I love it whenever I can take a yummy favorite and reveal how easily it fits into what may be considered a stricter, more sober health regimen. Take this variation on the spring roll, for example. Well, it may not really need pointing out, but this delightful dish is…(drumroll)…raw!! Tah-dah!! This crowd pleaser, starring a handful of raw plants, works well for your weekend saturday lunch, an afternoon tea party, or as an hors d’oeuvre for your evening get together.
“Basic” Quinoa & Black Bean Burgers
I am not a burger purist. The more different kinds of burgers the world can invent the better! This point of view comes in particularly handy when it comes to creating healthier, maybe even meatless, burger recipes. Having said this, no matter what, a burger should pass some basic requirements in order to be considered feasible- not that I am some burger expert, but let’s just be practical about it! First and foremost, the burger must hold together in a two-bun sandwich or lettuce wrap scenario. If it crumbles, it isn’t exactly a burger. Next, the burger should satiate. You want to feel full and happy and be nourished after you have eaten one. And third, it should be quick and easy to make. If you have to run to seven specialty food stores and spend two hours in the kitchen before you even get to the part where you make it into patties, well, it kind of loses its “burger experience,” in my opinion.
Here is a super easy quinoa and black bean burger that holds up to the basics and tastes great! Enjoy this between any kind of bread or bun, or make a falafel patty and enjoy with flatbread or a lettuce wrap. Seriously, the total active prep time for this is less than 30 minutes!
Buckwheat Ramen with Shiitake Mushrooms & Vegetables
I’ll be frank: I love buckwheat!!! I have always had a fond place in my heart for buckwheat. I honestly can’t remember where in my childhood buckwheat took its place, I think an aunt used it, or maybe my mom. I just remember it being there somewhere. When I started pursuing this healthier cooking thing, I was delighted to discover the nutritional benefits that buckwheat has to offer. Buckwheat is not actually wheat at all. It is a seed that comes from a sorrel-like flower. This makes it, in my view, a superfood, not to mention gluten free, plant based, and other great qualities many are looking for today. Unfortunately, buckwheat flour doesn’t behave quite the same as wheat flour, so its uses tend to be more limited, but you can find some good products that use pure buckwheat in simple and nutritious ways. You can also use it in recipes here and there, in baking, and always be confident that you are adding amino acids, fiber, and other essential nutrition to the dish. Here is a fantastic and quick way to enjoy ramen without the toxic craziness of the ubiquitous instant ramen. And, it is great on a detox! This recipe can be ready to eat in 20-30 minutes from start to finish. Read More
Roasted Zucchini with “Creamy” Mushroom Stuffing
I think at least a few of my friends are scratching their heads at my new obsession with vegan cooking. Here is the truth; it isn’t exactly the vegan I am obsessed about, but more just having an in-depth go at figuring out how much essential nutrition I can get from a vegan meal; the kind of nutrition that one would normally think can only be obtained from an animal. And then there is another fascination that comes with vegan cooking- to see where you can find the essential “comfort” ingredients. That brings me to my current dating spree with nuts, especially the rich, oily ones. I am about a recipe away from being convinced that nuts take the healthy lead in providing the comfort essentials we all love and our tastebuds count on. Move over butter, cheese, and cream, because I just made an entree that takes the “comfort” of creamy mushroom ravioli filling, and turns it on its gluten free, dairy free, vegan ear. Read More