It’s just beginning to feel real Wintry here in NYC. It happens that way each year, where one day, it just gets cold and we begin to hunker down for the Winter ahead. We roast squash and make soup and need to wear socks to bed. It’s a new season and we learn how to submit to it.
In terms of cooking, the warmer and heartier the better. I’ve been making soups like crazy and roasting a whole kabocha squash each week. Some people feel daunted by the produce limitations, but I’ve learned some things over the years to help inspire cold-weather cooking. Besides beans, lentils, etc, I always have preserved tomatoes on hand: canned, chopped, fire-roasted or whatever you like. It’s the simplest thing to keep around that can make cold, Winter nights a little better. I use them in soups, make a quick tomato sauce, a savory braise - the options are endless. We may not have fresh tomatoes, but we wouldn’t want to eat them this time of year anyway. It’s time for baking, braising, roasting - all the warm things in life.
Savory Tomato & Parmesan Crumble (Gluten-free) Serves 8
-This recipe, at its base, is a simple crumble. I used romesco and cannellinni beans, but you could use any veggies or herbs you have on hand and need to get rid of! A few notes, too: you can use all cornmeal instead of cornmeal/corn flour to keep it simple.
FILLING:
- 26 oz. Pomi Chopped Tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 lemon, juice and zest
- 2 teaspoon tamari
- 2 teaspoons sumac
- 2 teaspoon sea salt
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1 small romanesco, chopped into about 1 inch pieces
- 1 (15 oz.) can of cannellinni beans, drained
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 large shallot, diced
- 1/3 cup basil, sliced thin or chiffonade
- 4 sprigs thyme
- 4 sprigs marjoram
TOPPING:
- 1 1/4 cup gluten-free rolled oats
- 1/2 cup almond meal
- 1/4 cup cornmeal
- 1/4 cup corn flour
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 5 sprigs thyme leaves
- 1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk chopped tomatoes together with cornstarch, lemon juice + zest, tamarin, sumac, salt and red pepper flakes. Then, stir in romesco, beans, garlic, shallot and herbs until well combined. Add to 9x9 or similar sized baking dish and set aside.
In another mixing bowl, stir together oats, almond meal, cornmeal and flour, parmesan, thyme and salt. Mix until well combined, then add chilled butter cubes, Using your hands, work together dough - breaking down butter - until mixture looks and feels like oatmeal cookie dough. Add olive oil, and mix in well with your hands, making sure to get all the flour bits at the bottom.
Add crumble evenly over top tomato filling. Bake for exactly 30 minutes or until tomato is bubbling up around the sides and topping is golden browned. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.
THIS POST HAS BEEN SPONSORED BY POMI. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE BRANDS THAT SUPPORT SASSY KITCHEN!
BLUEBERRY & RICOTTA SKILLET CAKE
Maybe it’s just the hustle of life, but I know I’m not the only one who sometimes feels overwhelmed by the weight of the everyday. I’ll look down at my list of what needs to happen today, tomorrow, this week, this month - the big projects and the small - and wonder how will I ever get it all done (and done well). There’s always a mess (in my head or in my home), there’s always more to be done - there are always ways to be better. I’ve always struggled with this concept - the continual pursuit for more, for better. You’ll see these quotes about *enjoying the process* & *doing what you love*, but they don’t mention the amount of grit that goes into it all, no matter your love or dedication. I’m often overwhelmed by the process, feeling like “will this ever be enough? will I ever feel satisfied?”
When I have these moments, I’m usually succumbed by darkness & doubt - feeling like I can’t possibly go on. But like anyone does when they’re knocked down - either by themselves or others - you find your way back to your feet. Maybe it’s OK that there’s no script, that I don’t have all the answers. Maybe the concept of perfection or feeling “complete” is actually an illusion. Although I know I’ll still strive for it, maybe some days we have to settle for good enough. Some days the floors won’t be clean, and the deadlines will be late, but it’s good enough for today. And we’ll see where tomorrow takes us.
BLUEBERRY & RICOTTA SKILLET CAKE (gluten-free) Serves 6-8
- 1/2 cup almond meal
- 1 1/3 cup sorghum flour
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 3/4 cup turbinado sugar (+ 2 tablespoons to top)
- 1 cup almond milk, unsweetened
- 3/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil, melted and cooled
- 1 cup ricotta cheese, close to room temperature (not chilled)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 eggs, separated
- 3/4 cup blueberries
- Zest of 2 lemons
- Confectioners sugar, to top
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together first six ingredients (dry ingredients) until well combined. In a separate mixing bowl, stir together almond milk, coconut oil, ricotta, vanilla & egg yolks. Set egg whites aside &chill separately for 10 minutes. Mix wet ingredients into the dry until combined well. Stir in blueberries and lemon zest, then set aside.
2. Grease a 9 inch cast-iron or springform pan with coconut oil. Add chilled egg whites into a stand mixer and whip on high speed for 1-2 minutes until fluffy with soft peaks. Fold whipped egg whites, into the batter, adding a little at a time, making sure not to overmix.
3. Add batter to your greased pan, top with 2 tablespoons raw sugar & bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick entered into the center of the cake comes out clean. Set aside to cool for 20-25 minutes before serving. Top with confectioners sugar & serve!
This post was originally shot for CAMILLE STYLES.
RASPBERRY ALMOND CORN MUFFINS | MORNING MEALS
I grew up eating those coveted JIFFY Corn muffins in the bright blue box. The raspberry flavor was my favorite and I recall eating countless mini muffins and usually ruining my appetite for dinner. I have always loved a raspberry and cornmeal pairing ever since then. These mini muffins were the perfect addition to our Mother's Day brunch at home.
RASPBERRY MINI CORN MUFFINS (Gluten-free, Dairy-free)
- 1 1/2 cups almond meal
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/3 cup coconut or brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tablespoons almond milk
- 2 eggs
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup raspberries
- 2 tablespoons raw sugar, to top
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Prepare a mini muffin tin with paper liners, or coat the pan generously with coconut oil.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the almond meal, cornmeal, baking soda, brown sugar and salt. In another bowl, whisk the eggs, coconut oil, almond milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract together. Add the wet to the dry ingredients and fold in (do not overmix!). Carefully fold in raspberries to evenly distribute in the batter.
Fill the muffin liners to the top, as they do not rise much. Sprinkle each muffin with raw sugar to top.
Bake on the middle rack for 16-18 minutes until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick poked in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes before serving.