Thai green curry paste is one of those vivid and memorable flavors that has earned an international reputation for enlivening food. From soups to curries and stir-fries, green curry paste can add zest and aroma to vegetables, eggs, or meat or fish if you're so inclined. As with spice blends, you can quite easily find storebought green curry pastes but—just as with spice blends—I like to take just the little extra trouble and time to make my own to add that extra vibrancy and authenticity to my dishes.
Eggplant is, I think, often an undervalued vegetable, even though there are many ways to cook and many cuisines that feature this humble nightshade. It can be baked, fried, broiled, roasted, or grilled, and is a fine addition to soups and stews, stir-fries, casseroles, curries, salads, pasta, or it can feature in sandwiches or be stuffed for a especially satisfying main feature.
I adore what I call "little bites" or what others might call tapas or appetizers that might make up the better part of a small meal, especially an occasional deep-fried creation for those times when I want to indulge. One of my favorite little bites on the occasion that I find myself at an Italian restaurant is arancini, little balls of rice that are stuffed commonly with mozzarella cheese, coated with breadcrumbs, deep-fried, and often served with a tomato sauce. On the other hand, I'm likely to frequent Indian food where little bites might consist of samosas or pakoras.
Chewy and soft, sweetened with real maple syrup rather than refined sugar, and free of gluten and dairy, these chocolate chip cookies are now one of my staple go-to recipes when I want a classic treat. Almond flour and arrowroot is used in place of wheat-based flour, with coconut oil working to bind the mixture together. Incredibly easy to make, and actually good for you, a batch of these healthy cookies comes together in less than 30 minutes from opening the cupboard to taking them out of the oven, and they are just as delicious as more traditional variations.
