Spiced nuts are a versatile food, they’re fancy enough for antipasti platters, low maintenance enough for picnics, healthy enough to top oatmeal or yogurt for a good breakfast and comforting enough for rainy day snacking curled up with a book. They are very rich so it can be nice to balance them out with some dried fruits. This version uses the traditional combination of cinnamon and nutmeg on buttery pecans and sweet almonds. Continue Reading →
Red Ginger Citrus Juice
Even the pickiest of eaters, children and adults alike, who generally avoid fruits and vegetables enjoy fresh pressed juices, especially when they are made mostly from fruits and have a vibrant color. Fresh juices are more delicate in flavor than commercial juices processed for a long shelf life and they are full of antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins and minerals Continue Reading →
Sun Dried Tomato and Basil Frittata Muffins
Frittata muffins are one of the easiest and healthiest foods to prep in advance and keep on hand for lunches or snacks. The only ingredients needed are eggs, a bit of nut milk, some sea salt and whatever fillings are laying around the kitchen. You simply mix everything together in a bowl then pour it into a greased muffin tin and bake it until the eggs are set. Continue Reading →
Cherrry Coconut Trail Mix
Both dried cherries and coconut have some natural sweetness with their own strong, distinct flavors, making them perfect additions to trail mix. Cherries are a great source of fiber, vitamins A and C and several antioxidants, and these nutrients are still plentiful when the cherries are dried. Continue Reading →
Mexican Ceviche Boats
Ceviche is a light, simple dish that can be served as an appetizer or side salad. It is prepared by marinating raw seafood in acidic fruit juice and salt, with no cooking required. It originated with the Incas of South America as a way to preserve fish and was then adopted and spread by Spanish conquistadors. Ceviche is versatile and many different regions have different variations, though some of the best and most delicious main ingredients to use are prawns, scallops and rich fish like salmon and ahi tuna. Continue Reading →
Smoothie from the Sea
One of the trendiest ingredients out there for smoothies is chlorella and/or spirulina powder. It is very fine and a rich evergreen colour with impressive nutritional components. It is one of those foods that tastes as healthy as it is- it’s pretty gross but once the smoothie is blended you cannot taste or smell it at all, you only get the benefits. Chlorella and spirulina are both microalgaes rich in antioxidants, B vitamins, chlorophyll, calcium, iron, zinc, protein and essential fatty acids. A lot of the (warranted) hype around these products is based on its alkalizing and chelating abilities. Continue Reading →
Poached Eggs Over Dukkah Vegetable Hash
Dukkah is an Egyptian blend of nuts, seeds and spices usually containing hazelnuts, sesame seeds, cumin and dried hot peppers. It is crunchy, slightly smokey, spicy enough to be interesting and has a richness from the nuts that most spice blends don’t. Nuts and seeds are good sources of several minerals and unsaturated fats and using them in a spice blend like this makes them easy to incorporate into dishes- simply throw it over eggs, salads, seafood, meat or lentil or bean dishes. Continue Reading →
Roasted Celeriac Carrot Yam Soup
Celeriac also goes by the name celery root and while it is closely related to the crunchy, light green celery stalks commonly cultivated it is grown particularly for the root rather than the stalks. When raw it smells just like fresh celery but the flavor is more subtle and I find it tastes like a cross between celery, parsley and apples, making it the perfect accompaniment for soups made with other more richly flavored root vegetables like carrots and yams. Continue Reading →
Strawberry Mango Smoothie
Mango and strawberry is one of those combinations that never disappoints. Add in some lime juice, coconut water, vanilla protein powder and an avocado and it becomes a tropical tasting, rich, sweet and creamy smoothie good enough to satisfy dessert cravings. This is the perfect kind of thing to eat before or to take along when heading to a beach, pool or anywhere else you want to feel energetic, lean and comfortable. Continue Reading →
Jalapeño Crusted Halibut with Mango Pineapple Salad
This is one of my favorite derivatives of globalization- local fish and herbs with tropical fruit. Halibut is a great source of protein and it is very low in fat, though a decent percentage of the fats it does have are essential omega-3 fatty acids (for comparison, it has around 1/4 to 1/3 the amount in wild salmon). It is also rich in several B vitamins, including B 12 and the minerals selenium, magnesium and phosphorus. Halibut has a mild taste and smell (if it smells quite fishy it’s not fresh) that goes well with a wide range of flavors and has a rich, buttery flesh that is not very flaky, making it easy to cook with. Continue Reading →