Grapefruit Salad (Pomelo Salad)

It's been raining so much this season in the Bay Area (California) that our garden has produced a lot of citrus. Our pomelo tree has been particularly prolific. I've been pleasantly surprised by their sweetness, and I knew I was on to something delicious.

Pomelos have a subtle sweetness that is greatly enhanced by the addition of certain spices. To make this salad, I gathered the pomelo segments in a large bowl and covered them with ginger, coriander, agave nectar, sesame oil and red Thai bird chiles. It's a refreshing way to begin or end a meal.

Choy Sum with Oyster Sauce

Choy sum (also known as Chinese flowering cabbage) is a very quick and easy vegetable to cook. I pan-steamed the greens for only a few minutes to maintain a bright green color and paired them with an oyster sauce mixture. Of course, I also had to modify the recipe a bit for the strictly vegetarian diet of my husband Lulu, but the method is exactly the same.

You can serve them as is or with a sauce of your own. It's a healthy and flavorful way to open a meal. I've had it often that way at dim sum restaurants. In fact, it's usually one of the few vegetable dishes offered. With this recipe, you can have it at home, without the dim sum prices!

Kale with Caramelized Kumquats

This side dish couldn't be easier to make. Onions and kumquats are slowly caramelized with ginger and agave nectar and added to slightly sautéed kale. What could be better than a dish that's delicious, healthy and simple?

I was inspired to make this dish by a reader. Chef Doreen T. Ross is a culinary artist and consultant from North Carolina. Doreen sent me a recipe suggestion using kumquats (I've asked for recipes using this ingredient) with wilted kale. I've adapted Doreen's recipe and added an Asian twist to it. Sunny and Lulu were my guinea pigs, and they loved it. Merci Doreen!

As I've said several times, I'm just a home-cook who is passionate about food and has had no professional training. Creating this site has really broadened my culinary horizons. I've received many lovely messages filled with kind words and a ton of tips and culinary tricks. Thank you all for your support, and please keep those messages coming.

Agave Syrup Recipes

If you've been following my blog, you'll know that I've been experimenting with agave syrup a lot lately. Agave is a versatile sweetener that can be used to liven up both desserts and savory dishes. It has a flavor that is a cross between honey and caramel. Since it's a syrup, it's perfect for springtime drinks because it will dissolve in cold liquids. Agave is also used for another kind of beverage - it's the sugar that is fermented into tequila.

Below are some of the recipes I've come up with so far. I hope these inspire you to give this product a try. Let me know how you decide to use it!

Oatmeal Vanilla Almond Protein Shake

This morning, I felt like bringing breakfast to my adorable husband Lulu. He is lactose-intolerant and he's a vegetarian. It's always a challenge for me to make a variety of foods that he can eat. This oatmeal vanilla almond shake is perfect for him, it's dairy-free and full of protein with almonds and whey protein powder, just like at Jamba Juice! It's also cholesterol free (if you don't add the dollop of whipped cream of course...)

After several tests with agave nectar in the past few weeks like my Broiled Agave Nectar and Honey Grapefruit , Agave blended Homemade Yogurt with Kumquat Preserves (without using a Yogurt Maker) and  Toasted Sesame Tofu Caramelized with Agave Nectar, Wasabi and Soy Sauce, I used the delicious nectar in my protein shake. 

So prepare a tray with freshly baked bagels, some cream cheese, a freshly cut rose from the garden, and of course your delicious oatmeal vanilla almond shake. Bring to your love with a big smile and say "Bonjour mon coeur, t'as bien dormi?" translation: Hi my love, did you sleep well?