Yes, we know some people HATE tofu and some would like it but for the fact that they are convinced it will make them grow breasts (this is actually not true - we know one very flat-chested lady who has been a tofu eater for decades and is still a pirate's dream).  If you are willing to give it a go, we think you'll find this truly delicious.  We use the leftovers in a delightful salad too (recipe posted soon).Ingredients:Tofu - Extra firm ORGANIC (we never ever use GMO tofu!)Black Rice (Lotus Foods variety is delish)Swiss chardGarlicAsian-Style Ginger Soy Marinade (too many brands to mention - sometimes we even mix them together)Olive OilSoy sauce or ...

Red Beans and Coconut Rice – Under Pressure

Pressure cooking can really save time and make it easier to avoid heating up the kitchen -- so necessary in the hot summer and really, at any time of year, who wants to spend extra time cooking? This recipe with its West Indian flair makes the best use of it, turning a  rice dish into a hearty meal in itself or a great accompaniment to other foods. Rather than standard red beans, try the Salvadorean frijoles rojo de seda, which are actually silky in texture as the name suggest...

Spring is Coming: Cabbage Soup Detox Time

Months of eating too much and lots of staying indoors has led to dark days of constant eating to create some internal warmth.  Good news is that Spring is on the way!Unfortunately, either our clothes have shrunk or it's time to clean up and shed the winter fat layer. Prime time to detox! Fortunately, it's cabbage to the rescue with this delicious low-calorie, low-fat and nutrient dense cabbage soup, chock full of cancer-fighting properties and importantly, flavor.This recipe is based ...

Food of the Gods? Yes, Raw Chocolate Truffles!

Everyone loves candy, even plant-based eaters.  These chocolate truffles will win the hearts of even the most dedicated carnivore.  Packed with the life-enhancing goodness of coconut and cacao, you can even pretend they are health food.  Some even call cacao, “food of the gods.”  Our kind of gods to be sure.These truffles will last weeks under refrigeration and make beautiful gifts (try decorating the wrappers!) but trust us, once you taste them, you will be tempted to store a stash ...

Thanks So Much! Sweet Potato Pie – No Eggs, No Dairy, No Problem

This is Pie Season, one of our favorite times of the year. Even for those who avoid Thanksgiving, there are chilly days and holidays beyond, turning thoughts to feasts and the sweet endings they can bring.Sweet potatoes are one of those nutrient-dense foods, with one medium sweet potato providing more than the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin A and 35-50% of daily Vitamin C. They are high in potassium (great for stressful times), calcium, folate, manganese, fiber, many B vitamins ...

White Acre Peas and Butter Beans: A Southern Summer Treat

Peas and beans please. Not your ordinary English peas, green beans or even the popular snap peas with their edible pods.  These are Southern peas and butter beans, with creamy texture and smooth taste. They are both cooked the same way here.Southern peas are also called field peas or cowpeas, and if you're lucky, you can find them fresh off the vines and shelled. Serving up a delicious mouthful perfect with hot cornbread, White Acre Peas are a treat from well below the Mason-Dixon ...

We Tried 4 Vegan Matzo Ball Recipes and Here’s the Results

Rarely are the absence of eggs a hurdle in our world. Cakes and baked goods are fine without them as are pancakes and other treats. Even macaroons are well served with aquafaba. But oh those matzo balls. Try using a mix with your standard egg replacers and you'll quickly discover they will disintegrate in the boiling water or soup.Still we were determined. A few internet searches and we came up with three four recipes worth trying (the fourth was added recently and we're glad we did!). As an ...

Peach Chutney, Sweet and Spicy

August is peach season here, luscious peaches drippy with sweet juicy tang and flavor that makes you think of falling in love. Ok, it's a fruit but still.These fruits are fleeting. Ripe peaches don't keep long and if you have a tree or bought the 1/2 bushel size on whim, well then, chutney comes in handy. It's not too difficult and is incredibly delish, especially with warming curries once the winter sets in again or the old standbys like ice cream or toast with oat butter.

Kidney Comfort: Hearty Rajma for a Cold Wet Winter

We're still grateful that Rajma, that rich kidney bean curry that hails from the Punjab, came up on our food radar some years ago. Rajma is rarely on menus at Indian restaurants here in the States which is a shame, because it’s super delicious.  Loaded with warming and healing spices, it’s comfort food particularly suited to winter, especially the cold, wet ones.  We stumbled upon it because we were after something beyond kidney beans in hearty Southwestern bean chilis and ...

Peach Upside-Down Cake for an Upturned World

You don't need to read a food blog to know things are more than a little out of kilter these days. Pandemic, societal upheaval, economic devastation, politics, hurricanes, blazing fires, intense heat and more can make us forget about crises of years past (like environmental collapse and the largest refugee crises humanity has known).Face it, we need cake!We agree, peaches are delicious eaten fresh, juicy and sweet all on their own. We've been downing them daily this way for weeks.  Plus ...

Old Country Herb Braised Green Beans

When I was a girl, there was such a thing as the Old Country – the place where the world still operated with magic and must.  Small old men with thick accents knew languages that had intensity, a depth of experience that ordinary talking could never meet. The ancient women’s eyes smiled with secret ways.  Communities felt close and happy even without modern luxuries.While the world has shrunk, these are Old Country beans.  Cooked slowly over the lowest flame (ok, it’s a ...