January is a weird month for me. It starts off well – I’m inspired, positivity is seeping from my pores, I’m attacking new projects, I’m getting shit done. Then I stumble, I wipe myself off and am back at it, but there’s something amiss. My confidence is shaken and before I know it, I can’t quite remember what I was fighting for. What was making me tick for those couple of weeks? Where did that drive come from? Can I get it back? Please?

Maybe the days of endless grey skies and rain might have something to do with it. Or maybe it’s just that my body is saying relax, chill, take it easy. Have a beer, go out with friends, watch 3 episodes of Luther all in a row. And make a good dinner. A cozy dinner that feels like a warm blanket of niceness. A dinnertime hug. This smoked tofu and vegetable pot pie is just what your body needs.

I know, the ingredient list looks long and probably seems complicated. Think of it as a stir fry (easy, right?) with a biscuit top. No pie dough skills required. The vegetables are what I had on hand at the time, though you could certainly change things up to suit your own vegetable drawer. I used frozen organic butternut squash, peas and corn to make things super simple. I had fresh green beans on hand, but the frozen kind would be equally good. Don’t stress! The vegetables and tofu bathe in a lovely cream sauce which is simply that a sprinkle of flour and some vegetable stock and almond milk. Done and done!

Years ago – let’s be real, here – decades ago, when I read the Moosewood cookbook cover to cover, I would spy the words “smoked tofu” in a recipe and wanted to know more. But somehow, back then, I couldn’t easily find it in my local markets. But now, smoked tofu is quite commonplace and I’m surprised that this is my first time using it. And, yes, it’s as good as I imagined. If you don’t have smoked tofu on hand, try adding some smoked paprika or chipotle powder instead. I’m not the sort of person to have a bottle of liquid smoke on hand, but I’m sure that would work too. The smokiness here is fantastic and really helps to elevate this dish into super-fantastico territory. So pick some up at your local market.

elsewhere: Need a wholesome treat? What about a golden apple cake that makes January a happier little place. Go get the simple recipe over at Poppytalk.

smoked tofu & vegetable pot pie
When I made this, I had some extra biscuit dough leftover which is always a nice surprise. You could bake it up alongside the pot pie, or save it for the next day’s breakfast.

1 T olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 t sea salt
1/4 t crushed red chilies
1 pkg smoked firm tofu, diced into 1″ cubes
1 stalk celery, diced
1 carrot, sliced/diced
1 c mushrooms, sliced
1/2 t dried oregano
1/2 c fresh green beans, cut into 1″ pieces
1 c cooked butternut squash, diced (frozen is fine)
1 T sodium-reduced soy sauce
1 t sriracha (optional)
2 T flour
3/4 c vegetable stock
1/2 c almond milk (any dairy or non-dairy is fine)
1/4 c frozen peas
1/4 c frozen corn

biscuit topping:
1 c all-purpose flour
3/4 c whole wheat flour
4 t baking powder
1 t sugar
1 t dried parsley
1/2 t salt
1/2 t garlic powder
1/4 c butter, cubed (earth balance or other vegan butter)
1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese or daiya (vegan cheese)
1 c almond milk (any dairy or non-dairy is fine)

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat and add in onions, garlic, salt and chilies. Let everything sweat for a bit and then add in the cubed tofu, celery, carrots, green beans, oregano and mushrooms. Sprinkle with the dried oregano.

Let saute for 10 minutes and then add in the butternut squash, soy sauce, sriracha (if using) and sprinkle with flour. Stir until flour coats everything. Pour in the stock and milk and let things thicken, stirring occasionally. Stir in the peas and corn and then pour mixture into a deep oven-proof dish. Set aside.

Meanwhile, prepare your biscuit dough. In a large bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, salt, sugar, parsley, salt and garlic powder. Add in the butter work it in with your fingers until it’s blended in with the flour and looks like oats. Stir in the cheese until well mixed and then pour in the milk, stirring lightly with a wooden spoon.

Turn out onto a floured surface and roll out until your dough is about 1 inch thick. Trim dough to the size of your dish and gently place on top of your tofu & veg filled oven-proof dish. Alternately, just drop spoonfuls of dough onto the top of the mixture and pop it in the oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until biscuit topping is golden brown and the mixture is bubbling.

Possibly related posts:

• c’mon spring, let’s get on with it! chicken pot pie with cheddar-biscuit topping
• the secret of great tofu: green beans & tofu in a thai coconut sauce

A lot of people I know are reigning in their spending for the new year to help them with savings, getting rid of debt, etc. While I can count myself lucky in that we have no debt and we’ve been rigorously saving for years, I have noticed that we’ve eaten in almost all our meals so far this month. And strangely, it hasn’t felt like we’ve missed anything. Hardly! We’ve been eating very well and quite healthily, I might add.

Take this meal as an example. It seems rather plain – just remnants from the fridge: yams and mushrooms (and a tiny bit of leftover cauliflower – which I left out of the recipe because I felt it didn’t really add anything special to the dish). But this dish was more than just some random veg – I thought it quite flavourful and delicious, especially when served over millet. Somehow, the yams and the mushrooms work together as a great pair, with some chunky red onions along for the ride.

The yams have a definite sweetness and it goes so nicely with the tang from the white wine vinegar. I added in some maple syrup to round out the sweetness to the onions and mushrooms and it was a good move. The Mexican chili powder and smokey chipotle played nicely here adding a little earthy heat. While you could serve this alone as part of a meal, I loved this over millet. You could easily pair this with brown rice – but if rice is your go-to grain, branch out and try something new, like millet, quinoa or farro instead.

mexican-spiced roasted mushrooms & yams
3 yams, peeled & diced
1/2 onion, large dice
2 T olive oil
2 T white wine vinegar
1 T maple syrup
1 t chili powder
1/4 t chipotle powder
1/2 t fine-grained sea salt
a good grind of black pepper
2 c sliced mushrooms (I used baby bellas)

Preheat oven to 350F. In a large bowl, toss the yam and onion together along with the oil, vinegar, maple syrup, chili powder, chipotle powder, and salt. Toss until well coated. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment, foil or silpat and then use a slotted spoon to remove the yams and onions to the prepped baking sheet. Reserve extra liquid in bowl and set aside. Arrange yams & onions in one layer. Bake for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, add the mushrooms into the bowl with the leftover dressing and toss well. Give a good grind of black pepper over top. When the yams and onions come out from the oven, flip and arrange space on the baking sheet for the mushrooms. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until mushrooms are golden brown & well-roasted. Remove from oven and serve immediately over your favorite rice or grain (I like millet).

Possibly related posts:

• yam & bean orange-scented chili
• craving comfort: spaghetti & mushrooms

Usually the transition into a new year brings a bit of stress. Maybe I set my goals and expectations too high or maybe I just feed off the stress of others. But not this year. I made a couple simple goals and one of them – to be a better hugger – already got in some practice-time through December. And yeah, about that hugging goal, I’m totally serious. Truth is, I’m a wimpy hugger and I really noticed how lacking I was in the hugging department when I visited my friend in Montreal. After we had met up, he sent me off with a big ol’ bear hug and it made me feel pretty great. It’s amazing how a hug can really make someone else feel good. So I told myself that I’m going to quit giving out namby-pamby tentative hugs to my friends and instead deliver good, hearty and heart-felt hugs. We’ll see how it goes.

A hug makes you feel warm and loved and happy and I think this meal does the same. This dal uses red lentils which cook up in a hurry into a soft and tender bite. There’s curry involved along with a bit of sriracha because I like heat. But there’s also some diced apples to nudge in some mellow sweetness. I added in fennel because I had some lying about my vegetable crisper, but you could sub in something as common as celery, broccoli or cauliflower. I even think some greens like spinach, kale or chard would be good here too. There’s no fuss involved and it’s an easy enough meal to make on a busy weeknight. See, it’s like a nice hug for your insides and it’s a good a place to start as any.

elsewhere: Yup, I love year-end recaps and over at Poppytalk, I list my top 12 favorite recipes that have appeared over on Poppytalk through 2011! Take a peek and check out my favorite recipes.

tomato-apple dal
2 T coconut oil
1 onion, finely diced
1/2 c fennel bulb, finely diced
2 apples, finely diced
2 T fresh ginger, minced
pinch of salt
2 T curry paste
2 c red lentils
2 c diced tomatoes
3 c water
Sriracha or your favorite hot sauce, to taste
1/4 c yogurt (optional)

In a large heavy pot, melt coconut oil over medium-high heat and add in onions, fennel, apples and ginger along with a pinch of salt. Stir occasionally until everything starts to get a little soft. Add in the curry paste and lentils and stir around until the lentils start to glisten. Turn down heat and add in the tomato puree and water, stirring so everything is combined. Put the lid on the saucepan and let simmer over low heat for 20 minutes until everything is soft. If it’s too dry for your liking, add in a bit of water. Stir in yogurt (if using) and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve over rice.

Possibly related posts:

• curried apple & lentil dal
• warm up with winter squash, red lentil & tofu curry

Last winter while exploring the quaint little city of Victoria, BC, I stumbled into a hidden away Mexican restaurant called Hernande’z and discovered my new favorite dish – huaraches. Then a few months later, I found myself in Fort Greene, Brooklyn munching on one at the Brooklyn Flea and a week later I was in Williamsburg gorging myself on another at Smorgasburg. I was seriously hooked!

Huaraches are flattened patties of corn masa and get their name from the popular Mexican sandal. They are topped with beans, cheese, vegetables, sour cream, and salsa and they are beyond delicious. I tend to associate Mexican food with long summer evenings, but there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy the taste of the tropics in the middle of winter, right? Right!

It looks like a big production, but turning masa flour into dough is quite simple – just add a little vegetable broth and salt and then shape into balls. The dough does tend to dry out quickly so it’s a good idea to cover everything with plastic wrap when you’re not working with it. My patties were a bit dry and cracked a bit around the edges, and while I’m sure a Mexican grandmother might give me dirty looks, taste-wise, I was happy with the results.

It’s best to figure out your topping situation before starting the dough. So if you’re making your own refried beans or even just opening up a can, make sure they’re warm and simmering over low heat. Get your brisket sticky and shredded or crumble up some chorizo or shred some chicken if you’re into adding meat. I hope you’ve got some homemade salsa ready – this recipe works incredibly well with canned tomatoes (really!!!). Grate your cheese, shred your lettuce, mix up your guacamole or chop up your avocado. I also love to quick pickle some sliced red onion in lime juice for a bit of zing! The toppings are the best part so use what you like and don’t skimp! And it’s so easy to make your huaraches 100% vegan – just choose your toppings wisely!

Then mix up the dough, flatten it out with your hands, and start pan-frying. Or you can cover the the patties tightly in plastic wrap and let them sit in the fridge for a bit. The only real tricky part to these is flipping the huaraches so they don’t crack. And if they do crack, well, that’s where the loads of toppings become handy as a disguise! Gather some friends because this is a meal that is fun to eat! Once you hand over the hot patties to the awaiting crowd, everyone can add all the toppings they like. Hello awesome party time!!

huaraches
2 c masa flour
1 t sea salt
1 3/4 c slightly warm vegetable broth
oil

toppings:
refried beans
shredded pork or beef or chicken (if desired)
shredded lettuce
fresh salsa
guacamole or avocados
sour cream
grated cheese (cheddar cheese or feta or cojita)
hot sauce
quick-pickled red onions

In a large bowl, combine the masa with the salt and pour in the vegetable broth. Stir until combined and then knead the dough until it becomes a smooth ball. Pinch off the dough and flatten – does it crack? If so, add in a bit of water until there are no cracks.

Divide the dough into orange-sized balls and flatten into an oval shape about 1/4″ thick. Cover patties with plastic wrap separated with squares of parchment paper immediately if placing in the fridge.

Heat a small amount of oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat and place one or two huaraches (or how many comfortably fit in a pan). Cook until masa is golden brown, about 3 minutes and then carefully flip and cook for another 3 minutes.

Spread hot huaraches with the warmed refried beans and whatever topping you so desire. Eat and repeat! Makes about 4-6 huaraches.

Possibly related posts:

• mexican nacho pizza
• the small joys: bean & veggie burrito

This is the time of year that I find myself totally craving comfort. Wooly tights. Flannel sheets. Knit caps. Fuzzy sweaters. Heavy quilts. I think it’s because I get a little run down with work and all the craft fairs that pop up around this season. And craft fairs are hard work. I never realized how sore my smile muscles could get until I entered the craft fair circuit. It’s kind of a big change from working from home, let me tell you. Which reminds me, thank you to everyone who came around to my table at Got Craft this past Sunday! Thank you for saying hi and making me blush! And if you’re in Vancouver and want to pick up a few more paper doo-dads, I’ll be at Toque as a fundraiser for the Western Front this Friday and Saturday (details here).

And speaking of comfort, there’s something about this dish that seems like old-fashioned comfort food. Maybe because this dish is various shades of brown. Or maybe it’s the pasta which is always welcome this time of year, but I think the meaty mushrooms lend some earthy appeal. Don’t skimp! I used baby ‘bellas here, but I think a good mix of wild mushrooms would really kind of make my mouth go wild in a good way. There’s lots of garlic and the caramelized onions add some nice sweetness. I wasn’t sure what kind of herb to throw in and when I spied a bottle of herbs du provence (a mixture containing fennel, savoury, thyme, basil, lavender, etc.) it just seemed like the right thing to do and it worked really well. Of course, I thought lemon juice would go nicely here and next time I might add in some of the zest as well for extra zing.

When you’re run ragged with work and all the busy stuff that seems to crop up at this time of year, you need a little bit of comfort and ease around the dinner table. Even when that table is just the warm spot on the couch as you catch up on your latest tv craving. But just as this dinner is easy to whip up in about 30 minutes, it’s also perfect to serve at a casual gathering of your bestest friends. Just a bottle or two of your favorite wine and maybe some fresh parsley or basil to sprinkle overtop and you’re good.

elsewhere: The other morning was chilly and I wanted something warming so I made a batch of delicious oat and nutmeg scones. They were perfect little bites of quiet happiness. Get the recipe over at Poppytalk. You won’t regret it.

spaghetti & mushrooms
250 g spaghetti
1 T olive oil
1/2 onion, sliced thinly into strips
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/2 lb baby portabella mushrooms, sliced
1/2 t sea salt
1 t aleppo pepper
1 t herbs de provence
1/2 c chicken or vegetable stock
1 lemon, juiced
Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)

In a large pot, bring water to a boil and add in spaghetti. Add in a little salt if you remember. Let it simmer over medium heat until almost al dente……

Meanwhile, in a large skillet heat olive oil over medium-high heat and add onion slices. Saute until soft and fragrant, about 5-10 minutes. Toss in mushrooms, garlic, salt, aleppo pepper and herbs de provence. Stir everything around until the mushrooms release some of their moisture. Pour in stock and let simmer and reduce slightly.

How’s that spaghetti doing? Almost al dente? Then strain out most of the cooking liquid, but reserve about 2-4 tablespoons of cooking water with the spaghetti and toss the whole shebang into the skillet. Toss with the mushroom mixture, squeeze in the lemon juice, toss again, and serve in deep bowls with Parmesan cheese if desired.

Possibly related posts:

• 500 grams of spaghetti = two delicious summer pastas
• boot-strapped: mexican-spiced roasted mushrooms & yams

I’ve been trying to open myself up to new experiences and that tends to mean doing things that are pretty frickin’ scary. Though, I did just see 127 Hours recently, I think that experience is one I can live without, thank you very much. But I did speak in front of a crowd of 1,200 people last week and talked about my inspiration regarding food and food blogging at PechaKucha. And it turns out, speaking in front of a crowd of strangers – who thankfully laughed at all the right places – wasn’t as scary as I thought! It was actually all kinds of amazing and I’m so thankful for the opportunity do to so. Conquering a crazy fear? Check! If you are interested in seeing my presentation slides, you can view them here via slideshare. Slide 5 is static over there, but at PechaKucha it was a speeded up silent video. You can see the actual one minute and 40 second movie (with sound!) over on YouTube. It’s called A Dream of Donuts and I made it with a friend in 2000 and we edited with 2 VHS machines ‘cuz that’s how we rolled back then. It’s short and sweet and a little bit fun too. Here are the links to the recipe for my mom’s vanilla chocolate chip bundt cake and the recipe for chocolate on toast that I mentioned at PechaKucha if you feel like doing a little baking.

Oh hey, let’s talk about canning pickled beets! Okay? Okay!

Pickling is fine. No big thing, right? I mean I’ve quick pickled all kinds of vegetables and even made some apricot jam over the summer. But I have never tried canning and processing because it seemed like such a frightening process. And like all things that seem scary at first, it turned out not to be that scary after all. All you need is a bit of preparation – and equipment. I’m lucky because I scored a canning bath pot and jar rack at a garage sale and I found some canning tongs at a thrift store. I also used a wire cookie rack at the bottom of the pot to make sure that the jars didn’t touch the bottom because if glass jars touch the bottom of the pot, they’ll crack and explode. Hence the cookie rack. If you’re feeling more DIY, just create a rack of your own out of tin foil. Improvisation is key! You will also need 6 pint jars. Thrifted jars are fine but they must be clean and free of nicks and chips, but they don’t have to be brand new. However, your snap lids and rings should be, so don’t skimp there!

Once you’ve got all the equipment handy, all you need to do is make sure you’ve got your ingredients ready and read over the directions at least twice. Seriously, this will help you feel calm and prepared. If you’ve never canned anything before, peruse some online guidelines to get familiar with the task at hand. It will sound more scary than it actually is. Trust me.

You know you’ll have escaped the threat of botulism once you hear a very satisfying pop-pop-popping from each jar as they cool. It’s the best sound you’ve ever heard and it goes so well with that sigh of relief. To be sure that your jars have processed correctly, you can tap the lids with a spoon to hear a high pitched ring. The lids will also be slightly concave, so the visual clues with the audio clues will have you totally relived. Phew!

Now, regarding this beet recipe….while it was very tasty, the recipe itself was a bit totally off. One, it calls for a crap-load of beets – 4.5 lbs to be exact. And there’s no way that that amount of beets could have fit into my 6 pint jars (or the 5 pint jars + 2 half-pint jars I used). I had a ton of beets and onions leftover, not a problem since I love beet salad, but a complication nonetheless. In the recipe below you’ll find that I reduced the amount of beets and onions, but I just guessed at the amount figuring 3 lbs and 1 onion should do just fine (if this is not the case, please let me know). I loved the taste of the cinnamon and ginger and rosemary together but I also tend to enjoy a sweeter pickled beet. So bump up the brown sugar from 1/3 cups to 2/3 cups if you want your pickles a wee bit sweeter. Your call.

These pickled beets make fine gifts. I’ve given away a few of the jars already and have received rave reviews. While the beets make a fine side dish, I think they are pretty perfect on their own. Adding a drizzle of local honey and a handful of salty crumbled feta certainly does things up right.

elsewhere: Don’t be a hater! Find the love for some spicy and salty roasted brussels sprouts over at Poppytalk. You won’t be disappointed.

phat beets
(adapted from Martha Stewart)
3 pounds large red beets, greens removed and washed
4-5″ piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced into thin rounds (12 slices of ginger)
6 sprigs fresh rosemary (3 inches each)
1 large red onion, peeled, cut in half lengthwise, then cut into thin slices
1 T whole allspice
1 cinnamon stick (3 inches long)
1 t whole cloves
4 c cider vinegar
1/4 c freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/3 – 2/3 c brown sugar

1. In a large pot, bring beets to the boil and let simmer for about 30-45 minutes until they can easily be pierced with a fork. Drain and cool beets. This step can be done the day before. Remove skins and cut beets in half lengthwise and then cut crosswise into 1/4 inch slices. In a large bowl, mix together the onions with the beets. Set aside.

2. Place 6 clean 1-pint jars right side up on a rack in a boiling-water canner. Fill the canner and jars with hot water, about 1-inch above the tops of jars. Boil jars over high heat for 10 minutes. Remove and drain hot sterilized jars one at a time. Keep the water simmering away in the canner for later. Place jars on a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet.

3. Meanwhile, in another pot filled with water, bring water to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Add cleaned lids and lid rings and let simmer lids for 10 minutes – do not boil, as this may cause problems in sealing jars. Drain lids and set aside.

4. Fill each sterilized jar with 2 pieces of ginger and 1 sprig rosemary. Pack each jar with onion and beet mixture up to within 1/2 inch below the rim of the jar.

5. In a tea strainer or make a baggie out of a piece of cheesecloth, place allspice, cinnamon stick, and cloves inside a medium sized saucepan. Pour over cider vinegar, 2 cups water, lemon juice, and brown sugar and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and cover – let mixture simmer about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, check to make sure that the water in the canner is brought up to a boil.

6. Immediately pour hot spiced vinegar mixture over the beet mixture in each jar. Press down with a small rubber spatula to release any air bubbles. If you drip any liquid on the tops of the jars, wipe dry with a clean cloth. Put lids and rings on jars and tighten but do not over-tighten.

7. Within 10 minutes of filling the jars, place them back into the canner one at a time, using a jar lifter that is securely positioned below the neck of the jar. Keep jars upright at all times. Add more boiling water from a kettle if needed so that the water covers the jars by one inch. Boil the jars for 7 minutes. Turn off heat and gently transfer jars to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet, taking care not to tilt jars and spacing each jar at least 1 inch apart. Avoid placing jars on a cold surface or near a cold draft.

8. Let jars sit undisturbed until fully cooled, 12 to 24 hours. You will begin to hear a popping noise. This is a very good thing, meaning that your jars have sealed. Hooray! No botulism for you! Do not tighten ring bands on the lids or push down on the center of the flat metal lid until jar has cooled completely.

9. Once jars have cooled completely, test to make sure each jar is completely sealed. Press down on the middle of the lid with a finger. If lid springs up when finger is released, the jar is unsealed. Store sealed jars in a cool place for at least 2 and up to 4 weeks to allow flavors to thoroughly combine. If any of the jars are unsealed, store in the refrigerator and used within several days.

Possibly related posts:

• splash of colour: farro & arugula salad with beets
• i love the beets & the beets love me: sauteed beet greens with lime and garlic

I know, I know, I just wrote about gremolata and here it is again, sneaking it’s way into this soup post. It’s not that I want to be known as the gremolata girl, but honestly, I couldn’t help myself. While this spicy & sweet winter squash soup is delicious on its own, I wanted to add something else to it and felt that heavy croutons wouldn’t cut it. I yearned for something fresh and light and vibrant and figured that a mix of herbs, hot peppers, orange zest and apples would be a great accompaniment. This isn’t a frou-frou garnish, instead, it adds a layer of complexity that really works well.

This soup is very sophisticated and complex in flavour yet it’s a cinch to prepare. I think was inspired by some seriously amazing and luxurious meals I had this past weekend. You see, I was chosen to spend 4 jam-packed days in Vieux Montreal (that’s the Old Quarter of Montreal for you anglos) with 5 other Canadian bloggers courtesy of the very passionate Montreal coffee company, Van Houtte. I’m a simple girl used to soaking my own chickpeas and eating out usually involves a cheeseburger, so dining at fantastic restaurants and eating multi-course meals, let alone participating in wine-tastings and coffee cuppings, is way out of the ordinary for me. I loved it and wanted to capture a bit of that worldliness in one of my first meals back at home and I think I did good.

For this dish, I roasted several small varieties of winter squash the night before – and just so you know, most ornamental squash can be eaten! Those tiny cute pumpkins I got from our CSA before Halloween were quickly roasted and turned into soup. After cutting them in half and scraping out the seeds and stringy bits, I put them into a roasting pan filled with nearly an inch of water. Once they were soft, I just scraped all the innards and was left with just over 2 cups of squash. I think you could easily use canned pumpkin or roast your own acorn/butternut/kabocha squash here and get great results.

All curry powders & pastes have different spice levels. If you’re not sure how spicy yours is, start by adding a small amount at a time until you get the spice that suits your taste buds.

elsewhere: Looking for a warm & flavourful biscuit to eat with your soup or stew? Head over to Poppytalk & bake up a batch of easy zucchini & cheddar biscuits.

spicy winter squash soup with apples & orange scented gremolata
1 T butter (or Smart Balance or olive oil, if you want something non-dairy)
1 small onion, diced
2″ knob of ginger, diced
1 large carrot, diced
1 birds eye chili, seeds removed & diced
1/2 t salt
1 t freshly ground pepper
1 heaping T curry paste (I used Patak’s Jalfrezi paste – curry powder works too!)
2 1/2 c cooked winter squash
2 apples, skinned & diced (I used russets)
6 c vegetable or chicken stock or water
a few shakes of your favorite hot sauce (optional)

In a large heavy pot, heat butter over medium-high heat and add in the onion and ginger, letting it sweat and get wilty – about 4 minutes. Add in the carrot, fresh chili, salt and ground pepper and stir around to get fragrant. Stir in the curry paste, along with the cooked squash and apples. Pour in the water or stock and give everything a good stir. Put on the lid and let simmer over low heat for 20-30 minutes, checking at the half way point to add in additional liquid if needed, and stirring occasionally.

Use an immersion blender to puree the soup and taste it to see if it needs more seasoning – I always add in some hot sauce here (vinegar based or sriracha, your call). Pour soup into bowls and top with gremolata. Makes 4-6 servings.

orange scented gremolata
1 birds eye chili, seeds removed & finely diced
1 T fresh parsley, finely chopped
2 t fresh sage, finely chopped
zest of a small orange, diced
1 t green pepper, finely diced
1 T of finely diced apple (I used a russet)

Prep the gremolata just before you are going to serve the soup. Combine all ingredients and drop a small spoonful on top of the soup. Trust me, this is more than a pretty garnish. Be amazed.

Possibly related posts:

• warm up with winter squash, red lentil & tofu curry
• smooth like orange velvet: winter vegetable soup

Last night I had cooked up a pot of chickpeas, drained them and put them in the fridge. I had no immediate plans but figured I’d use them in a soup or stew sometime in the next few days. But then lunchtime rolled around and I was getting a hankering for some good eats. Ages ago, I had bookmarked a chickpea sandwich recipe on Smitten Kitchen and when I gave it a look over, any questions about what to eat were solved. A smashed chickpea salad sandwich coming up!

The recipe is really a cinch to prepare and it’s got a serious case of tangy with all that lemon and caper business going on. But it’s also got some creamy mayo in there too to help smooth things out a little. The original recipe calls for olive oil instead of mayo but I was all out because I only get my olive oil from Tosi & Co, the oldest Italian market in Chinatown and the shop been closed for about a week now. It makes me nervous to think about it and I’m crossing my fingers that it opens again soon! But I loved how much that dollop of mayo did for this salad. I added in capers instead of black olives, though I think that would be a great choice too. But the biggest bonus for me is the juice of a whole lemon. I used a rather juicy lemon and I loved the super lemony sucker punch it gave, but feel free to tone it down to just a half lemon if you’ve got timid taste buds.

I made sandwiches for me and Cornelius on rye toast and I couldn’t get enough, so I made another. This is a bit of a drippy sandwich, so I even licked my plate. I have no manners, but I sure can appreciate a good sandwich. Yeah, this is the good stuff. So good, next time, I’ll forget about the bread and just eat it as is, salad-style. Alone. And happy.

elsewhere: This week I go ball-istic over at Poppytalk and make a recipe for veggie balls. They’re great! Also, you have to make this creamy asian veggie slaw that converts slaw haters. It’s delicious and I make it often. Enjoy!

tangy lemon smashed chickpea salad
(adapted from Smitten Kitchen)
1 c chickpeas
1/4 c finely diced red onion
1/2 green pepper, finely diced
1 lemon, juiced (though you might just want to use half a lemon if you aren’t so into the tangy like I am)
2 T chopped fresh parsley
1 T good mayo (vegan mayo if that’s your thing)
1 t capers, finely chopped
1/4 t flakey sea salt
a few shakes of your favorite hot sauce

In a medium bowl, dump in your chickpeas and use a potato masher to smash your chickpeas. This shouldn’t be hummus texture here – just smashed with some whole chickpeas and a lot of roughly chopped ones. Stir in the red onion, pepper, parsley, capers, lemon juice and the remaining ingredients. Taste & adjust seasoning if needed. Serve on toasted bread or crusty rolls or just eat as is, salad-style. Makes 4 servings.

Possibly related posts:

• eat hungrily: chickpea & romaine salad with lemon-parmesan vinaigrette
• lemon, parmesan & chickpea cabbage salad

Something about fall pulls me into soup. Home feels more homey with a stock pot of something nutritious and wholesome simmering on the stove – it’s the comfort factor and the ease in how a meal can come together. This past week was a busy one. When you run a business or two, a simple pot of soup available for a quick meal is a bit of a lifesaver. This soup is hearty and flavourful one despite its humble ingredients.

Earlier this week, I figured I’d make soup with some random greens from our CSA that I desperately needed to use up before the new share arrived. Carrots, onion, garlic, no problem. The cupboard revealed a bit of barley which would be perfect, but when I went looking for lentils or chickpeas, I was all out. A small jar of green split peas would have to do. Luckily, everything worked out deliciously – though if you don’t have split peas, please feel free to substitute in some french green lentils (du puy) or toss in a drained can of chickpeas when you add in the greens.

barley, split pea & greens soup
If the barley & split peas you are using are old, they will take longer to cook. Mine were pretty old, so if you are using new grains/legumes, please adjust the cooking time.

1 T coconut oil
1 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 carrot, diced
1 T cumin seeds, crushed
1 t aleppo pepper
1 pinch of sea salt
1/2 c barley
1/2 c green spit peas
6 c good stock (chicken or vegetable or a mix of both)
1/2 bunch each of swiss chard & kale, cut into thin ribbons
1/2 bunch baby spinach
1 t dried dill or 2 T chopped fresh dill

In a large pot, heat oil and add in onion until soft and fragrant. Add in the garlic, carrots, crushed cumin seeds, salt and pepper and stir around so everything gets coated and slick with spice and oil. Pour in the barley and spit peas along with the stock. Cover and cook over medium-high heat until it boils. Turn down heat to a simmer and cook until the barley and split peas are tender, about 45 minutes. Is it more stew-like that soup-like? Add more water or broth if you like. Add in greens and dill and let simmer for another 10 minutes and serve.

Possibly related posts:

• split pea & millet salad with lemon vinaigrette
• pee poop: easy green pea soup

I’m a believer in a good breakfast. After all, you need something to look forward to when you heave yourself out from under your warm and cozy covers. A mug of hot, steaming coffee and a bowl full of granola with a small heap of flopping yogurt alongside is a morning wake up call that I can’t fight.

As a bit of a granola fiend, I already have several wonderful recipes already on this blog, so I really had to consider what made this olive oil granola different. Well, after my first bowl I was convinced of its greatness and it’s become my new go-to recipe. Sure this granola doesn’t clump up like some, but it has all the flavours and textures I crave in a breakfast bowl. Crispy oats, crunchy nuts & seeds, a mild sweetness and a warm spiciness from the cinnamon, ginger & nutmeg. And it doesn’t call for  a boat-load of oil or sugar.

But I think the clincher here is that it makes a large batch – enough to fill my gigantic thrifted screw-top glass jar. It sits out on my counter and waits patiently until morning. After I’ve poured my coffee, I take out my favorite bowl, fill it halfway with granola and top with my favorite yogurt (a tart greek yogurt or my indulgently rich coconut yogurt from Liberté). If I’m lucky enough to have some fresh soft fruit, it comes along for the ride, but it’s totally unnecessary.

elsewhere: I received another welcoming wake up call this morning when I realized that this blog was listed as one of Saveur magazine’s 55 Great Global Food Blogs! Thank you Saveur & welcome new visitors! And as usual, every Wednesday, find a new recipe from me over at Poppytalk. Yesterday I posted a super simple recipe made for picnics and brown bag lunches – zesty zucchini with orzo.

big batch olive oil granola
(adapted from Sweet Amandine & Jamie Oliver)
8 c whole oats (gluten free if you use gluten free oats)
2 c almonds, roughly chopped
1 c pepitas
1 c shredded unsweetened coconut
2 t cinnamon
1 t ground ginger
1/2 t nutmeg, freshly grated
1/3 c olive oil
1/3 c maple syrup
1/3 c brown sugar
1 t sea salt
1 c dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 325F. In your largest bowl, mix together your whole oats, chopped almonds, pepitas, coconut, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.

In a small saucepan, combine the oil, maple syrup, brown sugar, and sea salt and simmer over medium heat until everything is melted.

Pour over oat mixture and toss until well mixed. Dump the mixture into 2 large sheet pans and bake in the middle racks for 25 – 30 minutes. Keep a close watch and stir mixture occasionally to prevent any burning and to spread that golden glow around. Divide the dried cranberries onto both sheets, stirring them into the mixture and bake for an additional 10 minutes until golden. Remove from oven and let cool. Store in a tightly lidded container.

Possibly related posts:

• suggestive breakfast: no fail granola
• clumpy & crisp applesauce granola