The cashier at the health food store was instructed to drop everything and soak his sport-injured hand in Epsom salt while BPM helped a nearby customer understand the difference between oatmeal and oat bran (oat bran is the outer casing of the oat and is higher in soluble fiber). And at the nail salon, a lady in the next pedicure chair was lectured on the benefits of the green tea used in the salon's foot soak (green tea is full of antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties, but the green tea foot soak is probably just for marketing-sake). Thanks to BPM, I’ve been working on correcting my posture and one of my 8-month old sons has been instructed, with my help of course, to maintain a low-glycemic diet.
Unsolicited good advice aside, what was so special about this visit was that I was able to hand my kitchen over and watch BPM go to work. One of the reasons that I started this blog was to learn and share everything cooking and food-related that I avoided when I was younger (since I was convinced that a lifetime of take-out and hard-to-score dinner reservations was my destiny).
Unsolicited good advice aside, what was so special about this visit was that I was able to hand my kitchen over and watch BPM go to work. One of the reasons that I started this blog was to learn and share everything cooking and food-related that I avoided when I was younger (since I was convinced that a lifetime of take-out and hard-to-score dinner reservations was my destiny).
Without further ado, here are two of BPM’s recipes that were created in my kitchen and feature a few of my weekly produce delivery items (complete produce roll call at bottom of post). Don't be afraid of the vague measurements –“some” salt, etc.—you just have to taste as you go along.
Big Produce Mamma’s Chicken and Summer Vegetable Stew
(Serves 4-6)
1 medium chicken, skinned and cut into eight pieces (your friendly neighborhood butcher can do the cutting part)1 medium Vidalia onion, chopped
2 ears of corn, kernels sliced off
1 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise and sliced into 1/4-inch thick pieces
1 tablespoon and possibly more Tomato paste
A little Olive oil
“Some” of the following spices:
Ground cumin
Smoked paprika
Salt
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Rub chicken with some salt and smoked paprika (enough to coat). Put a little olive oil in a large pot over high heat and add chicken and onion; cook until chicken is brown on each side and onions are translucent. Once chicken has browned (usually 8-10 minutes per side), add approximately 1 tablespoon tomato paste with 1 cup boiled water (water needs to have been boiled to melt the paste). Reduce temperature and cook slowly, covered, for about an hour or more. To preserve the vegetables’ nutrients and flavor, add the corn and zucchini towards the end, perhaps for the last fifteen minutes. Add some ground cumin (about ½ teaspoon) and salt, as desired. Serve over brown rice.
Note: Brown rice can be made extra yummy by sautéing chopped onion in the same pot before adding the rice and using a chicken stock instead of water or a mixture of both.
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Note: Brown rice can be made extra yummy by sautéing chopped onion in the same pot before adding the rice and using a chicken stock instead of water or a mixture of both.
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Big Produce Mamma’s Citrus Spinach
(Serves 2…major spinach shrinkage, folks!)
(Serves 2…major spinach shrinkage, folks!)
1 bunch of fresh spinach (about 1 pound)1 orange, juiced
½ cup Trader Joe’s Golden Berry Blend (dried cherries, cranberries, blueberries and raisins...yum!)—if you don't shop at TJ's, just use raisins or cranberries
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 teaspoon olive oil
Salt
Wash and dry spinach. Add a small amount of water to a large sauté pan on high heat, add spinach and cover until wilted but not too soggy. In a separate pan, add approximately 1 teaspoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter. Add ½ cup Trader Joe’s Golden Berry Blend and the orange juice to create the sauce. Stir in the spinach and add salt to taste.
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Big Mamma returned to San Francisco a few hours ago and we miss her a lot, especially the boys. She should be back in New York later this summer, so stay tuned for Big Mamma II and—if you’re reading this, mom—my shoulders are back and chin is up, I promise!
Here's this past week’s produce roll call: carrots, zucchini, green chard, green leaf lettuce, Vidalia Onions, corn, Red Potatoes, spinach, peaches, nectarines, Valencia Oranges, bananas, cantaloupe, Black Plums, and Packham Pears.
1 comment:
I had the wonderful opportunity to meet "BPM" and loved the green tea she made me in your kitchen Solana. And what a great kitchen you have for NYC! I can see why you are inspired to produce such great recipes. Thanks for sharing!
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