Hakka Noodles in Lettuce Cups

We just purchased the tickets for our next trip to Paris. My best friend Alexia is getting married and I wouldn't miss it for the world. For this reason, my husband Lulu and I have committed ourselves to looking good and being healthy for the occasion. I've controlled the portion size of our meals and we work out as often as we possibly can. This morning, Lulu woke up early to play football with friends and while he was busy during his game, I whipped up a light meal for him.

I tossed hakka noodles (vegetarian wheat noodles made without eggs) with mock ground meat, julienned carrots, bell peppers and yellow onions. I served them at room temperature in lettuce cups and added sweet potato shoestrings as a crunchy garnish. Whenever I make a dish, I try to balance the textures and colors, which I find key to the success of any meal. The sweet potato shoestrings, in particular, are extremely versatile and can be used as the crunchy element in many savory dishes. They didn't quite make my first cookbook, Haute Potato, but I still highly recommend trying them. You'll end up eating them by the handful!

As I mentioned last week, I will be posting a vegetarian dish on "Meatless Mondays" and a scrumptious dessert for the weekend. I figure one will cancel out the other. Last weekend I shared a Meyer lemon mousse in wonton cups, and this week, well you'll just have to come back on Friday and see!

Carrot Chocolate Pudding Recipe

Today, I felt an urge to make chocolate pudding. By itself it can be a bit boring, so I spiced it up with cardamom and carrots. The idea is to obtain a gooey melted center with crackly edges. I love the contrast of hot and cold, so I paired the baked dessert with Indian cardamom ice cream I bought at a local Indian store.

I made the dessert in individual ramekins, which can help with portion control (assuming you stop at just one). This dessert might be a little high in calories, but what’s life without a little decadence? You won't be able to resist!

Vegetarian Stir Fry Recipe: Tofu with Beans and Carrots

I hadn't cooked tofu in a while and my husband Lulu asked for a vegetarian stir fry. I've wanted him to eat healthier, so I was happy to oblige. The base of the stir fry contains carrots, green beans and onions from Full Circle. To this, I added some kumquat jelly I made last winter (you could use any kind of sweetener you like) and a mixture of fresh garlic and red Thai bird chiles Lulu planted early this Spring. It's just the right combination of sweet and spicy, and I love that the recipe is flexible enough to make use of whatever you have on hand.

I've been enjoying my weekly box from Full Circle. It feels like Santa Claus is leaving me a present on my doorstep every week! And fittingly, our friend Kris from Full Circle is offering a number of free farm boxes, so PhamFatale readers can also experience Full Circle. This week, we're putting up 1 prize and there will be more to come throughout the year as well. To enter, first check on FullCircle.com to make sure there are deliveries available in your area (Shipping is included for all members in CA, WA, and ID, and Anchorage, AK. Outside of Anchorage, AK, there is a shipping fee, and prices vary depending on location.). If so, simply enter your email address and I'll select one winner next Monday. Good luck everyone!

Roasted Carrots

If carrots only appear on your dinner table chopped up in salads, this recipe is for you. Roasting the carrots brings out their natural sweetness and the other ingredients in this dish enhance the flavor. The number of ingredients is minimal: good quality olive oil, kosher salt, green, pink and black peppercorn medley, lemon thyme from the garden and a drizzle of wildflower honey are all you'll need. This fancy yet simple presentation is a no-brainer for dinner parties.

A few minutes in the oven and the result is absolutely stunning. The carrots  turn slightly brown and they're candied to perfection! 

Carrot and Red Bell Pepper Soup Recipe

We’ve been experiencing unseasonably cool weather this week. I’ve been making a lot of healthy summer salads for the family, but today I decided to switch it up a bit and prepare a big pot of hot soup.

I used the remaining freshly picked carrots from our garden and roasted red bell peppers as the main flavorings in the soup. To ensure that it remained healthy and well-balanced, I added well-known French beans called flageolet beans. They resemble large, pale green kidney beans and have a very delicate flavor with a starchy texture, which married perfectly with the velvety soup.