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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

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

Kelp Noodle and Veggie Stir-Fry

09/07/2012 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

There’s been a lot of talk lately about cleansing. It may take shape as a juice fast, a junk food crackdown, a desk clutter clearout, or a friendship detox. These days, it seems we have a collective urge to purge. Perhaps it’s because of the new school year kicking in, or the holidays looming on the horizon. In any case, September’s an ideal time to keep it simple and go lightly. At least that’s my plan. With all the projects I have on my plate now, I need to be on my game. Anything that’s been weighing me down has to go. That goes for my cooking, too. This month, I’m going for lean and mean. In next week’s cooking class with M Café, I’ll be demonstrating some delicious recipes … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gluten-Free Recipes, Vegan Recipes

Spice Rubbed Barbequed Tofu

08/13/2012 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

During summer, if you’re not firing up your grill, you’re missing the party. It’s all happening where the heat is…the inviting smoke, the sweet and spicy aromas, the camaraderie around the barbeque. But if you don’t do meat — or are trying to minimize your animal consumption — there’s no reason to feel left out. A simple hunk of tofu is a protein-packed (approximately 20 grams per 8 ounces) meatless alternative for any cookout. My summer addiction to Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives inspired a classic down-home take on tofu. Choose the firm kind of tofu and make it organic (we don’t trust you, GMO’s). Slice the tofu into “steaks,” then raid your spice drawer and mix … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Condiments

Summer Vegetable Ceviche

07/25/2012 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

There’s nothing like a summer breakup to make you feel all young again. Last week, a friend and I parted ways, and though I saw it coming for months, I wasn’t prepared for the teenager-like symptoms that hit me soon after: the moping, the zits, the loss of appetite. For the past few days, I just haven’t been myself. So I got busy cooking. Luckily, I had a brand new cookbook on my counter, Nobu’s Vegetarian Cookbook. It was the perfect distraction, and I sat down and perused it cover to cover. It’s a spectacular book, crammed with the celebrated chef Matsuhisa’s imaginative vegetable musings and glorious photos. Just as I was starting to get hungry again, I came across a recipe for vegetable ceviche. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Appetizer Recipes