No Croutons Required - The Winner and October's Challenge

The winning entry for the September fruit soup and salad challenge is a feast for the eyes and palate. Srimathi of Five Minute Wonders came out ahead of some tough competition with this delightful and unique Spicy Fruit Salad. Congratulations to Srimathi!

I will be hosting the October edition of No Croutons Required. Undecided until the last day of this month what the challenge should be, I found my thoughts kept returning to the idea of a warming bowl of soup to ease the Fall chills. So, with the soup season upon us, I'm asking for hearty vegetarian soups. The idea is to make a bowl of soup that would essentially be filling and satisfying enough to serve as a meal in itself. For a recap of the submission guidelines, see here.

Brown and Wild Rice with Fried Corn

Sweet corn fried in bacon fat is an old treat down south, but it's plenty tasty fried in plain old butter for us vegetarians as well. Add to a pot of hot cooked brown and wild rice for a warm and earthy, slightly sweet and salty dish that will look lovely on a fall table.

This is my contribution to JFI, hosted this time around by Suganya of Tasty Palettes. The theme this month is whole grains.

Brown and wild rice with fried corn

1/2 cup brown rice
1/2 cup wild rice
2 1/2 cups cold water
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 ear of sweet corn
1 green onion, both white and green parts, chopped
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste

Rinse the brown rice under running water and soak overnight in a medium saucepan in 2 1/2 cups of cold water. The next day, rinse the wild rice under running water and add to the brown rice. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.

Scrape the kernels from the corn cob. After the rice has been cooking for about 10 minutes, melt the butter over medium heat in a frying pan. Add the corn and the white parts of the green onion, and stir fry for 15-20 minutes until the corn is well browned and beginning to pop. Remove from heat.

Once the rice has cooked for 30 minutes, turn off the heat and stir in the corn, onion and butter into the warm cooked rice. Stir in the green parts of the green onion and salt to taste, and cover the pan again for 10 minutes to let any remaining liquid absorb.

Fluff with a fork and serve. Serves 4.

Orange blossom water semifreddo with almonds, honey and strawberries

I was a tad emotional this weekend. I cried when I heard that Paul Newman had passed away, then I cried again watching “Juno”. I did laugh out loud in some parts, too, that’s true. Isn’t Michael Cera just the most adorable thing ever?Cooking and baking made me feel so much better. And so did this semifreddo. Especially because I kept thinking of Joao mimicking Bill while we were watching his show

Gingered Carrot and Pinto Bean Soup

The light curry and ginger fragrance of this warm, creamy and colourful soup is as inviting on a cool fall evening as your favourite sweater … and almost as simple as putting it on. Loaded with carrots and beans, it's very nourishing besides.

Gingered carrot and pinto bean soup

3/4 cup dried pinto beans
3 cups water
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound carrots, sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
2 red cayenne peppers, seeded and chopped
2 green onions, both white and green parts, chopped
2-inch piece fresh ginger, grated or minced
1 teaspoon curry powder
2 cup vegetable stock
1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
sour cream or yogurt, and chopped fresh parsley to garnish

Rinse the pinto beans and soak overnight in several inches of cold water with a little yogurt whey or lemon juice added. Drain and discard the soaking liquid. Place the beans in a medium saucepan and add 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 to 1/2 hours or until tender. Set aside with the cooking liquid.

Heat a large saucepan or soup pot over medium heat. When hot, add the olive oil, wait a few moments, then swirl around to coat the bottom of the pan. Toss in the carrots, onion, cayenne peppers, and the white parts of the green onion, and sauté for 5 minutes or until the onions are soft. Add the ginger, stir in the curry powder to coat the vegetables, and continue to cook for another 2 minutes.

Now add the beans along with their cooking liquid, and the vegetable stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until the carrots are soft. Remove from heat, add the green parts of the green onion, and purée the soup with a hand blender or in batches with an ordinary blender.

Ladle into warm bowls for serving. Stir in a spoon of sour cream or yogurt, and garnish with a few leaves of fresh parsley. Serves 4 to 6.

Fried Green Tomatoes and Old Cheddar

I've been hoping to try fried green tomatoes for years now ever since I'd heard of this famous old down-south comfort food — after all, if anyone does comfort food like Southerners do, I don't know about it. But as much as I like to add my own touches to classic recipes, I'm a bit of a stickler when it comes to the basic articles … so I'm not about to start putting ordinary tomatoes where a genuine green tomato belongs. Unfortunately, green tomatoes — as opposed to unripened tomatoes — seem to be the stuff of legend here in southwestern Ontario where we grow plenty of otherwise red, orange or yellow ones.

So I was extraordinarily delighted — and surprised — when I finally came across a few small handfuls of green heirloom tomatoes sitting in a basket at a small store where I ordinarily pick up my dairy and dried goods. It was a matter of seconds for me to grab them up, and just half-a-day later for fried green tomatoes to appear on my breakfast plate.

Green tomatoes have a full, sweet but less acidic tomato taste with a smooth texture — one could say almost oily, but in a good way — that makes the fruit almost slide down your mouth. There are plenty of ways to coat and fry green tomatoes — in cornmeal, bread crumbs, cracker crumbs or flour, with or without beaten eggs — but a simple variation on the traditional salt, pepper and cornmeal method with a little added cayenne for spice seemed to me to be a proper way to go for my first taste. Of course, the green tomatoes are traditionally fried in bacon grease too — and while I won't deny the comfort food pleasures of bacon for meat-eaters, something a little different in the flavour department was required for vegetarians, and I decided to melt a little sharp aged cheddar cheese on top instead.

Warm, soft and sweet on the inside, crisp and a little spicy on the outside, and with the mild salty palette of melted old cheddar on top … these fried green tomatoes are a small simple pleasure and definitely deserve the comfort food label. Green tomatoes are not absolutely necessary, and I'll be making these again with whatever variety I have on hand, but be sure to use firm and just ripened tomatoes.

Fried green tomatoes and old cheddar

1 pound firm green tomatoes
1/3 cup fine cornmeal
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 cup aged cheddar cheese, grated
paprika or cayenne for garnish

Finely slice the tops and bottoms off the tomatoes, and slice the rest into 1/2-inch thick slices.

Pour the cornmeal on to a dinner plate and mix in the salt, pepper and cayenne evenly with a fork. Dredge the tomato slices through the cornmeal mixture, pressing lightly on each side to form a thick even coating.

Melt the butter over medium heat in a large frying pan and preheat the broiler. Add the tomato slices to the pan and cook for about 6 to 8 minutes on each side, until the cornmeal is browned.

Remove the tomato slices to a baking sheet and sprinkle with the cheddar cheese and a few pinches of paprika or cayenne. Place under the broiler just long enough for the cheese to melt.

Let cook for a few minutes before serving.

Olive gnocchi with parsley garlic sauce

Thank you all for being so supportive about my disastrous bread. I learned that KJ and Jenjen, two of my favorite bloggers, did not have any luck with this recipe either. And Syrie, tks for the suggestion of leaving Jamie a message – it had crossed my mind, but I thought I was being too childish... :)

With all the info I have received from you and from the people who read my blog in Portuguese

Smoked Gouda Gougeres

I picked up a copy of the Autumn edition of Food and Drink magazine the other day. As expected, the focus is on the fruits of the harvest and other foods that Canadians enjoy during the Fall. With cooler temperatures setting in, more substantial and warming foods are favoured. The glossy images had me craving many foods at once and I'll be trying several recipes from this issue over the next few months.

One of the first recipes that caught my eye was for Black Pepper Gouda Gougeres. For those unfamiliar with the term, gougeres are a savory French-style cheese puff that is often made with Gruyère cheese, and sometimes stuffed with other ingredients. Any flavourful cheese can be used. I decided to try the recipe with smoked Gouda, but feel free to substitute Gruyère, aged sharp cheddar, or even goat cheese.

These delightful little airy puffs can be served with a red pepper dip, or just on their own, as I enjoyed them.

Gouda Cheese Puffs

1 cup of water
1/4 cup of unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
1 cup of unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon of cumin
1 teaspoon of paprika
dash of cayenne
4 eggs
2 tablespoons of fresh chives, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of fresh thyme, finely chopped
2 cups of smoked Gouda cheese, or black pepper Gouda

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium sauce pan, bring the water, butter and salt to a boil over high heat. Immediately add the flour, paprika, cumin, and cayenne, reduce the heat to low and stir until the mixture forms into a smooth ball that separates from the sides of the pan - roughly 1 minute.

Remove the pan from the heat and beat with a wooden spoon for a few minutes.

Now add 1 egg and the chopped herbs to the pot. Beat until thoroughly blended and repeat, adding 1 egg at a time. Add the cheese to the pot in small handfuls, stirring in between additions.

Drop the mixture in rounded tablespoon portions onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving roughly an inch between each puff.

Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until the puffs are golden brown. Cool slightly on a wire rack and serve warm.

Makes approximately 35 - 40 cheese puffs.

Jamie Oliver gone bad - a weird banana and honey bread

I wasn’t much inspired to post today, since it is about a recipe that did not work out, but that changed after I read Pea’s text.I bookmarked the recipe last week and couldn’t wait to try it – I love baking with yeast and the idea of a banana honey roll seemed amazing. And that roll was one of Jamie’s recipes. I was sure it would be delicious.Well, I wouldn’t know about that – the bread came out

Sweet Potato and Apricot Croquettes

I've been rather occupied of late with various projects, distractions and interests, including a rekindled passion for my classic guitar. Battered fingertips and cramping left hand are my punishment for shamefully neglecting this beautiful instrument for the past two years. As there are only so many hours in a day at one's disposal, and sleep is one of the activities I enjoy, this means I have less time to devote to other passions, like cooking, cookbooks and food blog browsing.

Of course, the art of cooking and good nourishment is never far from my mind, and so my interest was piqued when I read that Allen of Eating Out Loud was exploring the delights of Turkish cuisine. Like Allen, I don't know all that much about Turkish culinary traditions, though I've enjoyed all the dishes I have prepared and regularly read Almost Turkish Recipes.

A big thanks to Allen for purchasing a copy of The Food and Cooking of Turkey and for noting and sharing his adapted version of these tender shallow fried rolls that I successfully adapted and enjoyed with friends. Slightly sweet, but also a little tart, with a hint of herbs, I served them alongside a mixed green salad splashed with Lemon Mint Dressing for a delightfully satisfying light meal.

Sweet Potato and Apricot Rolls with Mint Yogurt Sauce

For the Mint Sauce:

1 cup of plain yogurt
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 cup of finely minced fresh mint
juice from one small lemon

For the Rolls:

1 medium sweet potato
1 cup of cooked chickpeas (1/3 cup dried)
4 green onions, finely chopped
1/2 cup of dried apricots, finely chopped
4 tablespoons of pine nuts
1 - 2 fresh red chillies (or cayenne peppers), finely chopped
1/4 cup of fresh basil, finely chopped
1/4 cup of fresh dill, finely chopped
lots of freshly cracked black pepper
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup of cornmeal
1/2 - 1 cup of breadcrumbs
1/2 cup of unbleached white flour
oil for frying (I used peanut oil)

Whisk together the ingredients for the Mint Sauce and refrigerate.

Peel the sweet potato, cut into slices, place in a small pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat slightly and cook until soft. Drain and transfer to a medium bowl, along with the cooked chickpeas. Mash the chickpeas and sweet potato together until well combined.

Stir in the green onions, apricots, pine nuts, red chili, dill, basil and salt and pepper. Now stir in the egg. Add the cornmeal and 1/2 cup of the breadcrumbs. Add more breadcrumbs until the mixture is slightly moist and holds together.

Shape into roughly 3" long croquettes. Roll each portion in the flour.

In a heavy frying pan or pot, heat roughly 1/2 inch of oil over medium high heat. When it is hot, put the rolls in the oil, and fry for roughly 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Turn the rolls every few minutes so they evenly brown. Drain on paper towel. Serve with the mint yogurt sauce.

Yields roughly 14 - 16 croquettes.

Other Turkish recipes from Lisa's Kitchen you might enjoy:

Wilted Spinach with Pine Nuts and Lemon Yogurt Dressing
Turkish Yogurt Hummus
Feta and Olive Scones
Turkish Barley and Apricot Porridge
Turkish Sour Cherry Pilaf

Lemon Mint Dressing

Bold and tart but appealingly sweet, this attractive and assertive dressing should be paired with strong-flavoured greens like arugula, chicory, spinach or mustard leaves.

Lemon mint dressing

juice from 2 large lemons (about 2/3 cup)
2 tablespoons fresh mint, finely chopped
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons poppy seeds

Whisk together the lemon juice, mint, sugar, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir in the olive oil and poppy seeds, and mix again just before serving.

Makes about 1 cup of dressing. Keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

I think I'm obsessed... Double-lemon bars

We accidentally found out that there were more channels available for free on cable on the weekend. My first reaction was “I bet there won’t be anything good on” but I bit my tongue: last night, on Cinemax, several of Kubrick's films in a row. “The Shining” – which I have seen 5 times or so - followed by “Full Metal Jacket” (Vincent!) and “Barry Lyndon”.I guess you’ve noticed my obsession for Mr.

Cheese and Sage Damper Bread

If you are looking for inspiration in the kitchen, Celia Brooks Brown's World Vegetarian Classics is a good place to start. There are over 250 authentic vegetarian recipes from around the world to choose from and nearly all of them are accompanied by some stunning mouthwatering photographs. Each chapter begins with a discussion of the region's culinary traditions, complete with a focus on vegetarian ingredients. Each recipe is straightforward and calls for ingredients that are easy to obtain.

My latest choice was from the chapter devoted to Australasia, a cuisine that until recently was rather bereft of tasty vegetarian options. Thanks to the influence of Asian and Mediterranean immigrants, creative and imaginative vegetarian options are now common place. Tempted first by Garlic and Goat's Cheese Custards with Fresh Tomato Sauce, and then by a savory cheesecake made with sweet potato, and then again by a Pumpkin and Coconut Soup with Macadamia Pesto, and then by Beetroot Hummus, I finally decided to make this Cheese and Sage Damper bread because the smell of freshly baked bread is truly one of the most soothing of experiences.

This no yeast bread has a long tradition in Australia and was often cooked over the hot coals of a campfire. Somewhat like Irish Soda bread, it is perhaps best described as a cross between a bread and a quick break such as a scone. This modernized version includes Gouda cheese and sage, resulting in a most satisfying side dish.

This is my contribution to this month's Monthly Mingle, an event started by the lovely Meeta. The theme this month is Sensational Sides and Ruth of Ruth's Kitchen Experiments is the hostess this time around.

Cheese and Sage Damper

2 cups of whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of salt
2 tablespoons of butter, softened
1 cup of grated Gouda cheese
3 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon of dried sage
1 cup of milk, plus a few teaspoons for brushing the top of the bread
2 teaspoons of poppy seeds

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Alternately, you can lightly butter the baking sheet.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Rub the butter in with your fingertips until the mixture is crumbly. Now stir in the cheese and sage. Gradually stir in the milk until a dough forms.

On a lightly floured board, knead the dough for a few minutes until it is smooth. Shape the dough into a circle that is roughly 7 inches in diameter and 1 1/2 inches thick. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Using a long knife, score the dough into 8 wedges, nearly cutting it all the way through.

Brush the top with milk, sprinkle with poppy seeds and bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for rough 25 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Serve warm or cold.

Aunt Mary Dillon's praline cookies

“Funny Games” opens today here in Sao Paulo. I know it’s a frame by frame remake, like Gus Van Sant’s hugest mistake, and there are some harsh reviews about it going on here, but I don’t care – any movie with Tim Roth and Naomi Watts has my undivided attention. Have you seen this poster? It’s absolutely fantastic.I can’t say the same about the photo of these cookies, though. It’s OK, but not as

Green Bean and Toor Dal Poriyal

Poriyals are dry-textured vegetable curries native to south Indian cooking, typically tempered with fried mustard seeds, dried hot red chilies, urad dal and a spice masala for a uniquely smoky and pungent finish. Usually so simple and fast to make that you'll spend as much time cleaning up after as it will take you to prepare and cook, poriyals are often served as elegant little starters or side dishes — but they also make delightful lunches or light meals by themselves with a little rice or some naan bread on the side.

Green beans are among the most common of vegetables used in traditional poriyals, and the crunchiness of lightly cooked fresh beans is complemented here in this version by a crisp, lightly fried mash of dals that makes the texture as enjoyable as the layers of flavours. This recipe is adapted from one in Chandra Padmanabhan's delightful and varied collection of south Indian dal, rice and vegetable dishes, a book that fully deserves its evocative title Dakshin— an ancient Sanskrit word meaning "South."

Green bean and toor dal poriyal

1 cup toor dal or yellow split peas
5 dried hot red chilies
1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon asafoetida

1 pound green beans, ends snapped off and cut into 1/2-inch or smaller pieces

Tempering:

3 tablespoons olive oil
2 red cayenne peppers, seeded and chopped
2 teaspoons urad dal
1 teaspoon brown mustard seeds
1 scant teaspoon cumin seeds
6-8 fresh or dried curry leaves

Rinse the toor dal thoroughly under cold running water and place in a bowl. Add the dried red chilies and cover with several inches of cold water. Soak for one hour.

Drain and place the dal and chilies along with the salt and asafoetida in a blender or food processor. Grind to a smooth paste, adding a little water if necessary. Set aside.

Cook the beans in a large wok or saucepan over medium heat with a 1/4 cup of water added, stirring until the water has evaporated and the beans are just tender and a vibrant green. Remove to a bowl and set aside.

Wipe the pan, return to the heat and add the olive oil. As soon as the oil is hot, add the chopped cayenne peppers, stir around for 30 seconds, then toss in the brown mustard seeds, urad dal, cumin seeds and curry leaves. Stir until the mustard seeds begin to pop.

Turn down the heat to low and add the toor dal paste. Cook gently, stirring occasionally, until the paste just starts to turn crisp and golden brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in the beans and combine throughout the dal.

Remove from heat and serve right away. Serves 4 to 6.

Roasted tomato and goat's cheese tart with fresh oregano

Apparently, it’s still winter here – after a week of 33ºC (91.4ºF) days, we’ve been having much colder ones.I know that tomatoes are much tastier in the summer, but I would never be able to wait that long to make Pille’s wonderful tart. Would you? :)The only change I made was to use fresh oregano instead of thyme - just because I happen to grow it.I used to have a hard time digesting garlic but

Ricki's Radish and Grapefruit Salad

An exclusive government monopoly on liquor sales is one of the peculiar features of life in Ontario. A holdover from the early 20th-century post-prohibition days, the continued existence of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (quite the bureaucratic-sounding name) is an example of the lobbying power of public service unions as well as a continual reminder that our provincial government still doesn't really quite trust us. It has been quite a few years since wine and liquor was stored behind a closed wall and customers had to write their order on a slip of paper in a bare Soviet-style room and have it delivered to them in brown parcel paper from behind a counter, but even now locations are few and far-between even in cities, and plastic bags have been discontinued; yes, half-a-dozen wine bottles get put in a handle-less paper bag, unless you bring your own bag or choose a box instead. So much for the customer always comes first philosophy.

Still, the Board has kept up with modern marketing trends and now the LCBO (yes, a user-friendly acronym) has turned itself into a snazzy, upscale brand with fancy furnishings and funky in-store signage. One of the best things to come out of this marketing consciousness is the LCBO's quarterly Food and Drink Magazine, an attractive and glossy high-production Martha Stewart Living-type giveaway featuring dozens of beautiful gourmet recipes in every issue.

So I was intrigued right away by the odd combination of flavours in this salad from an old Food and Drink Magazine and posted by one of my favourite food bloggers, Ricki from Diet, Dessert and Dogs. Grapefruit, olives and radishes sounded like such disparate tastes that I never would have thought of putting them together myself, but given the reputation of both Ricki and the magazine I knew that it had to be worth a try.

Like so many other interesting suggestions the recipe ended up being bookmarked for a long time, but it finally got made with colourful and delicious results. As the unusual ingredients suggest, the overall effect is difficult to describe … Ricki calls the results "tart, salty, peppery, juicy," to which I can only add "fresh," "tangy," and "bizarrely appealing."

This salad is best eaten in one sitting as it will turn to liquid-y mush after only a short time … but finishing it off in one dinner didn't prove to be any problem at all! If you're ambitious and finicky, a more appealing and tantalizing result can be had by peeling the membrane off each of the grapefruit sections, but I'm afraid that I'm not the kind of girl to go to that kind of trouble except in extraordinary circumstances!

This is my contribution to No Croutons Required, hosted this month by Holler. The challenge is to make any vegetarian soup or salad featuring fruit.

Ricki's radish and grapefruit salad

Salad:

2 small red grapefruits
2 small white grapefruits
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup kalamata olives
12 radishes, thinly sliced

Dressing:

1/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons grapefruit juice
sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Peel the grapefruit and cut into sections over a bowl, to catch the juice for the dressing. Place the grapefruit sections, green onions, olives and radishes in a salad bowl. Chill until ready to serve.

Whisk together the dressing ingredients. Just before serving, pour dressing over the salad and gently toss together. Serves 4.

Lemon meringue cake

The fun, adorable and sweet Susan is celebrating her first blogiversary and she’s throwing a party to celebrate it!I want to be a part of it, so this is what I’m bringing – a light (not as in “low fat”, of course), refreshing and very lemony dessert, that resembles a pavlova. I hope she likes it!Meringues are “tricky little buggers” - as Jamie would say - so it’s really, really important to keep

Olive Hummus

This past weekend felt more like the middle of August than mid-September. Little inclined to cook in a kitchen thick with humidity, I remembered a tempting recipe for Olive Hummus that I stumbled upon at Jugalbandi. Hummus served along with some chopped vegetables and pita breads has long been a favored solution for a quick and easy meal, and how could I resist the combined flavours of olives and chickpeas? Only slightly modified from the original recipe, this is quite possibly a new addiction. My only regret is that I didn't make twice the amount.

I'm sending this along to Lucy who is guest hosting My Legume Love Affair, a monthly event started by Susan to celebrate the mighty legume.

Olive Hummus with Sun-dried Tomatoes

1/2 cup of dried chickpeas
4 tablespoons of tahini
juice from one lime
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 cayenne or jalapeno pepper, roughly chopped
3 - 4 sun-dried tomatoes
1/3 cup of black olives, pitted
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1/2 teaspoon of cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon of cayenne
sea salt to taste
1 teaspoon of oregano
1/4 teaspoon of paprika

Soak the beans overnight in enough water to cover. Drain, cover with water, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium low and cover and simmer until the beans are buttery soft - roughly 1 - 2 hours. Drain and set aside.

Soak the sun-dried tomatoes in hot water for 15 minutes. Reserve the soaking liquid and roughly chop the tomatoes.

In a food processor, combine the chickpeas, tahini, lime juice, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, hot pepper, cumin seeds, cayenne, olives, salt and olive oil. Process until all of the ingredients are combined and form a dip-like consistency. Add a bit of the reserved sun-dried tomato liquid if necessary.

Stir in the oregano, transfer to a serving bowl, sprinkle with paprika and garnish with a few olives.

Other hummus recipes you might enjoy from Lisa's Kitchen:

Turkish Yogurt Hummus

Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Dark and white chocolate chunk cookies and your opinion about a magazine

Kristen left me a comment a while ago, asking my opinion about Bon Appétit’s new “look”. To be honest, I’m not so thrilled with the magazine anymore. The issues are getting thinner and thinner and each time there are more ads instead of interesting recipes and articles. Such a bummer. :(
Now I would love to hear your opinion, too – how do you like the magazine?

I did find something of my

Creamy Cannellini Bean Soup with Jalapeño Gremolata

White bean soups are most thought of as winter staples, but a bouquet of fresh garden jalapeños and lemon zest burst out of this cannellini bean soup like a blast of summer sunshine. Quick, simple, and delicious at any time of year.

Creamy cannellini bean soup with jalapeño gremolata

Soup:

2/3 cup dried cannellini (white kidney) beans
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
4 whole dried red chillies
2 scant tablespoons vegetable bouillon powder
1 scant teaspoon dried thyme
1 scant teaspoon dried marjoram
juice from 1 lemon
sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

Gremolata:

2 large jalapeño peppers, stems removed
zest from 1 lemon

Rinse the beans under cold running water and soak overnight covered in several inches of water with a little yogurt whey or lemon juice added. Discard the soaking liquid the next day and transfer the beans to a medium saucepan. Add 2 1/2 cups of water, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour or until the beans are soft and buttery. Remove from heat and set the beans as well as the cooking liquid aside.

Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large saucepan. When hot, toss in the onion, dried red chillies, and vegetable bouillon powder. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent the powder from sticking, until the onions have softened. Add 2 1/2 cups of water, as well as the beans and reserved cooking liquid, thyme and marjoram. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer gently for 10-15 minutes to let the flavours mingle. Remove from heat and purée in a blender or with a hand blender. Stir in the lemon juice and add salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste (be careful with the salt — many bouillon powders are already very salty, and you may not want any additional salt).

To make the gremolata, put the jalapeños into a food processor and process until well chopped. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the lemon zest.

Serve the soup in bowls with a generous spoonful of gremolata scattered on top. Serves 4 to 6.

Cucumber Dill Dressing

Summer may be coming to an end, but it's not too late to take advantage of locally grown produce. This cooling blend of cucumber, yogurt, vinegar and fresh herbs turned out to be a most refreshing dressing to serve over fresh tomato and greens. It's also thick and creamy enough to serve as a vegetable dip if desired.

Cucumber dill dressing

1/2 garden or English cucumber, peeled and seeded
1 large tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed or minced
1 green onion, finely sliced, both white and green parts
3/4 cup plain whole-fat yogurt
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons cider or red wine vinegar
fresh ground black pepper

Grate the peeled and seeded cucumber and add to a small mixing bowl with the dill, garlic and green onion. In a separate bowl, whisk together the yogurt, mayonnaise and vinegar until smooth. Pour the yogurt mixture into the vegetables, add fresh ground black pepper to taste, and mix.

Keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days. Makes 1 cup of dressing.

Cheese salad with hummus dressing and pitta crisps

Joao won’t eat queijo coalho (I know, he’s silly), so after making these there was still half a package of cheese in my fridge. With all the sweets and baked goods around the house, I felt like eating something light and fresh, like a salad. Let’s avoid food waste and waistline expansion!! :)I slightly adapted this recipe, just adding a bit more flavor to the dressing and omitting the onions. It’

Smoky Black Bean Chili

As cooler temperatures move into Canada, I begin to think once again of comfort food. And nothing speaks comfort like a warming bowl of chili. The smoky flavour in this dish comes from a blend of toasted cumin, mustard and fennel seeds. Of course, it's spicy too, as my regular readers have no doubt come to expect.

Indian-Style Smoky Black Bean Chili

1 1/2 cups of dried black beans, soaked overnight
4 cups of water
a generous handful of serrano, jalapenos and green chilies, seeded and minced
1 inch piece of fresh ginger, grated or finely minced
small handful of dried curry leaves
1/2 cup of fresh parsley or coriander, chopped
1 teaspoon of cumin seeds
dash or two of asafoetida powder
1 tablespoon of chili powder
dash of cayenne
1 teaspoon of dried oregano
1/2 cup of sun-dried tomatoes, soaked in hot water for 15 minutes, and chopped
2 cups of diced tomatoes
1/4 cup of bulgur wheat, soaked in 1/3 cup of hot water for 10 minutes
sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper

1 teaspoon of black mustard seeds
1 teaspoon of fennel seeds

Drain the beans. In a large pot, combined the drained beans, and 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil, add the peppers, ginger, curry leaves and half of the parsley. Reduce the heat to moderately low, cover and simmer for about 1 - 1/2 hours or until the beans are tender.

Puree a small portion of the beans with a hand blender or transfer some of the beans to a blender, puree and return to the pot.

Dry roast the cumin seeds in a small saucepan over medium heat. When the seeds have darkened a few shades, toss the asafoetida into the pan, stir and immediately transfer to the cooked beans. Add the tomatoes to the beans, along with the bulgur and salt and pepper. Cook, uncovered, for another 15 - 20 minutes.

Put the mustard seeds in a small saucepan over medium heat and cover. Shake the pan from time to time. When the seeds begin to pop, add the fennel seeds, cover and continue to fry until the seeds stop popping. Pour into the pot of beans, stir in the remaining parsley, cover and let sit for a few minutes before serving.

Serves 6 - 8.

Blueberry macarons

Making macarons – talk about a brave decision! And here I thought that chopping off 4 inches of hair, like I did a couple of months ago, had been a bold move.I’d had an eye on these pink beauties for quite a while but it was Helen’s wonderful tutorial that gave me the courage to finally try making macarons. And even though they don’t look like hers or the Master’s – which I was lucky enough to

Dark chocolate oatmeal cookies

Eating fibers and grains is a key element for one’s good health – I have no problem there, but know that many people can’t stand them, especially kids. And my husband. :SOne alternative is tricking the kids into eating oats by adding them to baked goods - I have already done that with my nieces, without much success.It’s like Brad Pitt’s “rich” acting skills - they only become tolerable with

Cannellini and Grape Tomato Salad with Lemon Dressing and Rosemary-Garlic Infused Olive Oil

As pretty on a patio table in the summer time as it is refreshing and delicious, this light and cooling bean salad is a favourite — and a wonderful idea if you're being buried under fresh garden grape or cherry tomatoes. Little preparation time is needed for this simple recipe adapted from an old Canadian Living magazine entry.

This is my contribution to Eating with the Season, a food event hosted by Maninas.

Cannellini Bean and Grape Tomato Salad with Lemon Dressing and Rosemary-Garlic Infused Olive Oil

Salad:

2/3 cup dried cannellini (white kidney) beans
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
large handful fresh parsley, trimmed
1/4 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Dressing:

1/4 cup olive oil
1 sprig of fresh rosemary
3 garlic cloves, peeled and slightly mashed
1 teaspoon lemon zest
juice from 1 lemon
fresh ground black pepper

Rinse the cannellini beans under cold running water and soak overnight covered in several inches of cold water with a little yogurt whey or lemon juice added. Drain the beans and cover again with cold water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour or until the beans are soft but not falling apart. Drain and set aside to cool.

Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat with the sprig of rosemary and the garlic. Once the rosemary begins to sizzle, just a few minutes, remove from heat and let stand for 20 minutes to let the flavours of rosemary and garlic infuse the oil.

Discard the sprig of rosemary and remove the garlic from the oil. Set aside the oil and add the garlic to a small food processor along with the lemon zest and lemon juice. Process until smooth. Season with pepper.

Drizzle the dressing over the beans and let stand for a few minutes for the flavours to absorb. Gently fold in the tomatoes, parsley, Parmesan cheese and the reserved olive oil, and serve.

Serves 4 to 6.

Cinnamon apple cake

Moving can be quite stressful and tiring, but also good for finding things we don’t remember we own anymore.After unpacking my cookbooks and magazines, I found a folder filled with very old print outs from other blogs and websites. There were some great recipes there and I did not recall them at all; The one I post today was among them – I printed it almost two years ago!My dear coworker Gisele

Baked Whole Wheat Crêpes with Apple Blueberry Sauce

Not really a crêpe at all, of course, but these thin soft baked pancakes are just as ideal for filling and rolling as the traditional pan-fried version — and with far less fuss and chance of error, these are guaranteed to come out perfectly every time. The ideal solution for when you only want a couple of crêpes … as with a nice breakfast or dinner for two.

A thick apple and blueberry sauce is perfect for late summer and early fall, evoking memories of the just-past blueberry season and anticipation of soon-to-come apple picking, but just as with crêpes any sweet fruit or savoury cheese, vegetable or mushroom filling that comes to mind may be used to as nice an effect. Tart apples are my own favourite, but more sugary varieties may appeal to your sweet tooth … or just add a little extra honey to the sauce.

Baked whole wheat crêpes with apple blueberry sauce

Crêpes:

1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
dash of ground cardamom
dash of sea salt
1/3 cup whole milk
4 large eggs, separated
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Apple blueberry sauce:

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 apples, cored and thinly sliced
1/2 cup apple juice or cider
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1 pint blueberries
1 tablespoon corn starch

Preheat an oven to 400°.

Sift together the flour, cinnamon, cardamom and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk in the milk and egg yolks. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks just start to form (no need to overdo this). Stir in with the rest of the batter.

Place 1 tablespoon of butter in each of two 9-inch pan plates and put the plates into the preheated oven. Once the butter melts and just slightly begins to scorch, remove the plates from the oven and swirl to coat the bottoms. Pour in half the batter into each of the plates and return to the oven. Bake until puffed and golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove and slide onto serving plates.

Meanwhile, melt the butter for the sauce over medium heat in a small saucepan. Toss in the apples and sauté for about 10 minutes, until the apples are softened and browning. Add the apple juice, honey and lemon zest and bring to a gentle boil. Stir in the blueberries. In a small bowl, dissolve the corn starch in 1 tablespoon of hot water, and add to the pan. Continue to boil, stirring gently, for a couple of minutes until the sauce is thickened.

Spoon a generous amount of sauce onto each of the pancakes and serve.

Little hazelnut tartlets with caramel fudge icing

Bad hair days. Those merciless, cruel days when you look in the mirror and all you see is a member of some band from the 80s.
We can have bad hair days when it comes to cooking, can’t we? This recipe qualifies as one.

In some pans, the batter overflew and the ones that didn’t delivered funny-looking tartlets. To make me feel even worse, the icing wasn’t spoonable as the one on the original