HELPFUL TIP: It’s preferable to buy whole beans and stir clear from trimmed or pre-packaged beans. No matter the color or the variety, you need to prep them by trimming them. Make sure you do this just before you need to use them as they tend to oxidise and dry out quickly. Before trimming them, […]
CHORIZO 101: Chorizo is a name given to a variety of sausages, both fresh and cured originating in the Iberian peninsula. It is made with chopped pork meat and pork fat, seasoned with paprika and garlic, all stuffed into a natural gut. Although there are many regional varieties, most chorizo can usually be placed into […]
PRAISE FOR THE PORTOBELLO Because they’re so substantial, fleshy and succulent, portobello mushrooms easily satisfy even the most tempting cravings for red meat. They’re nothing more than the mature form of button and cremini mushrooms. All of these mushrooms are, in fact the same species at different stages of maturity. Portobellos are rich in flavor, […]
A LITTLE HISTORY: There are 37 official versions of Caponata, which is essentially a sweet and sour ratatouille and a specialty of Sicily. Sicilian Caponata mirrors all the flavors of all the conquerors who have ever stepped foot on the island. This version, not among the 37 official ones, calls for Greek olives as a […]
HELPFUL INFO: Mushrooms are a low-carb, low-fat ingredient packed with about 15 vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B6, folate, magnesium, zinc and potassium. Mushrooms are also rich in antioxidants and they’re one of the few foods that contain vitamin D, which is essential for building strong bones, reducing inflammation and improving immune function.
HELPFUL TIP: If you’re wondering the kind of tomatoes needed for this recipe, look for fleshy, not juicy. Some use plum or Italian tomatoes because they have a thicker flesh and they’re less watery.
Variation: Place all the dressing ingredients in the bowl of a small food processor or blender. Add the feta cheese and pine nuts and pulse to get a smooth pesto-like paste. Toss this into the zucchini and tomato mixture and serve.
USEFUL TIP: This is an all-weather soup and is just as delicious hot as it is chilled.
FUN FACT: Buffalo Cauliflower is the plant-lover’s answer to Buffalo wings, that greasy snack that’s classic on Super Bowl Sunday! While I haven’t been able to find the story of when and how cauliflower became a stand-in for actual chicken wings, I did unearth the story of the wings themselves. The Buffalo wing was invented […]
About Quinoa: Quinoa, a nutritionally dense superfood, is technically a seed that contains a whopping eight grams of protein per serving (1 cup). It's a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids, something rarely found in plant-based food. And if that wasn't enough, quinoa is high in fiber, rich in vitamins and minerals, and […]