Set the Table 2017 | Week 41

Apple & Soffritto Puffs
I'm in the mood for meatless comfort food!

1 package puff pastry (I am so happy with the Dufour Pastry Kitchen brand. Gluten free? Follow this tutorial on how to make gluten free puff pastry with Bob's Red Mill.)
3 carrots finely dice
3 kale ribs thinly sliced (leaves chopped saved for a slaw salad this week)
1 red onion finely diced
2 garlic cloves finely minced
1 green apple medium dice
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 Tbsp organic grass fed Ghee or butter + a little extra virgin olive oil sprinkled in
1/2 fresh lemon juiced (about 1 Tbsp)
2 Tbsp coconut sugar
1 Tbsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 block shredded Dubliner cheddar cheese (I saved the remaining for Taco Tuesday!)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a medium pan, melt the ghee or butter and saute a soffritto of carrots, kale, onion and garlic low and slow, mixing occasionally for about 30 minutes. Add lemon juice, sugar, syrup and cinnamon. Cook for another 3-5 minutes and remove from heat. Divide/cut pastry dough sheet into 8 squares onto a lightly floured surface and roll each square out to make it a little larger. Using a cookie sheet, place approximately two heaping spoonfuls of soffritto into the middle of each pastry square. Top with some shredded cheese and wrap up the edges of pastry around the sides to make a rough tart. Bake for 22-25 minutes.

My mind is bursting with what I can add to this lovely puff pastry for a special appetizer/dinner/dessert!

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• Each #SettheTable2017 post begins with a featured recipe(s) + upcoming week's game plan followed by a picture diary of last week's chaos. I sign off every post with a handy reference list of my favorite foodie articles. 
• #CatchmyGrit on my Instagram throughout the week to capture the fun, the food and the family table reactions (good and bad). C'est la vie, I selfy-ishly light it UP in pics and videos to keep truckin! 
• New to this series? Here's the STORY behind my #SettheTable2017 food adventures with Pure Barre Kildeer.
• My go to's for meal planning inspiration: 1. Jamie's Ultimate Recipes App + 5 Ingredients - Quick & Easy Food 2. Sarah's My New Roots Recipe App 3. Rachael Ray's Week in a Day Cookbook 4. Kimberly Snyder 5. The Pollan Family Table  6. Toss your Own Salad

Week 41's Game Plan:
As you can see, I'm on a mission this week to find a RICE recipe that my family will like...

• Taco Tuesday
• Hoisin Pak Choi Rice (5 Ingredients - Quick & Easy Food)
• Sausage & Apple Bake (5 Ingredients - Quick & Easy Food)
• Italian Baked Rice (5 Ingredients - Quick & Easy Food)

Wrap it UP with last week's action:

Whoooooosh I cooked once this week! And it was the lovely aforementioned Apple & Soffritto puffs. Abbie does not like cooked carrots. She also tasted "bacon" inside (I did not correct her), so that was good news for the cook. She wanted more cinnamon and LOVED the apples. Mac loved this recipe and Tommy reluctantly finished one puff. Chris picked out the onions. Bleh. I'm looking forward to making the simple rustic apple tart recipe (found on the back of the box) for everyone next time!

Can't wait for a full week at home this week:) I'm loving that Fall weather has arrived!!

It all starts at home plate.

To the Mullies we go...

xoxoL

ps

My Top 10 #SettheTable2017 Topics:

1. Will the Gut-Brain Connection Revolutionize Wellness?
2. Come to the table - Join Slow Food USA!
3. Stay on TOP of the Global Food Revolution Newsfeed.
4. Robyn O'Brien: Why Our Food Is Making Us Sick.
5. Kimbal Musk Wants to Reengineer the American Stomach | Why Food is the New Internet. 
6. Buy Antibiotic Free and Know the Source of Your Family's Meat.
7. The EWG "Clean Fifteen + Dirty Dozen produce guidelines helps you save money + reduce the pesticides and herbicides = Antibiotics harmful to our gut microbiome + mycobiome.
8. Avoid artificial colors and preservatives to keep your gut, your "second brain" happy + healthy.
9. Why, When and How to Eat Wheat.
10. Why do Some People do well as Vegans and Vegetarians (Clues from the Magical World of Genetics).