A Bellingham Foodie Blog Restaurant Reviews Bellingham Washington 98225

I know when I say ‘Martha’ some people cringe.

But I’ve been collecting Martha’s cookbooks and recipes since the early ’80’s and she REALLY knows what she’s doing. I mean, not everyone can have a Julia Child personality. And if you’ve seen the animated movie Ratatouille, or have ever worked in a French restaurant (like my partner), you KNOW what chefs are like. The movie is accurate. Enough. Here is a great chili recipe from marthastewart.com:

Turkey and Bean Chili

1 tablespoon grapeseed oil (or 4 bacon cut into 1/2 inch pieces)
3 pounds ground dark meat turkey (or ~12oz tempeh, chopped)
4 cups chopped onion
1/4 cup minced garlic cloves
2 medium fresh jalapeno chiles, ribs and seeds removed for less heat, if desired, minced
3 tablespoons chili powder
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (secret ingredient)
4 teaspoons ground cumin
2 28oz cans whole tomatoes in puree
2 tablespoons unsulphured molasses
coarse salt
3 cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
fresh cilantro leaves, sliced pickled jalapeno chiles, sour cream, crumbled cornbread, grated cheddar cheese

1.  Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add oil (or bacon and crisp). Raise heat to high; add turkey. Cook, stirring and breaking up the meat, until no longer pink, 8-10 minutes.
2.  Add onion, garlic, jalapenos; cook until soft, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Stir in chili power, cocoa powder and cumin; cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute.
3.  Break up tomatoes with a spoon or your hands, and stir them in along with the puree. Add molasses, 1 cup water and 4 teaspoons salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer; cook, partially covered, 30 minutes.

4.  Add beans; continue cooking, uncovered, until meat and beans are very tender and chili is thick, about 30 minutes more. Serve with desired toppings. Serves 8.

“What a great idea!” he said, at FedExKinko’s.

I was looking for recipes in my Dom DeLuise cookbook and realized how badly it was falling apart. The packing tape just wasn’t working anymore. I had a yoga book spiral bound and decided it would be a good idea for the cookbooks. So I took Dom, Martha and Ali to FedExKinko’s to get it done. Now it’s a piece of cake to keep the book open to the recipe I’m using.

Here’s the recipe the book was broken in half at:

Mamma’s Marinara Sauce

4 tablespoons olive oil
5 garlic cloves, minced
5 lbs fresh tomatoes, peeled and sliced (or 2 28oz cans peeled, crushed tomatoes)
1 6oz can tomato paste
4 tablespoons sun dried tomatoes, chopped
10 fresh basil leaves
pepper
grated cheese

In a deep 10 inch frying pan, heat the olive oil and gently saute the garlic. Add tomatoes, tomato paste and sun dried tomatoes.

Put on medium heat for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Tear basil leaves into small pieces and sprinkle on top after adding to pasta. Add pepper and grated cheese to taste.

If fresh tomatoes are used, put them in a pot of boiling water for about 10 seconds until the skin can be easily peeled off. Discard skin. Cut tomatoes into pieces and add to frying pan mixture. Add tomato paste and sun dried tomatoes.

Makes about 2 quarts of sauce.

Now you may balk at the idea of making tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes, but the taste difference is like night and day. When those beautiful tomatoes start showing up at the Bellingham Farmer’s Market, Joe’s Garden or even your own backyard, you should set aside an afternoon and treat yourself to the real deal.

“Eating as close to the ground as you can is the healthiest.”

I have added 3 new items to my Costco shopping list: organic quinoa, Clif ZBars and Medjool dates.

Clif Zbars are organic energy bars for kids. They come in three flavors:  chocolate brownie, chocolate chip and honey graham. Ever try to find an energy bar where the protein source is NOT nuts? Your search is over. Be aware, these may have traces, but my family is OK with traces; it’s the chunks that give us hives and wheezes. No GMO’s and the protein is from soy.

Organic quinoa is a staple in our kitchen. It looks similiar to couscous, but is crunchier and has a nutty taste. It is the perfect protein, nutrient dense grain all but 1 person will eat. We are moving on from Dom DeLuise’s Lasagna to organic quinoa  beef stir fries. We have different comfort foods now. See Raw Energy Balls.

Have you ever had Medjool Dates? Well, I’ve been a little late coming on the scene with this fruit. But let me tell you, it’s my favorite. Especially frozen. You should try freezing fruit – it is very satisfying to eat. You won’t even miss cow’s milk ice cream. Much. The only thing you’ll find in these dates are pits. No preservatives. So don’t break a tooth. It’ll cost you.

Clif ZBars 24 1.27oz bar variety pack @ $10.79
Sun Date Medjool Dates 2lb @ $7.99
truRoots organic Quinoa 4lb @ $10.99

When I grew up, I didn’t know how to cook. Why? I had a Mother who could cook. I learned to do other things…and when I moved out it was dine out or prepacked. My schedule was: leave my apartment to go to work at 7am and get home by 7pm. What 20 year old is going to start cooking then? I ask you!

Well, my co-worker Maria did. I asked her: What do you cook? (stupid question to ask a Maria from Brooklyn- Italian food, of course!)  Maria gave me my second cookbook: Dom DeLuise’s EAT THIS… It’ll Make You Feel Better! That was the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Dom DeLuise’s cookbook is filled with Doms’ Mamma’s Italian home cooking and favorites from Dom’s friends (e.g. Burt Reynolds…), with lots of celebrity pictures and anecdotes to go with them. My book has been used so many times it’s held together with packing tape – NO JOKE! It’s Dom’s Mom’s Meatballs and Burt’s Beef Stew that finally broke the book. It’s even got Nancy Reagan’s Baja California Chicken:

8 chicken breasts, boned
salt and pepper
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons tarragon vinegar
2/3 cup sherry

Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Add crushed garlic to oil and vinegar in skillet. Saute chicken pieces until golden brown, turning frequently, about 10 minutes.
Pour sherry over the chicken and place skillet in preheated 350-degree oven for 10 minutes.

Serves 2 republicans, 2 ambassadors, 2 dignitaries and Mr. and Mrs. Tip O’Neill – 8 You get the picture.

Dom DeLuise was also an actor. For those of you unfamiliar with The Cannonball Run, it’s a 1980’s slapstick comedy movie with 2 sequels and Dom DeLuise as one of MANY star actors. The movie is about an illegal cross country race from NYC to Redondo Beach, CA. A camp movie with a never ending chase scene.

Have a TV dinner with Dom DeLuise tonight! (more…)