All posts tagged: Healthy Eating

Discover Flavors Of Syria: Zezafoun Toronto

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“We wanted to share mamas delicious Syrian culture with the people in Toronto and beyond.. says Marcelle Alexis, Co-founder Zezafoun Eid celebrations often bring back memories of our time in Dubai and the joy of celebrating with friends and indulging in the various Iftar buffets that most hotels and restaurants plan around this time of the year. I also fondly remember the foodie walks in Mumbai with my sister, that are a delightful culinary journey into the by-lanes of the city which are abuzz with food vendors and street stalls that are a delightful experience to the senses and a symphony of flavors, aromas and textures that elevate the dining experience. Whilst here in Toronto, a bunch of ladies decided to embark on a culinary journey at Zezafoun last evening. This hidden gem serves some very authentic Syrian cuisine crafted with love and warmth making our meal a memorable culinary experience  Walking into this restaurant is like stepping into the comforts of Syrian warmth and hospitality.This place is run by Chef Yola and her daughter Marcelle.The …

Harvesting Happiness: Microgreens & Culinary Inspiration

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Microgreens are young, edible greens harvested at a seedling stage stage of growth, typically before the onset of the first true leaves. These tiny greens are packed with nutrients and flavor, making them a favorite addition to salads, sandwiches, and garnishes. I had been contemplating growing microgreens for awhile now, as they often come in handy for plating and garnishes. The best part of growing microgreens is that you may use some of your pantry staples such as mustard, fenugreek, coriander or sunflowers seeds. I like to grow them in some organic potting soil that I use growing my herbs. However you may try growing them hydroponically too. Here are some handy tips in growing Microgreens: Microgreens can be a wonderful and visually appealing garnish to may dishes, adding a burst of flavour and tons of nutrition too. These tiny shoots are a powerhouse of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. Mustard microgreens at Day 4 of sowing the seeds. Mustard microgreens at day 11 Use Microgreens In: I have rounded up a series of some of …

Vietnamese Chicken Pho

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Pho is a popular street food and perhaps the simplest of soups and an utterly flavorful dish served commonly in all households in Vietnam. Vietnamese Chicken Pho ( to be pronounced as Fuh), essentially called Pho Ga translates into rice noodles with chicken in a fragrant and delicious broth. Pho literally means Rice noodles and Ga is for chicken. This aromatic noodle soup originated in Hanoi and is a milder form of the traditional beef Pho. Quite easily the epitome of Vietnamese cuisine and named the national dish of the country, this aromatic soup originated in Hanoi and is a milder form of the traditional beef Pho. Traditionally Pho Bo, is where the broth is made with beef with an addition of bean sprouts, rice noodles, mixed herbs and lemon juice. The broth is prepared separately and includes whole spices such as star anise, fennel and ginger as flavourings. This makes up for a hearty and healthy one bowl meal that is bursting with flavours. I recently sampled a delectable Pho, here in Toronto at …

Hello Summer

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Sometimes Simplicity Is The Ultimate Sophistication- Clare Boothe Luce Summer is the perfect time to pack in some fresh flavours and ingredients into your cooking. I love the flavours in these recipes as they are a great way to move over to lighter and brighter meals. It’s most certainly time for quick and easy cooking and these recipes here will get done in less than 30 minutes from start to table. Also a great way to use wonderful seasonal produce and locally grown vegetables and fruits. These recipes lend a sense of vibrancy to the palate and ignite one’s taste buds. From fresh Asparagus, Beets, Cilantro, Eggplants, Zucchini, Oyster Mushrooms and Watermelons, here are some of my absolute fav recipes that I often toss together. Now you could serve these up as sides or they work great as mains and appetizers too. Either way’s they make a meal complete. The roundup of recipes here celebrate summer and are primarily vegetarian , some vegan and mostly gluten free. They are easy to put together and accompany …

Coriander-Walnut Pesto

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Move over pine nuts and basil as fresh coriander and toasted walnuts blend together to make this wonderful and easy pesto. Traditional Pesto also called Pesto Alla Genovese originates in Genoa,Italy and consists of pine nuts, salt, basil leaves , minced garlic, Parmesan cheese and olive oil. Also quite strictly this pesto is pounded with a mortar and pestle to achieve the desired results. However a small food processor works great too. In this modern version the pine nuts are substituted with walnuts and the star ingredient is fresh Coriander leaves or Cilantro and just some basil leaves thrown in for good measure. All the ingredients compliment each other really well and trust me you will be tempted to eat this pesto by the spoonful. Here is my recipe for this delightful pesto. I have wonderful memories fine tuning this recipe for an event at the college, I taught at some years ago. With quite a few trials and errors we perfected this recipe and now it’s a go-to recipe in my kitchen. This is …