What is your favorite savory snack after dinner? We often enjoy some nuts with a nice glass of wine in the evenings, especially cashew nuts or pistachios. We usually stay away from chips or crackers because they are usually loaded with unhealthy fats and other ingredients. I know that some better options are available now, but how about making your own?! That way you can choose the spices and oils, and you can use a healthy method for making your homemade chips: using a dehydrator – no deep-frying or baking needed.
When it comes to soup, I’m facing an interesting challenge. In our family of five, everyone has different preferences. My older daughter likes only clear Asian broth with some veggies and protein, the middle one needs everything pureed, and the little boy absolutely loves soup, any kind, every day! I hope it will stay that way. Of course, this means every time I prepare soup, someone will skip it. Well, I guess that’s a challenge many of you are familiar with. 😉
Are you wondering why I named this soup “crunchy”? The soup itself is creamy and (optionally) slightly spicy due to the ginger and the red curry paste. I used a 30% fat reduced coconut cream and my Homemade Vegetable Broth to keep it light. The crunchy part is the dehydrated leek I add just before serving. This crunchy leek gives the soup an awesome kick.
There are many ways to prepare cauliflower, but have you ever tried preparing a whole roasted cauliflower? This is a vegan side dish which is not only an amazing eye catcher, it’s also prepared with a lot of healthy ingredients. When it’s ready to serve, just slice it at the table like a cake.
You may have noticed that I’m a huge fan of hummus, and that’s why I always try to combine it with new ingredients. In this recipe, I added organic white beans with mediterranean spices to create a smooth and creamy vegan hummus. Did you know that white beans offer a generous quantity of magnesium, which can help your body handle stress better. They are also packed with slow digesting carbohydrates and have a low glycemic index, which is good for your blood sugar level.
On my first visit to Istanbul recently, I saw so many different and delicious ways eggplant can be prepared, it was amazing and inspiring. In this dish I combined some of the flavors of Turkey to create a quick, easy, and vegetarian dish you can enjoy by itself or with grilled lamb or meat. My husband is a big fan of eggplant, and I have to admit, I’m turning into almost as big of a fan as he is.
