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Carrot, Parsley & Chickpea  Salad

Carrot, Parsley & Chickpea Salad

The snow piles are melting, the birds are chirping, the temperatures are climbing, consequently my desire for salad is increasing. This Carrot, Parsley and Chickpea Salad is my current favourite. It is light, zesty and fresh, just perfect for Spring, plus the addition of chickpeas 

Dark Chocolate, Cherry & Walnut Breakfast Bars

Dark Chocolate, Cherry & Walnut Breakfast Bars

Last month I decided to commit to a vegan diet for six weeks. Fun, right?! From time to time I like to conduct mini-experiments on myself like this. Two years ago I gave up caffeine, that wasn’t too bad after I had got over the 

Lemony Rice & Peas

Lemony Rice & Peas

Lemony Rice & Peas- Emmas Little Kitchen

Ahhh for the past two days the weather has been glorious! Therefore, I am just dropping by really quickly to give you the Lemony Rice and Peas Recipe that I promised you last week. I need to get outside and soak up the spring sunshine as soon as possible! Who knows how long it may last…

Lemony Rice & Peas- Emmas Little Kitchen

Lemony Rice & Peas- Emmas Little Kitchen

Speaking of sunshine, the bright yellow hue of this dish lifts my spirits as much as the chirping birds. Its a lovely light compliment to any spicy curry (like this one!).  I actually like to double up batches, as this leftover rice makes a killer vegetable fried rice, especially if you leave it for a day.

Lemony Rice & Peas- Emma's Little Kitchen

Enjoy!

Lemony Rice & Peas
 
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A light and refreshing side dish, a perfect compliment to a spicy curry.
Author:
Cuisine: Indian
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • zest of one small lemon
  • 1 cup brown rice
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup green peas (either fresh or frozen and defrosted)
  • juice of one small lemon
Method
  1. Warm olive oil over medium heat, add onion and cook for a couple of minutes until softened
  2. Add turmeric and lemon zest to the pan and give everything a good stir (it should smell amazing!)
  3. Add the rice to the pan, and toss it in the oil-onion-spice mix so that it is thoroughly coated
  4. Add the water, and put the lid on the pan
  5. Bring pan to a simmer, and then reduce the heat to its lowest setting
  6. Cook slowly for about 35 minutes until those tell-tale holes start puckering the rice's surface, and the liquid is absorbed.
  7. Squeeze the lemon juice over the top and toss in the peas, with as few moments as possible, mix the peas into the rice with a fork
  8. Seve with chopped fresh coriander, fresh mint, or flaked almonds if desired

 

Mushroom & Chickpea Curry

Mushroom & Chickpea Curry

Well it has been one of those scary grown up weeks. Truth be told, Kirk and I have a lot on our plates at the moment, and by Sunday I was feeling more than a little overwhelmed at my giant to-do list. Fortunately, one of 

Black Bean & Quinoa Chili

Black Bean & Quinoa Chili

Well the people have spoken… Mexican it is! I am quite pleased you picked this one. Although yesterday was officially the first day of Spring, I think we can allow ourselves one last wintery comfort food meal before diving into some Springtime goodies (asparagus… I’m 

Warm Potato & Kale Salad with Tahini-Dill Dressing

Warm Potato & Kale Salad with Tahini-Dill Dressing

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Hello! How was your weekend? Mine was wonderful, but busy! I’m looking forward to putting my feet up tonight with a glass of wine, and catching up on House of Cards. Do you watch it? I am obsessed. Also on the menu this evening is this beautiful Warm Potato and Kale Salad, with a delicious creamy tahini dill dressing.

IMG_2907IMG_3011When I think of a potato salad, I am usually reminded of the gloppy mayo-sodden kind (I think I may have mentioned something similar before!), this is not that. This is fresh, light, and full of good-for-you stuff.

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The earthy kale and roasted red skin potatoes are reminiscent of the Winter we are leaving behind, and the zing of the tahini dill dressing hints at the Spring that is just around the corner… I can feel it.

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I hope you love this… let me know!

Warm Potato & Kale Salad with Tahini-Dill Dressing
 
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A warm salad of potatoes and kale with a zesty, creamy tahini-dill dressing.
Author:
Recipe type: Salad
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 4 medium red skin potatoes
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 bunch of kale
  • salt & pepper to season
  • 1 cup (240ml) tahini
  • ½ cup (120ml) water
  • 1 bunch of dill (about 1½ cups), chopped
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 garlic clove
Method
  1. Preheat oven to 400F/200C
  2. Chop the potatoes into 1 inch chunks, toss with olive oil, salt and pepper, and roast for about 30 mins, turning occasionally
  3. Whole the potato is cooking, prepare the kale by de-ribbing and chopping finely (I put mine through the processor for ease, but you can achieve the same results with a good, sharp knife)
  4. When the potatoes are cooked, remove from the oven and throw the kale right into the roasting tray, give everything a good mix and set aside
  5. Now quickly prepare the dressing by adding putting the tahini, water, dill, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon and garlic into the processor and blend until smooth.
  6. Pour the dressing over the potatoes and kale, and mix thoroughly
  7. Serve immediately!

Notes:

The dressing was inspired by this recipe from OhSheGlows

Although this is a ‘warm’ potato salad, it is great cold too! If you have it the day after making, you may want to spruce the dressing up with a splash of water or vinegar, otherwise the tahini may become a bit too sticky!

 

Vegetable & Barley Irish Stew

Vegetable & Barley Irish Stew

I hope I don’t lose any friends over this, but I have a confession to make: I am not a big fan of St. Patricks Day *gasp*. It is difficult to articulate why exactly, but between the green beer and “Kiss Me I’m Irish” T-Shirts, 

Brown Butter & Rosemary Wholewheat Soda Bread

Brown Butter & Rosemary Wholewheat Soda Bread

Well HEY there! I’m writing this post from ‘Crystal Mountain’ in Northern Michigan. Don’t be deceived, the mountains around here are really just large hills… not that I am complaining! The snow is perfect, the Sun is shining, and I have a large mug of 

Banana Oat Pancakes with Peanut-Maple Sauce

Banana Oat Pancakes with Peanut-Maple Sauce

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The topic of pancakes is much debated in my household. Kirk is a purist, and prefers plain or buttermilk pancakes. I, on the other hand, like to  experiment. Many a Sunday morning is spent sipping coffee and quibbling about plain vs pumpkin, plain vs wholewheat, plain vs chocolate chip. I think I have finally won him over with these ones though…

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With Shrove Tuesday (or in the UK, Pancake Day!) just around the corner, I thought it would be a good time to share my current favourite- Banana Oat Pancakes with a Peanut-Maple Sauce. We already know that bananas and peanut butter are thick as thieves in my kitchen, so it seemed perfectly normal to put them together in pancake form. The pancake itself is pretty healthy, the ‘flour’ is made from oats, and there is a sneaky banana in the batter.  The banana provides just a hint of sweetness, but nothing overwhelming. I used to top these with a spoonful of peanut butter and a generous drizzle of maple syrup, then I thought that combining the two together might be a much better way to go, I think I was right.

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What’s your favourite pancake? Are you a purist or an experimenter?!

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Banana Oat Pancakes with Peanut-Maple Sauce
 
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Tasty banana and oat pancakes with a peanut butter and maple topping. Simple to make and very filling!
Author:
Recipe type: Breakfast
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 1 banana
  • ¾ cup almond milk
  • 1 cup oats
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 egg
  • ⅓ cup smooth peanut butter
  • ⅓ cup maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
Method
  1. Blend the banana and milk until smooth.
  2. Add the oats, baking powder and salt, blend again until smooth
  3. Finally, add the egg and pulse until its all mixed in
  4. Warm a nonstick frying pan over medium heat, add a little oil if necessary to stop any sticking
  5. When the pan is warmed through, drop a small amount of batter onto the pan (about half a ladle does the trick!)
  6. Cook for 2-3 minutes on one side until the edges have set, and little bubbles appear, when this happens, flip the pancake over and cook on the other side for a minute until its a nice golden colour
  7. While this is happening, you can prepare your sauce
  8. Gently heat the peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla extract in a pan, stirring the whole time until all the ingredients are combined
  9. Keep the heat on the lowest setting until the pancakes are ready to be served

Notes

Adapted and un-veganized from Ambitious Kitchen.

These freeze very well, just warm them in the microwave when you are ready to eat them.

 

Mango & Spice Cake

Mango & Spice Cake

Are you ready for a holiday?! Ugh me too. Yes I know I just returned from a trip home to England, but that really doesn’t count. I’m talking about the unapologetic beach-bum kind of holiday. The kind that requires nothing but a sun lounger, a