Dana Slatkin, Vegan and Vegetarian Chef | Recipes

Asparagus and Scallion Fritters: Voskos Edition

05/22/2013 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

Who’s ready for summer? Not me. I’m still relishing spring. The weather is mild, the days just long-enough, and there is comforting rhythm in our weekly routine. I like knowing where my kids are each day and what time they will be home. Once summer rolls around, all certainty is lost. But as the school year winds down and the air heats up, there are a still a few sure things in my kitchen. Fritters. And yogurt. They go together like a hug and kiss…one warm and earnest, the other cool and invigorating. When the nice folks at Voskos asked me to create a recipe featuring their yogurt, I immediately thought of the savory pancakes, made with a couple eggs, herbs, and the freshest finds from the farmers market. Dunk them into a cumin and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Vegetarian Recipes

Cucumber, Pineapple and Cilantro Cocktail

05/16/2013 By mkjweb Leave a Comment

When it comes to vacations, I am a big fan of the three-day quickie. It’s just long enough to fit in a couple lazy mornings, some long walks, maybe a nap or two, and a few luxuriously unhurried meals. You return home recharged and ready to get back to your daily routine…even during the hectic stretch before summer. A couple weeks ago, my husband and I stole away for a long weekend in Cabo San Lucas to celebrate the milestone birthday of a dear friend. The timing was perfect, as I was in the midst of a serious Mexican cooking binge in preparation for my upcoming classes. I couldn’t wait to leave my watch behind, gobble some guacamole and refried beans, and curl up with a book on a hammock. In just a few hours, we were driving along … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beverages

Light Crustless Smoked Salmon Leek Quiche for Mother’s Day

05/08/2013 By mkjweb 1 Comment

One of the best byproducts of becoming a mother is a deeper appreciation for the harrowing efforts and sacrifices our own mothers made. Nearly sixteen years ago when I had my first son, I had no idea how much blood, sweat and tears came with the job. It’s a long, rocky road as we help our children navigate their childhoods, trying to give them the tools they will need to become productive, moral, fulfilled adults while staying out of their way. And just when we think we have parenting mastered, life throws in a new challenge. Some mothers are better qualified than others to get behind the wheel of a child’s life, but they do the best they can. I know mine did, and I certainly try. This weekend we honor the mothers in our lives and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: In the Kitchen

May Giveaway

05/02/2013 By Dana Slatkin 1 Comment

May flowers are here! The Farmgirl loves these beautiful tea cups for a Mother’s Day brunch, tea with friends, or an elegant breakfast in bed. Each comes with its own saucer and spoon. They are works of art! Valued at approximately $40 each, the Farmgirl wants you to have a pair to enjoy a deux. To enter, simply fill out the form below. You can enter as many times as you wish. The winner will be chosen randomly and announced the first week in June. Wishing you all a colorful and delicious Spring! xo Dana … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Giveaway

Puerto Vallarta Pesto

05/02/2013 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

Cue the drumroll for the winner of the Farmgirl April Cooking Contest! Let me say first, the competition was stiff. Just try picking a favorite between Breakfast Nachos, Enchilada Pie, Southwestern Corn Pudding, Caramelized Onion Tortilla Pie, Chile-grilled Salmon with Garlicky Lime-Cilantro Yogurt Sauce, Chipotle-Chive Potato Salad, Garden Gazpacho, Chipotle Ribs, Huevos Rancheros Pie, and a hundred others. One recipe even came all the way from Gujarat, India (regrettably, it wasn’t Mexican). It was a very close call. But ultimately, this recipe from Candy Barnhart beat out the others with its originality, zesty flavors, ease of preparation and versatility. Candy lives near the western slope of Mount Haleakala on the island of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: In the Kitchen

Dulce de Leche Pudding

04/30/2013 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

I’ve always marveled at how some people are able to recount stories from their early childhood in great detail. I simply don’t remember much, save for a few snippets that have lingered with the help of old photos. Do you remember anything you did when you were two, or five, or eight? If so, I’d love to hear about it. But one memory that has remained lucid in my mind takes me back to when I was about five years old. It’s a warm evening and I’m listening to a boisterous mariachi band on Olvera Street, licking a cone-shaped lollipop flavored with the colors of the Mexican flag. My mother loved to bring my brother and me to ethnic neighborhoods for a taste of other cultures, and Olvera Street was one of her favorites. Dating back to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dessert Recipes

Spring Fritters with Chick Peas and Lentils

04/24/2013 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

A few posts ago, I wrote about cooking your way back to groovy with some Justin Timberlake-inspired meatless cooking. How’s that going for you? Hopefully you’ve begun the season with some fresh, home-cooked fare. I’d love to hear about it! As promised, here is another “make-ahead marvel” for a quick and flavorful lunch or dinner. I’ve adapted the recipe from my friend Matt Poley of Heirloom L.A. Catering, who was kind enough to share some of his favorite vegan recipes with my students last month. The fritters are a lighter version of felafel, and even lighter than the fritters I posted a couple seasons ago. Absent breadcrumbs or fillers, the cumin-scented patties pack a lot of pizazz. The whole chick peas and lentils add some … [Read more...]

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Vegan Recipes

Fresh Spring Pea Soup with Fennel and Chives

04/15/2013 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

Adapted from Shutters On The Beach When I met my husband twenty years ago, I was fresh out of cooking school and working my first restaurant manager job at L’Orangerie in Los Angeles. My husband and his brother had just inked a deal on a half-built beach hotel that needed a roof, thousands of new sheets, and an identity. We were young and ambitious, eager to please. A year later, when Shutters On The Beach opened its doors in 1993, I remember tasting a fresh pea soup at a table overlooking the sea. The peas came from the Santa Monica Farmers Market just down the street, all grassy and new, perfumed simply with fresh mint, some salty air and sweet beach breezes. It was one of those meals that became a signpost for me, a verdant bowl … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Soup Recipes