Hummus is a Middle Eastern chickpea dip accented with tahini (sesame butter), olive oil, garlic and lemon. It is flavorful enough to make raw vegetables exciting when dipped in or to liven up sandwiches and burgers. It is rich and creamy and the secret to getting it really smooth is to use chickpea flour instead of chickpeas themselves. A few years ago I was in Germany while following a vegan diet, luckily there were lots of Middle Eastern restaurants around, so I was able to avoid the bratwurst and basically lived off of hummus and falafel (and fritz) for a few weeks. One day I found a small health food store tucked away on a back alley riddled with cobblestones and went in to try and find some chickpeas to make the dip myself. The owner could barely speak English and I could barely speak German but through lots of sign language he taught me that the flour is actually what was used there more commonly and that it worked better. I thought he was crazy, the flour seems bland and chalky, but when you mix it with boiling water the magic happens. Continue Reading →
Baked Baby Crab Cakes with Tzatziki
Miniature crab cakes are a good appetizer for seafood lovers. They are normally loaded down with mayonnaise and white bread crumbs then fried, making them much less healthy than they can be. These ingredients can be substituted for almond flour and a bunch of different fresh flavorings that accentuate the crab and add health supporting nutrients. Continue Reading →
Acorn Squash Boats
Acorn squash is the perfect size to build off of. It can be cut into halves and used like bowls or cut into quarters like this and used as a base for any kind of topping. In this way it is kind of like bruschetta but the squash is many times higher in fiber and several antioxidants, vitamins and minerals than the traditionally used white bread. Continue Reading →
Roasted Chips
As the weather gets colder and the days get shorter and gloomier it is natural for us to crave sweet, heavy and rich food. Root vegetables can fill this void well. They are comforting and grounding, with a natural subtle sweetness. Generally the fruits and leaves of trees are light and airy, they provide quick and easy but short-lasting energy. The root vegetables in contrast are heartier and tend to fill us up and bring us down, with a calming effect on our digestive systems and whole bodies. Continue Reading →
Pomegranate Yam Salad
Raw leafy greens are a super superfood. They are incredibly high in several vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, making them supportive of so many healthy body functions, not the least of which is detoxing. Our bodies are constantly detoxing from dozens and dozens, if not hundreds of chemicals and toxins in our air, land and water and feeding ourselves leafy greens is a great way to support this important process. Continue Reading →
Heirloom Tomato Salsa
Canning is a bit of a lost art in our world of convenience. My brother offered to just buy me some salsa if I wanted it. Yet if you have an interest in the slow food movement or a bit of nostalgia for simpler times, canning can be a nice way to spend a couple hours. Continue Reading →
Roasted Red Pepper Butternut Soup
Technically it isn’t fall yet but I’m up in the mountains and the temperatures in the evening are cold enough to warrant warm, creamy dishes centered around squash. Smoothies are often praised for the fact that they are easy to digest because they are already blended up, leaving less work for the digestive system- but the same goes for blended soups. Unlike many traditional comfort foods, a soup loaded with fresh vegetables and other high quality ingredients can be gentle on our bodies and full of health supporting nutrients. Continue Reading →
Ahi Tuna Ceviche Bites
Ceviche is basically some kind of raw seafood marinated in citrus juice (lime in this case). The marinade slightly changes the texture so even those who find raw fish in sushi unappealing may like it in ceviche form. Continue Reading →
Chickpea Carrot Salad Boats
Endive leaves are a perfect way to make anything into finger food. I like to fill them up with salad for healthy but delicious and easy to eat appetizers. Since they are a type of lettuce leaf this is basically salad within a salad. Continue Reading →
Salmon Yam Cakes
Living so close to the ocean, I never saw the point in buying canned salmon, we have large fillets available in every store. But then I saw the fanciest, most expensive canned salmon brand on sale- when there is a sale on something I have never tried I take it as a sign that the time is now. Continue Reading →