Roasted Cauliflower and Black Beans Tacos

Roasted Cauliflower with Black Beans and Tahini Dressing

If you are in the mood for Mexican with a twist, try this unique taco recipe.

Ingredients

Taco Ingredients:

• 1 batch Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower (see below)
• 1 batch Black Beans (see below)
• 1 batch Cumin Lime Crema (see below)
• corn tortillas*
• toppings: diced avocado, chopped fresh cilantro, fresh lime wedges, pepitas, and/or thinly-sliced radishes

Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower Ingredients:

• 1 large head cauliflower (about 2 pounds)
• 4 medium garlic cloves, peeled and minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon each: ground cumin, kosher salt, paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon each: crushed red pepper flakes, freshly-cracked black pepper, ground turmeric

Refried Black Beans Ingredients:

• 1 small white onion
• 2 (15-ounce) cans black beans
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon each: chili powder, Kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper

Cumin Lime Crema Ingredients:

• 1 small garlic clove, peeled and minced
• 1/4 cup lime juice (about 2 limes)
• 3 tablespoons tahini
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Mexican hot sauce (such as Cholula)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

 To Make The Tacos:

1. Prepare the cauliflower, refried black beans and crema as directed below.
2. To serve, place a layer of refried black beans in a tortilla, top with roasted cauliflower, a drizzle of the crema, and your desired toppings.

To Make The Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower:

1. Heat oven to 450°F.
2. In a large bowl, mix the cauliflower, garlic, olive oil, cumin, salt, paprika, crushed red pepper flakes, black pepper and ground turmeric until evenly combined.

3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat, then place the cauliflower in a single layer on the sheet.  Roast for 25-30 minutes until it is tender and browned, stirring once halfway through.
4. Serve immediately.

To Make The Refried Black Beans:

1. Peel and halve the onion, then slice into half-moon shapes.  Drain the beans, reserving 1/2 cup of the can liquid.
2. In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat.  Add the onion and sauté until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.  Add the beans, reserved can liquid, kosher salt, chili powder and black pepper.  Turn the heat to medium low and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring often and smashing the beans toward the end of the cook time, until most of the liquid has cooked out and the texture is mashed and thick.  Scrape the bottom and sides of the pan as necessary.  Taste and season with additional salt as desired.

To Make The Cumin Lime Crema:

In a small bowl, stir together the garlic, lime juice, tahini, olive oil, hot sauce, cumin and salt until evenly combined.  Add 1-2 tablespoons water if necessary to achieve a creamy consistency.

 

Adapted from Gimmesomeoven.com 

 

Hiking Mount Parker

 

Summit of Mount Parker

 Autumn has officially arrived. With cooler temperatures and fewer bugs it is a great time for hiking. The problem may be, particularly during foliage season in New England, that early fall can also be the most crowded time to it the trails. Fortunately, it is still possible to find solitude it you steer clear of the most popular areas. If you are looking for a great hike in the White Mountains away from crowds, Mount Parker in Bartlett, NH is a good option. 

My friend Sue and I arrived at the parking area around 9:00 AM Sunday morning. Surprisingly, we were the only car in the parking lot. For the entire day, we only saw six hikers, quite unusual, especially since this mountain is one of the 52 With a View. We decided to take the Langdon Trail to the Mount Parker Trail, but there is an alternate approach from the Davis Path. The route that we took has 2,800 feet elevation gain, but nothing too difficult. There were lots of switch-backs on the Mount Parker Trail which helped with the ascent.

 

In addition to the view at the top, there were some interest observations, like this star-tipped reindeer lichen (C. stellaris) growing along the side of the trail. It was very pretty sitting in contrast to the red low bush blueberries.

Star-tipped reindeer lichen

There were several trees with burls on them. A burl is an area of abnormal growth on a tree, typically caused by some type of stress, such as an injury or insect infestation. This one was quite large and can be seen with some fresh as well as older growth. They can be very interesting to look at and are often used in woodworking designs. 

 Lots of different fungi grow on trees, but this was the first time I have seen Hericium or Lions Mane in the wild. Apparently it is not uncommon in the Northeastern forests this time of year. This species of mushroom is often recommended for beginner foragers as it is unique in appearance and is prized by many chefs for its unique flavor which I have heard described as tasting like lobster when cooked.  

A very cool looking Hericium

The Granite State got its name for a reason and hikers will see lots of boulders in the woods. If you take a close look, you will often see many types of growth attached.

The above rock looked like it was covered with dried leaves which was actually Rock tripe lichen (Umbilicaria mammulata)

Although I didn't see many mushrooms on the forest floor, there were several types of shelf mushrooms on logs and trees. The following is an example of Fomitopsis pinicola also known as a Red-belted polypore or conk. It is a commonly found on conifer trees.

Fomitopsis pinicola

 

It's easy to see why Fomes fomentarius is referred to as Hoof fungus. It is also called Tinder conk since it can be used to start fires. I read in the USDA's Field Guide to Common Macrofungi in Eastern Forests and Their Ecosystem Functions that there is also a False Tinder conk (Fomes ignarius) which looks very similar so I am not sure which had taken hold of the fallen tree below.

 

As we were heading out of the woods, there was a bald faced hornets nest hanging from a tree. When I Googled Bald Faced Hornet the first few entries were all about pest control companies. This makes sense since they are probably paying to have their information listed in the beginning of searches. However, it is much better to think of these creatures as beneficial. hey hunt and eat other insects and serve as a pollinator of plants. 

Baldfaced Hornets Nest

 

Most often their nests will be high up in trees. Of course you don't want a nest built outside your front door, so be diligent in the spring when the queen will start building her new home. If you see a small nest starting, go out after dark and knock it down. You may have to do this a couple times, but this will usually be sufficient to encourage her to build a nest elsewhere. 

I am hoping that there are several more nice weekends before the snow and ice arrives so that I can check off several more peaks with views and discover some more surprises found in nature.

Coconut Rice with Spicy Chicken Thighs

Stewed Chicken and Coconut Rice

Ingredients

4 Chicken thighs

  

Sauce:

3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
4 cloves garlic minced
1 Tablespoon fresh ginger minced
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 chili pepper chopped
1 bay leaf salt and pepper

Coconut Rice:
1 cup rice
1 14-oz can coconut milk
1/2 cup water
Dash salt
2 Tablespoons toasted coconut
1 scallion chopped

Mix together ingredients for sauce in a dutch oven over medium heat until simmering. Add chicken thighs, skin side down, cover and cook for 15 minutes. Turn chicken and cook another 15 minutes or until done. When chicken is cooked through, remove and place on a foil lined tray and set in oven at 375 degrees for 10 minutes, then broil on high until browned, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile simmer sauce until reduced and slightly thicken.

While chicken is cooking make rice. Bring rice, coconut milk, water and salt to a boil. Reduce to low, cover and simmer until done, about 20-25 minutes. Add more water if needed. Fluff rice when done and add coconut.

Serve  chicken with rice and sauce and sprinkle with scallions. 

A Summer Hike up Mount Crawford and Mount Resolution

 

Another great weekend to go hiking. Although it was humid, the temperature was only in the seventies and the skies were overcast which kept it from being too hot. Now on a mission to check off peaks on the 52 With a View list, my friend and I selected Mount Crawford off Route 302 in Crawford Notch. Surprisingly, the parking lot was not very crowded, which made for a quiet day on the trail. 

 

The trail begins by crossing a suspension bridge over the Saco River and after passing a couple private residences enters the woods. The hike up to Mount Crawford utilizes the Davis Path. Completed in 1845, the Davis Path was originally built by Nathaniel Davis as a bridle path to summit Mount Washington. Although, not even used for ten years before falling into disrepair, it was not abandoned, but was converted to a foot path in 1910 and exists today as one of the oldest continuously used trails in the White Mountains.  

 

It is August, so spotting mushrooms while hiking is a common occurrence. Although I am not a mushroom expert, I love searching for them in the woods and admire their many shapes, colors and sizes. Here is a beautiful specimen of a coral mushroom which I believe to be Ramaria aurea or Golden Coral fungus.

 

The trail starts off relatively flat, but once the climbing begins, it is relentless. At around 2.0 miles,  the trail opens out of the woods to ledges revealing the first of many fine views. 

Views from ledges along Davis Path

 

At 2.2 miles, a .3 mile spur path leads to the summit of Mount Crawford. Just before reaching the peak,there was a Spruce Grouse standing in the middle of the path. He was not frightened by our appearance, standing there for awhile before eventually walking into the shrubs. On our descent, he was there again in the same spot.

Spruce grouse with distinctive red eyebrow

At the summit, we sat and had our lunch, sharing the summit with only two other people. Although the full views were somewhat blocked by low hanging clouds, the were still impressive.

A brief opening of blue sky atop Mount Crawford

After rejoining the Crawford Path, instead of returning to the parking lot, we continued North toward Mount Resolution, another peak on the 52 With a View list. It was a pleasant walk on the Davis Path for the 1.5 miles to the Mt. Parker trail which leads to Mount Resolution and Mount Parker. Just .7 miles past the Mt. Parker trail is the side trail that leads to the summit of Stairs Mountain. Both Parker and Stairs are also on the List, but time would only allow us to do Resolution. The Mt. Parker Trail up Resolution has some nice views looking back towards Mount Crawford.

Looking toward Mt. Crawford from top of Mount Resolution

Although berry season has been over for a couple weeks at home, there were plenty of ripe blueberries on the bushes along the ledges of Resolution.

Wild blueberries

All in all, It was a great hike and I am looking forward to returning to the area to tackle Mount Parker and Stairs Mountain.

Vegetable Potato Korean Style Pancakes

Vegetable Potato Korean Style Pancakes

Here is a quick and easy light meal. Perfect for any day of the week.

Pancake Batter
1/2 cup flour
1 Potato peeled and shredded
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup ice water
1 large egg
1/4 cup kimchi or other fermented substitute 
4 cups grated/chopped vegetables (I used carrots, kale, green pepper and spinach) 
4 scallions, sliced thin
2 Tablespoons oil

Dipping Sauce
3 Tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon grated giner
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

In a large bowl sift flour, salt and baking powder. In separate bowl combine potatoes, vegetables and three-quarters of the scallions, saving the rest for garnish. Whisk together water, kimchi and eggs and add to vegetable mixture. Add to dry ingredients and stir until combined.

Heat heavy skillet with oil. When hot, scoop about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake. Cook until crispy on each side (about 3 minutes each.) Transfer to an oven safe platter and keep in warm oven while you cook the remaining pancakes.

Whisk together dipping sauce ingredients and serve on the side with the pancakes.

Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk (Juvenile)

Our back yard has become very quiet this week. After months of almost continuous calling from a family of Red-shouldered hawks, they appear to have moved on, although one has occasionally reappeared to circle over our yard. When I first heard the loud vocalization of this bird, I did not know what type of hawk it was. After several days of incessant calling, I decided to walk through our woods to see if I could catch a glimpse. Within a few minutes, a hawk flew right in front of me and then I spotted another perched stately on a tree. Although it must have known that I was there, it didn't appear threatened by my presence. Since I had seen two birds, I figured that they must have a nest nearby. It was not easy to see, but I eventually found the nest, sitting high in a tree across from a small pond.

Nest for Red-shouldered Hawks

I read that they like to live in forests with an open canopy and that they hunt from perches below the canopy or at the edge of a pond. The location of this nest was perfect for them.  The Birds of America by John James Audubon shows a picture of a Red-shouldered hawk hunting in their preferred habitat. The caption reads that they are beneficial since their diet is "largely composed of destructive rodents." The Cornell Lab All About Birds website reads that they also eat toads, snakes and crayfish.

Drawing of Red-shouldered Hawk from Audubon's The Birds of America

Although they can look similar to Broad-winged hawks, the distinct difference is their call. You have most likely heard a Red-shouldered hawk in the woods. Once you can identify its call you will probably realize how often you have heard them.




According to the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Red-shouldered hawks have shown a decline in population from 1966 - 2003. There are most likely various contributing factors, but one cause, as with many other species is habitat loss due to human's changing the landscape. Where these hawks were breeding in our back yard, they were surrounding by houses on four sides. We we have kept the woods intact as has one other neighbor. The other two property owners have cleared the trees for backyard playing areas and a swimming pool. These incremental changes, when the occur across the landscape can have wide-spread impacts to a species as a whole.We should all keep this in mind as we design and maintain our homes.

Grilled Salmon and Asparagus with Salad

Grilled Salmon and Asparagus

With summer comes grilling and lots of salads. This recipe, adapted from Rachael Ray and The Food Network Kitchen includes both as well as my favorite vegetable. It was very dry earlier this which impacted my asparagus production, but it still provided enough for a meal, every two to three days.

This recipe serves two.

Orange vinaigrette dressing
1/2 large orange
1 Tablespoon chopped shallots
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
1 Tablespoon canola oil
1 Tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper

Whisk together ingredients for vinaigrette and set aside.

Prepare Salmon and Asparagus:
1-bunch asparagus spears
2 (4-6 oz) salmon fillets
Salt and pepper
Olive oil

Blanch asparagus in boiling water for 30 seconds, then remove to a plate. Brush salmon with olive oil then season with salt and pepper. Place on pre-heated grill and cook about 5 minutes each side, more or less to your preference.

For Salad
Assorted salad greens
1/4 cup Kalamata olives sliced in half
1/2 large orange
1/4 cup sliced red onion
salt and pepper

While salmon is grilling, combine salad ingredients and divide onto two plates. Just before the salmon is done, coat asparagus in olive oil, lightly salt and add to grill. Cook for about 3 minutes, turning frequently. Serve on plate with salmon, salad and vinaigrette.