Hibiscus Poached Pears

Delicate mouthfuls of luxurious smooth and melt-in-your-mouth pears.

 

Bring the water to a boil, add hibiscus flowers, honey and salt, stirring until honey dissolves. Let the water with the flowers boil for 5 minutes. Turn the heat off and add peppercorns, cinnamon stick, and orange juice. Cover and steep 10 minutes.

 

Peel pears, leaving stems intact. Add pears to pan. Add 1 to 2 cups of water to just cover pears, if needed.

 

Bring to a boil over medium-high. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 1 hour or until pears are tender.

 

Strain poaching liquid over a bowl, reserving 2 cups poaching liquid. Bring 2 cups poaching liquid to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high; cook 20 minutes or until reduced to 1/2 cup syrup.

Serve the pears with the syrup on top.

JALAPEÑO PAIRINGS

Natives from Mexico. They have a medium-high spiciness.

They can be used fresh, raw, broiled or pickled.

JALAPEÑO PAIRINGS:

VEGETABLES:

  • Ancho Chiles
  • Arugula
  • Butternut Squash
  • Cabbage
  • Corn
  • Green onion
  • Green Bell Peppers
  • Lettuce
  • Onions
  • Peas
  • Poblano Peppers
  • Radishes
  • Red onion
  • Red Bell Peppers
  • Tomatillos
  • Scallions
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Zucchinis

FRUITS:

  • Avocado
  • Lime
  • Mangoes
  • Peach
  • Pineapple
  • Tomatoes
  • Strawberries
  • Watermelon

HERBS & SPICES:

  • Allspice
  • Cardamom
  • Chili Powder
  • Coriander/cilantro
  • Cumin
  • Curry Powder
  • Garlic
  • Oregano
  • Smoked Paprika
  • Turmeric

NUTS & SEEDS: 

  • Cashews
  • Peanuts
  • Pumpkin Seeds

MEAT & DAIRY:

  • Brisket
  • Cheddar Cheese
  • Chicken
  • Chorizo
  • Ground Meat
  • Monterey Jack Cheese
  • Pork
  • Sour Cream
  • Turkey

FISH & SHELLFISH:

  • Anchovies
  • Clams
  • Crab
  • Scallops
  • Shrimp
  • White fish

OTHER:

  • Brown Rice
  • Black Bean
  • Corn Tortillas
  • Dijon Mustard
  • Fish Sauce
  • Flour tortillas
  • Olive Oil
  • Peanut Butter
  • Pinto Beans
  • Quinoa
  • Sesame Oil
  • Tofu

 

Mushroom, corn tacos

Tacos – a wonderfully messy and nourishing indulgence, made vegan.

This is one recipe that you can assemble with leftovers from the week.m

The most important thing is to season every layer properly. First, cook the mushrooms with chopped onions and salt. I like to cook them to the point they are golden and crispy.

Then cook the spinach with chopped onion and garlic, ones cooked make a cashew sauce and mix it in the spinach.

Cook the corn in the oven. If you have it available, buy the corn raw, wash it and spread it with a mix of olive oil, garlic granules, lime juice and salt.  Bake until golden.

Make the beans prior, if you can’t you can use from a jar, but rinse them first and then season and heat them with chopped onion, and little bit of salt.

Raw Red onion in lime juice is a perfect addition of crunch and acidity to your tacos, and of course, chopped coriander.

Assemble your tacos with all the toppings and enjoy!

 

Vegan Creamy Spinach Sauce

A One-pot wonder. A vibrant, fresh and exciting bowl of pasta. Perfect for these summer days.

 

Place a medium saucepan over medium heat, and add a drizzle of olive oil. Add the garlic and onion, and cook, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the spinach and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring throughout, until wilted, about 2 minutes.

Add the spinach mixture to a high-speed blender with the the avocado,  lemon  juice, extra virgin olive oil and water, and blend until smooth and creamy. Season with salt to taste.

IT can be topped with pomegranate seeds, toasted almonds, toasted hazelnuts, crunchy chicpkeas, fresh coriander…

CREATIVE IDEAS TO USE THIS SAUCE:

  1. Over a bowl of rice with green beans.
  2. Mix with the pasta of your choice.
  3. It can be turned into a soup by adding vegetable stock.
  4. If you leave it thicker it can be used as a dip for your crisps or fresh veggies.
  5. Used as a salsa in a “Huevos Rancheros” type of breakfast.
  6. Poured over roasted chicken or turkey.

What other ways do you imagine you could use this sauce with?

Roasted Cauliflower Guacamole tacos

Roasted-crunchy cauliflower is mouthwatering, it is sexy and playful.

The idea behind this dish is to mix a now-classic with an old-time favourite: Mexican tacos.

Adding mashed avocado, even guacamole, crunchy chickpeas, fresh cilantro and a dollop of fresh cream or even greek yoghurt ( unsweetened, of course), to the fantastic roasted cauliflower is an epic meal that you will love to make. It is exciting to make and to eat.

You can either cut the cauliflower in steaks and then break apart, or do it as I like it, cut the florets into tiny florets, so the beautiful rub enters all of the cauliflower.

I like making a rub with turmeric, ground cumin, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and a squeeze of lime juice, you can even add a drizzle of maple syrup to the mix to make it exciting.

Roast in the oven at 200ºC for 20-30 minutes, until golden and crispy.

Super delicious hot dogs

A refreshing delicious take on the fast-food favourite.

 

Heat up a pan with a drizzle of oil. Fry the sausages until golden brown and crisp.

Finely chop the onion and tomato.

Grab 2  hot dog buns and add the cheese. Heat them in the microwave for 15 seconds. This will heat up the buns and melt the cheese.

Spread some mustard, chipotle, and mayonnaise on the bread. Add the sausages, and top with ketchup and the cilantro-less “pico de gallo.”

Enjoy

  • Other toppings might include cornichons and red onion.

Leek and potato Soup

Even in the freezing weather there is enough edible treasure around if you know where to look.

 

In a pot add water, the potatoes (chopped), leek (sliced), onion, and salt. Bring to boil and let simmer until cooked.

Add the ingredients to a blender, adding the broth bit by bit calculating the amount needed for the desired velvety texture. If it’s too thick add more water.

Add the black pepper, stir and enjoy.

 

Turn the soup into the main course, adding roasted vegetables or bits of meat.  You could add mushrooms, fried in butter till their edges turned gold, sausages, croutons, bit sof bacon…

Seared Tuna with Orange Juice and Rosemary

A quick and tasty fish dish ideal for any day.

 

Make the marinade with orange juice, chopped onion, chopped garlic, chopped rosemary, maple syrup, and salt.

Add the tuna to the marinade and leave it there for at least 20 minutes.

Once the fish is marinated heat a grill or a pan with a drizzle of avocado oil.  Sear the tuna on all sides for a few minutes (adding the marinade on top so it cooks alongside.)

Once the tuna is cooked add some sesame seeds to the outside and slice.

Enchiladas Rojas

On chilly days, indulge yourself with carbs and creamy sauces.

 

Steam the tomatoes, onion, chile and garlic. Once cooked blend all together with the vegetable broth (you can add water as well) and cilantro. Season with salt.
Strain the sauce and set aside.

In a hot pan add avocado oil and start fast frying the tortillas. This means one side, the other side and take out. Pat dry any excess oil.

Divide the sauce into two parts. In the first half add the shredded cooked chicken and fill the tortillas with it. Roll all the tortillas to form tacos and add them to a deep , oven-safe, dish. Pour the remaining salsa on top and sprinkle with cheese.

Bake the dish in the oven for 15 minutes at 200ºC,  or until the salsa is bubbly and the cheese is melted and crispy.

Tomato and Red Pepper Spaghetti

The easiest, super flavourful and healthiest tomato sauce for pasta.

 

Cook the pasta following packet directions.

In a pan, heat up some oil and add the chopped onion and garlic while the oil is still warm, once cooked add the chopped tomato, sun-dried tomatoes,  and red pepper, add a splash of water and let simmer until soft and cooked. If you need more water just keep on adding until you feel it is the right amount and you will get the right consistency you like.

Turn the heat off and add the chopped basil leaves, season with salt and mix everything in.
Let cool for a bit and put the sauce in a blender. Blend until desired consistency.

Pour over the spaghetti and serve.

Shrimp Tostadas

A classic Mexican dish. A fresh, vibrant and fabulous dish.

We use pre-cooked shrimp. Marinate them in a simple sauce made with lime juice, chopped cilantro and a pinch of salt. Blend it all together and throw in the shrimp, the red onions and the radishes.

Grab a tostada, spread some mayo. Add the shrimp, avocado, red onion on top and radishes on top.

You can add some drops of Valentina sauce or Salsa Verde on top.

Banana Bread

It’s one of the most important recipes in my life, because of the meaning it has.

This is the master recipe from our Banana Bread ebook. It is FREE so be sure to download it. It will teach you how to make many versions of Banana Bread, so you never get bored.

Start by beating the eggs very well, then add the sugar and keep whisking very fast. After that, add the milk and oil and reduce the beating speed, then add the flour and baking powder. At the end fold the mashed bananas in.

Oil a baking pan and bake at 200oC until golden ( +or- 1 hour).