Pumpkin & Feta Muffins

Now that our garden is literally overflowing with pumpkins, we're taking advantage of the bounty and trying to use as many as we can. Pumpkin is making its way into lots of things lately: bread, more bread, tarts (like this one), gnocchi, on dinner plates simply roasted with butter and salt, and now in these tasty little muffins.

I've had my eye on these guys for a while. I quite enjoy savory baked goods and these muffins do not disappoint. You'll notice a few interesting ingredients but I assure you that they are wonderful complimenting flavors. The squash lends a hint of sweetness, the feta a bit of salt and creaminess; the mustard is not overpowering, but rather hints in the background, as does the black pepper and Parmesan. Really, these muffins are a great way to use up a little more of that wonderful winter squash. I can imagine they'd make a perfect addition to a Thanksgiving meal, too! I hope you enjoy...

Notes: The first time I made these muffins I could tell the had a lot going for them... Unique, savory, wonderful flavor combinations, yada yada. BUT the only thing was that they were quite dry. Interestingly enough, the original recipe doesn't call for a speck of oil. Not one drop. I'm not sure why this is, but on my second batch I decided olive oil was definitely making its way into the mix. Cha-ching! That was all these little muffins needed. The olive oil adds the perfect amount of moisture and compliments the other earthy/savory flavors perfectly. I also increased the amount of pumpkin from 2 cups to 3, because pumpkin is delicious. Two more things: As noted in the recipe below, butternut squash may be used in place of the pumpkin. And, as usual, feel free to use exclusively all-purpose flour in place of the whole-wheat pastry, if you prefer.

Adapted from Martha Goes Green, as seen on 101 Cookbooks

Pumpkin & Feta Muffins

3 cups cubed pumpkin (or butternut squash), cut into 1/2-inch cubes
extra-virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

1 1/4 cups whole-wheat pastry flour (or spelt flour)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons whole-grain mustard
1/2 cup sunflower seeds kernels
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
2/3 cup crumbled feta
1 large handful spinach, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped parsley (or cilantro)

Preheat oven to 400°F. Generously grease a 12-hole muffin pan with olive oil and set aside. (I always have a little bit of batter left after filling the 12 muffin holes, so you can choose to also grease 2 additional muffin holes in another pan, or grease a little loaf pan. I do the latter.)

Place the cubed squash on a baking sheet. Drizzle with a little olive oil and add a few sprinkles of salt and pepper. Toss to evenly coat the squash and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through. Set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, olive oil, and mustard. Stir in the sunflower seed kernels, Parmesan, and 3/4 of the feta. Add 3/4 of the roasted squash cubes, then gently fold in the spinach and parsley.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry and gently fold just until the batter comes together; be careful not to over mix. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan(s), filling each muffin hole 3/4 full. Top each muffin with a bit of the remaining squash and feta. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the tops and sides of the muffins are golden, and the muffins have set up completely. Let the muffins cool for a few minutes in the pan, then turn them out onto a cooling rack.

Yield: 12-14 muffins

Swiss Chard, Sweet Potato, & Feta Tart with Teff Crust

Hi there! Isn't it a lovely day? The tulips have bloomed into an array of pastel shades, the birds are singing outside my window this morning, and the sun is bright and beautiful. Sigh...

There's not much to share this morning that can compare with the loveliness outside. Mother Nature is an undefeated competitor in my book. Though I am feeling rather brave today... How about a delightful little tart? It's a fave. (As is basically everything I share here on this little bloggity.) But when you're craving something a little bit sweet and a little bit salty, a little bit crunchy and a little bit creamy, and a lot a bit delicious, here it is.

Savory tarts are one of my weaknesses. Especially since the discovery of a fantastic tart crust. I enjoy filling this crust with almost any combination of lovely things. Pop it in the oven for a bit and it becomes hearty, healthy comfort food at its finest.

I do hope the weather in your neighborhood is as gorgeous as it is here. Spring has sprung! And although is seems that Mother Nature has won yet again, I'd say this tart comes in pretty darn close. So go make a tart and enjoy the sunshine and blooming flowers :)

Notes: The original recipe calls for chard in the filling. If you don't have any on hand, I've also had great success with spinach in its place. I've also switched out the original tart crust for the one I mentioned above. It comes from Maria Speck and is simply wonderful. I did adjust Maria's recipe to include the teff flour of the original. Once again, if you don't have any teff on hand, regular white whole wheat flour will substitute just fine.

Adapted from Fine Cooking and Maria Speck's Ancient Grains for Modern Meals 

Giant Lima Beans with Stewed Tomatoes & Oregano Pesto

.

Plump, creamy beans + garlicky tomato sauce + generous sprinkles of tangy feta + crisp bread crumbs + a *very* tasty herbal pesto = Yum. Capital Y.

This dish is a great way to cook up a delicious, protein-packed meal. It also makes for a great side dish. However you choose to enjoy it, just be sure that you don't skimp on the pesto - it really completes the dish.

Notes: I always make my own bread crumbs; fresh is just so much better, in my opinion. Simply tear up a few slices of whole wheat bread, pulse them in the food processor for a few seconds, and voila! Fresh bread crumbs. For this recipe, you'll finish them up by toasting them on the stove and then add a bit of salt and parsley. Also, the original recipe called for only 1/3 the amount of pesto. (!!! Horror, I know.) So the amount below is my tripled version of the original. It's just too good to not triple. I am anxious to make this again... one for the beans, and two, for the pesto because I can imagine it'd be fantastic drizzled on all sorts of things: sandwiches, roasted vegetables, toast with egg, a hearty lentil stew.... Enjoy!

Adapted from Food & Wine

Red Lentil Soup

"Can you believe the surprise!?" my 7-year-old brother asked as he came up the stairs. 

The first snow of the season amazed us all as we climbed out of bed this morning. A half-inch layer of beautiful white fluff veiled the yard and surrounding homes.

It happens every year, but for some reason the first snow of the cold months seems to fill us all with wonder. But how can it not? Glistening and shimmering, creating a pristine white blanket over the earth, you can't help but pause by the window for a moment to take it all in.

The snow outside was the perfect excuse to make a big pot of warm soup for lunch. This lentil and rice soup is a snap to throw together - not fussy at all. Just throw it all in the pot and let it simmer away. Thirty minutes later, throw in a bit of salt, ladle your bowl full, and top it off with delicious things (aka: toasted almonds, crumbled feta, and a bit of extra-virgin olive oil).

I love warm soup.

And I love sparkling snow.

Notes: I make this soup frequently and love it more every time. The toppings are what round everything out just perfectly, so I highly discourage leaving them off. In case you are wondering, this soup freezes very well, which is always nice.

Inspired by this recipe

Toasted Barley Salad with Tomato, Zucchini, & Caramelized Corn

i

With autumn just around the corner, I've been frantically using up the glorious summer bounty our garden has so graciously shared this season. The kitchen counter is practically overflowing with squash, green beans, tomatoes, corn, zucchini, bell peppers, basil, raspberries, and other such lovelies.

The bounty of summer is hard to under-appreciate. Nothing compares to biting into a freshly picked, deep red, juicy tomato. Really, nothing quite does. Likewise, an ear of grilled corn slathered with butter and sprinkled with a bit of salt epitomizes summer. All of this and the long, lazy summer evenings on the back porch surrounded by great company are the things I will miss most. 

This end-of-summer salad was inspired by that abundant harvest of fresh produce consuming the kitchen counter. It's kind of like summer on a plate - fresh and bright. I hope you'll enjoy it as we begin our farewells to this wonderful, generous season.

Notes: This kind of salad is the perfect dish for a picnic or a long, lazy summer lunch because it gets better as it sits and marinates in the dressing. Serve it with grilled meats or fish as a side dish, or with plenty of lightly cooked vegetables as a vegetarian main course. The salad is also very open to  adaptations based on what the garden is producing. Feel free to even add some toasted nuts for a bit more crunch.

Adapted from here

Avocado & Tomato Tartine

Sometimes the best things are simple things, yes? Actually, I might argue that usually the best things are simple things.

Like a slice of fresh, piping-hot bread from the oven smeared generously with salted butter.

...or a just-picked tomato, eaten like an apple.

...or a halved avocado in one hand and a spoon in the other.

...or the smell of fresh feta cheese.

Over-complicating is totally over-rated.

Avocados and tomatoes are pretty simple and we all know that feta is what makes the world go 'round. So why not combine the three for a delicious tartine? Well, I did just that and what I'm sharing with you today is a humble, not-quite-recipe that is a favorite of mine.

I've enjoyed this tartine equally well for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I suppose you could even go for all three on the same day. Now, how's that for simple!? Believe me, I've been tempted. One bite and you'll know what I mean.

Notes: This tartine is amazing when made with this sandwich bread, though any fresh whole-grain bread will do. Also, of course the best tomatoes are those just picked - either from the garden out back or the Saturday market. Nothing beats wonderful summer produce!

A Flour Sack original

Avocado & Tomato Tartine

1 ripe avocado, peeled
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Pinch of fine-grain sea salt, to taste

2 slices whole-wheat sandwich bread, toasted
1 fresh tomato, sliced
A bit of crumbled feta cheese

In a small bowl, mash the avocado with the lemon juice and salt.

Spoon the avocado mixture on each slice of toasted bread and spread to the edges. Top each tartine with a few tomato slices and sprinkle generously with feta cheese.

Yield: 2 tartines

This post linked to Real Food Wednesdays and The Nourishing Gourmet

Spinach Strata

The garden out back is beginning to produce an array of beautiful vegetables. My dad is an avid gardener, and those vegies are like his little babies. He grows everything from seed - beginning in a make-shift "greenhouse" he places beside our grand piano. As the weeks progress, the little black tubs of plants begin to overflow and create a small forest in the front room. (Apparently this is the best space in the house for as much sunlight as possible. He says he needs the space until he builds himself a real greenhouse outside. Mom is very patient and goes along with it well... Happy to see the fruits of her husband's in-door jungle when she bites into a juicy, ripe, rosy-red tomato in August.)

We've been munching on crisp spinach leaves for several weeks now. The earthy, fresh flavor of just-harvested greens is hard to beat. To me, spinach + olive oil + lemon is a trio made in heaven. At dinner, I love the leaves dressed simply - with a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon. But at breakfast, fresh spinach decorated throughout a rustic strata and combined with a bit of feta and oregano is the perfect way to start the day.

I have been making this strata almost weekly since I first discovered it. It is hearty, moist, and extremely flavorful. The top gets nice and brown in the oven, creating a lovely crunch. I admit, I've been guilty of stealing extra crispy bits to put on my breakfast plate. With the subtle, light taste of lemon, a bit of olive oil fruitiness, and a little saltiness from the feta, this strata is wonderful. I might also add that it is a snap to mix up. You put it all together the night before you want to serve it, and then bake it in the morning. I think this strata is a perfect way to use some of the abundant spinach out back. Dad agrees.

Notes: I've increased the bread quantity slightly because I found the strata a bit wet with just the 8 ounces originally called for. If you don't have day-old bread, you can dry fresh bread in an oven heated to 250°F for 10 to 15 minutes. I've been making this with regular homemade whole-wheat sandwich bread, but any dense whole-grain bread will do.

Adapted from Super Natural Every Day

Red Pepper and Broccoli Quinoa

This is one of my go-to favorites for a quick, healthy, and satisfying lunch. It's light and refreshing and the ingredients are usually in the fridge around here, so it's a snap to throw together.

Notes: I cook a big batch of chickpeas every so often and keep them in plastic bags in the freezer. Frozen beans thaw quickly and are great for tossing in recipes like this. As for the roasted red pepper, you have a few options: you can used jarred peppers from the store (great for off-season), you can roast your own in the oven, or (my preferred method) saute a chopped one with a little olive oil until tender.

Adapted from Sprouted Kitchen