Category Archives: Recipe

Recipe: Chia Pudding

Posted on May 22, 2014 | Leave a comment

I have tried a few chia pudding recipes and found them to be lacking in the taste department and wondered how the name pudding could be applied to the recipes. While in London, my great friend K bought me a coconut chia pudding from Le Pain Quotidien despite my reluctance. This pudding was delicious!! We looked up the recipe and I tested it as soon as I returned home. There are only 2 ingredients to work with to your liking, canned coconut milk and chia seeds. Coconut milk contains healthy medium chain fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids are found in chia seeds. In addition, this pudding feels like a dessert without any added sugar.

For one serving (use a ratio of 1 part chia seeds to 4 parts coconut milk to make your desired quantity)

1 tablespoon chia seeds

4-5 tablespoons canned coconut milk (full fat tastes best)

In a small bowl, stir together chia seeds and coconut milk. Refrigerate overnight or for at least an hour. Stir, add water if needed, for desired consistency. Top with chopped strawberries, shredded coconut, fruit of your choice, or passion fruit butter for an ultimate rich taste. Enjoy for breakfast, as a snack or dessert.

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Posted in gluten free, Healthy food, healthy recipe, Healthy snack, Making Life Good Recommends, Vegan

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Recipe: Banana Oatmeal Cookies (vegan)

Posted on April 21, 2014 | Leave a comment

In light of declaring love for the Cookie Monster, I must share this new discovery for a vegan oatmeal cookie (Cookie Monster’s second favourite cookie after chocolate chip). These cookies are made with unprocessed, whole foods and are delicious enough to feed the cookie monster inside any one of us. Oats are naturally a gluten free food, but may come into contact with gluten during processing. Purchase gluten free oats (they are more expensive) if you have that degree of sensitivity. I tend to have Bob’s organic rolled oats in my kitchen most of the time.

I ordered the Oh She Glows cookbook on the based on the inspiring appeal of this oatmeal cookie recipe http://ohsheglows.com/2014/01/17/banana-bread-muffin-tops/. I made them right away, repeated the tasty success several times over, so here is my adaptation of the recipe:

3 ripe bananas

1/2 cup pitted dates, packed (soak dry dates, and a mixture of medjool and other pitted dates is nice)

1/4 cup coconut oil

2 cups rolled oats, separated into 1.5 and 0.5 cups

1 tablespoon shredded coconut

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg (optional, freshly grated is best)

1/4 cup currants

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, mix together dates, bananas, and coconut oil to a fairly smooth consistency. Add 1.5 cups of oats, shredded coconut, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, pulse until oats are ground. Power off food processor and remove the blade. Stir in remaining 0.5 cups of oats and currants into the bowl of the food processor.  Spoon batter onto a baking sheet and flatten slightly with a spatula. Bake for 12 minutes, remove and rotate tray, bake for 12 more minutes or until the desired level of browning is achieved. Makes 12-16 cookies.

Enjoy fresh or within 2-3 days or freeze for a week in an airtight container.

Enjoy vegan banana oatmeal cookies warm off the baking sheet!

Enjoy vegan banana oatmeal cookies warm off the baking sheet to indulge your cookie monster-

 

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Posted in gluten free, Healthy food, healthy recipe, healthy treat, Making Life Good Recommends, Recommendation, Vegan

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Recipe: Chickpea Salad (sandwich)

Posted on March 31, 2014 | Leave a comment

The Oh She Glows cookbook by Angela Liddon and blog www.ohsheglows.com recently came to my attention through my sister. I found the vegan recipes to be inspiring, so I ordered the cookbook, then made some oatmeal cookies from the blog the next day. I have enjoyed the cookbook so far and particularly liked a recipe for chickpea salad. I must admit that I used regular mayonnaise. However, you can purchase vegan mayonnaise at the health food store or make your own with a blender and Angela Liddon’s recipe in the cookbook.

Here is my version of the Oh She Glows chickpea salad. A delicious vegetarian alternative for a classic ‘salad’ sandwich. I much prefer home cooked chickpeas. The Old Bay seasoning really adds a great flavour.

2-3 cups cooked chickpeas (canned is alright if you wish)

2 stalks celery, diced

2 green onions, chopped

2-3 tablespoons mayonnaise (vegan if you prefer)

1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill (optional, but tasty)

Old Bay seasoning, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste

In a medium bowl, mash chickpeas with a fork until half are mashed and half are still whole. Add celery, green onion and mayonnaise to the chickpeas, mix well. Season with dill, Old Bay seasoning, lemon juice, salt and pepper to your taste. Enjoy as a sandwich or over a bed of greens as a salad.

Delicious chickpea salad on rye toast

Delicious chickpea salad on rye toast

 

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Posted in Healthy food, healthy recipe, plant food, Recipe, Vegan

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Recipe: Polenta

Posted on February 10, 2014 | Leave a comment

Polenta is a dish I have not always loved. However, it is always good to keep an open mind to trying different foods. Like children, we need to try a new food a few times before we can learn if we like it enough to make have it more regularly. I tried making polenta for the first time this week to a great result using a recipe from the Eating Italy, cookbook. The secret is to allow the polenta to brown at the bottom of the pan , which adds (a cheese like) flavour.

5-6 cups water

1/2-1 tsp salt

3/4 cup polenta

butter and chopped fresh herbs to taste

In pot with a wider circumference, bring water to a boil, add salt. Swirl in polenta slowly, bring back to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Simmer without stirring until the polenta is the desired consistency, this will take 45min-an hour. Season with butter and fresh herbs, stir and scrape browned polenta from the bottom of the pan. Serve and enjoy with your favourite pasta sauce, stew or as a grain side dish.

 

 

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Posted in gluten free, Healthy food, Making Life Good Recommends, Recipe

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Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Posted on January 29, 2014 | Leave a comment

Brussels sprouts were not on my list of regular veggies for a long time. My mom served them boiled a few times during my upbringing, no one liked them and I stayed away for a long time. Even delicious versions of brussels sprouts at Campagnolo and Momofuku Daisho did not motivate me to cook them. We had roasted brussels sprouts with Christmas dinner and I discovered they were tasty!!

Brussels sprouts are of the cruciferous family of vegetables with sinigrin and sulforaphane as antioxidant, detoxifying nutrients in addition to vitamin A, C, E and lutein. Roasting (caramelization improves the flavour) and sauteing are the best ways to go with cooking brussels sprouts. Lemon juice, vinegar, and nuts are good accompaniments. Here is a super simple recipe:

1 pound brussels sprouts, washed, and cut into halves or quarters for even size pieces

1 tablespoon olive or grapeseed oil

1/4 cup dried cherries (optional)

salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Toss brussels sprouts in shallow baking dish with oil, salt and pepper. Sprinkle with dried cherries if using. Roast for 10-15 minutes until desired doneness. Season further with salt, pepper and lemon juice as desired. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

Roasted brussels sprouts with dried cherries

Roasted brussels sprouts with dried cherries

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Posted in antioxidant, gluten free, Greens, Healthy food, healthy recipe, Making Life Good Recommends, plant food, Recipe, Vegan, Veggies, Vivian Law

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Recipe: Gluten free Gingerbread Waffles

Posted on December 24, 2013 | Leave a comment

Gingerbread waffles are a Christmas time favourite of mine and many friends. After much testing, here is a gluten free version that I am happy to eat and share. This particular blend of various flours (sorghum, millet, chickpea, buckwheat, amaranth, brown rice flour) is a one that I like for taste, texture and nutrition-Making Life Good recommends.

Feel free to experiment with other gluten free flours. The key is variety of flours, some starch and xanthan gum.

3 tablespoons sorghum flour

3 tablespoons millet flour

2 tablespoons chickpea flour

2 tablespoons buckwheat flour

2 tablespoons amaranth flour

2 tablespoons brown rice flour

2 tablespoons tapioca starch

1 teaspoon xanthan gum

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon cardamom

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon allspice

1 egg

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup molasses

3/4 cup buttermilk

3 tablespoons softened or melted butter

2 tablespoons chopped crystallized ginger

2 tablespoons currants

In a medium bowl, stir together various flours, baking powder, baking soda. Add spices and combine well.

In another medium bowl, whisk together egg and brown sugar. Whisk in molasses, buttermilk, then butter. Add dry ingredients, stir until just combined. Stir in crystallized ginger and currants.

Heat waffle maker to medium. Pour in half the batter into the center of the grid. Cook waffle to desired degree of brown or until the maker beeps. Repeat with the other half of the batter. Makes 8 waffles.

Enjoy immediately with maple syrup, apple butter, ice cream, or passion fruit curd. These waffles can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 days or frozen and reheated in the toaster.

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Posted in gluten free, Making Life Good Recommends, Recipe, Vivian Law

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Recipe: Cabbage Soup

Posted on September 30, 2013 | Leave a comment

While I was in Italy this summer enjoying quantities of parmesan cheese with my dear friend JK, he mentioned that his family makes a great soup with parmesan rinds. I had veggie stock in need to a soup recipe last week and came across a cabbage soup with parmesan in the cookbook Plenty by Yotam Ottolenghi. Here is the recipe inspired by Plenty. I must say this cabbage soup was a delicious surprise. Omit the chili if you prefer no spice, however, I believe it adds a special complexity to the flavour of the soup.

1 onion, thinly sliced

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 red chili pepper, finely chopped seeds removed

1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds

1 medium napa cabbage, cut finely or shredded

1 medium potato, peeled and diced finely

4-5 cups vegetable stock

1-2 parmesan rinds

salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon to taste

In a large pot, over medium heat, saute onion, garlic and chili until soft. Add diced potato and cabbage, saute for a minute or so. Add vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Add parmesan rinds reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Allow the soup to sit covered until it comes close to room temperature. Remove and discard the parmesan rinds. Using an immersion blender or a food processor, pulse until soup is fairly smooth. Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste-enjoy!

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Posted in gluten free, Greens, Healthy food, healthy recipe, Recipe, Veggies, Vivian Law

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Recipe: Kale Salad

Posted on July 16, 2013 | Leave a comment

Kale salad is something that I eat occasionally, and enjoy the most at Foxley restaurant in Toronto. My good friend Kathryn recently served me a kale salad in Tuscany based on the salad she frequently orders at a Toronto restaurant. Perhaps it was the Italian kale-her salad was a vast improvement on the restaurant version and inspired me to make it! This salad is incredibly easy to make and a delicious, healthy choice of greens. Kale contains vitamin A, K and C, antioxidants we all need. I brought home some fig flavoured pecorino cheese from Italy, which was a special touch. Otherwise pecorino cheese works well.

1 bunch of black kale, stems removed, cut very finely horizontally across the leaf

Juice of 1 lemon or more to taste

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons currants

Grated pecorino cheese, to taste

2 tablespoons sunflower seeds

Fresh ground pepper to taste

In a large bowl, mix together kale and lemon juice thoroughly with your hands (‘massage’ the kale with the lemon juice). Drizzle olive oil and mix well. Mix in currants and toss with grated pecorino. Let stand for 15 minutes, or refrigerate covered, overnight. Add sunflower seeds and ground pepper before serving, enjoy.

 

 

 

 

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Posted in gluten free, Greens, Healthy food, healthy recipe, Making Life Good Recommends, plant food, Recipe, Vivian Law

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Recipe: Italian Green Salad

Posted on July 11, 2013 | Leave a comment

Here is a green salad recipe that I created upon my arrival in Tuscany after my first trip to the grocery store. I found sea asparagus at the fish counter, and it is called ‘algae’ here. Not the most appealing, but sea asparagus is a delicious and nutritious plant food. Everyone enjoyed this salad and the key is the infused olive oil.

For Infused Olive Oil:

1/2 red chili pepper, sliced

1 clove garlic, sliced

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

coarse salt and pepper to taste

In a small bowl, stir together sliced pepper, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper. Let oil infuse for a few hours or a day.

For green salad:

6 cups mixed baby greens

1 small cucumber, diced

1 tomato, diced

1 green onion, sliced

1 cup green beans, cut in half

1/2 cup sea asparagus, rinsed (optional)

Balsamic vinegar to taste

Bring a medium pot of water to boil, add green beans and cook for 1-2 minutes, then add sea asparagus briefly. Take off heat, drain, and rinse under cold water.

In a large bowl, toss baby greens, cucumber, tomato, green onion, green beans and sea asparagus with desired quantity of olive oil (2-3 tablespoons). Drizzle balsamic vinegar to taste, enjoy.

 

 

 

 

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Posted in Greens, Healthy food, healthy recipe, plant food, Recipe, Vegan, Vivian Law

Recipe: Barley Pomegranate Salad

Posted on June 20, 2013 | Leave a comment

This recipe caught my eye in the mainly vegetarian cookbook Plenty. I could not get my hands on sherry vinegar, so I improvised with pomegranate molasses or concentrated pomegranate juice (found in middle eastern food shops), which adds a slightly sweet, tart depth of flavour. The pomegranate seeds and celery bring a nice crunchy contrast to the chewy barley.

1 cup pearl barley, rinsed

1 shallot, finely chopped

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses

2 stalks celery, diced

1 pomegranate (gather the seeds by slicing horizontally and removing the skin)

2-3 tablespoons chopped dill

2-3 tablespoons chopped parsley

1/4 cup currants (optional)

salt and pepper to taste

Place barley into a small pot with 3 cups of water, bring to a boil and simmer for 35 minutes or until tender with a chewy bite. Drain if necessary.

While barley is still warm, stir in olive oil, vinegar, pomegranate molasses and shallot. Allow to cool and stir in celery, pomegranate seeds, dill, parsley and currants if using. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve at room temperature.

 

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Posted in Recipe, Vegan, Vivian Law

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