Rau Cau Dua: Vietnamese Coconut Jello Recipe

Rau câu is Vietnamese jello made with agar agar, which is a seaweed by-product, similar to gelatin (except it's vegetal). Several months ago, family friends came for dinner and brought delicious rau câu made with nước dừa ("coconut juice" in Vietnamese). We usually serve the more traditional Vietnamese dessert made with sweetened condensed milk and flavor it with layers of chocolate, mocha, pandan and sometimes durian, but I really like the flavor of this variation. I was also pleasantly surprised at how easy this version was to make. All you need is a few cans of coconut juice with pulp and agar agar. How simple is that?

The coconut jello has another great advantage. It has the same texture as pana cotta, so you can serve it to children without being scared of any spilling or any accidents on your floor. I've adopted this cube version whenever I make it for kids. You can use the same recipe using your children's favorite drinks. It's mess-free and melts in your mouth. They’ll love it!

Edamame Hummus Recipe

Edamame beans, also known as soybeans, are a common, healthy snack in our home. They're packed with fiber, protein and iron. So it's especially good because most of the family is vegetarian. To change things a little, I removed the thick velvety shells and made edamame hummus. The spread is made the same way I would make regular garbanzo hummus, except that I flavored it with feta cheese for a creamier texture.

I left the edamame hummus on the table while preparing dinner. Everyone spread it on warm pieces of garlic bread. It's a great way to keep everyone patient while I’m getting dinner ready. If you're planning on serving it for a party, you could create crostini appetizers. They're always a hit!

Medicinal Tea Recipe (Natural Cold Remedy Drink)

Ginger rice tea drink is our natural way to treat the beginning of a cold. On top of being delicious, the drink contains all the ingredients that are tought of as healing in Asian culture. I thickened the drink using the starch from rice and flavored it with fresh ginger, honey and turmeric.

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you've probably noticed that my husband Lulu and I have been traveling quite a bit. We were in Las Vegas last week and we left last Saturday for to go to Texas. Lulu felt a little under the weather, so just before leaving I concocted this delicious ginger drink so he could be completely energized for our next trip. I'm certainly no doctor, but at the very least it cheered him up!

King Mushrooms in Pineapple Sauce

King mushrooms braised in pineapple sauce makes a quick and easy side dish. The beautiful part of this dish is that it works both as a vegetable side dish and a meat substitute. King mushrooms have a chewier, more meaty texture than Portobello mushrooms, which is very pleasant if you're looking for a filling meal without a ton of calories.

The mushrooms are sliced, then braised in crushed pineapple and soy sauce. If you’re a true carnivore though, you could always replace the mushrooms with chicken breast.

Vegetarian Burrito Recipe

Since we came back from Paris, I've been very diligent about regularly visiting the gym. I'm happy I've finally shed the extra pounds I gained during the holiday season. Part of what got me there was switching from white rice to brown rice. The family doesn't seem to mind; in fact, we all prefer it now.

Today, I threw together a very quick meal made with brown rice. I filled burritos with the brown rice, black beans, a little shredded cheese, guacamole and tomato salsa. The meal is complete as the combination of beans and rice together are an excellent meat substitute (great complete protein for a vegetarian diet). And for the carnivores in the house, I added leftover steak from last night's dinner.

To flavor the brown rice without adding too many calories, I tossed it with caramelized onions, mushrooms and a little cream cheese. One tortilla is very filling and is more than enough for one person. I prepared the rice, guacamole and salsa in separate bowls and let everyone assemble their own burrito. It's a quick on-the go meal, so I had more time to hit the gym in the evening!