Good Vibes: Silently Cooking

This is absolutely brilliant.  For some good vibes today, head on over to Silently Cooking and watch beautiful food prepared simply with no sound except for the sound of the cooking preparation itself.

The recipe follows the video if you feel inspired to make what you see.  This is fantastic.  The Banh Mi is a great place to start.  Well done Cooper Nelson.

Un-cooked Pizza Sauce

I had some past due Balkan yogurt in the fridge, which I planned to use for pizza dough, but I found myself without any pizza sauce, and I did not want to venture to the store.

I searched up various recipes for "no-cook" pizza sauce using canned tomatoes starting here and ending up with my own creation below.

I poured the finished sauce into a mason jar and whatever didn't fit into 4 half-cup portions to freeze for a later date when I find myself needing pizza sauce again!  This turned out really well.

 A few simple ingredients into the bowl of my food processor transformed into a very flavorful sauce that will no doubt intensify the longer it sits.

I went pretty heavy on the garlic and chili peppers for an intense flavor, but amounts can easily be altered to suit one's preferences.

Some pesto and/or a big handful of fresh basil from the garden might be a nice addition as well.





1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes with their juices
1 tin of tomato paste
6 large cloves of garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons of dry oregano
1 generous teaspoon of red chili flakes
2 teaspoons of balsamic reduction
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 tablespoon of honey (to cut the acidity of the tomatoes)
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

I crushed my garlic with this ceramic garlic plate that I bought at the Farmers' Market.  Love this thing!  We eat a ton of garlic, and while I usually chop it coarsely with a knife or grate it with my zester, this crushes the garlic and really infuses the flavour quickly into whatever you are preparing.  I have used it every day since I bought it.  You can use it on a variety of other things, including ginger root, which we also eat a ton of, and I imagine it would work well for our ginger tea as well.

Throw your crushed garlic and all of your other ingredients into the bowl of your food processor (blender would likely work just fine as well, maybe even an immersion blender in a deep mixing bowl)

Process until combined, scraping the sides and tasting for any additions... more salt, pepper, honey, whatever as you go. That's it.

Keeps for about a week in the fridge, or you can freeze it for later use.

I was impressed.  I think pizza sauce just joined the ranks of hummus and protein bars!  You can apparently quite simply make a super delicious pizza sauce with tinned tomatoes!! for next to nothing, and it is seriously superior to the store-bought variety.

Edible Souveniers

Edible souvenirs are my favourite keepsakes from a trip.  Something consumable that does not collect dust or require a new shelf to perch on, but rather a taste that connects me to a happy memory from some newly discovered place.

Second only to unpacking and laundry, I usually come home and start cooking or baking at least one edible souvenir I would like to recreate at home.  

After our recent cottage stay on Georgian Bay, the Honey-Tahini-Sesame cookies from Grounded Coffee Co. in Midland stuck with me.

Grounded served up a delicious cup of coffee in a comfortable, thoughtfully designed cafe.  The staff were knowledgeable about their coffee and roasting ,which was done onsite on a 30-year old analog roaster, and happy to chat about their business and practices.  All of their beans are fairly traded and organic, and much of their supply comes from cafe femenino cooperatives.

I highly recommend a visit if you are passing through Midland, ON.  Excellent coffee, baked goods, light lunch, fresh smoothies, and some local organic produce.  

Without their proprietary, secret recipe, this is my best attempt at the Honey-Tahini-Sesame Cookies - soft and not overly sweet, these unique cookies are reminiscent of sesame snaps, but rounder...and chewier! Seriously addictive, but easy to convince yourself one more couldn't hurt as they contain no flour, no refined sugar, and no butter!

With a little help from the internet and my tastebuds' memory, I started with this recipe from Food and Wine, then added a few of my own tweaks.

1 1/2 cups almond meal/flour
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 cup sesame seeds (I used a mixture of black and white)
1/3 cup tahini paste
1/3 cup honey
2 teaspoons of vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Simply mix the tahini, honey, and vanilla in a mixing bowl.

Sprinkle with almond meal, salt, baking soda, and cardamom.

Mix well to combine thoroughly.

Form into balls and roll generously in sesame seeds.

Flatten slightly and bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until just starting to brown at the edges.  Do not over-bake.

Put on a coffee press or two and call your friends to share.  Delicious.

Makes 12 cookies