Category Archives: From the Kitchen

From the Kitchen, Stories From Our Home, Sweet Treats

Apple Crisp

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I had my friends Devi and Rose over last week for a little celebration lunch for our friend Rose’s birthday. On a warm September Friday afternoon I thought I would keep our lunch on the lighter side and made veggie sandwiches, soup, and salad. Devi brought fresh cut fruit and fresh figs from her garden, and since my friend Rose is the queen of baking 😋👑🍪 she was assigned to bring dessert. For our humble lunch Rose brought not just one sweet treat but two! A delectable apple crisp and biscotti. Continue reading Apple Crisp →

Dairy free recipes, From the Kitchen, Quick & Easy Recipes

Rigatoni with Asparagus Leeks Zucchini and Kale

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This light and delicious pasta is packed with good for you veggies like asparagus, kale, zucchini and leeks and is the perfect healthy weeknight dinner.  With a touch of garlic and black pepper and topped with Parmesan cheese, this simple pasta tastes outstanding, and even takes care of the veggie quota for the evening.  Continue reading Rigatoni with Asparagus Leeks Zucchini and Kale →

From the Kitchen

Eggplant Parmesan & the Dinner Request That Nudged Me to Make It

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Eggplant Parmesan is such an indulgent Italian dish that I always order it at restaurants. Deep fried breaded eggplant patties baked with gooey cheese and marinara sauce, what’s not to like with this combination? It hits the fried food craving, cheese craving, and Italian food craving, all in one dish. Continue reading Eggplant Parmesan & the Dinner Request That Nudged Me to Make It →

From the Kitchen, Just Pictures, Quick & Easy Recipes

Horseradish Mashed Potatoes

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I must confess I had never made mashed potatoes until we went for dinner at our friends William and Stella’s home for a surprise birthday party last week. It was a surprise birthday dinner for our friend Stella that William her husband pulled together in just 48 hours! He texted and called a small group of Stella’s close friends and asked if we could come over for a weeknight dinner to surprise Stella on her birthday. Our response was “Of course, we will be there.” Continue reading Horseradish Mashed Potatoes →

Dairy free recipes, From the Kitchen, Quick & Easy Recipes, Salads

Panzanella. Fresh Tomato and Bread Salad

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Every August and September we are swimming in garden fresh tomatoes from the garden, from multiple tomato deliveries from my neighbor, and abundance of tomatoes at the Farmer’s Markets.  All this tomato bounty really forces me to get creative with tomato recipes especially ones that use fresh off the vine garden tomatoes. This Italian salad called panzanella is one of those recipes that is made with lots of fresh tomatoes and crusty bread. Add a bit of garlic, some onions, olive oil and balsamic vinegar and toss in some good sourdough bread and you have a delicious tomato salad with the added feel goodness of bread. The bread soaks up all the juices from the tomatoes and flavors the bread so beautifully that one can eat multiple bowls of this delicious salad. Continue reading Panzanella. Fresh Tomato and Bread Salad →

From the Kitchen, Stories From Our Home

Canning Tomatoes. A Novice’s Journey

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Every summer we get tons and tons of tomatoes and vegetabales from our neighbor, so many vegetables in fact that we can’t eat them fast enough. I’m talking hundreds and hundreds of tomatoes, eggplant, zucchinis, peppers, cucumbers, and chilies. I froze a bunch to use throughout the year but my freezer was getting pretty full. I gave a bunch of veggies to friends too but I still had loads of vegetables waiting to be used. Finally with the remainder of the hundreds of tomatoes, squashes, and eggplants I decided a couple of years ago to make giant pots of marinara sauce, and for the first time in my life I learnt how to can and jar my tomatoes. Continue reading Canning Tomatoes. A Novice’s Journey →

Flower Power, From the Kitchen, Just Pictures, Stories From Our Home, Travel Logs & Excursions

Vancouver EATS

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For all you foodies out there, this one is for you! I’ve heard from so many folks that Vancouver, Canada has an outstanding food scene. Restaurants, food trucks, and cafes with an international flair. So naturally when heading to Vancouver on holiday this summer I was looking forward to trying out some great food places in this Pacific Northwest Canadian city.  We got recommendations from many people familiar with Vancouver; from friends, from Hitesh’s office colleague who vacations in Vancouver often, from Hitesh’s friend John who lives in Vancouver, from our hotel concierge, and even our shuttle-bus driver; when you mix them all together what we ended up with was a smorgasbord of food places that were all awesome. Here is a look at where we ate and highly recommend for any of you planning on visiting Vancouver, Canada. Continue reading Vancouver EATS →

From the Kitchen, Stories From Our Home, Travel Logs & Excursions

Dinner at John and Lorraine’s in Vancouver, Canada.

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On day four of our Vancouver summer holiday we had dinner at Hitesh’s long time friend John’s home.  John is Hitesh’s elementary school friend from Kenya who now lives in Vancouver, Canada. The two grew up together in Mombasa, Kenya and were best friends until they graduated high school.  After high school Hitesh came to study at University of Texas at Austin and then started working in Santa Cruz, California, while John went to college in London and then moved to Canada for work. Both got married and had a family and through it all they have kept in touch. They have been friends for over 40 years! Pretty awesome! When John heard we were coming to Vancouver for a holiday he invited us for diner at his home, how could we resist? Continue reading Dinner at John and Lorraine’s in Vancouver, Canada. →

From the Kitchen, Salads

Broccolini Salad with Mint and Chive Greek Yogurt Dressing

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Broccolini Salad with Mint and Chive Greek Yogurt Dressing
serves 6-8

Ingredients:

  • 8 cups salad greens or baby spinach
  • 8 cups broccolini
  • 1/4 of a small onion cut into thin slices
  • 2-4 tbsp Pecorino Romano cheese
  • 2-4 cloves garlic
  • Ingredients for Dressing:
    • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
    • 4 tbsp milk
    • 2 tbsp finely chopped chives
    • 2 tbsp finely chopped mint leaves – about 8 mint leaves
    • 4 tbsp white balsamic vinegar or white wine vinegar
    • 6 tbsp olive oil
    • 1 clove garlic finely minced
    • Salt and pepper

Continue reading Broccolini Salad with Mint and Chive Greek Yogurt Dressing →