ORZO + BROCCOLI PESTO SALAD

I have been a long time admirer of Heidi, creator of the eversopopular 101cookbooks. I started off my food blog interest, knowing of only two sites, Heidi's being one of them. Her taste in food is similar to mine, so I read (and still read) every post with full attention. I like to cook with whole grains and lots of produce; keeping food fresh and natural, while not compromising flavor. She has been a pioneer of that style in the food blog world, reminding readers that food that is good for you, does not end at steamed vegetables and a dry protein. Heidi is creative, kind, and relatable in the way she presents her recipes. She emphasizes on her site and in her new book Super Natural Every Day, that recipes are there to offer ideas and get you started, but always open for change. The book is full of helpful tips, great recipes, and room for you to make them your own. It is not short of beautiful images and her humble personality is woven through every page.

This recipe caught my eye as I was thinking of something to bring on a picnic with my sister in law and sweet little niece. It travels well and is packed with flavor. I only made a few changes, to avoid yet another trip to the store. I swapped in walnuts for the suggested pine nuts, added chopped cilantro, and tossed in some adzuki beans for a little extra protein. I am going to write Heidi's recipe as given in the book, and you can make your adjustments as you desire.

ORZO + BROCCOLI PESTO SALAD // Serves 6

Super Natural Every Day by Heidi Swanson

1 Cup Whole Grain Orzo

5 Cups Raw Broccoli, cut into small florets

2 Cloves of Garlic

2/3 Cup Pinenuts, toasted

1/3 Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese

Juice of one Lemon

1/4 Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/4 Cup Creme Fraiche

Grated Zest of one Lemon

1 Large Avocado, sliced

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt generously. Add the orzo and cook according to package instructions. Drain, rinse with cold water, and drain again.

2. In the meantime, cook the broccoli. Bring about a cup of water to a boil in a large pot with a pinch of salt. Stir in the broccoli, put the lid on and cook for one to two minutes, just long enough to take the edge off. Quickly drain the broccoli, and run under cold water to stop the cooking. Drain well.

3. To make the pesto, combine 2 cups of the cooked broccoli, the garlic, most of the nuts, parmesan, 1/4 tsp salt, 2 Tbsp. of the lemon juice and pulse in a food processor. Drizzle in the olive oil and creme fraiche and pulse until smooth.

4. Toss the orzo, remaining cooked broccoli florets, about 2/3 of the pesto and the lemon zest. Taste it and add what you like - more lemon, salt, the rest of the pesto. Fold in the avocado and top with the remaining nuts and a bit of extra parmesan if you prefer.

PRESERVED LEMONS.

I have my favorite dozen-ish ingredients that I use most frequently when I cook. They are ingredients that make me feel safe. I am confident in how to use them well, they are good for me while also being flavorful and to this point, I feel like they compose my 'style'. This truth has never really bothered me until I signed a contract to develop one hundred original recipes for a cookbook, and realized that I would need to deviate from my go-to's for the sake of variety. I committed to this project, because I want to be better. So though lemons are clearly in my top twelve, preserving them was something new to me, so I think that counts as a step forward. Or maybe a half step, which is still that right direction.

I know there have been a LOT of lemons around here lately, but citrus is tough to beat right now, so let's be honest, there is likely more to come. I'm not typically one to say "you must make this!", but we will likely use these preserved lemons in a few recipes throughout the coming months, and I'd love it if you would play along. You could toss them in here, or in any of these:

Quinoa with Asparagus and Preserved Lemon Dressing

Bulgar and Chickpeas with Preserved Lemon Vinaigrette

Israeli Couscous with Butternut and Preserved Lemon

Green Garlic and Preserved Lemon Hummus

PRESERVED LEMONS //

I read about this method in a cookbook at the bookstore, and have no clue what the title was. It's pretty free form, so I don't believe anyone will be insulted by the lack of credit given. Thank you for your help, mystery book. These are not precise measurements, as all lemons are different sizes. From what I can tell, as long as there is salt, lemons and plenty of juice in the jar, you're off to a good start.

7-ish Meyer Lemons

1 Cup Fine Grain Sea Salt

1 Tbsp. Natural Cane Sugar

2 tsp. Whole Peppercorns

1. Sanitize a large, wide mouth mason jar.

2. If buying store bought lemons, scrub them really well to get off any wax - the rind is what you'll be eating in the end so give them some elbow grease. If you have a lemon tree, then you're fine. Unless, of course, you use wax and harsh fertilizer :/

3. Cut the largest of the lemons in half and poke out the seeds. This is the one you'll be using for juice.

4. Remove the ends of the remaining lemons, and cut them in quarters.

5. Put about 1/4 cup of the salt at the bottom of the jar. Smush in four of the lemon quarters, you don't need to be gentle, we want a bit of juice to squish out. Follow them by about a tablespoon of salt. Try to let it touch the flesh of each slice. Squeeze a bit of the lemon you're using for juice and then repeat with remaining lemons and salt.

6. About midway in the jar, sprinkle the sugar in with the salt, and continue the layering.

7. When you get close to the top, smush everything down a bit. Make sure no more than an inch or two of the lemon slices are above the meniscus. Add in the peppercorns. Over the next 2-3 days, enough juice should be extracted to cover them. If not, add a bit more yourself.

8. Allow the jar to sit a few days at room temp, and then store them in the fridge. They are probably fine at room temperature, but I'm cautious. Turn them upside down every now and then to keep things moving.

9. They are ready to use in cooking after about a month, but will keep in the fridge up to 6 months.

To use, rinse the lemon of it's salty brine, and scoop away the flesh. Use the preserved peels to put on fish, in grain salads or on top of a panna cotta.

COCONUT QUINOA + SPINACH SALAD

It was different this year. Different, in an oh-so-wonderful kind of way.

Christmas took its same course of stress and scrambling to make sure I got everyone something thoughtful and nice, sticky notes of who is cooking what, messages of what time we need to be where and remember to tell grandma an hour earlier because you know she'll be late. A joyful frenzy builds through December, to a day that is, well, joyful and frenzied? Hugh and I were able to spend time with everyone, chased around our adorable niece, bundled up for church outside, stayed up super late laughing and chatting with each other; I made undercooked french toast for my family, got a vacuum from Santa, and soaked it in. The holidays are some of the sweetest and funniest times with my family, and having a sparkly new husband to enjoy everything with, made it even better. We got home late Christmas night after talking all day, and I told Hugh the presents were nice, but my favorite part is just the time. We don't often have days with no where else to be than where you are, doing just what you're doing. You've got to savor days like that.

So here we are again, a bit overloaded on sweets and craving foods on the lighter side. This salad is so tasty and gorgeous with all the contrasts of color. Little bit of crunch from the pomegranates and pistachios, and just a subtle touch of coconut in the quinoa. I've been eating leftovers with an egg on top, and I think it'd work well with just about any protein.

May the rest of your holiday season be full of the giving and taking of time.

COCONUT QUINOA + SPINACH SALAD // Serves 6 as a side

I know some are still wary of using raw spinach, and I think arugula would be great as well, maybe just use a bit less as it's a bit stronger in flavor.

1 Cup Quinoa

1 Cup Light Coconut Milk

1/3 Cup Vegetable Broth or Water

2 Large Shallots

2 Tbsp. Coconut Oil*

1 Cup Fresh Pomegranate Seeds

4 Cups-ish Organic Baby Spinach

1/2 Cup Toasted Pistachio Nuts

2 Tbsp. Orange Juice**

2 tsp. Fresh Thyme or 1 tsp. Dried Thyme

3 Tbsp. Olive Oil (I used a lemon infused olive oil - SO good)

Salt/Pepper

1. In a small pot, combine the quinoa, coconut milk, water and a pinch of salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook until the liquid is absorbed, this will take about 10-12 minutes. Empty quinoa into a bowl and allow to cool.

2. Slice the shallots width wise into thin coins. Heat up the oil in a 8-10'' saute pan (you don't have many to crisp up). * If you don't have coconut oil on hand, canola oil will work as an alternative, it's just not that great for you. Once it's just shimmering, add in the slice shallots. Stand by them, as they'll burn quickly. They will dance around a bit, and once you see the edges turn golden flip them over or move them around. Set up a double layer of paper towels, remove the shallots just as they turn brown and drain on the paper towels.

3. In a small bowl, mix the orange juice, thyme, olive oil and generous pinches of salt and pepper. **Any citrus would work - lemon, lime...whatever is on hand.

4. You want to make sure the quinoa is room temperature before you toss, or it will wilt the spinach, and we don't want that. Maybe you do, but I don't. In a salad bowl, toss the spinach, half of the cooked quinoa, half of the pom seeds and half of the pistachios with desired amount of dressing. Your choice as to what ratio you want, you can save the rest of the quinoa for later, or toss it in, again, the ratios are up to you. Garnish the top with the rest of the pom seeds, pistachios and all of your crispy shallots. Little grind of fresh pepper and enjoy.