Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Chickpea Coconut Curry on Black Forbidden Rice

Tomato-Chickpea Curry on Black Forbidden Rice (Vegan)

Tomato Chickpea Coconut Curry on Black Forbidden Rice a dish inspired by The New Vegan Cookbook: Innovative Vegetarian Recipes Free of Dairy, Eggs, and Cholesterol by Lorna Sass. The book is easy to follow with simple directions and colourful photos. I do not eat eggplant, so I changed the presentation by deleting the roasted eggplant and substituting black rice.

Short-Cut Vegan: Great Taste in No Time by Sass, Lorna J. [Paperback] (Google Affiliate Ad)

Tomato-Chickpea Curry on Black Forbidden Rice (Vegan)

Soak chickpeas for at least 8 hours before cooking, but never soak longer than 24 hours. I typically soak them in the morning before leaving for the day.

Tomato-Chickpea Curry on Black Forbidden Rice (Vegan)

Once hydrated, cook chickpeas for about 55 minutes on medium/high heat. To save time, you can purchase canned chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. I try not to eat food out of a can.

Some interesting information about Chickpeas:  high source of protein and fiber, one cup of cooked chickpeas contains 269 calories, low-glycemic and its the primary ingredient in hummus.

Tomato-Chickpea Curry on Black Forbidden Rice (Vegan)

Instead of roasted eggplant, I've used black forbidden rice. I would also suggested using quinoa or brown rice. If you want to stick to the original recipe, you can find it here on cookstr.com.

Black forbidden rice is high in nutritional value and contains 18 amino acids, iron, zinc, copper, carotene, and several important vitamins which I can not recall at this time, but they are very important! Forbidden black rice turns the water its cooked in a deep purple color due to its high anthocyanin content, an antioxidant. I could go on and on about the health benifits of anthocyanin - water-soluble vacuolar pigments, but I'll let you read all about it here: The Possible Health Benefits of Anthocyanin Pigments and Polyphenolics by Ronald E. Wrolstad, Ph.D. Thanks Ron!

What's really important to me: a 1/4-cup serving of forbidden rice contains 160 calories, it's gluten free, non-GMO, and I like the color.

Tomato-Chickpea Curry on Black Forbidden Rice (Vegan)

Ingredients:

- 1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas
- 3 tablespoons brown mustard seeds
- 2 cups of diced tomatoes with liquid or one 20 ounce can
- 2 cups coarsely chopped white onions
- 1/2 cup dried, unsweetened, grated coconut or more (you can not use sweetened...no!)
- 3 1/2 tablespoons mild curry powder - Merwanjee Poonjianjee & Sons
- 1 teaspoon or more of Cayenne
- Sriracha as needed (I like it hot)
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil

Tools:

- Deep heavy saucepan with cover

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Tomato-Chickpea Curry on Black Forbidden Rice (Vegan)

Heat pan, add oil and add mustard seeds. Cover and cook for 30 seconds on high heat or until you hear the seeds 'pop'. Once you hear the seeds popping, turn stove off and keep covered until popping stops.

Tomato-Chickpea Curry on Black Forbidden Rice (Vegan)

Turn heat to medium/high and add the white onions. Stirring frequently. Add oil if needed. Cook for 5 minutes.

Tomato-Chickpea Curry on Black Forbidden Rice (Vegan)

Now add curry powder and stir for 30 seconds

Tomato-Chickpea Curry on Black Forbidden Rice (Vegan)

Add the rest of the stuff; tomatoes, chickpeas, coconut, and cayenne to taste. Also salt and pepper is you wish

Tomato-Chickpea Curry on Black Forbidden Rice (Vegan)

Simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes or less while stirring frequently. If the mix starts to stick, add water.

Tomato-Chickpea Curry on Black Forbidden Rice (Vegan)

While all this is happening, cook the grain of your choice. Quinoa, brown rice or black forbidden rice

Tomato-Chickpea Curry on Black Forbidden Rice (Vegan)

Plate and eat. boun appetito

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Thursday, February 7, 2013

Roasted Moroccan Sardines with Quinoa

Grilled Moroccan Sardines

Roasted Moroccan Sardines with a side dish of coconut quinoa. You can grill the sardines on an outdoor barbecue, but it's winter here in San Francisco and I'm not venturing outside in the cold. Today I'm going to roast my sardines in the oven in a Staub au gratin cast iron pan.

Some people do not like the 'fishy' smell or taste of fresh sardines, but the good outweigh the drawbacks with these affordable, super healthy little fishies. It's the good fat!

They are packed with Omega-3 fatty acids:
-- cancer prevention
-- anti-inflammatory effects for people with arthritis or joint pain
-- raise high-density lipoproteins, or the good cholesterol
-- high calcium content
-- youthful, healthy skin
-- very high in vitamin B-12
-- may help prevent degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer's

Grilled Moroccan Sardines

You can pair this dish with a spinach salad, 3-bean salad or gluten free grain. I felt like having coconut milk and quinoa side dish.

I had the butcher at the fish market remove the head, spine and tail while leaving the skin on the fish. Skin-on is great for grilling and roasting.

Sardines in Olive Oil (Google Affiliate Ad)

Moroccan marinate for grilled fish

Ingredients:

- 1 pounds sardines
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lemon zest and juice - finely grate the zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, minced
- 2 1/2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (or more if needed)
- salt
- saffron threads (if you can afford it, not needed) pinch

Grilled Moroccan Sardins

Place the fish skin down on a plate. Mix all other ingredients in a bowl, then drizzle it on the Sardines. Cover and place in the fridge for at least an hour.

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Pre-heat oven to 350. Place the fish in a Staub cast iron au gratin pan or a cast iron fry pan and cook for 20 minutes - more or less (depends on how you like your fish - go longer if you like it crispy)



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Fort Funston Beach Day - Get Out and Hike!

Fort Funston Beach

It's the end of January! Why is it so warm? Because it's winter in San Francisco! Gotta love the reversed seasons here in SF. We call it Jun-uary! Get out there and Urban Hike while the weather is nice. Saltwater, fresh air, and a dog friendly beach is just what the doctor ordered after being stuck in the flat with a cold for almost 2 weeks! Yikes!

Fort Funston was named in honor of Frederick N. Funston (1865–1917), a General in the United States Arm.

Photos of Family in USA - old scanned photos

Even cooler historical fact, my brother and I had our birthday parties here. Birthday cake with a little wind-blown beach sand, sandy feet and lot running around laughing and freezing. Great memories at this beach!

Fort Funston Beach

Lost of parking (not sure it's free), two sets of bathrooms and a Dutch sand ladders leading down to the beach. A Dutch sand ladder is a cable ladder with rungs usually made of wood - Great leg work-out on the way back up to the parking lot.

Fort Funston Beach

Above the beach are a network of trails for hiking, horseback riding or off-lease dog walking. The trails are lined with trees to protect hikers from the wind and it's great for dogs to exploring the area.

Fort Funston Beach

Decaying structure on the beach, now home to some fish street art.

Fort Funston Beach

I don't know what these big, round circles are? Do you?

This area (San Francisco Defense Area Site SF-61R), is part of the California State Military Museum - read about the history and use of Fort Funston before is was a public beach.

Fort Funston Beach


Fort Funston, San Francisco. Mosaic octopus at Fort Funston.  Street art made with found sea glass or beach glass on the outfall structure on the beach.

Fort Funston Beach

Doggie street art at on the watershed or outfall structure

Fort Funston Beach

Submarine discharge pipeline next to the sewer overflow structure - The sewage overflow receives only primary treatment, excluding bacterial disinfection, before being released from overflow structures into the ocean.

Please check the water condition before swimming after a big storm. You can here at SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION website.

Fort Funston Beach

Decaying wooden pillars on the southend of the beach at Fort Funston.

Fort Funston Beach

No leash needed at this beach. Dog heaven!

Fort Funston Beach

Reminder! This is a dog friendly beach. If you do not like off-leash dog, maybe this isn't your spot!

Fort Funston Beach

Long our 2 hour exploration, we saw many dead and half dead crabs. I tried to put one back in the water. The birds were really enjoying their fresh crab! Most birds at this beach are seagulls and Bank Swallows

Photos of Family in USA - old scanned photos

Look at that old ice-chest! Fort Funston 1977 - Brother's birthday party

Photos of Family in USA - old scanned photos

Family Birthday party - Ski jackets on in the parking lot of Fort Funston 1977 - best birthday party!

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Seaweed Soup Regatta on the San Francisco Bay

Seaweed Soup Regatta Feb 2013

Zamazann Sail boat at the Seaweed Soup Regatta on Feb. 2, 2013. The race is hosted by the Golden Gate Yacht Club located next to the Marin Greens.

What I didn't know was that there was a Alcatraz swim that day as well and made for some close calls in the bay. Check out Pressure Drop's Blog for some really cool photos and a more detailed description of the day.

"There was a bit of a parking lot at Aquatic Park where the wind went really light, and the current had yet to switch from ebb to flood. To make matters even more interesting, a group of swimmers from Alcatraz were working there way in the protected bay, creating another challenge for the fleets." -- Pressure Drop

Here is Pressure Drop's Full Seaweed Soup Photo Gallery. Really nice photos.

Seaweed Soup Regatta Feb 2013

Crew on the boat in San Francisco Bay - Winter

Seaweed Soup Regatta Feb 2013

Zamazaan (Farr 52) on San Francisco Bay

Seaweed Soup Regatta Feb 2013

Late start as we wait for the wind to pick up. It did around 1PM

Zamazaan Sailboat

It's a big boat with lots of halyards and Sheets

Zamazaan Sailboat

The race is hosted by the Golden Gate Yacht Club - home of the America's Cup

Here is a video I took with the GoPro of the Manuel Fagundes Seaweed Soup Regatta