Browsing Tag

carrot

Vegan Spring Rolls

May 14, 2013
vegan-spring-rolls

Oh, I’ve been looking forward to sharing this with you! Not only because it has become my favorite snack/meal, but also due to the fact that it is a tribute to spring and all the amazing light summer meals this time of year! While we have seen many more rain showers than we’ve seen the sun over the last few days, I know warmer temperatures are on the way (fingers crossed!). Spring rolls are the perfect food to get you feeling like warmer days are already here.

Before I made my first spring roll, I have to admit, I was intimidated to take on the task – especially after my sushi rolling experience. But let me tell you, once you start making your own spring rolls, you’ll never stop. It is so much easier that you would think, and this way you can come up with crazy concoctions that you would not be able to order from take out. After a little practice, I know you’ll be raving about them as much as me.

I love the idea of stuffing what is fresh and seasonal into a spring roll. Because spring is here, I chose to go with a mostly green veggie palette – cilantro, lettuce, avocado, cucumber and carrot for a little color and something sweet. Use whatever you have on hand and what is in season. This meal is a great way to use up all the little bits of veggies hanging out in the fridge that you haven’t found a use for.

veggie-spring-rolls-vegan

Vegan Spring Rolls

Serves 6 rolls

Ingredients:

  • 6 rice paper wraps (found in health food shops or the Asian section of well stocked markets)
  • lettuce
  • 1/2 cup cilantro sprigs
  • 1 1/4 cup grated carrots
  • 1 2/4 cup grated cucumber
  • 1 large avocado

Directions:

  1. Set up your roll work space. You need a large bowl of warm water and a damp dish towel to work on. Set out your lettuce, cilantro, carrots, cucumber and avocado.
  2. Working one roll at a time, put the rice wrap flat into the large bowl of warm water, being careful to not let it curl up, until soft, about one minute.
  3. Lay the wrap down on the dish towel. Down the center, like a burrito, layer the cilantro, lettuce,small handful of the carrots, cucumber and a few slices of avocado. Fold over the top and bottom ends over the filling, tuck the right flap over and then roll to close. Repeat with remaining wraps.

 

Photo Credit: my sister, Jenny Norris – jjnorris.com

Winter Lentil Soup

January 29, 2013
winter-lentil-soup

It’s been a long winter. They always are. Long and dark. The darkness is probably the most challenging thing about living in Ireland, but it also makes us appreciate the light.

This soup is one of our latest favorites at home. When bubbling on the stove, hints of flavors from onions, carrots, cumin, curry and cinnamon fills the kitchen. And as you dig in you will immediately be struck by its creaminess, which is enhanced by the lentils.

Lentils are a great legume for a quick and easy meal because they cook in a very short amount of time and require no pre-soaking like other pulses do. They have a velvety texture and delicate flavour – perfect for purées and soups. They are low in calories, virtually fat free, but very filling because of their high fiber content.

In addition to providing the body with slow burning complex carbohydrates, lentils can increase your energy by replenishing your iron stores. They are one of the yummiest sources of folate (also know as folic acid) – just one cup of cooked lentils provides you with almost 90% of your daily recommended intake! Folate functions to support red blood cell production, helps prevent anemia and allows nerves to function properly.

This soup is a real crowd pleaser that will warm the hearts of anyone you serve it to, most importantly, yourself! It comes together in a snap yet is deeply flavorful. Just the thing for a cold night.

That’s it for today. Go make this soup now. And while it’s cooking on the stove top, why not check out my new online store!

lentil-soup-winter

Winter Lentil Soup

Vegan & Gluten-free
Serves 4

Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbsp. coconut oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 tsp. cumin
  • 2 tsp. curry powder
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh ginger, minced
  • 4 carrots, diced
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 cup red lentils (I used red split lentils)
  • dash of cayenne pepper
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Add the coconut oil to a pot over medium heat.  Add the yellow onion and sauté for five minutes, until translucent.
  2. Add the cumin, curry powder, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, and carrots and sauté for an additional 2 minutes.  Add the vegetable broth, lentils, and cayenne pepper and bring to a boil.
  3. Simmer, covered, for 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. (If too much of the liquid has evaporated, you can add more vegetable broth or water).
  4. Use an immersion blender or high speed blender to achieve smooth consistency, if so desired. It also makes for a nice chunky soup. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve hot.

Veggie Sushi Bowl

January 11, 2013
veggie-sushi-bowl

This is what happened one day when we felt like making our own vegetarian sushi but were too lazy to go through the whole Japanese rice and rolls procedure. Inspired by nori rolls I’ve had at various raw food restaurants, I set out to create a flavorful veggie sushi bowl. It may not be raw, but I was craving something warm, so instead I boiled some brown rice, chopped our favorite vegetables, cut the seaweed into pieces and turned sushi into a meal. And what a meal it was! It has that sushi feeling with a more nourishing twist. We quickly realized that this dish actually had made it to our top-list of favorite dinner recipes.

Veggie Sushi Bowl
Vegan & Gluten-free

Serves 2

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup brown rice
  • 1.5 cups of water
  • 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar
  • 4-5 florets of broccoli, chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
  • 1 spring onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 avocado, cut into slices or cubes
  • 1 handful bean sprouts
  • 1/4 cucumber, chopped
  • 2 sheets nori seaweed, cut into 2×2-inch squares
  • 1 Tbsp. sesame seeds

Serve with: wasabi & soy sauce

Directions:

  1. Boil the rice according to the instructions on the package or combine rice and water in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat, cover, and simmer gently until the water is absorbed, about 35 minutes.  When it’s done, stir in vinegar.
  2. In two separate bowls, toss in prepped veggies, bean sprouts, nori and rice. Top off with sesame seeds. Enjoy!

Sweet Tart Juice

September 6, 2012
sweet-tart-juice

You want to know a funny thing about Irish people? They always talk about the weather. Always. Come rain or come shine, they will talk about it. Several times each day. It’s one of the first things they mention when arriving at work, buying lunch, taking a taxi or meeting a friend in town. And since I find myself progressing into Irish ways, I’ve decided to tell you about the weather we’ve been experiencing in Cork this week. It has been a little bit chilly during my early morning runs, but we’ve had blue skies and pretty nice temperatures. The perfect weather for lounging outside.

Here in Ireland we didn’t experience much of a summer, just rain upon rain. As soon as September arrived it seems so has our Indian Summer. You could have bet your bottom dollar (or euro) that this would happen after such a non-event of a summer – the kids go back to school and everyone’s knuckling down again, then the weather takes a turn for the better. I think it is a real treat to be savored and it makes reading a book in the sunshine a particular pleasure.

I created a refreshing summer drink that tastes surprisingly like Sweet Tarts – those mouth-puckering candies of childhood. A whole lemon tart up this juicy blend of apple, pineapple and kiwi, while carrot sweetens the affair. It’s candy in a glass. Enjoy this summer-inspired drink for your weekend barbeques, picnics, parties or just while hanging out with friends this weekend.

Sweet Tart Juice

Ingredients:

  • 1 apple
  • 4 carrots
  • 1/2 small pineapple
  • 2 kiwis, peeled
  • 1 whole lemon, peeled

Directions:

  1. Place everything in juicer and enjoy!

* Serve it frozen or chilled for extra perk.

 

(Photo Credit: my sister, Jenny Norris – jjnorris.com)