Published! Food Styling & Photography for Gary Null’s NEW Vegan Cookbook..Hot off the Press!

Posted by artfulgourmet on Feb 21, 2013 in Book Reviews, Comfort Food, Healthy Cooking, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegetable Dishes, Vegetarian, Veggies | 5 comments

Anti-Arthritis, Anti-Inflammation Cookbook: Healing through Natural Foods

Yay! The time has finally arrived – the cookbook I shot and styled for Gary Null Power Foods arrived on my doorstep yesterday, HOT off the press!

I styled and shot this cookbook last August-September and it was a 6-week process with plenty of long days and nights, cooking, styling and shooting, with lots of laughter and intensity, for Gary Null’s new cookbook titled Anti-Arthritis, Anti-Inflammation Cookbook: Healing through Natural Foods. The cookbook has over 270 recipes that are Vegan, Vegetarian and Raw Food based on the premise of promoting a healthy diet while preventing and reversing arthritis, diabetes, cancer and inflammation through eating raw, vegan and power foods.

I worked with Gary and his editorial team throughout the process to interpret the recipes into appealing, fresh and healthy images for the cookbook. I also collaborated side by side with two amazing Chefs; Wes Wobles and William Shear, day and night (literally!) to turn the recipes into beautifully plated works of art which were styled meticulously in the kitchen and by myself on set, to create the perfect final beauty shot.

I’m very proud to have been the stylist and photographer on this awesome project and part of this dynamic project team that made the cookbook come to life in such a short time – it turned out beautifully with full color photos, a clean design and a comprehensive healthy eating program that might turn any meat-loving carnivore into a Vegan or Vegetarian just yet! The recipes are simple and easy to prepare with raw ingredients including grains, fruits, vegetables, and non-meat soy proteins flavored with plenty of fresh herbs and seasonings. There are recipes for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Salads, Soups and Desserts plus plenty of sauces and dips along with healthy appetizers. Gary also explains the nutritional aspects to a Vegan and Vegetarian Raw food diet with an eating plan spelled out and easy to follow.

Light, healthy and fresh is the name of the game in this cookbook, and it’s arrived just in time for Spring to lighten up your diet and get healthy! Who knew eating meat-free could be so tasty? I just might give it a try

Purchase a copy of the book online

View gallery of some of my fav photos I shot for the book

Kudos to the Cookbook Team!

Kind Testimonial from Gary Null

Here’s a few of my favorite photos from the photoshoot:

Mushroom Bean Curry with Butternut Squash

Poached Peaches with Raspberry Sauce

Coconut Cherry Ice Cream

Penne Pasta and Kidney Bean Soup

Stewed Plums

Fennel and Pecan Salad with Peaches

Sweet and Sour Bean Stew

Chickpea Burger and Baked Sweet Potato Chips

Spaghetti with Eggplant Marinara

Sticky Sweet Rice with Papaya

Lentil Curry

Bulgur and Vegetables

Bammie Cakes

Apple Cinnamon French Toast

Bitters Sweet Salad

Millet Coriander Stir Fry

And now for some fun behind the scenes shots on set:

Test Shoot

Chef Wes Wobles in the Kitchen

Kristen on set shooting garden scene

Making Homemade Granola

Making Caramel

Arranging items on set

Plating the dish and prepping the shot

Setting up the props for the final shot

Holiday Giveaway with Tate’s Bake Shop from Southampton :: Recipes from ‘Baking for Friends’ Cookbook

Posted by artfulgourmet on Dec 1, 2012 in Baking, Book Reviews, Chocolate, Fall Recipes, Gluten-Free Recipes, Holiday, Holiday Recipes, NYC, Pies and Tarts, Special Occasion, Thanksgiving Recipes, Uncategorized, Winter Recipes | 25 comments

‘Baking for Friends’ Cookbook by Kathleen King, Tate’s Bake Shop

If you haven’t heard of Tate’s Bake Shop before or experienced their amazing line of desserts and cookies and baked goods, well you absolutely need to. I remember the first time I tried some of their chocolate chip cookies (the ones on the cover of their cookbook), I almost died and went to heaven. They’re light, crispy and thin, and filled with loads of gooey chocolate chips that melt in your mouth for days. They are still my favorite chocolate chip cookies (other than mine, of course), and I can’t resist them any time I spot them at the store.

Kathleen King, Chef and Author

Author Kathleen King is the creator and owner of the nationally acclaimed Tate’s Bake Shop in the Hamptons, known for her delicious baked goods made with wholesome yet elegant ingredients.

BAKING FOR FRIENDS is a gorgeous cookbook with over 120 scrumptious recipes and mouthwatering photos.With the holidays just around the corner, this is the perfect cookbook to read for all your holiday baking. The book features recipes that are perfect for both special occasions and everyday baking. Chapters include Scones & Shortcakes; Pies, Tarts & Crisps; Tea Loaves & Quick Bread; Party Cakes & Cupcakes; and Cookies. The book also offers delectable, taste-tested recipes for readers with dietary restrictions, including gluten-free, low-fat, vegan, and nut-free. Each chapter also features Kathleen’s innovative baking tips and tricks, designed to help save precious time and energy in the kitchen.

Holiday Cookie and Bar Tower Giveaway! (a $48 value) 

Holiday Cookie and Bars Tower

**THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED. CONGRATULATIONS TO TERI TROCKWOOD, THE WINNER OF THE TATE’S BAKE SHOP HOLIDAY COOKIE AND BARS TOWER! (Teri, please send me your shipping address so I can get this prize out to you this week!) ENJOY!**

Just to celebrate the holidays, I’ve teamed up with Tate’s Bake Shop who is giving away one of their Holiday Cookie and Bar Towers (a $48 value)! It includes three 7-oz boxes of cookies - one each of chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and white chocolate chip macadamia nut. It also includes two rich and buttery raspberry bars, two chocolate chip and walnut-loaded blondies, and two rich, dense and fudgy plain brownies. Each 7-oz box contains approximately 12 cookies, and the bars are a generous size..and all wrapped in pretty holiday packaging!
HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY
All you have to do to enter for a chance to win is tell me your favorite holiday dessert in the comments section below for one (1) entry.
For extra chances to win, follow/like me on all or one of my social hangouts : twitter, facebook, pinterest, google +, and/or sign up for my monthly newsletter (see box at the top of this page), and tell me that you did at the end of this post. You have to be connected to Facebook to enter comments on this post. If you don’t have a Facebook profile, just send me an email for your entries at kristen (at) theartfulgourmet (dot) com.
The giveaway begins on Saturday Dec 1st and ends on Sunday December 12 at midnight EST, where one person will be picked by random from the comments below. Don’t forget to tell your friends about the giveaway by sharing this page at the end of the post and letting me know in the comments below for extra entries!

Good luck!

A Few Holiday Recipes from the Cookbook

Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

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Chocolate Thumb Print Cookies

Yield: Makes about 6 ½ dozen cookies.

Thumbprint cookies are traditionally flavored with vanilla and filled with fruit jam, but these are chocolate cookies stuffed with more chocolate! They will be a welcome treat on your holiday cookie platter, and they are a perfect hostess gift.

Ingredients

• Cookies
• 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ pound (2 sticks) salted butter, at room temperature
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 2 large eggs, separated, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 cups finely chopped pecans
• Filling
• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Instructions

1. To make the cookies: Heat the chocolate in a microwave-safe medium bowl on Medium (50% power), stirring at 30-second intervals, until fully melted and smooth. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until tepid, but still fluid.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. In a large bowl, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer set on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. One at a time, beat in the egg yolks, followed by the tepid chocolate and the vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, mix in the flour mixture, just until combined. Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a thick disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.
3. Position the oven racks in the top third and center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
4. Using a heaping teaspoon for each, roll the dough into 78 marble-sized balls, putting them in a baking pan or platter. (If you wish, you can cover the balls with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 days.) Beat the egg whites in a small bowl until foamy. One at a time, dip each ball in the whites, roll in the pecans, and arrange 1 ½ inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Refrigerate the remaining balls until ready to bake. Using your thumb (or, if you have long fingernails, the end of a wooden spoon), press an indentation into the center of each cookie.
5. Bake, rotating the positions of the sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through baking, until the edges of the cookies look set, about 10 minutes. Remove the baking sheets from the oven, and, using your thumb (or the end of the wooden spoon), reform the center indentation in each cookie. Return to the oven and continue baking until the cookies are crisp, about 10 minutes more. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer to wire cooling racks and let cool completely. Repeat with the remaining balls, egg whites, and pecans, on cooled baking sheets.
6. To make the filling: Heat the chocolate and oil together in a microwave-safe bowl on Medium (50% power), stirring at 30-second intervals, until fully melted and smooth. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until tepid but still fluid.
7. Using a teaspoon, fill the indentations with the chocolate mixture. Let stand until the chocolate sets (you can refrigerate them to speed things up).

Notes

Recipe from Tate’s Bakeshop ‘Baking with Friends’ Cookbook, pp 116-118.

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Fig Cake

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Hakan's Fresh Fig Cake

Yield: 12 to 16 servings.

Monday through Friday, my friend Hakan Ciling designs for the textile and fashion industries. On the weekend, he is an equally talented baker, as this moist, fruit studded cake shows. If you are serving it for an evening dessert, top it with shipped cream flavored with ground cinnamon or nutmeg.

Ingredients

• Softened butter and all-purpose flour for the pan
• 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 ¾ cups sugar
• 1 ¼ cups vegetable or grapeseed oil
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup very coarsely chopped walnuts
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup pitted dates or dried plums (prunes), cut in half
• 1 cup golden or dark raisins
• 12 ripe figs, tips trimmed and cut lengthwise into quarters (about 1 ½ cups)

Instructions

1. Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter and flour a 9-inch tube pan with a removeable bottom (such as angel food cake pan) and tap out the excess flour.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl, beat the sugar and oil with an electric mixer set on high speed until the mixture is very pale, about 5 minutes. One at a time, beat in the eggs, followed by vanilla, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Fold in the walnuts, cranberries, dates and raisins. The batter will be very thick.
3. Spread half of the batter in the prepared pan. Arrange half of the figs in a ring in the pan, pressing them lightly into the batter. Repeat with the remaining batter and figs.
4. Bake until a long bamboo skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 ¼ hours. Let cool in the pan on a wire cooling rack for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the inside of the pan and the tube and lift out the insert. Invert the cake onto the rack, unmold and let cool completely.

Notes

Recipe from Tate’s Bakeshop ‘Baking with Friends’ Cookbook, pp 56-57.

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Blackberry Galette

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Blackberry Galette

Yield: Serves 4 to 6.

When all the local farm stands are stocked with big baskets of berries, I can't resist buying them. I love the way blackberries cook up and hold their shape, with their sweet/tart taste. And the blackberries against the yellow hue of the cornmeal in the crust make a beautiful presentation. Serve this the day it's made, with fresh whipped cream or ice cream - it's lovely on its own too!

Ingredients

• DOUGH
• 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling the dough
• 1/2 cup fine yellow cornmeal (not coarse or polenta)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold salted butter, cut into pieces
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons cold water
• FILLING
• 1 teaspoon unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 cups fresh blackberries
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon cold salted butter, cut into small pieces
• 1 tablespoon sugar for sprinkling (optional)

Instructions

1. To make the dough:
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, cornmeal, sugar and salt. Work in the butter with a pastry blender, 2 knives, or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse meal with small pea-sized pieces of butter. In a small bowl, mix together the egg yolk and water. Add to the flour mixture and stir gently with a fork until the mixture is moist enough to hold together.
3. Gather the dough into a thick disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled but not hard, at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours. (The dough can be refrigerated for up to 2 days, but let it stand for 15 minutes before rolling out. It can also be frozen for up to 1 month.)
4. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
5. On a ligthly floured work surface, roll out the dough into a 10-inch round about 1/8 inch thick. Fold the dough in half, and then reopen on the prepared baking sheet. The dough cracks easily, but just press it back together if it does and don't worry, as the look of the dessert is very rustic.
6. For the filling:
7. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of flour over the dough leaving a 2-inch border all around. Spread the berries over the floured section of the dough. Sprinkle them with the sugar and dot with butter. Fold the uncovered dough up over fruit, pleating it as necessary. If the dough cracks, not to worry - just seal the tears. If you wish, brush the edges of the dough with a pastry brush dipped in water and sprinkle with the tablespoon of sugar.
8. Bake until the crust starts to brown a bit and the fruit bubbles, about 40 minutes. Let the galette cool on the baking sheet. Transfer the galette to a serving platter with a wide spatula or pick up the baking mat and slide it off onto the platter.

Notes

Recipe from Tate’s Bakeshop ‘Baking with Friends’ Cookbook, pp 92-94.

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Tate’s Bake Shop also has some holiday exclusives (see below) which are super delicious and seasonal, available for purchase online and at the Southampton store location.

Gingerbread Cookies

http://www.tatesbakeshop.com/p/product-cookies/GPCk1Ging.html

Pumpkin Tea Loaf

http://www.tatesbakeshop.com/p/product-breakfast/GPBlfsPump.html

Holiday Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookie Bark
http://www.tatesbakeshop.com/p/corporate-gift-giving-simplified/GPCkyBarkHldyPmt.html

 

Disclosure: All opinions expressed here are my own and for participating in Tate’s Bake Shop Holiday Giveaway Promotion, I received a copy of their new cookbook “Baking with Friends”.

 

Pork-a-Palooza! Pulled Pork Recipes & Cookbook Giveaway (Good Food to Share by Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan)

Posted by artfulgourmet on Aug 31, 2012 in BBQ, Book Reviews, Comfort Food, Fall Recipes, Food and Cooking How-To's, Food and Drink Events, Food Reviews, NYC, One-Pot Dishes, Pork, Product Reviews, Savory Dishes, Slow Cooked/Stews, Spring Recipes, Summer Recipes, Things I Love, Uncategorized, Winter Recipes | 0 comments

It’s that time of year again as Summer is ending and the weather is changing, perfect time of year for game day parties, Labor Day parties and heartier fare for a crowd. When I think about the perfect food to celebrate early Fall with friends and family, Savory Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork comes to mind.

Chef preparing Pulled Pork

Last week I was invited to a special Pork-a-Palooza! event in Chelsea sponsored by The National Pork Board - I had the opportunity to hear Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan - food writer, recipe developer and author of the popular website The Kitchn, speak about her love for Pork and all the simple delicious ways you can make it just by throwing a gorgeous Pork Shoulder (or any cut you choose) braised in the oven, grilled or in a Crock Pot with your veggies, seasonings and marinades and letting it cook slow and low until you get juicy, flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

Herb Rub Oven-Braised Pulled Pork

We sampled three different varieties of Pulled Pork (Chili Rub Slow Cooker Pulled Pork, Savory Rub Grilled Pulled Pork, and Herb Rub Oven-Braised Pulled Pork) and got creative by whipping up some tasty Pork dishes for ourselves such as Pulled Pork Soft Tacos, Fried Rice, Caesar Wraps, Quesadillas, Egg Scrambles, Pizzas, Baked Potatoes, Tostadas, Salads, Sliders, and Grilled Cheese. Talk about an inspiring delicious event!

Pulled Pork Taco, Salad and Grilled Cheese!

Check out the awesome food and drinks we devoured in the gallery below, and try a delicious recipe for Chili Rub Slow Cooker Pulled Pork, compliments of the National Pork Board. Check out more great pork recipes and all the different cuts of pork you can make on www.porkbeinspired.com

VIEW SLIDESHOW

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Chili Rub Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Chili Rub Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

1 3-pound boneless pork shoulder or sirloin meat
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
1 tablespoon canola oil or other neutral-flavored oil
1/2 cup chicken broth

Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with foil and place the pork in the pan. In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, salt and cayenne. Rub the mixture all over the sides of the meat, pressing to adhere (if the meat is tied together with twine or netting, just rub the seasoning right over it). Set aside.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm the oil. Add the pork and brown on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the meat to a slow cooker.

Add the broth to the skillet, scraping up any browned bits. Add the broth to the slow cooker, cover and cook until the pork is very tender, 6 to 8 hours on low or 4 to 5 hours on high.

Transfer the meat to a cutting board and let rest 10 to 15 minutes. Use two forks to shred meat into bite-sized pieces. Moisten/season with cooking juices to taste.

Serving suggestions: This recipe is only mildly spiced, so if you like things with a kick, try adding more cayenne to the rub or add some of your favorite hot sauce to the finished, shredded meat. Use the pork to make a traditional pulled pork sandwich, with barbeque sauce and slaw, or enjoy it in your favorite chili reicpe or on top of a Tex Mex Caesar salad.

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 5 1/4 to 8 1/4 hrs
Serving size: 8 to 10 servings

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Cookbook Giveaway!

*THE GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED AND OUR WINNER IS YOLANDA BARAJAS SMITH! CONGRATULATIONS!

I am giving away one (1) copy of Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan’s cookbook, Good Food to Share, to one lucky person, drawn by random. If you haven’t seen this cookbook, you absolutely need to! It’s hardcover, and full of gorgeous food photography and recipes for entertaining with family and friends. Sara has amazing menus for planning a simple supper or an impromptu dinner party with fresh and flavorful ingredients and gives great tips for cocktail, beer and wine pairings for whatever occasion you are planning to have with friends.

All you need to do to receive one (1) entry, is to leave a comment on this post what is your favorite way to prepare and eat Pulled Pork.

For additional entries, tweet this post, pin it, share it on Facebook (you’ll get separate entries for each!), and let me know in separate comments on this post that you’ve done so. For even more entries, follow Artful Gourmet on Twitter and Facebook and also let me know you’ve done so!

The giveaway begins on Friday August 31st and will end on Sunday, Sept 9th at 11 pm EST. Please leave your email with your comments (this  will not be made public) so that I can contact the winner of the giveaway and send the cookbook. Good luck! I hope you enjoy the recipes and make some fun, creative Pulled Pork recipes yourself!

Food Gone Wild! Eating Aliens & Preserving Wild Foods Press Event @ Haven’s Kitchen NYC

Posted by artfulgourmet on Jul 29, 2012 in Appetizers, Asian Food, Book Reviews, Entrees, Food and Drink Events, Healthy Cooking, Seafood, Seafood Recipes, Side Dishes, Spreads/Dips, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegetable Dishes, Vegetarian, Veggies | 0 comments

Preserving Wild Foods & Eating Aliens

I recently had the opportunity to attend a special press dinner in support of the upcoming launch of Jackson Landers’s book, ‘Eating Aliens’ and of Matthew Weingarten and Raquel Pelzel’s book, ‘Preserving Wild Foods.’  The dinner was a preview of some of the recipes from their upcoming book launches this Fall with Storey Publishing, held at the lovely cooking school and event space at Haven’s Kitchen in NYC. I met the Chefs and Authors, publishers and other journalists from the food media world. We learned about invasive species and foraging wild foods as well as the philosophy behind sustainable eating, hunting and cooking and sampled wild and amazingly delicious dishes from their books.

Haven’s Kitchen NYC

So what kind of wild food did we actually eat? Delicious food it was, but stuff you wouldn’t normally think of or hear about or see on a restaurant menu for a Saturday night dinner out on the town. We ate Dandelion Jelly Toasts, Pan-fried Snakehead (a large, black, meaty invasive fish that is absolutely delicious and tastes like swordfish!), Lionfish with Furikake Seaweed Salt  (my favorite dish of the night, see recipe below), Chinese Mystery Snails, Fiddlehead Ferns, Wild Ramp Pesto, Pickled Garlic Scapes, Pickled Wild Chanterelle Mushrooms with Crostini (another one of my favorites! see recipe below), Homemade Sausage, and Duck Prosciutto, Mulberry Shortcakes and more delicious wild, foraged foods.

This event was a great learning, tasting and meet and greet experience with other foodies and talented chefs, hunters and cookbook authors. They made this wild food taste so good it made me want to start foraging my own wild mushrooms, ramps and berries and start canning and pickling my own gourmet creations, while supporting sustainably and reducing the amount of invasive species around the world all at the same time. I can’t say I’ll be hunting my own game or diving to catch fish with my bare hands anytime soon – I’ll leave that to the masters that I met that evening…

Jackson Landers

Jackson Landers, Author/Invasive Species Hunter/Adventurer. Check out all of Jackson’s adventures hunting, cooking and traveling and some great photos on his website The Locavore Hunter. Preorder the ‘Eating Aliens’ book online.

Matt Weingarten

Matthew Weingarten is a New York City-based chef who has garnered great acclaim for his heritage comfort food. His food reflects a strong sense of place and season, and he is a committed proponent of sustainability and authenticity. He is a director on the board of Chefs Collaborative and lives in Brooklyn, New York. Read more/pre-order ‘Preserving Wild Foods’ Cookbook online.

Raquel Pelzel

Award-winning writer Raquel Pelzel has collaborated with professional chefs on thirteen cookbooks, including the James Beard-nominatedDamGoodSweet and Masala Farm. She is a former editor at Cook’s Illustrated and lives in Brooklyn, New York. Check out Raquel’s website for more info on her background, cookbooks and recipes.

Below are some great photos I captured from the event - CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULLSCREEN SLIDESHOW

Mulberry Shortcakes

Dandelion Jelly Toasts

Wild Chanterelle Mushrooms

Snakehead Fish

Snakehead Fish w/ Pickled Sea Vegetables

Dried Seaweeds & Sea Vegetables

Chinese Mystery Sea Snails

Prosciutto & Rhubarb Crostini

Pickled Garlic Scapes

Pickled Beans

Lionfish

Pan-Seared Lionfish w/ Furikake Seaweed Salt

Homemade Sausage & Duck Prosciutto

Dried Cured Meats

Pickled Canned Veggies & Pesto

Fiddlehead Ferns

Snakeheads on a plate - Jackson Landers discussing the invasive species, Snakehead Fish, at the press dinner event, by Helenah Swedberg on Vimeo.

Another great video “Close to the Bone” - An intimate and suspenseful portrait about hunting, sustainability and love by videographer Helenah Swedburg.

Here’s a couple of my favorite recipes from the Preserving Wild Foods Cookbook that we sampled at the press event. Enjoy!

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Pickled Chanterelle Mushrooms 

In a large bowl, put

2 pounds chanterelle mushrooms, brushed free of dirt and debris
8 shallots, finely diced
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
1tablespoon roughly chopped marjoram leaves
2 bay leaves
2 sprigs fresh rosemary

Put in a skillet

12 black peppercorns
6 allspice berries
1 whole clove
1 tablespoon fennel seeds

Toast the spices over medium-high heat until fragrant and the fennel seeds take on a bit of color, about 2 minutes. Add 1/4 cup kosher salt. Stir in the salt and continue to cook until the salt is warmed through, another 1 minute.

Pour the salt and spices over the mushrooms and herbs and set aside while you make the pickling liquid. In a medium saucepan, boil

2 cups water
1 cup fruity olive oil
1/2 cup aged sherry vinegar
1/4 cup dried currants
8 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons sugar

Pour over the mushrooms, tightly cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and set aside until the bottom of the bowl is cool to the touch and the liquid is at room temperature, 1 to 2 hours.

Sterlize the jars and divide the mushrooms among the still-warm jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Clean the rim of the jars with a clean kitchen towel before covering with the lids. Fasten the lid and band. Set up a hot water bath and submerge the jars placing gently on a canning rack, covering with 1 inch of water. Bring the water to a boil and process the jars for 15 minutes in a boiling water bath.

When processing is complete, use the canning tongs to transfer the hot jars to a kitchen towel-lined surface. Listen for the pops of the seals as the jars cool.

The next day, test the seal by pressing on the center of the lid (it shouldn’t bounce back). Simply put the jar in the fridge and use right away.

Store in a cool, dark, dry place preferably between 50 and 70 degrees F, for up to a year.

Eat alone or serve on an antipasti platter with smoked, cured meats, cheeses and vegetables with crusty bread or crostini and crackers.

Makes 2 pints (four 8 oz jars).

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Furikake Seaweed Salt (Fish and Meat Seasoning)

Furikake gives a blast of umami to the most ordinary of meals. Sprinkle it on plain sticky rice and any type of noodle, simply prepared steamed veggies and lightly grilled or pan-seared meats and fish. The sesame seeds reduce the amount of salt in the seasoning and the mineral-rich seaweeds ensure that you’re body gets what its craving when you hanker for a salty snack.

In a small bowl,

2 tablespoons fine sea salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup warm water

and set aside. Heat a medium skillet over medium-low and pour in

1 cup sesame seeds

Toast the sesame seeds, stirring often, until they are golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Pour the salt-sugar water over the sesame seeds. The liquid will bubble violently; once it calms down, stir the sesame seeds so they don’t clump. Reduce the heat to low and continue to toast the sesame seeds for 30 seconds. The pan will be almost dry at this point. Watch the seeds, as you don’t want the sugar to burn. Remove the pan from the heat and crumble in

2 sheets nori
1 (6-inch) sheet dulse (or  1/4 cup dry dulse flakes)

Set the pan back over low heat and stir the dulse and seeds. The seaweed will soften up a bit, and then become fragrant and dry. Once the seaweed is crisp again and dry to the touch, after about 30 seconds, remove the pan from the burner and turn out the seasoning onto a large platter to cool. Put the furikake into a glass jar or shaker and use to season anything that needs a wake-up call. (This is the seasoning we sampled on the Pan-Seared Lionfish – it was absolutely AH-MAZING!!!!)

Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

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All photos credited to Kristen Hess, The Artful Gourmet. Copyright 2012. Please do not share or distribute any of the photos or videos on this website commercially or for personal use without permission from the respected owners.

Herbivoracious: Vibrant Vegetarian Recipes & A Cookbook Giveaway!

Posted by artfulgourmet on Jun 2, 2012 in Book Reviews, Gluten-Free Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Italian, Italian Dishes, Italian Food, Salads, Savory Dishes, Spring Recipes, Summer Recipes, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegetable Dishes, Vegetarian, Veggies | 12 comments

Herbivoracious-Michael Natkin

I recently had an opportunity to meet an amazing author/chef/blogger/photographer at a recent book launch party at Candle 79, Michael Natkin. If you haven’t checked out Michael’s award-winning vegetarian blog, Herbivoracious, then you absolutely must. His creative vegetarian dishes are colorful, fresh and vibrant, and he recently published his first cookbook named after his blog. I had the opportunity to meet Michael at the party and get a signed copy of his cookbook which I absolutely adore (even though I am not a vegetarian) and loved the recipes so much that I wanted to share a few with you and offer a chance for you to enter to win a copy of the amazing cookbook yourself, giveaway courtesy of Harvard Common Press.

The cookbook is full of 150 recipes and global dishes that he has created based on inspiration from his travels around the world: Mediterranean, Middle East and Asia are some of the main areas of influence on his cooking, which has led to his unique dishes full of taste, texture, aroma and gorgeous presentation. Appetizers and Small Plates, Soups and Salads, Sandwiches and Tacos, Pasta and Noodle DIshes, Side Veggie Dishes and Desserts are all colorfully presented in this beautiful cookbook.

Whether you are an omnivore, herbivore, vegan, vegetarian or pescatarian (or just love fresh veggies, salads and healthy recipes) – I know you’ll love this cookbook as much as I do! Michael has also graciously given me two recipes from his cookbook to share with you: Over The Top Eggplant Parmesan and a cool and refreshing Watermelon, Radish and Watercress Salad (see recipes following). Enjoy!

***THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED! CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER, SHEA ROSS OF ATLANTA GA! STAY TUNED FOR FUTURE COOKBOOK GIVEAWAYS  

Here’s how to enter to win a copy of the cookbook (open to US/Canadian residents only):

• Comment on this post: Tell me what is your favorite vegetable or vegetarian dish, or simply why you would like to win the cookbook to receive one (1) entry;
• Follow me on Twitter and get an additional entry;
• Follow me on Pinterest and get an additional entry;
• Become a fan of The Artful Gourmet on Facebook and get an additional entry;
• Share this post on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr or Pinterest with your followers & get an additional entry for each post;

*** VERY IMPORTANT! *** Leave a separate comment for EACH of your entries or only one entry will be counted. For example, leave your first comment about your favorite vegetable or vegetarian dish and why you want to win the cookbook, then add another comment to say “I follow you on Twitter”, another to say “I follow you on Pinterest”, etc. If you already follow me on Twitter, Pinterest and/or Facebook let me know as well, since this counts as an entry.

*NOTE: Please make sure to provide your current email address (which won’t be visible) so I can reach you if you win.

I will randomly draw one lucky winner on Sunday, June 10 at 11 pm EST. Good Luck and enjoy the recipes from Michael’s book below!

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Over-the-Top Eggplant Parmigiana

Eggplant Parmigiana

SERVES 6
1 HOUR (40 MINUTES ACTIVE)

For this no-holds-barred eggplant parmigiana, the eggplant is breaded with panko and pan-fried, layered with fresh mozzarella and homemade tomato sauce, finished in the oven, and then topped with a dice of fresh heirloom tomatoes. It makes a satisfying entrée, and you need only add a green salad to make a celebratory dinner.

I don’t salt and drain eggplant for most uses, but it is worthwhile in this recipe. Extracting some of the liquid makes the eggplant fry up firm yet fork-tender. You don’t want any mush factor in your parmigiana.

Here’s a great tip for breading. Use one hand to put the eggplant in the flour, egg, and bread crumbs. Use the other hand to toss the eggplant in the bread crumbs and into the skillet. By keeping one hand for the wet stuff and the other for the dry, you avoid getting your hands breaded along with the eggplant!

The finest canned tomatoes for Italian dishes come from the area of San Marzano; look for that name on the can.

Ingredients

• 3 large or 5 smaller globe eggplants (about 4 pounds total)
• Kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups canned crushed tomatoes (preferably San Marzano)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups panko bread crumbs
• 4 large eggs, beaten
• Vegetable oil, for pan-frying
• 12 ounces mozzarella, thinly sliced
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• 2 handfuls fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped

To Serve

• 1 1⁄2 cups diced vine-ripened tomatoes (only truly good, ripe tomatoes will do here; don’t use those supermarket ones ripened with ethylene gas)
• 1 handful fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. Peel the eggplants and slice lengthwise into planks a scant 1⁄2 inch thick. Layer in a colander with a heavy sprinkling of kosher salt between each layer, top with a plate, and weight with some cans. Set aside on a plate to drain for at least 30 minutes. Wipe off excess salt with a paper towel.
2. Heat the olive oil in a medium-size saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the crushed tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, while you make the rest of the recipe. Don’t add salt, because the eggplant will still have residual salt from the draining process.
3. Set up a rack or baking sheet covered with paper towels for draining the fried eggplant. Butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and preheat the oven to 400°F.
4. Set up for dredging, with plates for the flour and bread crumbs and a shallow bowl for the eggs. Heat a good 1⁄4 inch of vegetable oil in your biggest skillet over high heat. Working with two slices of eggplant at a time, pat them in the flour until they have a dry coating, then drag through the egg, and finally press both sides in the bread crumbs, covering thoroughly. Place them in the skillet, where they should start sizzling immediately. Don’t pack them in too tightly in the skillet; leave yourself some room to work. Flip when brown, about 2 minutes, then brown on the other side. They should be fork-tender at this point (the oven time is just to melt the cheese, not cook the eggplant). Transfer the eggplant to the rack to drain. Repeat with the remaining eggplant, adding more vegetable oil as necessary.
5. To assemble, set down your first layer of eggplant in the prepared baking dish, and top each slice with a couple tablespoons of tomato sauce, a piece of mozzarella, a bit of Parmigiano, and a bit of basil. Build up three layers, finishing with cheese.
6. Bake until the cheese is thoroughly melted, about 20 minutes.
7. To serve: Toss the diced tomatoes with the basil and a pinch of salt. Put an eggplant stack on each plate, and top with 1⁄4 cup of the tomato salad and a grind of fresh black pepper.

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Watermelon Radish and Watercress Salad

Watermelon, Radish and Watercress Salad

GLUTEN-FREE
SERVES 4
10 MINUTES

This delicious salad is driven purely by its beautiful ingredients; all you have to do is take a little care to arrange them nicely.

Watermelon radishes are green on the outside, but when sliced you see that they are intensely red in the middle, looking much like tiny watermelons. If you have a mandoline, use it here: It is excellent for slicing them thinly and evenly.

If you have difficulty finding watercress, check the refrigerated produce section of upscale markets. They often carry hydroponic watercress, making this peppery green, once strictly seasonal, available year-round. Look for bright, fresh leaves with no signs of wilting. The tart cress makes a great foil for the sweet figs and pomegranate seeds (or more technically, arils).

Ingredients

• 1 large watermelon radish, very thinly sliced
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 handfuls watercress, rinsed and dried
• 1 lemon
• 4 ripe fresh figs, halved
• 1⁄4 cup pomegranate seeds
• 16 shavings Parmigiano-Reggiano or other hard aged cheese
• 12 toasted walnut halves
• Flaky sea salt (such as Maldon)

Directions

1. Arrange a circle of watermelon radish slices on each of four chilled plates. Drizzle with a little olive oil.
2. Toss the watercress with a bit of the olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice. Place a fluffy handful on each plate. This is the critical step to making the salad look nice—aim to make a tall, high mound in the center, and don’t let it spread out.
3. Add 2 fig halves, 1 tablespoon pomegranate seeds, 4 cheese shavings, and 3 toasted walnut halves to each plate. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and serve immediately.

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Get more great recipes from Herbivoracious

Herbivoracious is also available in an enhanced e-book edition, with 25 videos featuring Natkin touring ethnic markets, introducing ingredients and showing how to choose them, and preparing recipes from the book. The e-book will also offer social media functionality for sharing recipes, photos, and video on Facebook, Twitter, and blogs.

Click here to download a press release.