No Croutons Required - The Winner for July

I'm delighted to announce the winner of the July Grain Challenge is Kevin of Closet Cooking. Kevin entered the challenge with this mouthwatering Asparagus and Shiitake Mushroom Teriyaki Quinoa Salad. Good for you and so packed full of flavour. Congratulations Kevin! You certainly beat some tough competition.

Jacqueline will be hosting the next edition of No Croutons Required. The theme for August is peppers. Make a soup or salad featuring your favorite peppers. Sweet peppers, chili peppers, bell peppers, jalapenos or any others that strike your fancy.

Baked ricotta with olive salad

Anyone who’s been reading my blog for a little while might have probably noticed I’m insanely partial to sweets – don’t get me wrong, I love food as a whole, but desserts ARE the best part of a meal. Don’t you think? :D

As a very responsible person, ahem, I know that one can’t live on cakes, cookies and ice cream – that’s why I’m always searching for delicious savory recipes that will be as

Spicy Sun-Dried Tomato Paste

This fiery paste made with a small number of ingredients is so easy to prepare but just bursting with flavour. It was Nupur who introduced me to the recipe, and ever since I made it to go along with Chickpea Flour Pancakes with Crushed Peas and Cilantro, I was hooked. I prepared a batch to go along with Chickpea and Brown Rice Patties, a creation that I will be sharing with my readers soon.

The serving possibilities are many and varied. You might wish to use it in place of regular tomato paste in your favorite recipes to heat things up. It's especially good as a condiment to go along with baked or fried savories, or mix with your favorite creamy cheese, such as goat cheese or cream cheese to spread on some crackers.

Spicy Sun-Dried Tomato Paste

12 sun-dried tomatoes
2 - 4 dried red chillies
2 small tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 - 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
sea salt to taste
1 teaspoon of olive oil

Begin by soaking the sun-dried tomatoes and dried chilies in hot or boiling water for 20 minutes. Drain and transfer to a food processor along with the chopped tomatoes, red pepper flakes and salt. Process until smooth. Heat the oil over medium-low heat. When hot, fry the paste for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until it is slightly thickened.

Yields roughly a scant cup.

Related:
Red Chili and Vinegar Paste
Quick and Easy Tomato Chutney
Fresh Tomato Chutney

On the top of the reading stack: Modern Spice: Inspired Indian Flavors for the Contemporary Kitchen by Monica Bhide

Audio accompaniment: Kiss My Arp by Andrea Parker

Chocolate thumbprints

It’s been a while since I last made ice cream and, even with the cold days here, I sometimes feel like having a scoop or two... :DNext time I make ice cream I know exactly where to go for inspiration: the issue #9 of Desserts Magazine is full of delicious ice cream recipes! And my sweet corn ice cream is there, too. :DIn the winter, I’ll take any excuse to turn the oven on to get the kitchen warm

Cherry Blueberry Muffins

A restless day off with more rain and a craving for muffins. A huge bowl of bright red cherries in the fridge. Plenty to munch on and some to spare for a baked treat.

Musing a few days earlier, the combination of cherry and almonds came into mind. There was some sadly neglected almond flour in the freezer and an unopened jar of almond butter in the cupboard that I purchased a while back to make Ricki's Almond Crusted Root Vegetable "Fries" (soon, as I have been thinking of the possibilities for months).

Turns out cherries and almonds are a winning combination, especially when you toss some blueberries, vanilla and lemon into the mix. The nutty flavour from the almond butter compliments the sweet cherries and blueberries perfectly. This is one of the finest muffin recipes I have come up with to date and they don't contain much sugar either, which is an added bonus. Packed full of luscious fruit, even sugar fiends will be delighted. I might add these are a particularly enjoyable breakfast option.

Cherry Blueberry Muffins with Lemon and Vanilla and Almond

1 1/2 cups of unbleached white flour
1/2 cup of almond flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/8 teaspoon of baking soda
1/4 cup of sugar
2 teaspoons of lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
1 cup of yogurt (I used goat milk yogurt)
2 eggs
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
2 teaspoons of vanilla
4 tablespoons of almond butter
1 cup of pitted cherries, roughly chopped
1/2 cup of blueberries

Grease twelve regular sized muffin cups well with butter or oil.

In a large bowl, combine the flours, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, lemon zest and salt. Make a well in the center of the ingredients and set aside.

In another bowl, combine the yogurt with the lemon juice. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Now add the vanilla and almond butter and whisk until well combined. Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients and stir just to combine. Gently fold in the cherries and blueberries.

Divide the batter evenly into the prepared muffin cups and bake in a preheat 350 degree oven for 20 - 25 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick comes out clean. Leave the muffins in the pan for 10 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Yields 12 berry filled muffins.

More berry muffins from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Blueberry Goat Cheese Muffins
Blueberry Cornmeal Muffins
Raspberry Cornmeal Muffins

On the top of the reading stack: Green Hell: How Environmentalists Plan to Ruin Your Life and What You Can Do to Stop Them by Steve Milloy

Audio accompaniment: Diamonds on the Inside by Ben Harper

Citrus delicious pudding

I have a new obsession: delicious and put-together-in-a-minute desserts that get transformed while the oven – two different textures in only one dish.
It all started with Bill’s banana pudding and last weekend I tried Donna Hay’s citrus pudding: half of it becomes sort of a sponge cake, and the other half is similar to silky baked custard. So, so good.

Something tells me I’m gonna love Nigella

Quinoa with Coconut and Roasted Cashews

Quinoa is a highly prized grain in my household, as much for its nutritional value as its delightful nutty taste and fluffy texture. It's as easy to prepare as rice, and indeed, could readily be substituted in many recipes. Soon, I will make lemon quinoa with roasted cashews; in fact, I'm not sure why I haven't thought of this combination before.

This preparation is an Indian-style dish that is only slightly adapted from A2ZVegetarian. It's an ideal way to incorporate grains into a summer meal and can be served alongside beans and vegetables for a satisfying, wholesome and well-balanced vegetarian dinner.

Quinoa with Coconut and Roasted Cashews
Adapted from A2ZVegetarian

1 cup of uncooked quinoa
1/3 - 1/2 cup of roasted cashews
2 teaspoon of oil
1 teaspoon of black mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon of asafoetida powder
3 - 4 green chilies
4 teaspoons of urad dal, rinsed
small handful of dried curry leaves
1 cup of dried coconut
sea salt to taste
fresh cilantro or parsley or garnishing (optional)

Rinse the quinoa well in a fine mesh strainer and soak overnight in two cups of water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cover and cook until the water is absorbed and the quinoa is light and fluffy - roughly 20 minutes. Set the quinoa aside.

In a frying pan, heat the oil over medium heat. When hot, add the mustard seeds and cook until they turn grey and begin to pop. Add the asafoetida, urad dal, chilies, and curry leaves to the pan. Stir and fry for a few minutes, or until the urad dal begins to brown.

Now add the coconut to the pan and stir continuously for a few more minutes until the coconut begins to brown. Add this mixture to the cooked quinoa, along with the roasted cashews and a bit of salt and toss to combine. Garnish with cilantro or parsley if desired.

Serves 4-6.

More quinoa recipes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Breakfast Quinoa Porridge
Quinoa Oat Croquettes
Quinoa with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Corn
Quinoa Soup with Corn

On the top of the reading stack: Green Hell: How Environmentalists Plan to Ruin Your Life and What You Can Do to Stop Them by Steve Milloy

Audio accompaniment: An Accidental Memory In The Case of Death by Eluvium

Herb and spinach fritters

Have you ever cooked something because you missed someone?

After watching a concert on TV, I could not stop thinking about my mom – she and my father met on one of that singer’s presentations, back in 1975. My way of dealing with it was preparing something I knew she’d love: it had to be something packed with veggies or fruit.

These fritters come from DH mag #29 and were perfect for the

Baked Whole-Wheat Strawberry and Blueberry Pancakes

The summer's first few pints of fresh local strawberries don't often make it past the bowl into a recipe, but the idea of baked strawberry pancakes can usually provide an occasion. One of my most popular recipes, and a personal favourite as well, these simple pancakes are soft, creamy and slightly chewy with a light crispy exterior, and so easy to make that they're always worth a reprise or a variation with other fresh fruits …

… such as blueberries, of which I had plenty juicy specimens on hand. This time around I decided to use whole-wheat flour to preserve the vitamin, mineral and protein nutrients and dietary fiber found in the wheat bran and germ that are removed to make refined flour. But while a far superior food, whole-wheat flour is a "heavier" product than white flour, and does not rise as well during baking without assistance. Soaking the flour at room temperature overnight in good, plain whole-fat yogurt "leavens" the whole-wheat pancake batter and results in a light and fluffy dough that smells so delicious you'll be tempted to bake it right away. The yogurt soaking has the additional benefit of helping to break down the phytates found in the wheat bran — these phytates bind with minerals such as calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and especially zinc, and block their absorption into the body.

The oils found in the bran also makes whole-grain flours particularly susceptible to rancidity, which is why I recommend buying flours milled close to the source and storing in the freezer. Readers who live in London, Ontario can find locally sourced flours located in the freezers at Grains, Beans and Things, or pre-order flours milled right at the store.

While I'm in a food-nannying role, I'll add to always look for non-homogenized whole-fat yogurts without added gums or stabilizers. Whey should separate easily in a good yogurt, indicating live, healthy and active cultures. Saugeen Country and Hewitt's Dairy Goat's Milk yogurts are both healthy and delicious choices for Ontario readers.

On the other hand, these beautiful pancakes are meant to be savoured, not calculated … so please do enjoy!

Baked Whole-Wheat Strawberry and Blueberry Pancakes

1 cup whole-wheat flour
1 cup plain whole-fat yogurt
2 tablespoons butter
4 eggs, separated
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 pint strawberries, hulled and halved (or quartered if they are very large)
1 pint blueberries
icing sugar (optional)

Combine the flour and yogurt together in a small mixing bowl. Cover and leave 8 hours or overnight at room temperature

Heat an oven to 425°. Place 1 tablespoon of butter in each of two deep 9-inch pie plates. Put in oven to melt.

Beat the egg whites until stiff. In a medium mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks, sugar, vanilla and baking powder into the flour and yogurt mixture.

Fold the egg whites into the batter. Remove the pie plates from the oven and pour half of the batter into each. Arrange the strawberries and blue on top.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden on top.

Remove from the oven. Run a rubber spatula around the edges and slide the pancakes onto a serving plate. Sprinkle with icing sugar if desired, and serve immediately.

Other pancake ideas you may enjoy:
Baked Strawberry Pancakes
Baked Blueberry Peach Pancakes
Blueberry & Cornmeal Buttermilk Pancakes
Vanilla Oat Pancakes

On the top of the reading stack: The Frog and Toad Collection Box Set by Arnold Lobel

Audio accompaniment: Structures from Silence by Steve Roach

Lime poppy seed muffins

If my blog were a soccer championship, the Lemon Team would be on their way to grab the Cup. But I felt that would not be fair to the other citrus I love so much – poor limes and oranges haven’t been around here in a while. :(In order to balance the score, I used limes instead of lemons in these muffins – the recipe comes from the lovely and dear Lynne, who was also kind enough to ship me a box

No Croutons Required - Grains

The challenge for July was to make a soup or salad featuring grains. Always an important component of any diet, grains paired with or served alongside legumes provide a well-balanced meal for vegetarians. As usual, we received some fantastic submissions this month, and though the choice is never an easy one, please vote for your favorite in the comment section or via email. Please note that my submission is not eligible for voting.

Our very first submission is this tempting Japanese Asparagus and Shiitake Mushroom Teriyaki Quinoa Salad from Kevin of Closet Cooking. The mighty power of quinoa is here combined with steamed asparagus, sauted shiitake mushrooms, homemade teriyaki sauce, blanched edamame, green onion and toasted sesame seeds. This light, but highly flavourful salad would be an ideal component of any summer meal. (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Next up is Yasmeen of Health Nut with this colourful Grilled Vegetables Wild Rice Salad. Wild and brown rice is tossed with beet greens and grilled vegetables marinated in olive oil, garlic, herbs and chili powder. As if this combination wasn't delightful already, everything is dressed with more olive oil, herbs, spices and fresh lemon juice. Served with whole grain chocolate cherry berry muffins for dessert, you are in for a fine culinary experience. (Cleveland, Ohio, USA)

From Usha of Veg Inspirations we have this nourishing Indian inspired Barley and Vegetable Herb Soup. Barley, mung beans, celery, carrots and peas are simmered with methi leaves, mint, cilantro and spiced with roasted cumin seeds, coriander seeds and red chilies that are ground into a powder. A complete and balanced meal in one bowl, serve with oat pav (bread) for an especially satisfying dinner. (North Carolina, USA)

Up next on the menu is Karine of Food Gourmand serving up this naturally sweet and nutty Brown and Wild Rice Salad. Brown and wild rice, dried cranberries, pecans and almonds are dressed with olive oil, lemon juice, maple syrup and the zest from a few lemons and oranges. Earthy and tart, you can't go wrong serving this at a potluck with Peach Sour Cream Coffee Cake. (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Vidya gets Humming in the Kitchen and enters the competition with this elegant Quinoa, Peanuts and Beet Greens Pilaf. Nutty quinoa gets all mixed up with dry roasted peanuts ground into a powder, cumin, hot chilies, turmeric and beet greens. Vidya pairs this dish with a thirst quenching Sambharam. Pure bliss when served up with cauliflower dal with panch phoron and sweet potato roti. (Florida, USA)

Petra of FoodFreak raids the pantry with fond memories and comes up with this creamy Minnesota Wild Rice Soup for the challenge. This hearty concoction of wild rice, carrots, leeks, celery, veggie broth, cream, sherry, chives and parsley would for sure grace any autumn or winter table, but is a temptation on cooler summer evenings, and even more enjoyable with mascarpone and nutmeg ice cream on the menu. (Hamburg, Germany)

Johanna of Green Gourmet Giraffe is up next with this veggie packed Quinoa, Cabbage and Corn soup. Based on my recipe for Quinoa Soup with Corn, Johanna transforms the soup and fills it out with cabbage, fresh corn, onions, carrots, celery, potatoes, turnips and zucchini. The addition of herbs, cumin, paprika, garlic, Worcestershire sauce and chili paste make this one tempting meal. I can't wait to try this version, and for dessert, some of Johanna's Butterscotch Pudding. (Melbourne, Australia)

Lata of Flavours and Tastes offers up this elegant Carrot and Barley Soup. Carrots, barley, lots of shallots and fresh mint are served up in a pretty soup cup garnished with cream. This would be an enjoyable soup anytime of year, especially when served with Lata's baked cutlets. Yum yum! (Accra, Ghana)

My contribution for July is this Asian Spicy Azuki Bean and Brown Rice Salad. Azuki beans, brown rice, radishes, carrots and chilies are dressed with sesame oil, red wine vinegar, tamari, fresh lemon juice, garlic, ginger, cayenne and green onion. This flavourful salad is then garnished with toasted sesame seeds and the green part of the green onion. Serve with mushroom miso seaweed soup for a thoroughly enjoyable dinner. (London, Ontario, Canada)

Ashley of Eat Me, Delicious perfects a classic and enters her Tabbouleh salad. Part of a special meal she made for her mom, bulghur wheat, parsley and green onion are tossed with a dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, hot sauce and salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Such a simple recipe, but just packed full of taste. For an especially grain packed meal, serve with Ashley's mushroom pecan burgers. (Vancouver, BC, Canada)

Suzy of Strong Arms for Kids shares this colourful and fruity Mango and Avocado Quinoa Salad. This most healthy of salads consists not only of mango, quinoa and avocado, but also includes cucumber, tomatoes, almonds, pumpkin seeds, green onions, cumin, turmeric, lime and cilantro. So tasty and good for you too! This is Suzy's first food post on her blog, but she does have some other delightful recipes archived, so do have a peak. (Ishigaki, Japan)

Lucy of Nourish Me turns to an often unappreciated grain and submits this gorgeous Carrot, Yoghurt and Millet Soup. Millet, roasted onions and carrots come together with yogurt and eggs, tamari, lemon and dried mint, paprika and parsley. For dessert, how about some honey ice cream. Pure bliss. (Melbourne, Australia)

From Alex of A Brit's Dish a Day, we have this delightful Quinoa, Walnut and Parsley Salad. Nutrient packed quinoa cooked in marigold bouillon is complimented with walnut pieces, homemade paprika-preserved lemons and parsley and dressed with a crushed garlic clove infused in white wine vinegar and olive oil. Such simple elegance deserves to be served with lemon biscuits. (London, United Kingdom)

Pavani of Cook's Hideout is up next with this quick and easy Brown Rice Salad with Asian Dressing. This pretty little dish consists of brown rice, edamame, carrots, red pepper, green onions and tofu tossed with a dressing of ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, hot sauce and toasted sesame oil. Make sure you save room for one or three fruit and nut cookies. (New Jersey, USA)

Soma of eCurry comes up with a Kisir (Turkish Tabbouleh) that few could refuse. This colourful side is made up of bulgur soaked in tomato paste and hot pepper paste and then fluffed up with crushed onion, parsley, scallions, cucumber, hot peppers, pomegranate syrup, tomato, lemon, cumin and mint. Ideal for the hot summer months, especially when followed with grilled peaches with lemon yogurt and honey. (Texas, USA)

Peter of When I'm Bored I Make Soup submits this restorative Leek and Oatmeal Soup that will cure all that ails you. Leeks are slowly fried in butter and olive oil and then mixed together with rolled oats and vegetable stock and then garnished with croutons and parsley. I'm sure this would pair nicely with cherry and cheshire cheese salad. (New Zealand)

Sweatha of Tasty Curry Leaf serves up a delicious bowl of Turkish Lentil and Bulgur Soup. This well balanced soup consists of red lentils, bulgur, onion, garlic, paprika and tomato paste and is topped with mint oil. Hearty and easy to prepare, and especially enjoyable with a cup of Moroccan mint tea. (India)

Next up is this tempting Kasha Salad from Abbhirami of Soulful Creations. Kasha and green lentils come together with shallots, garlic, ginger, oregano, tomato, olives, green onions, parsley, feta, fresh lemon juice and olive oil. May I suggest some fruit and coconut milk for dessert? (Cambridge, MA, USA)

Our final entry is this inspiring Mushroom and Spring Onion Rice Salad from Ivy of Kopiaste. This risotto style dish is made with mushrooms, rice, spring onions, vermicelli, garlic, cashews, white wine, lemon zest and parsley. This delightful side would pair well with some of Ivy's tasty fried bread. (Athens, Greece)

Jacqueline will be hosting the next edition of No Croutons Required. Check back at the beginning of the month for the theme for August.

Coconut and white chocolate chip cookies

I know there are lots of people out there who can’t stand coconut – Ivonne wrote something about that the other day. I understand the coconut haters but do not agree with them – hand me anything made with coconut and I am in heaven! Can’t wait for the weather to warm up so I can make some coconut ice cream, yum... :D

These cookies are delicious, easy to put together and the recipe yields a lot

White Bean Cream of Asparagus Soup

Puréed white beans lend a little more boldness and depth of flavour than one would ordinarily find in a cream of asparagus soup, but at the same time take nothing away from the simplicity and elegance of this summer classic. Best of all, the added nourishment means that this doesn't have to be just a starter soup but can be served as a delightful light summer lunch by itself.

White Bean Cream of Asparagus Soup

Recipe by Lisa Turner Published on July 19, 2009 A simple, elegant and nourishing cream of asparagus soup with puréed white beans forming the cream base to add extra depth of flavor and nourishment — vegan-friendly Print this recipe Ingredients: 2/3 cup dried cannellini (white kidney) beans 3 cups water 2 cups vegetable stock 1 pound asparagus 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil 1 large onion, chopped small handful fresh parsley, chopped juice from 1/2 lemon zest from 1/2 lemon 1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste fresh ground black pepper fresh chives, chopped Instructions: Rinse the beans and soak overnight covered in several inches of cold water with a little yogurt whey or lemon juice added. Drain and rinse, then add to a medium saucepan, pour in 3 cups of fresh water and the vegetable stock, and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce the heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until the beans are soft. Meanwhile, snap off the woody ends of the asparagus, chop into rough pieces, and set aside. Once the beans are cooked, heat the butter or oil in a large saucepan or soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 10 minutes. Toss in the asparagus, stir once, then add the parsley and lemon zest. Pour in the beans along with their broth and the lemon juice. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the asparagus is tender, about 5 minutes. Using tongs, remove a handful of the asparagus tips and set aside. Purée the soup with a hand blender or in a countertop blender until smooth. Season with salt and plenty of fresh ground black pepper. Serve hot or warm garnished with the asparagus tips and a sprinkling of fresh chopped chives. Makes 4 servings

Other recipes you may enjoy:
Cream of Potato and Turnip Soup
Farfalle Pasta with Cannellini Beans and Asparagus in a White Mushroom Yogurt Sauce
Wild Rice and Asparagus Salad

On the top of the reading stack: The National Post

Audio accompaniment: Shutov Assembly by Brian Eno

Candied lemon cake

I was once watching “Take home chef” – I used to love that show, now... not so much – and the girl Curtis had picked up at the grocery store had a lemon tree in her back yard. A lemon tree!! How great is that? But do you know what she did with all those lemons? She crushed them in the garbage disposal so her kitchen would smell nice. :S

I’d rather use my purchased-at-the-supermarket lemons for

Haloumi, Beetroot and Greens Dressed with Tahini and Lemon

As the weather heats up here in Southern Ontario, salads appear more frequently at the dinner table. Adapted slightly from Frances' Cheese and Beet Salad, this one is substantial enough to serve for dinner just on it's own, but if you want to impress your significant other, I would highly recommend some of these Stuffed Mushrooms with Sun-dried Tomatoes, Goat Cheese and Olives on the side.

The lemon and the tahini dressing, slightly sweetened by some high quality honey, comes together in minutes, and pairs oh so well with the earthy beets and luscious greens. If possible, buy some beets with some healthy rich green leaves to use in the salad base. Any combination of greens can be used. Consider a mixture of baby spinach, beet greens, mustard greens and dandelion.

Haloumi is a salty Greek cheese, usually made of goat and sheep milk. It has a high melting point, and holds together well when fried or grilled. It freezes well, so I suggest having a block on hand at all times because you just never know when the craving will hit.

This goes to Yasmeen, who is hosting Weekend Wokking this month. The theme this time is cheese.

Haloumi, Beetroot and Greens Dressed with Tahini and Lemon

4 medium beets, left whole and unpeeled
250 grams of haloumi cheese, cut into 1/4 slices
2 tablespoons of olive oil
4 - 6 cups of mixed greens
1 carrot, shredded
2 teaspoons of lemon juice
freshly cracked black pepper

For the Dressing:
1 tablespoon of tahini
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
1 teaspoon of honey
sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Begin by cooking the beetroot. I roasted them. Simply wrap in foil and roast in a preheated 375 degree oven for about an hour or until the beets are tender. When the beets are cool enough to handle, remove the skins and cut into smallish wedges.

To make the dressing, whisk together the tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, honey and salt and pepper. Add a bit of water to thin the dressing if desired.

Heat a large frying pan over just higher than medium heat. When hot, add the olive oil and swirl to coat the pan. Arrange the halloumi slices in the pan, trying to avoid touching, and fry until browned on the bottom. Use tongs to turn the cheese over and fry the other side until browned. While still in the pan, drizzle the lemon juice over the cheese, and finish with a good seasoning of fresh ground black pepper.

To serve, arrange some mixed greens on a plate, top with some shredded carrots, some beet wedges and a slice or two of the fried haloumi. Drizzle with some of the dressing.

You might also enjoy:
Fried Saganaki with Halloumi on a Greek Tomato Salad with Kalamata Olives
Fried Halloumi Saganaki and Asparagus
Beet and Feta Salad

On the top of the reading stack: Heart Of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Audio accompaniment: Serpent/Abandoned Cities by Harold Budd