Red adzuki and green mung beans never get neglected for too long in my kitchen. Sweet and earthy, both of these beans are quick to cook up, easily digestible, and serve as a simple but tasty base for Indian curry spices and seasonings … what's not to like? This curry has both beans simmered in a gently spiced coconut milk and tomato gravy. Served over a hot bed of fresh cooked white rice, it's an easy and delicious meal for any day of the week.

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What to do when cravings for a healthy kale slaw and plump buttery cooked chickpeas coincide? Why, just toss some of those chickpeas into your kale slaw! Combined with shredded carrot and tossed in a creamy, tangy and zesty all-vegan avocado and mustard dressing, this is a not only a delicious and colorful meal with wonderful contrasts in texture and tastes, but also a simple and complete nourishing light lunch or dinner idea on its own. Perfect for the last days of summer.

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I think we are all familiar with those stale sugar-laden filled chocolates that make their appearance in a box, especially around Christmas. You know, the neighbor who thinks that gifting something is better than not, but the rather pathetic excuse for chocolates usually ends up in a staff room or languishing in a pantry until someone in the house gets desperate for a chocolate fix. To no avail, I say, will you get your needed dose of chocolate — just a heavy bite of processed sugar.

More of a savory girl for sure, I still like a small dose of chocolate on occasion. And creamy filled chocolates are still a special treat, especially when they are essentially raw and filled with a healthy dose of homemade raspberry cashew filling. No need to feel guilty about these. If you really want the melt-in-your-mouth experience, then just leave the chocolates out of the freezer for a few minutes before biting into one or two. A fine quality dark chocolate is essential here and I assure you won't be disappointed.

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As the astonishing heat and humidity of the past few months seems finally to be settling down in southwestern Ontario, soups become more appealing. I always find the transition from blazing temperatures to cool ones quite an adjustment — a warming bowl of nourishing soup is solacing and comforting and helps the body to adjust.

This particular soup also happens to be easy and fairly light, making it an ideal one for late summer temperatures. It's fairly lightly spiced with some aromatics and fresh mint and some tangy zest from lemon juice and ground sumac. I was smitten with the meaty texture the dried mushrooms added to the bowl. Serve up with rustic bread and your meal is ready.

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