Labor Day is almost here, and you know what that means – it’s time to gather around and celebrate the last hurrah of summer with the people who mean the most to us. I don’t know about you, but for me, this holiday isn’t just about the long weekend; it’s about creating moments that we’ll cherish long after the leaves start to change.
Gather your loved ones, set the table and and prepare to indulge in a Fourth of July celebration featuring a menu that is delicious, nutritious and (my favorite part) simple! Created with love and plenty of taste testing, this menu is just a snippet of what I’ll be serving friends and family this Independence Day.
This last year we made food the way it was meant to be made – delicious, filling and packed with flavour! In 2022, we tried new flavor combinations, different ways to prepare old classics and found some new favorites along the way. We created food that was fresh, healthy and delicious, and made menu staples that could satisfy both vegetarians and meat lovers alike. So, what better way to celebrate another stellar year than a round up of your most loved recipes? It should come as no surprise that your top 5 is kicked off by a seriously filling salad…
La Scala is a restaurant set in Beverly Hills, California, that is famous for their chopped salad. Rumor has it The Kardashians are particularly fond of this one, in fact. But that’s not why we are making it. We are making it because it is delicious and SO easy.
It is packed with savory ingredients like marinated garbanzo beans, cheese, and salami and topped with a vinaigrette recipe that dates back to the 50’s. This version uses most of the same ingredients with a tangy dressing just like the restaurant.
This reminds me of an Italian sub in salad form and it couldn’t be simpler to make… seriously, it’ll only take you 5 minutes.
The first thing that made me want to try this recipe roughly ten years ago was that it was developed by Paul Bertolli. Chef Bertolli resides from the famed Chez Panisse owned by Alice Waters in Berkley, California. There are few restaurants I’ve visited that showcase glorious simplicity the way Chez Panisse does.
The technique of stewing the cauliflower with just a bit of liquid before adding the rest and cooking until almost falling apart was new to me. It gently cooks the cauliflower from the inside out, turning it into a positively silky consistency which an easy blitz of the blender.
I’ve adapted this recipe slightly, using homemade vegetable stock in place of water for a little extra flavor. This soup is simple, beautiful, and a lovely backdrop for all kinds of toppings.
When you google “pumpkin muffins” hundreds of recipes come up, do you really need another one? Yes, because this is the only recipe you actually need. They are high-domed, just like the bakeries, with a sweet and crunchy top and tender, moist crumb flecked with fall spices.
My husband Michael declared these perfect, and he isn’t all that crazy about pumpkin foods traditionally, so that’s saying a lot. And it uses a whole can of pumpkin so you know we aren’t making dry muffins here.
When it’s not quite winter and it’s not quite spring, that’s the time I start to lose my stamina for complicated, multi-step cooking, and want to pull out my tried and true foolproof recipes that are simple, comforting and reliable every time.
This pot roast has never let me down. It also happens to be one of Michael’s favorite meals, and he will barely let me get it plated before devouring it with his hands, right out of the pan, standing up at the kitchen island. My 5 year old, William, has taken to this impatient feasting as well, which I usually allow, because it makes me so happy to see him loving a favorite family dinner of mine from when I was also a kid. A great pot roast just grows up with you.
I can’t think of a more comforting dessert than Cardamom Apple Crisp. It’s a wonderfully warming dessert with a jammy apple filling, packed with big flavor from cinnamon and cardamom, and sweetened just right with maple syrup. Its topping—made from rolled oats and maple syrup (which becomes caramelized as it bakes)—provides a crunchy contrast to the crisp’s moist interior.
Serve warm with coconut whipped cream as I do, or with regular whipped cream or ice cream and you’ll be in heaven! Did I mention that this recipe is Dairy Free and Refined Sugar Free?
If you give any of your 2022 favorite recipes a try, and I hope you do, please leave me a comment and rate the recipe. Your feedback means a lot to me! You can also post to Instagram and tag me so I can share your creations!
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This year I made it my mission to gather some recipes for you that were not only quick and easy but on the healthy side as well. These Thanksgiving essential recipes are some of my tried and true – the ones I turn to year after year that never fail to delight!
