Cauliflower pizza has been quite popular in the world of healthy, trendy foods but I have been skeptical to try it- I thought the cauliflower smell or taste would come through too strongly. Happily, it does not at all and the bottom crust pretty much just tastes like cheese, so this kind of reminds me of a cross between lasagne and pizza since there are basically two layers of cheese with some sauce and toppings in the middle. I did find that once the pizza starts to cool down to room temperature it does taste more vegetable-like but as long as it is eaten warm or reheated I bet that not many would be able to tell the main ingredient. Continue Reading →
Bacon Wrapped Frittata Muffins
Frittata muffins are one of my most depended upon meals to prepare in advance. They are basically eggs, a great source of highly absorbable protein and important nutrients, and whatever other ingredients you have available to add in. I made these ones for my family so I wanted them to be as filling and enticing as possible. The eggs are mixed with sweet potato for some density and complex carbohydrates, thyme and red onion for flavour and tomatoes for some extra vitamins. A salty cheese like feta and a wrapped piece of alder smoked maple bacon makes it seem more like fun food than healthy food. Continue Reading →
Grilled Peach and Chicken Salad
There are a few tricks that can make salads delicious while keeping them healthy. Fresh, seasonal fruits add in some sweetness and juiciness, or in colder months dried fruits can be good too. Cheese or avocado adds in some creaminess and makes it more satiating and satisfying. Spice crusted meats and bacon (or roasted chickpeas for vegetarians) greatly increase the protein content and bulk up the salad. Bringing it all together with a fresh vinaigrette adds another layer of flavour but keeps it light. Continue Reading →
Chorizo and Wild Rice Bowl
An easy stir fry like this with Spanish flavours can be on the table in 15 minutes using some leftover rice, cured Chorizo sausage (or any other desired variety including veggie options) and some chopped vegetables. For this dish I used a wild rice blend with some brown rice, it has a nutty flavour and firm texture that holds up well- making it a good option for batch cooking. Even for those more comfortable with white rice, a dish like this with lots of flavours and colours can distract from a transition to healthier, more wholesome varieties. Continue Reading →
Bacon Yam Waffles with Corn Salsa
There are so many different ingredients that can be put into a waffle maker and be transformed into fluffy waffles with lightly crisped edges. This version uses mashed yams as the main ingredient (potatoes would work too) and they are held together with eggs and flavoured with onions, chili powder and fresh thyme. Bacon is an optional addition- when chopped into tiny pieces it folds in well to the yam mixture and offers a rich, smoky, meaty touch in every bite. Continue Reading →
Bacon Butternut Chickpea Pesto Pasta
A comforting bowl of pasta can get some extra nutrients by using whole grain pasta, adding in some fiber and protein rich buttery chickpeas and sneaking in a vegetable that become quite tasty and pretty inconspicuous like sweet butternut squash. Bacon provides a ton of flavour and makes the dish extra filling while a light, oil-based sauce like pesto enhances all the other flavours and keeps it from getting too weighed down. Continue Reading →
Honey Mustard Bacon Wrapped Chicken
Adding some bacon to a dish always betters the overall flavour and along with some fresh herbs and a glaze made simply from honey and mustard it makes an easy-one pot chicken meal with just a few ingredients. The extra fat from the bacon enhances the potatoes (or any desired vegetables) as they cook but everything crisps up better (and is healthier) if most of it is removed at the halfway point and then again near the end. Continue Reading →
Apple Pork Chops
Pork chops have long been a favourite in my family. Our dad makes a really good breaded and fried version and my brother, who is becoming quite the master chef, makes them with apples and brown sugar (my other brother’s most recent creative culinary idea was reverse cordon bleu- chicken cooked in a block of cheese, so luckily for our health he doesn’t cook very often). I stole the apple idea and added some wine, dijon and maple syrup which cook down into a sauce and keep the pork tender. Continue Reading →
Butternut Squash Bacon Spaghetti
As the temperatures drop outside the two foods I find more and more enticing are bacon and pasta- neither are traditionally regarded as the most healthy ingredients. For the bacon, a dish like this is perfect because a little goes a long way and just a few pieces infuse the whole dish with its flavour, coming up in every bite. An extra flavourful variety like Tyrolean Speck (often labelled as Tiroler Bacon), with distinct juniper undertones and a longer curing time, is ideal. Continue Reading →
Pancetta Pecorino Wild Rice Stuffed Portobellos
Portobello mushrooms have a meaty flesh, deep earthy flavour and their large, round shape makes them an ideal base for piling on with other ingredients. Wild rice, a black coloured and richly nutty tasting food with a deceiving name forms the base of this stuffing. While we call it rice it is actually the seed of an aquatic grass that thrives in the cold water rivers and lakes. It is rich in protein, fiber and antioxidants, plus unlike most true grains that are slightly acidic it is alkaline. Continue Reading →