Autumn Veggies

This was a delicious autumn veggie dish.  It had all the colours of the rainbow, amazing flavours and beautiful colours.

Autumn Veggies

-1 large leek chopped
-1 sweet potato chopped
-4 beets (boiled, peeled and sliced)
-1 medium zucchini
-1 bunch of kale
-1 tablespoon sesame seeds
-1 tablespoon poppy seeds
-1/4 cup blanched almonds
-salt and pepper
-1/2 small pomegranate

Sauce

-1 tablespoon sweet and smoky mustard
-1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
-3 tablespoons olive oil
-juice of 1 lime
-3 tablespoons maple syrup
-salt and pepper


In a frying pan add a small amount of oil, add leeks, sweet potatoes and zucchini.  (I had boiled the beets for 20 minutes already, I boil them by just cutting the greens off and when boiled I cut the top and root off and the skin will slide off with your hands).  Allow to cook until sweet potato is soft, then add the beets sliced.  Allow to cook and the colour to blend with the rest of the veggies. Add the poppy seeds, sesame seeds and almonds.  Allow them to brown.  Then add the kale.  When the kale has cooked a bit, drench with the sauce and top with the pomegranate seeds.  So delicious.
 

Pear Fennel Avocado Salad with Chardonnay Candied Almonds

This past Sunday was warm an sunny in Toronto.  My friend and I planned a backyard BBQ at her place.  We grilled veggies, fish burgers and made an amazing salad.


Pear, Fennel, and avocado salad with Chardonnay Candied Almonds and Mustard dressing


-mixed greens
-1/3 fennel bulb chopped
-1/2 avocado chopped
-1 fresh pear sliced
-1/2 cup Chardonnay Candied almonds
-1 tablespoons peppercorn goat cheese


To make the almonds pan fry blanched almonds till browned. Add 1/2 cup Chardonnay, 1 tablespoon brown sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon.  Allow to cool before placing on salad.


Place all ingredients in bowl.


Mustard Salad Dressing (the longer it sits the more flavour, make the night before)


-2/3 cup olive oil
-1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar
-salt and pepper
-1 tablespoon maple mustard
-1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
-2 tablespoons maple syrup


Mix together.  Remember this salad gets sweetness from pears and almonds...so let it be tangy.  This dressing is thick and delicious and completes the salad.

Pear, almond salad with tangy Mustard dressing

Pear Almond Salad

mixed organic greens

peppercorn goat cheese

1 ripe pear peeled and sliced

1/2 red onion

1/2 cup almonds sliced

1/2 cup of Chardonnay

1 teaspoon brown sugar

a sprinkle of cinnamon

In a frying pan, dry roast 1/c cup of sliced blanched almonds.  When slightly browned at 1/2 cup Chardonnay, brown sugar and cinnamon.  Cook until all liquid is gone and almonds crispy.  In a salad bowl mix together lettuce, some peppercorn goat cheese, sliced ripe pear, red onion, and top with toasted almonds.

Tangy Mustard Salad Dressing

2/3 cup olive oil

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

a splash of white balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon honey

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon honey mustard

salt and pepper to taste

mix and serve

Red curried lentil vegetable curry

Vegetarian Dinner

Tonight my friend came over that is a vegetarian, she however eats fish.  I was a veggie for about 8 years, so it is fairly easy for me to make up a meal.  I wasn't expecting her, so this dinner was on the fly.  I decided to make the same tuna salad I made the other day, the almond brittle tuna salad with apples tonight instead of pears. It turned out amazing.  I then  also made a curried red lentil red curry with veggies served over brown rice noodles.  She was full.s able to get enough protein from this meal, almonds, goat cheese and tuna in the salad, and lentils in the curry.  As a former vegetarian it can be so difficult to get all the protein that is required in a lot of meals.  Remember when cooking for a vegetarian they need protein to keep 

 Amazing Tuna salad with almond brittle, peppercorn goat cheese and roasted apples.

(see my recipe from April 2nd)

 This is the red lentil red curried vegetables

Red Curried Red Lentils


-1 cup red lentils (rinsed)
-2 cups vegetable broth


Wash red lentils in water until water clear.  Add the vegetable broth and start to boil on medium high heat.  


-1 medium large onion chopped
-sweet potatoes chopped in coins
-2 cloves of garlic
-3 carrots chopped
-2 celery stocks
-1 can coconut milk
-red curry paste
-broth
-juice of  1 lime
-cilantro
(can of pineapples optional)
-lemon grass
-lime leaves 




-In a frying pan a splash of olive oil, add onions, carrots, sweet potatoes, cook until browned.  Add coconut milk, 1 cup veggies broth, red curry paste, juice of a lime, 1 tablespoon lemon grass chopped
lime leaves and can of pineapple and simmer.  Add the cooked lentils and allow to cook for a half an hour, serve over rice, rice noodles of quinoa.

Amazing Tuna Salad

I have just created one of my most delicious recipes.  So in all honesty, I am needing to stick to my budget right now.  So, when I looking through my fridge and cupboards I came across a can of white tuna, almonds, pears and I thought what can I make with a WOW factor, without feeling like I am compromising my taste buds???  This recipe may look like it took a while, however the prep time was about 10 minutes.


T's Tuna Salad with homemade almond brittle, pan fried pears and peppercorn goat cheese


Step 1:


1/2 cup blanched sliced almonds
small piece fresh ginger grates
1/2 teaspoon tamari soy sauce
1-2 tablespoons maple syrup

I started by roasting almonds in a frying pan with grated fresh ginger, after they started to brown i added some tamari soya sauce and maple syrup.  Place in a bowl to cool.


Step 2:


2 whole pears skinned and cored, then sliced 
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup white wine


In a frying pan on low heat add pears, cinnamon and white wine.  Allow to soften and simmer.  set aside to cool


Step 3:

1 can of tuna (I used white) drained really well
1 tablespoon mayo


mix together


Step 4:


baby spinach
carrots sliced
celery chopped
peppercorn goat cheese crumbled


Step 5:


Mix together all but almonds.  Serve and top with almonds.  See salad dressing below




Salad dressing


olive oil
balsamic vinegar
splash of soya sauce
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1 tablespoon maple syrup
pepper to taste

I do 2/3 (ish) oil to 1/3 vinegar.  I add ingredients than add more of this or that depending on how it tastes together.  Cooking is an experiment.  

Yesterday (meal ideas)

Yesterday I was working and my friend sent me a message....I need some inspiration for dinner.  I have asparagus and 2 coloured carrots.  I suggested that she roast almonds dry in a frying pan with soya sauce and fresh ginger grated, when browned and removing almonds from heat to drizzle with maple syrup.  The asparagus to be panned fried with ginger soya sauce and maple syrup and top with roasted almonds.  I suggested chicken backed in oven with peppercorn goat cheese covered, he was unable to find peppercorn goat cheese but purchased herbed goat cheese.  The carrots she roasted in the oven with potatoes and spices...an amazing delicious meal with very little work...the roasted almonds covered with maple syrup is a favourite of mine.  Her dinner was delicious and I helped to inspire a home cooked meal to be shared with her and her soon to be hubby