During my salad-a-day month last March, my Canadian friend Kinga sent me this recipe. It’s a really popular dish named not after anything in the movie Porky’s but rather a ski bowl at Whitewater Ski Resort in Nelson, British Columbia. It took me a while to get over to Whole Foods for the nutritional yeast flakes. I had never heard of them & tried to never go to Whole Foods for various reasons. Also, when I read this recipe it sounded a little TOO healthy in that unsatisfying way some restaurant salads are. So I put it off.

Finally I had all the ingredients and decided to go for it. It’s SO WORTH IT!!!! SOOOOO WORTH IT!!!!! It’s amazing – something that looks like a pile of what G would call “Rabbit Food” but is so flavorful, satisfying & doesn’t weigh you down.

You’ve got to try this. Although it has a lot of components, the prep for each one is pretty simple.

Here’s what you need for the salad:

**NOTE: this makes enough for 8 people so you may want to halve it, which is what I did.**

SALAD INGREDIENTS:
2 TBSP vegetable oil
2 c cubed extra firm tofu (remember to press water out first!)
8 c hot cooked brown rice
2 c grated carrots
2 c grated beets
2 c packed baby spinach
2 c slivered or slice almonds, toasted

For the dressing:

and this:

DRESSING INGREDIENTS:
1/2 c nutritional yeast flakes
1/3 c soy sauce (or tamari)
1/3 c apple cider vinegar
1/3 c water
2 TBSP tahini
2 cloves garlic, crushed or minced
1-1/2 c vegetable oil

1. First, press your tofu. You can need to press it for about 15 minutes and can do that while making the dressing.

2. While that’s a-pressin’, add all your dressing ingredients to the blender & puree until creamy!

(Note: Properly stored, this can be kept for up to ONE week in the refrigerator.)

3. Cook your rice. I found this quick cook brown rice at Trader Joe’s. Takes about 10 mins instead of 45 mins so I did it! You can also find pre-cooked brown rice in the FREEZER section at Trader Joe’s. Just pop in micro for about 3 mins. That’s what I do when I’m in a crunch. **NOTE: if you’re using the regular brown rice – start this earlier according to how much time you need. You can always heat it up if you need to.**

4. Now prep your veggies. As you may or may not know (or care) I use a hand grater. Builds character.

5. Time to lightly pan fry that tofu! Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. I sprinkle a few pinches of salt over the tofu and turn when it’s golden brown. After all sides are lightly browned, drain on a paper towel lined plate.

6. Now for the fun part: ASSEMBLY! Add your rice layer in a nice sized bowl.

Drizzle about a tablespoon of dressing over the rice.

Top rice with spinach.

Add carrots & beets.

Now the almonds.

The tofu and about 3 more TBSP of the dressing.

Bea loved this dish! She doesn’t have that many teeth yet so she had some trouble chewing the spinach but she ate 2 bowls of this.

M ate only the rice.

Thanks, Kinga!

Source: Canadian Living Magazine

Do you ever eat these?

(Photo taken from the Larabar website!)

We used to take them when we went hiking, skiing or kayaking. Those were the days! I always preferred these to Power Bars (old school), Tiger’s Milk & even Cliff Bars thinking they were less processed/chemically.

Also, I wanted something portable for the kids & me that wasn’t loaded with extra sugar. I can’t believe how easy they are to make. These are great little energy bars – and a healthy power snack to keep in your purse.

I think they also help keep you regular. If you know what I mean.

You should be able to get everything at your regular grocery. Nothing fills me with dread more than the thought of a trip to Whole Foods. I actually like the store but it’s not near my house, it’s pricey & it’s just a li’l too much sometimes. Holy cow I was amazed to find everything I needed at Ralph’s & Trader Joe’s!

Here’s what you’ll need:

INGREDIENTS:
1 c dried blueberries
2 c cashews
1 c dates, pitted (Medjool work best)
1/2 a vanilla bean
zest of one lemon

1. Toss blueberries in your food processor. I know, I know, in the past I’ve bragged about using my blender for everything. And I did this time too. But if you are lucky enough to have a food processor – use it.

Dump blueberries into a large bowl.

2. Now process your cashews. They should be in a fine dust. Not like mine. Here’s where things went wrong. (I chopped the dates first but they made the stickiest, crazy mess so I decided next time I’ll do the cashews first.) Anyway, by the time I got to the cashews my blender had had it. It smelled like smoke and then the two black rotors with black rubber teeth, that need to stay clenched together, melted down, spewing black rubber, followed by a VERY BAD SOUND and a less bad but still bad SMELL. After that, the blender ceased to function.

Is this where bragging gets you?

Anyway, that explains the whole cashews in my bars. Yours won’t have those. But if they do, big deal?

Before the blowout.

Add the chopped cashews to your bowl.

3. Now chop the dates. This’ll be an ooey gooey sticky mess. Like someone stepped on a giant raisin. Except in your blender. Only you’ll be using your food processor for this.

I did the blueberries & dates first!

Add ‘em to the bowl.

4. Finally, add the lemon zest & scrape out the innards of a half of a vanilla bean. That’s that really dark stuff on top.

5. This ain’t pretty but knead it by hand. You’ll want to combine it as thoroughly as you can unless you don’t mind biting into a pure clump of lemon zest.

Could my hand BE any less photogenic? Oh wait, that’s what it actually looks like in person.

6. Spread the mixture into the bottom of an 8×8 (or something close) baking dish. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes before cutting.

Bea loves ‘em!

Maddie feels differently about them.

What’s Maddie doing back there? Who didn’t fold the laundry?

These will keep well in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks according to internet lore…

Source: Use Real Butter

Do you like roasted potatoes? What about roasted veggies like broccoli, asparagus or brussel sprouts? (Btw: if you think you don’t like brussel sprouts – I’ll be posting a roasted brussel sprouts recipe that will make you drop to your knees and recite a catechism or, being that I was raised Episcopalian, I’m not totally sure what I’m talking about…) Anyway, if you like roasted veggies & potatoes, you will LOVE broccoli gribiche!

I LOVE this dish!!! My kids didn’t feel the same but I LOVE THIS DISH!! This dish ROCKS!!! Try it!! You know where I got this recipe: Super Natural Every Day. This cookbook is full of simple yet amazing recipes. I haven’t made one bad thing from this cookbook…yet.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the recipe – all you do is roast the potatoes & broccoli and toss with a sauce. Not that you were. Getting overwhelmed that is. (Projecting much, Christina?)

It’s great the next day too!

Here’s what you need:

All these ingredients can be found at Trader Joe’s.

INGREDIENTS:
1.5 LBS small fingerling potatoes, unpeeled, scrubbed & dried (or cut larger potatoes)
1/2 c + 2 TBSP olive oil
salt
12 oz broccoli florets (I peel & slice the stems too)
4 large eggs, hard cooked & peeled
2 TBSP wine vinegar
1 tsp Dijon style mustard
1 TBSP capers, chopped
2 shallots, finely chopped
1 TBSP parsley, chopped
1 TBSP tarragon, chopped
1 TBSP chives, chopped
(use dry herbs if you are in a pinch!)

First you’re going to roast the veggies. Potatoes take longer than broccoli. Incidentally, your potatoes should be no thicker than your biggest finger (middle?). Mine were a little thick so I halved or quartered accordingly.

Also, when a recipe calls for the broccoli florets only, I still peel the stalks/stems & slice into coins. They’re really yummy & tender once you’ve peeled them and I hate wasting them. The kids actually like them better than the florets due to the texture I think.

1. Preheat oven to 400.

2. Toss potatoes with a TBSP of olive oil and a pinch or two of salt. Spread evenly on a baking sheet. Do the same with the broccoli but keep it SEPARATE since broccoli roasts faster. Place potatoes in oven. Bake for 15 mins.

After 15 mins, toss or turn with a spatula & put the broccoli in for another 15 minutes. I actually made ‘em share a baking sheet b/c I was dreading the clean up. But I realized that was kind of dumb afterwards.

Here they are crammed together on one baking sheet.

4. In a medium-sized bowl, mash up the egg yellow. Reminds of this episode of “Between Two Ferns”. (Click that link if you like Zach Galifianakis. You will laff really hard.)

Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, very slowly, whisking all the while.

Add the vinegar & mustard & whisk.

Stir in the capers, shallots, herbs & 1/4 tsp salt.

Coarsely chop the remaining eggs & gently add them to the dressing.

Place the potatoes & broccoli in a large bowl, pour 3/4ths of the dressing atop and combine very gently. Add more dressing to taste! (I added the whole thing & loved it!)

Some would serve this as a hearty side but for me it’s the perfect lunch or light dinner.

Source: Super Natural Every Day

Make lemon ice cubes!

Here’s what you need:

YOU NEED:
lemons (duh!)
a sharp knife
a mesh strainer
an ice cube tray or two
a freezer safe container to store your cubes

Lemons, lemons…lemons,,,,,lemons_____lemons!!!! I love juicy lemons!!!

1. Squeeze your lemons.
Talk about a hand cramp!

2. Strain out the seeds over an ice cube tray.

3. Freeze.

4. Store in a freezer safe container.

I’m not sure this is the best storage method – I’d love to hear other opinions on this???

5. Drop ‘em in any drink to which you’d would normally add a lemon slice (iced tea, diet coke, sparkling water etc). OR let them melt & use for cooking/baking when lemons aren’t in season. YUM!

I know, I know, this sounds sort of “austere.” You’ve got to trust me on this one.

My neighbor, Aileen, gave me this head of cabbage and I was wondering how much SLAW my family can eat. But I also had a few potatoes and this can of beans. I knew there were a few really simple recipes in my fave cookbook. Sure enough!

Honestly, I was really bored with this recipe thinking about how unappealing it was How surprised I was to keep eating & eating this! This is yummy!! This is filling!!! This is nutritious!!! Best of all this is easy to make & tasty the next day too!!

All you need:

INGREDIENTS:
2 TBSP olive oil
4 oz potatoes, scrubbed, unpeeled & cubed
salt
1 large shallot, sliced finely
1-15oz can white beans (or chick peas if that’s all you have!)
3 c finely shredded green cabbage
grated parmesan cheese

Don’t be fooled by how simple this is, it’s still sooooo satisfying yet you won’t have the sick gluttonous feeling you can get after a heavy meal. And perfect to take to work…

1. Heat olive oil on medium high in a large skillet. Add the potatoes & a pinch of salt.

Cook until potatoes are brown taking care to toss or turn potatoes every few minutes. This should take about 8 minutes.

2. Add the shallots & beans. Brown the beans, being sure to scrape & combine the browned bits every few minutes.

3. Once beans are somewhat browned, add the cabbage. Don’t be alarmed by the volume of the cabbage – it will reduce as it cooks down. Stir to coat with the oil and browned bits as that’s the tasty stuff!

Salt & pepper to taste!

4. Serve with sprinkled parmesan to taste.

Source: Super Natural Every Day (ingredients slightly altered for simplicity)