Cauliflower Couscous {a party in your mouth}

March 22, 2017March 22, 2017Leave a comment

The Awesome Autumn Cleanse

Recipe wizardry (as I like to call it) is an art. You want food to actually taste good, look good but be easy enough that the amateur home cook can think to his or herself, “Oh hell yea, I can make that and it sounds delicious.” I’ve always had that intention when it comes to my recipes, my cookbook (and long long long project of cookbook number 2- it’s a tough one guys and gals, it’s really freakin’ tough) and the classes I teach. I want everyone to feel like nourishing, healthy food is not just some luxury. It should come naturally almost like a symphony of ingredients perfectly coexisting in a foodgasmic harmony.

Can’t a girl dream?

Over the last month or so I’ve hosted a few cooking workshops (GiMix it Up) and really gave people the opportunity to get into a real NYC kitchen. I do not create my food in a commercial kitchen, I have minimal counter space and I make due with the space I have. I LOVE my apartment and my kitchen. It was one of the first things that stood out to me. I at least have cabinets and I get to create yummy things as a result. I think having people in my kitchen to see what I work with gives them a little relief. Like, hello, I’m a real person, this is real life and I’m not going to magically pull out an already made version of a dish we are putting together. That’s not how it works.

One of the awesome menus I put together, legit, took no time at all. People were amazed at how easy this meal came together, how delicious and how the flavors developed with minimal ingredients. I’m all about that life.

A messy prep shows how much fun this is 🙂

Braised greens

Delicata squash

Perfecting knife skills with some parsnip

This menu included: easy braised greens, roasted veggies AND the piece de resistance: cauliflower “couscous” with tart cherries, pepitas and a tangy, light honey lemon sauce.

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Spicy Cauli-Wings {with a tangy avo-ranch sauce}

February 20, 2017Leave a comment

the-awesome-autumn-cleanse

Cauliflower is legit a versatile af veg. I’ve done cauliflower fried “rice,” mashed cauliflower (instead of potatoes), cauliflower crust pizza. All of which I have covered on the blog. And of course, I put cauliflower in all kinds of stuff. The one thing I have always been hesitant to make: cauliflower wings.

First of all, I don’t know if you know this about me, but I have been a vegetarian my entire life. So I have no idea what wings are “supposed” to taste like. In many cases of cooking, I combine ingredients instinctually. I guess. I trust. I surrender to the culinary divine and let it lead me and pray it all works out. And usually, it does. For this case, it REALLY does. This recipe didn’t have that gooky batter that most recipes called for. I don’t really want to feel like I’m eating a fritter, I want the pure crunch of that delish cauli all up in my mouth (yea, I just said it like that).

This is crunchy. I LOVE crunchy. I can hear my mother-in-law Donna say, “gimme something crunchy.”

It’s also spicy while the avocado ranch dipping sauce perfectly complements and cools that spicy sexiness.

I know you’re all thinking about your favorite dishes to whip up for your Oscar’s themed party 😉 Add this baby to your roster.

Spicy Cauli-Wings {with a tangy avo-ranch sauce}

Serves 4-6 people

Total time: 20-30 minutes

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Easy Peasy Cauliflower Fried Rice

November 14, 2015November 14, 20151 Comment

In case you were not aware, I LOVE working at the farmer’s market. I mean aside from the amazing people, I get my hands on veggies and fruits I normally wouldn’t be able to. Well, I probably could but the fact that the opportunity to try nature’s unique creations. I tried quince for the first time a few weeks ago. I used to just glance at it, ask what it was and just ignore it. Because let’s face it, there was no way I would actually do something with that. But now, that’s all changed.

Last week I got my hands on…purple cauliflower. I mean it’s just absolutely stunning. It’s a vibrant purple that begs to be eaten but in an elegant way. There’s no way this should become a puree, it begs to become something more. It has potential. And the night I realized I didn’t have rice in the house, the purple cauliflower became…rice.

Yes, I said rice. The texture is absolutely perfect. It doesn’t make you miss rice. It holds flavors exquisitely and it really makes you feel good about eating your veggies. I mean, come on! It’s a winner.

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“No Way It’s that Easy” Cauliflower Crust Pizza

June 5, 2015June 5, 20151 Comment

Where did summer go?! Hey, Mother Nature! What’s happening? It has been a long week of gloomy cold weather. I’m not digging it. I was so excited for the summer and the beach friendly weather…but no. We got thrown for a loop and now I don’t know what to do! But…thankfully it’s not that big of a deal. I still had my sweatshirts within reach and not in storage yet. I’m just glad it’s not snowing.

I know I had posted that even in the heat I use my oven, well…now us New Yorker’s can use our ovens without worry and without sweating out our blowouts. At least for a few more days…so you can make this recipe.

Last weekend I hosted a healthified and simplified Italian dinner workshop with roasted artichokes (with a lemon yogurt dipping sauce), peach and strawberry sangria AND this ridiculously easy cauliflower crust pizza with spinach pesto. My students were stunned at how easy it was to make this recipe and how few ingredients were required. This is not a recipe that will break that bank and that’s FAB! And as an added bonus, you won’t even notice the cauliflower. It’s a great way to get the kiddos to eat veggies without realizing it. And I dig that.