Stuffed Ronde De Nice Squash with Tuscan Kale & Cannellini Bean Salad

5 Comments

Each year I like to try a
different kind of squash in the food garden. And I am extremely pleased that
ronde de nice squash made its way onto my list this year! It has the
consistency of a summer squash like zucchini, yet it is hearty, with a soft
center and tender seeds that can be eaten, similar to a winter squash. And
it’s spherical shape lends itself to awesome stuffing potential! So it’s
extremely versatile. This healthy vegan recipe for stuffed ronde de nice
squash is a great summertime meal, as a warm-ish dinner entree or cold salad,
or even at brunch. Read More

Sprouted “Risotto” with Asparagus, Peas, Fennel, & Mint

Leave a comment

This time of year, whenever I
start to see fresh English peas and asparagus at the market, and the
nasturtium flowers start to take over the garden, my cooking mind always
wanders to spring risotto with asparagus and peas. So, the other night I was
making a side dish of sprouted brown rice, and I noticed that the texture
would probably lend itself well to a risotto-style dish. Well that’s all I
needed to give this one a try…voila! A healthy, sprouted risotto that makes
a great vegan entree or side dish! Read More

Spaghetti Squash with Crispy Sage & Garlic

Leave a comment

Greetings! I know it’s been a
while since the last post. To be honest, my creativity took a brief leave of
absence. I also became fixated on creating the perfect homemade vegan ice
cream, that also stores well. That sort of consumed me for a few weeks. No
ice cream recipe to post yet, and now it is becoming irrelevant, as summer is
going away. So, on to one of my favorite subjects: Quality kitchen time
during the fall season. Let’s kick it off with a very simple, and
surprisingly filling dish using just five key ingredients. Fresh sage, garlic
and winter squashes are good friends in my book. This recipe sort of takes
the traditional squash ravioli with sage, and sort of deconstructs it and
puts a yummy vegan spin on it. Don’t be afraid to ramp up the garlic and the
sage. Enjoy! Read More

Brussels Sprouts with Hempseed & Lemon Zest

Leave a comment

Brussels sprouts, you either
love them, or you hate them. I have both prepared, and eaten Brussels sprouts
many different ways: steamed, sautéed, braised in oatmeal stout, grated raw
in salads; some preparations good, some not so good. So who knew that the
quick and easy, clean and vegan preparation would turn out to be so
delightful? Well, not me, but now I am sold. This dish provides the
devout vegan with essential B12 from the nooch, essential fats, and a
complete amino acid protein profile from the hempseed. But don’t let the word
“vegan” put you off. This is absolutely delicious, light, and
satiating and can be enjoyed on just about any diet or lack
thereof.

Read More

Riced Cauliflower Salad with Tomato, Basil & Garlic

Leave a comment

I’m having a
“mini-series” of riced cauliflower in my kitchen! Riced cauliflower
is great as a raw salad, because cauliflower florets are already slightly
tender and porous to start with, so, when mixed with other salad ingredients
it makes a great base! So, a while, back, I tried using it as you would pasta
in a classic “TBG” (tomato, basil, garlic) salad, and the results
were delicious.

Read More

“Creamy” Teff Polenta with Roasted Vegetables

Leave a comment

If blizzards have you down I
have just the remedy. I love that all I have to do is think, “hmmm I
wish I could find something to make polenta out of besides cornmeal,”
and then teff shows up, like it was lurking around the corner. A grain
definitely isn’t just a grain when it comes to Teff. Is Teff Polenta the
New…Polenta? An “ancient grain,” teff has been used in Ethiopian
cooking for many years and is just starting to get some traction in modern
western kitchens. More people are noticing teff probably because it is a
powerhouse of nutrition and is also gluten free. And, it makes awesome,
creamy polenta…tah-da! You can enjoy it in its creamy state right out of
the pot, or let it set, cut it into shapes, and grill or pan fry. Basically
use it anyway you would the more ubiquitous cornmeal polenta. For this
recipe, I have created a sort of comfort bowl of creamy teff with roasted
vegetables. This recipe is vegan, but you can substitute cheese and cream
where noted for a dairy vegetarian version.

Read More

Black Bean Rotini Salad

Leave a comment

I thought I would squeeze in a
4th of July recipe this morning! Here is a gluten free pasta salad that
is packed with summertime garden goodness, contains all the comfort and zesty
flavors of the holiday, but won’t leave your body starving for awesome
nutrition. I named it “L.A. Summer” because it contains all the
stuff that you might find growing in one of L.A.’s back yards or urban farms,
like nopales, cucumber, tomatoes, and peppers, and it has some hints of
Mexico and the Southwest in it’s flavor profile, two prominent cuisines in
the area. Enjoy, and happy Independence Day!
Read More

Heirloom Tomato and Pumpkinseed Pesto Salad

2 Comments

If you raise basil on a regular
basis, you will encounter those times when you get busy and kind of ignore
the basil for a few days, and while you are busy doing other stuff, the basil
goes nuts and produces an abundance of flower stalks and leaves. This
happened to me the other day and in my rush to prune it all back, I ended up
with a giant pile of basil. So, since autumn is just around the corner, I
decided to do a variation of pesto using raw pepitas (pumpkinseeds). There
is something about the pumpkinseeds’ earthiness and association with the
impending fall season that just made it all seem right.

I am still getting some glorious heirloom tomatoes, although that
season is nearly over, so I put together this sort of “summer-fall”
transitional salad that is vegan, yet packed with high quality, raw protein
and healthy fats. This vegan pesto is very versatile and I have been using it
in a variety of ways beyond this salad. This recipe is definitely a keeper
and a healthier alternative to traditional pesto.

Read More

“Raw” Portobello Mushroom Bruschetta

Leave a comment

Okay, I know it is always
amusing when Los Angeles people start complaining about the weather…but, we
DID have a little heat wave the other day, and it was
really hot outside! It
was one of those dog days when you can’t imagine doing anything besides
climbing into a walk-in freezer at a nearby restaurant and locking the door
behind you. This didn’t stop a gorgeous vine ripened tomato from calling out
to me from the garden. Before I knew it I had some fresh salsa cruda with
stunning fragrant basil. To keep it moving in the direction of a minimally
cooked, not heat producing dinner, I decided to whip this up. I have featured
the “raw” portobello before (softened by dehydration at a low
temperature). This is another example of how versatile the “raw”
portobello can be. This is super simple and sure to refresh, and nourish you
on a hot summer day.

Read More