Roasted Eggplant Pate

This is a delicious and easy-to-make spread, made by my beautiful and gorgeous wife. It resembles some of the Baba Ganoush recipes without cumin and parsley leaves often found in the ingredients.

Ingredients

2 Chinese (or regular purple) eggplants
2 garlic cloves
Olive oil (3-4 table spoons)
Lemon juice  (3-4 table spoons)
Tahini (1-2 table spoons)
Salt and paper

Preparation

First, score the skin of the eggplant  (without piercing the flesh) and bake until soft (roughly an hour and a half). When cool to handle, cut them in half and scoop out the flesh into a bow. Then, using immersion blender, blend with the rest of the ingredients. As an alternative, it is possible to mash the flesh of the eggplants thoroughly, then "beat in" the rest of the ingredients using a fork.

Grilled Portobello Mushroom and Halloumi Cheese

Sometimes, you really want something fried... or grilled... or something really messy. This one will hit the spot!

Ingredients

Ciabatta Bread
Portobello Mushrooms
Halloumi Cheese
Tomato
Avocado
Spring Greens Mix

Mayonnaise
Onion, Honey and Mustard Sauce (or simply Honey Mustard will do)
Roasted Garlic & Chili Aioli Dipping Sauce
Frank's Hot Sauce
BBQ Sauce

Preparation

Marinate portobello mushrooms and thickly cut halloumi cheese in honey mustard dressing, mixed with a bit of Frank's Hot Sauce and BBQ sauce. Then grill the mushrooms (on both sides) and when done, halloumi cheese. We want it grilled, not melted...

In the meanwhile warm ciabatta bread, cut in half and spread mayonnaise on one side and roasted garlic and chili aioli sauce on the other side. When the mushrooms are ready and the cheese is on the grill, put everything on the bread, top it up with the grilled halloumi cheese and... Bon Appétit!

All the ingredients, except portobello mushrooms and halloumni cheese can be easily substituted. For example, instead of ciabatta bread it is possible to use gluten free bread, or instead of mayonnaise it is possible to use humus and tahini sauce.

Recipe: Fettuccine Marinara

This recipe is inspired by Gena's Zucchini Marinara and adopted to use the ingredients available in the cupboard or grown in the backyard. As with previously published recipe (Buddha Bowl), it is extremely easy to make (literally takes a few minutes) and tastes great.

Ingredients (2 servings)

1 Zucchini
1 large red or yellow bell pepper
1 large Heirloom tomatoes
Sundried tomatoes
Fresh thyme, oregano, rosemary and basil
Olive oil
Salt

Preparation

Take two plates and using potato peeler skin zucchini (minus the skin) into long stripes (kind of like Fettuccine). When it is done, blend the rest of the ingredients until nice and smooth. Pour the sauce over "Fettuccine" and enjoy it.

Recipe: Buddha Bowl

This is a truly quick and easy vegan recipe which is unbelievably tasty and nutritions. Why is it called Buddha Bowl? I have no idea as it is my own adaptation of Happy Buddha Bowl served by Kindfood in Burlington, ON so hence the name.

Ingredients (2 servings)

I had a really easy time with this recipe as everything was found either in the fridge or in the cupboard:

• Organic brown and wild rice - 1 cup
• Sweet potato - 1 medium potato
• Diced red onion - 1/4 medium red onion
• Diced tomato - 1 large heirloom tomato (yum! yum!)
• Sliced avocado - 1/2 avocado
• Fresh cilantro, rosemary and basil
• Olive Oil
• Soy Sauce
• Raw Almonds
• Sunflower seeds
• Italian herbs

Preparation

I am a happy owner of a rice cooker so it was taken care of. While the rice is being cooked, peel and slice sweet potato, put on a baking paper, sprinkle with olive oil, fresh rosemary and Italian herbs, and bake for about 20 minutes on 200C (~400F).

In the meanwhile, dice and slice red onion, tomato, cilantro and basil.

When the rice is ready, top it up with the diced veggies, baked sweet potato and sliced avocado. Then sprinkle with soy sauce, olive oil, sunflower seeds and almonds.

Hmm... that is it.

Word's Largets or Something Else?

I am about to renew a domain name I have, and looking for alternatives. So far, I have found GoDaddy.com as the best option.

Ali Express (by Alibaba.com)

So you walk into Walmart, Target or Superstore, find a product you like, turn it round and see Made in Chine. Unsurprizing really... But how about buying directly from Chinese suppliers?

Bistro 1847! Oh, you will be jealous!

I have found a vegetarian/vegan restaurant here in Manchester. Bistro 1847 - a hidden gem! Located not far from China Town, it has a good selection of vegetarian, vegan and Gluten free options, and of course everything is made of fresh, organic, locally sourced and non-genetically modified ingredients cooked to order. Did I miss any other trendy buzz words of a model health conscious sociopath? LOL!

For a starter I had Whole baked Blacksticks Whitehaven with crudités & breads...

...and as a main, I had beer battered halloumi, hand-cut chips & minted mushy peas (but instead of peas I have opted out for steamed greens).