Making Summer Rolls is part craft, part cooking, with minimal heat. Assemble colorful vegetables and bouncy rice noodles on a translucent spring roll wrapper, roll it up, and stir up a zesty sauce. Once you get the hang of it, this recipe takes about 20 minutes more than making a salad. It will: Unleash your […]
Snack
Asparagus-Mushroom Crostini
Serve asparagus to a crowd without going broke. Showcase the bright-green grassy vegetable on a cushion of Rich Mushroom Sauce and toasted baguette. Lemon makes the sauce bright and raw cashews make it creamy and dairy-free. Perfect for Easter brunch, weddings, or other spring festivities. These sophisticated spring snacks cost just 43 cents each using […]
Fig Bites with Tahini
Make a tray of healthy snacks or appetizers in under 10 minutes! Sweet-and-salty Fig Bites have just three ingredients, with no cooking required. The pictures show my home-grown figs mixed with Black Mission figs from California. The birds beat me to the fig tree today. Tahini is sesame-seed spread, rich in calcium, iron, potassium, and […]
Spicy Melon Bites
Spread a spicy tahini mixture on thinly sliced eggplant, bake briefly, and wrap around cantaloupe bites. Ta-da! You’ve made an easy yet elegant summer appetizer that packs a flavor punch. Pop a Spicy Melon Bite in your mouth and notice the sensations: Smooth, slightly sweet eggplant Creamy umami burst from the spicy tahini spread Refreshing […]
Candied Orange Peel
Turn peels from expensive organic oranges into a wide range of treats, from raisin substitutes to a gourmet candy. Chop up candied orange peels to sprinkle over black beans or greens to add color and sweetness. Dip the ends in melted chocolate for holiday gift-giving. Prep time: 20 minutes. Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes […]
Heat-Wave Gazpacho or Chilled Tomato Vegetable Soup
When the sun pounds down on your roof and just walking outside makes you dizzy with heat, whirl up a batch of Heat-Wave Gazpacho. This chilled tomato vegetable soup is a meal in a bowl, with a refreshing vinegar zing. Serve it as a first course for dinner, pack it in a thermos for lunch, […]