Let’s welcome June produce one day early! Market vegetables and fruits are becoming more colorful. This month, I’m excited to make more salads and enjoy more evening walks with Cookie.
I’m carrying on with the monthly links roundup since you seem to enjoy them. Here’s what I’ve been enjoying lately (list contains affiliate links):
Since I’m the worst at pitching myself (“I, uh, have a blog”): How three successful women pitch themselves Cookie is an escape artist, so I feel much better with this GPS Pet Tracker on her collar (it’s legit) The sweetest adoption story book Oat milk might be the next big thing, for good reasons I’ll be living in Everlane’s denim skirts all summer (got them in bone and dark indigo) Four sets of couple friends built their own compound and it’s cute, not creepyOk, on to the recipes!
Avocado Creamy Avocado DipGluten free and vegan
“Another dinner success! This was surprisingly tasty. I honestly passed this up thinking “eh” but then my friends had a fiesta dinner and I was dying for an excuse not to eat their steak or ground beef tacos so I made the refried beans for my tacos. Tonight I made the avocado sauce and pickled onions with it….YUM. And super easy!!” – Erin
More avocado recipes »
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Spicy maple grilled brussels sprouts are the most delicious side dish. The brussels sprouts get caramelized, slightly charred on the outside and are full of sweet and spicy flavor. Tony and I are heading off to hot and humid Minnesota for a wedding this weekend. I realize it seems crazy to say hot and humid, [...]
The post Spicy Maple Dijon Grilled Brussels Sprouts appeared first on Ambitious Kitchen.
If you haven’t caught on by now, we’re super into comfort food over here. And when it comes to Indian cooking, it doesn’t get much more comforting than kitchari.
Kitchari is a traditional Ayurvedic dish that’s typically made when someone in the family is under the weather. That’s because it’s comforting, gentle on the digestive system, and incredibly soothing.
Our inspired take on this flavorful dish uses cauliflower rice in place of basmati rice and can be served atop greens, grains, or roasted vegetables.
Recipe from Kitchen Matters by Pamela Salzman
Are you ready for a really, supremely delicious cake recipe? Because have we got one for you! Oh, and it’s a grain-free chocolate cake—which it turns out can be really, supremely delicious. Even if you don’t eat grain-free (which we don’t), it’s an inventive way to eat real, whole foods in dessert form—and it’s got a fantastic secret ingredient too!
This recipe is comes from the cookbook Kitchen Matters by our friend Pamela Salzman. Pamela is not only a fantastic human being, she has the same food values that we do. She’s not into diets, but she’s all about eating real food, not too much, and mostly plants. Here she is in the introduction to her book: “I believe with 100 percent certainty that what you eat matters more than anything else. The good news is that you have total control over that. You are the one who chooses what goes into your shopping cart and frying pan. If you want to be healthy, cooking as much nutrient-dense food as often as you can is a good place to start. Your health matters–and your kitchen matters.”
Yes times 1,000 to that! Pamela’s Kitchen Matters book is not vegetarian, but it’s heavy on the vegetables and full of meals the entire family can enjoy no matter their food philosophies or eating preferences. For example: Lentil Sloppy Joes, Thai Yellow Veggie Curry, Not-Fried Rice & Vegetables, and Chipotle Shrimp Tacos with Pineapple Slaw.
AND this Grain-Free Chocolate Cake! Alex and I don’t subscribe to a specific diet (neither does Pamela!), but we love the creativity of cooking for people with different food philosophies. While we don’t eat grain-free or Paleo or gluten-free or dairy-free, we love creating foods for people who are—especially if that involves loading on the real food! We’re also big into creating vegan desserts (like these and these) for the very same reason.
It’s so simple to make this grain-free chocolate cake! The magic ingredients are…drum roll…almond butter and shredded zucchini! The almond butter adds the fat and texture instead of butter, and the zucchini brings in moisture and lightness. And some dark chocolate chips are stirred in for chocolatey goodness, of course! If you eat dairy-free, you can use dairy-free chocolate chips.
When I read that this is the most popular dessert Pamela has ever taught in a class, I knew we had to try this recipe. And from the first bite, I was hooked! It’s surprising how the texture of all the ingredients comes together into something cake-like, even though there’s no flour present. This would be perfect for a summer cookout, since it would satisfy almost every diet in the crowd! (There is an egg in this grain-free chocolate cake so it is not vegan, but I would assume that a flax egg could be used with great results.)
Congratulations to Pamela on an incredible grain-free chocolate cake and a fantastic book! We’re applauding over here, our mouths stuffed with chocolate.
Oh and PS, our little chocolate monster Larson is a HUGE fan of this grain-free chocolate cake! If you follow us on Instagram, you may have seen that he can say Chocolate now (even before Mama–and I couldn’t be more proud!).
Buy the book!Kitchen Matters by Pamela Salzman
This recipe is…This grain-free chocolate cake is grain-free, Paleo, dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegetarian. For vegan, try a flax egg (we haven’t tested it, so we’d love to hear your feedback!).
PrintYou won’t believe the amazing secret ingredient in this grain-free chocolate cake! It’s so chocolatey and delicious you’d never guess it’s grain-free.
Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease an 8- or 9-inch square pan with coconut oil. If you want to remove the cake from the pan in one piece, line it with unbleached parchment paper as well.
In a large bowl, stir together the almond butter, maple syrup, cocoa powder, salt, coffee powder, egg, vanilla, and baking soda until fully combined and a sticky dough forms.
Stir in the zucchini and chocolate chips.
Pour into the prepared pan and bake until just set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with dry crumbs. Do not overbake. A 9-inch pan will take about 30 minutes; an 8-inch will take about 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before serving.
*Instant coffee powder enhances the chocolate flavor in baked goods. It is completely optional though. There are coffee alternatives, such as Pero, which is a chicory and barley-based product with no caffeine. Pero is not gluten-free or grain-free, due to the barley. Do not use coffee grounds in place of instant coffee powder.
Reprinted with permission from Kitchen Matters by Pamela Salzman