citrus – morestomach

anniversary | blueberry slab pie

Published on September 28, 2017September 27, 2017 by Lan | MoreStomach11 Comments

this post was created in partnership with Green Valley Organics.

yesterday: i loved you.
today: i love you.
tomorrow: i will love you.
all wishes, 11:11, eyelashes, blowing out birthday candles,
they revolve around you:
your health
your happiness
your safety
sometimes i say it out loud,
other times i yell it out,
and more often than not,
i act it out
and show it to you,
because i love you so.

blueberries are your favorite,
and you are my favorite,
so i stashed freshly plucked blueberries
in the freezer,
for this occasion.

happy anniversary sweet beloved,
i love you.

this post is sponsored by green valley organics. all thoughts and opinions are my own. the first time i discovered this product, i damn near cried. dairy can be in my diet again without any adverse impact. basically, they’re making my dairy dreams come true. thanks so much for supporting the sponsors that keep morestomachblog up+running, toot-free.

blueberry slab pie
makes 1 slab pie, for two hungry lovers

*note: our wedding favors were homemade blueberry-lemon jam that we had picked. this pie has the same flavor profile. it’s nice on its own, but with some vanilla ice cream, it’s divine.

pie dough:
2 cups AP flour
healthy pinch salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
10 TBL butter, frozen and cut into small pieces. i use green valley organics
1 container (8oz) cream cheese, frozen and cut into small pieces. i use green valley organics
4 tsp apple cider vinegar
3-4 tsp ice cold vodka

filling:
3 cups blueberries, i used frozen, picked from hybridoma farms
1/2 cup sugar
2 TBL cornstarch
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch salt
1 lemon, zested and juiced, plus more zest from another lemon but that’s optional
1 egg, lightly beaten
healthy sprinkle of sugar

to make dough:
in a food processor, add the flour, salt, baking powder, butter and cream cheese. pulse until the mixture is mealy. while pulsing, add the cold liquids until the dough forms. dump the mixture onto a plastic wrap, wrap tightly and fridge for at least 30 minutes.

when ready, divide the dough in two. wrap one of the halves and put in fridge. on a very lightly floured piece of parchment, on a clean surface, roll the dough out as thin and evenly as you can, try not to cry. you’re aiming for 12×12″ square. place parchment on baking sheet, and fridge.

repeat the rolling out steps with other half of dough. again fridge it.

meanwhile, preheat oven to 400F.

in a bowl mix together the frozen berries, add the zest, sugar and juice of lemon. mix it well. now add in the cornstarch to sop up most of the liquid.

crack an egg into a small bowl, whisk real quick and set aside.

from the fridge take out the ugliest sheet of rolled dough. that’ll be the base. very carefully spoon out the berries onto the dough. aim to keep about 1/2″ border around the edge. the berries had started to thaw so it was a tad juicy so i was careful with only spooning the berries and not the juice.

grab the other rolled dough layer. if you’re fancy, cut out designs to vent. very carefully transfer the dough over top the berries and seal the edges by pinching the two layers together, or using a fork to pleat them together.

brush the top with the egg wash and sprinkle with sugar

bake for 40-45 minutes, turning about half way. i did have to foil it part way through, and then taking off the foil the last 5 minutes.

cool pie before cutting.

serve as is or with ice cream.

BAM!

previous anniversary sweetness:
chocolate tahini cake + rosemary infused buttercream – dairy free
6″ chocolate cake – vegan
meringue roulade with shaved chocolate and salty-sweet peanuts – dairy free

summer kefir scones – 2 ways

Published on August 23, 2017August 22, 2017 by Lan | MoreStomach6 Comments

this post was created in partnership with Green Valley Organics.

during the work week
i’m an early bird,
typically up before the alarm dings.
it’s unusual indeed for it to go off,
and when it does happen,
it’s a sign i slept really well,
and the day can be considered a victory
before it even starts.

we attempted to view the eclipse on monday,
there we were,
dw & i with our shoddy recalled goggles
that we purchased weeks ago,
standing under a heavy blanket of grey clouds,
it was like Mordor,
and then right as 2:42pm was imminent
the clouds opened
and we were rained on.
not so victorious,
but hilarious regardless.

summer is winding down,
our zucchini stash is ridiculous
and every time i bite into a peach
i’m reminded that august is going away
and september is right behind it.
i’ve stashed a few peaches
and shredded zucchini in the freezer,
to make some breakfast scones in winter,
when it’s bleak and i require
some kind, any kind, of pick-me-up.
these summer scones:
victory indeed.

Lemon Zucchini Scones or Peach Lavender Scones
makes 8 each

1 1/2 cups spelt flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg (nix if making peach lavender scones)
1/2 tsp salt
2 TBL butter, cold and cubed
1/2 cup plain, whole milk kefir
3 TBL maple syrup
zest of one lemon (1 TBL dried lavender)
1 cup shredded zucchini, wringed/squeezed dry as much as possible (or cubed peach slices)

preheat the oven to 375°F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

in a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.

cut in the butter with a fork until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.

pour in the kefir and maple syrup. add in the zucchini and lemon zest. (or peaches and dried lavender)

dump the mixture onto lightly floured counter top. shape into a disk and cut into 8 segments.

transfer to prepared baking sheet. bake for 18-20 minutes, or until lightly golden.

cool on pan for a few minutes and then transfer to wire rack to fully cool.

cover well. i usually keep them in large pyrex container, in the fridge. when i’m ready to eat, i toast them just a smidge in the toaster oven for some added warmth and crunch.

BAM!

4 years ago: vietnamese pickled carrots & daikon
3 years ago: blueberry swirl muffins
2 years ago: summer salsa
1 year ago: homemade chocolate covered popsicles

balsamic berry + ginger cereal bars

Published on April 6, 2017April 5, 2017 by Lan | MoreStomach11 Comments

oh it’s been a week.
things that happened:

how the temps were simultaneously
warm but the winds cool,
or, how i had the chance to eat poorly,
but instead ate salad and guacamole and rice cakes.
how i joined the Y and bought myself
a black 1 piece bathing suit so that i could
do water aerobics.
how i did F O U R photo shoots
for these breakfast bars,
in 2 different spots around the abode.
it’s a wonder there were any
left to photograph.

balsamic berry + ginger cereal bars

*note: these are a little on the cloying side, i would cut back the sugar by half, though the hit of balsamic does cut through, lending a rounder taste to it overall.

1 cup softened butter, i use green valley organics
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups quick cooking oats
1 1/2 cups plus 2Tbl spelt flour, divided
2 cups dried berries (my local mom’s has blueberries, cranberries & cherries. take your pick)
1/2 cup chopped candied ginger
6 oz container of plain yogurt, i use green valley organics
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, i use Hare Hollow’s Blackberry Ginger

preheat oven 350F.

in large mixing bowl, cream butter and brown sugar.

to the creamed mixture, add the oats and 1 1/2 cup of spelt flour, until just blended.

set aside about 1 1/2 cups for topping.

with the rest, pressing into greased 12×9 pan.

bake for 10 minutes.

meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the dried berries and candied ginger, and mix it with the yogurt, egg, and balsamic vinegar. add in the remaining 2 TBL spelt flour to soak up some of the moisture.

spread wet mixture of partially baked crust.

dot the top with remaining crumb mixture.

bake 20-25 minutes.

cool on rack., cut into squares.

fridge leftovers.

BAM!

this post was sponsored by Hare Hollow. all opinions are my own.

orange & olive oil cake

Published on February 9, 2017February 6, 2017 by Lan | MoreStomach8 Comments

it’s somehow well into february
2017 has been the slowest & quickest passing of time.

today,
6 years ago,
i met 2 incredible humans.
just over a month ago
we lost an incredible human.

everything else aside,
we have much to celebrate,
and so we will.

orange & olive oil cake
adapted from the splendid table

*note: the recipe calls for the use of a 9″ springfoam pan and a bake for up to 42 min. i grabbed our 8″ pan from the pantry & our oven runs hot so we took it out early and it was just right. a crust forms and it creates a perfect contrast with the soft interior. this is a great accompaniment to morning coffee, 3pm tea or after dinner nosh.

**note: cover well & will keep in fridge for a week.

1 1/2 cups spelt flour
scant 1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 large eggs
2/3 cup fresh squeezed orange juice (about 2 oranges)
zest of 2 oranges
2/3 cup light olive oil
1/4 cup chopped candied orange peel
powdered sugar, optional, for dusting

preheat oven to 375°F. line an 8″ cake pan with parchment paper. set aside.

in mixing bowl add alllllll the ingredients, except for the powdered sugar, and mix through. (that’s what i did) however, if you want to be correct: dry ingredients first, then add the wet stuff one at a time. mix with a spatula until all the dry streaks are gone.

pour into prepared pan. bake for 38 minutes.

cool for 20 minutes, then flip out of pan onto wire rack to cool completely.

sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired, slice and serve.

BAM!

3 years ago: 2 flavors of pull apart bread
2 years ago: savory sticky rice
1 year ago: red wine poached pears

citrus-pistachio scones (grain free)

Published on January 19, 2017January 18, 2017 by Lan | MoreStomach7 Comments

the other night,
while aimlessly scrolling through FB
with alex trebeck smug in the background
i came across an hs friend’s update.
for some reason,
through no prompting that i could discern,
he listed 10 albums he listened to
when we were all still pimply,
voices changing
and in dire need of deodorant.
being as how i adore lists
i wracked my brain
for my list of albums:

madonna // bedtime stories
tori amos // little earthquakes
toad the wet sprocket // fear
jon bon jovi // blaze of glory
u2 // zooropa
erasure // the innocents
roxette // crash boom bang
alanis morissette // jagged little pill
stone temple pilots // purple
counting crows // august and everything after

this doesn’t include the
asian new wave
i still have a fondness for.

tl;dr: i was emo AF

citrus-pistachio scones (grain free)
loosely adapted from against all grain cookbook by danielle walker
makes 7 scones

*note: these scones have nothing to do with music, unless you count the fact that i was listening to music while i made them.

2 cups blanched almond flour, sifted, plus more to roll out dough
3 TBL super crushed pistachio nuts, unsalted
3 TBL kinda sorta crushed pistachio nuts, unsalted
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 egg
2 TBL almond milk, i use califia farms
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3 TBL coconut oil, in soft solid form
zest of 2 lemons
1/4 cup candied orange peel (recipe below)

preheat oven to 350F, put parchment paper on cookie sheet. set aside.

place almond flour, 2 types of crushed pistachio nuts, maple syrup, egg, almond milk, baking soda, salt & lemon zest into mixing bowl. mix until it loosely comes together.

using a fork, add in the coconut oil, letting the oil crumble. stir in candied orange peels.

on the counter, sprinkle some almond flour. dump out the dough onto the counter and shape into a disc, about an inch thick. cut into triangles and be done with it. but if you’re fancy, use a round biscuit cutter to make into circle scones.

place on prepared cookie sheet.

bake for 18-20 minutes. i like it slightly under, crispy outside but still soft on the inside. dw likes it more done. you’re aiming for a golden crust.

serve with tea or coffee. if you’re super fancy, a glaze drizzle would be nice.

candied orange peel

*note: if conventional oranges are what’s available, be sure to wash them in warm water. i’ve let them sit in a vinegar bath (1 part vinegar, 2 parts water) for about 5 minutes. in my mind, whether true or not, it gets rid of any residual sprayed pesticides etc. it’s entirely up to you.
**note: this can be made way ahead, and can keep in a clean jar in the fridge for awhile, aim for less than a month.

2 organic oranges
water
1/2 cup sugar
scant 1/2 cup water
3 TBL sugar

wash the oranges really well, and dry.

cut the top and bottom of the orange to give it stability. you can either score the skin and peel (which is how my gpa used to do for me) or you can be lazy and just cut the skin off as close to the flesh as possible.

cut/peel as much of the pith (the white stuff) off as possible.

slice the orange peels as thin or thick as you want.

dump into a saucepan, add water and bring to a boil. drain. do this 2 more times.

in the same saucepan, add in the 1/2 cup sugar with scant 1/2 cup of water. bring to a gentle boil, swirl to dissolve the sugar. add in the sliced peels, mix to make sure every peel is covered in syrup. leave it alone for about 15 minutes.

drain, reserving the syrup for another use, like tea or lemonade, or some baked bread that calls for the use of citrus simple syrup to be doused in it. i’d say there’s about 1/4 cup of the stuff left.

in a bowl add about 3 TBL sugar. add the drained sticky peels to the bowl and shake it around till all the peels are coated in sugar. lay on a cookie tray with parchment paper. spread it out into a single layer. put it in the oven set at the lowest temp possible (mine goes down to 170F) and leave for 30 minutes, or up to an hour. more if your peels are thick. you’re aiming for a dried product.

BAM!