Week(and every) day cobbler

Hello again, my friends. From the looks of it, it’s been a year since I posted – A YEAR! I never intended to take such a substantial break, but I suppose such is life. I’ve still been making delicious food and have thought about Yum For Tum too many times to count, but just couldn’t seem to muster up the power to sit down and write. Honestly, I’ve been feeling a bit (well, more than a bit) stuck and trying to figure a whole lot of things out in the last 12 months, and I think I’m finally making some headway. I’ll spare you all the details, and just leave it at that. I’m writing a blog post, so that’s progress right? 🙂

Making and eating cobbler is also a form of progress, so let’s do it.

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This cobbler is my go to dessert at all times of year, work night or no. It’s so very easy, so very tasty, and it takes about 5 minutes to throw together. You can use fresh or frozen fruit, and I’ve experimented with pretty much everything – the only thing that I’m not wild about as the sole fruit in this is citrus fruit. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great addition to something with less water in it, but it makes for kind of a mushy final product. Adding in dried fruit with fresh or frozen stuff also makes for sweet, sweet goodness.

One more thing, this whole recipe is super flexible! You have dried apricots and frozen blueberries at home? Use them! You have a handful of raspberries, some left over blueberries, and couple apples – that’s a fine mofo of a cobbler!

Also, the amounts of every ingredient are more suggestions than anything else. Depending on pan size, you change the amounts of fruit and topping to suit what you’ve got.

What you need (makes 4 mini cocottes – see disclaimer below):

Topping:

2 cups gf oats

1 Tbsp coconut or sunflower oil (even a light olive oil is pretty good here), melted

1/4 cup maple syrup (the oats should be coated lightly with maple syrup – if you want more sweetness or find your oats aren’t coated, add more, but don’t let the oats get mushy)

1/2tsp cinnamon

pinch of sea salt

pinch of nutmeg

Filling:

2-3 cups fruit, chopped.

Juice of 1/2 lemon

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Here’s where I make a quick disclaimer: I use these little cocottes to both make and serve the cobbler. If you’re thinking, “this is bullshit! I don’t have cocottes!” worry not, my dear. Really, even I’m shocked that I have cocottes. So, take whatever pan you’re going to be using (ideally it doesn’t have more than about a 3 inch side), fill it with fruit about 2/3-3/4 of the way, then pack on the topping! 

So, first, preheat the oven to 375. Then wash your fruit (yes, yes, fresh and seasonal fruit is always sweetest, but I’ve been using up the rest of my frozen nectarines and daaaa-ummm, Gina, they’re good!)

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Next, add lemon juice, stir, and fill your cocottes or not cocottes.

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Mix all the topping ingredients together and spoon onto your fruits. I like to make each of these little guys heaping because I love me so oaty topping and they just end up so nice and crunchy. If your topping layer is too thin, the oats will be mush. I’d shoot for at least 1/2 inch, maybe an inch of topping. If you don’t have enough fruit or topping to cover your pan, just keep adding more until you’re satisfied!

Bake for about 15 minutes, until golden brown and crunchy on top and all bubbly and luscious in the middle.

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Boom, tasty dessert! Enjoy!

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Pom-Berry Smoothie (gf, raw, vegan, and crazy tasty!)

IMG_9040Spring has finally sprung here in Seattle, and while smoothie season never really ends at my house, it’s definitely back in it’s fully glory. This is a little bit of a smoothie departure for me because it occurs to me that I tend to get an upset stomach and headaches after I eat more than 1 or 2 bananas per week. Does this make me sound a little kooky? Possibly. Does slowing down on the bananas make my head feel better? Absofruitly.

So anyway, this is a mango based smoothie made with the sweet, tart, magical elixir that is pomegranate juice. I’ve also been adding hemp hearts to everything lately, and between a little almond milk for added creaminess and the hemp hearts, there’s a delicious nutty flavor that pops up.IMG_9038What you need: (Makes two little smoothies or 1 Mandy-sized smoothie)

3/4 cup frozen mango chunks

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

a few frozen dark sweet cherries

1/2 cup of spinach

1-3 Tbsp hemp hearts depending on how hempy your dream smoothie is

1/2 cup of cold Pom juice (more if you like a thinner smoothie consistency)

about 1/2 cup unsweetened organic almond milkIMG_9037Now what?! Don’t worry, just put your goodies in your blender (or magic bullet, which I have linked to because I love this crazy little gadget and it’s an excellent choice when the infamous Vitamix is just a little out of reach price wise).IMG_9039Add the liquids and ready….set……….go! Er, blend!IMG_9042Partake of the sweet, sweet goodness that is your smoothie!IMG_9043IMG_9040

Back in Action With Spicy Slaw and Baked Plantain Chips. Woot! (Gf and Vegan)

IMG_8997Well, my friends, it’s been awhile since I’ve posted, and I apologize. I’ve been thinking about recipes, but the last couple of weeks have been, um, let’s say dynamic and challenging. That sounds diplomatic, right? Job changes (my new gig starts tomorrow!), forced entry into the constant pain-in-the-ass realm of real estate, and midterms. Whew. So, I won’t lie, I’ve been putting my energy into other things. 

The bug to cook and post came back today though. Hooray! So, I present you with this little dish. It’s light and spicy, but hearty enough to be lunch. It’s also fantastic on tacos and aside from a lot of chopping, it doesn’t take much. IMG_8994What you need:

For the plantains:

well, you need plantains. 🙂 2 medium very, very ripe (and pretty much black)

1 Tbsp melted coconut oil

For the slaw:

1/2 head of cabbage, chopped roughly

1 red bell pepper, diced

1/2 zucchini, diced

1/2 cucumber, diced

1 tomato, diced

1 avocado, chopped

1 handful fresh cilantro, chopped

1 mango, chopped

1.5 cups cooked pinto beans (or 1 can)

1/2 cup salsa verde, as spicy as you like

2 Tbsp white whine vinegar

1 Tbsp grapeseed oil

salt and pepper to tasteP1030173_2First, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Slice the plantains…remember, the thinner you slice them, the crispier they’ll be. I like mine slightly chewy, so they weren’t super thinly sliced. Pour melted coconut oil over slices and spread onto large baking sheet. Bake for about 25-30 min, flip plantains, and bake another 10 minutes. They should be golden brown or slightly darker. Soooooo delicious. IMG_8993P1030169To make the slaw, chop the veggies! I’ve started growing cilantro in my apartment, and it’s been so nice just  to walk over and grab what I need. Who knew indoor spices could grow so well? IMG_8996Once all the slaw fixings are chopped, add beans, salsa, oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper and toss. Serve with plantains and enjoy! 🙂IMG_8997

Mango Coco Kiwi Smoothie. Sunshine In a Cup!

P1030066March in Seattle means gray, windy, rainy, and often unpleasant. So for the past few mornings I’ve been mixing up this little sunshine smoothie not only because it tastes super good, but it makes me feel like I’m in some tropical climate, even if just for a few minutes. Come summer, I guarantee I’ll be posting more about how awesome the PNW is and how I’d never want to leave.

P1030061What you need:

about 3/4 cup of frozen mango chunks

1 sliced kiwi

1 Tbsp chia seeds

1 Tbsp sliced or whole almonds (preferably soaked in H20 overnight)

1 Tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut

1 cup coconut water

2 Tbsp light coconut milk

P1030060Put all ingredients in your blender (I used my magic bullet). Blend. Seriously, that’s it. 🙂

P1030067Drink and enjoy!!!!