Eating a plant-based diet doesn't mean you have to forget that your body needs good fats to function at its best! Kids need a certain amount of fat in their diets in order for their brain and nervous system to develop correctly. That's why vegetarian and vegan toddlers (as well as adults!) need to eat a diet that includes a variety of nuts, seeds, good quality oils and butters (like coconut butter) and avocados.
Read MoreThis is the prettiest, classiest and sexiest salad I've ever made! It was on our Valentine's Day table (as well as my hazelnut, chocolate and fleur de sel "pot de crème" and a few homemade raw chocolates...). It's also one of my winter salad classics with only a few wonderful ingredients; blood oranges, sweet beets (this time a mix of golden and red), minced fennel, crunchy roasted pistachios and goat or sheep cheese. The only thing this salad needs to be absolutely perfect is a balsamic vinaigrette!
Read MoreThis year, Noah and I decided to do a little surprise for daddy on Valentine's day. My son really enjoys being in the kitchen with me, so I thought it would be a nice idea to make our own raw chocolate. And you know what ? You don’t need to be an expert to make this easy recipe! In fact, I've done it a few times and I've always been thrilled about how great they turn out. On top of that, it's a 5 minute recipe! My son always has a blast when it's time to choose the flavours and toppings... and he's surprisingly creative!
Read MoreThis smoothie is so refreshing! My son loves it ! Every time I give my baby girl her own little bowl of that bright and citrusy smoothie she also asks for "more more more" (in the sign language of course... ;)! When we don't feel like drinking a green smoothie, this one's definitely one of our favourites! The blood oranges and the lime juice pair perfectly with the hemp seeds and the goji berries.
Read MoreThis is probably my favourite pasta recipe ever. It's inspired by a dish I enjoyed in Tuscany (Italy) a few years ago. I can't remember where exactly... probably somewhere near the Piazza del Camp in Sienne or on a terrace next to a busy street of Florence. One thing I remember was the incredible taste of this super easy recipe. The dish consisted of a simple mix of pine nuts, raisins and sautéed nettles on pasta. Good and fresh products, good and memorable meals. Basic principle :)
Read MoreLet's talk about bowls. Remember my Autumn Harvest bowl ? The idea is pretty simple: a meal-sized bowl filled with tons of raw, roasted or steamed veggies, some whole grains, a protein (beans, seeds, nuts, tempeh, tofu) and a sauce. It's also the perfect way to use your leftovers. I LOVE bowls! And since I found the perfect size bowls (thanks to Crate and Barrel!), we eat almost everything in a bowl!
My favorite bowl of all time is the "Thai bowl" from Montreal's number one vegan restaurant Aux Vivres. You have to go there if you drop by! It's a "must" for everyone! I used to eat that bowl almost every week. You understand now why I just needed to do my own version. After a few (!) trials, I'm finally satisfied with my peanut sauce! My husband was flabbergasted! I got it right! It tastes exactly the same! Yeah!
Read MoreI'm back! It's been a while!
The thing is... we came back from our hometown Montreal with two sick kids and I haven't had a lot of free time lately! Canadian winters are hard on tiny bodies and I have to say that, even if we were happy to see all our family/friends, I really missed my beautiful and warm California! With all the papers we had to fill in for our lost luggages (twice!), the runny noses and the short nights, I was looking forward to get back in my kitchen and cook healthy food for my family. Our bodies were asking for a mega dose of vitamins!
Read MoreThis millet pie is a plant based version of the French-Canadian classic named "tourtière" (or meat pie). This recipe originally comes from a friend of the family. I've been cooking it for a few years already and haven't changed a single thing since it's so good and festive. It's made of millet, a gluten-free pseudo-grain, and oats. This year, I added potatoes (I am a potato addict, remember?) and chestnuts. Yum! If you want, you can substitute the chestnuts with chopped chickpeas (for a more complete dish) or chopped walnuts (for a crunchy twist). Or you can stick to the simple version, using only oats and millet. I've tried every version and they are all delicious.
Read MoreKombucha, also known as the Elixir of life in Imperial China, is a lightly effervescent fermented drink made with tea. It is also referred to as "kombucha mushroom tea", but in reality, it's not a mushroom, but a colony of bacteria and yeast. Therefore, this delicious beverage is high in probiotics and will keep your gut and immune system happy!
Read MorePumpkin again ! This elegant, silken and vegan recipe is inspired by a dessert I ate at my all time favorite vegetarian restaurant, the Green Restaurant, established at the famous Fort Masson in San Francisco. I ate lunch there a few weeks ago and they had a pumpkin creme caramel on the menu. It was just AMAZING !
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