Baked Asparagus Frittata with Black Olives and Crème Fraîche
Sunday, April 09, 2023A simple, keto-friendly spring meal that uses green asparagus, spring onions, black olives and crème fraîche and is ready in just 30 minutes. It's delicious fresh-out-of-the-oven, at room-temperature or even cold and needs nothing more with it other than a green salad. It's excellent for a picnic too.
A frittata is something between a quiche and an omelette. And it's designed to use up scraps of this or that and leftover bits of whatever you have in the fridge, so don't be afraid of adjusting the recipe to suit your need. This recipe is based on Marissa's Asparagus Frittata, with a few small tweaks. I use 14 eggs (7 large and 7 small) for my 12-inch cast-iron skillet, if you want to use a smaller 9 or 10-inch one, then 10 large eggs would be enough. Don't over mix your eggs as you don't want to incorporate too much air into the mixture. Otherwise, the frittata will expand and puff up too much.
White Chocolate Mascarpone Tart with Coconut and Maracuja
Friday, April 07, 2023With a buttery coconuty crust, rich, creamy white chocolate mascarpone cheese filling and fresh, aromatic passionfruit topping, this sweet easy tropical delight is impossible to resist. It's easy to make and great for a special afternoon treat to satisfy the sweetest craving. The crust can be made up to three days in advance.
Grapefruit, Edamame and Arugula Salad
Wednesday, April 05, 2023Ready in 20 minutes, this colourful arugula salad with ruby red grapefruit, edamame (green soya beans), avocadao, Prosciutto and toasted pecans is all you need to be eating a healthy, nourishing salad for dinner tonight. Edamame are soya beans that are harvested and picked when the fuzzy pods are tender and green. They are naturally gluten-free and add a protein boost to your food. If you can't find shelled edamame beans, don't worry— use broad beans instead.
Pistachio Fig Energy Bites
Monday, April 03, 2023These nutritious 3-ingredient energy powerballs are the perfect balance between sweet indulgence and a healthy treat that you can enjoy everyday. They are refined-sugar free, gluten-free and kid-friendly. Pistachios are bursting with the fiber, protein, healthy fat and antioxidant compounds that can help keep your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol in check. The fiber and protein in those nuts can make you feel fuller for longer. Figs contain plenty of fiber, vitamins and minerals and ensure that these bites are filling for a long time.
Asparagus with Goji Berries
Saturday, April 01, 2023A simple, delicious and healthy dish with green, white asparagus and goji berries served with a homemade broth. It's naturally gluten-free, keto-friendly, and low calorie.
The sweet, slightly tart goji berries, aka wolfberries or Berry of Happiness , are among the healthiest fruits in the world as they are bursting with vitamins, anti-oxidants, minerals and relatively low on sugar. They are considered mood-lifting and support the work of the kidneys and liver.
Asparagus, the king vegetable of the Spring, is a good source of the dietary fiber, vitamin C and folate. This low-calorie green superfood may help fight cancer and slim you down.
Purple Sweet Potato Nutella Buns
Thursday, March 30, 2023These purple sweet potato Nutella twisted buns are soft, sweet, fluffy and naturally purple. The purple sweet potato not only provides colour, but also helps keep the dough moist and make it light and airy. Besides Nutella, nut butter or homemade jam can be used to fill the buns too. Store these buns in a sealed container and eat within 2 or 3 days. They also freeze well!
Fig and Walnut Hot Cross Buns
Tuesday, March 28, 2023These popular Easter bakes are made sweet, juicy with dried figs and coconut milk, aromatic with cinnamon and nutmeg, crunchy with walnuts, and sticky with maple syrup. Top these beauties with lashings of butter for a satisfying treat that is perfect with a cuppa. Or you can follow the original recipe and serve them with cinnamon butter.
Scallop, Frisée, and Kumquat Salad with Mango Dressing
Sunday, March 26, 2023A delightful option for a light and wholesome meal, these ghee seared scallops are served with a frisée, red onion, and kumquat salad drizzled with a aromatic fruity mango dressing. Scallops are the filet mignon of the sea and you don't want to overcook them. Sear them in a cast iron skillet for 2 minutes, flip and cook one more minute. Make sure to thoroughly dry your scallops before seasoning and searing. They should be springy, not mushy (undercooked) or firm (overcooked) if properly cooked.
Purple Sweet Potato Bites with Creamy Horseradish Sauce and Caviar
Friday, March 24, 2023Striking colours and bold flavours packed into these small, delicious bites – the perfect starter for your holiday dinner party.
Purple sweet potatoes are fun to cook with and can be used in many of the same ways as the regular sweet potatoes. They add a fantastic pop of colour to food and are high in Vitamin C, potassium, fiber, flavanoids and anthocyanins, which are powerful antioxidants and have been linked to reducing dementia and maintaining brain health. The violet hue comes from anthocyanins, the same pigment that gives red wine, berries, purple carrots & cabbage, and other vegetables their colour.
Purple sweet potatoes have a rich, creamy texture. They are denser and more floury than regular sweet potatoes, which is why you need to cook them longer than you would a regular sweet potato (from 1 1/2 to 2 hours at 180C/350F). They are so easy to prepare, but not so easy to find and will cost a little more.
Purple Sweet Potato Soup
Wednesday, March 22, 2023This purple sweet potato soup has the fun and beautiful hue. It’s naturally gluten free, and if you want to go nut free and dairy free, just leave out the topping. Easy and quick to make, full of flavor and perfect for busy weekdays. Like regular sweet potatoes, they have a low glycemic index, making them a good option for a diabetic diet.
Tea Eggs
Monday, March 20, 2023Tea egg is a popular Chinese snack with marble patterns, in which the boiled eggs are cracked all around and then boiled again in a spiced tea made with soya sauce and spices (I used star anise, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, chilli pepper, and orange rind). These eggs are so flavourful and usually have a greenish gray ring because they cook much longer. It's harmless and perfectly edible. If you prefer soft runny yolks, skip the 2nd boiling, just steep the cracked eggs in the spiced tea for 24 hours. The leftover spiced tea can be reused. Freeze it if you don’t plan to make another batch soon.
Feel free to choose any tea you prefer or have on hand. Use dark soya sauce if you could, as it helps to create the marble effect. The longer the eggs stay in the spiced tea, the more intense the marble effect. Enjoy them as a snack or breakfast!
Prosciutto Fennel Salad with Hazelnuts and Kiwiberries
Saturday, March 18, 2023Simple, slightly tangy salads work so well with prosciutto. This fresh shaved fennel, prosciutto crudo, hazelnuts, and Parmesan salad recipe is great served for a light yet satisfying lunch or light side dish. Substitute the shaved fennel with celery, arugula or Brussel sprouts if you don't like anise or licorice flavour in fennel.
Blanched hazelnuts are shelled hazelnuts that are blanched in boiling water to remove the skin. Use other nuts (walnuts or almonds) if you like.
Kiwiberries (aka cocktail kiwi and grape kiwi) are like mini kiwifruit with smooth green skin. This grape-sized fruit, native to China and Korea, similar to kiwifruit in taste and appearance and are rich in vitamins C and E and naturally low in fat, cholesterol and sodium. They’re also an excellent source of fiber, magnesium and potassium.