I was speaking with a friend about writing cookbooks a few weeks ago. Because of my healthy eating mentality, I read a lot of vegetarian restaurant cookbooks looking for a balance between gourmet and budget-friendly recipes that taste good and don't take a year to make (unlike … [Read more...] about DIY-Buddha Bowl and Thoughts on Vegetarian Cookbooks
Main Dishes
Sustainable Nordic Shrimp with Mandarin Powder and Smoked Chili Aioli
You shouldn't be intimidated by things with names like "mandarin powder" and "aioli." The former is nothing but orange zest and sugar and the latter basically a mayonnaise that's traditionally made with garlic and without eggs, but now is commonly used to refer to any flavoured … [Read more...] about Sustainable Nordic Shrimp with Mandarin Powder and Smoked Chili Aioli
Chickpea Tarts with Sous Vide Caramelized Onions and Fresh Peppers
I'm more than a little addicted to caramelized onions - the way long strips relax into sweet softness, with just a little bit of butteriness and none of the butter. Optional balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, or maple syrup. Basically I could a pound of onions this way. Probably not … [Read more...] about Chickpea Tarts with Sous Vide Caramelized Onions and Fresh Peppers
Yellow Pea Sauté with Zucchini, Thyme and Lemon
If you somehow got through all your whole yellow peas in your Lufa Farms Fresh Basket, then you'll need to buy some chickpeas. They work the same way. This is a quick, simple meal that's perfect for a summer evening when you don't feel like spending an hour above the stove. You … [Read more...] about Yellow Pea Sauté with Zucchini, Thyme and Lemon
Raw Tomato Cream Sauce and Tomato Bruschetta
With all those gorgeous tomatoes this week it's time to make one of three things: 1. Bruschetta 2. Gazpacho 3. Tomato Sauce This is a creamy pasta sauce that's almost a combination of the three - it's cool (perfect for hotter months), it's creamy and rich, and it's almost an … [Read more...] about Raw Tomato Cream Sauce and Tomato Bruschetta
Not So Spicy Potato Filling for Masala Dosa
If you don't feel like fermenting lentils for dosa, you can just eat this on its own or with meat, or in a different kind of wrap (especially with mango chutney or tomato chutney...), spiced to your preferred level of heat. My level is high, but my dinner guest's level was … [Read more...] about Not So Spicy Potato Filling for Masala Dosa
Best Potato Masala Dosa Ever
Normally for dosa (South Indian rice crepes) I soak both Basmati rice and skinned urid dal (split lentils), but the recipe from Mangoes and Curry LEaves by Naomi Duguid and Jeffrey Alford says to use rice flour, which gives the crepes a smoother texture. I also think it may be … [Read more...] about Best Potato Masala Dosa Ever
Slow-cooker Eggplant and Potato Curry
This looks completely unappetizing, I know, but bear with me. If you really love eggplant, it's worth making. The spicing is mild (aka "Indian for wimps"), so pump up the heat and the curry powder if you really want some flavour. You're also supposed to serve it with tomato … [Read more...] about Slow-cooker Eggplant and Potato Curry
Mandarin Orange-Balsamic Roasted Turbot with Grilled Lettuce
This is based on a recipe for Arctic char with grilled romaine, grapes and balsamic vinegar from Becky Selengut's "Good Fish." Except I didn't have any grapes. Or a grill. Or romaine. I had oranges and Boston lettuce. You really can't make this with delicate red oak, but a firm … [Read more...] about Mandarin Orange-Balsamic Roasted Turbot with Grilled Lettuce
Sea Urchin (Uni Sushi) and Sea Snail Salad
Have you ever cut open a sea urchin before? I have - twice. It's a very messy, ugly thing. The green spines are a little prickley, but that's not the worst of it. You take a pair of scissors and cut from the top halfway down the body vertically, then you cut horizontally all the … [Read more...] about Sea Urchin (Uni Sushi) and Sea Snail Salad