Butter Lettuce Salad with Cacao Nib Vinaigrette
Thursday, October 24, 2024This fairly simple yet colourful and fun salad plays on different textures and flavours of bitter cacao nibs, tender&sweet butter lettuce, tart&chewy dried cherries, creaminess of silky avocado and juicy sweet mandarin orange.
Cacao nibs, aka cocoa nibs, are fermented and crushed bits of dried cacao beans. They are naturally sugar-free and provide a rich source of fiber, protein, healthy fats and minerals.
Sri Lankan Carrot Curry
Wednesday, October 23, 2024Sri Lankan curry is usually heavily spiced and uses a blend of fresh spices and aromatics. This typically includes cumin, coriander, fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds, and curry leaves. The curry is usually prepared with coconut milk and commonly served with rice. If you can't find fresh curry leaves, use dried one or even pandan leaves. Don't like carrot? Use cauliflower, sweet potatoes, eggplants or green beans or a mixture of vegetables.
Double Hemp Cookies with White Chocolate and Macadamias
Tuesday, October 22, 2024These hemp cookies are soft, chewy and loaded with white chocolate and macadamias. Hemp seeds, aka hemp hearts, are a complete protein in the plant world, meaning that they provide all nine essential amino acids that your body needs but cannot produce. Both the seeds and the oil are rich in essential fatty acids. The hemp oil derives from the seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant (while CBD oil uses the stalks, leaves, and flowers of the hemp plant), so they do not contain cannabidiol (or just trace amounts), but still have a rich profile of nutrients and omega-3. So you will not feel the “high” while enjoying these cookies.
Roasted Spiral Pumpkin with Rosemary and Pepitas
Monday, October 21, 2024I will always find a way to bake with pumpkin. The autumnal star vegetable is just so versatile and delicious. This vegetable side with butter, pepitas, rosemary, garlic and nutmeg is as tasty as it is beautiful. You can substitute rosemary for the thyme, or use salbei, or any other fresh herb of you like.
Persimmon Salsa
Sunday, October 20, 2024If you like fruity chunky salsa, you definitely need to try this one with persimmon and optional pomegranate! Use ripe but firm fuyu persimmon for the best result. If you don't like cilantro, use mint or even parsley. Use half of jalapeno if you can't handle the heat. Not only is it delicious, it’s also quick and easy to make. It can be made up to one day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.
20+ Banana Bread Recipes to use up ripe Bananas
Saturday, October 19, 2024What’s more comforting than a freshly baked loaf of moist and dense banana bread fresh out of the oven? Nothing. Ok, maybe banana bread slathered with salted butter or Nutella? Here are 20 plus banana recipes to use up those over ripe bananas, from healthiest versions of refined sugar free, grain-free, gluten-free to rich treats with chocolate and Roquefort. Enjoy!
- 5-Banana Banana Bread
This banana bread is moist and delicious with loads of banana flavour! Don’t overmix the ingredients or the bread won't be soft and tender, and make sure the bananas are very ripe. If your bananas aren’t very ripe, you can place them on a foil covered baking sheet in the oven for 10-15 minutes at 150C/300F until the skins turn black. It releases the sugar and makes them perfect for baking. If you don't enjoy a walnut-studded quick bread, just leave it out or use chocolate or fruit instead.
Crispy Miso Pork Belly
Friday, October 18, 2024An irresistibly rich pork roast recipe with Asian flavours like miso, mirin, fresh ginger, and rice wine. Served with a simple blanched bok choy (and steamed rice if desired) for a perfect weekend meal. Mirin is a Japanese sweet rice wine made for cooking. If you don't have mirin on hand, use a sweet marsala wine or Sherry. Another alternative is to use rice wine vinegar, but keep in mind to cut the amount called for in half and then add some sugar (1 teaspoon for every tablespoon of rice wine vinegar) to replicate the sweetness of mirin.
Crispy Fried Anchovies
Thursday, October 17, 2024Anchovies might be small, but they have huge health benefits and flavour. They are a good source of omega-3, protein, various vitamins and minerals. So I hope that you embrace the idea of popping the whole fish (yes, heads, bones, fins..all is GOOD) into the mouth and savour every bit of this oily, bite-size superfood. The preparation is rather simple and straightforward-fresh anchovies are rinsed, dried and simply battered by tossing them with ground pork rind (or flour if you ain't on keto) and then in egg, and then quickly fried in tallow (or olive oil) until golden brown. They are great as a snack or an appetizer.
Bistro Chicken with Bacon, Tarragon and Crème Fraîche
Wednesday, October 16, 2024The chicken drenched in a rich, creamy bacon and tarragon sauce is a delicious, budget-friendly and delicious dinner night option, made with skin-on bone-in whole chicken legs. You can of course opt for the chicken breast if that's what you prefer, but go bone-in, skin-on when you can. Skin helps to keep the chicken moist during cooking, and the bones add an extra layer of flavour to the meat.
Rosemary Pumpkin Fritters with Truffle Balsamic Glaze
Tuesday, October 15, 2024Persimmon Salad with Pistachio Vinaigrette
Monday, October 14, 2024This beautiful autumnal salad is loaded with sweet and savory mix-ins, like crunchy fuyu persimmon, apple, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and shaved Parmigiano Reggiano. A creamy nutty pistachio vinaigrette brings it all together. I used mâche as the salad base, but baby spinach, arugula or endivie all work great.
Pumpkin Gratin with Feta Cream and Gruyère
Sunday, October 13, 2024From a culinary point of view, pumpkin season is one of my favourite times of the year. The humble orange-coloured squash can be used in an incredibly varied way in the kitchen. And one of my favourite ways to prepare them is to pair them with different kinds of cheeses.
This cheesy creamy pumpkin gratin with Feta cream and Gruyère is a must for all pumpkin fans! It's incredibly easy to prepare, which is why this dish is ideal for the evening after a stressful day at work. If you can't find Gruyère, Comté, Emmentaler or Fontina is a good substitute. If you're looking for more ideas to enjoy the pumpkin, I've put together a collection for you here.
Baci Di Fichi Fig Kisses
Saturday, October 12, 2024A simple & delicious seasonal treat that's so easy and straight-forward. Simply dip the fresh figs into melted chocolate and sprinkle with lightly toasted hemp hearts. Use whatever nuts/seeds or chocolate your love or have on hand. Half the figs if they are too big. Make sure the figs are dry before dipping into the chocolate or they won't stick. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.