Farfalle Salad

I love Farfalle. I know I am a child for saying that, but for farfalle, I will do anything. These great flavors came to me because of their colors and the idea that I can put anything into a pasta salad. Sorry for the poor photo, the light in my house is not that great after dark and I didn't have time to set up lighting. I guess to get the full affect, you will have to make it yourselves!


You will need:

~Farfalle, cooked, rinsed in cold water and set aside
~Asparagus, steamed, chopped, set aside
~Grape or Cherry Tomatoes, cut in halves
~Red Bell Peppers, chopped
~Small White Onion, finely chopped

~Balsamic vinegar, get a good one!
~Extra Virgin Olive Oil, again, a good one!
~Sea Salt
~Fresh Basil and Italian Parsley

There is no trick to how you do this, honestly. I like to keep the farfalle warm as well as the asparagus and then put the oil, herbs and onion in. This will allow for the flavors to marry each other while the dish cools. As they are getting hitched, prepare your other veggies and toss them in. Add the Balsamic and then salt and toss one last time. Cover and cool. It is extra tasty if you let it settle into the married life for a few hours in the fridge before eating!

This is somewhat of an uninspiring post with a very uninspiring picture, but I urge you to try this recipe! It is so yummy!

Stuffed Dates~ Oh yeah....

My mom made these when I was a kid and I am sad to say that I didn't partake in them too often because I thought dates were weird and looked like... ummm, gross. In these last several years, I have found myself craving all these dishes that we had prepared for us as kids, even those I did not like. It is weird how that happens.

My mother's birthday was near the beginning of the month and as a surprise, I made a Mediterranean style dinner for her and the dates were included. Making them with my grandmother, her mother, was a real treat. She told me that the recipe came from a roomie from her college days and that her mother would always send these in a shoe box for them to enjoy. It is so neat how all of these recipes travel through different people and changing times. I am now making that faster by putting this great recipe on the internet for all to see. I hope it will start a chain reaction that will bring people closer and generate feelings of family, tradition and home.

You will need:

~Dates, pit them yourself for the tastiest ones!
~Peanut butter
~Powdered sugar or superfine sugar of any kind


Simplest recipe ever. Put your dates, fill in the cavity with peanut butter and roll the whole thing around in a bow of the sugar. Eat.

I like mixing in cinnamon or cloves or other spices with the peanut butter. Pick and choose your favorite spice combo and stick with it. These are a great treat to gift because they do not spoil easily nor lose their shape or what not. They look rustic and homemade while keeping an elegant feeling coming from their origin. A plus is that they are pretty healthy too! Enjoy!

My Beautiful Fruit Bowl

There is no talent in 'making' this dish, but it was too pretty to not photograph and it was too good to not share! I keep stressing the importance of eating fresh fruits and veggies and to completely fill yourself up on them, not leaving room for all the crap that is thrown our way all day, everyday!

I have in there really juicy cherries, tart blueberries and my cheat, prunes (dried plums). MMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Simple Lunch Salad

I love fresh veggies! I also love salad for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This I made for lunch today and it totally hit the spot. Now the trick is, I am the only vegan on the planet who doesn't like the taste of raw tomato... Weird, I know. I keep trying them and I keep not liking them, but I am assured I will get there some day. Putting that aside, I try to put tomato in whenever I can, in this case, fresh salsa! Yeah, I put salsa on my salad. Sure did.

You will need:

~Spinach
~Carrots
~Favorite onion
~Fresh Cilantro
~Favorite fresh salsa
~Lime juice
~Apple Cider Vinegar
~Olive oil

Cut all that stuff up and throw it in a bowl. Put the salsa then the cilantro and then the lime juice, vinegar and oil. A little pepper on top is delicious. I also like to have a really spicy salsa to put on top. It makes for a neat combination for the taste buds!

Today I topped it off with a nice bowl of fresh fruit! Cherries, blueberries and some dried plums! The plums have a little too much sugar for my liking, but I don't eat them very often so what the hay!

Pop Corn With B-12? YES!

I have a small admission to make. I am completely and one hundred percent addicted to pop corn. Not all pop corn, but real pop corn. I grew up eating pop corn that we bought as kernels and used a Stir Crazy popper machine to make it. We would but locally grown pop corn so I was very spoiled. My parents would also put nutritional yeast on the pop corn after popping and that was the best ever! Nutritional yeast is a must eat for vegans and vegetarians. It is one of the only natural sources of B12 out there. We don't need much of this miracle vitamin, that's why mother nature has put it in so few food sources. But we do need some, and this is a really delicious way to get it. As an adult, I have altered the way I make my pop corn and keep playing. I have come up with a great one as a fluke this evening.



You will need:

~Your favorite pop corn, popped and hot
~Extra Virgin Dipping Olive Oil
~Nutritional yeast


Now there are many ways you can do this. In college, I use microwaveable pop corn. But I still used my n. yeast and olive oil. For microwaveable pop corn; pop and pour into a bowl. Drizzle with the olive oil. You don't need much but it adds so much flavor and you get all the great things in olive oil because you are not heating it. Shake the yeast over the top. I don't have a good measurement of the amount. I like a lot, my mom doesn't. It is up to you to play with, but try the yeast first before you waste the pop corn and the yeast; make sure you like it. Tap the side of the bowl to spread the yeast and the oil out and enjoy.

Now, if you are popping your own pop corn, you can always use the olive oil for the heating agent, or you can place your kernels in a brown paper bag without oil and pop them. Therefore not heating the oil and saving it to drizzle over the top along with the yeast.

I like to use the oil after I make the pop corn so I get flavored dipping olive oil. This tends to be higher quality oil and therefore has a stronger, better flavor and is a little heavier on the pocket. BUT, on accident I purchased this amazing oil yesterday and I didn't know it until I tasted a spicy flavor with my olive oil and yeast! I looked and this olive oil was infused with red peppers! Good thing I like really really spicy! Oh it was good. I also love to use garlic and herbed oils as well. All of which you can infuse at home in smaller quantities. I paid 8 bucks for 8.5 oz... A little steep for me, but I can never put a price on my health!

Enjoy some gourmet pop corn next time you invite friends or your date over for a movie!

Black Bean Nachos

These are great to make for an entire meal. They are filling and fast and really healthy! I make these constantly and play around with the toppings. I intend to make them for the upcoming SuperBowl! Let me know what you think and if you have any variations that I can try!





You will need:
~14oz black beans, drained and rinsed
~1/2 lbs. ground beef, cooked and seasoned (I use a vegan substitute)
~1/2 cup diced tomatoes
~1 cup salsa verde (green chilies with white onions and seasoning)
~2 1/2 cups shredded cheese (your favorite flavor, I use a vegan substitute as well)
~Black Olives, drained
~Chipolte seasoning, store bought or homemade
~Your favorite corn chips or pita chips work really really well

Heat oven to 375d. and start preparing your ingredients. First layer the chips as deep as you want making sure they are places so the filling cant really reach t eh bottom of the pan. Then toss in the beans and spread out evenly. Next add the beef(or beef sub.) and the tomatoes. Layer the salsa on top of that and then the cheese, olives and seasoning. Bake until the cheese is melted and starting to brown. Grab a fork, you will need it.

Remember to play with your ingredients! Try different things in these. Imaging the chips as bread for a sandwich or lettuce for a salad. A blank slate waiting for you to make it spectacular! I made these on time with my sweet potato chili on top. It rocked! Sweet potato on nachos? Whew!

Stuffed Tomatoes

A great recipe for a summer lunch or dinner or snack! I make these all summer and play with the filling but the favorite is this recipe. They are served cold usually, but my mom loves to heat hers a little in the microwave.



You will need:
~8 large Roma tomatoes, sliced in half length wise and cored
~1 can black olives, chopped finely
~1 can sweet corn, chopped coarsely
~9 pepperoncinis, chopped finely
~5 leaves fresh basil, chopped finely
~s/p to taste
~1 white onion, thinly sliced into long curves
~*opt* grated Parmesan cheese


Core the tomatoes and set aside. Chop all ingredients and mix in a bowel, add salt and pepper and taste to adjust. Spoon a healthy amount into each tomato half. Garnish with onion slice and the optional Parmesan. Serve immediately or chill and serve. Apparently they are good warm as well, but barely heated.

Easy Yet Sophisticated Garlic Bread

Don't give your secret away. Once you have made this and served it, your diners will wonder where you had it catered from, never suspecting that it is easier than blinking an eye. A great side for salads, pastas or soups.


You will need:
Loaf of your favorite bread, sliced
Good quality olive oil
Kosher salt (large grained)
Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Freshly minced : Rosemary &
Garlic cloves
* amounts will all vary depending on you choice of bread and the number of people being served.
** depending on my guests, I like to add a little kick and put in some Cumin and Cayenne as well!


Preheat oven to 350d. Mix salt, pepper, rosemary and garlic together and set aside. On a plate large enough to fit the entire face of your largest piece of bread, pour a good amount of olive oil to cover the bottom. Lay each slice of bread in the oil until one side is completely coated and place, oil side UP, on an ungreased cookie sheet. When all of the bread has been 'oiled', sprinkle the herb mixture on generously and bake until the tops of bread are golden or crispy. Some breads won't brown, they will go from white to burned, so watch them! Serve warm.

Garlic Bread Crunchies

I work in a preschool and we hate to waste money but no one could figure out how to get the kids to eat bread ends, until I threw this together for an afternoon snack!


You will need:
Bread, each slice cut into four rectangles
olive oil
s/p
garlic
parsley or basil or oregano ( or Italian seasoning)
*opt* Parmesan cheese
** keep in mind that the quantities will change depending on how many people you are serving or how much you want to make.


Preheat oven to 350d. Toss bread with oil and seasoning until the bread pieces have a light coating and bake until golden brown. Great with soups, on salads, pastas or finger foods. And you can use those bread ends and no one will know!

Poor Man's French Toast

This was my favorite as a young child and I guess when I was a young adult I didn't think much about it... It wasn't until I was making dinner at my grandmother's house and attempted to use 'garlic powder' and it came out cinnamon and sugar, did I remember. I love this toast and it is so easy and fast to make. Reminds me of my wonderful childhood.


You will need:
Bread
Butter ( I use vegan butter)
Sugar
Cinnamon
*Toaster oven or broiler setting on your oven... DO NOT USE TRADITIONAL TOASTER!

My family always had a jar or some reused spice container to mix 2 parts cinnamon and 3 parts sugar. If you like cinnamon a lot, use more or just sprinkle on buttered bread separately and toast. The sugar caramelizes and adds a neat crunchiness to the toast when finished. Eat at home with a full breakfast or make as a sweet snack whenever you get the urge...

Roasted Veggies

You can roast anything, but a favorite combination of mine includes red and yellow bell peppers and red onion! I serve this next to pasta, mashed potatoes, etc. It is a fun and potentially festive addition to any meal!

You will need:
(for this version...)

1 large yellow pepper
1 large red pepper
1 large red onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
kosher salt and pepper
olive oil


After washing all veggies, cut into large chunks and place in a roasting tray (a cookie sheet with high edges). Add garlic, s/p and drizzle whit a healthy amount of olive oil and bake at 350d until soft ( about 35 minutes). Serve warm and covered in the oil form the tray, it holds amazing flavor. If you don't like oily foods, I like to save the oil in a little jar and add it to plain pasta or salads...

Garlic and Lime Bok Choy

Bok Choy is a Chinese cabbage that proves to be one of the best sources for protein and iron. I use it constantly and in many ways but my favorite is to use it as a bed for a hearty stew, roasted veggie or tofu. This is a versatile way to prepare bok choy and it is simple and fast. This time I served it along side a squash soup.

You will need:

6 large leaves of freshly washed Bok Choy
3 cloves garlic, chopped
3 boiler onions, sliced
Tbl. Grape seed Oil
s/p
Tbl. lemon juice


On low heat in a skillet, mix onions, garlic, oil, s/p and lemon juice; saute. Wash and chop bok choy into desired pieces and add to skillet once the onions and garlic are browned. Raise head to medium and mix. Wilt the bok choy just until the leaves are a vibrant dark green. This is a dish to prepare when all other food is 5 or so minutes away from being finished. IT DOES NOT TAKE LONG once the bok choy is in the skillet. A trick I have learned is to heat everything to the point of adding the bok choy and then turn it off. Finish the other food, place the bok choy in the skillet and with your hands turn the leaves in the oil until coated and then bring up to heat.

Avocado and Carrot Salad with a Citrus twist

Avocado is so good for your body and a really delicious fruit which is generally stuck in one dish! You can do so much with an avocado and this is one of many recipes I plan on posting proving just that! This is an easy salad to sue as a starter for a luncheon or a nutritious snack!

You will need:
(Feeds four to six)

2 large Avocados (chilled)
1 large, shredded or finely chopped carrot
1 lime
kosher salt
Tbl. freshly minced garlic


Peel and chop avocado into 1 inch chunks. Use 1/4 of the lime and juice over the avocado. Mix in carrot and garlic and wedge the rest of the lime. Salt the top and serve immediately with lime wedges available for extra citrus taste!

Leek and Seitan Soup

I made this soup just the other day, trying to make room in my refrigerator for more produce. It was also a 'soup day'. The days when you want to wear pj's and eat soup.

You will need:

1 stem Fresh leek, washed and sliced into rings
1 small Yellow squash, quartered and sliced
1 long Broccoli stem, peeled and sliced
1 cup Seitan, marinated in soy
1/2 Red Bell pepper, sliced
1/2 small Onion
2 cloves Fresh Garlic, crushed
2 tbl. Soy sauce
4 cups Vegetable Broth
oregano, black pepper, cayenne all to taste


Slice veggies and add into cooking pot. Measure broth based on how many veggies are in the pot and how thick you want your soup. I usually add enough to cover the veggies (refer to picture). Add broth and soy sauce and heat on med-high until simmering then add the spices to taste. Let simmer for only a few minutes. Don't boil! The squash will disintegrate and the veggies will lose their nutritional value. That's the trick to soups. Never boil them! In the end it will have diminished nutritional value, all taste the same and have the same texture. Serve the soup hot and with anything you want... Crackers, sandwiches, salad etc.

If the soup wasn't already so busy, I would have added some celery and carrot as well, either way it is delicious!

~Enjoy

Blueberry and Celery Salad

This is a summer favorite!

You will need:

~ Celery, chopped

~White Onions, sliced

~Purple cabbage, chopped

~Carrot, chopped

~Fresh Blueberries

~Balsamic vinegar/ olive oil

~s/p

Mix all and chill. Serve with toasted pita and hummous for a great lunch!