Winter warmth

I came up with this soup as a spin on one I used to make when I first learned to cook. It's full of white beans, celery and kale. To replace the meat, we added an Yves Italian veggie sausage (always a hit with the boy). The soup is equal parts hearty and savoury, plus I threw in a pinch of chili flakes for a little bit of heat. I've been really big on soups these days. There's something about throwing ingredients in a pot and letting them simmer while you occupy yourself with other things (cough, studying, cough). It's true... I'm still in my law school cocoon of exams, caffeine, and stress-induced tummy aches. But I'll be all done this Wednesday and then it's back to London for family time before heading to Toronto to catch up with friends, eat at my favourite veggie restaurants, and engage in some much needed retail therapy. Wednesday can't come soon enough!

White bean, kale & veggie sausage soup
Serves 4-6

2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 celery stalks, chopped
1/4 tsp chili flakes
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 cans white kidney beans, drained and rinsed
4 cups veggie broth
4 cups water
1 bay leaf
1/2 bunch kale, chopped
2 veggie sausages, sliced crosswise
Salt to taste

Begin by heating the oil in a large pot. Throw in the onion, garlic, celery, chili flakes and pepper and cook until soft, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, if desired, sear the chopped veggie sausages in a small pan until golden brown. Add in the beans, broth, water, and bay leaf and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes before adding in the kale and the sausage. Simmer for another 15-20 minutes and enjoy on the couch with crusty bread and a holiday movie!

Butternut Bliss

Why is butternut squash so good? Not only is it versatile and comforting but it just happens to be beautifully hued, doesn’t it? This simple pasta dish showcases all of squash’s best features, including its lovely colour! The sauce is rich and velvety, and the wilted kale adds a nice bite, making this a wonderful meal to share with family over the holidays if you ask me!


Also, we have a new recipe page! Now you can search for recipes, easy peasy. A huge thank you to the bf for putting this together! 

Rigatoni with Roasted Garlic Butternut Squash Sauce {last seen here}
Serves 4


1 head garlic, topped trimmed, drizzled with olive oil
1 butternut squash, peeled and cut into ½ inch cubes
2 cups veggie broth
1 package whole wheat rigatoni
2 cups kale, chopped
1 tbsp. nutritional yeast (optional)
¼ cup almond milk
1 pinch cayenne pepper
Salt to taste
¼ cup fresh sage, chopped

Wrap garlic in aluminum foil and roast at 325 degrees for 30-40 minutes

Meanwhile, in a large pot cover the squash with the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat & simmer until squash is very tender, about 15-20 minutes.

Once tender, purée the squash, veggie broth and roasted garlic until smooth. Stir in the nutritional yeast, almond milk, cayenne pepper, and salt to taste.

Season a pot of boiling water with salt and add the rigatoni. When it is nearly cooked to al dente, add the kale into the pot so it wilts and tenderizes. Cook for the last couple of minutes and strain pasta and kale.

Finally, toss the rigatoni and kale with the sauce and garnish with fresh sage.

The super bowl

photo by me

As wonderful as the Canada Day long weekend was, I definitely consumed my fair share of booze and junk food. By the time Monday rolled around, I was in some serious need of healthy eats. This was my first time cooking with millet and I found it hearty and satisfying, kind of like a cross between brown rice and quinoa. I topped it with wilted kale, crunchy cucumbers, chewy sun dried tomatoes and creamy avocado for an array of textures. A splash of lemon juice, tamari and chili sauce added just the right amount of punch to this healthy bowl of goodness.

Millet and veggie bowl
Serves 2

1 cup millet (or any other whole grain would do)
2 1/2 cups water
pinch of salt
1/2 bunch kale, ribs and stems removed
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cucumber, chopped
1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes, coarsely chopped
1 avocado, sliced lengthwise
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp tamari (soy sauce would work too)
1 tbsp chili sauce (optional)
2 lemon wedges

In a small pot, bring the water to a boil and season with salt. Add the millet, reduce heat to low and simmer covered for about 15-20 minutes until all of the water has been absorbed. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.

Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil in a pan and add the minced garlic and kale. Sautee until just wilted, this should only take 3-5 minutes, and set aside for later.

To serve, spoon millet into two bowls and top each one with cucumber, sun dried tomatoes, avocado and kale. Drizzle each bowl with 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and tamari. Garnish with chili sauce and a lemon wedge.

Bon appetit!

P.S. Check out my latest post for One Green Planet here!

The Hot Plate

Guys- I'm on a cooking show! And not just any show, but The Hot Plate, a popular internet show hosted and produced by the two lovely ladies, Amanda and April. This was my first foray into cooking on camera, so excuse my sporadic shifty eyes and awkward smiles. But hey, I tried, right? AND this quinoa recipe of Amanda's is so delicious, I'll definitely be adding it to my repertoire.

Please have a look and share your thoughts!

Robin xo

Going green

photo by pwisenberg

Last night's dinner. So good. I used this drool-inducing sauce and remixed the recipe by serving the tempeh with a medley of healthy green veggies- broccoli, bell peppers, green onions and kale. All I can say is yum!

Asian tempeh with green veggies
Serves 2-4

this sauce recipe
1 package tempeh, cut into bite-sized cubes
1 cup brown rice (I'd make 2 if I were serving 4 people) and necessary cooking liquid
1 green bell pepper
1 head broccoli, including the stems
1/2 bunch of kale, chopped
4-6 green onions, sliced
1/2 cup bean sprouts
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
lime wedges for garnish

Begin by brining your rice and cooking liquid to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 40 minutes until all of the liquid has been absorbed. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. Split it into 2 bowls- in one bowl, coat the tempeh and in the other, the pepper, broccoli, kale and onions. Heat a large wok or skillet over medium-high and add the tempeh cubes (no oil required). Cook until golden brown and crispy on the outside, turning often, about 7 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside until later. Add the veggies t0 the wok and cook over medium until the sauce has reduced and the broccoli is fork tender (about 15 minutes). Re-add the tempeh, as well as the bean sprouts and heat everything thoroughly. Rectify the seasoning if necessary (it willl likely only need a bit of fresh pepper as the sauce is quite salty). Serve over rice and garnish with cilantro and lime wedges. This dish is seriously satisfying!

I don't know about you guys, but we are finally getting some nice weather here is Toronto, could this really be spring? I hope you all get to enjoy the sunshine over the weekend, I know I will! I am going to brave the St. Patty's Day crowds later to catch up with my sister over a glass of wine. Tomorrow it's lunch at my favourite vegan cafe Fresh with my parents, who are visiting. And Saturday, I get to cook dinner for one of my dearest friends who I haven't seen in far too long. I wish you all a wonderful weekend, and highly recommend picking up a bunch of fresh tulips, as they're sure to brighten anyone's day.

xo Robin