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Archives for June 2017

Caramelized Mushroom Tart

By Denise Pare-Watson

The Inspiration of UrbnSpice Series

I enjoy appetizers and small plates (what we like to call ‘tasties’) casual type of dining.  Using puff pastry is a quick and easy way to make this Caramelized Mushroom Tart appetizer. One of my favourite variety of mushrooms is crimini mushrooms.  Their dense, dry texture make them the perfect mushroom for caramelizing. What better way to celebrate Canada 150 than making this delicious tart with Canadian grown mushrooms.

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Caramelized Mushroom Tart ready to bake | urbnspice.com

Caramelized Mushroom Tart ready to bake | urbnspice.com

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Original content here is published under these license terms: X 
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License Abstract:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). You may make other uses of the content only with the written permission of the author on payment of a fee.

Filed Under: Casual Dining, Inspiration of Urbnspice Series, Quick and Easy Dishes, Vegetarian Dishes Tagged With: Appetizers, Canada Day, Casual Dining, Crimini Mushrooms, Mushrooms, Small Plates

HIDDEN VEGGIES from the Food Bloggers of Canada

By Denise Pare-Watson

from the Food Bloggers of Canada
Hidden Veggies Collage | urbnspice.com

 

Finding ways to use more vegetables sometimes means hiding them.  The Food Bloggers of Canada has organized an excellent round-up of recipes from 25 fellow food bloggers and each of them shows you how to incorporate more vegetables into your diet in ingenious and delicious ways – Hidden Veggies.

I am so happy to be included in this recipe roundup with my post on Power Sauce.  I hope you enjoy looking through all of the different recipes.   Please visit the food blogs and their recipes and give them some comment love.  Here is how you can find the excellent recipe roundup:  http://bit.ly/FBCHiddenVeggies

Here is UrbnSpice’s post called Power Sauce that was also featured in this recipe roundup:

Hidden Veggies: Gluten Free Flatbread using Power Sauce and a few select topping ingredients | urbnspice.com

Hidden Veggies: Gluten Free Flatbread using Power Sauce and a few select topping ingredients

Have fun with these ‘hidden vegetables’ recipes!

You Might also enjoy these Recipe Roundups:  

Homemade Candy Recipes by Food Bloggers of Canada

Super Bowl Snacks by Food Bloggers of Canada

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2017 Urb'n'SpiceAll Rights Reserved
Original content here is published under these license terms: X 
License Type:Commercial
License Abstract:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). You may make other uses of the content only with the written permission of the author on payment of a fee.

Filed Under: Recipe Roundups, Sauces, Savory, Vegetables, Vegetarian Dishes Tagged With: Half Your Plate, Inspiring Kids to Eat, Vegetables

Vegetable Tian – Gluten Free, Grain Free, Refined Sugar Free

By Denise Pare-Watson

CHC CANADA 150 FOOD BLOG CHALLENGE SERIES

I am a proud Canadian. When the Culinary Historians of Canada invited food bloggers to participate in the “CHC Canada 150 Food Blog Challenge”, I knew that I wanted in! What a great way to celebrate and honour Canada’s 150th birthday by featuring a different Canadian dish or discussing a topic which reflects on what it means to be Canadian.  For the month of June, CHC invited food bloggers to share stories and recipes that relate to farmers’ markets, farm-gate stands, dockside fish purchases and other examples of purchasing food directly from the source.  Vegetable Tian is my Farmer’s Market inspiration.

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Vegetable Tian using tomato, zucchini and eggplant | urbnspice.com

Vegetable Tian using tomato, zucchini and eggplant

Some of my best food memories from my childhood were close to home in our market size vegetable garden. Every day, we would grab our shallow oblong basket called a trug and carry it to the backyard to pick fresh carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, lettuces or whatever was ripe at the time.  Eating fresh-picked produce is a true pleasure to your taste buds.

I live in a produce paradise called the Okanagan Valley where Farmer’s Markets and wineries abound.  For example, when I go to the farmer’s market or the roadside stands, the Sweet Strawberry Tomatoes, or the Savoy Cabbage is always irresistible. The vibrant colours and a wide variety of seasonal vegetables can represent that day’s inspiration. I enjoy making a Vegetable Tian with fresh young zucchini, tomato and eggplant.  A tian (le tian) is a type of gratin dish. It is made by thinly slicing vegetables and layering them in a shallow earthenware dish and slow-baked until the vegetables are tender and flavourful.  The hidden bottom layer of the tian is caramelized onion, which not only provides amazing flavour to the dish but also a stable foundation on which to lay and shingle the sliced vegetables.

Farmer's Market vegetables | urbnspice.com

Farmer’s Market vegetables

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2017-2018 Urb'n'SpiceAll Rights Reserved
Original content here is published under these license terms: X 
License Type:Commercial
License Abstract:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). You may make other uses of the content only with the written permission of the author on payment of a fee.

Filed Under: CHC Canada 150 Food Blog Challenge Series, Cooking Techniques, Dairy Free Recipes, Egg Free Recipes, Gluten Free Recipes, Grain Free Recipes, Inspiration of Urbnspice Series, My Recipes, Nut Free Recipes, Refined Sugar Free Recipes, Vegetables, Vegetarian Dishes Tagged With: Baked Vegetables, Classic Dishes, Gluten Free, Grain Free, Gratin Dishes, Provencal recipes, Provence, Refined Sugar Free, Tian, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Canada Day Inspiration – Strawberry Creams

By Denise Pare-Watson

The Inspiration of Urbnspice Series #Canada150

Our Canada 150 is such a special day and deserves a very special dessert.  This year, I want to create a dessert that features our Canadian colours with its vivid red and white colours, so Strawberry Creams Custard is the dessert that I am excited to share with you.  This Pannacotta-like custard is a light and flavourful dessert that is wonderful for all occasions.

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Strawberry Creams - Canada Day Inspiration | urbnspice.com

I had the privilege of working for the Canadian Citizenship Office in Victoria, BC for a time.  I have to say that it was very rewarding and an honour to be able to help people through the Canadian citizenship process.  I often compare it to the flower delivery person. They put smiles on peoples’ faces all day long.

I am proud to be a Canadian and love our country with a passion.  I have lived and visited many of its provinces and look forward to visiting all of them in the not too distant future.  I hope you all take the time to enjoy celebrating with your fellow Canadians on Canada Day – make it a memorable one.  I am going to start celebration preparations by making these Strawberry Creams Custard Pots.

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2017 Urb'n'SpiceAll Rights Reserved
Original content here is published under these license terms: X 
License Type:Commercial
License Abstract:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). You may make other uses of the content only with the written permission of the author on payment of a fee.

Filed Under: Custards and Puddings, Desserts and Sweets, Gluten Free Recipes, Inspiration of Urbnspice Series Tagged With: Canada Day, Canada150, Custards, Dairy Free Recipes, Gluten Free Desserts, Grain Free Desserts, Refined Sugar Free, Strawberries

Power Sauce – Hidden Greens for Kids of Every Age

By Denise Pare-Watson

Kid of a Chef Series

Kid of a Chef gave me this recipe concept for Power Sauce on a recent visit.  Her reasons for making this sauce are simple:  as she laughingly says, she has three kids (one adult and two wee ones) who are not enthusiastic about eating their greens.  Hence, this brilliant method of hiding greens in a delicious pizza sauce.

This is what she wrote about her Power Sauce:  “I made it to hide greens from the boys in the house.  They are all carb-hungry and are more likely to eat the pizza crust than anything else.  Even if they pick the pizza apart, they still get the veggies.  I also put the ground power greens in shakes, or use the sauce as a dressing for sandwiches or a panini instead of mayonnaise.”

Power Pizza ready to eat | urbnspice.com

Power Pizza ready to eat

Power Sauce has excellent flavour – it is the best pizza sauce that I have ever tasted.  While I find most pizza sauces too sharp, this sauce is perfectly balanced. Kid of a Chef freezes the ground greens and uses the frozen greens to make delicious smoothies and shakes.  She made a strawberry shake while we were there and the little ones were asking for ‘more shake please, Mommy, more shake.’  Her version of the Power Shake had banana; frozen strawberries; some of the frozen ground power greens; yogurt; protein powder, vanilla, and milk to thin out the shake consistency, and a little maple syrup if needed for sweetening.  When she covertly adds a little more ground greens to the shake ingredients, the boys call it Leprechaun shake.

Power Shake | urbnspice.com

The Power Shake: strawberry, banana, ground power greens, protein powder, vanilla, a little maple syrup, yogurt and milk.

POWER SAUCE

CHEF TALK: The key to making Power Sauce is the use of organic greens, which are available at most grocery stores. The greens that I used were a blend of baby spinach, baby kale and baby red and green Swiss chard. You can also use arugula or any other of your favourite greens. Both my daughter and I pre-roast garlic cloves and freeze them for use in everything, including the Power Sauce recipe that follows.  The sauce is gluten free, dairy free, grain free, refined sugar-free, egg free and nut free. My herb garden is currently flourishing, so fresh basil, oregano, rosemary and other fragrant herbs make their way into the Power Sauce.

For the purpose of this post, I made a gluten-free thin crust pizza shell (I will post the recipe for Super Thin Pizza Crust soon).  You can use any of your favourite thin crust pizza shell or flatbread.  The recipe makes over 2 cups (500 ml) of sauce.

INGREDIENTS:

For the Power Greens:

Yield:  1 lb. of organic power greens = 3 cups of ground power greens

  • 1 lb. assorted power greens (spinach, arugula; kale, chard, etc.)

For the Power Sauce:

Yield:  2 1/3 cups sauce/ 575 ml

  • 1 cup ground power greens
  • 2 – 156 g (6 oz) cans of tomato paste
  • 1 clove garlic, minced (or 2 pre-roasted garlic cloves)
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt or sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian Seasoning
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil

For the Power Pizza:

Yield:  1 – 14″ large pizza (10 -12 pieces or 4 – 6 servings)

  • 1 pre-baked large thin crust or gluten-free thin crust pizza crust
  • 1/2 cup – 1 cup Power Sauce
  • Toppings of your choice:  I used pre-cooked, diced bacon and thinly sliced mini portobello mushrooms
  • Shredded pizza mozzarella, as needed (about 2 cups)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

METHOD:

For the Power Greens:

  1. Place the greens in the bowl of a food processor and grind finely. There should be approximately 3 cups of ground greens when you are done.  Utilize immediately or place the ground greens in a sealed bags in 1 cup portions and freeze.

For the Power Sauce:

  1. Place all of the ingredients for the Power Sauce into the bowl of a food processor and blend to a smooth consistency.  You should have approximately 2 1/3 cups (575 ml) of sauce. Taste for seasoning and adjust to your preference.  Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to one week.  For longer storage, freeze in 1/2 cup to 1 cup portions.

For the Power Pizza:

  1. Spread 1/2 cup to 1 cup of Power Sauce to cover the large pre-baked pizza crust.  Sprinkle with your favourite toppings and bake at 425°F/220°F for 10 to 15 minutes or until hot and bubbly.  Enjoy!

Here is the visual shown in step-by-step photographs:

Power Greens: a blend of chard, kale, spinach | urbnspice.com

Power greens are a blend of greens: arugula, spinach, kale, chard, etc.

The Greens are stuffed into a food processor and ground finely | urbnspice.com

Power greens are stuffed into a food processor and ground finely to use in smoothies or made into Power Sauce

1 lb of Power Greens make 3 cups of ground greens | urbnspice.com

1 lb. of power greens make 3 cups of ground greens | urbnspice.com

1 lb of Power Greens equals 3 cups of ground Power Greens | urbnspice.com

1 lb. of power greens equals 3 cups of ground power greens

Use the greens immediately or freeze the ground greens in one-cup sealed container | urbnspice.com

Use the greens immediately or freeze the ground greens in one-cup sealed container

Power Sauce, rich and healthy with power greens galore | urbnspice.com

Power Sauce, rich and healthy with power greens galore

The Power Sauce is spread onto a pre-baked pizza crust and topped with your favourite toppings | urbnspice.com

The Power Sauce is spread onto a pre-baked pizza crust and topped with your favourite toppings

Power Pizza is almost ready for the final baking | urbnspice.com

Power Pizza is almost ready for the final baking sprinkled with favourite toppings

Power Pizza ready to eat | urbnspice.com

Power Pizza baked, melted and ready to eat

Enjoy a slice of Power Pizza | urbnspice.com

Enjoy a slice of Power Pizza

More Ideas using Power Sauce:

Gluten Free Flatbread served in small wedges as a small plates offering | urbnspice.com

Gluten Free Flatbread served in small wedges as a small plates offering

Gluten Free Flatbread using Power Sauce and a few select topping ingredients | urbnspice.com

Gluten Free Flatbread using Power Sauce and a few select topping ingredients

Panini spread inside and served with Power Sauce | urbnspice.com

Power Sauce is spread inside a panini as well as served alongside as a condiment

Power Shake is another way to use the Ground Power Greens | urbnspice.com

A Power Shake is another great way to use the healthy Ground Power Greens

There is really no limit how you can use Power Sauce (and power greens).  Just to mention a few uses:  use it on hamburgers; as a topping on meatloaf; serve with charcuterie plates; serve alongside toast and scrambled eggs; and any place that you would use mayonnaise.

You Might Also Enjoy these ‘Hidden Vegetables’ Posts by UrbnSpice:

Gluten Free Rock Star Veggie Burgers

Australian Meat Pies

Make it your Own Burger

LEARNING TIPS:  

Please CLICK the link above to access my UrbnSpice LEARNING TIPS, which are listed alphabetically on the Learning Tips blog post under the following subheadings:

  • Oven Temperature Accuracy
  • The Simple Spatula
  • Blooming
  • Parchment Paper
    __________

If you try this recipe using Power Greens to make Power Sauce or Power Pizza or Power Shakes, please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback.

You can find me on social media (see links below) – just be sure to tag @urbnspice and #urbnspice so I am sure to see it. Enjoy! 

Denise Pare-Watson - The Urb'n'Spice Chef | urbnspice.com

 

Denise Paré-Watson

The Urbnspice Chef

 

Follow me on Social Media:

Urbnspice Facebook Page – If you like what you see here, please LIKE my page. I would love that – thank you!

Urbnspice is on Twitter    

You will find lots of fun boards on Pinterest  

I am also on Instagram

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2017 Urb'n'SpiceAll Rights Reserved
Original content here is published under these license terms: X 
License Type:Commercial
License Abstract:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). You may make other uses of the content only with the written permission of the author on payment of a fee.

Filed Under: Dairy Free Recipes, Dietary Restrictions, Egg Free Recipes, Gluten Free Recipes, Grain Free Recipes, Inspiration of Urbnspice Series, Kid of a Chef Series, Nut Free Recipes, Refined Sugar Free Recipes, Sauces, Sauces, Savory Tagged With: Gluten Free, Pizza, Sauces, Vegetables

Chocolate Cherry Almond Torte – Gluten Free, Grain Free, Refined Sugar Free

By Denise Pare-Watson

Chocolate possesses a number of interesting technical properties not dissimilar from wine. The region, the surrounding vegetation and the soil are some of the key factors in the character of the cocoa bean and the overall taste of the chocolate. The origin of the Chocolate Cherry Almond Torte recipe is not clear but what is clear is that the quality of the chocolate significantly influences the result. For the purposes of this article, I have taken the vintage Chocolate Cherry Almond Torte recipe and re-developed it so that it is suitable for gluten-free, refined sugar-free and grain-free dietary options.  It is a great make-ahead cake and one that will feed a crowd.

Chocolate Cherry Almond Torte plated with cherry syrup reduction and softly whipped cream | urbnspice.com

Chocolate Cherry Almond Torte plated with cherry syrup reduction and softly whipped cream

Chocolate Cherry Almond Torte – Gluten Free, Refined Sugar-Free, Grain Free

Equipment:  9 – 10″ x 2” high Spring Form pan with removable bottom
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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2017 Urb'n'SpiceAll Rights Reserved
Original content here is published under these license terms: X 
License Type:Commercial
License Abstract:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). You may make other uses of the content only with the written permission of the author on payment of a fee.

Filed Under: Cakes and Cupcakes, Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate!, Desserts and Sweets, Gluten Free Recipes, Grain Free Recipes, My Recipes, Refined Sugar Free Recipes, Vintage Recipes Tagged With: Chocolate Cakes, Chocolate Desserts, Dairy Free Recipes, Dark Chocolate, Gluten Free Desserts, Grain Free Desserts, Refined Sugar Free

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Meet Denise – The Urbnspice Chef

Welcome to Urbnspice - A Taste of Heart and Home. Inspiration in my kitchen is often a trip to the market or an experimental coincidence! Come and join me on this culinary journey where I share my passion for the creative, technical and teaching components of the profession and unravel culinary quandaries for you with fun and easy to follow user-friendly recipes, tips & techniques.
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