I never would have thought that summer BBQ’s would match up so well with Asian inspired salads.
I’ve tested this recipe a few times now at a few outdoor gatherings and I have to tell you, it held up pretty well beside the best of potato salads.

I’ve had this rice in my pantry collection for a while, you see I have a nasty habit of food shopping. Yes, admitted, I have more varieties of grains than summer sandles, which is so goes against all that is womanly. I just can’t help it though. Who knew there were so many types of quinoa, couscous or rice to be had and to hoard?

Black, or Forbidden Rice is an Asian heirloom variety of rice that is not glutenous and is very high in fiber as well as iron. It’s Forbidden name comes from it traditionally being served to the Emperors of Ancient China, thus being restricted from common consumption. Now, of course it can be found and even trademarked by a few different rice producers, sold in popular grocers and heath food stores.

Word to the wise though, check over your rice as you would lentils for forbidden objects, like pebbles. It’s heirloom and wholesome, right down to the ground it’s grown and what can get into it.

FORBIDDEN ASIAN BLACK RICE SALAD

2 Cups Black Rice, picked over
3 Cups Water
1 Yellow Pepper, finely diced
1 Red Pepper, finely diced
1 Large Carrot or a Handful of Baby Carrots, cut into matchsticks
3 scallions (green onions), finely chopped
Handful Thai Basil, about 10 leaves chopped

DRESSING

1/4 Cup Sesame Oil
1/4 Cup Soy Sauce
1 Tablespoon Freshly Grated Ginger, about a 1 inch knub
1 Clove of Garlic, finely minced
Zest of One Orange
Juice of One Lime
3 – 4 Tablespoons Agave Nectar, or to taste depending on how sweet you like things

Combine the sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, zest, lime juice and agave with a whisk or a hand immersion blender until smooth. Reserve.
Check the rice over for pebbles or other impurities.
Rinse the rice, then leave it to soak for about 5 minutes. Drain well and add to a large sauce pan with a tight fitting lid.
Cover the rice with the 3 cups of water and bring it to a boil, stirring occasionally.
Reduce the heat for a low simmer and cover for about 25 minutes.
Remove from the heat and leave it covered for another 5 – 10 minutes.
Fluff with a fork and transfer the cooked rice to a large mixing bowl.
Drizzle over the prepared dressing then add the diced pepper, carrot, scallions and basil.
Toss well to combine the vegetables with the rice.
Garnish with additional citrus zest or basil leaves if desired.
No need to cool. Best served at room temperature, making it a perfect summer outdoor salad.

I’m guessing these would go great with these Scallion Pancakes and just about anything grilled. Give it a try.

ASIAN PEA & CARROT SALAD

1/2 Lb Snow Peas, thinly sliced lengthwise, julienne
1 Lb Baby Carrots, thinly sliced lengthwise, matchsticks
1 teaspoon Freshly Grated Ginger, peeled
4 Tablespoons Toasted Sesame Seed Oil
2 Tablespoons Rice Wine Vinegar
Pinch Sugar
Salt & Pepper to taste
2 Tablespoons Sesame seeds, black if you can find them

In a small bowl, whisk together the sesame oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper.
If using regular white sesame seeds, lightly toast them in a dry pan until they just become golden over a medium-high heat. If using the black sesame seeds, you may skip this step.
Wash and thinly slice the vegetables. Toss them together in your serving bowl with your fingers to mix.
Drizzle and toss the dressing over the peas and carrots.
Sprinkle over the sesame seeds to serve.

Of course this time of year just about any spring greens from the market will be great, but baby spinach is something I always have on hand.
Where it’s not exactly your throw it together tossed salad, the onions are pretty much low maintenance to caramelize and this dressing is worth the wait.

CARAMELIZED ONION DRESSING

1 Onion, thinly sliced
1/4 Cup + 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil, divided
Pinch Salt
2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
1/4 Cup Water
1 1/2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup

Turn heat to medium. Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and sliced onion to a sauté pan. Once they begin to sizzle, reduce the heat to medium-low, toss and add salt.
Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft, sticky and golden; 20-30 minutes.
Add the balsamic vinegar and reduce slightly, about 3 minutes.
Remove from heat and cool.
Add onions along with the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil, maple syrup and water to a blender or a food processor and blend until smooth. (If your onion was large and you find that the mixture is too thick for your liking, you can add more water about 1 tablespoon at a time to thin.)
Taste and add additional salt if desired.
Serve from a squirt bottle, if you have one

Preheat the grill to medium.
Slice 2 bartlett pears into wedges and lay onto the grill, cooking for about 1 minute.
For the fancy-schmancy grill marks, rotate the pear slices 1 quarter turn, cooking for another minute.
Flip and repeat for the other side. Pears should be hot but not cooked through.
Toss greens, adding a handful of walnuts and dried cranberries. Top with the grilled pears and drizzle over prepared dressing.

I love latkes. It’s almost bad, how much I like latkes. A holiday tradition usually brings sharing and that might be my biggest problem. To date the best solution I’ve had is to make them smaller so I have more. That way it takes me a little longer to eat them and gives others a chance to snag one.

Usually served on their own with a choice of apple sauce or sour cream on the side, I wanted to offer something with them to dress them up, especially when served as an appetizer. Slathered on a plate, I like the sour cream option, but there’s something about the salty grease that goes so well with a little tartness.

For platter passing, otherwise known as sharing, I conjured up my own applish sauce, just a little fancier for the Hoildays. I added the glimmer of pomegranate to quince to make this tart and spicy relish.

It was pretty good. I ate the whole plate.
… But after I was done, I thought I might just make another batch, maybe even double it – to share.
The relish in a little jar tied with a red bow, might just make a pretty sweet hostess gift.

EGGLESS POTATO LATKES

4 – 5 Yukon Gold Potatoes, 2 -2 1/2 Cups grated
1 Small Onion, finely diced
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Arrowroot Powder
3 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour
1/2 teaspoon Salt
2/3 Cup Oil for Frying (more or less)

Peel and grate the potatoes and squeeze as much moisture from them as you can.
Add them to a large bowl, along with the finely dice the onion.
Sift the baking powder, arrowroot and flour.
Dust the dry mix along with the salt, over the potatoes, stirring while you add to incorporate it evenly.
Heat half of the oil in a large sauté pan over a medium-high setting.
Either with your clean hands or spoons, shape the potato into a 2″ diameter ball, again squeezing excessive liquid, if necessary. Lightly pat the finished ball to flatten once it’s added to the heated oil.
Repeat to fill the pan and fry for about 5-6 minutes on each side or until crisp and golden.
Drain latkes of oil over brown bags and paper towels.

Serve with Pomegranate Quince Chutney, apple sauce, or sour cream.

POMEGRANATE QUINCE CHUTNEY

1 Quince, peeled and roughly diced
1/2 Cup water (give or take)
1/8 teaspoon Freshly Grated Nutmeg
pinch Cinnamon
2 Cloves
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon Orange Balsamic Vinegar*
1/4 Cup Pomegranate Seeds, 1/2 Pomegranate

Peel and dice the quince into 1/2″ cubes.
Add the quince to a small saucepan and cover with just enough water to submerge.
Simmer over a medium-high heat until just tender; about 8 – 10 minutes.
Remove from the heat. Add the quince, along with the remaining water, to a sauté pan.
Continuing over a medium-high heat, sauté the quince, adding the cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Once the liquid has reduced, add the brown sugar and balsamic vinegar.
Lower the heat to medium and simmer to create a syrup; 1-2 minutes.
Add the pomegranate seeds and continue to simmer to release the juice.
Remove the chutney from the heat, find and take out the cloves, then gently mash with a fork. (Watch for pomegranate juice, it stains.)
Serve a top latkes or other savory dishes as a condiment.

*If you don’t have orange balsamic vinegar, you may try substituting regular balsamic with the zest of one orange; about a teaspoon.

Considering it’s chilly, I couldn’t help but to think warm.
So when Jeanne, over at Cook Sister told me to go topless, I thought, well, that’s cheeky, it’s November.

All snickers aside, I grabbed for the freezer door to find my handy pack of puff pastry. So quick and flaky, it’s this stuff that will elevate any old tart to elegant center showpiece.

While my pastry thawed, I promised not to rush the onions, even after they made me cry. Delicious as they were, the addition of fennel made for a scrumptious tart with a simple depth of flavour.

So if you’ve found yourself with sudden guests or your mother in law is in the neighbourhood, dropping by for lunch, here’s something quick that never fails to impress.

EASY CARAMELIZED ONION AND FENNEL TART

2 Red Onions, peeled and sliced
1 Fennel Bulb
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon Margarine
Pinch Salt and Pepper, to taste
2 – 3 Sprigs of Thyme, stems removed
1/2 Package Frozen Puff Pastry, 5″ square*

Slice the onions into thin rings.
Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over a medium – high heat then add the margarine to melt.
Add the onions, salt and pepper.
Sauté, reducing the heat to medium, stirring occasionally until soft; 1o – 12 minutes.
Remove fennel fronds and root end. Slice it in half and again into 1/2″ slivers.
Add the fennel and thyme to the onions, continuing to sauté until the onions are golden and the fennel is tender.
If the onions begin to stick, add a small amount of water to loosen them from the bottom of the pan while stirring.
Adjust salt and pepper, if necessary.
Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
Roll out the puff pastry to fit an 8″ tart pan.
Spoon in the caramelized onions and fennel evenly.
Bake for 20 minutes or until the pastry is crisp, flaky and golden.

May be served warm or chilled.

* Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry is vegan.

OLIVE OIL TART CRUST (Gluten Free)

1 Cup (Cranberry) Bean Flour
1/2 Cup Soy Flour
1/2 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Frozen
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/4 Cup Ice Water

Freeze pre-measured olive oil in a small bowl.
Measure flours into the bowl of a food processor, pulsing to sift.
Add the salt and frozen olive oil.
Combine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
With the motor running, add the water 1 tablespoon at a time.
Stop once about half of the water has been added to begin checking the consistency of the dough by pinching the crumbs. The dough should hold together but not be sticky.
Add the remaining water as necessary.
Bring the dough together into a ball, then flatten it into a disk.
Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for a minimum of 15 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
Roll the chilled dough 1/8″ thick to fit a 10″ tart pan.
Fit the dough in the pan and dock the dough with a fork.
Line the dough with a circle of parchment.
Add dried beans or pastry weights.
Blind bake for 12 minutes and allow to cool in the oven slightly before removing.

On a recent trip to the country side, it was easy to absorb the surroundings and be thankful for what we have. The warm autumn days have brought with it a tremendous bounty.

While on the road, we were fortunate to experience one of the more remarkable pumpkin patches of recent memory. Flooded by the sea of orange, we washed up by the barn only to be further delighted by the classy heirloom varieties our hosts, the Nauman’s, had so knowledgeably grown over the past 100 days or so.

Beautiful and rarely seen French and Italian heirloom pumpkins soon filled my cart once only destined to carry orange carvers. Pink, red, blue and green classics, fit for a princess’s coach were on their way into my life to nobly, and tastily end theirs.

During the purchase of my great pumpkins, I naturally dreamed of creamy, spiced pies but thoughts shift creatively with vegan visitors and Thanksgiving at your doorstep.

Cracking into my vibrant Rouge Vif D’Etampe, I couldn’t help but imagine it’s outcome. This stunning, old French heirloom is also known as Cinderella’s Carriage, as it was used as the artist’s model in the Disney classic. It’s lovely, dense, creamy orange interior yielded about 5 cups of puréed intention. Ideal for baking, the Rouge Vif is smooth and easy to relieve of any excess liquid. This pumpkin easily puts any Holiday can of pie to shame and is well worth the small, extra effort.

SAVORY PUMPKIN TART

1 Shallot, minced
2 Cloves of Garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 1/2 Cups Rouge Vif d’Etampes Pumpkin, cooked and strained
3/4 teaspoon Salt
1 1/2 teaspoons Fresh Rosemary, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon Dried Sage
1/2 teaspoon Dried Thyme
1/8 teaspoon Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
1/2 Package Firm SILKEN Tofu
1 Tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice
1 Tablespoon Arrowroot Powder

Divide, seed and peel the pumpkin. Cut it into approximately 2″ cubes.
Steam until tender or place the pumpkin into a pressure cooker with a small amount of water and cook for 5 – 7 minutes.
Drain the pumpkin and place it into a mesh sieve. Stir to “purée” and leave it to sit, releasing as much water as possible.
Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
Heat the oil in a sauté pan.
Mince the shallots and garlic. Sauté until softened.
In a food processor, combine the pumpkin, tofu, shallots and garlic.
Finely chop the rosemary and add it and the other spices along with the salt, pepper and lemon juice to the pumpkin mixture.
Once the spices are well combined add the arrowroot powder; pulse to combine.
Spread evenly over prepared crust and bake for 30 minutes.

OLIVE OIL TART CRUST (Gluten Free)

1 Cup (Cranberry) Bean Flour
1/2 Cup Soy Flour
1/2 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Frozen
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/4 Cup Ice Water

Freeze pre-measured olive oil in a small bowl.
Measure flours into the bowl of a food processor, pulsing to sift.
Add the salt and frozen olive oil.
Combine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
With the motor running, add the water 1 tablespoon at a time.
Stop once about half of the water has been added to begin checking the consistency of the dough by pinching the crumbs. The dough should hold together but not be sticky.
Add the remaining water as necessary.
Bring the dough together into a ball, then flatten it into a disk.
Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for a minimum of 15 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
Roll the chilled dough 1/8″ thick to fit a 10″ tart pan.
Fit the dough in the pan and dock the dough with a fork.
Line the dough with a circle of parchment.
Add dried beans or pastry weights.
Blind bake for 12 minutes and allow to cool in the oven slightly before removing.

FRESH TOMATO SAUCE

2 Tomatoes, skinned and seeded
1 Clove Garlic, Puréed
pinch of salt
1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Bring a large pot of water to boil.
Prepare a bowl of ice water.
Score the bottom of the tomatoes and drop them into the boiling water for about 1 minute.
Remove and plunge them into the cold water.
Core the tomatoes and remove the skins; slice and remove the seeds.
Mash the tomatoes with a fork and add the puréed garlic, salt and olive oil; mix well.

It’s Farmer’s Market Day – again. As I began to troll the stalls, I was almost sure it would be the standard fare – until I spotted these. Baby everything! Courgettes, patty pan squash, they even had silver dollar cauliflower, such a great way to get through the overwhelming number of summer squash!

For a super easy side dish worthy of a gourmet status, just rinse and steam the vegetables until fork tender. In a dry sauté pan, toast a handful of pine nuts. When they are golden on all sides, add about 3 tablespoons of butter (or the vegan variety) to melt and turn a pale brown. Pour it over the little steamed squash and serve immediately – family style. I’m a citrus addict, so I added a touch of lemon zest along with some freshly ground black pepper, but I’ll leave that up to you.

Simple and quick, but when I do it again I’ll have to make more – I ate the whole plate.

Seeking out yet another farmers market here in the city, I was a bit surprised by the standard fare of field tomatoes, cucumbers and potatoes until I passed the last vendor of the lot. There I found baby courgettes, quarter sized, tender Sunburst squash and a rainbow of heirloom grape tomatoes. It wasn’t a tremendous leap from the fore mentioned “norm”, but a nice hop to say the least.

Although I’d gobbled almost half of my little tomatoes on the way home, I was still famished by noon. I wanted something quick and cool but filling. So while thinking about my presto pasta contribution, I wanted to incorporate my fresh finds. With the addition of tofu and rigatoni, I had a full meal to share.

SPINACH & SMOKED TOFU PASTA SALAD

500g Whole Wheat Rigatoni
1/2 Package Firm Tofu, marinaded in Sundried Tomato Pesto*
2 Cloves Garlic, minced
2 Cups Baby Spinach, packed
1 Cup Heritage Grape Tomatoes, sliced
1/4 Cup Fresh Basil Leaves, 6 or 7 chopped
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
4 Baby Courgettes, (zucchini) or 1 regular, sliced
4 Sunburst Squash (Patty Pan), sliced

*SUNDRIED TOMATO PESTO

1 Cup Sundried Tomatoes
1/2 Cup Fresh Basil Leaves, packed
4 Cloves Garlic
2 Tablespoons Fresh Thyme
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
1/2 teaspoon Salt

Add the tomatoes to a 1 Cup measuring cup and fill with enough water to cover the tomatoes and allow to reconstitute until soft, about 20 minutes.
Drain the tomatoes and add them to a food processor. Add the garlic and pulse until well chopped.
Add the basil and thyme and with the motor running, slowly drizzle enough oil until everything is well blended and smooth.
Add salt to taste, incorporating well.

Drain and slice the tofu 1/” thick, lengthwise.
Place it in a single layer in a seal able bag, spreading enough of the tomato pesto to cover each side.
Seal and freeze for at least 20 minutes.
Whisk the olive oil and balsamic vinegar; set aside.
Boil the rigatoni to al dente, as to the package directions.
Drain and toss with the waiting oil and vinegar.
Grill the tofu over a medium flame for about 4 – 5 minutes on each side, or until slightly crisp with grill marks, being sure to close the lid between flipping to capture that smokey goodness.
Slice the tofu into bite sized cubes.
Wash and thinly slice the courgettes and squash; add to the pasta.
Toss with the spinach, tomatoes and lemon zest and top with the cubed tofu.

Serve immediately or make in advance and chill.