Israeli Couscous Salad

I love salads, and the weather is warming up... that means fresh local produce and the Hubbards Farmers Market! I know, I know I am a little early, as it is only March but all this sunshine is getting me excited for spring and summer.


I went to the bulk barn last week and bought enough beans and grains to last a month, which is good. I hate going to the grocery store. I feel like I am there WAY to much. If its not soymilk we are out of, its bread.
I have been looking into the soy milk maker machines...does any one own one of these? It must be a better product then the boxed stuff, I mean fresh milk at your disposal, and in 15 minutes?I would love to know if it is worth it.  


This is a great salad, it keeps well in the fridge. Make a big batch and take it to work for lunches.
The falafel patty you see in the background is a great addition...chickpea patty recipe

• 1 cup cooked Israeli couscous
• 1/2 cucumber- small diced
• 1 yellow bell pepper- small diced
• 2 green onions-minced
• 4 tbsp fresh cilantro-minced
• 1 lemon-juiced
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• sea salt
• freshly ground pepper

In a large bowl combine all ingredients, stir it up and enjoy!

Black Bean Burger with Sauteed Mushrooms & fresh Cilantro

This is a great recipe for leftovers...I made it last night for the family for dinner,
And was able to have another one for lunch this afternoon with the kido!
Still have enough in the fridge for another 2 portions. I thought of making a fresh salsa for the top but the tomatoes at the store were not looking so hot.

• 2 1/2 cups cooked black beans-drained
• 2 tbsp veggie oil
• 1 onion-minced
• 2 cloves garlic-minced
• 1 stalk celery-minced
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp Dijon
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 2 tbsp flour
• sea salt
• freshly ground pepper

In a saute pan, heat oil, Add onions,garlic,and celery. Saute for 3-4 minutes.
Add spices, saute for about 3 more minutes.
In a large bowl combine beans and onion mixture together.
Add the rest of the ingredients and mush it together really well.
Shape into patties and fry in a pan with a little oil, until it forms a crust on each side.

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Tortilla Soup

One of the most amazing tasting soups ever! I like mine mild, not to spicy, but you could always kick it up a notch with some extra chipotles.

I make my chipotles with dried ones that I soak, cook them with onion and garlic, spices and a blob of tomato paste, blend them up and store it in the freezer in small containers.

I have also switched from canned to dried beans, they are way more economical if you use beans as much as we do. I usually have a bowl of beans soaking in the fridge, even if I am not sure of what I am going to make. Always soak more then you need, freeze what you don't use, that way when you are in a jam you can always grab some from your freezer!

• 2 tbsp veggie oil
• 1 medium onion-small diced
• 3 cloves garlic-minced
• 1/2 cup corn kernels
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 1/2 can crushed tomatoes
• 4 cups water
• 1 cube veggie bullion
• 1/2 red pepper-small diced
• 2 tbsp ground chipotles
• 1 cup pinto beans
• 1/2 lime juiced
• sea salt
• freshly ground pepper
• 1 cup fried tortillas- chopped into small pieces (about 2 tortillas)

• 3 tortillas-folded in half cut into thin strips
• 1/3 cup veggie oil

In a large pot heat oil, add onions and garlic. Saute for 3-4 minutes. Add corn and spices.
Add tomato, water, bullion. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add pepper, chipotle, beans.
Season with lime, salt and pepper. Add tortillas and simmer for 5 minutes

In a fry pan ( I like to use a cast iron) heat oil to medium high heat. Add tortillas. Using tongs flip around in pan until golden. Remove and sprinkle with salt.

Optional garnishes: Fresh cilantro, fresh parsley, & avocado (these are super tasty and highly recommended :)

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Maple Flax Cookies

The weather hasn't been that great in my neck of the woods lately, very windy and rain/snow brrrr. I am getting excited for the weather to warm up. I am starting my tomato seeds next week! I have never had a yard veggie garden but I have been reading a lot about it and one of my friends told me she grew flax. Not that she got a big crop, apparently the flowers that the plant produces are very pretty.

We just bought a big bottle of maple syrup, and I have a huge jar of flax kicking around, and I remembered this recipe from domesticaffair.ca, this is one of my new favorite cookies! I didn't have spelt flour, I just used organic unbleached white flour.

                                              info about flax

Teriyaki vegetables with toasted sushi rice and baked tofu

I have been slack'n on the blog posts this week, not that I haven't cooked every day :P

I made a really yummy red kidney bean balls with spaghetti, and chili with cornbread,( the kid helped with the cornbread ) I wish I posted it all, but sometimes you are so hungry by the end of the cooking process that you just can't be bothered to take a picture, and there are no leftovers ( because it was so good :)

For dinner tonight I made miso soup, and toasted sushi rice cooked with a vegetable broth, teriyaki vegetables with baked tofu, and for dessert a warm banana loaf!

I have to admit I am not the best at cooking rice, its really a hit and miss for me, does anyone else have this problem?

I have dabbled with Mexican rice a few times and the recipe always says to dry toast it until golden, and the results are always spectacular!

I decided to toast the sushi rice and add a half a vegetable bouillon cube to the water. It turned out great. I think the best advice when cooking rice, is that it needs to sit off the heat for at least 10 minutes ( if you are cooking pot method). Then I mixed 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar with 1 tbsp of maple syrup together and poured it over when I fluffed the rice.  I had no brown rice vinegar :(

For the veggies I mixed together about 4 tbsp of tamari with 2 tbsp of maple syrup, mince 2 cloves of garlic, 1 tbsp of cornstarch and 3 tbsp of water, and 2 tsp of cane sugar. Heated the wok, added the oil, sauteed the veggies, added a little water and then poured the mixture over top. It took seconds to thicken up, I pulled it off the heat right away.

Toasted sesame seeds are essential!