Quince Jam

Have you ever heard of quince? Have you ever bitten into one?

It’s a popular Mediterranean fruit – also used extensively in Latin America such as in the form of Dulce Membrillo in Argentina – that I’m seeing more and more in the US and that I’d like to introduce you to if you’re not yet acquainted.

This recipe creates one of my favorite treats in the world. Quince is a popular winter fruit in Turkey and making jam with it allows us to enjoy it all year round.

Curried Quinoa with Cauliflower & Artichokes

Do you ever stop and admire the cauliflower and broccoli you see at the farmer’s market or in the grocery store? No? Well, maybe you’ll want to after reading these facts and trying the recipe below.

Welcome. Meet the cruciferous (brassica) family of veggies, which includes: broccoli, broccoli rabe, broccolini, cauliflower (white, orange, green, and purple), all cabbages (white, purple, napa, etc.), brussels sprouts, collard greens, and all kinds of kale.

The cruciferous family, if they were human, would be a very loving and nurturing family. No dysfunction here. Here’s why:

Product Review: Fantastic Travel Meal Option – Hallelujah!

I’ve been traveling a lot lately. And eating well while traveling on the road can be a challenge, especially when working around food allergies or intolerances. Even I don’t always want to take the trouble of organizing myself well enough to take home-prepared travel meals along with me, or I end up having to cobble a meal together to avoid my food intolerances.

I also love to scope out new food products everywhere I go:  in corner stores, grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, airports… you name it. Well, I did a double take at the Baltimore-Washington Airport this week as I zeroed in on a brilliant food option that made my heart sing (yes, I get easily excited by food): the perfect travel food!

The Perfect Summer Iced Tea

I was craving something refreshing, cooling, and perfect for the hot weather we’ve been having here in Boulder, CO this week. I don’t drink sodas. I don’t drink sugary stuff. I don’t always want to have coconut water or plain water.

A visit from a dear old friend I went to high school with (in Cairo, Egypt) reminded me of an old favorite drink I’d completely forgotten about: hibiscus!

Hibiscus ~ a flamboyant, deeply red flower ~ and its tea are appreciated as body coolers in natural medicine and the warm-climate countries and areas in which it’s usually enjoyed such as Egypt, West Africa, Latin America, and Jamaica.

Artichoke Hummus

Gluten-Free, High-Nutrient Snack for All Ages!

My dear friend Amy is our guest contributor for this deliciously healthy and easy recipe. She and I met in high school overseas. After sharing much fun and many foibles over the years, we remain close friends.

Amy was waaaay into healthy eating and cooking waaaay before I even learned how to not burn soup. To this day, she is always an inspiration. And I still credit her for being the person who turned me on to avocados about 10 years ago with her home-made guacamole. YUM.

Avocado-Tepenade Mash

Such an easy, delicious breakfast or snack option. Spread over your favorite gluten-free bread, go at it with veggie sticks, or just spoon it up if you can’t wait.

Great for a busy, demanding day ahead. Will help give you a steady mood, steady energy, and keep your appetite under control!

Simla’s Avocado-Tepenade Mash
Makes 4 servings.

Ingredients

2 avocados, seed removed
4 TBS olive tepenade
A squeeze of fresh lemon juice, to taste
Sea salt, to taste

Optional: 4 TBS crumbled goat or sheep feta cheese

Directions

1. Mash all the ingredients with a fork.
2. Eat!

Pow-Wow Purple Smoothie

I knew I had an intense writing day – a “heady” day if you will – ahead of me today so I needed an energizing, flow-enabling, sustaining breakfast that was quick and easy to make. Here’s the result, using some of my current favorite ingredients right now.

This is a high-protein, high-fiber, highly delicious smoothie that’s very simple to make.

The incredible nutritional tally in this single tall glass of pure goodness and love:

• 15 gr protein
• 23 gr of fiber ~ you’re getting more than 65% of your recommended daily intake with breakfast alone!
  [SAD fact: most Americans get only 10-15 gr fiber a DAY.

Sweet Cauliflower-Apple “Winter Detox” Soup

This soup was another creation to manifest from one of my pantry experiments and it has quickly become a new favorite. I wanted to create a soup that was delicious, warming, easy. On top of that, my mission was to combine several vegetables that:

1. are often overlooked or under-appreciated
2. trigger a gentle yet robust detox response in the body
3. are seasonally appropriate, for winter
4. are ridiculously healthy
5. are scrumptiously delicious

While it looks complicated because of the number of ingredients, I promise you it’ll be one of the easiest recipes you’ve ever prepared. You just throw it all into the largest pot you have and – voila! – delicious soup, enough to freeze extras for a busier, colder day!

Cranberry Orange Sauce… or Dessert

I came up with this recipe last night after I’d been craving the tartness of cranberries for a while. I figured I’d make this sauce ahead of time and serve it atop the turkey and sweet potato mash I’m planning to make soon. But then I proceeded to eat it by the spoonful in lieu of dessert! So, I am living proof that you can use this recipe as a sauce to liven up any savory dish or as a simple, deeply satisfying and nourishing dessert…

Vegan Chickpea Stew

I spent this past week with my dear cousin, who is more like my sister, and her lovely family near Vancouver. She spoiled all of us with her delicious cooking. Here’s a recipe of hers that’s perfect for the crisp coolness of the Fall season and which will keep you warm and satisfied throughout the winter months. It is based off of a traditional Turkish recipe with her spin on it.

This stew is a well-rounded option for vegetarians and vegans alike, or if you just want to lay off the meat for a day or two. The chickpeas combined with the grain it’s served on give you a complete range of essential amino acids (proteins), and it tastes great to boot.

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