Zesty & Spicy

If you like food, we'll get along *^_^*

Dino Kale & Blueberries Smoothie

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I only tasted Dino kale for the first time this year, in California, although I had kind of a “crush” on this adorable plant the second I saw a photo of it in one of the many seed nursery magazines coming to my old place.

From my past experience with the regular curled leaves version, growing kale is a lot of fun because it is easy to take care of and it will grow back years after years!   Living in colder climate? that’s all right, Kale love chilly nights and some of them will even be fully happy with a little bit of snow.  If you give it a big enough pot, you can easily grow it on your balcony, in the middle of the city.  It will add joy to your landscape and feed you deliciousness for a really big part of the year.

Dino kale, when cooked, will remain sort of crunchy and can be easily replace any other types of kale/lettuce/spinach in your favourite dishes.  Today, we’re featuring this incredible green in a morning smoothie to start your day the right way!

Bon matin!  *^_^*

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No Fuss Grilled Hummus & Tomato Toast

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Because it doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious.  Here’s a simple recipe with easy to find, local ingredients that you can make at any time of the day!  Part of the #NoRecipe trend on twitter… it could easily be become a fun appetizer if cut in small pieces.

Enjoy!

No Fuss Grilled Hummus Toast
 
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Recipe type: Easy Breezy
Ingredients
  • Rye Bread Slice
  • Roasted Garlic Hummus
  • Fresh Tomatoes from the Garden
  • 6 years old Cheddar Cheese (or any other strong cheese)
  • Chopped Coriander for the garnish
Instructions
  1. - Toast the bread
  2. - Spread your hummus
  3. - Add the sliced tomatoes, cheese on top and grill for 1-2 minutes in the oven (on broil)
  4. - Sprinkle the freshly chopped coriander leaves
  5. watch out, it might be hot.... Bon Appetit!

Max’s Pink Smoothie

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Max’s always like his breakfast smoothies to be sweet and full of fruits.  While I’m on a the green smoothie train, he usually prefer to step away from the heartily kale for the sweetness of the fruits.  I’ll admit, this smoothie is pretty delicious but………… I still prefer mine 😛 hihi

If you’re like him and have a sweet tooth, this is for you!

Enjoy!

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Marinated Cauliflowers & Tomatoes Appetizers

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It’s one of those recipes that will make you look like you actually took time to think about your “concept” when it fact it was the easiest and…let’s say it… laziest recipe ever 😛 lol!

If I may suggest, serve the whole thing right on the baking sheet, for a rustic look, and add some chopped cilantro or basil as a little happy green colour to your presentation.

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Basil Lover Green Smoothie

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I love the subtile, yet noticeable taste of the basil leaves in this one…

For who isn’t super fan of the extremely sweet smoothies (like me), this mildly sweet, yet tangy drink might just be what you needed.

Good Morning!

Green Smoothie Life
 
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Recipe type: Smoothie
Cuisine: Healthy
Ingredients
  • 1 banana,
  • 1 green apple,
  • Juice of ½ lime,
  • 4 strawberries,
  • ¼ cup fresh basil,
  • 1 big curled kale leave,
  • ½ cup of almond/coconut milk
Instructions
  1. - Blend all the ingredients
  2. - Enjoy!

 

Marinated Cauliflower with Graines a Roussir & Preserved Lemon

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Marinated Cauliflower with Graines a Roussir & Preserved Lemon
 
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Recipe type: Appetizer
Ingredients
  • 3 cups of small cauliflower florets
  • ¼ cup of green olives (about 10), finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tablespoon of olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
  • 1 preserved lemon, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh coriander leaves
  • ½ teaspoon of powdered graines a roussir
  • Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. - Prep the cauliflower and keep only the florets. Measure about 3 cups of florets, steam them for 10 minutes.
  2. - Mix all the other ingredients in a big salad bowl and then mix in your steamed cauliflower.
  3. - Leave in the fridge to marinate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Sweet Potato, Spinach, Broccoli Risotto

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I hope you’ll enjoy this fun vegan and gluten free risotto, perfect for a busy week night and a next day lunch! 🙂

Sweet Potato, Spinach, Broccoli Risotto
 
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Ingredients
  • 4 cups of hot water
  • ½ cup of Glutenberg/Chartier maple beer **
  • 1½ cup of shredded sweet potatoes
  • 1 cup of finely chopped spinach
  • ¾ cup of finely chopped broccoli
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil
  • 1 cup of Arborio rice
  • 2 big fresh garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast
  • ¼ teaspoon of salt
  • ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper
  • Garnish idea:
  • Finely chopped basic leaves
  • **  The recipe calls for ½ cup because that's all I have left in my fridge but you could easily add one full cup of beer (and or white dry wine if you can find this beer anywhere) and remove ½ cup out of the water quantity.
Instructions
  1. - In a flat bottom pan, on the stove top, at MEDIUM/HIGH heat - Start by adding the tablespoon of olive oil with the garlic.  Wait till it start sizzling, then add your raw, uncooked Arborio rice and stir well to make sure the all little grains of rice are well covered with the oil and garlic.  Keep stirring non stop for an extra 1 to 2 minutes while making sure that nothing is sticking at the bottom of the pan.  If it does, lower the heat a bit.
  2. - Pour the beer and keep stirring while all the rice absorb the precious liquid.
  3. - Start adding your water, add the first cup, keep stirring constantly, add the veggies all in one shot and keep adding the rest of the water ½ cup at the time.  The whole process should be about 15-20 minutes maybe less.
  4. - Never stop stirring while everything get's absorb and when you're getting close to the end of your water and the texture is getting nice and creamy, start lowering your heat to MEDIUM/LOW.
  5. - Stir in the nutritional yeast, add the salt and pepper and you're done!

La Fabrique… in images

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That’s one of my new favorite hot spots in Montreal these days.  Max and I discovered the restaurant in last December, for his birthday, and since then, we keep inviting all our friends over there because the food and the ambiance is seriously amazing.  The staff is also very sweet and their homemade fermented pickles are to die for!!! …they serve them before every dinner, free of charge.

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Graines a Roussir

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Here’s an easy recipe for an amazing and versatile spice blend that comes from the Caribbean!  My step dad has a lot of family in Guadeloupe and this is where I was exposed to the delicious French Caribbean cuisine.  I’m a sucker for a good chicken colombo and I always have some roucou in my fridge.

The only name I know for this blend is in French and it’s called: graines à roussir.  If I was to give you a quick French course, the word “graines” means seeds and “roussir” means burn lightly, roast, turn brown.. you get the idea?  I guess the best way to translate this would be: seeds to burn lightly.

That’s what you will want to do with these before either use them whole or in powder form, grill them gently on the stove top till they start smelling good and make sure not to burn them.

I usually make a bunch in advance, roast the pack, process it to powder and keep the powder for easier use.  Although I’m sure doing it right on the spot is a much better option if you want maximum flavour.

Personally, I enjoy the simplicity of always having some already grounded in a small container.  Mainly used as rubs for red meats, chicken or fish but you can also use them for a ton of other things like sauces and even bread!

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Green Spinach Pesto

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Here’s a fun and “jazzed up” pesto recipe made with fresh baby spinach, hemp seeds, arugula, coriander, Parmesan and more!    The first time I made this, it was to go with some homemade raviolis stuffed with light ricotta and feta cheese and ohhhhhh!  …I made a lot of happy tummy that night.

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To make the pasta sauce, I stretched a few tablespoons of this pesto with coconut milk and a tab more garlic (I’m obsessed with garlic so taste before adding more) and just like that, I had made an flavorful and creamy sauce.  Later that week, I used it for grilling some juicy steaks and even made a dip for the meat!  Both experiences were very welcomed by everybody who had the chance to taste it and now it’s your turn to try 🙂

Hope you like it!

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