Tomato Soup

I have made this tomato soup for several occasions, most recently Avery's first birthday luncheon, and always get requests for the recipe. It goes really well with my focaccia bread.

Adapted from The Nato's, serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil
2 stalks celery, diced
4 carrots, peeled and diced
2 onions, peeled and diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried basil
2 bay leaves
Pinch chili flakes, optional
3.5 cups whole peeled or diced tomatoes (2 14 ounce cans)
2 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons butter, optional
1 cup cream or coconut milk
Salt
Pepper
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
Parmesan cheese

Directions

In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the celery, carrot, onions, garlic, dried basil, bay leaves, chill flakes, salt and pepper. Sauté until softened and caramelized, about 10 minutes. The longer the better!

Add the tomatoes (including the juice), chicken stock, sugar and butter, if using. Simmer over medium-low heat until the vegetables are tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Again, the longer the better!

Remove the bay leaves. Blend with an immersion blender until smooth. Add the cream and basil. Simmer for 5 more minutes.

Serve hot with parmesan cheese to garnish.

♥  Amy

Pomegranate Kale Salad

Similar to the  kale salad with warm bacon vinaigrette, this salad has become a staple in our house. The original recipe calls for wild rice but I find it just as yummy without.

Adapted from Pinch of Yum, serves four

Ingredients

Seeds from half a pomegranate
3 cups kale, stems removed, chopped
1/2 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped
1/2 cup feta cheese

1/2 onion
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions

Combine the first four ingredients in a large bowl.

Combine the remaining ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Transfer the dressing to the bowl. Toss to combine.

♥  Amy

Swiss Chard or Kale Pesto

When our garden and CSA baskets hit full swing we are always overwhelmed by kale and swiss chard.  Now that I have found this recipe, we will no longer have a problem using up our leafy greens! It even works well with the ones that have been forgotten in the back of the fridge and started to wilt.

The pesto tastes fantastic tossed over pasta with sun dried tomatoes or in a simple pasta salad with cherry tomatoes and feta. I find it tastes even better cold which makes it a staple for lunches in our house right now.

It could also be served over grilled chicken, shrimp or vegetables. 

Adapted from Kitchenaid, makes approximately 2 cups

Ingredients

1 medium bunch (about 8 stalks) swiss chard or kale
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fresh basil
3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Salt
Pepper
1/2 cup olive oil

Directions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

Remove the leaves from the stems of the kale or swiss chard. Discard the stems. Blanch the leaves in the boiling water for 15 seconds and then transfer immediately to a sieve. Rinse with cold water and allow to drain. Once the leaves have cooled, squeeze out as much water as possible. Don't be afraid to squeeze the leaves into a tight ball to do so.

Add the drained leaves, toasted pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, chopped garlic, lemon juice, basil, salt and pepper to a blender. Blend the ingredients for 10 to 15 seconds.With the blender still running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Continue blending until the mixture is well combined and even consistency.

Store in the fridge for up to a week.

♥  Amy

Basic Marinara Sauce

Another recipe from our Friday Night Pasta Parties... I really need to get better at taking photos at these events!

This time we got adventurous and made ravioli so we needed a good basic marinara to compliment it. I was surprised how the little bit of balsamic vinegar in this recipe seemed to provide the sweetness that is needed to over come the acidity in the tomatoes. No more adding sugar to tomato sauce for me!

Adapted from Style Me Pretty, serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
2 28 ounce cans crushed tomatoes
Salt
Pepper
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Directions

In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté the onion and garlic in the oil until the onions are soft, about 5 to 8 minutes. Add the basil and oregano and sauté for another couple minutes until fragrant. Add the tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer for at least 20 minutes. Longer is better.

Finish the sauce by adding the balsamic vinegar and stirring to combine. Serve hot over fresh pasta.

♥  Amy

Grandma's Green Bean Casserole

This is one of my all time favourite foods. A family recipe passed down from my Grandma to my mom to me. Now it is also one of Dave's favourites as well.

Serves 6 to 10

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 small onion, finely diced
1 cup sour cream
1 16 ounce bag frozen green beans, defrosted, or fresh beans, cut and blanched
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup bread crumbs or panko
1 tablespoon butter, melted

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

In a large bowl, stir the flour into the melted butter. Add in the salt, sugar and sour cream. Stir to combine.

Add the onion and green beans. Toss until well coated. Transfer to a casserole dish, a shallow rectangular dish works best.

Spread the cheese over top of the bean mixture.

In a small bowl, toss the bread crumbs in the remaining tablespoon of melted butter. Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the cheese.

Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.

Serve hot.

♥  Amy

Arrabiata Sauce

A group of girlfriends from work have recently started a tradition of pasta nights where we get together to make homemade pasta and sauce as an excuse to drink wine and gossip.

 

This is the sauce I made for the first of such events. Sorry no photos... we were too distracted...
Adapted from Una Mamma Italiana, serves six to eight

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup red wine
2 tablespoons brown sugar, optional but recommended!
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped, plus additional for garnish if desired
6 oz can tomato paste
2 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
Pepper
Salt
Directions

In a large sauce pan over medium heat, heat the oil. Saute the onion and garlic until soft, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the wine, sugar, basil, red pepper flakes, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Increase the heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes, uncovered.

Serve over homemade pasta with parmesan cheese and extra basil to garnish.

♥  Amy

Roasted Tomatoes

Normally I try to can a large batch of tomatoes every fall. This fall we were just too busy to do an epic canning session but I still needed to store the boxful of tomatoes we harvested from the garden. I saw this recipe online and new it was the perfect lazy solution!

(I was even lazier about blogging... hence why this is only just getting posted in January...)

Once roasted, the tomatoes can be stored in the freezer and pulled out as required for soups and pasta sauces.

Adapted from David Lebovitz

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, chopped
8 to 10 branches fresh thyme
Spring fresh rosemary
Salt 
Pepper
1 pound tomatoes

Directions

Pour the olive oil into a shallow non-metallic baking dish. Add the garlic, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper.

Cut the tomatoes in half horizontally and remove the stems. Toss the tomatoes in the oil and herbs. Lay the tomatoes cut side down in the dish.

Bake for two hours or until the tomatoes start to wrinkle.

Store in a ziploc bag in the freezer for up to six months.

♥  Amy

African Sweet Potato Soup

Serves 8

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons ginger, minced
1 onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
2 pounds sweet potato
5 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup tahini or peanut butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon crushed chillies
1 can coconut milk, optional

Directions

In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute the onion, garlic and ginger in the olive oil until softened. Add the celery, sweet potato, turmeric, cumin, paprika and chillies and saute for 3 to 5 minutes.

Add the broth, salt and nut butter. Stir to combine. Simmer over medium heat until the sweet potatoes are soft, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Puree the soup using a blender or hand blender.

For a creamier soup, return the pureed soup to the pot and add coconut milk. Stir to combine and simmer until heated through.

♥  Amy

Baba Ganoush

For the past three weeks Dave has been trying to eat no sugar - no processed sugar, no natural sugars, not even fruit. Absolutely nothing ending in "-ose" as he puts it.

This has meant we have been scrambling to find snack foods to replace the copious amounts of fruit and daily smoothies he has become accustom to. Sliced vegetables and dip have become a life saver for mid-afternoon cravings.

Adapted from David Lebovitz, makes approximately 1 1/2 cups 

Ingredients

3 medium eggplants
1/2 cup tahini
1 1/4 teaspoons coarse salt
3 tablespoons lemon juice
3 cloves garlic
1/8 teaspoon chile powder
1 tablespoon olive oil
arsley or cilantro

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375F (190C).

Place the eggplants on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes or until completely soft. Remove from the oven and let cool.

Split the eggplant and scrape the pulp out of the skin. Add the pulp to a blender or food processor with the other ingredients. Puree until smooth.

Serve with sliced vegetables or pita bread.

Baba Ganoush can be made and refrigerated for up to five days prior to serving.

♥  Amy

Crunchy Kale Salad

This salad is one of those power house salads that is a meal on its own. Especially if you added diced chicken. I also often add hemp hearts or flax seeds.

This salad, with the exception of the avocado, will last an amazingly long time in the refrigerator so don't be intimidated by the large batch size. It will provide several days worth of lunches - always important in our house.

Adapted from Use Real Butter, serves four to six

Ingredients

4 cups kale, shredded

2 cups red cabbage, shredded
2 cups green cabbage, shredded
1 Granny Smith apple, julienned
1 avocado, diced
1 cup almond slivers
1 cup dried cranberries or raisins

1/2 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon maple syrup
3 tablespoons tahini

1/3 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice
Pinch of salt, to taste

Directions

Place the orange juice, maple syrup, tahini, lemon juice and salt in a medium bowl and whisk together until blended. Slowly drizzle the olive oil into the bowl while whisking constantly. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the kale, cabbage, apple, avocado, almonds and cranberries. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until well coated. 

♥  Amy

Baked Potato Salad

The easiest potato salad recipe ever. My standby recipe for any bar-b-que I am hosting.

This version of potato salad is a lot lighter than the traditional mayonaise and egg based recipes. It is a perfect salad for a summer potluck or picnic.

Adapted from Martha Stewart, serves  four

Ingredients

2 pounds new potatoes, quartered

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup green onions or chives, thinly sliced

4 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
Salt
Pepper

Directions

In a large pot, cover the potatoes water. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat. Simmer until potatoes are tender, about 12 to 15 minutes. Drain.

In a large boil, combine the sour cream, potatoes, green onions and bacon. Season with salt and pepper. Fold to combine.

Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

♥  Amy

Sprouts

Sprouts are so versitile... they can be added to sandwiches and salads for extra protein and a little zip.

There is a long list of beans or seeds that can be sprouted: adzuki bean, alfalfa, fenugreek, mung bean, pea, chick pea, soybean, wheat, corn, rice, quinoa, amaranth, sesame, sun flower, broccoli, radish, watercress, mustard, arugula, clover, lentil... Look in the bulk section at your local organic food store. In Calgary, try Community Foods - they even sell pre-packaged mixes specifically for sprouting.

Ingredients

1/2 cup of dried beans or 2 tablespoon of dried seeds
Water
Glass Jar
Cheesecloth or mesh

Directions

Rinse the beans thoroughly to remove any dirt. Place the beans or seeds into the jar and cover with about 1 cup of water. Place the cheesecloth or mesh over the mouth of the jar and secure with the jar ring, rubber band or string.

Allow to soak in a dark location at room temperature for 8 to 12 hours for beans and 2 to 4 hours for seeds.

Drain the water from the jar. Rinse the beans or seeds with fresh water, completely drain the water. Recover the jar and prop upside down inside a small bowl. Return to the dark location.

Continue to rinse the beans at least twice a day for 3 to 5 days, until they have reached the desired size. They can be exposed to indirect sunlight for the last day if greener sprouts are desired.

Rinse the spouts thoroughly and remove from the jar.

Eat immediately or store in the fridge.



♥  Amy

Tomato Soup

Adapted from Everyday Occasions, serves four

Ingredients

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons olive oil

28 ounce can crushed tomatoes

28 ounce can diced tomatoes

2 cups stock, chicken or vegetable

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup heavy cream

3 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

 

 

 

Directions

In a saucepan over medium heat, saute garlic in olive oil for one minute until softened. Add the tomatoes, stock, salt, pepper and sugar. Cook at a simmer for 10 minutes.  Reduce the heat to low and add the cream and basil. Garnish with parmesan and balsamic vinegar.

♥  Amy

Vegetable Fritters

These make a fantastic fast lunch, light dinner or side dish.

Adapted from Spoon Fork Bacon, serves two

Ingredients

1 sweet potato, peeled and grated
2 carrots, peeled and grated
1 zucchini, grated
1 clove garlic, minced
1 egg
1/2 cup almond flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Olive oil

1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon curry


Directions

Squeeze as much liquid out of the grated vegetables as possible. Combine the vegetables, garlic, egg, flour, baking powder, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Stir well.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Form the 2 to 3 tablespoons of the vegetable mixture in to a ball with your hands. Gently press to flatten and place in the skillet.

Fry 4 to 6 minutes, flip, and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the fritters to a lined baking sheet in a warm oven to keep hot until serving.

To make the curry mayonnaise, combine the mayonnaise, cumin and curry in a small bowl.

Serve the hot fritters with the curry mayonnaise.

Enjoy!

♥  Amy

Indian Spiced Peas

Adapted from the Kitchn, serves four

Ingredients

1 tablespoon ghee
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamon
1/2 teaspoon crushed chilies
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
1 clove garlic, minced

1 onion, finely chopped

1/2 pound peas
Salt
Pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Cilantro, for garnish

Directions

In a large skillet over medium-high, melt the ghee. Add the ginger, garlic, cumin, mustard, coriander, cardamom, chili and onion to the pan and cook until onions are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the peas. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Saute for about 3 minutes, until the peas are cook through. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice.

 Serve garnished with cilantro.

♥  Amy

Carrot Soup with Ginger and Sesame

The original recipe called for miso paste but I substituted it with tahini - it was what we had in the pantry and it is paleo-friendly. You could also use peanut butter or almond butter.

Adapted from Smitten Kitchen, serves six

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 pounds carrots, peeled and sliced
1 large onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tablespoons ginger, grated
4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
1/4 cup tahini
1 tablespoon sesame oil
Green onions, chopped, for garnish
Cilantro, for garnish

Directions

Heat the oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add the carrots, onion and garlic and saute until onion is soft. Add the broth, ginger, and tahini, stir to combine. Cover and simmer until carrots are tender or about 30 minutes.

Puree the soup with an immersion blender until smooth. Add the sesame oil and stir to combine.

Ladle into bowls and garnish with green onions and cilantro.

♥  Amy

Mutter Paneer

We ate a lot of paneer while we were in India - whether it be palak paneer, paneer kofta, paneer paranthas and mutter or mattar paneer - so now I have a long list of paneer recipes and a kitchen full of spices to try out!

Mutter paneer would traditionally be served with rice or naan but we find that it is plenty filling on its own and makes a fantastic fast vegetarian dinner. You can find cubed paneer in the freezer aisle in Superstore and we keep a good stock in our freezer for last minute weeknight meals. 

Serves four

1 pound paneer, cubed
1/2 pound peas
2 onions, chopped
1 tablespoon ginger, grated
2 tablespoons garlic, minced
3 tablespoons ghee
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoons garam masala
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
28 ounce can diced tomatoes
3 tablespoons heavy cream
Cilantro, to garnish
Heat the ghee in a large pan. Add the onions, garlic and ginger and saute until softened. Add the spices and heat until fragrant.

Reduce the heat and add the tomatoes, paneer and peas. Simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

Add the cream and continue to simmer for another 5 minutes.

Garnish with cilantro and serve with rice or naan.

♥  Amy

Sunrise Juice

Makes 2 cups

1 orange
1 grapefruit
3 carrots

Remove stems from carrots and cut as required to fit into the juicer. Peel and quarter orange and grapefruit. Process through juicer according to manufactuer's instructions.


Amy

Avocado Beet Salad

Serves two

4 small beets
4 fingerling potatoes, optional
1 avocado
1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
1 lemon, juiced
2 tablespoons truffle-infused olive oil
Salt
Pepper
3 cups mixed salad greens

Preheat the oven to 375 F. Place the beets and potatoes into a roasting pan. Roast for 40 minutes or until tender. Allow to cool.

Remove the skin from the beets and slice into 1/4 inch thick slices. Slice the potatoes and avocado into 1/4 inch slices. Combine the vegetables in a large bowl. Wash the salad greens, dry well and place in a large bowl.

Add the lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper to a bowl. Whisk to combine.

Divide the dressing between the bowl with the greens and the bowl with the vegetables. Toss to coat. Plate the salad greens and top with the vegetables.

♥  Amy

Salmon Corn Chowder

Serves four

1 tablespoon butter

2 cups onion, chopped

3 cups chicken or vegetable broth

1 1/2 cups potatoes, peeled and cubed

2 340 mL cans corn kernels, drained

1 fillet salmon, skin removed and chunked

1/2 cup smoked salmon, chunked

1 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon dill

1/8 teaspoon chili flakes

Salt

Pepper

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute the onion until softened. Add the potato and broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until the potato is tender. Add the corn and salmon. Simmer 5 minutes further until the salmon is cooked through. Add the cream and seasonings. Allow to simmer until warmed through.

Garnish with fresh dill or chives.