It’s an exciting day, I had my first round of ripe cherry tomatoes from the garden! There weren’t many yet but they make a good addition to this cucumber salad which is very refreshing and nicely balances out the crispy prawns. Which, by the way are sooo good, they kind of taste like popcorn shrimp, except that they are much healthier than the original which usually calls for larger quantities of nutrient devoid refined oil and a thick white flour based coating. Continue Reading →
Ayurvedic Khichari
Ayurveda is translated as the science of life and originated in India several thousand years ago, making it the oldest form of healthcare we know of. Ayurvedic medicine takes a very holistic view and classifies people, body and mind, according to the three doshas (or energies). The patient is prescribed different foods and spices customized according to their dosha constitution. The idea is to heal any imbalances and cure or prevent ailments that people are particularly susceptible to. Continue Reading →
Mexican Bean Salad
This is a very vibrant salad with lots of different vitamins and nutrients. The beans are a great source of folate, calcium, potassium and B vitamins. They are very dense and help your body utilize leptin, a hormone that signals to your brain that you are satiated. A salad like this a more food safe option for BBQs than mayonnaise based or dairy heavy salads, because it can sit out longer. Continue Reading →
Southern Granola
I have never been to the American south but I imagine lots of sun drenched porches scattered with people drinking sweet tea, old pickup trucks racing down dirt roads and ladies slaving away in country kitchens to make endless amounts of hearty soul food. Maybe I have been watching too many country music videos but I love the flavors and ingredients from this region and they provided my inspiration for this granola. Continue Reading →
Agua de Jamaica
The beautiful red color of this drink comes from dried hibiscus flowers. I like it when Western science can prove the effectiveness of natural remedies, as is the case with hibiscus. Many recent studies have shown it to be effective at lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, regulating blood sugar levels and promoting improved circulation. Plus it also contains a high concentration of many antioxidants and Vitamin C. Continue Reading →
Broccoli Bacon Salad
Once upon a time I went vegan for a few years. During that period green vegetables made up a large component of my regular diet. I fell in love with them all, except for raw broccoli. This salad definitely changes that. In the winter I like to use raisins for this but since it is summer, grapes make a very good substitute. This can be made the day before serving because it is even better after some time in the fridge to marinate. Continue Reading →
Steak with Bourbon Bacon BBQ Sauce
Most commercial BBQ sauces are filled with artificial sweeteners and cheap fillers. This is a very decadent homemade alternative. It still has lots of sweetness but none of the ingredients come from a laboratory. It does take a lot longer than opening a prepared bottle but it is so worth it! You can make it the day before serving and store it in the fridge. Continue Reading →
Californian Lettuce Wraps
This is a simple and delicious one dish meal with lots of fresh vegetables. It is easy to substitute the ingredients for any leftover grains, seafood and meat you have around. Keeping with a California theme I used shrimp and lots of avocado. Tamari provides the main flavoring, it is very similar to soy sauce except that it is thicker and richer in taste, especially the gluten free option which has no wheat and a greater concentration of fermented soy beans. Continue Reading →
Oatmeal Bar
This is by no means a complicated breakfast, and that is the beauty of it. If you want to have a warm, relaxing breakfast on your own or if you have several picky eaters to feed, this is a great way to start the day. A couple months ago, I went to a retreat on Denman Island and we had this every day at 7:30 am. Normally I am not a morning person. Not at all. I never liked eating breakfast, especially so early, but by the third day I started to wake up excited for my daily oatmeal creation. Continue Reading →
No Peanut Pad Thai Salad
This is a more western version of Pad Thai, without the usual fish sauce and tamarind paste but it makes a satisfying summer salad. Don’t get me wrong, I love peanuts even though they are nut imposters- they are actually legumes. Now I don’t have any qualms with legumes either, but I try to avoid peanuts because they are highly prone to developing aflatoxin. As scary as it sounds, aflatoxins are naturally occurring but carcinogenic mycotoxins produced by a fungus that likes to contaminate peanuts.