It can be so chilly this time of year. Even if it’s not, who can resist the soothing taste of Masala Chai? Several commercial options are available including Oregon Chai and the really tasty chai available from Sky Tea. Making your own at home is another option. Ingredients are listed below. The recipe from Heather Howitt of Oregon Chai is available here. Heather Howitt started Oregon Chai in 1991 after a trip to the Himalayas. For the chai lovers out there, many recipes using chai can be found on Oregon Chai’s website here. Enjoy this extra Leap Year treat!

-4 cups water
-4 cups whole milk (or Coconut milk or Almond milk)
-1/2 teaspoon cardamom seeds
-1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
-1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon chips
-1 star anise
-1 whole nutmeg
-1 teaspoon peeled and minced fresh ginger
-1 Madagascar Bourbon vanilla bean, chopped fine
-4 teaspoons black tea leaves, strong, robust tea works best
-8 ounces grade “A” honey

thank you to: madejustright.com via Sarah on Pinterest

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”
Charles M. Schulz

You are just in time for some wonderful chocolate treats! Plus a surprise. Does that sound good? Best of all is that it doesn’t even have to be Valentine’s Day to enjoy these treats. As if the Chocolate Raspberry Cake above isn’t enough, here are a few more delights just for you.

Oh how I love truffles and fleur de sel. Don’t you? Try these Caramel Dark Chocolate Truffles with Fleur de Sel.

One more chocolate dessert just for you. Chocolate Cherry Almond Bark. If you would like some additional chocolate recipes go here. Another option is Jayne Georgette’s fabulous blog, Chocolates and Figs. Vegans will enjoy the chocolate recipes at The Chocolate Room from U.K. based Vegan Family. Raw foodies will be in heaven at Raw Chocolate Recipes. Death by chocolate! Yes, it’s official. Here’s that extra treat. Oh, btw it’s chocolate-free.

Jacques Pepin’s Raspberry Velvet

- 1 12-oz package IQF frozen unsweetened raspberries, defrosted, or 12 oz fresh raspberries
- 1/3 cup seedless black raspberry preserves
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon sugar or honey or agave or molasses
- 4 fresh mint sprigs

Happy Valentine’s Day! Bon Appétit!

thank you to: Epicurious / Cooking Channel / Jacques Pepin / photographers: Mark Thomas/ Kat Teusch

Hello. Food Network star chef Giada DeLaurentiis has an excellent recipe to add that wow factor to simple ravioli. Best of all it’s super quick and easy to make. Giada de Laurentiis has an informative website filled with tips, books and cookware. Be sure to register for access to her recipes including the fun and healthy Chocolate Apricot Bugs. Now back to the recipe, Brown Butter Balsamic Ravioli …

Ingredients:

- 18 – 20 ounces ravioli (butternut or pumpkin would be great for Autumn)
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter (or Earth Balance)
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 tsp salt (Fleur de Sel would be great)
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup toasted, chopped walnuts (or 1/8 cup Parsley or cook with Sage and remove it)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan (or Daiya or other substitute)

And you thought it would be difficult. Perfect for an elegant dish on a special night after a hectic day. Don’t you think so? Enjoy!

video and recipe: thanks to Giada De Laurentiis and The Food Network

Trick or Treat?! Nothing but treats here today. These recipes work well for Halloween and the upcoming Holiday season. Do you like Heath candies? I hope so because chef and instructor Elise Fineberg has put together a sweet Heath style candy just for you.

Heath-like candy ingredients:

1 cup butter (or Earth Balance)
2 Tbsp. Water
2 Tbsp. Light Corn Syrup (or Agave or Date Syrup)
1 1/2 cup Sugar (or Sugar substitute e.g. Coconut Sugar)
1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt
8 oz. Semisweet Chocolate
1 cup Toasted Almonds

also recommended:
Candy thermometer

Veg news has some more tasty treats in the form of Pumpkin Spice Cookies and Pumpkin Spice Frozen Yogurt. Enjoy. and Happy Halloween!

video: thanks to ABC Local

Raw kale chips are really popular! They also can be somewhat costly. Would you like an easy recipe that is healthy and at a much better price? Remember raw food chef Diana Stobo from a few posts ago? Here is an easy to make recipe. A food dehydrator is necessary and it takes a total of around 8 hours. So make plenty!
Specific recipe is at here at Diana Stobo’s site.

Ingredients:
Dino kale
Olive Oil
“Parmesan”

Parmesan:
Pine nuts
Nutritional Yeast
Sea salt

Here is another snack food recipe from Diana Stobo. This one doesn’t require a dehydrator. It similar to french fries. The fries are made from Jicama. Both of these recipes are simple and healthy. Perfect for the 4th of July.

Ingredients:
Jicama
Olive oil
Chili powder
Nutritional yeast
Salt

videos and recipes: thanks to Diana Stobo

Chef Diana Stobo has a very easy and simple to make recipe for raw Chocolate Macaroons. Macaroons are sweetened with Agave and a food dehydrator is required. Be sure to read about the chef’s story on her site. In addition to being a chef, she is a coach and the author of two books, Get Naked Fast and Naked Bliss.

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Heart Shaped Vacherines with semi-sweet chocolate, strawberries & mint from Chef Liz Ozanich

6 egg whites
1 1/2 cups sugar
dash of lemon juice
2 pints strawberries
3 Tbsp super fine sugar
2 Tbsp fresh mint leaves, finely julienned
6 oz semi-sweet chocolate (chips or chopped)

*note: I haven’t had a chance to try this, but here is a vegan version of egg whites. If it does indeed work the outcome will be different. Thanks to The Good Baker for this recipe and instructions which are here.

Starch-based egg replacer

FOR EVERY TWO WHOLE EGGS, SIFT TOGETHER

1 Tbsp tapioca or corn starch
1 Tbsp potato starch
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp xanthan gum (if you have it)

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Mark Bittman makes a quick and delicious Mexican Chocolate Tofu Pudding. Enjoy.

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source: thanks to Diana Stobo, Liz Ozanich and Mark Bittman.

First up is an Orzotini from Hippy Gourmet. It’s a quick and easy recipe with few ingredients.

Also a delicious Leek and Mushroom Soup from Chef Luciano Pelligrini that takes a little time yet is worth it. This is very good for the cold weather. Coconut cream or agar agar can be used to substitute for the cream.