Lazy morning blueberry muffins

I try not to over indulge in sweets for breakfast, but every now and then I love a good blueberry muffin. These grain-free ones are really delicious and nutritious thanks to the ground almonds and antioxydant-rich wild blueberries. They just take 30 minutes to make from beginning to end, so are completely do-able first thing […]

Pretty amazing Chai-flavored granola

I love granola – but the problem with most of the store-bought variety is all the preservatives, unnecessary refined sugar and unhealthy vegetable oils like palm, rapeseed and canola. The good news is that it’s a snap to make at home and you can easily change up the ingredients depending on what you’ve got on […]

Spinach citrus and wild rice salad with my “Asian” dressing

We often see wild rice matched with butternut squash, beetroot or other such autumn veggies, but it doesn’t have to be so. In this recipe, the grapefruit adds a nice summery zest to the rice, spinach, and goat cheese, while the dressing really brings it all together. The reason I call it “my Asian” dressing […]

Surprising black bean chocolate cake

I have been on a gluten and sugar free chocolate cake testing spree of late, and to be honest was very doubtful of the results this recipe would yield. Turns out, it’s pretty darn good and you would never guess there’s a can of black beans in there. Moist, not too sweet and the children […]

Stunning Persian dill, feta and chicken salad

This has to be one of my favorite “meal salads”. Although it isn’t an actual Iranian recipe, it has a Persian feel that is reminiscent of a dill and chicken rice dish (“Shivid polow”) my mom used to make (she’s actually of Belgian origin but being married to my dad, she learned how to cook […]

Cauliflower cream “verrines” with roquefort walnut crumble

“Verrines” took the French appetizer world by storm about ten years ago and these days frequently show up at a French dinner parties. They are essentially little shot glasses elegantly filled with anything from gaspacho to tuna tartare. The reason I particularly affection them is because, unlike canapés, they are usually gluten free and you […]

Aperitif-style cauliflower crust pizza

I was skeptical about cauliflower crust when it became all the rage a few years ago. But when my quest for gluten-free solutions began, I finally took the plunge and was pleasantly surprised. No, it isn’t like the real thing, but it’s an interestingly tasty substitute to regular wheat-based dough and a great way of […]

“The” baby artichoke salad

I can count with one hand the number of times my husband and I have argued in the past 15 years. And our first – and most ridiculous – argument had to do with artichokes. Many years ago, while living in Montreal, we’d shop at the fruit and veg market every weekend. One fine day, […]

Muhammara – a really good red pepper dip

I first tried making muhammara years ago in Dubai because I wanted an alternative to hummus and didn’t know what to do with that big pomegranate syrup that had been sitting in my cupboard for 6 months. Wow, I was blown away: this spread – which is very popular in Syria but also in other […]

Vegan pecan pie

If you love pecan pie like I do, you will love this vegan pecan pie. Just like the traditional recipe (I love the one from Sally’s Baking Addiction), it brings back a lot of childhood memories from Canada. My parents used to get it for the holidays or occasionally as a treat: the sweet creamy […]