I'm Sapna, a foodie, blogger, wife, mom of two beautiful girls, and lover of spices. I have a background in Nutrition and Dietetics, which I use to incorporate healthy options into all of my recipes. I love traveling to new places, trying new food, and in turn, creating them in my kitchen to relive the magic. When I'm not in the kitchen, I love curling up with a good book, playing with my munchkins, running, hanging out with friends, and gardening.
A big name with big bold flavors, this dipping sauce is creamy, tangy, fresh, and vibrant. It lightens up any foods you are eating and is great healthy dip to add to your appetizer table. Continue reading “Avocado Cilantro Lime Dipping Sauce”→
This vegan, nutritious poke bowl filled with lots of veggies and a sriracha dressing is so delicious and addicting. A one-bowl recipe with so many beautiful ingredients and easy to make is a perfect meal that is customizable for your palate. Continue reading “Vegan Poke Bowl”→
Fresh and beautiful veggies from across the rainbow to make amazing salads are my favorite. This Quinoa Fiesta Salad is one of my family’s favorites. As a mom, it makes me happy that the girls are getting so much nutrition in one bowl. The kids look at the colors and get excited to eat a rainbow and I love that they are enjoying fresh and healthy ingredients!
This salad does triple duty which I love. A dish which becomes a meatless entree can also serve as a side dish or a salad depending on my mood. The cherry on top of this recipe is that it takes less than 30 minutes to make and is very forgiving if you need to substitute or leave out ingredients.
HOW DO I MAKE A QUINOA FIESTA SALAD?
1. Cook the quinoa. While the quinoa is cooking, you can get the dressing and your other ingredients ready!
2. Make the Cilantro Lime Dressing. I love this dressing because it is so light. If you choose to leave it out as I do for my girls, simply replace it with a drizzle of Olive Oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
3. Combine all of your ingredients in a large bowl and toss well to mix.
4. Enjoy and get addicted to this salad as much as my family and I are!
Fresh fruit, caramelized onions, bright flavors, and an abundance of crostini. That is what I call the perfect crostini board. Simple ingredients that require more assembly than cooking is a delicious way to start your party! Continue reading “Crostini 3 Ways”→
Fresh, peppery arugula topped with golden, crispy goat’s cheese medallions and paired with sweet figs all pulled together with a drizzle of olive oil. This salad seems like it is so simple but the layers of flavors combined with the comforting, warm goat cheese are the ideal salad either as an entree or a side to any dinner. Continue reading “Crispy Goat Cheese Salad with Arugula and Figs”→
**Original post published Nov. 2020. Updated Aug. 2021**
A couple of months ago, I won our local Farmer’s Market cooking competition and part of my prize was a big box of fresh goodies from the market. I don’t know if I’ve ever been so excited to get fresh veggies and fruits! I honestly felt like a contestant on Chopped from The Food Network in that I wanted to use all of my produce and come up with a delicious dish.
Well, considering there were so much produce, I’m not sure I would be able to eat more than 3 bites of any dish made from all of the veggies and fruits! One of my favorites in that box was the beet greens with their beautiful red stems. I’ve had quite a few people ask me what I use them for and what they can cook out of them. A definite go to are to cook them down like collard greens but I wanted to do something more creative and decided to add the beet greens to a hash and topping it with an egg made it the perfect breakfast for a busy day or a big, healthy lunch bowl.
The vibrant orange and red colors of the root veggies as they are being cooked, the bold green of the beets…..eeek! I’m salivating just thinking about this recipe. The best part is all the nutrition you get in this sustainable hash:
high in dietary fiber
high in folate
good source of potassium
good source of non-dairy calcium (the beet greens are)
great source of B-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin (these flavonoids have strong anti-cancer and antioxidant properties)
Topping this hash with a fried or hard boiled egg adds a little extra protein though to keep it vegetarian/vegan, you can always replace the egg with a grilled tofu steak.
From my kitchen to yours, enjoy this delicious and healthy Sweet Potato and Beet Hash!
Heat 2 Tbsp oil in a cast iron or heavy bottomed skillet on medium high flame.
Add in the beets, sweet potato, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper and cook about 10-15 minutes until browned and crispy. If it is still mostly raw at the 10 minute mark, cover and let it cook in the steam for an additional 5 minutes.
Remove the veggies from the pan and set aside.
In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 Tbsp oil and let it heat up.
Add in the onions and garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes.
Add in the beet greens and stems and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until it is just starting to wilt. Add in the veggies, and mix well.
Let the hash crisp up then remove from pan and divide between 4 plates. Top with your choice of egg and serve hot!
This eggplant sandwich has it all. Earthy spices rubbed onto grilled veggies that have just a hint of a smoky flavor, fresh mozzarella melted just enough from the heat of the veggies. Oh, you can’t forget the rustic basil pistachio pesto that brightens up the whole sandwich in each bite. Continue reading “Grilled Eggplant Sandwich with a Basil Pistachio Pesto”→
This chickpea salad is a refreshing summer salad filled with fresh produce. It tastes great served as a side salad or your main lunch meal. Best of all, you don’t need to make a special dressing for this salad. Continue reading “Chickpea Avocado Salad”→
Back to school is all I can think of at the moment. We’ve made it through the first week successfully so this week, we are adding a challenge – soccer practice. I’ve got two schools in opposite directions of each other, different timings for both kids, and now practice days. I’m definitely going to need as many snacks with me as possible. Easy to eat snacks and as healthy-ish as I can make them for my picky eaters are what I’m looking for.
These secret ingredient brownies are the perfect solution because the girls can’t taste or guess the secret ingredient! But the girls did approve of them and that is all I need to keep making deceptively delicious foods. Well, what is the secret ingredient you ask? BLACK BEANS! So when I first told the husband about my idea, he was very skeptical. He loved the black beans idea just wasn’t sure about adding it to a dessert.
But it works! You can’t taste the black beans at all, courtesy of my blender. And the addition of the beans gives the brownies a truffle-like consistency. They also remove the necessity of using flour so these become gluten free! My favorite part is that I can make these brownie bites in less than 15 minutes! Yep, ever heard of a baked dessert ready to eat within 15 minutes? It’s right here and it tastes delicious.
I wouldn’t count this as a healthy food but it is a good option to straight sweets. I won’t be making them all the time but often enough to get the girls moving. Make sure to pack one of these delicious brownie bites in your child’s lunch bag!
My oldest is going off to 1st Grade on Tuesday. I still can’t get over the fact that she is in grade school. When did she grow up? The school season starting also means sports, after school activities, homework, loads of laundry, and the list goes on. As much as I love cooking, on many of these nights, I’ll be looking for a nutritious but quick meal. And definitely meals that the kiddos are going to eat. I’ve compiled below some of our favorite family approved recipes. The best is that most of these take about 30 minutes to prepare so you can focus on homework, preparing lunch for the next day or spending time with your family.
Click on the recipe title below each image to get the recipes!
Summer is practically over in less than a week for us. I’m going to miss the lazy mornings, the relaxed schedules, and eating pancakes and french toast for breakfast. I’m looking forward to having a regular schedule in the mornings but planning them out will take some effort.
If you are looking for easy and healthy breakfasts then you’re in the right place! I’ve compiled some of our favorite breakfast recipes below. There are several chia pudding recipes as that has become a family favorite lately. Others, like the Apple Pie Oatmeal takes 3 minutes in the Instant Pot. I also like to make Almond Butter Breakfast Bars and Breakfast Oat Muffins over the weekend for on the go days.
If you want to see certain recipes on the blog, leave a comment below. I would love to create recipes for you!
Last year, I had this beautiful plan of meal planning and prepping during the school week. The goal – to provide as many nutritious and yummy meals as I possibly could for the family. By May, I gave in to grilled cheese and mac and cheese being on the weekly rotation too often. I did have a great run of healthy meals most of the year though which empowers me to write another Back to School blog post. Continue reading “Back to School Lunch Ideas”→
When I first started making brown rice, I was a bit intimidated. I can cook Basmati rice with my eyes closed but when it comes to brown rice, the ratio to water is different, cook time is different, and sometimes, there is a chewy bite to brown rice. I felt so out of my element.
I have tried multiple ways to cook brown rice and this recipe has become my fail-proof method. Even better, I’ve nailed both stove top and Instant Pot methods so you can choose what works for you.
Having rice in the fridge has helped me on numerous occasions. I can use it to make Pineapple Fried Rice, serve it on the side with a salmon, serve it up with lentils and so much more.
WHAT IS BROWN RICE?
Brown rice is actually rice with the hull still on it making it a whole grain. The germ and bran are in there too which gives it a chewy texture and nutty flavor. Because brown rice has the hull, germ, and bran, it takes longer to cook.
BE PATIENT
Trust me. I feel like I’m constantly on the go, but this one recipe will make you stop and smell the roses. And it’s worth it. All you have to do is keep the cover on the saucepan and not mess with it. Once it’s done cooking, let it rest. Just like all meats, rice also wants a little rest after spending all that time cooking to perfection. The additional 5 minutes of steam will make the rice fluffy and soft.
It doesn’t get any tastier (or easier) than this delicious Citrus Herb Salmon topped with a sweet and spicy Mango Pico on a bed of Cilantro Lime Brown Rice. Ready in 30 minutes (yep, even the brown rice), this is the perfect healthy meal to serve your family. Continue reading “Citrus Herb Salmon with a Mango Pico and Cilantro Lime Rice”→
Sweet and juicy peaches combined with warm spices in this moist and tender cake is the perfect end to your summer dinner parties. Peach Season is upon us and these delicious upside down peach cakes are the perfect bite sized desserts for your party!
Whenever it is peach season during the summer, I tend to over buy fruits that are limited and that I’m addicted to. Mangoes, figs, peaches are just a few on that list. I love my fruit; raw and in its many infinite forms that I give them. Last year, I was campaigning Grilled Peach Salsa because grilled peaches are just a summertime necessity during a BBQ. Upcycling grilled peaches into a salsa was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!
This year, I decided to move away from grilling and try something different. I took the original idea of upside down pineapple cake and changed it around (mostly because our pineapple ended up as fried rice!). But I also changed up the traditional upside down cake just a little. At the bottom of the cupcake tin, I placed butter cubes and some brown sugar to give it a caramelized flavor then I lined the peach slices on the sides to keep their integrity of a peach and still be part of this upside down cake.
Every single bite has a juicy peach flavor because there are chunks of peaches hidden in the cake! And for the best peaches, head to your local farmer’s market. I bet you will be able to find fresh, organic, and juicy peaches. I’ll use the ones from the store if I miss the market but they tend to be underripe and I have to wait a few days to make sure they are perfectly ripe for me to eat or even use in recipes.
Many people are unsure of the skin – should you keep it on or peel it off? I prefer to keep the skin on. It doesn’t change the flavor or the integrity of the peaches but you do get to keep all of the fiber that the skin gives.
I hope you enjoy these delicious Mini Upside Down Spiced Peach Cakes as much as we did!
As I raise my girls, it has become very important to me that they keep connected to their roots and one of the ways I do this is through food. Lucky for me, they both love the typical comfort food fare of “Dal Chawal” or Lentils and Rice. A twist on the traditional Moong Dal Fry, this recipe adds zucchini and is low in calorie but nutrient dense.
Ready in just 15 minutes, this has become my latest go to recipe when I’m tight on time. Because moong dal cooks very quickly, I don’t soak them for more than 20 minutes.
Nutrition is also very important when I’m serving this dish as a main meal to the girls, and this dish doesn’t disappoint.
1 cup of zucchini moong dal gives you:
156 kcal
8.7 gm protein
7 gm fiber
As to cooking it over the stove versus the instant pot, traditionally, the dal was boiled first then added to the spices. I love just using one pot to make the whole dish so I usually add the uncooked dal into the spices/gravy mix then cook it in the instant pot.
I hope you get a chance to try out this delicious recipe and enjoy it as much as my family does.
Once it is heated, add cumin seeds and asafoetida.
When the cumin seeds start to sizzle, add the onions, garlic, and ginger and saute for 2-3 minutes until the onions have become translucent.
Add tomatoes, turmeric, cayenne, cumin, coriander, and salt. Mix well and saute for 2 minutes.
Add the washed dal and water. Mix well.
Press Cancel and close the lid with vent in sealing position.
Change the instant pot setting to manual or pressure cook mode at high pressure for 4 mins. After the instant pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, then release the pressure manually (5 minute NPR).
Once the pressure is released and you have opened the lid, in a tempering pan, heat oil. When it is heated through, add cayenne powder and dried red chili. When it starts to sizzle, add chili oil to cooked dal. Squeeze in lemon juice and give it a good stir.
It’s BBQ season and though I love grilling the traditional burgers and hot dogs, I wanted to get away from the usual and do something different. These Blackened Fish Tacos are perfect with a Garlic Sriracha Aioli. A flavorful rub, crunchy carrot and cabbage slaw, the aioli to cool things down a bit and the jalapeños to add just a kick at the end of each bite is the perfect summer combination for me.
These fish tacos are a great example of a healthy-ish meal. I’ve made them so many times before and they are such a hit that by the time the fish is grilled and chopped, the tacos are made and I don’t have anything left to take pictures because it’s all eaten! I finally made some for a BBQ with my friend Michelle and her family but told them they had to wait after I made them so I could take pictures – seriously she is such an awesome friend to put up with me making her stare at her food while I’m clicking away!
WHAT FISH DO I USE?
I like to use white fish, usually tilapia or cod. When you are at your grocery store, just ask your fishmonger for their best wild caught (and sustainable is available) white fish. I’ve used both tilapia and cod for this recipe and both turn out delicious for the end result.
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED?
I keep the slaw simple to let the flavors of the rub on the fish and the aioli shine. All I did for the slaw is shred some carrots and mix it in with finely chopped purple cabbage, a little salt, pepper, some honey, and a squeeze or two of lime juice. So simple right?!
For the Aioli, I spent a little more time developing the flavors. I roasted garlic, used yogurt instead of sour cream to make it healthy-ish, mix in some lite mayo (this is the “ish” addition to the healthy part), add in a bit of sriracha, and again a squeeze of lime juice to pull it together.
For toppings, again, keep it simple with a garnish of chopped cilantro and sliced jalapeños.
So, don’t wait! For your next BBQ night, dinner party, or Taco Tuesday, try out these delicious Blackened Fish Tacos with a Garlic Sriracha Aioli.
**Preheat oven or grill to 400 degrees F. (*See Note 1*)
Slice off the top of the garlic bulb and place in a piece of aluminum foil. Drizzle olive oil over it and wrap tightly into a ball.
Place in oven or on grill (keep lid covered) for 40-50 minutes.
Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
While the garlic bulb cools, in a medium sized bowl, mix together the yogurt, mayo, lime juice, and sriracha. squeeze in the melted garlic and mix well. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
For the Cabbage Slaw:
In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients together and toss well. Set aside until ready to use.
For the Blackened Fish:
In a small bowl, combine all of the spices together and mix well. Right before grilling, rub the fish on both sides with the spice mix.
**Drizzle both sides with olive oil then place on grill. Cover and cook for 3 minutes on one side, then flip and grill another 3 minutes covered. (*See Note 2*)
Remove from grill and let rest for a couple of minutes before chopping.
To assemble:
Grill the tortillas to warm then fill with slaw, chopped fish, and drizzle some of the aioli on top. Garnish with cilantro and sliced jalapenos.
Notes
**Note 1: If you are not able to roast a fresh garlic bulb, replace with 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
**Note 2: To cook on the skillet, heat pan on med high heat and add 1 Tbsp Olive Oil. Place fish in skillet and cook for 3 minutes on each side. Rest and follow the remaining instructions.
Sweet, flaky, melt in your mouth delicious, and best of all, perfect to make in a pinch or for a simple dessert that looks as if you spent hours making it!
Figs are one of my favorite fruits and every year, I look forward to seeing them at the Farmer’s Market. I saw the most delicious looking figs at the market last week and knew I had to get them. I’ve been eating them with my chia pudding parfait, and just snacking on them throughout the day but wanted to jazz them up a little more.
These Fig and Pistachio Tartlets are so perfect to elevate the figs without completely losing them in a myriad of ingredients. They are extremely easy and quick to make too! I used store bought puff pastry squares (though a large sheet cut into squares works just as well), added a little butter and brown sugar to help caramelize the base, some ground pistachios to give it a nutty flavor and balance the earthiness of the figs, layered on the sliced figs and finally topped it off with some honey. Yep, I’m drooling thinking about them again!
What if Figs are not available anymore?
Yes, I dread when the Farmer’s Market doesn’t have anymore figs because they have such a short season that I try to get my figs in as much as I can during that time. But no worries! Here are a few more fruits you can use:
Stone fruits such as peaches, nectarines, plums, and apricots are in season now also. Try one of those!
Apples, pears, and even berries would work well!
Instead of pistachios, try using ground almonds or walnuts
How do I serve the Tartlets?
Warm and fresh out of the oven is the best way to eat these. I’ve found that if I let them sit for too long, the puff pastry can get a bit chewy. Also, don’t forget the vanilla ice cream to go with these babies.
From my kitchen to yours, I hope you enjoy eating this delicious Fig and Pistachio Tartlets!
12 squares store-bought frozen puff pastry defrosted but chilled (or use 1 large sheet and divide into 12 squares)
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
3 tsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp pistachios, ground
3 Tbsp honey
Vanilla Ice Cream to serve
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400ºF.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat.
Using the back of a butter knife, mark a square about 1/2 inch from the edge. Make sure you don't slice through the puff pastry. This will help the edges rise while keeping your filling in the center.
Brush melted butter over each pastry square.
In each inner square, sprinkle brown sugar first then the ground pistachios.
Arrange fig slices overlapping on the pastry.
Drizzle honey over the figs.
Bake for 15-18 minutes until pastry it puffed and browned and figs are softened
**This is not a paid blog post. I have written this solely because of my impression of Clif Family Winery during my visit.**
A few weeks ago during Memorial Day Weekend, we took a trip up to Napa. I quickly learned that I should have planned this trip months before instead of calling wineries the week of to find a reservation for tastings. Calling everywhere last minute did show me the beautiful relationship each establishment has with the others in the area. Almost every winery I called, no one had space but they were kind enough to give me names of others who might. In a world where competing businesses hardly ever refer you to someone else, this was a refreshing and welcome change. Even more impressive to me was the fact that at least 4 different places referred me to Clif Family Winery.
When I called Clif Family Winery, I was just as impressed. Friendly service over the phone, they also gave me a few more names, and offered their Piazza as their tables were fully booked. Man was I excited to visit them after hearing of them from so many different places. Added to that, they are family friendly and since we were taking my two little ones, this was a bonus.
Saturday morning rolls around and I am so excited to see Napa for the first time since Covid hit. We get to the Tasting Room, which has cycles hanging from the wall that Sanaya loves and are greeted by Jordan. He shows us to the Piazza which is this lovely outdoors area in the front where my girls can run around and also explains the different wines and bottles we can grab to take with us to the front. We settle in and I give the girls a Z Bar for a quick snack, as the hubby and I look over wine options until the rest of our party shows up. Come to find out as I’m talking to Jordan and Chef John (the executive chef) that Gary Erikson, owner of the Clif Family Winery, founded the Clif protein bars!
That’s not all they have their hands in! The Clif Family also has fruit orchards, olive trees, they harvest solar honey in Idaho and everything is grown organically. Along with this, from the produce they grow, Clif Family also makes organic and sustainable jams, preserves, and hot sauce. I came back with one of the hot sauces, the Fatalii, which I think was the spiciest one they have.
As for me, I’m a Malbec girl and their pre-release of Malbec is one of the first I noticed (it’s now released as of a few weeks ago I believe). Of all the Malbecs I’ve had, and there have been plenty of those, The Clif Malbec was one of mine and the rest of my party’s favorite. It was lighter than the Malbecs I usually have and I actually liked that. If you haven’t tried it yet, you have to. We also had the Grenache which was just as good, a little more full bodied than the Malbec but perfect to finish off our day at Clif Family Winery.
Aside from the wine for me and the space for the girls to hang out, food is the other major point I look for and Clif Family Winery does not disappoint. They have delicious culinary bites that are beautifully designed and taste like a slice of heaven. My personal favorite is the brie with the lemon marmalade. And if you’re looking for more than just a bite, their Bruschetteria Food Truck has a great selection.
So, what are you waiting for? Next time you plan to go to Napa, make sure you include Clif Family Winery on your list. They have become one of my favorites, and I’m sure they will become one yours too!
Artichokes are abundant everywhere you go these days. My favorite are the ones from our local Farmer’s Market. You can taste the fresh quality and they are so much easier to cook than the store bought ones.
When I first starting eating these, my roommate in college introduced me to dipping them in butter. While they tasted good dipped in butter, I can only imagine all of the calories and cholesterol my body was ingesting. So I started using yogurt as a dipping base instead and I love it. The yogurt dip is so easy to change the flavor profile and I can keep it as simple or complex as I am in the mood for. This particular recipe, I kept it on the simple side with a little roasted garlic, cayenne, and salt mixed into the yogurt.
The traditional way of eating artichokes is by steaming them. I could (and actually have) eaten many whole artichokes all by myself. The husband used to eat them but eventually tired of steamed artichokes and stopped. I really wanted to him to share my love for artichokes so I’ve been trying many other ways to cook them. I’ve roasted (and burnt) them in the oven, stuffed them with various fillings that just didn’t hit the spot before I created this recipe.
All I can say is, you have got to try it! Oh man am I excited to share this stuffed artichoke recipe. Here are a couple of tips though when you are making these artichokes:
Get fresh artichokes from your local Farmer’s Market. Trust me it makes a difference. The time spent cooking, the quality in taste, and the ease of prepping the artichokes are worth it!
When you are prepping your artichoke, slice off the top quarter of the vegetable and make sure you trim off the ends of each leaf. Using your hands, gently push apart the leaves to create a wider space in the center for the heart to hold more of the stuffing.
Put some muscle into removing the choke. Having stretched the artichoke to be able to hold the filling, it will be easier to remove the choke and the hair-like filaments.
Well….. what is the stuffing? Oh man, the most delicious and easiest to make. I used:
red onion (the color comes out so pretty)
bread crumbs (a combination of Italian seasoned and panko)
garlic (of course!)
lemon juice
vegetable broth (though you could replace it with white wine – the taste would still be excellent)
Parmesan cheese
a hint of pepper
Because I am stuffing the artichoke, I also did a 2 step cook. First, I par-steamed the artichoke while I made the stuffing, then I baked it all in the oven to finish cooking the artichoke and get that glorious color on the Parmesan cheese.
I really hope you get a chance to try this recipe out as it has become one of my favorites already!
From my kitchen to yours, I hope you enjoy this Italian Stuffed Artichoke with a Garlic Cayenne Dip.
Italian Stuffed Artichoke with a Garlic Cayenne Dip
Fill a steamer pot with a 4 inches of water, and place a steamer basket on top. Cover the pot and bring the water to a boil. Turn the heat to low and let it simmer.
Drizzle 1 Tbsp of the lemon juice in the steamer pot.
Place the artichoke, stem-end up, in the steamer basket, cover, and steam until it is tender, about 15 minutes.
Check for doneness by pulling off an outer leaf — it should come off fairly easily. Set them aside to cool.
While the artichokes are steaming, preheat the oven to 375°F.
Melt the butter in a large sauté pan over low-medium heat. Let it simmer until it begins to brown, about 3 minutes.
Add the onions and garlic and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Pour in the remaining lemon juice and the vegetable broth. Stir and let this simmer on low heat for about 4 minutes.
Add the bread crumbs, panko and parsley, mix well.
Remove from heat and season to taste with pepper and set aside to cool.
Place the artichoke, sitting on its base, in a baking dish.
Use a spoon and/or your hands to carefully fill the center of each artichoke with the stuffing -- fill it to maximum capacity! (If you think there's too much stuffing, don't worry just pack it in.) Then fill all of the spaces between the leaves as much as possible. Sprinkle the top of each one with 1 tablespoon of the Parmesan.
Meanwhile, placet the garlic cloves in a double lined foil. Drizzle with 1 tsp olive oil. Wrap into a ball.
Place the garlic and stuffed artichoke in the oven and bake until the breadcrumbs are golden and the cheese has melted, approximately 12-15 minutes.
Remove from oven and let artichoke cool for a few minutes.
In a bowl, whip yogurt to a smooth, creamy consistency.
Add in the roasted garlic and mash into the yogurt. Add in the salt and cayenne pepper and mix well.
Serve the whole artichoke with the garlic cayenne dip for presentation. Slice in half to make 2 servings.
One of my favorite times of the year is the spring when the Farmer’s Market starts to get bigger with more and more farmers who start to bring a larger variety of produce and goodies. I’ve mentioned in the past that I like to make a menu for the week (more so my kids don’t complain they want something else than what is served), but what I haven’t mentioned is how I love going to the Farmer’s Market to do my weekly produce shopping. Sometimes, I will even tailor some of my dishes to include produce I find at the Market.
Recently, I partnered with our local Farmer’s Market (Danville Farmer’s Market) and I will be creating recipes for them a few times a month in the hopes that I can bring awareness to locally farmed produce at all of our farmer’s market. Having fresh, organic produce and supporting the local farms is a win-win.
This Spring Crudites Platter is so beautiful, we all had a bit of hard time digging in. No one wanted to mess it up. Ah well, our stomachs won that round. The beauty of this platter is that you are not restricted to the same produce I picked up. Pick up what your farmer’s market has, just make it colorful.
Here is what I used:
Purple Cauliflower (chop these into big chunks)
Rainbow Baby Carrots (trim the stems off and save to make pesto – be sustainable!)
Radishes
Watermelon Radishes (slice these a little thick into rounds to give a beautiful effect)
Snap Peas
Cucumbers (I sliced these on the diagonal for aesthetics. Feel free to slice into rounds or sticks to make them easier to serve)
Cherry Tomatoes
As for the hummus, I chose purple sweet potato and red beets to be the base of each hummus. For the Red Beets, I roasted it with garlic, then pulsed it with a little tahini and a few other ingredients. This is by far one of my favorite variations on hummus. Paired with all that beautiful produce, it’s perfect!
For the Purple Sweet Potato, I baked it in the oven then pulsed it with tahini as well. Though the idea behind both hummus’ are the same, the flavor profile differ vastly. Yet both are addicting.
I hope you have a chance to make a beautiful Spring Crudites Platter like this for your next gathering. I promise you will love it.
Try it out and let me know what you think!
Place sweet potatoes, beets, and garlic in individual foil sheets. Drizzle beets and garlic with olive oil. Wrap each food tightly into a ball and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 40 minutes.
Remove and let cool before opening the foil wraps.
For the Sweet Potato Hummus:
Remove foil wrap and peel skin. Chop into rough chunks and add to food processor. Add roasted garlic cloves and the rest of the ingredients. Blend until smooth (about 2-3 minutes).
Transfer to a bowl and garnish with parsley, a drizzle of oil, and/or roasted chickpeas.
For the Roasted Beet and Garlic Hummus:
Remove beets from foil and chop into rought chunks.
Add into food processor with roasted garlic and the remaining ingredients.
Blend until smooth (about 2-3 minutes)
Transfer to a bowl and garnish with roasted chickpeas, toasted sesame seeds, and/or a drizzle of olive oil.
To Assemble the Crudites platter:
Place the bowls of the hummus in the center of the platter. Add the larger veggies first, i.e. cauliflower and carrots.
Fill in with medium sized veggies, i.e. cucumbers and snap peas.
Add the smaller veggies, i.e. radishes and cherry tomatoes.
Finally garnish with watermelon radish slices and edible flowers if you have any.
Enjoy!
Notes
**Note: I used a whole bulb of garlic and divided between the two hummus dips as I knew I was making them at the same time (and a little extra garlic is always appreciated). If you are making only one hummus dip, follow the instructions of roasting cloves instead of the whole bulb.
Crisp, cold watermelon tossed with tangy feta and fresh mint is the perfect summertime salad to have on a hot day. This refreshing salad is a great side to have with grilled chicken, steak, and even hamburgers! Continue reading “Summertime Watermelon Salad”→
The sun is finally coming out, we are able to see friends and family after a long time, and I am ready to share apps around the table as I catch up with my loved ones. Nothing says fun in the sun with loved ones like bruschetta. Fresh tomatoes mixed with garlic, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and parmigiano reggiano served on garlic rubbed Italian bread. Yep. Count me in!
Growing up, I would order bruschetta every time we ate out at an Italian restaurant. It still is one of my favorite appetizers. I can name so many members of my family that also love it just as much as I do. There was even a time when bruschetta was a given at any family gathering. And rightly so.
Just a few ingredients that makes this recipe absolutely divine.
Tomatoes – crisp, juicy, sweet, red tomatoes are a must. Try to avoid mushy and soft tomatoes as you’ll end up with more liquid and the chopped tomatoes won’t hold their shape.
Garlic – chopped in the bruschetta mix but I also use whole cloves to rub toasted bread to give it that extra zing in flavor
Basil – this sweet peppery herb adds the perfect burst of earthiness
Parmigiano reggiano – The earthy, sharp, nutty flavor is the perfect flavor to bring all of the different ingredients together
Balsamic Vinegar – this is my surprise ingredient that takes this bruschetta up a notch. Each bite there’s just a hint of the tart, fruity liquid that makes you want to keep eating it.
Olive Oil
Fresh Italian Bread – toast these up a little then rub a fresh clove of garlic over it as they come out of the oven.
So, what are you waiting for?! This is the perfect appetizer for a wine and cheese night (my favorite), for a gathering, or if you want to create a beautiful Italian dinner!
From my kitchen to yours, I hope you enjoy this recipe!
Arrange the sliced bread on a baking sheet and drizzle olive oil over each bread. The oil doesn't have to cover each slice, just a little goes a long way here.
Toast for 5-7 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine the tomatoes, minced garlic, basil, cheese, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper in a bowl and toss to combine. Set aside until toast is ready.
When the toast are ready, remove them from the oven. Wait for the toast to cool just enough to handle but hot enough for the garlic.
Rub a clove of garlic over each toast to infuse the flavor. Continue until every toast has garlic on it.
Crispy, buttery crust with a creamy coconut filling topped with fresh mango puree and garnished with luscious fruit, this fresh and light Mango Coconut Panna Cotta Tart is what dreams are made of! Continue reading “Mango Coconut Panna Cotta Tart”→
Naturally gluten-free, chewy a crisp exterior, these Vegan Amaretti Cookies are a delicious treat to have with your afternoon coffee, or to pack in a holiday tin, or to simple devour like I tend to. Continue reading “Vegan Amaretti Cookies”→
I really hope you guys enjoy this interview with Sapna and I hope you take some time to check out her amazing blog which will be linked below! 1. Thanks so much for being a part of this interview. Tell us a little bit about yourself and what your blog is about. Thank you so […]