The January Kitchen

From Maria’s Place by Maria Hodkins

January 25, 2012

Grey, white, and muted browns on the landscape. Crunchy snow and mud everywhere, not at all enticing to draw me outside. The life-giving sun makes its seemingly interminable journey back to warming the earth during January. Those of us in the Northern climes contend with a certain ennui during the long haul toward spring. It’ll be a long time yet before we can plant seed and eat our own garden-fresh food. Meanwhile, however, life is burgeoning in the corners of the kitchen in microbial colonies, inspiring me with the joy of growing good things to eat inside. The yogurt is culturing in the oven by the warmth of the pilot light; the kefir grains, consisting of a symbiosis between yeast and bacteria, is sitting on the counter making a cell-building probiotic drink for my mornings; I’m swooning with the smell of the sourdough starter, bubbling with new flour in a crockery bowl, ready for biscuits, bread, pancakes,and English muffins; and, the cabbage and carrots are fermenting with whey and salt in a Mason jar, soon to be pickled and lively as a condiment for a meal. January is the month of creation, of new beginnings, and good food grown from the tiniest of organisms--revealing a miraculous world at our fingertips. Nothing drab about that. And I’ve always believed a truly “organic” kitchen is one that’s alive with a creation in every corner.

Continue reading The January Kitchen »

Delectable Soft Taco Recipe

From Maria’s Place by Maria Hodkins

June 22, 2009

Just discovered a new taco recipe that I absolutely adore--it’s delicious, quick, simple, and healthy. It’s an adaptation from a dish served at the B & B where I cook. I made it for my weekend guests and it got rave reviews. People are always asking me, “How do you cook greens?” and don’t seem to know what you can do with them to make them tasty and appealing. This recipe is a great way to do just that!

GARLIC, GOAT CHEESE, AND GREENS TACOS

8 corn tortillas
2 T olive oil or ghee
1 onion, minced
2 large cloves garlic
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
2 or 3 bunches of chard, kale, broccoli raab or other braising greens, Cut off the stems and slice the greens into narrow strips of about 1”.

Continue reading Delectable Soft Taco Recipe »