Glorious Fennel Bulb + Inspiration For Home Cooking

Food, glorious food

You may recognize this phrase from the famous play, “Oliver.” I personally couldn’t agree more.


Food is many things to many people; comfort, celebration, tradition, routine, sustenance, even medicine for health. The list is as endless as there is variety of foods available in the world.


I personally feel the true, goodness of fresh whole foods sometimes gets lost amongst all the noise and chatter about the function of food: from the numerous diets (keto, paleo, vegan), to the experts constantly “revealing” what we should and shouldn’t eat. 

And then there is the packaging. Boxes of packaged goods boasting to be the healthiest, most natural, most sustainable food out there – or the most likely to help you lose weight. 

Finally, don’t even get me started about the celebrity chefs, who make meal prep look so darn easy.

I agree daily cooking can be a chore and a bore. There are (many) days I just don’t feel like cooking. 

I understand some people hate cooking and prefer takeout and pre-made meals. 

I realize food is a competitive market and is a big business. 

I appreciate that some do not have a positive or healthy mindset regarding food. And I know that maintaining a healthy weight has been tough for many. 


But let’s put aside all the babble around food for a minute, turn the story around, and look at all the goodness food can bring:


Pistachio Basil Pesto

Pistachio Basil Pesto

Fresh pesto typically uses pine nuts however this recipe has a nice twist with roasted, salted pistachios. I bought ones that were already roasted, but you can easily buy them raw and roast them in the oven or stovetop. Serve the pesto on pasta, on pizza, over cooked veggies, or in a veggie sandwich with mayo.

Cabbage Carrot Slaw With Sesame

Cabbage Slaw with Carrots

This is a colourful slaw recipe with purple cabbage and carrots. It has green grapes and sesame seeds as well. The dressing is not too heavy, which is what I like. 

Squash Lentil Stew

Squash Lentil Stew with Rice and Vegetables

There are many different types of squash available this fall.  Take advantage of them by cooking up delicious soups and stews such as this tasty dish. 

This is a delicious meal to make on a cool night. Feel free to add more veggies or swap some out for others that you have in your fridge.

I usually hate cutting squash because they are so tough, but I heard that if you put them in the microwave for a few seconds, (I did, 15 seconds) they are easier to cut. Well, I finally tried this little hack, and it worked!

Parmesan Spaghetti Squash

Looking for a fun and simple side dish that will impress your family? This Parmesan spaghetti squash recipe will do the trick. Don’t forget to be generous with the black pepper. 

Cauliflower Veggie and Cheddar Soup

 This is a recipe you’ll want to feed to folks who hate veggies. The soup is pureed and includes cheese, so they’ll never know it is full of cauliflower, carrots, and celery.

Quinoa Greek Salad

Quinoa Greek Salad with Fresh Parsley

Quinoa is a staple food grown in South America. It’s a grain that is considered a complete protein, and can be used like rice. It is also great as a side dish, in soups, in salads or even in puddings. 

This is an easy salad to serve for a weekday meal. 

Roasted Carrots

Roasted Carrots

 Roasting veggies brings out their natural sugars which makes them super delicious.  Carrots are delightful when roasted; I suggest you give them a try. 

Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges

This is a delightful salad to add to your list of spinach salads. The buttermilk and mayonnaise dressing has fresh garlic and tarragon. 

You could use fresh strawberries if you wanted and perhaps sprinkle with some toasted slivered almonds.

Pasta with Fresh Basil and Asparagus

Pasta with asparagus, mushrooms, tomatoes, fresh basil and Parmesan cheese

 

Stir fry the veggies and add to a pot of cooked pasta for an easy weekday meal

If you love mushrooms and asparagus, you will love this easy to-make dish. This recipe is fast to prepare and yummy to eat.

Roasted Asparagus with Pine Nuts and Parmesan Cheese

Don't let the cold spring rain deter you from thinking that it's not spring yet.  Spring brings new produce to the fruit and vegetables stands and the first to appear is asparagus. If you haven't try roasting it, try it. You will not be disappointed.

Butternut Squash, Apple, Curry Soup with a Hint of Orange

Butternut squash shop with curry and orange

An easy squash and apple curry soup with a hint of orange to warm up your soul.  It's spiced with curry and is sure to be a hit in your home.

Asparagus Soup

Asparagus soup

Fresh local asparagus is always a pleasure.  It's great steamed and roasted, but have you tried it in a soup? Here's a recipe to try.

Greek Pasta Salad with Fresh Oregano and Dill

Greek Pasta Salad Spiced with Fresh Oregano and Dill

This fun salad is served as a main meal. It's served warm, but it’s also tasty the next day served cold. It's a mix between a pasta and a Greek salad and is packed with fresh chopped dill and oregano.Greek 

Homemade Minestrone Soup

Minestrone with veggies, beans and macaroni

This minestrone is loaded with carrots, celery, tomatoes, zucchini and cabbage.  It also has garbanzo beans and macaroni.  Add the macaroni at the end as stated in the directions, otherwise they will expand and overshadow the glorious veggies. If you are vegetarian, simply omit the cheese. 

Carrot Soup With A Hint Of Curry

 

This is a simple soup that is satisfying and easy to make. This recipe uses both leeks and onions. Leeks are a mild type of onion. When using them, make sure to remove the first few white layers, because dirt can easily get trapped inside.  

Black Bean and Squash Soup

Black Bean and Squash Soup

This healthy, robust soup is sure to warm you up on those cold winter days. In this recipe, I use a carnival squash, but any squash will work. A carnival squash is a cross between a sweet dumpling squash and an acorn squash. They can be used in any recipe that calls for either an acorn or a butternut squash.

Veggie Stir-Fry With Tofu Wedges, Quinoa and Tahini Sauce

Tofu Wedges

This vegetarian dish is inspired by the “Buddha bowl” craze. There’s a few steps in this recipe but don’t let that fool you, it really is quite easy. The dish is served with quinoa, which I think you’ll find is a nice change from the typical brown rice. It’s served with a tahini sauce on top, which rounds out the dish nicely.

General Tso Chicken With Veggies

General Tso Chicken With Veggies

General Tso chicken is a popular dish in Chinese food restaurants. I’ve created a healthier version with veggies, of course! Feel free to change up the veggies, add your own veggies or leave them out.

This recipe was an inspiration after I purchased a seasoning kit for General Tso Chicken from a vendor at a local craft fair. After trying it, I thought I could create a tastier version, and this is what I came up. I hope you enjoy it.

Barbecue Steak With Peppercorn Sauce

Steak With Peppercorn Sauce

Barbecue steaks are a typical Sunday night dinner in our household.This week I switched it up by serving a peppercorn sauce to go with the steaks. I grilled some veggies and added a baked potato to complete this colourful and yummy dinner!