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SPINACH & ZESTY ALMOND RICOTTA STUFFED SHELLS / February 25, 2021 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

SPINACH ALMOND RICOTTA STUFFED SHELLS | dolly and oatmeal

we’ve made it in one piece to our new home here in the valley. settling in one day at a time, and so grateful for this opportunity to start a new chapter. ames and joey love the “new house” as ames has dubbed it, and it seems as though they’re really enjoying living in a house and having a backyard for the first time. i can already see them being a lot more independent, which is both terrifying and such a welcome.

on to our recipe, though! i made these stuffed shells for a special christmas dinner a few months back and we all loved them. so, for our last night in our apartment i made them again. they’re simple and straight to point - cheesy, pasta-y carbs that provide all the nostalgic, cozy/home-y feelings.

it’s really a simple meal with just a few components that get assembled to put everything together. we begin by sautéing spinach in some olive oil, we throw some salt and pepper in to season it a bit. then we make our filling with almond ricotta (i call for store bought, but i also linked to a recipe in the notes if you want/prefer to make your own). we add a few pantry ingredients, some plant-based mozzarella shreds, and our lemon zest! i love how the zest completely brightens these shells and takes the flavor to a new, yet familiar place. in goes the sautéed spinach and we now have our filling! we cook the shells until al dente, and run them under cold water. then we pipe the filling into the shells, smother them in your favorite marinara sauce, and toss them in the oven for about 30 minutes until everything is nice and hot. plus, these are really good for leftovers, they actually gave us about 2 nights worth of leftovers which was amazing after the move!

i just want to note - these shells are what i call a “special meal”, for many, this recipe might not be ideal as a weekly rotation, simply because many of the ingredients i call for are on the pricey side and/or have to be purchased online. however, if you can swing those kinds of purchases, then go for it!

spinach & zesty almond ricotta stuffed shells | gf & v

| serves 4-6 |

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notes:

although i call for store bought almond ricotta, it is pretty pricey (unfortunately). if you’re not wanting to spend money on it, but still want to make this recipe, i suggest using laura’s recipe for her almond ricotta.
similarly, the plant-based mozzarella shreds i call for are also on the pricier side. if you have a preferred brand that’s less expensive, by all means use it. you could also leave the mozzarella out altogether and just add a bit more nutritional yeast and salt to the filling.
the only gluten-free jumbo pasta shells that i’m aware of are made by tinkyada. however, they are not readily found at many grocery stores, so you may have to purchase them online.

ingredients

2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
3 ounces fresh spinach, roughly chopped
fine salt & freshly ground pepper
1 8-ounce box tinkyada jumbo pasta shells
16 ounces kite hill almond ricotta (or see notes above)
1 1/2 cups parmela creamery mozzarella shreds
1/4 cup chopped basil
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
2 small cloves garlic, grated over a microplane
zest from 1 lemon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
24 ounces marinara sauce
1/4 cup chopped parsley

method

preheat oven to 350°F.
in a saute pan, heat the olive over medium heat. once hot add the spinach, and season with salt and pepper. cook until spinach is bright green and wilted, about 1 minute. use tongs and remove spinach; place in a bowl and set aside.
make the filling. in a large bowl, mix together the ricotta, mozzarella shreds, basil, nutritional yeast, grated garlic, lemon zest, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. give it a taste and adjust any seasonings - adding more nutritional yeast, lemon zest, nutmeg, salt and/or pepper. stir in the spinach and mix until evenly distributed. set aside.
cook the shells in a large pot of boiling salted water. stir occasionally, until al dente, about 12 minutes. drain the shells, and run under cold water to stop them from cooking. set aside.
cover the bottom of a 13x9” baking pan with about 1 cup of sauce.
spoon the filling into a piping bag, or a resealable bag with the corner snipped. pipe the filling into each shell and arrange in a single layer in your sauce covered pan. cover the tops and sides of the shells with more marinara sauce.
cover the pan tightly with foil and cook for 20 minutes, remove foil, and cook for another 10 minutes.
serve warm with chopped parsley.

similar recipes:

crusty baked vegan alfredo w/ caramelized shallots & kale

broken lasagna w/ vegan white pesto & broccoli rabe

“cheesy” butternut & spinach baked shells

BREAKFAST FOR DINNER: GARLICKY SOCCA W/ FRIED EGGS, HERBS & HARISSA OIL / February 4, 2021 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

BREAKFAST FOR DINNER: GARLICKY SOCCA W/ FRIED EGGS, HERBS & HARISSA OIL | dolly and oatmeal

there are lots of moving parts over here at the moment because we’re moving to the valley! we found a house to rent (don’t even get me started about the prices of houses - pre-pandemic, but especially during COVID, so renting it is!), and while it will be a shift in a lot of ways, i know the space and backyard will make the boys so happy. i’m sad to let this little home on the border of silverlake and echo park go - this is where we brought joey home, where we learned the sound of his giggle, his every little developmental marker happened here. these walls have kept us safe and sane, and nurtured our little family. if you haven’t noticed, i’m very sentimental, so perhaps this move will be harder for me than the boys. but i know wherever we go, we will make it ours and and plant roots for this next phase of our lives.

we move in a week from today, with nothing packed yet, mind you. so in the spirit of cooking easy, accessible meals, i wanted to share this “breakfast for dinner” recipe that is simple, yet so delicious.

we start with socca - a chickpea flour-based flatbread/pancake. we add grated garlic, and nigella seeds (which are completely optional) to flavor it up. then some quick fried eggs, leafy herbs, and the simplest harissa oil to drizzle over everything. add some flaky salt and you got yourself a filling, tasty meal. you could certainly add what you like for a side, or a more substantial salad, more fried eggs - sky’s the limit!

big heartfelt hugs this february, xo!

garlicky socca w/ fried eggs, herbs & harissa oil | gf & df

| makes 3 servings |

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notes:

i understand that nigella seeds aren’t found in many stores, but you could replace them with black mustard seeds (or even yellow), black sesame seeds would be good in a pinch, too.

ingredients

harissa oil

1 tablespoon harissa paste (i use ny shuk)
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

garlicky socca

1 cup chickpea flour
1 tablespoon nigella seeds (optional)
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
fresh pepper, to taste
1 cup water
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for cooking
1 clove garlic, grated over a microplane or minced with a sharp knife

fried eggs

avocado oil, for cooking
3 large pasture-raised eggs
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 cup mixed leafy herbs (dill, chives, basil, cilantro)
flaky salt

method

make the harissa oil. in small bowl, whisk together the harissa paste and oil until combined. set aside. (the paste will fall if it’s been sitting, so before serving, give it a good whisk.)
make the socca. place three 8-inch cast iron skillets in the middle of your oven (if you don’t have 3 skillets, use one large 12-inch cast iron skillet, or use one 8-inch skillet a few times). turn oven to 450°F.
while your oven is heating make the socca batter. in a bowl, whisk together the chickpea flour, nigella seeds, salt, and pepper. whisk in the water, oil, and garlic, and mix until combined. let batter sit at least 20 minutes to hydrate.
remove hot skillets from oven. swirl in 2 teaspoons oil in each skillet (if using 1 large skillet, use 2 tablespoons oil), and divide batter between them (about 1/2 cup of batter each). quickly place them back in the oven and cook until edges are lightly browned, about 12-14 minutes.
while socca is cooking, fry the eggs. heat a large skillet over medium heat. once hot spray with avocado oil. crack eggs into the pan, season with salt and pepper, and cook until yolks and whites are set.
remove socca from the oven and top with fried eggs, herbs, and harissa oil. season with flaky salt and serve.

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MISSISSIPPI MUD PIE (GF & DF) / January 28, 2021 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

MISSISSIPPI MUD PIE (GF & DF) | dolly and oatmeal

a multi-layer cake? at the end of january? because, why not!?

in all sincerity though, this month marks 8 years of this blog, dolly and oatmeal. initially, i felt kinda silly celebrating as i’ve come to it so infrequently over these past few months, and i was ready to go without acknowledging it. but if there’s one thing that means the most to me aside from my family and friends, it’s this space. a space where i’ve connected with so many of you over the years, where i’ve had the privilege of sharing recipes and stories and images, of food and meals that have made it feel like we’re all connected in some way. i only hope to continue and strengthen that connection in the coming years. and although i don’t show up here as much as i would like recently, my intention is to be back here at full capacity soon :)

now, mississippi mud pie! i’ve loved mud pie since childhood. notoriously chocolatey, and sometimes way too dense, it was always my dessert of choice as a kid. the recipe for this mud pie inspired by the ever talented samantha seneviratne and her new york times recipe for a version mississippi mud pie that called to me. her iteration is based off of matt lewis and renato poliafito’s of the bakery, baked (which was our little beloved neighborhood coffee shop when we lived in red hook). so when i came across samantha’s recipe, it felt in many ways that the stars were aligned, bringing together joyful memories of childhood and adulthood, and bringing it all to this space that also makes me so very happy. so that’s how this gluten-and-dairy-free (and grain-free) mud pie was realized.

because there are lots of layers to this pie/cake, i tried to keep it as simple as possible by not using various flours, sweeteners, etc. instead, i took care to keep the ingredient list paired down to the same ingredients - almond flour, coconut oil, cacao powder, maple syrup, coconut sugar, cashews, and eggs are our main ingredients.

we begin with a graham cracker crust, which we make from scratch (i have yet to find a store-bought variety that i like, so graham cracker crust from scratch, it is!). from there, we make a fudgy, crackly brownie layer. during its cooling period, the brownie sinks ever so gently which becomes the perfect vessel to hold our chocolate cashew custard. next, we make our vegan custard that is silky smooth, and perfectly rich - but not too rich. it’s made from soaked cashews, a good amount of melted dark chocolate, cacao powder, almond milk, and sweetened with maple syrup - *chef’s kiss*. last, is the whipped coconut cream. we whip it until a fluffy and smooth, then dollop it over the cake, and top it all with a dusting of cacao powder. it’s really the perfect mid-winter treat, or celebration cake, or pandemic-fatigue cake - just consider it your go-to, all occasion cake, really.

i hope you love this one! xo!

mississippi mud pie | gf & df

recipe inspired by samantha seneviratne’’s mississippi mud pie from the new york times

| makes 1 eight-inch round cake, about 16 servings |

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ingredients:

graham cracker crust

1 1/2 cups almond flour
1/2 cup cassava flour
1/4 cup coconut sugar
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
3 tablespoons water

brownie layer

1 cup almond flour
1/2 cup cacao powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1 cup coconut sugar
2 large pasture raised eggs
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup dark chocolate (60-70% cacao, preferably)
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

chocolate cashew custard layer

1/2 cup dark chocolate (60-70% cacao, preferably)
1 1/2 cups raw cashews, soaked for at least 4 hours, drained and rinsed
3 tablespoons cacao powder
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or honey)
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
pinch of salt

coconut whip

2 (13.5 oz) cans coconut cream, refrigerated at least 12 hours
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
cacao powder, for dusting (optional)

method

preheat oven to 325°F. grease the bottom and sides of an 8-inch springform pan. line the bottom with parchment paper, and then grease that.
make the graham cracker crust. in a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, cassava flour, sugar, salt, and cinnamon. break up any almond flour clumps with your fingers. add the coconut oil, and water; and mix until combined and dough holds together when you squeeze it between your fingers.
scatter graham cracker dough into your pan, and use your fingers to press it into an even layer, spreading it about 2 1/2 inches up the sides of the pan as well. par-bake in the oven for 10 minutes. remove, turn oven heat up to 350°F, and set the crust aside.
make the brownie layer. while the graham cracker crust is baking, prepare your brownie batter. in a medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour (break up any clumps with your fingers), cacao powder, baking soda, and salt. in a large bowl, beat together the sugar and eggs with an electric mixer on high for 1-2 minutes, until the mixture becomes pale in color and has slightly thickened. in pot over low heat, melt the coconut oil and measure out 1/2 cup in a liquid measure. add the chocolate and stir to melt. once melted and cooled, mix into the egg and sugar mixture, along with the vanilla until combined.
a little at a time, add the dry ingredients, and mix on low until everything is combined. turn the batter out into the graham cracker crust, and use an offset spatula to smooth the top. return to the oven for 28-30 minutes, until top is set and has craggy cracks (image below for reference), and a toothpick inserted comes out with moist crumbs. place the cake on a cooling rack and let it cool completely.
make the cashew custard. melt the chocolate over a double boiler, let cool. in the container of a high speed blender, combine the soaked cashews, melted chocolate, cacao powder, maple syrup, almond milk, vanilla, and salt. whiz everything together on high, stopping to scrape down the sides until everything is silky smooth. pour the custard over the cooled pie, using an offset spatula to smooth the top. tear a piece of plastic wrap, pressing it gently to cover the surface of the custard (this is to prevent a skin from forming). refrigerate at least 5 hours, or overnight.
prepare the whipped coconut cream. turn the cans upside down, and open from the bottom. pour out any liquid, then scrape remaining coconut cream into a large metal bowl. beat on high until any little clumps are gone, about 1 minute. sift over powdered sugar, and beat once more until combined and coco whip is fluffy.
dollop the top of the pie with the coco whip, and dust the top with cacao powder. slice, serve, and enjoy!
leftover cake can be stored in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. let it sit at room temp for 1 hour before serving. store leftover pie in your fridge for up to 4 days.

recipe notes:

this pie can be made in increments if need be. if you want to make it ahead of time, start by making the graham cracker crust, and brownie layer. at this stage, you can cool the pie, cover it with plastic wrap and store in your fridge for up to 2-3 days. then you can go ahead and prepare the custard and whipped coconut cream as instructed.
the brownie layer will puff up in the oven and then deflate while it cools (this is exactly what we want), if it doesn’t deflate (as pictured below), go ahead and gently tap it on your counter a couple times to encourage it to collapse slightly.
the cashew custard can be made of time as well. however, i like making it the day of just because a skin can form on top. however, if you need to make it ahead, scoop it into a bowl, and press plastic wrap into its surface and store in the fridge.
i call for melted dark chocolate a few times in this recipe. my favorite dairy-free option is chocolove.
i also call for canned coconut cream - not canned coconut milk. i tried 3 different brands here, and the most successful was whole foods brand (365) coconut cream.