The Lowly Lima Part One: Artichoke Fennel and Lima Bean Stew
This recipe makes us love the lima bean, the humble bean that many people are not even sure they actually like. Fresh bulb fennel is combined with canned or frozen artichokes, lemon juice and lima beans. Don’t like fennel? Try this and you may change your mind as the vegetable combination mellows the anise flavor and creates a fresh taste.With its lemony sauce and less common blend of vegetables, this stew is delicious and hits the spot for flavor, with the fennel melting into a ...
Spring Fiddles – So Fitting
It's a rite of Spring. Bring back the green and sing a song. In our neck of the woods, it also means a hunt for some fresh fiddlehead ferns, unfurling their spiral goodness.A cross between spinach, asparagus and just plain freshness, the fiddleheads combine perfectly with garlic. We tried them here with some sliced shiitakes, amping up the protein and flavor. Simple and fresh, you could also combine with pasta for a complete and easy meal.So, celebrate Spring, break out the fiddles and ...
Stress Less Burgers: Vegan Under Pressure
The world's a stressy place, right? How about a way to create less stress? That's where a pressure cooker comes in handy, which you may have noticed we mention more and more. One source of recent inspiration is the fantastic new book by Jill Nussinow, aka The Veggie Queen, who is an extraordinary cook, long-time food expert and a full fledged RD (Registered Dietitian).Vegan Under Pressure doesn't just refer to how we feel each day. It is a compendium of recipes and more important...
Ital is Vital: Jamaican-Style Coconut Bean Stew
Mon, this stew make me feel irie. Yummy, creamy and filling, it's a great main course served with rice. Ital food is rasta, designed to increase health and vitality (what is called livity) through avoidance of "dead" (animal) food.Feel free to use whatever beans and veggies you have on hand. Don't have plantains? No problem. Try sweet potatoes, peppers, cabbage, and other types of beans. Leftovers also make awesome patties (see pie crust recipe here).Depending upon whether you ...
Healthy Hot Holiday Tamales
While some cultures definitely associate tamales with Christmas and holiday time, tamale-eating doesn't have to be limited to special times of year. In fact, we like them so much that it feels like a celebration every time we eat them.This version is vegan, natch, and they freeze well (assuming there are any left). The assembly process is easy though a bit time-consuming but well worth the trouble. Be creative on fillings - these are black bean and sweet potato but you can use virtually ...
Fast Fall Farro with Wild Mushrooms, Roasted Squash and Cranberries
Farro is one of those "ancient grains" now being touted in food circles. Funny, right? In case you havent tried it, it looks like barley but is chewier, with just the right heft to be a central part of a hearty Autumn menu. This “pilaf” cooks quickly in a pressure cooker and is best served with sautéed mushrooms and seasonal veggies. For those cooking without pressure (who does that?), refer to the note below.Incredibly, we found some mushrooms on a piece of firewood (fine oysters) ...
Hearty Vegan Fare: Stir Fried Bok Choy, Green Beans and Seitan
OK, we know. This recipe could send gluten-phobes cowering to the corner. But, sometimes we want something hearty, chewy and dense. If you’re ok with gluten, seitan really scratches the itch.This seitan dish, loaded with green beans and bok choy, is a go-to at our house. Plus, it’s a tasty way to get in extra calcium from both the molasses used in the seitan broth and the bok choy, one of the high calcium veg foods. We’ve even added whole cashews or peanuts to the final dish, ...
Easy Seitan for Any Recipe
Seitan is one of those vegan foods you either love or hate. To the gluten-free among us, it's a real no-no. Personally, we think it sometimes gives the chewiness some recipes need. We've sliced for stir fries, chopped for "meaty" sauce and used on sandwiches.This basic version can easily be adapted depending upon your flavor preferences. Adding to Mexican food? Try cumin and chili powder. Indian? Add curry powder and coriander. Like a chicken-ish flavor? Use no-chicken seasoning. You get ...
2 Genius Ways To Cook With Sherry
Inspired by a recent trip to Jerez, the gastronomic paradise of Spain’s Andalusia region, I have been looking for excuses to work sherry into my recipes. Sherry is one of the most versatile wines alongside many types of food: think hard to pair ingredients like artichokes and asparagus, as well as an ingredient in food and cocktails. With an incredible depth of flavor, sherry helps you achieve richness and heighten umami while its high acid refreshes the palate.The first recipe is a ...
Sweet Potato Cakes and Mango Salsa: Healthy Happy Tasty
Sweet potatoes are an amazing food, loved by most primates everywhere. Not only delicious but they're loaded with Vitamin A and a good amount of Vitamin C and magnesium plus the kind of fiber that promotes good digestion. These complex carbs are also low-glycemic, meaning diabetic friendly.While health isn't always the number one reason to eat (hey, there's nothing wrong with pure pleasure on occasion), when I find myself needing to promote healing, especially digestive health, I make ...
