Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Garden Goodness

I'm trying a few Gerson recipes before my July 1 experiment begins just to...just because...well, because I'm jumping the gun. As usual.

I tried the Zucchini and Potato Bake last week. It was delicious! I served broccoli burgers with it- not a Gerson recipe but so good! I had to more than double the recipes to feed the gang!

The veggies were not from my garden but they were all local and organic-


Once the veggies are prepared, it's time to layer--


The broccoli burgers were a cinch-- just process--


then form patties and bake--


Viola!


Now, from my backyard garden---GREEN TOMATOES--


from which I prepared---


FRIED GREEN TOMATOES!


A family favorite around here! And yes, it is a movie. But in the south, it's also a scrumptious side dish! I served these with string beans (from the garden) and potatoes, and grilled flounder fillets AND totally forgot to take a picture of the meal! For those of you who count calories, as far as I can tell, one friend green tomato had about 74 calories in it. Well worth it too! And I'm not telling you how many I ate. Sigh.

I don't have the recipe for the fried green tomatoes because it's one of those recipes that I just do- I don't follow a written recipe.

However, here are the recipes for the casserole and the burgers!

Zucchini and Potato Bake (2 servings)
(this recipe came from Healing the Gerson Way)

1 lb zucchini
1 lb potatoes
2 medium onions
2 cloves garlic
10 oz yogurt (I didn't use the yogurt because I thought I had plain but it was vanilla..oops)

Finely slice zucchini, potatoes and onions. Place alternate layers of each in casserole dish, adding a sprinkling of crushed garlic between layers. Cook in oven at 350 degrees for about an hour and a half. Add second garlic clove to yogurt. When dish is cooked, spread yogurt on top.


Broccoli Burgers (makes 4 burgers)
(this recipe came from One Green Planet)

Ingredients:

1/3 cup dry couscous (I used brown rice because I forgot to buy couscous)
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups broccoli florets
2 tsp olive oil
1/2 cup chopped scallions
1/2 cup chopped yellow onion (I used a vidalia onion)
2 tsp ground cumin (Ick...I skipped this ingredient)
1- 15 oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 TBS sesame tahini (I didn't use this because do you know how much tahini sauce cost??????)
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs (don't like panko, used my gluten free bread crumbs)

There is Tahini Dressing for the burger, which I didn't make, but here's that part:

1/3 cup sesame tahini
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup plus 1 TBS fresh lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, chopped
3/4 tsp sea salt


Directions:

  • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • In a small pot, bring the water and couscous to a boil. (I skipped these 3 steps because I just made some brown rice and used that)
  • Remove from heat immediately and allow the couscous to sit in the pot for 10 minutes to soak up the water.
  • Steam the broccoli in a steamer for 5-7 minutes
  • In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat and add in the onion and scallions, stirring occasionally for 3-5 minutes until the onion softens.
  • Remove the onions from the heat and stir in the cumin.
  • Place couscous, broccoli, onion mix, chickpeas and sesame tahini in a food processor and combine.
  • Pour the mixture into a bowl and stir in the bread crumbs.
  • Form it into patties and place the patties on a cookie sheet--I sprayed a little organic olive oil on the pan.
  • Bake for 50 minutes, turning the patties over halfway through. You’ll know they are done when the tops begin to brown.
  • To make the tahini sauce, place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until combined, for about 30 seconds.
  • Top your burgers with the sauce and anything else you like on a burger and ENJOY!
I have discovered a website called Calorie Count that is good for determining the caloric value of recipes. Using the site, the zucchini/potato bake has about 241 calories per serving and the burgers have about 161 WITHOUT the sauce.

What's cooking in your kitchen?


22 comments:

  1. Sorry I'm so far behind in blog reading these past couple days! That photo of the vegetables is so gorgeous against the inlaid wood countertop! Anyway, so what do you have against cumin?? And I've never bought tahini sauce for the very same reason AND I've never had a fried green tomato in my life, but I may try it this summer. The food looks delicious. I think my tomato plants are about a foot tall now with one or two blossoms. lol Oh. And I wanted to ask if you buy prepared GF bread crumbs and if so what brand - or do you make your own. I'd love to have some on hand without having to make them!

    Thanks for your nice comments on Cranberry Morning. Isn't that sign just crazy!

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  2. I was looking at the broccoli burgers and planning on demanding the recipe and then, voila, there it was in all its delicious tahini-free glory!
    I am SO going to try this, Mizzus Awesome Cooker.

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  3. So yummy!! I love fresh food so much. Everything looks like I could just stop by and eat. I have never tried fried green tomatoes but I bet they are yummy too. I love that you just know the recipe. That is the way my bread recipe is in my head.
    I am going to check out the website you said, Calorie Count.
    Have a nice day, I am off to weed my garden and pick apricots to make jam today. :)

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  4. I am so trying those broccoli burgers. And I'm putting in the cumin...it's one of my favorite spices. Yeah, tahine is expensive. I wonder if I just used some hummus? Another must have in the pantry.

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  5. Judy-I just don't like the taste of the cumin. Or at least, I didn't used to...maybe I'll give it another try since my tastes do change over time. You have to try a fried green tomato. I used coconut oil this time and they were GREAT! I use Glutino bread crumbs most of the time- I like them just fine. And it is so much easier than having to make my own- which I usually make from the homemade gluten free bread. LOL

    Cathy- LOL You continually crack me up! Let me know how you like them! Thanks!

    Kim- I wish you lived close enough to just stop by and eat! I'd love that- and then I could visit your chickens! LOL Can't wait to see your jam photos and get your recipe!

    Stephanie- I hope you like them. I'm going to have to revisit cumin---I may be confusing it with curry, which I know I still don't like. I just left it out completely. But hummus is good in everything, right? :)

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  6. all of this looks great and beautiful pictures!

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  7. Oh yum! I love breaded & fried veggies, but I don't dare eat them. Eat some for me, pleeease! =D

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  8. I am all over that broccoli burger recipe! YUM...all of of this food talk makes me HUNGRY!
    Oh - and I have had fried green tomatoes and you are right - they are worth every calorie!!!

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  9. The potato zucchini bake looks awesome!....:)JP

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  10. LP- Thank you! It was good!

    Cathy- I know what you mean. I haven't had anything fried in over 2 years! But it was Good!

    Rochelle- Let me know what you think! We loved them!

    JP- It was probably my favorite!

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  11. Those burgers look so good. And I love that you skipped all the steps I would too... haha.
    Will be trying them soon, in one of the challenge upcoming weeks.

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  12. Betty- They were delish! I'll be making them again!

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  13. All the food looks so yummy. I'm definitely going to try the broccoli burgers,but I'll have to come up with another name or the hubby won't touch them. I'm going to show my ignorance now, but why is everybody on this gluten free kick. Is it because of ciliac disease? Is it really bad?

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  14. Alessandra- I can only speak for myself about the gluten. I'm staying away from all wheat products and foods that are not organic (certified) and grown by local or at least North American, small farmers because I'm sick of the way our government and scientists are trying to poison the American public--I even believe that the pharmaceutical companies are somehow benefiting from it. The gluten issue for us is just that we feel so much better without it. The husband has even seen improvements in his ADD. They say that it won't make any difference if you don't have ciliac disease but we have seen drastic differences.

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  15. I'm currently taking 4 meds a day after an artery blockage last year and every single am and pm that I take those pills I think about how I'm part of a big money-making scam.
    But I promised my doctors I would listen to them for one year....and then I want to try something different. I am nearly at that one year mark and need to figure out what I'm going to do to save my own arteries without those stupid meds!!!

    YOU are inspirational, sistah!!!

    That zucchini dish looks delicious! My son would love it. :)

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  16. Kaylen- Start looking for a holistic doctor in your area and try talking to him/her just to get an understanding of where they are coming from. Then maybe a nutritionist? Meds can be so overwhelming. And I'm sure there are some that are quite beneficial but it just seems hard to make that determination since it's become such a big business. You can even make changes now to you daily routine that will start helping right away- I hopehopehope you can get off those meds and spring back with the healthiest of arteries! :)

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  17. Fried green tomatoes are one of life's best foods : )

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  18. Now that looks like a delicious meal! I've never had a fried green tomato.

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  19. Thanks for sharing the recipes! It all looks so good!! :)

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  20. Joyce- Aren't they though?

    Debby- You have to try them! They are so good!

    Shannon- You're welcome! Hope you give them a go and enjoy them!

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  21. Wow!! This all looks fantastic! I have started eating healthy and those burgers may work for us!
    Found you on ShareFest!

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  22. I love your profile photo!

    Is your banner telling me that when my kids leave I can actually have a clean house and plant a garden? I'm gonna cling to that now. My kids are 13 to 21, so hopefully it's not far off.

    Thanks for the recipes. How fun that you get to enjoy food you grew yourself. I have many friend who garden and share with me, but I haven't gotten there yet. Maybe when the kids are gone.

    Stopping by from SITS. Have a great weekend.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! It makes me feel connected to everyone even though we may live far apart! Have a wonderful day!

 
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