Baked Pear, Fresh Fig, Roasted Almond and Arugula Salad

Baked Pear, Fresh Fig, Roasted Almond and Arugula Salad
serves 4 to 6

-1/2 cup blanched, sliced almonds
-2-3 pears, cut in half and cored
-cinnamon
-ground ginger
-arugula
-fresh figs, washed and sliced in half

Salad Dressing

-2 tablespoons grainy Dijon Mustard
-2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
-1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
-1-2 tablespoon maple syrup
-juice of half a lime
-pinch of salt
-fresh pepper

Cut and core pears, in a baking dish place the pears and sprinkle with ginger and cinnamon.  Bake in oven at 350 unit soft.  You can add a small amount of butter on the pears if you wish.  (about 20 minutes).  In a frying pan gently roast the almonds on medium low heat, Stir frequently.  I do this with no oil, there is enough oil in almonds.  Place arugula in a bowl, add almonds, figs and place the baked pear on top.  Make the salad dressing by mixing the ingredients and taste, if to tart add a little more olive oil, or maple syrup.

Sesame Manadarin Brown Rice Salad

Sesame Mandarin Brown Rice Salad

-2 cups cooked brown rice
-1 apple peeled and chopped up
-avocado sliced with the juice of 1 lime and salt and pepper
-1 small purple onion chopped
-2 cooked golden beets (optional)
-1/2 cup roasted sesame seeds
-1/2 cup roasted hulled pumpkins
-1/2 cup roasted almonds
-2 tablespoons hemp seeds
-1 can of mandarin oranges juice drained

Dressing

-1 tablespoons tamari (soya sauce)
-1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
-2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
-4 tablespoons sesame oil
-2 tablespoons of juice from the mandarins.

-to roast the sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds dry roast in a frying pan until golden brown on medium heat.

-Mix the avocado, brown rice, apple, onion, beets, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, hemp seeds, and mandarins in a large bowl.  Mix together well.  The mix together the ingredients or the dressing and poor over.  Sesame has an intense strong flavour, so mix and taste, you may need more dressing.

Spinach Salad with a Smoked Orange Mustard Dressing

Spinach Salad with a Smoked Orange Mustard Dressing

Salad

-2 Mineola oranges with peel cut off and each sections cut
-spinach
-1 small red onion
-roasted almonds

Salad Dressing

-1/3 cup fresh orange juice
-1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
-2/3 cup olive oil
-salt and pepper
-1 tablespoon smoked maple mustard
-1 teaspoon maple syrup

I used freshly squeezed OJ so I placed in a pot and simmered to concentrate the flavour.  I allowed it to cool and then added all the ingredients together.  Was amazing.

Kale and Quinoa Salad

I was entertaining my sister in law who has issues with gluten.  Tonight's salad was inspired for her.

Kale and Quinoa Salad

-1/4 cup sesame seeds
-1/2 cup almonds (sliced and blanched)
-1/4 cup raw cashews
-kale washed and chopped
-1 purple onion chopped
-1 avocado
-juice of 1 lime
-1/2 red pepper chopped
-juice and zest of half a lemon
-olive oil
-balsamic vinegar

-in a frying pan on medium heat roast the sesame seeds until golden brown then roast the almonds then the cashews.
To cook the quinoa, 2 cups of water for 1 cup of quinoa.  Bring water to a boil then add the quinoa, reduce and cover.  Cook for 15 minutes, then remove from heat and allow to sit for about 5 minutes then fluff with a fork.
-in a large bowl place the washed and cleaned chopped kale, I used about 7 kale leaves.  As you roast the sesame seeds and the nuts place over the kale to wilt it.  Add the onions and then pour the hot quinoa over the nuts, kale and onions.  In a small bowl, dice the avocado and squeeze the lime juice over the avocado and salt and pepper the avocado, make sure avocado is covered in the lime juice as this prevents it from browning.  Add the chopped red pepper and avocado to salad.  The add juice and zest of lemon and mix.  Add balsamic vinegar and olive oil.  Usually 1/3 vinegar to 2/3 olive oil.  Salt and pepper to taste.
This dish was incredible.

Quinoa Salad

I am a full time Registered Nurse, a single Mother to my two daughters and a part time student in University   Today I was spending the day writing a paper and forgot to take out dinner, and I really do not have much in the house tonight.  So, what to do?  Create!

Quinoa Salad

-2 cups or water or broth
-2 cups dried quinoa
-salt

-1 large carrot chopped
-1 rib of celery chopped
-1 apple in chunks
-cucumber sliced
-1/2 an onion
-1/2 cup pan fried almonds
-1/4 cup of raw sesame seeds pan fried
-1/4 cup dried cranberries
-1 tablespoon tamari soya saue
-pepper
-the juice of 1 lemon
-1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
-1/2 cup olive oil

Chop the ingredients, pan fry the almonds and sesame seeds, I have both the regular and black sesame seeds.  Place all the ingredients in a bowl waiting for the qunioa and almonds to cook.  Boil the 2 cups of water, then add the quinoa and boil on low for about 15 minutes, remove from heat and then poor into the bowl with all the ingredients, mix and add the almonds and sesame seeds.  Then taste, you may want to add more oil or balsamic vinegar.  Add some fresh pepper.

Roasted almonds and pine nut pesto with basil and arrugula

Roasted almonds and pine nut pesto with basil and arrugula

-1 cup fresh basil
-1/2 cup arrugula
-6-7 cloves of garlic
-1/2 cup roasted blanched almonds
1/3 cup roasted pine nuts
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1/2 teaspoon black pepper
-4 tablespoons olive oil
-2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

In a frying pan on medium heat roast the almonds and pine nuts, place aside and allow to cool.  Place the basil leaves, arrugula, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, Parmesan cheese and nuts in a blender.  Pour in the olive oil.  Start to blend allowing the mixture to completely blend, which may require adding more olive oil, until the mixture is puréed well.  Serve over pasta.  

Orange Pumpkin Soup

Orange Pumpkin Soup

-1 tablespoon olive oil or sesame oil
-1 medium pumpkin
-2 large leeks cleaned and chopped
-2 onions chopped
-3 medium carrots chopped
-1 small sweet potato
-900ml veggie broth (tetra pack)  I used organic vegetable, you could use chicken for this
-1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
-2 tablespoons chili powder
-1 cinnamon stick
-1 can coconut milk
-zest and juice of 2 oranges
-salt and pepper to taste

-roasted sesame seeds or roasted almonds to top soup

In a large soup pot on medium heat add oil, onions and leeks.  Cook until they are soft.  While the onions are cooking, gut, chop and peel the pumpkin into small chunks. Peel and dice the carrots and sweet potato.  Once the onions are cooked, add the broth, pumpkin, carrots and sweet potato and allow to come to a boil.  Add the chili powder, cinnamon stick and ginger.  I put probably about 1 teaspoon of fresh pepper in.  Once the veggies are soft add the zest and juices of 2 oranges and the coconut milk.  Allow to simmer.  Purée the soup and top with roasted sesame seeds or almonds seeds.

Maple Tamari Veggies with sesame, roasted almonds and sunflower seeds

Maple Tamari Veggies with Sesame, Roasted almonds and Sunflower seeds

1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 red onion chopped
1/2 red pepper
1 carrot chopped
1 can of water chestnuts sliced
6 mushrooms
2 cloves of garlic chopped
1 bunch of asparagus
2 tablespoons tamari soya sauce
2 tablespoons maple syrup

3 tablespoons roasted sesame seeds
3 tablespoon sunflower seeds roasted
1/4 cup almonds roasted

-in a frying pan on medium heat add onion, carrots, mushrooms, and garlic.  Fry these veggies for a few minutes, add the red pepper, water chestnuts, and cook for a few more minutes.  Add the asparagus, tamari and maple syrup.  Allow to cook until asparagus has turned a dark green, then add the seeds, cook for a few more minutes and serve.  takes about 15 minutes total cooking and maybe 5 minutes prep time.

Maple Almond Asparagus

Quick, easy and tasty.

Maple Almond Asparagus

-1/2 cup almonds
-asparagus, ends trimmed
-1 teaspoon butter or olive oil
-2 tablespoons maple syrup
-salt and pepper optional

-Pan fry blanched almonds, set aside.  In a frying pan on medium heat add butter or oil, add asparagus, cook for a few minutes stirring frequently.  Once the asparagus turns slightly darker green add the maple syrup and allow to coat all the asparagus.  Salt and pepper to taste and toss in almonds stir and serve.  Takes about 7 minutes to cook

kale and sprout salad with cranberries an roasted almonds

Yesterday at the farmers market at the brickworks I purchased some organic kale and organic ancient grains.  Knowing that I would be entertaining some friends who are vegetarian I wanted to make sure that I had some high protein items to keep them full.

Organic Kale salad with Roasted Almonds, ancient grain sprouts and dried cranberries

-2 cups of cleaned and chopped kale
-1/2 cup almonds toasted
-3/4 cups ancient grains sprouts
-1/4 cup dried cranberries

in a frying pan on medium low heat toast blanched slice almonds until browned.  Place hot almonds on top of the kale chopped and stir in.  Let cool.  Add the sprouts and cranberries.

Tangy Apple cider mustard dressing

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
2/3 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons maple syrup
pinch of salt and pepper

Pineapple & Sweet Potato Quinoa with roasted almonds

Had my friend over for dinner the other night.  I had just finished working a 12 our shift, she brought Salmon skewers which she had purchased at St. Lawrence Market.  I whipped up this dish in about 5 mins of prep and 20 minutes cooking time.  


Pineapple and Sweet Potato Quinoa with Roasted Almonds


-1 cup quinoa
-1 1/2 cups water
-1/2 fresh pineapple chopped with juice
-1 medium sweet potato cubed
-1 tablespoon brown sugar
-1 teaspoon soya sauce
-1 teaspoon yellow Thai curry powder
-1. teaspoon cinnamon


Roasted Almonds


-1/2 cup blanched sliced almonds
-1/3 cup of Chardonnay or white wine
-1 teaspoon brown sugar
-sprinkle of cinnamon


In a pot add water, quinoa, pineapple, sweet potato, brown sugar, soya sauce, Thai curry, and cinnamon.  Cook on high until boiled then cover and reduce heat cook for 20 minutes.  Stir occasionally.  While cooking the quinoa in a frying pan on medium heat add almonds when starting to brown add the rest of the ingredients, allow to cook until the liquid reduces and almonds are dry and crunchy.When quinoa is cooked taste...you may want to add a touch more soya sauce, then cover with the roasted almonds.  Then serve.