Holidays are a thing of the past at the moment but I can’t express just how much I miss them. Looking back at our holiday snaps makes me yearn for a little bit of adventure and that joy of discovering new places. If there’s one place I’d love to visit just for the food, it’s Israel. Food from all over the world, coming together in one place makes the food scene unbeatable. What’s more, influences from the Middle East, Mediterranean and North Africa mean there’s a strong lean toward vegetables and Israel has the world’s highest ratio of vegans so finding tasty plant based food really isn’t hard. While everyone…
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Cajun Palm Hearts with Gnocchi (Vegan & Gluten Free)
As a general rule, Kenny and I don’t celebrate valentines day. Instead we celebrate the anniversary of our first date on the 8th of February. It’s a date that actually means something to us, not just a socially mandated date for romance. Of course, for you that means you get our anniversary dinner just in time for valentines day. This year I returned to heart of palm for their lobster/scallop like texture but without any relation to any actual fish. Tossed in cajun spices and paired with fluffy homemade gnochi, in a creamy, herby sauce, this makes for a deliciously tasty dish that seems like it’s so much more work…
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Leek & Potato Soup – Three Ways (Vegan & Gluten Free)
There are few things more comforting during cold, damp weather than a bowl of steaming hot soup. A few simple ingredients, cooked together to make something special. The best soups are ones you can throw together with a few kitchen basics and come out with something everyone will love. Leek and potato soup is one of those French classics that everyone has heard of. It’s incredibly simple and only a needs a few simple touches to make it a success that anyone can make. Lets a look at some of the important points here; Leeks – I’m not always a great fan of leeks since they’re so difficult to clean.…
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Spanish Omelette (Vegan & Gluten Free)
Surprisingly enough, this is one of those recipes that doesn’t have to change much from the original to make it vegan. Chickpeas are a familiar staple in Spain and a well known traditional substitute for eggs which makes it easy for us. Traditionally filled with potatoes, this makes a filling breakfast for a crowd or a great light lunch with a side salad. I like to mix mine up with more than potatoes, sweet red peppers make a great addition too, along with red onion. It’s an incredibly easy dish to make and doesn’t need to be closely watched. If you’re into batch cooking then the vegetables can be easily…
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Spiced Potato Croquettes (Vegan & Gluten Free)
We’re heading into the festive season and for many people, that also means it’s the high point in the year for leftovers as well. If you’re anything like me, then you’d rather have too much food than too little. The festive season has always meant an overloaded dinner table surrounded by family, followed by a fridge heaving with leftovers. There’s nothing wrong with a leftovers, I’m a big fan of them. I always have a freezer full of them but who wants to eat the same thing day after day? Croquettes are one of my answers to this problem and they’re surprisingly easy to make. The perfect solution to any…
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Dauphinois Potatoes (Vegan, GF)
Many years ago, my brother and sister in law gifted me a copy of Julia Child’s cooking classic “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”. I still find it quite inspiring, even though the majority of the recipes don’t match our dietary needs. The basics of today’s recipe came from that book but I’ve modified it heavily so that we can eat it. Dauphinois Potatoes, or scalloped potatoes as they are sometime known, are the ultimate in potato indulgence. Thin slices of potato are traditionally layered with garlic, cream, and (occasionally) cheese. There are strong debates on whether the cheese is truly authentic. A french friend strongly argued against it but…
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Thai Style Potato Salad (Vegan & Gluten Free)
I’m a big fan of salads in all forms. From little side salads to big heaping mounds of veggies drenched in a delicious dressing, and warm salads that contrast winters cool. A good salad shouldn’t be just a few leaves, but rather is a vehicle for your creativity. Experiment with ingredients you have around the house to add that extra special touch, fruit for sweetness, nuts for crunch Potato salad works well as a side with just so many dishes. Serve as a side with your next barbecue, with a picnic, or leftovers. This version is bursting with flavours, creamy, sweet and just a little acidic. Whats more, it’s incedibly…
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Mum’s Roast Potatoes – Kitchen Basics
It’s been a long, difficult week and the weather really hasn’t helped with grey skies and near constant rain. So I reached for on of my favourite comfort foods, roast potatoes. I grew up eating the perfect roast potatoes but it was only once I moved out and started cooking for friends that I realised just how good mum’s roast potatoes really were. If I wanted to impress someone, roast potatoes would often feature in dinner, the first time I cooked for Kenny I’m pretty sure they were there. The perfect roast potato is crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, a little salty, and with the perfect balance…
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Vegan Mac & Cheese
It’s creamy, it’s cheesy, it’s a satisfying bowl of carbs – but it’s all based on veg that’s begging to be used from the bottom of the fridge. This recipe has been a life saver for me when we really need to go to the shops and all we have in the fridge is odds and ends of old veggies. Brought together that old veg can make something extraordinary with out really much effort or tie spent. I also like to tell myself it’s much healthier than your typical non-vegan mac & cheese as it actually contains some vegetables! A lot of this recipe is really quite forgiving so feel…
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Warm Spring Salad
We’re at a slightly odd time of year, the weather can’t seem to decide if winter is over but the sun is definitely starting to push it’s head through the clouds. After days like this weekend I start to crave something light and salad-like but warm. My solution is this salad. It’s incredibly easy to make, takes advantage of seasonal produce like asparagus and salad potatoes when they’re just coming into their own, but it’s warm so it fits in perfectly when the weather is still a little cool. The lentils and potatoes make it filling without being heavy while the dressing brightens the dish with a little tang. If…
