Shrimp and Avocado Fresh Spring Rolls in Peanut Sauce

I love spring rolls! I also love that there is no frying/baking, just little bit of boiling involved in making these rolls.This means less mess in a kitchen and healthy food on a table. The rolls can be made ahead of time and are perfect fresh dinner for coming summer days. You can play around with your favorite greens too.

Chocolate Adzuki Bites

I knew about Adzuki beans for a while but never used it in desserts before. I was introduced to it by Japanese friend and liked it. I started reading about it more and found this great recipe. No flour, no bake, no eggs.
It takes little bit of planning because you need to soak beans. But other than that it is easy and the end result is a tasty and healthy desert. My kids liked it too. Bingo!
Here is the recipe:
http://keeprecipes.com/recipe/howtocook/chocolate-adzuki-bites

Enjoy!

Note:You can buy Adzuki beans in Japanese stores and Whole Foods has it too.

Healthy no bake coconut-lemon meltaways

I had no idea that paleo diet is so tasty! Well, no wonder, if you replace the flour with grounded almonds, sugar with honey, and don't use any artificially processed ingredients, you are bound to have a delicious treat! 
This was the first time I've made "paleo cookies" and my friend said that it was the best I've ever made. Hmmm... and I've thought nothing can beat canneles! 

Chia pudding with blood oranges and pistachios

Everywhere I turn either in stores or in magazines, I see 'the benefits of chia seeds'. All the pictures look promissingly delicious! So I decide to buy a bag, a huge one since there are no small bags of chia seeds to be found... That made me very happy, hoping it will bring a change to my breakfast oatmeal routine. The first time I've tried to make chia pudding was plain simply with almond or coconut milk, I don't remember exactly... but do remember a huge disappointment since I didn't like it at all. The flavor was simply missing! The big bag of chia seeds was sitting in the forgotten corner of my kitchen until yesterday when I was looking for something and found it again. This time I've made the pudding with regular milk and added fruits, nuts and a little bit of coconut sugar. It was the rebirth of chia seed pudding for me and will be in the makings again soon, especially the night before I know there will be a busy morning and no time for elaborate breakfast. That is when chia pudding will get me throuh it with its nutrients and energy.  

Ingredients: 

For one serving

• 1 cup of milk of your choice (I prefer regular milk)
• 4 Tbsp of chia seeds
• 2 Tbsp of coconut sugar
• fruit and nuts topping (my favorite combination is blood orange with pistachios)

Add chia seeds to milk, mix and store in the fridge overnight for best results. In the morning, add fruit and nuts for a healthy breakfast. 

Bon appetit,

Miki

Asparagus cigars

What a nice idea to eat and serve asparagus! I saw this on the Rachel Khoo's blog last week. Those of you who saw few of my previous posts know how much I love Rachel's recipes. I can't wait for her third book to be published! With asparagus being in season nowadays, I had to give this recipe a try right away. This is how it turned out, very pretty and tasty as well! Not at all soggy asparagus accompanied with the crispy puff pastry. I forgot to add cream cheese that was suggested in the recipe; not sure if the cream cheese would make it the puff pastry soggy. I don't think so, but please let me know if you try it. 

Here is the original recipe:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/asparagus_and_puff_00402

Bon appetit,

Miki

Spring pea and ricotta gnocchi with pancetta

This is a wonderful recipe! Very tasty and great dish if you are having company over for a casual dinner. I made it already twice in less than a month. I also made it with dandelion and spinach instead of peas and parsley. I am not big fan of ricotta cheese in general but in dish dish it is absolutely heavenly. 
I was also happy that my kids eat it despite its green color.   

Note: I suggest you double the recipe and freeze it so next time you can have delicious dinner in no time! :)

Here is the recipe:
http://www.shafervineyards.com/foodwine/recipes/Gnocchi.pdf

Enjoy!

Cauliflower Couscous

Once in while I stumble upon a recipe that I have to make right away. This was one of them-I saw it last night and I made it for dinner tonight (I had all ingredients so that made it easier but I know I would do it even if it required a trip to a store :)

Happy Star Wars day!

May the 4th be with you, always! 

The force was very strong this morning while preparing breakfast, explained in this video. :) :)