All I'd told my dinner party guests was that I'd be making an Ethiopian feast. Gluten free injera from scratch and a multitude of berbere-spiced stewed dishes. What I didn't tell them was that we were going to eat the meal with our hands...directly off of the table. Yes, I took … [Read more...] about How to Throw a Vegan Ethiopian Dinner Party and Make Your Friends Eat Off the Table
Sides
Dairy Free Gluten Free Cod Brandade
I knew I could never eat cod brandade. For one, the salt cod was unsustainable. I come from Newfoundland, a Canadian province that knows all about the overfished cod. So I would never buy the giant sheets of the salted stuff from Portuguese markets in Toronto. I also knew that … [Read more...] about Dairy Free Gluten Free Cod Brandade
Peruvian Ceviche is Not Mexican Ceviche
I don't know if I was ever more disappointed in myself than when I realized that I'd never cooked ceviche before... ...because goodness knows I've eaten more than my fair share. I basically had it every other day for two months in Lima, Peru and almost order it (and am … [Read more...] about Peruvian Ceviche is Not Mexican Ceviche
Raw and Paleo Nori and Lettuce Wraps
You can put whatever you want in these wraps. Once all the veggies are chopped, it's just a matter of throwing it all together. I shredded some carrots and beets, chopped some cucumber half-moons, grated some cauliflower as a rice replacement, added a layer of sauerkraut and some … [Read more...] about Raw and Paleo Nori and Lettuce Wraps
Kimchi 2016 (Plus fried rice and kimchi jigae recipes, aka “what to do with the rest of last year’s batch”)
There's no better way to warm up on a cold day than with spicy-hot kimchi! Good thing I have an annual tradition of making approximately 18 litres of the Korean red pepper cabbage ferment with my friend Joel. But in preparation for the day-long event, I had to eat the rest of … [Read more...] about Kimchi 2016 (Plus fried rice and kimchi jigae recipes, aka “what to do with the rest of last year’s batch”)
Greek Dolmades: Vegan, Healthy and Local (if you Forage the Vine Leaves)
I'd walked past the vine leaves outside my community garden hundreds of times, but I'd never put them to use in my kitchen until now. I know they're good for two things: pickling cucumbers (they supposedly keep the pickles firmer without adding any chemicals) and dolmades (Greek … [Read more...] about Greek Dolmades: Vegan, Healthy and Local (if you Forage the Vine Leaves)
NOW Macadamia Nut Oil, Available at the Expo Manger Santé et Vivre Vert
I'm testing a couple of products from the upcoming Expo Manger Santé et Vivre Vert (March 11-13, 2016) and first up is a expeller-pressed macadamia nut oil from NOW. If you've never been to the expo before, it's a weekend-long exhibition at the Palais de Congrès (metro Place … [Read more...] about NOW Macadamia Nut Oil, Available at the Expo Manger Santé et Vivre Vert
Chinese Dì Sān Xiān: Sautéed Potato, Eggplant and Green Pepper
This classic Chinese comfort food dish is a study in texture. When you think potato and eggplant, you probably think mush. Think again. In this recipe, they're soft on the inside and crispy on the outside from shallow frying before hot sautéing.The flavour is mild - there's no … [Read more...] about Chinese Dì Sān Xiān: Sautéed Potato, Eggplant and Green Pepper
Star Wars Ration Boxes
Luke’s savoury ration boxes: kale chips, sweet potato chips, zucchini chips, raisins, currants, dates, toasted almonds, hazelnuts, pecans and walnuts. What's a ration box, really? Let's ask the Star Wars wiki: "Food rations...were a transportable form of ready-to-eat food used … [Read more...] about Star Wars Ration Boxes
Garlic-Roasted Zucchini
My zucchinis have exploded – yes that's a drastic overstatement. No bomb has gone off in my community garden plot. But the plants I thought were just too big to be zucchini and must be mysterious melons have sprouted limbs, yielding seven giant summer squash and counting. Now, … [Read more...] about Garlic-Roasted Zucchini