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Showing results 1 - 35 of 50 for the author: Lisa.
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My special friend Fenris was hankering for dumplings as they reminded him of his childhood, so I invited him over for an afternoon of cooking. Though my dumplings were not as traditional as the ones his mom used to make, these are very filling and just plain comfort food. I served them up with my best ever mushroom sauce, which is always better than I remember. Seriously, I could just eat this sauce all on its own. Mushroom fiends like myself must ...
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I was browsing through starred items in my google reader the other day and came across this mouthwatering creamy chickpea and paneer dish from Sunita's Kitchen that I have been meaning to make for a while now. I usually visit my friend Basil on Saturday night and as he loves paneer as much as I do, I decided it was time to make this delicious dish. As usual, I have modified the original recipe somewhat to suit my own preferences. ...
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I was inspired to cook this curry for the January edition of No Croutons Required. The theme was Thai soups and salads, and I contributed a Hot and Sour Mushroom Soup. To go along with the meal, I also prepared this Massaman Curry with fresh Massaman Paste. I spent many hours in the kitchen that day, as I also made my own Nam Prik Pow Sauce to go into the mushroom soup. It was certainly worth the effort ...
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The theme for February was to recreate a soup or salad from a restaurant that made a lasting impression. The winner of the copycat round is Johanna of Green Gourmet Giraffe with this lovely and filling Parsnip Soup with Walnut Ravioli and Carrot Cream. Johanna based her soup on a dish served at David Bann's located in Edinburgh. Congratulations Johanna! ...
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I came across this simple, but well-balanced salad recently and immediately decided I would have to try it. How could I resist the goodness of quinoa, beets and chickpeas all in one dish dressed with tahini and miso? Just plain good for you and very flavourful too. This salad is earthy, yet naturally sweet at the same time. It is especially nice with the toasted sesame seeds. Certainly an excellent choice for those feeling rushed or for those not feeling up to ...
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Deciding to revisit an old favorite, I once again made this rich and spicy Indian curry made up of four types of legumes and lots of warming spices. If you don't have black chickpeas on hand, you can substitute yellow chickpeas, but I will note the black chickpeas add a nice texture to the dish as they are a bit chewier than their yellow cousins. This nourishing dish is especially good with brown basmati rice.This recipe is adapted from 660 ...
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The challenge for No Croutons Required this month was to recreate a soup or salad from a restaurant that has left a lasting impression. My contribution to the copycat round is this tomato corn chowder that I would always order when I visited Under the Volcano here in London Ontario. Unfortunately, this delicious soup is no longer on their menu, but thankfully, I was able to get a basic idea of the ingredients thanks to my friend Mike ...
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I am apparently addicted to cookbooks, and Once Upon a Tart is one of the latest additions to my collection. This charming book sat sadly neglected on my overflowing shelf until I decided I wanted some inspiration for yet another scone recipe. I highly recommend this book, that includes lots of ideas for quick breads, sweet and savory tarts, condiments, unique sandwiches and also some fabulous soup and salad recipes. Informative, inspirational and enjoyable. If I ever make it to New York, ...
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I always prefer to make my own pastes and sauces rather than purchase the pre-prepared versions. I made this spicy paste in preparation for a Thai inspired Massaman Curry with Paneer cheese, which I will be sharing with my readers soon. This sauce with keep in the fridge for a few weeks in a sealed jar and can be used in a variety of Thai curries or even tossed into Indian dishes. Consider using it as a base for a potato dish ...
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If you want to impress your friends with baked goods, then I highly recommend these sweet, yet somewhat savory cornmeal muffins. The first time around, I misread the recipe and included significantly less cornmeal than the recipe called for! The muffins still worked out and I am inspired to come up with a cross between the sunken, moister version I originally served up and the chewier version that is more aligned with the original recipe. For dinner, a thick and creamy baked ...
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I would like to introduce my readers to Fenris Badwulf, a sweet and savory friend of mine who has been cultivating his culinary skills for the past while. With a little help and inspiration from Lisa's Kitchen, Mr. Badwulf has become an accomplished cook and so I invited him to write a guest post for the blog.This is a recipe for scalloped potatoes favoured by Ivan the Terrible, Czar of all the Russias. As you will quickly discover, this ...
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As promised, here is the baked mushroom pancake I served as part of a birthday dinner for a dear friend. If you like mushrooms as much as I do, you will want to try this easy pancake that can be served for brunch or a light dinner. I always enjoy pancakes and the baked versions take so little time to prepare but are just as good as their fried cousins. The chive sauce especially compliments the earthy flavour of the mushrooms and ...
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The challenge for January was to make a Thai inspired soup or salad. It was a tight race but the winner this month is Mangocheeks with this creamy and luscious Thai Butternut Squash Soup with Tofu Croutons. Congratulations Mangocheeks! This soup is certainly an inspired creation.Jacqueline will be hosting the February edition of No Croutons Required. The ...
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Sometimes there is nothing better on a cold winter day than a warming bowl of simple lentil soup. This version is extremely easy to prepare, but very nourishing when served with buttered basmati rice and perhaps some homemade biscuits. I have adapted this recipe from a charming cookbook entitled Once Upon a Tart that I will be revisiting often. Not only are there lots of good ideas for sweet and savory tarts, but also lots of soups, creative sandwiches, salads, condiments, ...
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I don't normally put raisins in baked goods, but I recently had a request for some raisin tea biscuits, so I decided to experiment. These turned out light and flaky and the addition of dried cranberries added a nice natural sweetness. If you are a savory person like me, I would even suggest you only add a tablespoon of sugar instead of two. If you don't have dried cranberries on hand, just add a few more raisins. The raisins can also be ...
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The No Croutons Required challenge for January was to make a Thai inspired vegetarian soup or salad. Spicy Thai food is probably my favorite cuisine after Indian. For some reason, I rarely cook Thai at home but that will surely change after receiving these inspiring entries. Influenced by the flavours of China and India, but with a unique blend of stylistic flavours of its own, Thai cooking is fun and worth the effort in the kitchen. As usual, the choice won't be an easy one, but please vote for your favorite submission in the comment section or via email. ...
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Spicy Thai cuisine is probably my next favorite after Indian cooking. Oddly enough, I have rarely cooked authentic Thai food, opting instead for take out from Thai Taste, my favorite Thai restaurant in London. I suppose that is one of the reasons I chose Thai soups and salads for the theme for this month's No Croutons Required; this challenge inspired me to come up with a Thai meal in addition to getting some lovely ideas from fellow bloggers.I always ...
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Quick breads are not only a perfect way to fill out a meal, they are fun to make too and a good choice for novice bakers just starting out in the kitchen. I can never have too many ideas for quick breads, so I was delighted to hear about The Best Quick Breads by Beth Hensperger, a now favored book. Containing over 150 recipes for scones, biscuits, muffins, shortcakes, cornbread, pancakes and lots of other tempting creations and accompaniments, this is a ...
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Shortly before Christmas, I received a press release and care package of some Gay Lea butter to make some shortbread. Gay Lea launched a bake-off contest back in the fall to find the best shortbread cookie. Robert Maxwell of Liaison College entry was judged the most creative. He submitted a recipe for Peanut Butter and Jelly Shortbread bars. How could I resist trying these!I meant to make them for Christmas, but I usually make my famous Rum ...
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For December, we decided once again to go with festive photos. I'm delighted to announce the winner for December's roundup is Wendy of a Wee Bit of Cooking with this lovely photo entitled Wee Bird. Congratulations to Wendy who also won last year's festive photo challenge. I will be hosting the next edition of No Croutons Required. The challenge ...
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As the fresh sweet tastes of summer produce recede each year, I rediscover the delights of winter squashes. Long-lasting and loaded with a big helping of vitamins and minerals, winter squashes are an extraordinarily versatile and flavourful staple in the cold-weather kitchen.Although each variety has its own appeal, the long and slender pale yellow gourd known as the sweet potato or delicata squash tops my list for its ease of use and tender sweet flavour. Easy to peel ...
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Rice, mushrooms and butter … three simple and noble foods that combine to make an extraordinarily easy and elegant side for almost any kind of meal. Remove the stems from the dried mushrooms and chop if necessary.Buttered mushroom rice1 1/2 cups basmati rice1/2 ounce dried mushrooms1 clove garlic, peeled and halved1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butterhandful of fresh parsley, trimmed1/4 teaspoon sea salt, or to tastefresh ground black pepperRinse the rice thoroughly ...
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I've never been fond of those dry, sticky Christmas Cakes found in grocery stores this time of year, but these simple pancakes have the same festive flair with a much lighter, fluffier and fresher texture. These are perfect for serving up on a cold December morning without having to wait around for the store-bought treats to be set out, and are much tastier and more satisfying besides.Use any dried fruit on hand or that strikes your fancy, and ...
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As much for its beautiful purple-red hue and distinctive sweet flavour as its nutritional benefits, the beetroot is my favourite of all winter vegetables, if not of all vegetables altogether. Beet soups are always an attractive addition to any fall or winter meal, as with beet and tomato and orange and beet soups.I'm not nearly as fond of parsnips ordinarily, but their flavour makes an earthy and almost bitter contrast with beets that makes their pairing a ...
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The votes are in and the winner of November's Root Vegetable Challenge is Soma with her elegant and creative Saffron and Honey Glazed Vegetables. Congratulations Soma! It was a tough challenge this month, with many tempting entries. Jacqueline will be hosting the December edition of No Croutons Required. As December is a busy month, we have ...
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The challenge for November was to make a vegetarian soup or salad with root vegetables. As usual we have received some tempting entries from across the globe. There are lots of nourishing ideas to warm a body on a chilly day. Though the choice is never an easy one, please vote for your favorite in the comment section or via email. Do note that my submission is not eligible for the vote.Our very first entry is a hearty ...
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Winter squash soups are a healthy and economical way to comfort and nourish the body and soul during the long cold months ahead. Chickpeas add depth and protein to this colourful and delicious autumn pumpkin soup, enhanced with a zesty Indian seed and spice tempering that will warm and delight your guests. Serve with a whole grain for a complete and wholesome vegetarian meal. This is my contribution to this month's My Legume Love Affair, a favored event ...
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Recently I purchased a copy of Modern Spice by Monica Bhide after reading a mini review at 101 cookbooks. I have now cooked a few recipes from this delightful cookbook and what a taste experience it was. I will be having more to say about this book in the future, but for now, I will note that it has many creative Indian-fusion style dishes for vegetarians and carnivores alike. My first choice was this earthy and healthy beetroot salad ...
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I haven't been spending much time in my kitchen of late, but the recent occasion of a friend's birthday was an inspiration to come up with a pumpkin dessert. Not too rich, this will appeal to those who prefer savory treats, but also enjoy a hint of sweetness from time to time. I highly recommend using homemade pumpkin puree rather than the canned variety. Detailed instructions on how to make your own, along with photos, can be found here. Pumpkin puree ...
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The votes are in and we have two winners for October's Frugal Challenge. Congratulations to both Saranya who made a unique Hawaiian Style Mixed Vegetable Soup and Nic who cooked up this lovely Green Tomato Soup.I will be hosting the November edition of No Croutons Required. The challenge this month is to make a soup or ...
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As the icy fingers of winter start creeping up outside the window, there is often nothing so warming and comforting as a hot bowl of split pea soup. Plain and simple, or with the added flair of spices, mushrooms and fresh grated Parmesan cheese, this earthy and sweet soup is always a nice way to curl up for the season.Split Pea and Mushroom Soup1 cup dried green split peas2 tablespoons olive oil1 onion, chopped1 clove garlic, ...
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Slowly fermented into a thick and robust paste, soybean miso added to soups is an almost ideal protein for tender tummies. And gently cooked seaweed, carrots and fresh beet green tops combine to make a vitamin and mineral packed broth that's as nourishing and easy to go down as it is fast and simple to prepare.Miso Seaweed Broth with Mushrooms and Carrots4 - 5 strips wakame seaweed4 cups water2 cups vegetable stock6 oz. fresh ...
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Jacqueline put the call out for pantry staples for this month's No Croutons Required. Though I have staples on hand at all times, this did prove to be a challenge, as I often plan meals ahead of time and send my sweetie off to our favorite haunts to pick up requisite ingredients, sometimes at short notice. I appreciate the inspiration, especially when the weather outside is less than inviting. This cold weather recipe was inspired by a recipe ...
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If you are craving relatively easy, yet spicy and unique ways to incorporate legumes into your diet, I highly recommend getting a copy of 600 Curries by Raghavan Iyer. Although his Indian cookbook is not vegetarian, this fat volume contains plenty of creative vegetarian recipes making it a worthwhile investment for carnivores and vegetarians alike. In addition to recipes for legumes, this favored volume also has plenty of tempting ideas for appetizers, paneer, vegetables, rice and even spice blends and pastes. Plenty ...
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Red lentils in broth constitutes possibly the most simple and digestible source of much-needed protein for someone recuperating from a stomach flu or whose digestive system is still sensitive. In the case that the patient retains a zest for flavour, a little cayenne and a helping of vegetables provide welcome taste as well as the additional fortification of vitamins and minerals in this quick and easy soup that places as little strain on the cook as on the convalescent.Adapted ...
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