The Persian Omelette recipe was so fantastic, that I decided to adapt another easy healthy recipe from my Healing Foods book, and this Chocolate Prune Cake is worthy of a mention. This gluten-free chocolate cake recipe is beautifully moist, and has a rich dark colour. Not to mention, a fabulous taste. I have always been partial to gluten free cakes that are naturally fruit sweetened. I don’t know about you, but my palate doesn’t like to be overwhelmed with sweet notes. When it comes to sugar, natural or otherwise, less is more. That is why this natural prune-sweetened cake hits a sweet spot in me. Hopefully it will in you too. Now I have to be honest, after working as a carer for over 20 years, where the ubiquitous prune takes pride of... Keep Reading
I had never eaten a lot of cornbread until I met my husband, and joined his family in the Midwest. Rob’s mum was brought up in a small town in Missouri, eating a Southern-inspired diet of fried chicken, potatoes, green beans, and cornbread. So I looked to her for the perfect recipe. I quickly became addicted to cornbread in every incantation. She was a wonderful Southern cook, and was well known for her delicious recipes. I had never cooked Southern food, and having been Macrobiotic, and, as she so eloquently put it, “one of those healthy freaks” for so many years, eating this cornbread gave my body quite a jolt! I didn’t realize there was so much wheat flour, sugar and butter in it. Why was it called “corn bread”? It was not long before... Keep Reading
Mum used to make a “Lemon Impossible Pie” that was popular back in the 80’s. I seem to be revisiting, and modifying this culinary period of my life lately. Thank goodness I am not revisiting my fashion choices! But I am certainly modifying! I don’t care what anyone says, shoulder pads and lace was never a good idea! This lemon blender pie, on the other hand, was absolutely to die for. My motto today -- “when the universe gives you lemons, make this lemon blender pie”! The impossible will seem possible; your taste buds will be dancing for joy; and the sour taste you had in your mouth will be a distant memory. Well at least while you have your snout in the lemon trough. This gluten free lemon pie is from the same family of “easy and... Keep Reading
I don’t know about you, but I am always on the hunt for another “show stopping” dairy free dip to add to my repertoire. When there is a party, I am always the dip master; and often get called upon to puree and blend up a storm. There are a few favourites that always make the cut. The creamy vegan cashew dip, muhammara roasted red pepper dip, and raw green pea dip are always on the top of the list of requests. Yes I will post them! My sister asked me to bring some dairy free dips to her house for a little gathering they had for Christmas eve, and this spicy carrot dip received rave reviews. I made it the other night when we had people over for dinner, and it was well received again. So I thought it was worth posting here today. As I have... Keep Reading
My motto every time I am in Paris? “A crepe a day keeps snout happy and gay” I have to admit, every time I am there, I find it very hard to resist sneaking into a creperie to partake of my secret guilty pleasure (which is not so secret any more). I mean people make culinary pilgrimages for the food! It is THE street food in Paris. And as they say, “When in Rome”. Well…you get my drift. I just can’t pass 100 people on the street with their snouts smeared with Nutella and banana and not stick mine in the trough that makes everybody else so happy? In the gluten free world, there is always the question: "What are you willing to endure a stomach ache for?" For my friend Jad, it is a really good croissant. For me, it will always be my beloved... Keep Reading
OK, so here I go again! Yapping on again about my love of avocados! If you really hate avocados, then you might want to read another recipe blog. Because I am not going to stop! When we had people over for our taco buffet feast the other night, I whipped up this raw avocado pudding for dessert, with the left over avocados that were going to be past their peak in the morning! The results were pretty good. Well, there certainly wasn’t anything left in the trough. So I am guessing it was OK. My inspiration for this vegan avocado mousse was this famous raw avocado pudding in a macrobiotic restaurant I frequented on when I was touring with a show in Portugal many years ago. That raw avocado pudding still calls out to me in my sleep. Dear... Keep Reading
We made a fabulous vegetarian taco buffet this week, and it was sensational. You know how partial I am to the “come and help make dinner” dinner parties, where everyone congregates in the kitchen, and we make dinner together with everyone’s input. Our gluten fee pizza parties are always a hit. As are our gluten free pasta parties. We decided to switch gears this week and head to Mexico for inspiration. We made grilled onions, red peppers, zucchinis and spinach; home made gluten free corn tortillas; a stellar vegan guacamole (of course!); some fabulous fresh salsas; and a stupendous pico de gallo! The only thing missing, was a great vegan sour cream, which everyone took great pleasure in unanimously voting for. Now, you all know that I... Keep Reading
Today I continue my crusade against commercially produced salad dressings and marinades. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like a good ginger soy marinade, and this vegan marinade is dead easy. I did think twice before posting this quick and easy recipe, as I thought it was too basic even for THIS recipe blog! But then I remembered my many conversations at work, with people who have never made their own home made salad dressings and need a helping hand. I thought there might be more of you out there, and so here I am posting this basic vegan marinade for your enjoyment. I have deliberately kept this ginger soy marinade really basic, as I think it stands alone. But feel free to be bold and jazz it up. This quick, easy vegan marinade can be... Keep Reading
I thought I would continue my condiment craze and offer up this glorious green mayonnaise as an interesting colourful alternative to more traditional white mayonnaise options. I don’t know about you, but I like to add a bit of colour to the table; and in my humble opinion, nothing looks better than green mayonnaise! If you are looking for a quick easy colourful dairy free mayonnaise this one is a winner. This glorious green mayonnaise is a wonderful spread on vegetable kebabs, fantastic with tacos, and great with steamed vegetables, salads and sandwiches. Not only does it taste fantastic, but it is a great way to blend in some much needed greens and give this mayonnaise a nutritional kick. For me, spinach is always a good idea! The only... Keep Reading
I know I know….is it possible for me to go one month without talking about my love of avocados? The answer is, No! I am an avocado freak, and I am not going to apologize for it. My favourite snack on the planet? Avocado on gluten free toast. I would choose that happy snack every day, and twice on Sundays. I never get sick of it. I am always making guacamole, and Rob and I are always racing to use the last avocado. I am very methodical when I purchase my avocados too. I always ensure that there is a perfect avocado rotation, and that a few delectable avocados ripen to perfection every day. Sometimes Rob decides to indulge in a midnight avo smash and I wake up to find avocado finger smears all over the light switch, and slimy avocado... Keep Reading
