Tag Archives: international flavors

Dairy free recipes, From the Kitchen

Vegetarian Paella

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There is something about paella that makes it such a fun summertime meal.  Could it be because it is the favored dish of always-sunny Spain?

For years I yearned to try paella, but I could never find a vegetarian version. Then a couple years ago we went on holiday to Santa Barbara, California where we had dinner at a Spanish/Mexican restaurant called Cava. Cava Restaurant in Montecito. Santa Barbara, California

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One of the items on the menu was paella with a note next to it that read, “This can also be made vegetarian.”  I couldn’t believe it! I was finally going to taste paella! I ordered Cava’s vegetarian paella and I absolutely loved it!  I wanted to try and make it at home after we got back. But first I had to understand the key ingredients that make up paella before I could make an authentic vegetarian version. Continue reading Vegetarian Paella →

Dairy free recipes, From the Kitchen, Salads

Iya’s Vitamin Salad with Miso Dressing

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My friend Iya brought this delicious and refreshing coleslaw style of salad to our garden party a while back that was enjoyed by all. It was crunchy, sweet and salty, with an Asian inspired dressing. Part of the beauty of this salad is the gorgeous, thinly cut, colourful vegetables. When cut in this way, the veggie flavors come out perfectly in this delicious salad.  I asked Iya for the recipe and also invited her to come over and show me how to make her salad. Here is the recipe.

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From the Kitchen, Quick & Easy Recipes, Salads

Super Easy Super Delicious Super Quick Vegetarian Tacos & Taco Salad

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On warm summer days tacos piled high with fresh vegetables and packed with well-seasoned kidney beans is a positively satisfying meal for lunch or dinner. This is the easiest recipe to pull together with the most stupendously delicious results.  These tacos are packed with good for you legumes such as kidney beans, chock full of leafy greens, fresh tomatoes, delicious salsa, sour cream, and a dash of shredded cheese.

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These vegetarian tacos are so good that you will have not just one or two, but three or four. However if you are like me, you will find that this dish tastes even better without the taco shell, as a taco salad.  Try it. Here is the recipe. Continue reading Super Easy Super Delicious Super Quick Vegetarian Tacos & Taco Salad →

From the Kitchen, Quick & Easy Recipes

Dave’s Amuse Bouche. Goat Cheese Wrapped in Seaweed.

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Amuse bouche is a complimentary, bite-sized portion of savory food served before a meal or in between courses at a restaurant.

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When I invited our friends Dave and Rose to come over for dinner one evening to show us how to make pasta and tiramisu that they had learnt on their Italian holiday in Tuscany; Dave brought an interesting amuse bouche – goat cheese wrapped in seaweed.

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This was a very unique amuse bouche because I would never think to combine an Asian flavor like seaweed with a western flavor like goat cheese. Dave’s amuse bouche was a delectable little bite that packed a ton of flavor. Here is the recipe.

img_0576 Continue reading Dave’s Amuse Bouche. Goat Cheese Wrapped in Seaweed. →

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

Indian Spiced Noodles

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For a different take on the orient inspired ramen noodles try this Indian spiced noodles packed with vegetables and Indian spices. This recipe takes your regular fresh ramen or yaki-soba noodles that are available in the refrigerator section of the grocery store and spices it up with Indian seasonings.

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From the Kitchen, Quick & Easy Recipes

Spring Risotto with Leeks, Peppers & Arugula

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You will find this recipe is not your traditional way of making risotto. I’ve tried the authentic Italian way of making risotto, and let me tell you, it’s a time consuming recipe.  Every time I have followed a risotto recipe I have had to stand over the stove and stir the risotto rice with broth in batches until the rice is cooked. This takes at least 30 – 45 minutes. 45 minutes of standing and stirring, sometimes even longer. I started to dread making risotto when the kids wanted it.

Then one day I decided to try an alternative way of making risotto. I wondered how is it that in restaurants risotto is at our table within minutes. It occurred to me that they must cook the Arborio rice in advance, and just add the veggies or seafood when we order.  I thought let me give that a try.

The next time I made risotto, I cooked the Arborio rice in broth in a pressure cooker – no stirring involved. Then when I was ready to make my risotto, in a separate pot I sautéed vegetables and just added them to the already cooked Arborio rice and mixed it all together.  The risotto turned out awesome. Because the rice is already cooked, the whole process of making risotto goes by much faster. Try my recipe for a quicker vegetable risotto and see if you like it as much as I do.

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From the Kitchen

Spring Herbs & Goat Cheese Fettuccini with Braised Sugar Snap Peas & Leeks

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I asked Anjali to pick a bunch of herbs for a vegetable pot pie I was making and this is the basket she proudly presented to me.  These fresh picked herbs and lemons looked so beautiful that in addition to using them in the potpie I wanted to make another dish that would bring out the freshly picked herb flavors.

IMG_5960.jpg Continue reading Spring Herbs & Goat Cheese Fettuccini with Braised Sugar Snap Peas & Leeks →

Dairy free recipes, From the Kitchen, Sunday Soups

Black Bean Soup

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I had this black bean soup for the first time at my friend Rose’s place a while back. I was expecting something thick and heavy when I heard she was making Black Bean Soup, but this soup is surprisingly light and thin. With some chopped cilantro and a dollop of sour cream, this variation of black bean soup was outstanding. Continue reading Black Bean Soup →

From the Kitchen, Quick & Easy Recipes

Spinach & Super Greens Cheese Enchiladas

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Folks, this is the easiest recipe to make with the most stupendous results.  These awesome enchiladas are nutritious, delicious, and look delectable too. With over 8-10 cups of chopped spinach and other healthy greens like baby kale, turnip greens and chard, these enchiladas might as well be called super greens healthy enchiladas. Continue reading Spinach & Super Greens Cheese Enchiladas →

From the Kitchen

Caramelized Shallots, Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli

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Caramelized Shallots, Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli
makes enough stuffing for 40 small ravioli pillows

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups fresh spinach finely chopped
  • 1 cup finely cut shallots – from about 4 shallots
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • Fresh pasta dough. Here is the link to a pasta dough recipe I posted. Fresh homemade pasta

Continue reading Caramelized Shallots, Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli →