Fresh Veggies

Fresh Veggies
great produce=Great eating

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Storing, ripening and keeping avocado's fresh & RIPE....... longer



Treat avocado's as any other FRESH fruit..
buy them when they are hard and they will ripen under normal conditions in 4-5 days...store in a fruit bowl with apples, oranges and bananas on kitchen counter top.

For use tomorrow, buy them medium soft..when the flesh slightly yields to the touch..again store in a fruit bowl with apples and bananas..they will ripen up overnight.

Never buy a soft avocado for use that day..it can be bruised or bad..even if the store is giving them away.

Never buy and avocado where the pit rattles or sounds loose when it is shaken.

If your avocado's ripen before you are ready..which often happens when buying more than 2, store the ripe ones on the top shelf of your fridge, not the salad crisper as that is too cold.

A fully ripe  avocado will keep fresh for 2-3 weeks on the top shelf

To prevent bowls of avocado dip and salsa's oxidizing (turning black) add the whole pit to the middle of the mix, cover and serve later.

Eat more avocado as savories, sweets, dips, salsas and soups


Sunday, April 27, 2014

Making GF/corn tortilla strips for use in soups and stews..Photos of prep for tomorrow

Tortilla strips..cut into strips and spray with fresh water ( sprinkle with any spice/dried herb of choice..bake/dry in a 300f oven for 20 -40 mins turning several times, unti all are dry. Allow to cool on try then package into airtight containers ADDED TO SOUPS AND STEWS UPON SERVICE..AND THESE ARE CORN SO THEY ARE GLUTEN FREE



TORTILLA VEGETABLE SOUP..mixed vegetables, oregano, cumin, tomatoes

TOMATO-BASIL SOUP


PREVIOUS 2 THE CORNBREAD WITH SUNFLOWER SEEDS





PREVIOUS 5 THE SOURDOUGH WHOLEWHEAT ALSO WITH SUNFLOWER SEEDS

CORNBREAD WITH SUNFLOWER SEEDS..unusual recipe as this contains yeast



 Here is a fantastic recipe for cornbread that is a cross between a Challah/Brioche and traditional cornbread.
Made with eggs, milk, butter and yeast!  Add whatever raw nut your prefer...and it requires no kneading..so you have great corn BREAD within 2 hours from scratch!

You will find this and other (special) recipes on my new website
http://www.extraordinarysocal.squarespace.com




The Wilder side of Sunset Blvd and Malibu township, SoCal..PHOTOS

This wild and wonderful canyon is just 30 mins from downtown Hollywood..a (well kept) secret to local residents..also home to wild deer, coyotes, rattlesnakes, butterflies and mountain lions!








These woodlands have remained untouched for decades

Lots of wildflowers are blooming now, after Friday Night's rain all the frogs were noisy too





The Colony (Movie Stars Homes) Malibu


Mural of Malibu

Sign on Malibu Sea Bluffs





Friendly Cottontail

Point Dume from Malibu Bluffs Park

Friday, April 25, 2014

AVOCADO GAZPACHO...Green, Gluten-free & delicious...ready for Cinco de Mayo & beyond





Serves 4

1 large cucumber peeled
1/2 cup firmly packed cilantro
4tbsp lime juice
3 cups vegetable stock
1 small red onion
2 limes cut into wedges
2 medium ripe avocado's

Method:
Cut cucumber into chunks and place in blender with 1/4 cup cilantro, lime juice and 2 cups stock...blend until smooth.

Add flesh from  1 avocado and blend well.
Add the flesh from 2nd avocado and partially blend leaving chunks.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Mince the red onion to make 1/4 cup, add this to the extra stock and add this to the cucumber-avocado chilled soup.
Pour into bowls and garnish with:

Chili-garlic-lime "croutons"
Take 12x 4inch corn tortillas and cut into thin strips or thin wedges..place in medium bowl.
Add 2 tsp red chili powder ( or for none spicy add smoked paprika instead) and juice of 2 limes, mix well.
Bake in 350f oven on a single layer on a cookie sheet for 15-20 mins until dried and a little golden..cool on kitchen paper, sprinkle with garlic salt or garlic powder and serve with the soup.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Gluten-Free & Vegan Golden Macaroons & Walnut Orbs..almost raw GF & Vegan "Candy" Recipes..my new site





For these recipes and others added weekly, check out my new website


http://www.extraordinarysocal.squarespace.com



have a great weekend, John Nigel
I will be using this site for more photos of Southern California, and local to the State, regional NEW & IMPROVED recipes.