Cranberry sauce is usually an afterthought at our family turkey dinners- we’re lucky if our mom mashes it up enough to remove the ribbing from the interior of the can it came from. I wanted to mix things up a little for Thanksgiving this year but changing the stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes or turkey itself would probably get me disowned, so to the condiments I go. This version adds in some balsamic vinegar for depth as well as orange juice and plums for natural sweetness. Along with maple syrup the extra fruits tone down the tartness of the cranberries without having to dump in cups of refined sugar. Continue Reading →
Apple Pear Crisp with Pumpkin Hazelnut Maple Topping
Crisps are one of my favourite sweet comfort foods that can be pretty healthy with a few tweaks. I like to add in nut butter and maybe some nuts to the oat based topping for some extra protein and healthy fats to moderate the sugar from the fruits and slow down digestion. This keeps blood sugar levels more stable and makes the dish more filling. Since it’s October I also added in some mashed pumpkin to the topping, giving it a seasonal twist and big boost of vitamin A. Maple syrup gives it some sweetness while cinnamon and ginger add some spice. Continue Reading →
Sumac Rosemary Garlic Roasted Yams
Yams are becoming a more and more popular way for those adhering to paleo or strict diets to consume complex carbs. Generally, complex carbs should make up a large percentage of our plates as they are full of nutrients and provide our bodies’ preferred source of energy. What makes a carb complex? Continue Reading →Pumpkin Spice Nut Butter
I am getting into full fall mode (lovingly referred to as “basic” by my bros), with pumpkin spice candles littered throughout the house and constant brainstorming on more ways to infiltrate pumpkin into new dishes in the kitchen. Today’s pumpkin invention is this combination of baked pumpkin with nut butter and spices. Continue Reading →
Potato Leek Soup
Potato leek soup is a classic option perfect for crisp fall afternoons and evenings. It often has cream and butter added in but using smaller, yellow potatoes which are naturally sweeter and creamier, results in a soup that tastes rich and still has a velvety texture without the heavy dairy. Continue Reading →
Vanilla Maple Roasted Pears
Fall is heavily associated with pumpkins and apples but it is also pear season. Like apples, these fruits have a subtle, fresh flavour and light sweetness that really comes through when they are roasted. From there they can be eaten on their own or served over or alongside oatmeal, granola, yogurt, chopped nuts or ice cream, and they’re even good in salads or with roasted chicken or pork. Using fruit as the anchor of a dessert keeps it light and offers some extra nutrients over pastry or cream based options. Continue Reading →
Turkey Pumpkin Chili
Chili is a really versatile and easy one-pot meal to throw together. This version gets an extra dose of nutrients from added vegetables and chickpeas. It is the kind of thing I like to leave around for my brothers when their schedules get hectic and time gets tight. They can heat up in a minute then load up with sour cream, shredded cheese, avocado and/or tortilla chips- it is fast and easy enough that they will do it instead of stopping at a drive through on the way home for a different kind of fast food. It is heavy enough to be hearty and filling while also being really nutrient dense, an ideal lunch to get fuelled for a long day of studying. Continue Reading →Pepperoni Pizza Delicata Squash Boats
Delicata squash are also known as sweet potato squash because their taste and texture is quite similar to sweet potatoes. Unlike most other winter squash the skin can be eaten once cooked so it is an easy vegetable to work with- no peeling required and nothing goes to waste. There’s nothing wrong with some real pizza now and then and this swap might be sacrilegious to some but it is a good way to get the flavours of pizza with some extra nutrients. For those trying to eat healthier or cut down on simple carbs there are lots of little swaps that can modify a traditional dish to be lighter in saturated fats, free of refined sugars and flours and richer in complex carbs, fiber, lean protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Continue Reading →Chicken Tomatillo Soup
Tomatillos are a staple ingredient in Mexican cuisine and were used as far back as 800 B.C. by the Aztecs. Their more authentic name is “tomato verde”, Spanish for “green tomato”, and they make up an essential part of the famous green Mexican sauce called salsa verde. They are similar to regular red tomatoes except that their taste is less sweet and more tart and their texture is firmer and meatier. Their seeds are really tiny and their skins are very thin so they neither need to be peeled nor de-seeded like regular tomatoes often do for soups and sauces. Continue Reading →
Tomato Artichoke Frittata
I had some fresh, very flavourful cherry tomatoes from my friend’s mom’s garden so I wanted to put them in a dish that would let them shine. Mrs. Gill is one of the best cooks I have ever met so I was really excited to see her new garden and to get to try some of the fruits of her labour. For me, something homegrown, just like something homemade, has a really special quality to it that the stuff in stores just can’t compete with. Frittatas, the fancy word for egg pie or crustless quiche, are great for using up leftover odds and ends as well as showcasing an ingredient. Continue Reading →