Wrenwane Digital Refrigerator Freezer Room Thermometer, White Review

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Delicata Squash Pizza

Between M and I, we have very few repetitious patterns. On any given day, we fly by the seat of our pants. I think part of this is because neither of us have set times to be some place during the day, we work until we feel like we can wrap up the day, and now with Mack, no day ever looks the same. However, there is one thing we can both agree on (and I think Mack will love when he gets older), each week we have a pizza night. For us, pizza making is a communal activity- it’s such a great way to catch up from our days and spend time together.

Read more and see the recipe.

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Cuisinart MSC-600 3-In-1 Cook Central 6-Quart Multi-Cooker: Slow Cooker, Brown/Saute, Steamer Review

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Grilled Turnips with Dill Olive Oil

As we dive into the cooler months, I thought it was time to share one of my favorite recipes from The Easy Vegetarian Kitchen: grilled turnips (yes, I said turnips). It’s simple but that’s a big reason why I like it along with the idea of using turnips in something other than a mash. I’m guilty of passing up root vegetables for squash and sweet potatoes but over the years, I’ve found ways to get into the groove of using the different root vegetables in my cooking.

I also wanted to share this recipe today to let you know that Amazon is running a deal for the month of November that the Kindle versions for The Easy Vegetarian Kitchen AND The Homemade Flour Cookbook are only $ 2.99. If you’ve been wanting to check out either of the books, now is the time to go grab up the eBook versions.

Read more and see the recipe.

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National Presto 05461 Stainless Steel Pro Fry Immersion Element Deep Fryer Review

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Butternut Squash, Leek and Apple Soup

Back in the summer, I was asked to be the guest chef at a restaurant here in Copenhagen for the upcoming fall season. But not just any restaurant: a hyper-local organic restaurant sourcing 95% of their ingredients from within 200 kilometers of their front door, and one that holds classes to educate and inspire city dwellers to eat sustainably all year round. Oh, just kind of up my alley. And it is run by a woman who I clicked with instantaneously, our first conversation touching on everything from mushroom foraging to manifesting one’s own reality through the power of positive thinking. I said yes because I was so moved by her ultimate mission, what the restaurant stood for, and not really taking into account that I hadn’t cooked in a professional kitchen in many years. But after giving me permission to call the event “The Grand Pumpkin Orgy”, how could I possibly say no?

Fast forward a few months to a couple weeks ago. I am standing at the cutting board preparing vegetables for soup. The soup to be served at the restaurant, which will be full of guests, all there to eat my food. I feel confident and excited, using all of my pumpkin comprehension to develop a menu of stellar proportions, and not letting the true weightiness of the event bog me down. Once cooked, everything goes into the blender. I puree it. I taste it. And it’s delicious. Without any major adjustments at all, it is exactly what I wanted it to be: clean and pure and tasting of the ingredients it is made with, only better.

Then the doubt creeps in. Wait a second. That was easy. Is this really good enough? How can I serve such a simple dish to all these people with undoubtedly high expectations of what this dinner is supposed to be? Why did I ever think I could do this in the first place?! BAH!

I brought my recipes in for the chef to review, sheepishly handing them over as if there was something wrong with them; not impressive enough, flashy or complex – just what I believed to be delicious. After a raised eyebrow, he said that he wasn’t sure apple and butternut squash would go together. I gulped, but told him as confidently as I could that I believe in the intelligence of the season, and trust that whatever grows together, goes together. Right?

The soup was a hit. Clean and pure and tasting of the ingredients it was made with, only better. Not only was the chef impressed (and later excused himself for judging my soup before making it himself), but the guests as well. As I went around to the tables asking everyone how it was, they all reaffirmed my belief that my instincts are not completely out of whack, and that, quite simply, good ingredients make great food. After several years eating locally-grown, seasonal produce I’ve learned that you can pretty much step back and let the ingredients do the work for you, since true deliciousness needs little intervention. Cooking like a pro, to me, means respecting the ingredients and doing as little as possible to bring out their tastiness.

So, this soup is that soup. The one I served at the restaurant to all of those people that scared me, but also reminded me that simple is best. It is a deep and delicious love song to autumn. The ingredients are inexpensive, widely available and the process is foolproof. It’s an oven soup! That’s right: everything cooked together right on a baking sheet so there isn’t even a pot to wash. Me likey.

Butternut Squsah: the Nutrient Storage Facility

Winter squash rocks because it is a virtual storehouse of nutrients. Unlike summer squash (re: zucchini, crooknecks, pattypans), winter squash has had a lot more time to develop and pump itself full of vitamins and minerals throughout its lengthy life on the stem. We’re talking oodles more vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), vitamin C, manganese, potassium, and even some extra dietary fiber thrown in. This combination of nutrients spells good news for asthma sufferers, those with heart disease, elevated cholesterol, or inflammatory conditions such a rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.

Nature designed summer squash to be rather delicate, with a high water content for those hot summer days when we need a cool down. Naturally, their shelf life is rather short during our abundant harvest season when produce is plentiful. On the flip side, winter squash has a tough outer skin and lower water content, which allows it to be stored for a very long time – some varieties up to six months. This means that we can keep these vitamin bombs around for a long time after the first frost to provide our bodies with the nutrition we need to see us through the long months of winter when there is nothing fresh in sight.

Put that in your oven and roast it!

The Garlicky Rye Bread Croutons, although an additional element to create, are the crowning glory of the dish, and really make it special. If you’re not into bread, try toasting some pumpkin seeds for the top, or something else crunchy to add contrast to the silky smooth soup.

It begs mentioning that the apple cider vinegar in this recipe is not optional. Why? Because it adds acidity. Acidity is the one thing missing in almost every home cook’s food because, well, we are never really taught about its importance. If you read the introduction in my cookbook, I have a section called “The Holy Trinity of Flavour” explaining that salt, sugar and acid are the three foundation flavours of any successful dish. Adding just a touch of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to almost anything you make (no kidding!) heightens and brightens the other flavours and creates a surprising balance of tastes. Try it and see for yourself.

Butternut Squash, Leek and Apple Soup with Garlicky Rye Bread Croutons
Makes at least 2 quarts / 2 liters, Serves 4-6

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp. melted coconut oil (or ghee)
3 leeks
1 medium onion
5 cloves garlic
1 large butternut squash (mine was about 2 lbs. / 1 kg)
1 large, tart apple
4 – 6 cups / 1-1½ liters vegetable broth, as needed
1 tsp. fine grain sea salt
1 tsp. ground cumin
½ tsp. ground cardamom
½ tsp. ground star anise
apple cider vinegar to taste (start with ½ tsp. up to 1 Tbsp.)
1 batch Garlicky Rye Bread Crouton (recipe to follow)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F / 200°C.

2. Prepare all vegetables: chop leeks and onions, peel garlic (but leave it whole), peel butternut and cut into cubes, chop apple.

3. Place all vegetables on a baking sheet with the coconut oil, toss to coat, and set in the oven to roast for 25-35 minutes until tender.

4. Transfer roasted vegetables to a blender and add the spices and hot vegetable stock (you may need to work in batches). Blend on high until completely smooth. Taste, then add salt and apple cider vinegar, blend and taste again. Adjust seasoning to your taste, and add stock until the desired consistency is reached: I like mine quite thin so I use the full 6 cups / 1½ liters of stock.

5. Transfer soup to a large cooking pot over medium heat to warm, if necessary. Divide soup equally among bowls and serve with the Garlicky Rye Bread Croutons and freshly cracked black pepper.

Garlicky Rye Bread Croutons
Serves 4

Ingredients:
2 cups / 200g stale dark sourdough, cut into generous cubes (any bread here would work, but make a healthy choice)
1 Tbsp. coconut oil or ghee (ghee is definitely the tastiest)
2 fat cloves garlic, finely minced or grated on a microplane
a couple pinches flaky sea salt

Directions:
1. Melt oil in a small saucepan over low heat. When it is melted, add the garlic and stir to combine. Cook just until the garlic starts to simmer, immediately remove from heat and let cool slightly. Preheat oven to 350°F/175°C.

2. Cut bread into generous cubes and place in a medium sized bowl. Pour the garlic oil over the top and toss to coat, using your hands to squish the oil into the bread. Spread out bread cubes on a cookie sheet, sprinkle with salt and place in the oven. Toast for 15-20 minutes, tossing a couple times during cooking. Croutons are ready when they are crisp and golden around the edges. Once cool, store leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days.

You guys.
I’m making app! It’s almost ready! I can’t wait!

The My New Roots iOS app will include your favourites from the blog, plus 5 exclusive app-only holiday recipes, perfect for the upcoming season. Click the link below to go to the App site where you can sign up to be notified when the app is out (soon, I promise!) and receive my brand-new recipe for Crispy Sweet Potato Shoe String Fries with Miso Tahini Gravy, like right now.

Thank you for all for encouraging me to do this, and your ongoing support. I like you very much.

xo, Sarah B

 

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Hello from Scottsdale, Arizona! We’re here visiting for a little work and play. I’m so excited to be getting away for some downtime after a busy year. My mom and stepdad are arriving soon too, and Adriana is pumped to have lots of quality time with her Mimi and Papa. The last time we were here I was 6/7 weeks pregnant so it’s pretty amazing to be here with my girl this year. That trip, I could barely get off the couch due to 1st trimester nausea (I think I hiked a total of 1 mile, lol); it’ll be nice to feel normal again. I plan on making up for the last visit in many ways, especially on the food front! Any new plant-based restaurants pop up?

Our trip is off to a bit of a strange start – we had a series of odd events yesterday during our trek here, and then we woke up to an earthquake (!) last night. It felt like a truck slammed into the side of our bedroom. Luckily, it wasn’t too bad (4.1-mag), but it did give us quite a scare in the middle of the night. Aka…I screamed and then said a couple choice words. I immediately checked the baby monitor and Adriana didn’t even budge! Oh to sleep like a baby. Anyway, that was quite the welcome.

This hearty meal was thrown together last week and I loved it so much I knew I had to share it with you. Plus, I figured we could all use a balanced meal after the Halloween festivities.

I did a an informal poll on Facebook asking you – burrito (in a wrap) or burrito bowl? Most of you said BOWL….just give me the bowl! Here are a handful of your responses:

Katherine loves the versatility of a bowl. “I love both. But I think there are more options with a bowl, especially for creative rice substitutions that have more nutritional value than a tortilla. And I trust you to make it delicious AND healthy!” (side note: I used classic white rice here (no regrets!! gah, so good), but you can use any base you like – cauliflower rice, quinoa, shredded lettuce, etc.)

Others think a burrito bowl creates feelings of jealousy and envy. Stacy wrote, “With the tortilla! Otherwise, it’s a pile of ingredients merely wishing they were a burrito!”

Some of you thought outside the box bowl. Jaya said, “A nice compromise is actually baking the flour/rice/whatever kind of tortilla into a bowl shape, so you get a crispy bowl!” (hello, lover)

Others mentioned giving the option of a wrap by serving the soft tortillas on the side. Jodi wrote, “Bowl for me, but kids would chose burrito. Win win either way!”

So I went with a bowl for this post, but rest assured you can also stuff this into a big soft tortilla wrap. I absolutely love burrito bowls because you can make them as simple or as complex as you want. They can be as basic as plain black beans, sliced avocado, store-bought salsa, and rice, or you can load on a wide array of toppings to your heart’s content. I tried to keep this one simple, but also included some interesting components that make it fun and unique. I hope you love it as much as we do!

DIY Burrito Bowl

Vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, refined sugar-free, soy-free

This burrito bowl is so filling and healthy! The Spicy Black Beans are adapted from one of my favourite new cookbooks, Super Fresh: Super Natural, Super Vibrant Vegan Recipes by Jennifer Houston and Ruth Tal. The spicy black beans are to die for (or, to live for!). I’m already dreaming of the many ways I’m going to enjoy the beans-- in a wrap, sprinkled on a salad, or even as a dip with tortilla chips and guacamole. The Avocado-Lime Sauce is also a must-make. It yields about a heaping half cup so if you are a big avocado lover you can always double the recipe. To change up this recipe, stuff everything into a large soft tortilla wrap rather than enjoying it bowl style.

Yield
3 servings

Prep Time
25 Minutes

Cook time
20 Minutes

Total Time
45 Minutes

Ingredients:

For the burrito bowl:

• 1 cup dry white long-grain rice (or rice of choice)
• 1 tablespoon refined coconut oil or vegan butter*
• Salsa, as needed
• Sliced green onion, for garnish
• Sliced grape tomatoes, for garnish (optional)

For the Spicy Black Beans:

• 2 tablespoons refined coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup diced sweet onion
• 4 medium garlic cloves, minced
• 3/4-1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
• 1/2 + 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt, or to taste
• 2 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 (14-oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup unpacked cilantro, large stems removed and finely chopped

For the Avocado-Lime Sauce (makes heaping 1/2 cup):

• 1 large garlic clove
• 1 large avocado, pitted
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, plus more to taste
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, or to taste

Directions:

1. For the rice: Add the rice and 1 tablespoon of oil or butter into a medium pot along with 2 cups of water. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Immediately reduce the heat to low-medium, and cover with a lid. Cook the rice until it’s tender and the water is absorbed. For white long-grain rice this will take 13-20 minutes, but please follow the directions on your specific package for best results.
2. Meanwhile, prepare the Spicy Black Beans: In a large wok or skillet, add the oil and melt it over medium heat. Stir in the onion and garlic, along with a pinch of salt, and saute for about 5-6 minutes, until softened.
3. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, chili powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, cayenne (if using), and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Continue sauteing for another 3-5 minutes (increasing/reducing heat if necessary), until the tomato softens.
4. Now stir in the tomato paste and drained and rinsed black beans. Cook for a few more minutes until heated throughout. Taste and add more salt if desired. Stir in the cilantro. You can leave the mixture over low heat until ready to serve or simply turn off the heat and reheat before serving.
5. For the Avocado-Lime Sauce: Mince the garlic clove in a mini food processor (or use a regular size processor, if necessary). Now add the avocado flesh, lime juice, water, and salt. Process until smooth. Taste and adjust lime juice if desired. I usually add another teaspoon.
6. When the rice is ready, reheat the bean mixture, if necessary. Divide the rice between 2-3 bowls. Top each with a couple scoops of the hot black bean mixture, and a large spoonful of both the salsa and the Avocado-Lime Sauce. Garnish with sliced green onion and optional sliced grape tomatoes. Serve immediately.

Tips:

* Why the use of refined coconut oil? Unlike virgin coconut oil, refined coconut oil doesn't have a light coconut flavour. I use it whenever I don't want a coconut flavour to come through. That being said, if you don't mind a bit of coconut flavour feel free to use the virgin kind.

Photography credit: Ashley McLaughlin Photography

I recently heard that Oh She Glows won “Favorite Blog” in the 14th annual Veggie Awards™. Even though I never feel quite deserving of such a title given the immense talent in our plant-based community, I’m so grateful for those of you who love what I do and take the time to vote. You guys inspire me to grow and improve in so many ways! My 7-year “blogiversary” was on Halloween (seriously, I can’t believe it has been that long!), and this blog would be nothing without YOU. My favourite part of blogging is that I’ve met so many incredible people over the years, so just know that if you’ve ever taken time to leave a comment or said hello in person, it’s not something I take lightly. Or, if you’ve made a recipe and enjoyed it with your family, even better!

 

Ps – Thanks for all your reviews on the Pumpkin Gingerbread Muffins! So glad you are enjoying them.

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