Calentica is the garbanzo bean or chickpea flour version of cornmeal polenta. It is such a wonderful, nutritious, protein-filled go-to simple "base" to use with any topping you'd like! Originally, Calentica was one of those street food sold in the streets in my family's hometown of Oran, in Algeria. It was cheap, easy to make and could feed and delight a hungry family. So, ... Read More »
Eggplant Fricassée (Vegan)
A Fricassée is a southern French dish, halfway between a sauté and a stew, typically prepared with chicken or meat. Here, I do away with either and just have eggplant take center stage for a hearty vegan dish! It is a cinch to throw together --all you need is time for it to bake in the oven for an hour, but ahhhh it is so worth it! I love to serve it piping hot out of the ... Read More »
Potato Latkes (Vegan)
This potato latkes recipe is a classic staple for Chanukkah made vegan! I replaced the eggs altogether with a mixture of aquafaba (the drained liquid from canned chickpeas) and a little semolina flour (I like Bob's Red Mill's). The result is absolutely delicious--crisp on the outside and moist on the inside...YUM!! It's a little bit of work, as homemade latkes typically are, ... Read More »
Red Potato Provençal
So simple to throw together and absolutely delightful! The red potatoes just simmer with the fresh tomatoes, onions and herbs in the oven for an hour and the result is this almost caramelized hearty dish! It is important to use red potatoes for this Red Potato Provençal recipe because they will not fall apart and just stay intact to soak up the wonderful sauce! 5.0 ... Read More »
Orange Grilled Cauliflower Steak
If mixing extra virgin olive oil with fresh orange juice and grilling over a hot BBQ qualifies as a recipe then....this Orange Grilled Cauliflower Steak is a winner, but really, I am almost embarrassed to call it a recipe! The cauliflower just speaks for itself! Absolutely delicious and filled with summertime flavor. Orange Grilled Cauliflower Steak Print ... Read More »
Homemade Barbecue Sauce
My homemade tasty BBQ sauce has a wonderful kick (you can omit the chipotle for younger kids’ simpler taste). Of course, I made it much healthier for you than the typical salt-&-sugar-laden-store-bought ones, but I want to be clear that this is by no means a nutritious food item, per se: Just use it as a flavorful accent--a little goes a long way! This recipe makes ... Read More »
Simply Brussels Sprouts
All this entails is slicing these little sprouts thinly with a food processor (check my little video showing you how here) and sautéing them in a little olive oil. They become almost caramelized this way and the result is simply extraordinary, really! 5.0 from 2 reviews Simply Brussel Sprouts Print Author: Catherine Katz Serves: 4 Ingredients 20 ... Read More »
Simply Grilled Pear
You can choose any variety of pears you like for this little recipe, just as long as they are ripe and juicy. Grilling them with a drizzle of olive oil brings out their wonderful flavor. You can add each half (you can also slice it) on top of individual plates of fresh greens, with just a sprinkle of goat cheese and chopped walnuts, a drizzle of your best balsamic vinegar and ... Read More »
Simply Grilled Corn
Nothing like sweet fresh corn on the cob for a summer barbecue! This simply grilled corn brings it to another level! It gives the kernels that wonderful fire-roasted taste-YUM! No need for butter here, that's for sure! 5.0 from 1 reviews Simply Grilled Corn Print Author: Catherine Katz Serves: 6 Ingredients 6 fresh ears of corn (husked) 2 Tbsp ... Read More »
Béchamel Sauce
Béchamel sauce is a simple white sauce made from a "roux" typically made with butter,white flour and whole milk. Here, I get rid of the saturated fats and make it with regular "smart balance" spread instead of butter, skim milk or unsweetened soy milk instead of whole milk, and whole wheat pastry flour, instead of plain white flour to add fiber. It is so versatile--I use it ... Read More »
