POLENTA TART WITH ROASTED CARROTS AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

I love polenta in any form - it's so versatile, light, and quick to cook. Perfect for when you want to cook something awesome and fast. I used roasted carrots but really any roasted vegetables are fantastic on this tart... yellow squash, zucchini, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, even winter squash like butternut or acorn.

Serve this tart with a salad and a glass of wine and you've got yourself a superb meal in no time!

Roasted Carrot + Sun-Dried Tomato Polenta Tart
makes: 2 servings

- 2 carrots, peeled and quartered lengthwise

- 2 cups water

- 2 tsp. salt

- 1 tbsp. fennel seeds (optional)

- 1 clove garlic, crushed

- 1/2 cup polenta

- 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

- 1/8 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes

- 1/4 cup minced parsley (or basil)

1. Preheat the oven to 450 F/230 C. Grease a baking tray and an 8 in. pie plate (or other medium sized ovenproof pan).
2. In a bowl, toss the carrots with 1 tsp. salt and 1 tbsp. olive oil. Transfer to the baking tray and bake for 15 - 20 min. or until the carrots are just browned at the edges. Remove from the oven and cool. Turn the oven down to 375 F/190 C.
3. While the carrots are roasting, bring the water to a rolling boil in a pan.
4. Lower the heat to medium and add 1 tsp. salt, fennel seeds, garlic, polenta, 1 tbsp. olive oil, feta cheese, and tomatoes. Stir quickly to mix everything well.
5. Lower the heat to medium-low and cook for 5-7 min., stirring frequently to keep the polenta from sticking to the pan. Turn off the heat and stir in the parsley.
6. Transfer the polenta to the greased pie plate and use the back of a spoon to spread it into an even layer. Arrange the carrots on the polenta and gently press into the surface. Bake for 15 - 20 min.
7. Remove from the oven and serve immediately or at room temperature.

GINGER BERRY CHIA PUDDING

I like to have this pudding at room temperature not refrigerated. In Ayurveda, refrigerated foods are considered counter-productive to digestive fire, especially cold breakfast foods since that is the first - and most important - meal of the day after an hours-long fast. Even before I delved into Ayurveda beyond the normal day-to-day that's incorporated into life in India, I was never a fan of ice-cold food and beverages. Instead of cooling me down, they shocked my system and they still do. I have always preferred room temperature water, and even in the summer, I don't care for the chill of the AC. My meals are either warm or at room temperature, never cold. Smoothies and juices included.

This chia pudding is perfectly flavoured with ginger without it being overpowering, and is a refreshing start to the day. Sometimes I have it at dinner and it's equally refreshing and satisfying. As always, use any combination of seasonal fruits you like. Since berries are never as sweet as bananas, mangoes, figs, etc. I like to add maple syrup or raw honey to the oats blend. Because otherwise you'll have a flavourless chia gel that you'll definitely be able to eat, but it won't really be as well-rounded in flavour as when you add a bit of maple syrup or raw honey. I know food should be thy medicine, but it doesn't need to taste like medicine!

Ginger Berry Chia Pudding

makes: 1 serving

- 1/4 cup blueberries

- 1/4 cup raspberries, halved

- 1/2 cup cherries, pitted and quartered

- 1/8 cup oats

- 1 cup water

- 2 tsp. Grade B maple syrup or raw honey

- 3 tbsp. chia seeds

- 1 tsp. grated ginger

- 1 roasted tbsp. pumpkin seeds

1. Blend the oats and 1/2 cup water into a smooth "milk". Add the maple syrup or honey if using, and the other 1/2 cup water and blend to mix.
2. Put the chia seeds in a medium bowl and mix in the oat "milk" and grated ginger. Set aside for 10 - 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to break up any chia lumps. If the mixture is too gelatinous, mix in a couple of tbsp. of water.
3. In a serving container, layer as follows: blueberries, 1/2 of the ginger chia mixture, raspberries, remaining chia mixture, cherries, pumpkin seeds.
4. Serve immediately or leave overnight (this doesn't need to be refrigerated since there's no milk in it).

CULTURED CASHEW SPREAD OR "CHEESE"

This was my first attempt at a cashew "cheese". It seems like it takes a while, but it really doesn't. Most of the time it takes is passive - waiting time - soaking the cashews, culturing  and draining the blended cashews, letting the drained mix mature in the fridge before eating, etc. I think it's totally worth it and I don't mind planning ahead a little. In fact, I will add this to my standby dips and spreads that usually I have at hand in the fridge or freezer: sprouted lentil dip, hummus, roasted red pepper dip, roasted aubergine dip (baba ghanouj/mutabbal), and avocado carrot dip. All of these freeze really well and are terrific when you want a bit of a snack before dinner - or as dinner. I also have any one of these in the office fridge when I know I'll be in office for a few days in a row.

Although this cashew "cheese" makes a great addition to a cheese plate, and was all gone by the end of the evening, I am not sure I'd call it cheese... feels a bit gimmicky. I think perhaps cultured cashew spread or paté is more appropriate. Regardless, I'll be making this much more often, with a couple of changes to make it more firm textured.

Mine had more of a spread-like consistency, probably because I used cashew halves, which absorb more water compared to whole cashews. Also likely because of that, I didn't need to use much water during blending. Taste-wise it was a winner though... next time I'll be sure to hang it to drain rather than setting it over paper towels in a bowl. Use glass containers, not plastic, because plastic absorbs odours and is more prone to fungus - that's going to waste all the effort you've put into making this!

Cultured Cashew Spread, or "Cheese"

makes: two 3 in. x 1-1/2 in. rounds

- 1 cup cashew halves, soaked for 8 - 12 hours
- 1-1/2 tsp. probiotics (I used Yogo non-dairy yogurt starter)

- 1-1/2 tsp. salt
- 1-2 tbsp. water

- fresh or dried herbs/spices (I used fresh cilantro on one round and crushed peppercorns, dried rosemary, and thyme on the other)

1. Blend the soaked cashews with probiotics until very smooth... like buttercream frosting. If needed during blending, add water 1 tbsp. at a time but try to blend using minimum water. The soaked cashew halves should have absorbed plenty of water already.
2. Transfer to a glass bowl lined with 3 - 4 layers of paper towels and let it culture in a warm draft-free place for 24 hours (I put it in the oven - while it's off, of course!).
3. After it's cultured, line 2 ramekins with plastic wrap and arrange your herbs on the bottom. Divide the cultured cashew mix between the ramekins and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let it mature in the fridge for at least 24 hours, and up to 2 weeks, before serving.
4. To serve: lift the plastic with the cheese from the ramekin and invert onto a plate or cheese tray and discard the plastic. Serve with fresh fruit and crackers or crostini.

CHERRY CHIA PUDDING

Reality check on chia (and other food fads): you're not going to get thinner, more gorgeous, at peace, glowing skin, supple feet, or whatever else product marketers have been telling you by over-dosing on any one or two foods. The only way to achieve any of the above goals (and more) is to work hard to get where you want to be. That means being active but more importantly, eating a large variety of foods, not excluding foods on a whim (gluten-free is another trend but unless you're truly gluten-sensitive or have celiac, you're doing yourself a disservice by eating the guar gum, xanthan gum and whatever else is in gluten-free goods). All grains are good in moderation - they're heavy on the stomach so instead of cutting out an entire group of grains to feel light, simply reduce the frequency with which you consume grains. That way you'll feel light and satisfied. And satisfaction from meals is important to happiness and mental well-being.

Additionally, calm down. Before you start going on a quinoa binge because someone told you it's a complete protein etc. etc., check your facts. Know what a complete protein is really. Rice and beans have been an ancient combination that makes a complete protein. Way before quinoa arrived. It's fine to eat it but there's no need to go nuts and start replacing everything with quinoa. I don't like quinoa and I don't care how great it is, I'll find something else I like. Like millet. Which even now is a part of many cultures world-wide, including Indian. But even so, I know heaps of Indian people who wouldn't dream about eating millet but they worship quinoa. It's silly. No one will give anyone a prize for going overboard on food trends! Eat normally.

The Standard American Diet (SAD) is so devoid of nutrition and has resulted in such an unhealthy population that food fads with tall claims work in the US. People are so eager to get their health back that they will spend a lot of money on so-called superfoods to get the same benefits they could get from eating readily available natural and whole foods. Because there's no commonplace system to educate people on how to care for themselves through their diet and lifestyle. It's a trend that is slowly being reversed, but in a somewhat dishonest way. I thank my stars every day that I am from a culture and family that still eats seasonal fresh foods and minimal processed foods.

Moral of the story: make informed decisions, examine food habits of your own culture and adapt to suit your circumstances, examine the source of your information, and educate yourself on how nutrition needs have been met for centuries in ancient cultures. And eat food because you like it, not just because you read somewhere that it's a "superfood". Whatever that means. Satisfying your taste buds matters!!

All that being said, this nut- and dairy-free chia pudding is excellent for adding variety to your breakfast or tea-time snack! It's filling and light, both.

Chia seeds, native to the Americas, are from a plant in the mint family. And while they don't make an excellent herb like mint does, they are a good source of essential fats and minerals like calcium and phosphorous. In fact the nutritional profile of chia is very similar to that of our good old sesame seeds... which are terrific ground into tahini and spread on toast with jam or honey. Or mixed into hummus, which is protein-packed and low-fat.

So chia is native to the Americas, and Native American tribes, Aztecs, and Mesoamerican people ate chia because it's what grew here! Not because they imported it from somewhere so they could eat a superfood and become hot and hip. Those folks definitely ate local!

Tukmaria is another seed that hydrates, swells, and gelatinizes similarly to chia, but the two aren't related. Tukmaria are seeds of the sweet basil plant whereas chia is from the mint family. Sweet basil is the same basil commonly known as Thai basil. Like all seeds, tukmaria seeds also are nutrient-dense and are a bit lower in calories than chia. They can be used the same way as chia, and this pudding would be excellent with tukmaria seeds!

Cherry Chia Pudding

Makes: 1 serving

- 3 tbsp. chia seeds

- 1/8 cup rolled oats

- 1 tbsp. desiccated unsweetened coconut (optional)

- 1 tbsp. Grade B maple syrup (optional)

- 1 cup water

- 1-1/2 cups red cherries

- 1/4 cup blueberries (or any other fruit)

1. Blend until smooth the oats, water, and coconut and maple syrup if using.
2. Put the chia seeds in a bowl and mix well with the blended oats mixture. Set aside for at least 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to break up any chia lumps.
3. Pit and quarter the cherries.
4. In a jar, breakfast bowl, or any other container, add the blueberries. Add about half of the chia mixture, then add half of the cherries. Add the remaining chia mixture and top with the remaining cherries.
5. Enjoy immediately, or leave overnight on the countertop or in the fridge for breakfast.

TACOS: CACTUS AND ROASTED POBLANO CHILES (NOPALES Y RAJAS POBLANAS)

Rajas poblanas (RRAa-has poblanas) are strips of roasted chile poblano (photo below), which range from mild to spicy. I love having the smoky flavour of the roasted chile and the surprise spice in a random bite of a taco! They're a classic in tacos but equally fantastic mixed in with beans, added to soups, as a filling for enchiladas/enfrijoladas/enguacatadas, on salads, nachos, on the side with eggs, in an omelette, or in sandwiches.

Fresh unripe poblanos are a deep gorgeous green, and turn into a fiery red when they ripen. Dried poblanos are called chile ancho, and are ubiquitous in most Mexican moles. Rajas poblanas is also a Mexican dish made with chile poblano rajas mixed with crema (Mexican sour cream), onions, and sometimes chicken. It's slightly rich, but one of my favourite Mexican dishes. In addition to tinga, posole, chile colorado, alambres, and all my other Mexican favourites!

Nopales, or cactus, is a very common ingredient in Mexican cuisine. In any good Mexican market you'll find either whole cactus paddles with thorns that you take home and clean and trim yourself, or bags of cleaned, trimmed, and diced cactus ready to cook. I usually get the cleaned and diced cactus because it's a time saver. Cactus can be cooked diced or  the whole cleaned and trimmed paddle can be roasted/grilled. And along with whole roasted jalapeños and spring onions, it's an excellent accompaniment to steak!

Tacos: Cactus and Roasted Poblano Chiles (Nopales y Rajas Poblanas)

makes: 6 tacos

- 1/2 cup chipotle cashew cream sauce

- 1/2 cup salsa: salsa verde (recipe here and here) or roasted tomato salsa

- 2 cups cleaned and diced cactus

- 1 chile poblano, washed

- 1/2 medium onion, diced

- 2 cloves garlic, minced

- 1 tbsp. olive oil

- 2 tsp. salt

- 12 small corn tortillas (ask the store for tortillas for tacos, which are smaller)

- 8-10 sprigs cilantro (1/4 cup coarsely chopped)

- 1/4 cup finely shredded purple cabbage (or red or green cabbage)

- 1 lime, cut into wedges

Optional garnishes: finely shredded carrots, sliced avocado, onions, jalapeno, pickled vegetables "en escabeche"

1. Cook the cactus: Bring water to a rolling boil in a large pan. Add the cactus and boil for about 15 minutes, or till the cactus is soft. Don't overcook the cactus till its mushy or you'll have a panful of slimy green pieces! Drain the cooked cactus and set aside. 
2. While the cactus is boiling, roast the chile poblano over an open flame or in a cast-iron pan until its charred on all sides. Remove from the heat and put it in a covered bowl for 15 minutes. Remove the charred and softened skin, rinsing off any residue. Cut the chile into half and discard the seeds. Cut the roasted chile into strips - "rajas" in Spanish. 
3. In a pan, heat the olive oil and add the onion and garlic. Sauté until translucent then add the cooked cactus and salt. Sauté for a few minutes till heated through. 
4. Transfer the chile poblano strips (rajas) and cactus into serving bowls. Arrange the cabbage, cilantro, and any optional garnishes in a platter. Warm the tortillas. 
5. Assemble the tacos: divide the tortillas among plates, stacking 2 per taco. Top with the rajas and cactus, cilantro, and cabbage. Drizzle 1 tbsp. each of the chipotle cashew cream sauce and salsa on each taco. 
6. Serve immediately with a wedge of lime, additional salsa, cashew cream sauce, and optional garnishes.

TACOS: ZUCCHINI FLOWERS AND FIDDLEHEAD FERNS

Zucchini flowers are most commonly served stuffed and fried. They're delicious that way, but the beautiful colours of the flowers are hidden under the batter and for me, food is about taste and looks. Not fake gimmicky presentations but just the natural good looks of fresh seasonal ingredients. Like the pretty zucchini flowers and ferns in these tacos!

Fiddlehead ferns are the unopened tips of Ostrich ferns that would turn into fronds when they open. They have a very short season in the Spring and don't last too long in the fridge so it's best to get some when you see them in the market (or in the wild if you know how to forage for the right kind of fern), and enjoy them right away, in a day or so at most. Fiddleheads upset some peoples' stomachs but they don't bother me at all. I don't like boiling them because that takes away the texture and taste. So I roast them and they're just perfect!

Zucchini flowers and fiddleheads are quite simple to clean. Zucchini flowers: Remove the pistil and stem from each zucchini flower and gently rinse each flower inside and out. Put the washed flowers on a large dry kitchen towel to soak up water.

Fiddlehead ferns: Remove the outer chaff - brown papery skin - from the ferns and rinse thoroughly. During rinsing remove any remaining chaff and put the washed ferns in a large dry kitchen towel to soak up water. 

These tacos are full of spring flavours and colours! And they go with virtually any salsa, including salsa verde with chiles de arbol, avocado and roasted tomatillo salsa, spicy roasted tomato salsa, guacamole, or even just sliced serranos, avocado, onion, and lime juice.

Tacos: Zucchini Flowers and Fiddlehead Ferns

makes: 6 tacos

- 1/2 cup chipotle cashew cream sauce

- 1/2 cup salsa: salsa verde (recipe here and here) or roasted tomato salsa

- 1 cup fiddlehead ferns, cleaned and washed

- 10 - 12 zucchini flowers, pistils removed and wiped cleaned with a damp towel

- 1 small zucchini, cut into small cubes

- 1/2 medium onion, diced

- 2 cloves garlic, minced

- 3 tsp. olive oil

- 2 tsp. salt

- 1 tsp. paprika

- 1 tsp. cumin

- 1 tsp. Mexican oregano (Italian or Greek will do if you don't have Mexican)

- 12 small corn tortillas (ask the store for tortillas for tacos, which are smaller)

- 8-10 sprigs cilantro (1/4 cup coarsely chopped)

- 1/4 cup finely shredded purple cabbage (or red or green cabbage)

- 1 lime, cut into wedges

Optional garnishes: finely shredded carrots, sliced avocado, onions, jalapeno, pickled vegetables "en escabeche"

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F/200 C. Lightly grease a baking tray or line with parchment paper.
2. Toss the cleaned fern heads with 1 tsp. olive oil, 1 tsp. salt, and paprika. Transfer to the prepared baking tray and roast for 15 min., turning once midway. Remove from the oven.
3. In a pan, heat the remaining 2 tsp. olive oil and add the onion and garlic. Sauté until translucent then add the zucchini, cumin, oregano, and salt. Cook till the zucchini is slightly soft and add the zucchini flowers. Stir the flowers in, and sauté for a minute. Turn the heat off.
4. Prep the tacos: Transfer the roasted fern heads and sautéed zucchini and flowers into serving bowls. Arrange the cabbage, cilantro, and any optional garnishes on a platter. Warm the tortillas.
5. Assemble the tacos: Divide the tortillas among plates, stacking 2 per taco. Top with the roasted fern heads and sautéed vegetables, cilantro, and cabbage. Drizzle 1 tbsp. each of the chipotle cashew cream sauce and salsa on each taco.
6. Serve immediately with a wedge of lime, additional salsa, cashew cream sauce, and optional garnishes.

AVOCADO AND CARROT DIP

This dip comes together in a snap, and freezes really well, so it's a great way to use ripe avocados before they lose it! I'm not sure how I thought of adding carrots to my guacamole but I did, and loved it. So that's how I make it now... but technically it's not guacamole so I call it avocado and carrot dip instead. Regardless, it's totally delicious, refreshing, healthy, and tastes great no matter what you serve it with. I like it with tacos or a few different salsas and chips, or in warm tortillas like a taco, or with roasted vegetables. I very often use it in place of salad dressing - a large dollop of this dip is excellent on a salad.

Hope you all like it as much as I do!

Avocado and Carrot Dip

makes: 3 cups

- 3 ripe avocados

- 1 large carrot (or 2 small ones), cut into chunks

- 3 garlic cloves

- 1/2 white onion, cut into 3-4 large chunks

- 15-20 cilantro sprigs

- 2 serrano chiles, finely chopped

- 1 lime, juiced

- 1 tbsp. sea salt

- 1 roma tomato, finely chopped (optional)

1. In a food processor, process the carrot, garlic, onion, and cilantro to a medium dice.
2. Cut the avocados in half, remove the pits, and scoop out the flesh.
3. Add the avocado flesh, salt, lime juice, and serranos to the food processor with the other diced vegetables. Process to a chunky-ish consistency till the avocado is mixed in, but don't make a paste! Stir in the chopped tomatoes if using. Taste and adjust the salt and lime.
4. Transfer to a bowl and serve with tacos, chips, tortillas, crudités, crackers, or roasted vegetables. Store leftovers in the fridge up to 3-4 days, or freeze.

CHIPOTLE CASHEW CREAM SAUCE: CAN'T EAT DAIRY, NO PROBLEM!

Roasting brings out the nutty flavour in cashews, but raw cashew nuts are mild and take flavours so well that they create the most creamy and delicious dairy-substitutes I've had! Whether it's cultured cashew cheese, cinnamon and nutmeg laced cream to top your fruits, or this delicious and smoky chipotle sauce that goes with oven-baked "fries", stirred into soups, and with Mexican food like tacos.

Chipotle Cashew Cream Sauce

makes: 16 oz.

- 1/2 cup raw cashew pieces (~3/4 cup raw whole cashews)

- 1 medium clove garlic, peeled

- 1/2 lemon

- 1 tsp. salt

- 1 tbsp. chipotle powder

- 1 tsp. crushed red pepper

- 1 tbsp. nutritional yeast

- 3/4 cup water

1. Soak the cashews for 30 min. - 8 hrs. in enough water to fully submerge them.
2. Drain the cashews and discard the soaking water.
3. Put all the ingredients in a blender jar in the order they are listed above.
4. Blend into a creamy sauce, adding more water if needed to get a sauc-y consistency.
5. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.