In my opinion, a side dish is just as important as a main dish and it should be flavorful enough to stand on its own. Sesame oil is one of my favorite condiments to add to a vegetable dish. The flavor is bold so you don’t need much and it’s a delicious way to jazz up green beans. Once you add it to the pan, the aroma of the sesame oil lingers in your kitchen. Then you know it’s time to eat!
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Bloody and Bitter Rum Punch – A Halloween Cocktail for Adults
Halloween is tomorrow! And since it’s mainly celebrated by children, I wanted to make something for the adults. So here’s a simple rum punch using red wine, rum, limes and blood oranges, with a few drops of angostura bitters. Enjoy this “treat” for Halloween or add to your next cocktail party along with some of my other drinks. Happy Halloween!
Breakfast Muesli with Pecans, Hunza Raisins and Cacao Nibs
My first experience eating muesli was in Germany during a visit meeting my soon-to-be in-laws. In Europe (specifically Switzerland and Germany), muesli is a popular uncooked breakfast cereal based on rolled oats, dried fruits and nuts. It is typically soaked in milk (I use my homemade almond milk) or yogurt and topped with fresh fruits. For extra sweetness top it off with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.
Mizuna Greens Salad with Pomegranate Seeds and Sliced Apple
Today I made a healthy and simple salad using mizuna greens. Mizuna is a Japanese green and the flavor is delicious, like a peppery green similar to arugula, but milder. It’s wonderful eaten raw but you can also have it sauteed, steamed, pickled or used in soups. I added sweet pomegranate seeds and apple slices to compliment the slight bitter flavor of the mizuna.
Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Tempeh
We didn’t eat Brussels sprouts growing up, but after moving back to the East Coast they quickly became one of my favorite seasonal vegetables. I typically roast them in the oven which makes the outside crispy and brown, while the inside stays nice and tender.
Dandelion Green Smoothie with Pears and Coconut Water
[This post is part of my Green Smoothie series]
Dandelion greens aren’t just a nasty weed in your lawn, they’re actually great to use in green smoothies! The leaves are an excellent source of calcium, as well as vitamins A, C and K. They are bitter in flavor so you may adjust the amount of pears and dates to your taste. You can find dandelion greens in grocery stores like Whole Foods or at most health food stores.
Healthy Banana Muffins with Yogurt, Pecans and Chocolate Chips
I love baking muffins because of the endless possibilities. I try to make my muffins healthy, which to me means using whole, unprocessed ingredients and cutting down on sugar by using natural sweeteners such as dates, agave syrup, or honey. Banana muffins are a perfect example. Also check out my sugar-free banana bread where the sweetness comes from ripe bananas and a few dates.
*Update: all of the non-perishable ingredients used in this recipe are now available through my new site GrubKit.com. Everything comes sealed and pre-measured.