MEXI SQUASH

Just when I said all I can eat this month are desserts, I can safely say that I now want nothing to do with them. The excitement for all things cookie, toffee, gingerbread or peppermint has waned. The pine is dried to a crisp, and people will take their lights down this weekend after making goals for 2010. It is the week when we go from overdosing on sweets, to proposing a regimented health plan for the new year in a matter of days. I'm now craving the deep greens that are in season, warm root vegetables or anything kissed with fresh citrus. Hugh suprised me with a sweet Schwinn bicycle tied with a big red bow for Christmas, now if I can only figure out how to stop successfully and put my helmet on the correct direction, I may be on to a new hobby.

This is a perfect gluten free side dish, that can easily be made in to an entree with some grilled fish, chicken or tofu. The lime makes it taste fresh but the warm squash keeps it comforting enough for the colder weather. We ended up adding some black beans after the pictures, which made it quite filling. The leftovers were even better as all the flavors blended. Queso Fresco is Spanish/Mexican cheese that isn't aged, so it's fairly mild. If you have feta on hand, it works just as well if not better if you like more of a tang.

MEXI SQUASH // Serves 4 as a side

2 to 3 lb. Spaghetti Squash

3/4-1 Cup Queso Fresco/ Feta Cheese

Half Red Onion, Finely Diced

1/3 Cup Cilantro, Chopped

Juice of Two Limes (about 1/4 Cup)

2 Tbsp. Agave Nectar

3 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 Garlic Cloves, Minced

1/2 tsp. Cumin

1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes

1 tsp. Coriander Seeds

Salt to Taste

Oven at 375'

1. Cut squash in half length wise, scoop out seeds and place cut side down on a rim baking pan. Fill the bottom for about a half inch of water. Bake on the middle rack for about 50 minutes. You know it is done when the flesh is tender enough to shred easily.

2. While the squash is baking, dice the red onion and chop your cilantro.

3. Make the dressing: start with the red pepper, fresh garlic, coriander and cumin and grind together with a spice grinder, pestel or back of a wooden spoon. Add the lime juice and agave and whisk together. Drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil and whisk again. Add a generous pinch of salt, you can add more at the end.

4. Remove the squash and let it cool enough to handle. With a fork, scrape the inside of the squash into a large bowl, it will look like spaghetti, hence the name. Add the onion and dressing and toss to coat while still warm so it softens the onion and garlic flavors. Test for salt and pepper. Add in the cilantro and half of the cheese, toss again. Serve with fresh cilantro and cheese on top.

STUFFED PORTABELLOS WITH HERB SAUCE

I wish I wrote in my journal more often than I do, but I seem to only find myself there when I am sad, working through decisions, or traveling. In each new journal, I have a list of goals on the back page. I always know where to find them, and it's fun looking at journals past to see what I actually attempted to pursue. The six pack abs and fluent spanish and are still pending a number of journals later. For some reason I've taken more action on those in my present journal, and in regards to cooking, I have: 'learn to make a tasty roast chicken' and 'perfect at least three new sauces'.

This recipe, sent to be by my Aunt Suzy who heard it on NPR's Splendid Table, certainly knocks out one of the three. It is easy, sweet, fresh and versatile. It is fairly thick, and would make an amazing spread on a sandwich. You could even thin it out and make it a salad dressing. Like I said, versatile, like the favorite sweatshirt of sauces.

STUFFED PORTABELLO MUSHROOMS WITH HERB SAUCE // Serves 4

4 Large Portabello Mushrooms

2 Bunches Fresh Spinach, Chopped

2 Cups Cooked Brown Rice, still warm

Zest of One Lemon

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

GEORGIAN CILANTRO SAUCE // The sauce is adapted from Martha Rose Shulman's series Recipes for Health in The New York Times. It keeps in the fridge for about 5 days, but be warned that the garlic develops as it sits and effects your breath accordingly.

2 oz Dried Apricots

1 Cup Boiling Water

1/3 Cup Toasted Walnuts

2 Garlic Cloves (to taste), halved, green shoots removed

1/4 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice

1/2 tsp. Salt (more to taste)

2 cups Cilantro, coarsely chopped

1 Cup Parsley, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup coarsely chopped mixed Basil, Tarragon, and Dill

1/4 Cup Walnut Oil (Extra Virgin Olive Oil works fine too)

3/4 Cup soaking water from the Apricots, as needed

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes

For the Sauce:

1. Place the dried apricots in a bowl and pour on the boiling water. Let sit for at least an hour, more if possible, even overnight. Drain over a measuring cup and retain 3/4 cup of the soaking water.

2. Turn on a food processor fitted with the steel blade, and drop in the garlic. When it is chopped and adhering to the sides of the bowl, stop the machine and scrape down the bowl. Add the walnuts, and process with the garlic. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the drained apricots, the lemon juice, salt, pepper and red pepper to the bowl, and process to a puree. Add the cilantro and other chopped herbs, and puree, stopping the machine to scrape down the sides several times. Combine the walnut oil and soaking water from the apricots, and with the machine running, gradually add it to the puree. Process until smooth. Transfer to a bowl. Taste and adjust salt. Best at room temperature.

For the Mushrooms:

Oven at 375’

3. Remove the stems from the mushrooms, brush both sides with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and fresh pepper. Put them on a baking sheet, and bake on the upper rack for 8 minutes to soften. Remove.

4. Remove the stems from the spinach and give it a rough chop. Saute the spinach in 2 tbsp. olive oil until just wilted. Add to the warm brown rice and mix together. Add the lemon zest, pinch of salt and pepper. Amount of oil is your discretion here.

5. Add a heaping half cup of the spinach and rice mixture onto the gill side of the mushrooms and sprinkle with fresh herbs and desired amount of sauce.

SAUCY FISH TACOS

Hugh is trying to take over my hobby. I do food, he does pictures. It works. But last week he bought a special grilling book and now has been experimenting on his own. Seeing that I don’t do meat, he can take ownership of that. I don’t come from a lineage of cooks, so the fact that it’s ‘my thing,’ leaves me flattered with the responsibility. If I had the slighest clue about photography, I would start a battle to retaliate against his hobby burglary.

Hugh made some great grilled peppers the other night, which led to inspiration for a good sauce. That is what makes these tacos different- this tasty sauce. It is a tad spicy, has hints of creaminess from the yogurt, and freshness from the loads of cilantro. I put leftovers on my eggs this morning, and it’s thick enough to spread on a sandwich.

We went to a great fish place down by the harbor to get the freshest fish. I checked here to see what white fish is safe and sustainable for our area. The website is full of information and will definitely make you think twice before you just grab for what you see in restaurants. It does not cost more to get what is sustainable. Organics is a whole different market than sustainable seafood; the challenge is finding a place where you can buy specific fish. Once your fish is covered in this tasty sauce, it doesn’t make a whole lot of difference what it is anyways.

SAUCY FISH TACOS // Serves 2

• 12 oz. White Seabass (use what is fresh/local for you)
• 1 Lime, Zest and Juice
• salt and pepper or lemon pepper
• 2 Red Bell Peppers
• 3 Cups Green Cabbage, Finely Sliced
• 1 Firm Peach, Cut into 8 Slices
• corn tortillas

/ poblano cilantro sauce /

• 1 ½ Cups Cilantro, plus more for garnish
• 2 Cloves Garlic
• 1 Lime, Zest and Juice (add another if it’s not juicy)
• ½ Cup Whole Greek Yogurt
• 1 tbsp. Olive Oil
• ½ Cup Toasted Pistachios
• 2 Roasted Poblano Chiles, seeds removed
• 1/2 tsp. each Garlic Salt and Pepper, to taste

Heat your grill to medium/high

Salt and pepper both sides of the fish. Rub the zest and juice into the fish, and put in a bowl to marinate.

Lightly oil the bell peppers and poblano chiles, put them on the grill and char on all sides. About 8-10 minutes. Remove peppers and chiles and put them in a plastic bag to steam. Let them sit about 10 minutes in the bag. Remove the stem and seeds, and then peel off the skins when they're cool to the touch. They do not need to be perfect, a little black adds some smokiness. Chop the peppers up and set aside. The poblanos are for your sauce. 

Put the cilantro, garlic, lime, yogurt, olive oil, pistachios and poblanos in a blender or food processor. Fully combine. Taste for salt and pepper.

Grill the fish (on extra clean grill grates to keep from sticking). Put the peaches on the grill, cut side down. Close the lid and grill for about 6 minutes. Flip the fish and peaches and grill another 4 minutes (time will vary depending on thickness of the fish). Warm the tortillas on the grill or stovetop.

Assemble your tacos. Tortilla, sauce, fish, roasted peppers, two grilled peach slices and a generous amount of cilantro.