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Dark Chocolate Coconut Almond Clusters

10/30/2012 By Dana Slatkin 1 Comment

Here’s a treat to make for Halloween that won’t bust your healthy streak. As you know, dark chocolate and coconut is my favorite dessert combo. Sprinkling these chunky mounds with a little grey salt makes them extra addictive. And the recipe takes less than 10 minutes to make. Each one is two bites of heaven. Thanks to Courtney Sander for submitting her simple and delicious recipe. I’ll be putting these on my Thanksgiving and holiday menus, too! Disclaimer: This post may contain totally benign and well-intentioned affiliate links. All content is unsponsored, uncensored, and undeniably honest. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dessert Recipes

Healthy Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pudding with Gingersnap Crumble

10/23/2012 By Dana Slatkin 1 Comment

Once you become a mother, you never think of cooking the same way again. It becomes so much more than a personal endeavor. Cooking can be a loving act of nourishing, or a familial ritual of sharing. And, as I discovered recently, it can be the perfect side dish to sympathy. A few nights ago, our 13-year-old daughter — a beautiful, blossoming yet hormone-plagued gamine — had an epic meltdown. It began as a completely normal spasm of anxiety over a heavy homework load, but by 11 pm it had escalated into explosive convulsions of exasperation. The more I hopelessly tried to calm her down, the louder she sobbed, until finally I just stopped talking, stroking her hair like my mother used to do for me. Eventually, my stressed-out … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dairy-free, Dessert Recipes

Pumpkin Banana Breakfast Muffins

10/16/2012 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

When I think of Fall, the thing that really gets me drooling is pumpkin. The minute Starbucks starts pushing their Pumpkin Spice Latte, I know I’m whipped. It’s the flavor I most associate with the season, and it’s one you’ll be seeing around here often. I’ve already got a stack of pumpkin recipes to try, so last week I stocked up on cans of organic purée (Trader Joe’s makes a good one and I like this brand), sweet spices, a variety of whole-grain flours for baking, and pumpkin spice syrup (for my morning coffee, ‘course). On top of my pile was a recipe from the always reliable Cook’s Illustrated — a new and improved Pumpkin Bread. I envisioned a wholesome, energizing breakfast … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breakfast and Brunch Recipes

There’s Lots to Look Forward to in Farmgirl World

10/11/2012 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

A lot of you have been asking about cooking classes in October and November. I am teaching so many private and corporate classes that I’ve decided to resume regular classes in January 2013. Stay tuned for class announcements, new recipes, giveaways, and more! If you are not already a subscriber, sign up in the Suscribe box in the left-hand column. The Farmgirl Store will be open through the end of the year for holiday shopping, hostess gifts, and chic tableware. These are items that are not available at the online Farmgirl Store, so stop in for a look! To make an appointment, e-mail me here. If you missed a cooking class and would like the recipes from the class, send a check for $9.99 to Beverly Hills Farmers Market, Inc. / … [Read more...]

Filed Under: In the Kitchen

October Giveaway

10/01/2012 By Dana Slatkin 1 Comment

Fall is in full form, and cooking turns just as cozy and colorful as those beautiful leaves outside. To help keep your kitchen crackling, the Farmgirl is giving away a basket of cooking gadgets which you will love! To win, sign up for weekly recipes, cooking tips and foodie fun in the “Subscribe box” to the left, or (if you are already a subscriber), send in a comment here. The winner will be notified by e-mail on November 1. Congratulations to the winner of the October Giveaway, Eydie Desser of Santa Monica, California. Hope you are enjoying your handy Ratchet Salad Spinner by Progressive! Disclaimer: This post may contain totally benign and well-intentioned affiliate links. All content is unsponsored, uncensored, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cooking Contest

October Cooking Contest

10/01/2012 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

We all know what happens at the end of this month! How do you celebrate Halloween? Do you have a special dish you plan to prepare…something hearty for hungry trick-or-treaters, or a fun party treat? Send in your best Halloween recipe, along with a little information about how you enjoy it, who you are and where you live. You have until October 31st and you can enter as many times as you wish. All recipes will be acknowledged, tested and tasted. The winner will receive a fabulous Farmgirl Kitchen care package! Good luck and happy October! Send in your entry here. Photo credit: TryAnythingOnce Disclaimer: This post may contain totally benign and well-intentioned affiliate links. All content is unsponsored, uncensored, and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cooking Contest

Vegan Creamed Spinach

10/01/2012 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

Dinnertime is usually when my kids get their fill of Mom wisdom. The other night, over bowls of polenta and Stephanie Izard’s tasty wild mushroom ragout (thank you, Food + Wine Magazine), I told them a story about how I made a new friend recently, just on the heels of having to let another one go. “You see,” I shared, “When one door closes, another one opens.” My teenagers sat rolling their eyes, but the kindergartner chimed in winsomely, “And when two doors close, I open the window!” Hilarious! We all burst out laughing. But when I thought about it that night, I realized the little guy was absolutely right. We all have those moments in our lives where we just need to breathe in some fresh air. This … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dairy-free, Gluten-Free Recipes, Side Dish Recipes, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes

Luscious Vegan Red Wine Sauce

09/18/2012 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

When I was cooking in France just a couple of years — okay, decades — ago, nouvelle cuisine was just beginning to emerge onto the haute cuisine scene. At the time, it was almost heretical to think of French food prepared without massive quantities of cream and butter. Michel Guèrard, proprietor of the idyllic resort and spa Les Pres d’Eugenie, and my boss at the time, was daring to cook without either, using vegetable purées or yogurt to thicken luxuriously flavorful sauces. His enlightened style of cooking drew crowds of gastronomes from around the globe. How did Chef Guèrard manage to polish up centuries of baked-in Gallic tradition? After a few months apprenticing in his kitchen, I managed to crack … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gluten-Free Recipes, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes