Almond Milk Rice Pudding
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. ~Miguel de Cervantes
Rice pudding is often thought of as a throwback dessert with a 1950’s aura when many a grandmother used to stand over the stove making her prized recipe for the church social. Back then having her recipe printed in the local cookbook was a badge of honor but since then rice pudding has fallen out of fashion and been replaced with brownies, cakes, pies, and cookies. Everyone loves a comeback and that is exactly what rice pudding is doing especially among plant-based devotees who’ve realized that creamy nut milk and rice makes an unbeatable comfort food. Read more 
Raisinets v. Woodstock Organic Dark Chocolate Raisins
Back in 1971, a commercial for Goobers (chocolate covered peanuts) and Raisinets (chocolate covered raisins) came out with the jingle
Goobers and Raisinets, Goobers and Raisinets, the chocolate covered candies that pour..
that still pops into my head whenever I see a box of Raisinets. As iconic as that jingle is, I can’t bring myself to ever buy or eat Raisinets because of the ingredients, which include dark chocolate (sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, milk fat, soy lecithin, nonfat milk, lactose, artificial & natural flavors), raisins, sugar, tapioca dextrin, confectioner’s glaze (lac-resin), and alkalized cocoa. Read more
White Bean Chili
I am the kind of person who really will drive hours for a bowl of chili. I’m not a 3-star restaurant kind of person; I’m just a food person. ~Nora Ephron
Chili is about as American as it gets; right up there with apple pie. An American dish with Mexican roots (“Chili con Carne”), chili has been around for hundreds of years according to the International Chili Society (www.chilicookoff.com) and probably originated with the Aztecs and Mayans although chili as we know it today was popularized by cattle drivers and trail hands during the 1800’s. Flash forward a few hundred years and chili is still a very popular dish in America although there are literally thousands of variations, as evidenced the Chili Cook-offs across the country. Read more
Nuttyness Marzipan Bars
Marzipan is often known as almond paste in the United States and is generally reserved for holidays or specialty cakes but only because Americans haven’t really discovered the wonders of this nutty, chewy treat. Traditional marzipan is made with ground almonds blended with sugar or honey but modern marzipan can also be made with pistachios or hazelnuts.
Chewy and sweet, marzipan is the perfect ingredient for a candy bar because the combination of dark chocolate covered marzipan is a contrast in flavors (nuts and rich creamy chocolate) and textures (hard and chewy). Read more
Peregrino Toasted Almond Tortas
Seville, Spain is a city defined by its traditions, one of which is the “tortas de aceite” which is directly translated to mean “olive oil cakes” although these sweet, thin, crisp, flaky treats are more like a dessert cracker than a cake. Made by hand in Seville, tortas de aceite are typically made with flour, extra virgin olive oil, sugar, baking powder, sesame seeds, anise seeds, and a touch of salt although there are many variations made by adding crystallized oranges and spices that may include cinnamon, rosemary, and thyme. Read more
Mediterranean Orzo
Garlic, lemon, and capers along with fresh herbs add an abundance of flavor to pasta and vegetables in this recipe for Mediterranean Orzo. Adapted from a recipe of the same name by the Purple Carrot, Mediterranean Orzo is a colorful dish that you would expect to be served at a cafe in the Mediterranean…but, without all the oil. Dairy-free, low in fat, high in protein, and with no added sugar, this plant-based dish is easy to cook and ready in less than 20 minutes. Read more
FIKA Almond Butter
Consumers are paying more attention to what’s in their food by reading labels and forgoing products that have unrecognizable ingredients, high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, artificial flavors, and colors – leaving food manufacturers to figure out how to make food products simpler, tastier, and economical by including as few ingredients as possible. Even the Wall Street Journal – a newspaper known more for business coverage than trend spotting – recently (August 9, 2016) reported that food companies are touting simplicity in response to consumers preference to recognize what they eat (see Packaged Foods’ New Selling Point: Fewer Ingredients). Read more
Nature Addicts Fruit Sticks
Fruit Rollups have a special place in our hearts because back in the 1980’s when these sweet, chewy “fruit” treats hit supermarket shelves, there was nothing else like them. The only problem was that most of these “fruity snacks” contained very little fruit and a lot of undesirable ingredients including corn syrup, artificial flavors and colors, and additives with long names like acetylated monoglycerides (an emulsifier).
Flash forward a few decades and we now have healthier choices made with non-GMO fruit, fruit, and more fruit by Nature Addicts, a company that began in Belgium and whose products are now offered throughout Europe and North America. Read more
Asparagus Carrot Masala with Quinoa
The Purple Carrot meal kit service continues to inspire me with the weekly delivery of ingredients and recipe cards to make delicious plant-based meals with three noteworthy changes: I use less oil than the recipes call for, omit the jalapeño or hot peppers, and add more vegetables which generally turns a meal meant for two persons into four servings, or as a side dish for 6-8. The meals rely heavily on spices which add flavor to the dishes (which is why I leave out the jalapeño or hot peppers) and is a great way to introduce plant-based dishes to carnivores and vegetarians as a side dish. Read more
10 Things to Know about Potatoes
What I say is that, if a fellow really likes potatoes, he must be a really decent sort of fellow. ~A. A. Milne
The author of Winnie the Pooh certainly knew how to write a classic story but he also had an appreciation of the potato. A century ago, it was not uncommon for people in England to sit down to a meal of potatoes but in recent times, potatoes have gotten a bad rap for all the wrong reasons. If you think potatoes are one of those starchy foods to avoid, then think again because this stem vegetable – of which there are many varieties – is totally underrated in terms of nutritional benefits. Read more
Paddock Post 