Dana Slatkin, Vegan and Vegetarian Chef | Recipes

Chocolate Sesame Panna Cotta

01/26/2012 By dana Leave a Comment

Once in a very rare while, there’s a pause in my day, when nobody needs me, there is nowhere I need to be, and all is quiet. A shot of bliss. It’s when you’ll usually find me doing one of two things: hiking or playing the piano. Last week, there was one such moment and, while playing a Bach fugue, this dessert came to me. I had been trying to come up with the grand finale for my Modern Mediterranean class, featuring the owner of Momed Beverly Hills. I was looking for the impossibly perfect dessert with a Mediterranean twist. It had to be decadent but light, simple to make but complex in flavor, minutes to prep but memorable. And in the middle of a particularly melodious contrapuntal passage, I thought of halvah, the Middle … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dessert Recipes

Miso-Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts

01/20/2012 By dana Leave a Comment

One of the perks of writing a food blog is the culinary journey I get to take each week. Just in the past few days, I’ve traipsed from France to Turkey to Greece and Japan, crossing over borders without leaving the dinner table. I even get to drag my family along for the ride. Last night’s dinner combined a trip to Paris (cheese fondue) with a stopover in Kyoto for these sweet and salty glazed Brussels sprouts. Once the baguette and roasted potatoes were gone, the kids and husband had no choice but to venture their skewers to the bowl of little green-brown orbs, dunking them into the rich, ever-so-funky fondue. Much to my surprise, the sprouts disappeared in minutes. Try them over brown rice or quinoa, as a side dish for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Side Dish Recipes

New Cooking Classes Added

01/20/2012 By dana Leave a Comment

Heart-Healthy Asian-Fusion with Chaya’s Executive Chef, Chef Shigefumi Tachibe Thursday, February 16, 2012 9:30 am – 12 noon (NOTE: The M Café class has been rescheduled for April 26 – see below) Chef Tachibe and Yuji Tsunoda, whose family has owned restaurants in Japan for over 390 years, opened the acclaimed La Petite Chaya 27 years ago. Chef Tachibe now oversees four California eateries, all featuring his elegant Asian-fusion cuisine. We are honored to have him share some of his tastiest healthy dishes and techniques. Fresh Ideas for Passover and Easter Thursday, March 22 9:30 am – 12 noon Macro Makeovers with M Café de Chaya Thursday, April 26 9:30 am – 12 noon One Class: $125; Two Classes: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Events

Pasta with Creamy Vodka Sauce

01/11/2012 By dana Leave a Comment

A new year can seem like a mixed blessing. It’s 12 more months to accomplish our dreams, to matter more, to shoot for the moon. But from here it looks dang overwhelming. The holidays are over, and the next vacation seems miles away. Only a few weeks in and I am already snowed under. So I remember the words of my mother, the best pep-talker in the world: “Take small bites, and your plate won’t seem so full.” Whether you’re trying to lose weight, get organized, go meatless, or just be happier, take it one morsel at a time. One of my goals for this year is to help my kids learn to love what’s good for them. So I came up with this vegan pasta dish. The appealingly pink sauce uses no butter or cream … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Pasta Recipes

Vegetable Torte

01/06/2012 By dana Leave a Comment

Some of you like to start out the year with resolutions. A few days into 2012, and I’m betting you’re still on a roll. This month, you’re rocking your new clean, virtuous lifestyle. Bravo! Me, I’m back in the kitchen, cooking up comfort food. Because in the first few weeks of the year, I’d rather do anything than get back to work. Call me sentimental, but I want to hang on to the warm glow of the holidays for as long as possible (maybe that’s why I can’t bring myself to toss all those shiny, happy holiday cards). So even though it hardly feels like winter here, I’m sticking with hearty, reassuring fare. This beautiful vegetable torte fits the bill. I’ve made it several times for dinner … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Vegetarian Recipes

January Giveaway

01/05/2012 By dana Leave a Comment

Just in time for all your New Year’s resolutions, the OXO Good Grips Egg Beater combines old-fashioned reliability with fresh innovation for whipping up perfect egg white omelets, soufflés, and fluffy whipped cream (made from coconut milk, of course!). The two stainless steel beaters remove easily for cleaning. and the base can be tossed into the dishwasher. Plus it’s a fun way to coax your kids into the kitchen! To enter, sign up for weekly recipes, cooking tips and Farmgirl fun, or (if you are already a subscriber), send in a comment here. Wishing you a delicious ride in 2012! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cooking Contest

Curried Popcorn

12/21/2011 By dana Leave a Comment

During the holidays, spontaneity rules in my house. Absent the relentless school routine, the last days of the year take shape organically, as a true vacation should. The only rules? No rushing or stressing allowed. But I confess to being a little challenged on vacations. Though the break from lunchboxes and dinner parties is welcome, this Farmgirl needs to keep busy. Too much time away from my kitchen and I start to get disoriented. So here’s my method for vacation reorientation…invite a steady stream of drop-ins, have a ready stash of party-food, and exhale. This popcorn was a big hit at last week’s holiday cooking class. The recipe is based on one by Aarti Sequeira (the Food Network’s endearing Indian … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Snack Recipes

Top 20 Holiday Gifts for Your Favorite Foodie

12/14/2011 By dana Leave a Comment

If you are still hunting for the perfect holiday gift, there’s no need to brave crowds and traffic. Here are some gourmet goodies that you can buy with your slippers on. I’ll bet your favorite foodie doesn’t have these… 1. Cast Iron Pans — a gift to last a lifetime 2. Copper Fondue Pot + Skewers (wrap it along with my recipe for Chocolate Coconut Fondue) 3. Glass Food Storage Containers — safe to go from the fridge to the microwave 4. Cake Paper Placemats + Napkins — what I use now in all of my cooking classes 5. Nespresso Citiz Automatic Espresso Maker with Aeroccino — a true game-changer 6. A 1-month supply of fresh produce from FarmBox LA — your local farmers market … [Read more...]

Filed Under: 90210 Style