Sage Corn Muffins

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (or 3/4 cup oat flour)

  • 1 cup cornmeal

  • 2 tsp baking soda

  • 1/4 tsp sea salt

  • 2 eggs

  • 3/4 cup buttermilk

  • 1/4 cup raw honey

  • 2 1/2 tbsp safflower oil

  • 3 oz baby spinach, finely chopped

  • 2 1/2 tbsp sage leaves, minced

PREPARATION:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. In a blender, blend oats to the consistency of flour. In a large bowl, combine oat flour, cornmeal, baking soda and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, buttermilk, honey and oil. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients, and stir. Stir in spinach and sage.

  2. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners. Fill three-quarters full with batter. Bake muffins for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in center. Let muffins cool in pan for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Eggplant & Cherry Tomato Coconut Curry with Whole-Wheat Chapati

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 tbsp coconut oil

  • 1 tsp brown mustard seeds

  • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds

  • 1 yellow onion, sliced

  • 1 serrano chile pepper, chopped

  • 1 tbsp peeled and minced fresh ginger

  • 1 tbsp minced garlic

  • 1 eggplant (about 1 1/4 lb), cut into 1/2-inch cubes

  • 4 tsp curry powder

  • 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth

  • 1/2 cup coconut milk

  • 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved if large

  • 1/2 tsp each sea salt and ground black pepper

  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

WHOLE-WHEAT CHAPATI:

  • 6 tbsp whole-wheat flour, plus additional for rolling

  • 6 tbsp white whole-wheat flour

  • 1/4 tsp sea salt 1 tbsp safflower oil, divided

PREPARATION:

  1. Prepare chapati dough: In a large bowl, combine flours and 1/4 tsp salt. Add 1 1/2 tsp safflower oil and mix with your fingers until crumbly. Slowly add 3 tbsp water, 1 tbsp at a time, and mix until dough just comes together. (NOTE: Dough will appear dry, but will come together when pressed. If dough is too dry, add more water, 1 tsp water at a time, until dough comes together in a ball.) Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth, about 5 minutes. Cover with a damp cloth and set aside for 30 minutes.

  2. Meanwhile, prepare curry: In a large sauté pan on medium, heat coconut oil. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds and heat until seeds turn gray and begin to pop, 45 seconds. Add onion and sauté for 4 minutes, until softened. Add chile pepper, gingerand garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 45 seconds.

  3. To pan, add eggplant and curry powder and stir. Add broth and coconut milk. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until eggplant is just tender when pierced with a fork, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, cover and simmer until tomatoes burst and are falling apart, about 6 minutes. Season with ½ tsp each salt and black pepper. Cover to keep warm.

  4. Divide dough into 4 balls and cover with a damp cloth. Dust a rolling pinand work surface with flour. Flatten and roll each dough ball until very thin and about 5 inches in diameter, lifting and rotating dough to keep it from sticking to surface. Cover dough circles with a damp towel.

  5. Heat a large cast iron skillet or griddle on medium high. Heat 1 chapati at a time in dry skillet until small bubbles appear on surface, about 30 seconds. Flip chapati over and brush surface with about one-quarter of remaining safflower oil. Heat until lightly puffed, about 30 seconds. Wrap chapati in foil or a towel to keep warm and repeat with remaining dough. Sprinkle cilantro over curry and serve with chapati.

Grilled Eggplant Caprese

INGREDIENTS:

  • Slices from 2 grilled eggplants (about 14 to 16 slices)

  • 4 heirloom tomatoes, sliced (TIP: You could also mix it up and use ½ cup cherry tomatoes, or use a mix of both.)

  • 6 oz fresh mozzarella, cut into slices

  • 1 tbsp thinly sliced fresh basil (or use whole basil leaves)

  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2 tsp balsamic vinegar

  • ⅛ tsp each coarse sea salt and ground black pepper

PREPARATION:

  1. Spread eggplant, tomato and mozzarella slices on a platter. Scatter basil on top. Drizzle with oil and vinegar then sprinkle with salt and pepper. 

Pan-Seared Eggplant with Buttermilk Dressing

INGREDIENTS:

  • 8 tablespoons olive oil, divided

  • 1 medium shallot, chopped, divided

  • 2 tablespoons buttermilk, plain yogurt, or crème fraîche

  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

  • 1 teaspoon honey

  • 4 tablespoons finely chopped chives, divided

  • 12 ounces Japanese eggplant (about 2 small), halved lengthwise, sliced crosswise on a diagonal 1/4-inch thick

  • 2 Persian cucumbers, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise on a diagonal

  • 1/4 cup parsley leaves with tender stems

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

  • 1 avocado, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

PREPARATION:

  1. Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high. Add half of shallot and cook, stirring often, until tender and slightly charred and crisp around the edges, about 5 minutes; season with salt. Remove skillet from heat.

  2. Whisk buttermilk, vinegar, mustard, honey, and several grinds of pepper in a medium bowl until smooth. Scrape in charred shallot; reserve skillet. Add 3 Tbsp. oil and 2 Tbsp. chives and mix well. Season dressing with salt.

  3. Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in reserved skillet over medium-high. Add half of eggplant slices and arrange in a single layer; season lightly with salt. Cook, without moving, until browned underneath, about 3 minutes. Turn; cook on second side until browned and tender, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Add remaining 2 Tbsp. oil to skillet and repeat with remaining eggplant slices.

  4. Let eggplant cool slightly, then add cucumbers, parsley, lemon juice, half of lemon zest, and 1 Tbsp. chives to bowl. Toss well; season with salt and pepper. Gently fold in avocado.

  5. Transfer to a platter and drizzle with several spoonfuls of dressing (you don’t need to use all of it). Top with remaining lemon zest, shallot, and 1 Tbsp. chives.

Garlic Scape Risotto

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

  • 1/2 cup garlic scapes (cut into 1/4 inch rounds)

  • 1 cup Arborio rice

  • 1/2 cup white wine

  • 4 cups chicken broth or stock

  • Salt and pepper, to taste

  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh sage

  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Romano cheese

PREPARATION:

  1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic scapes and cook, stirring occasionally, for five minutes. Stir in the rice and let toast for one minute. Pour in the wine and stir. Allow the wine to fully absorb into the rice.

  2. Meanwhile, heat the chicken broth in a pan to warm over low heat. Once the wine is absorbed into the rice, begin adding it to the rice mixture one ladle at a time. Allow the broth to be fully absorbed into the rice after each edition (you'll hear a sizzle when its all absorbed). Be patient. Part of making risotto is waiting for it … and it’s totally worth the wait. All in all, this will take about 25 minutes.

  3. Once all of the broth has been added and absorbed, stir in salt and pepper, the sage and the cheese. Cover and cook for 2-3 more minutes. Remove from heat and serve immediately.