Vegetable Oil(s)

I don't really know a lot about vegetable oil and was beginning to become suspicious. If you're reading this, you must have had some of the same paranoia: What is it? Is it edible? Is it safe? So I did some research for us, the paranoid food consumers, label investigators, and overly conscious foodies. Where? Wiki of course. Ok I started there and much of the page was incomprehensible sciency stuff so I read other webpages about vegetable oil and have condensed it here for those of you, like me, who are needing to know what's really up with the ambiguously named vegetable oil.

First of all, check out the label, become a detective. Check ingredients and check out how the oil is processed. Sometimes the label will be just as ambiguous as the name of "vegetable oil" revealing nothing of any use--a blend perhaps, or the clever use of commas and "or". However, sometimes they'll just come right out and tell you it's soybean or some other such oil that doesn't have the same ring of health as "vegetable". I also shall warn you to never buy the cheap stuff. I used it for years in baking but now I know better. That stuff is extracted using a petroleum derivatives, hexane, and some fishy chemical process. Stick to the processing that has been used for centuries, pressing the seeds until the oil comes out.

And that hydrogenated stuff? Another big no-no. Never touch. Lard is probably healthier than that. Though of course I am not advocating for lard. I once was forced by a boss of the local B&B I was working at to use lard in her "traditional family recipe" for biscochitos. I gagged almost the entire time and tried using gloves, to no avail. I touched it. Slimy and disgusting. Never do that either. Back to hydrogenated oils: you can't digest them, they'll make you fat, and there is another ridiculously complicated processing that goes on in production that includes atoms (hydrogen clearly), chemicals and very high heat making this clearly very unnatural and something to be scared of.

There is a reason to be suspicious. In my opinion, cough up the extra few dollars and get yourself a quality oil. Some oils are better for high heat, like coconut, palm and butter. (One day I will do a whole entry extolling the wonders of butter but for now, you must simply forget everything you've ever heard about it being unhealthy and just trust me. Food of the Gods.) Some oils you should never really heat at all like flax oil (see below). Everyone's favorite, EVOO (or extra virgin olive oil for those of you not in the foodie acronym know, elite class) should really only be used at medium heat. If it starts popping at you, it's too high.

Then there's the debate of saturated versus unsaturated. Some saturated fat is probably good for you. I mean, butter and coconut oil is saturated *gasp*. You can't possibly tell me that coconuts are bad for you. It's kindof like when these pharmacy students gave a presentation in our health theory class about the horrors of natural remedies, like grapefruits? Give me a break. People are just scared of getting fat, and no wonder with the obesity epidemic. Then there's also the "polyunsaturated" versus the "monounsaturated". Apparently both will lower your cholesterol, so you probably shouldn't worry about the nuances of specifics. And then there's HDL versus LDL cholesterol, and then I'm just confused. I think the real trick here is to go with what seems the most natural and least processed.

Another important oil related topic is omega 6s versus omega 3s. Most experts (I should ask for their credentials or maybe read their studies because it is a bit fishy) say we need 3s and 6s in equal proportion. Apparently omega 3s are not found in the oils we consume when cooking or baking which are omega 6. Omega 3s are mostly found in fish, but the catch? One would have to consume four pounds of fish daily to consume 3s and 6s in the same proportion. And unless you're a pescaterian (which I am not) that would be really hard to do. The only solution: flax oil. Flax oil is a vegetarian source of omega 3 fatty acids but it tastes slightly revolting and you can't cook with it as it turns rancid. When I was consuming it on a regular basis my skin was literally sparkling. The oil would seemingly seep out of my pores and catch the light--never had better skin in fact. Then my stepmother told me that some famous actress used flax oil to gain weight for some movie and that was it. I couldn't consume it with the same health enthusiast vigor. I now take capsules and notice no real effects on the skin. It's really just a nod to doing the right thing, I don't think one flax oil pill in the morning could possibly do much. (I was consuming about 2 tablespoons a day).

The skinny? Do: pick natural products (no crisco for instance), make sure the processing is also natural (pressed for instance), consume all types of oils, choose reputable brands, read labels and spend the extra buck for a quality product that won't clog your arteries. Don't: consume hydrogenated oils, vegetable oils, lard, four pounds of fish a day (because that's gross), or worry so much about getting fat from oil consumption (as long as it's quality and you're cooking it correctly you have nothing to worry about).

Politics & Policy

Follow this link for a witty and informative year-end piece on food and the inherent impact getting it to our tables by Ari LeVaux, a Placitas, NM resident.

http://www.hcn.org/wotr/2010-the-year-of-food-politics

Entertaining Continued

My friend Ivy says, that the Chinese say, that whatever you do on the first day of the New Year will be what you will be doing the whole year. I sure hope this is true, because I cooked a delicious meal, shared it with friends, made new friends, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. (I know what you're thinking--the Chinese have a totally different calendar...how can you transfer their superstitions? Well, mostly because I've heard it before and second because it encourages us to set an intention or tone for the year to come.)
The challenge was to not buy anything other than what we had in the fridge. Marcos did go out to buy a bottle of wine but that doesn't count because we weren't cooking with it. The menu was stacked polenta with portabello mushrooms, roasted red bell pepper and three cheeses, with a spinach salad on the side. Simple yet elegant. Wouldn't be in the kitchen all day, in fact only started cooking 2 hours before their arrival, and only because I was making the polenta from scratch.

Polenta

I use thick ground corn grits from South Carolina...if you don't have access to such delicacies there is usually a thicker grind grit, hopefully yellow corn, available at your gourmet or natural grocer. When I don't have any available from SC, I either call my Dad to send more or buy them in bulk from my local coop.

1 cup polenta, dry, thick ground corn

Salt (the water and the grits to taste)

Garlic (I used only what was available to me...the innards of a bulb of garlic, just enough:)

Basil, dried about 1 Tbsp

1 quart water (start with 2 cups though and slowly add more)

Boil two cups of water with a couple dashes of salt. When the water is boiling stir in the grits. It is important to stir because if you forget this step your polenta/grits will be lumpy. Add in the garlic, minced. Add in the basil and more salt. Stir again. The water will be absorbed quickly. Add more, stir. Continue adding more water and stirring when necessary. If you don't stir your grits/polenta will stick to the bottom of the pan and burn. Taste them and add enough salt to make it hard for you not to eat them all right now. Let them stand to cool and dehydrate. Cooking time is about 30 minutes but if you want to cook them a little longer they'll taste even better. You want them to cool and dry out as much as possible so forming them into cakes is easy, also if they're a little too wet the oil will splatter and pop in the pan. Cooking them at night and then refrigerating yields the best results. You can even put them in plastic cylindrical containers that will help form them into the classic polenta shape. Don't use glass because you'll have a time getting them out and the shape thing won't work out. I didn't do this because I wasn't sure what I was cooking exactly...and it was tasty nonetheless.

Now you have to fry them. Simply shape them into cakes, heat the oil in the pan (olive, medium heat, bout a tablespoon), drop them in. Make sure you're wearing an apron to prevent the splatters from marring your clothing. This part will take longer than you think. Don't flip them until they start to brown around the edges and hold together. Don't overcook either as they won't still be moist in the center. But they'll taste great regardless, and your friends will be impressed that you made your own polenta.

I roast my bell peppers over the open gas flame of the stove. If you do not have a gas oven then you have to broil them in the oven. Once the skin starts to blacken, remove from flame and let cool. Remove the skin either by hand or in a brown paper bag (by shaking), do not run them underwater as that removes some of the oils that are so tasty.

Pictured here are also two of the three cheeses I used. Tucumcari Feta and Tucumcari Green Chile Jack. (Both made in Tucumcari, New Mexico) The third was an Amish Blue, quite tasty as an accent cheese.

Sorry for the hand blur in that picture...obviously I wasn't taking the pictures this time, for the most part. You must marinate the mushrooms, this makes them juicy and delicious. I marinated mine in the following..

Mushroom Marinade

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

1 heaping teaspoon of garlic chile oil

3 tbsp. braggs

3 tsp. agave nectar

Lemon juice

2 teaspoons marjoram

water

splash leftover NYE champagne

I think that's all I used. I usually just mix stuff together following the Ayurvedic principles of taste: something salty, something sweet, something spicy, something bitter and something astringent. Works like a charm. Make sure you pour the marinade over the gills of the mushroom and then cover it. I usually have them marinading in the frying pan I will use. You will also cook them in the marinade making them extra tasty. Marinade for at least 20 minutes, cook for about 10 minutes over a medium flame.

Spinach

Spinach was my first layer, the bed of greens. I simply wilt the spinach in a bit of lemon juice, the water left on the leaves from washing and salt and pepper. Make sure to cover the leaves while they cook to maximize the steam. I typically will throw in some garlic but I had already used my supply in the polenta. Oh well, I didn't miss it anyways. Also the wilting of the spinach is only a matter of minutes, if you steam them too long they will start to deteriorate. Wilt only until they all begin to turn a darker green.

Polenta, Portabella, Roasted Red Bell Pepper & Three Cheese Stack

At this point you've done all the prep work and you can just stack it up. Start with the bed of greens, stack one polenta cake, layer with the green chile jack, then the portabella, next feta, then the bell pepper, then the Amish blue, then, if you're a New Mexican, strips of roasted green chile, finally top with another polenta cake (this may not fit exactly so just tilt it onto the side of the stack). If you like your food steaming you should throw the stacks into a warm oven before serving. So tasty...wish I had some pictures that weren't blurry :(

Spinach Salad (per each)

A handful of washed spinach

Chopped carrots

slices of pear

crumbled feta

halved walnuts

Drizzle with olive oil, braggs and cider vinegar for dressing

I know it sounds like I was in the kitchen all day but I wasn't. Started cooking at 5, guests arrived at 7, exactly when I was ready to plate. It may seem like a lot of steps but it's worth it. I even forgot the onions. In the past I have sliced onions so that the circles remain in tact, then fried them on a low heat to caramelize them. This adds a nice slightly gourmet touch. enjoy!

Entertaining

The challenge: to entertain guests with only the items available in the fridge. (Partially because everything is closed on new year's day, and partially because it's a challenge. I once heard a professional culinary artist (accent on the "i", pronounced like the Spanish "i") say that a real cook/chef used all the items available in the fridge. Pancakes with pickled cauliflower anyone?)

Christmas Tamales

I've been totally slackin'--I apologize. Though my slacking is really only on blogging about things I've been cooking, restaurants I've discovered, books I've bought and new additions to my urban farm. In the near future you can look forward to posts on Tofurkey, Spanikopita, Thai Vegan, "Entertaining in the Raw" and our chickens (Dezzy, Dixie, Beonce, and Arrrrrgh). Promise. No more slacking.

But truly I have been very actively cooking. For instance, I spent all day Christmas Eve making tamales...whole new respect. I had heard that making tamales was time

consuming and intense but now I know firsthand how arduous it really is. And how rewarding..

Most tamales are not vegetarian. Often the masa has lard, the filling is pork and traditional tamale conservatives will scoff at your attempt. I felt pressured when Marcos told his father, my Mexican father-in-law that I would be bringing tamales to the Christmas brunch. I was only going to bring them if they turned out to be tasty, but now I was required. Shortly after that conversation my aunt-in-law Isela called with some helpful pointers...that's when I realized that maybe vegetarian tamales are an insult? Or maybe they're just unheard of. I don't know but I pulled it together and cranked out three varieties: calabacitas, mushroom and smoked gouda, and red chile and pickled jalepeno. Much to my delight they were tasty and though I wouldn't know what I was missing, the pork, chicken stock, and lard proved unecessary.






The key element to tamales is the masa. Masa is a type of ground cornmeal. And like corn it can be white, yellow or blue. I chose to go with a white grind, the most commonly used in making tamales. When buying my masa at the grocery store down the street a woman approached me and said something indecipherable, I must have said "What" to which she responded "Oh! Do you speak english?". I felt as though she had given me a new sense of confidence, confusing my look to be hispanic. Maybe I really looked as though I knew what I was doing (even though I didn't). Regardless, we briefly talked about tamales and their wonder, neither of us being experts but both enthusiasts.

On the back of the masa was two recipes, one using water or broth and the other using lard. I chose to follow the water/broth version, because lard is disgusting and certainly not vegetarian.

Masa

2 cups masa for tamales (the masa for tortillas and chips is a finer grind. Masa is cut with lime, increasing its calcium.)

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 cups water or broth (the first time I used a veggie broth, the second two batches I used red chile sauce)

2/3 shortening (I used Earthbalence buttery spread, but any oil will do)

Mix the first 3 ingredients first so that there are not any pockets of baking powder to detract the falvor. Slowly add the broth, mixing with your hands until the dough is soft and not sticky. Then beat in the shortening until the masa is almost fluffy. This amount will make about 1 dozen small tamales.

Tamales

Corn Husks

Masa (prepared as above)

Filling...to follow

Wet down a corn husk (the bigger the husk the easier to learn how to roll them, the smaller ones you can combine with another small husk to increase the size). Fill it with a handful of masa (depending on the size of the husk but typically about 1/2 cup). Press the masa down until it forms about a 1/2 inch tall layer on the husk. I was generous in the middle and went all the way to the left edge so that when you roll them masa fully encases the filling. Fill with filling so that the filling creates a vertical strip in the center. Roll around the filling, and tie on the ends. Place them into a large pot to steam. My pot wasn't large enough and did not completely close so each batch cooked for about 2 hours, the package claimed one. However, everyone I spoke to after the fact claims that tamales take forever, so two hours was not unheard of.

Calabacitas Filling

Calabacitas (Small squash in spanish. I used zukkinis.) precooked in saucepan with olive oil, salt and pepper

1 Ear of Corn, shaved off the cobb

2 onions, sauteed in olive oil, salt and pepper

Green Chile, roasted and torn into strips

Monterey Jack Cheese, about a pound grated

Mushroom and Smoked Gouda

Crimini Mushrooms, 1 package chopped and sauteed

Black olives, your choice

Smoked Gouda, grated, a bit less than above

Red Chile and Pickled Jalepeno

Chopped pickled jalepenos (Isela made ours, delicious)

Aged cheddar, same as above

Black beans

Red Chile Sauce

* to be mixed into the Masa...will turn it red.

5 cloves garlic, minced or crushed

1/2 stick butter

3 tbsp flour

1/4-1/2 cup ground red chile

Water (about 4 cups)

Salt to taste

Saute the garlic in the butter. Slowly add the flour to create a rue. Add chile powder, stir. Slowly add the water being careful not to make the sauce to thin...you can always add more.

A good variation on this recipe is to add onions, with or without the garlic. It gives the sauce a very different flavor.

I did have designs for a spinach and roasted red bell pepper variety as well as a sweet version with walnuts, chocolate, cream cheese, cinnamon and agave. Next time.

Homemade Mac & Cheese

I was going to take the easy way out...I had already envisioned my dinner: a box of Annie's white cheddar mac and cheese...mmmm I thought, no work for me. But then I got to thinking...mmm white cheddar mac and cheese with broccoli, I'll pick up some broccoli and throw it in too. Then I thought...it's never cheesy enough, I'll pick up some Parmesan too. Then I got to thinking...Oh, and I don't want the whole wheat noodles, I want the rice noodles. And then I thought...why are you getting a box? And so it went, I couldn't do it. Boxes sound convenient but usually they lack creativity and end up being just as much a kitchen full of dishes as any old meal.

At the house I had: brown rice penne pasta (Trader Joe's brand..awesome), white cheddar, garlic and butter. All I had to buy on the way home was some broccoli and Parmesan...and of course some red wine...really my evening was made.

So easily too..

2-3 cups dry brown rice pasta

1 medium crown of broccoli chopped to your specifications

1/2 cup grated white cheddar

1/4 cup grated Parmesan

1/3 stick butter or substitute

garlic cloves, as many as you can stand

olive oil (for sauteing)

red wine (for you)

Boil some water then throw in the pasta for about ten minutes or until edible. Saute broccoli with garlic for a minute or so. Grate cheese. Open wine. Drain pasta, put back in pot, add the broccoli and butter, stir. Slowly add cheeses, stirring the whole time. Add salt and pepper to taste. Taste. Pour yourself some wine. Heap some mac and cheese into a bowl and sit down for some home-cooked comfort food.

FIVE types of basil PESTO!!

Mmmm hmm that's right, five types of basil. There's Genovese, there's Thai, there's lemon, there's purple and there's curly. Together dynamite! I'm growing them all because I'm awesome, but also because they came in a packet of seeds I bought at our local Co-op. The lemon may taste a bit like dish soap when in a Caprese salad but alone picked fresh and placed in your mouth, chewed and swallowed is an experience I would hate to have lived without having. In fact this pesto is an experience that I may have regretted not having without even knowing: a philosophical conundrum that I have alerted you to and now, by making this pesto, you can avoid. Tis true, I am saving you from a mediocre, boring existence.

And now, a recipe. One that may save you from your lackluster life.

5 Types of Basil Pesto

Note: If you are not as cool as me and did not plant 5 types of basil, this recipe is almost as good with just the regular Genovese variety.

8 cups of unprocessed basil(s)

10 sundried tomatoes soaked in hot water for about a 1/2 hour

1/2 cup walnuts (pine nuts are preferable but they were $26.99/lb.)

4 Tbsp. olive oil

6 cloves garlic

1/2 cup parmesean, finely grated

Salt & Pepper to taste

*Do note: I forgot lemon. It was an accident. You should not forget it and put in the juice of 1/2 lemon.

I think that's everything but I am probably forgeting something I put in there. It truly was delicious. Traditionally my family makes this with whole wheat pasta. And then, traditionally, we put the cold leftovers on bread (yes, pasta and pesto on bread...carb fest 2010!!), and enjoy. Try it before you knock it. It's a great way to use pesto leftovers, promise.