SOCCA WRAPS / TORTILLAS

Being of Dutch heritage puts me in a unique class of people - mainly people who don't like to spend money. Ever. We especially dislike forking over the green stuff on things we know could easily be made at home [like the braided T-Shirt rug I currently have flagged on my computer to make, you know, in my spare time].

Now don't get me wrong, there are some days I relish convenience [dream about it in fact], but more often than not I carry around with me a grudge against "the man" [whoever "he" is]. No offense "man", but I know I can do most things better than you.

Like wraps.

I can make wraps.

Right?

After a little of this, a bit of that, some of those, and testing and modifying by a great friend [thanks Kim!] - a recipe is born.

Flavor - check. Nutritious - check. Allergen free - check. Easy - check.

These wraps are soft, super simple with a short ingredients list, and delicious. You can customize the thickness and soft or crunchiness to your liking by simply by pouring more or less batter into the pan and cooking shorter or longer.

[WHAT THE WHAT IS SOCCA?]

Socca is a term for a thin pancake or crepe originally made using garbanzo bean flour, water, and oil; cooked in an open oven; and seasoned with salt, pepper, and [generally fresh] rosemary. Of course it originated in Italy. All good things come from Italy. But, contrary to most popular Italian fare, it's naturally gluten-free.

There are a lot of different spins on socca bread. Do a Google search and you will find, well, a lot. You will find classic, spicy, sweet, you name it [disclaimer: I have not tried all of the recipes provided in this sentence but they sure looked good!].

So, take this recipe and run with it. Make it your own and give yourself the freedom to play with ingredients a bit. This is one recipe that is pretty difficult to really mess up.

And while you're at it, why not celebrate this first day of spring with one of my favorite spring meals: a socca wrap topped with baby greens, some shredded carrots, a few sprouts, a small handful of nuts or seeds, avocado if you're so inclined, and hummus.

Enjoy!

[THE RECIPE]
Recipe inspired by Affairs Of Living - Socca

1 c. gluten-free oat flour, freshly ground if possible
1 c. buckwheat groat or lentil flour, freshly ground if possible
2 1/4 c. pure water
1 tsp. raw apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 tsp. Celtic sea salt
2 tsp. ground rosemary or herb[s] of choice
   [If you have fresh use it! Simply use 1 - 2 T. of finely chopped fresh.]
1 tsp. cumin [optional]
4 T. extra virgin olive oil

Combine flours, water, and vinegar in a glass bowl, mixing well. Let stand for 20 - 60 minutes depending on how much time you have available. Mixture should bubble a little. Pour 2 T. of the olive oil in a cast iron skillet. If you want small wraps [or tortillas] choose a smaller size. If you prefer larger wraps, use your largest skillet. Place skillet under broiler set to high. The goal is to get the oil and pan very hot but not smoking. Keep a close eye on this.

While the pan is in the broiler, add herbs / spices, salt, and 2 T. of olive oil to the flour batter. Add water if necessary to get a pretty pour-able batter.

When the skillet is hot, pour about a 1/2 - 3/4 c. of batter into the pan and quickly spread with a spoon to fill the bottom of the skillet. Use less batter if you want thinner wraps or are using a smaller pan.

Cook under the broiler until the edge and / or top begins to brown and batter is cooked through. Flip and repeat. Remove wrap and place on a wire rack to cool. Repeat with remaining batter.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH HASHBROWNS

Warning: this post may change your life.

If you've been journeying with me for any amount of time now, you have probably picked up on my minor infatuation [borderline obsession?] with winter squash. Obvious, I know. It may seem silly but if you live anywhere north of the Mason-Dixon line and try to eat as local as possible, you know what I know - winter months can be tough. Enter winter squash.

Not only are the varieties endless, but what really gets me is: they're delicious, can be prepared a zillion different ways, are packed with nutrients [can you say beta carotene, Vitamins A and C, potassium, magnesium, carotenoids, and good complex carbs], can be stored for months, are super easy to freeze, one can make a meal for a family, and are so plentiful come fall they are cheap, cheap, cheap. Need I say more?

I realize not everyone shares my enthusiasm for this particular breed of veggie. I actually have a few mishapen, multi-colored orb-aphobes in my life [the horror, I know!]. Yes we're still friends and yes I'm still married to him. Fortunately for them, I've made it a personal goal to get these certain people to love at least one dish [and not one that I've deviously placed squash in].

Insert hashbrowns. I would bet at least 99% of the people I know have an affinity for shredded, fried potatoes. I mean, what's not to love? Potatoes, oil, salt, and pepper - simple and delicious. The problem is, the variety of potatoes available to the average consumer have significantly decreased over the years. Like from thousands to less than a dozen varieties [think grocery store - redskin, Idaho, and yukon]. Yikes. What was once a very nutritious and diverse food has been dumbed down to starch, simple carbs, sugars, and a whole lot of genetic modification. A bit less than the best [sarcasm intended]. Don't get me wrong, I love potatoes as much as the next person and try my hardest to find and plant a host of organic, heirloom varieties [check out heirloom seed catalogs like Seed Savers and Annie's Heirloom Seeds among many others] and support farmers who do the same. But variety and change rarely hurts a person, especially in the way of food.

In a spurt of creative brilliance [ie. complete lack of the necessary items in the house] I decided to julienne* some squash instead. The result? I may never go back to the potato version. Yes, I'm serious.

So, here's to you squash-avoiding, orange orb-wary, crookneck cautious husband [or friend] of mine. May this change your mind!

[THE RECIPE]

1 winter squash of choice [I used butternut here but any will do]
extra virgin olive oil
Celtic sea salt
freshly ground pepper
any other seasoning of choice

Cut off stem and butt end of the squash. Using a vegetable peeler, carefully remove skin of squash [it's super easy]. Cut squash in half, length-wise. Scoop out seeds and innards, saving seeds for sauce. Begin to julienne squash, working away from the hand you are using to hold the squash [I'm not into kitchen casualties - safety first people!]. If you are doing a single serving, simply julienne a quarter to half of the whole squash. The entire squash should feed about four to five people depending on serving size.

Pour enough oil in cast iron skillet to coat the bottom of the pan. Heat oil to hot but not smoking. Carefully dump in shredded squash, spreading evenly. Toss a time or two and allow to cook for a couple of minutes or until the bottom starts to brown. Flip/stir and repeat until all of the squash is lightly browned and a little crispy. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and pumpkin seed dressing to taste and enjoy!

I love serving this over a bed of black rice or adjacent to a spinach and baby greens salad. A local farm with a greenhouse may have baby greens and spinach this time of year and many with hoop houses are beginning to plant. It's worth scouting out the fresh, local stuff!

[FOR THE DRESSING]

seeds from one winter squash
extra virgin olive oil
white wine vinegar
salt
freshly ground pepper

Rinse seeds in a fine mesh strainer. Spread on baking sheet, sprinkle with a little salt and pepper, and either lightly toast in a toaster oven or bake at 400 degrees in oven until dry and crisp [check often so they don't burn].

Place toasted seeds in food processor with enough oil to cover and a splash of vinegar. Blend until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.

*A side note about julienne. This particular kitchen tool may be the most useful gift I've ever received [thanks Mom!] and it cost 25 cents. Okay, mine came from a garage sale but this little baby is used almost as much as my VitaMix which means I use it a lot. I highly recommend you go out immediately and find yourself one. I'm sure some uninformed, sorry someone donated one to a local thrift store, has for purchase at a garage sale, on Craig's List or Amazon. You may be able to find one through Freecycle or facebook.