The Best Granola Ever - total time 30 minutes

You know the phrase "that's so granola"? Describing something that is plain and boring... Well those people have never had this granola! I pretty much make it every week mainly for breakfast parfaits, but it also makes a great snack, especially when you need a few bites in between meals.

You might buy granola in the store... it might taste good... but it is probably expensive, maybe three servings at best, and you don't know all of the ingredients, or maybe you don't like some of the ingredients. Granola is soooo easy to make at home! I had my doubts at first too. But it really is just combining all the ingredients in a bowl and then spreading it on a cookie sheet, ten minutes in the oven and woop, there it is. ;)
I definitely save money too. We would normally go through three bags of granola a week plus cereal and English muffins. I get the main ingredients from bulk bins and the others are usually local and last through many, many batches of granola. It also keeps me full longer in the mornings, so less snacking before lunch. And you can make it into granola bars for a snack on the go.

So, chocolate and peanut butter... best combination ever, right? You probably can't eat Reese cups every day, but this granola is actually healthy and has just enough sweet. Whole grains and great protein from the seeds and nuts. Plus it is naturally sweetened with a little honey and maple syrup... oh... and the dark chocolate chips of course... which are totally healthy, I promise! :)

Read more �

More about → The Best Granola Ever - total time 30 minutes

Cauliflower Tacos - total time 30 minutes

I have read a couple articles that have stated that cauliflower is going to be the next big food trend. I don't think they are going to call it a superfood, but as people are turning to more meatless meals, they are looking for "meaty" vegetables so they don't miss it. I feel like I saw cauliflower start trending the middle of last year in the foodie/food blogger world, so it's only a matter of I time before it is on every menu!

I used to actually hate cauliflower. I think it have a weird texture and not a ton of flavor. But then I tried it roasted! Put a little spice on these white nuggets and they are delicious!

So I ordered some cauliflower in my GreenBEAN bins and started trying some different things. My favorite so far has definitely been the tacos (probably no surprise there). I have made them a couple times now and each time my husband asks me to put chicken in his (I tell him no). He begrudging eats it and really likes it! I don't know how many times we will have to go through the process until he admits that he likes it anytime other than when he is scarfing them down.

These are kind of kitchen sink tacos. I basically looked in my fridge (and freezer) to see what I had to add to the cauliflower. Frozen corn from the summer, salsa, and some pepper jack cheese... And I have made it the same way since! But don't feel like you need to stick to these ingredients. The cauliflower is definitely the star of this taco and packs some spicy, nutty flavor. Other roasted veggies would be great... saut�ed onions... eggplant... even some shredded chicken. Make it your own, but make sure to include lots of super trendy roasted cauliflower!

Read more �

More about → Cauliflower Tacos - total time 30 minutes

Fish Fridays

If you're observing "fish fridays" during this season of Lent, chances are you're getting tired of the fried fish dinners.  Even if you're not tired of fried fish, maybe you're looking for something a little healthier.  There are five more Fridays until Easter, so here are three fish and three vegetarian recipes to change it up a little!

Fish Fridays

 

Creamy Salmon Pasta - so creamy and the salmon melts in your mouth!
Fish Tacos - you might decide you like fish tacos better than the chicken or steak versions
Salmon Burgers - for when you're craving a juicy burger, then realize it's Friday


Meatless Fridays go Vegetarian

 

Broccoli Cheddar Pot Pies - a cross between broccoli cheddar soup and a chicken pot pie (sans the chicken)
Butternut Mac and Cheese - the ultimate comfort food, it's still winter afterall
Vegetarian Crunchwraps - it's soft, it's hard, it's wrapped up and ready to go with you

Alright, there are no excuses for fried food tomorrow!  :)

More about → Fish Fridays

Avocado Toasts - total time 5 minutes

I've seen a lot of avocado recipes out there lately!  You would think they were in season or something.  Hass avocados (which is what is in most grocery stores) can grow in California all year long, so I guess they are really always in season.  Other avocados are harvested in late summer and fall.  

But there is a reason everyone loves talking about avocados!  They are delicious... buttery and nutty... and they are nutritious... with healthy fats in omega 3s and potassium.  Nature's butter.  I use it in place of mayo in things like chicken and tuna salad.  It's also great on toast!  Which brings us to today's post...

I started making "avocado toast" way back in the day, in fact, it was one of the first recipes on this blog.  I usually don't roast my own tomatoes for this any more, especially if tomatoes aren't in season.  I love getting sun-dried tomatoes packed in jars with olive oil.  The flavor is amazing!  I always have a jar or two in the pantry to add to pastas and pizza... and toasts.  :)  Any way... now that we're using jarred tomatoes, it cuts out all of the prep time in this recipe and gets you to the eating portion that much faster!  That makes it perfect for breakfast, snacks, or on-the-go lunches.

This is my trusty toaster oven that we received as a wedding gift closing in on eight years ago.  It gets used almost every day and I was cleaning it the other day and some of the words and numbers started rubbing off the dials!  Good thing we have it all memorized!

Recipe for one avocado toast...
1 piece of bread (or english muffin)
.25 hass avocado
1 sun-dried tomato
a few shavings of parmesan cheese

1. Toast bread.
2. Scoop out avocado with a spoon and smear on the toast.
3. Cut up the sun-dried tomato and layer on top.
4. Sprinkle parmesan on top.
5. Devour.

 

More about → Avocado Toasts - total time 5 minutes

Caramelized Onion and Pear Grilled Brie Sandwiches - total time 15 minutes

One cooking secret I learned from my mom was how to make the best grilled cheese sandwiches EVER! My sandwiches have come a long way from Kraft singles and Wonder bread. Rustic wheat breads, sophisticated cheeses, complex flavor combinations... you name it, I have probably made it into a melty cheesy sandwich.

I mentioned a week or so ago that I was inspired by one of Harvest Moon Cafe's bison burgers with caramelized onions, pears, and brie... soo good! I knew it would taste just as good (or better) without the meat. So only a few days later, I made these sandwiches, and then again, and again. Definitely addicting! Perfect to go with a cup of soup or a side salad. And it doesn't take long at all.

Read more �

More about → Caramelized Onion and Pear Grilled Brie Sandwiches - total time 15 minutes

Okra Corn Cakes - total time 30 minutes

One of the fun things that comes along with having a CSA share is the random fruits and vegetables you get. The first year we got kohlrabi... we got tons of kohlrabi. I had never heard of it before. It kind of looked like a turnip, but didn't look like a root because of the leaves. And the only real recipe available on the internets was roasted kohlrabi... so we had that often.

Now that our bin is customizable (which happened the second year), we no longer get kohlrabi... but we certainly glad we tried it!

This year's new vegetable is okra. I have seen it before and have heard it is great in stews and fried. But summer is no time for stews and I'm not going to fry it either. I have also seen it growing in the community garden and the flowers on okra plants are beautiful! So it was time to try this elusive veggie.

What better way to try this southern favorite than in a way that is completely southern... in cornbread! The okra adds some color, a little different texture, and some crunch to your normal corn cake. On the first time trying okra we landed on a winning recipe... yippee!

Read more �

More about → Okra Corn Cakes - total time 30 minutes

Zucchini Stuffed Shells - total time 45 minutes

If you have a vegetable garden, chance are you are swimming in zucchini right now! Ours are coming in spurts... I don't notice any in the garden... and then all of a sudden there are a dozen... and half of them are giants! Eep! What to do... what to do?

The great thing about zucchini (besides the fact one plant could feed a neighborhood) is that it doesn't have a distinct flavor, so it works well "hidden" in a ton of dishes.

So of course I'm going to put zucchini in some stuffed shells. I always feel just a little bit guilty eating stuffed shells with all of that cheese. This recipe subs out half of that cheese for some shredded zucchini. That's a great way to reduce the dairy and increase the vitamin A and C, potassium, and fiber. Plus, it's a green veggie... extra healthy points! And you really don't taste it... it's just like normal stuffed shells. You have to try this, it is win-win!

Read more �

More about → Zucchini Stuffed Shells - total time 45 minutes

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day!  A day to appreciate our freedoms and be thankful to those who secure that freedom.  Secondarily a day to watch fireworks, spend time with friends and family, and grill out.Usually we think of burgers and hot dogs when we grill out... but here are some great vegetarian options to get on your grill today (or any time this summer)!

Grilled Caesar Salad warm lettuce?  who would have thought!

Grilled Zucchini Nachos replace those fried chips with zucchini from the garden

Veggie Burgers (of course)

Grilled Peach Salad mmm... caramelized peaches

Stuffed Grilled Peppers love roasted peppers, such great flavor

Grilled Fajita Tacos use skewers to prevent slices from falling in the grill and easily portion individual tacos

Grilled Veggie Flatbread so close to how the Italians do it

Veggie Paninis so many options!

Have a great Fourth!

More about → Happy Independence Day!

Roasted Tomato and Garlic Pasta - total time 20 minutes

It's nice and warm outside now (finally), so a quick light pasta is the only kind of pasta that will do.

I planted my garden the first weekend in May and covered it with a hoop house... getting it in the ground early and the extra heat from the plastic cover means I'm starting to get cherry tomatoes already! They're perfect for roasting quickly in the oven along with some garlic and tossing into pasta with basil and parm. So simple and quick, it might end up being your go-to meal this summer!

Read more �

More about → Roasted Tomato and Garlic Pasta - total time 20 minutes

Vegetarian Crunchwraps - total time 30 minutes

I was just having a conversation about the last time we ate at McDonald's (it's been a while). I thought it was funny that I could recall the last time I ate at several fast food chains, all of which have been years ago, because they were all paired with awful belly aches or just bad luck. Last time at McDonald's was actually in San Fran and was the only thing open for breakfast by the rental car place so we could leave for Yosemite. They screwed up my breakfast sandwich order and I was too tired to realize it until it was too late and my stomach was already turning. The last time I went to Burger King was after a long day waiting in lines and shopping at a sample sale and a car ran into my car while I was waiting in the drive thru line. For KFC, it was after a canoe trip that was continuing into some backpacking in Zaleski. It was either KFC, McDonalds, or Clif bars (which meant we would have less to eat while hiking). We ate a quick lunch and off we went... it was 98 degrees, 100% humidity, and the trail started straight up some switch backs. We got to the top and both of us looked pale as ghosts... the friend chicken was not sitting well... And then lastly, I've never ate at White Castle, but my husband has once and told me the reason they call them sliders (TMI).

Ironically, with all of these fast food horror stories, surprisingly Taco Bell hasn't made our 'do not go there' list. They also have a decent selection of vegetarian options and the Catina Bell menu is better than the average fast food. Taco Bell just announced that they are testing some higher end fast-casual restaurants called U.S. Taco Co. in Florida, which will be interesting to see how they compete with Chipotle. Any way, I've always thought Taco Bell had something with their crunch wrap idea... a mix of soft and crunchy. There just had to be a healthier option than ladles of nacho cheese and sour cream with almost no veggies. So here's my version...

Read more �

More about → Vegetarian Crunchwraps - total time 30 minutes

Grilled Asparagus and Poached Egg - total time 20 minutes

Eggs are a great source of protein for vegetarians and omnivores alike. There have been many studies and reports that go back and forth on whether eggs are healthy for you or not. Some say that they are high in cholesterol and that people shouldn't eat more that one or two a week. Others says it's the ultimate health food and should even be consumed raw. I like to think reality is somewhere in between knowing that eggs are low fat, high protein, have dietary sulfur (great for you hair and nails), and the yolks have carotenoids (similar to carrots). I also love eggs... so at this point of being meat-free for around 40 days now... we have gone through quite a few eggs!

With Easter coming up, eggs are center stage. You may be hard boiling some right now to dye different colors. Or you could be filling a bunch of colorful plastic versions with candy in the next few days. Eggs are a symbolic message of rebirth, so the iconic Easter egg completely makes sense.

Celebrate Easter with this quick, delicious brunch. Perfect timing for asparagus which are at their peak right now and the buttery, runny yolk over top... just delicious! We actually had this dish for dinner, it is quite filling with a side dish of crispy roast potatoes. It's minimal ingredients and cooks quickly, the slowest part is that you can only poach one egg at a time, but they only take a minute or two. :)

Read more �

More about → Grilled Asparagus and Poached Egg - total time 20 minutes

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Granola Bar - total time 1 hour

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I've never been one to skip breakfast, I would never make it to lunch without gnawing my arm off. So to keep my hunger at bay, I start most mornings with a quick parfait. I loooove this granola I get from Green Bean delivery. It is so yummy! And I have tried a lot of different granolas, definitely all of the ones with chocolate in them. But this one is definitely the best, peanut butter, nuts, seeds, and a little chocolate. Perfect way to start the day... top it with some berries and yogurt... even better!

We go through this stuff like crazy, like, a couple bags every week. It's kind of ridiculous. But we don't always have time in the morning even for a simple parfait (I easily lose track of time before I have had my coffee... even after sometimes... so mornings can go from a leisurely stroll to a mad dash out the door pretty quickly). So what's a girl going to eat when she's run so fast out the door that she forgot to brush her hair and her phone is still sitting on the kitchen counter? Granola bars! A quick grab and go solution.

You could probably just take premade granola and bake it into bars. But where is the fun in that? This way you control everything that goes into the bars and can feel good about what you're eating. No added sugar and tons of protein and fiber... and so yummy... just like McCabe's granola.

It takes a bit of time from start to finish, but it's mostly hands off time. I walked my dog while everything was cooling, came back, covered them in chocolate, and then went back out with Snoop to finish our walk. Probably only spent 15 minutes in the kitchen. Easy peasy!

Read more �

More about → Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Granola Bar - total time 1 hour

Torn cabbage with red fermented beancurd ??????

I have no time to post any recipes lately, life was hectic I was working 6 - 7 days a week. This blog has been neglected hopefully you did not miss me much :).

Today's recipe is vegetarian, a cheap and cheerful stir fried cabbage with a rather unusual sauce. The secret ingredient is fermented red beancurd or hong fu ru ???. This recipe looks Sichuanese but I am quite sure it is from Beijing.

More about → Torn cabbage with red fermented beancurd ??????

Sichuan liang fen ???? (Starch jelly noodles)

Liang fen ?? is a jelly noodles made with starch and water. Starch and water is cooked to a thick custard, set and chilled. It is then cut into whatever shape and size you like then dressed in a Sichaun spicy sauce with some spring onion, coriander and few sesame seeds etc...





If you like rice noodles you will love liang fen. This jelly noodles is much springier and better texture than rice

More about → Sichuan liang fen ???? (Starch jelly noodles)

Braised daikon and carrot ????

Su shao luo bo ????

Luo bo ?? (??) this can mean either daikon (mooli or oriental radish) or carrot.
Su ? is vegetarian
Shao ? in cooking terms can mean boil, bake, roast, braise or stew. It's confusing I know!

This braised mixed root vegetable is rather tasty. I can eat this happily and don't miss any meat at all.

Ingredients:

400 - 500g daikon or mooli
350 - 400g carrot
2 clove of garlic,

More about → Braised daikon and carrot ????

Stir fried blistered green chilli ????

Hu pe jian jiao ????

I was pleased to find some large green chillies from the market. I asked the store keeper if they are spicy he just shrugged his shoulders how helpful! In the end I bought a handful (just over 1/2 lb) to try in case they are not as nice as I thought. These chillies were quite long about 12 - 15cm long.



I love Sichuan Hu pe jian jiao ???? or stir fried blistered green

More about → Stir fried blistered green chilli ????

Spicy sweet and sour tempeh

This tempeh is sweet. salty, spicy and sour. Very moreish. The recipe is based on Indonesian tempe kering (dry tempeh) with my own twist. I used Korean chilli paste which has a sweeter more mellow flavour. I don't have any lime leaf so I sub with lime zest.

Ingredients:
about 300g tempeh
1 chopped onion
2 clove garlic, minced
2 tbsp Korean chilli paste (gochujang)
2 tbsp soy sauce
some sugar

More about → Spicy sweet and sour tempeh

Biang Biang Mian

If you think supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is not easy to remember try the most complex Chinese character related to a noodle's name. This word is so complex it is not in any Chinese dictionary or any computerised Chinese type set. Take a look at one single Chinese word with 57 strokes!



This word reads as 'biang'




Biang biang mian (in Chinese charaters)

Biang biang* mian is a well

More about → Biang Biang Mian

Chinese leaf with vinegar sauce ????

Chu liu bai chai (cu liu bai cai) ????
Chu liu bai chai is a simple vegetarian dish, a well known Lu Chai ?? from Shandong ?? region where it is famous for the production of good quality vinegar.

This stir fried Chinese leaf or napa cabbage main flavour is the vinegar to give it a sharp taste. The vegetable is stir fried briefly to keep it crunchy.

Ingredients:
About 600g Chinese leaf or Napa

More about → Chinese leaf with vinegar sauce ????

Making Tempeh

Growing my own tempeh has been on my list of things to try. I have recently received a free sample of tempeh starter from Tempeh Info. So way I go to give it a try. I was a bit nervous to keep a constant temperature of around 30deg C to incubate the beans. I don't want to spend �� to buy/build an incubator, so I racked my brain and find what I already have at home. I started gathering a few

More about → Making Tempeh