Author: chefalice

This is a beautifully fresh, light summery soup but with all the vegetables and the giant couscous (which you can find in supermarkets) it still makes a good nourishing meal. I like to keep it vegetarian but you can use chicken stock if you prefer the flavour.

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When I was a teenager I babysat almost every evening and weekend for two families. Without knowing my snack preferences, both sets of parents regularly left chips and French onion dip for me to snack on, which, admittedly, I loved. As the years passed, I gave up these less-than-healthy snacks in favor of healthier options, but one day many years later I suddenly had a craving for this snack and went to work to make a healthier and fermented version of it. The result: French Onion Dip! But unlike the store-bought versions, this one has no dairy, no hydrogenated oils…

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This is one of my favorite make-ahead meals. The ground meat can be combined with fresh or frozen stir-fry veggies, or you can use lean ground chicken or turkey and whatever leftover fresh or cooked vegetables you may have on hand. Chinese five-spice powder often contains a combination of cinnamon, star anise, nutmeg, ginger, and Szechuan peppercorns. You can prepare the turkey and rice filling ahead of time, place serving portions in a resealable plastic bag, freeze them, and reheat them for use in wraps at a later time, stuffed into a whole-wheat pita, or over brown rice for a…

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Pot pie is the quintessential cold-weather cure. Warm gravy and delicious veggies, all wrapped up in a golden flaky crust, can warm the coldest heart (and tummy!). We sell these around the holidays, and the feedback from our loyal customers looking for something to show off on their family dinner table is always tremendous. This is the best recipe for a fall or winter potluck. By sharing it, you’ll make vegan and gluten-free look as good as we do! For an added thrill, add canned white beans or a few handfuls of chopped winter greens like collards or kale to…

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If the world were ending, I might just whip up this decadent treat as my finale. A rice pudding that you don’t have to stir for an hour? Now that makes me weak in the knees. Other reasons to swoon over this dessert: the incredible creaminess and the delicate blend of spices that sing in perfect harmony with the apples, raisins, and maple syrup. Oh, my. Show me the way to heaven with a smile on my face.

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In recent years, you may have read about umami, the mysterious fifth taste. If you’re still having a hard time recognizing it, though, I’m going to take you right to the source. The Japanese were the first to identify this taste in dashi the broth that is so central to their cuisine. It is made with kombu (a form of seaweed or kelp), dried bonito flakes, and water. I spike mine with sake, and the rest of the recipe carries home the Asian theme with tofu and tamari. The finished dish is a mix of tastes and textures that I…

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