a dessert soup. It just isn’t all that sweet. I made this soup for a friend’s bachelorette party, and served it in small teacups as an appetizer. However, I think the soup could also be a great brunch dish. Heck, I’d eat a big bowl of this soup for dinner. (Truth be told, I would eat it anytime of the day. All day. Every day.)

All of that to say, this is summertime in a cup. Get some!

Chilled Cantaloupe Soup with Ginger and Mint

Ingredients

1 ripe cantaloupe
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons cream
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon minced or grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons honey
1 small sprig of fresh mint
Pinch of salt

Instructions

Peel & slice the cantaloupe into large chunks.
Place the cantaloupe pieces, yogurt, lemon juice, honey, ginger, and salt into a food processor or blender. Blend until the mixture is smooth & creamy. Taste, and adjust seasonings as needed. Add in a few mint leaves and pulse a few times, until mint is chopped and incorporated into the mix.
Pour mixture into an airtight container and chill in the refrigerator for an hour before serving. Prior to serving, stir in the cream. Ladle into cups or small bowls and garnish with a mint leaf.

Notes

Adapted from Pinch My Salt

http://rosemarried.co/2013/08/04/chilled-cantaloupe-soup-with-ginger-and-mint/

Pickled Blueberries

I’m a big fan of pickles in general. I love the taste (and crunch!) of a good pickle. A good pickle is salty, briny, and complex. Plus, pickles are a fantastic way to preserve summer crops.

But pickled fruit? This is entirely new territory for me. I’ve always limited my pickling to vegetable varieties: cucumbers, carrots, beets, jalapenos, onions, and more.

However, thanks to the PDX Food Swap, I’ve come to love pickled fruits. At the last few swaps I’ve come home with a number of jars of pickles fruits or berries – apples, figs, apricots, rhubarb, etc – and I’ve been pleasantly surprised with them all. Pickled fruit is a delightful mix of sweet and salty, bright and briny. It’s balanced and complex.

I’ve been eating these pickled blueberries straight out of the jar. (That’s how good they are.) But, if you’d like a few suggestions on how to use these little gems, I’d suggest trying them with crackers and goat cheese. Or, toss them on a wedge salad. Let me tell you, the blue cheese dressing and the briny blueberries are a match made in food heaven.

Pickled Blueberries

Serving Size: Fills 4 half-pint jars

Ingredients

1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup agave syrup (or 1/4 cup honey)
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 lb blueberries
1/4 of a red onion, sliced thin
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon whole dried allspice berries
1 teaspoon black peppercorns

Instructions

Clean and sterilize your jars and lids. Set on a rack to dry while you prepare the pickling liquid.
In a small pot, mix together the vinegars, agave, salt, and spices. Heat over medium heat for 5-10 minutes, or until the salt is dissolved. Remove from heat.
Pack each jar with blueberries and red onion slices. Pour the warm vinegar mixture over the blueberries. Use a spoon to distribute the spices evenly into each jar.
Cap each jar and allow the jars to cool to room temperature before moving them to the fridge. The blueberries should keep in the fridge for 30 days.

Notes

Adapted from Of Agates and Madelines

http://rosemarried.co/2013/06/23/pickled-blueberries/

Tomatillo Avocado Salsa, A Recipe from Kelly Myers of Xico

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending an educational tasting event at Xico, a delightful Portland restaurant that specializes in seasonal and regional Mexican cuisine.

We learned about the art and process of transforming corn kernels into fresh, hot tortillas.

We learned about (and tasted!) the difference between Mezcal and Tequila.

Finally, learned how to make Xico’s Tomatillo Avocado Salsa. This salsa is remarkably simple and comes together in minutes. And it tastes so, so, so good. (I could drink this salsa. Seriously.)

In the end, I left Xico with a happy belly, full of warm tortillas and fresh salsas. I also left with a better understanding of traditional and authentic Mexican cuisine. I was so impressed with Kelly and her staff, and their thoughtful approach to food. (For example, did you know that Xico is the only restaurant in Portland making tortillas from corn kernels? Everyone else uses masa.)

Thanks to Chef Kelly Myers and the Xico staff for being fantastic hosts! I learned so much and I can’t wait to go back.

Kelly graciously shared her recipe for Tomatillo Avocado Salsa, and I thought it was too god not to share. :)

Tomatillo Avocado Salsa
Yields 3 1/2 cups

Ingredients:
8 oz. tomatillos, rough chopped
6 large epazote leaves, or substitute a small handful of cilantro leaves
2 small cloves of garlic
1/4 cup chopped white onion
1-2 serrano chiles, with seeds, roughly chopped
Salt, to taste
1 small ripe Hass avocado
1/2 cup water, approximately

Method:
Put all ingredients except the water in a blender and puree.
Thin as desired with water and adjust the seasoning.

Buckwheat Soba Salad with Snow Peas and Radishes

Did you know that the word ‘soba’ is the Japanese name for ‘buckwheat’?

And did you know that buckwheat isn’t really wheat at all?

In fact, buckwheat comes from an entirely different botanical family. Buckwheat is actually in the same family as sorrel, knotweed, and rhubarb.

You learn something new everyday! I think this information is amazing. Who knew that buckwheat was related to rhubarb?! (I certainly did not!)

As for the recipe? It’s light, it’s seasonal, and it’s perfect for picnics, BBQ’s, and weeknight dinners in the backyard.

Buckwheat Soba Salad with Snow Peas and Radishes

Ingredients

1 package of buckwheat soba noodles
1 cup fresh snow peas
4 green onions, diced
6-8 radishes, sliced thinly
Sesame seeds
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1.5 tablespoons Ponzu (or lemon/lime juice)
1.5 tablespoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon agave syrup (or brown sugar)
1 teaspoon seasoned rice vinegar

Instructions

Cook the soba noodles according to the package directions. Once cooked, rinse with cold water and chill until use.
Mix together soy sauce, ponzu (or citrus), sesame oil, agave, and rice vinegar. Taste, and adjust seasonings as needed. (I personally like a lot of citrus, so I used ponzu and lime juice.)
Toss together the noodles, snow peas, sliced radishes, and green onions. Drizzle the soy dressing over the salad, and toss to coat. Be careful not over-do it on the sauce (this salad’s beauty is in it’s lightness and simplicity). Garnish with sesame seeds. Serve chilled.

http://rosemarried.co/2013/06/13/buckwheat-soba-salad-with-snow-peas-and-radishes/