Mac and Cheese Shepherd's Pie Recipe

We've been experiencing rainy days in the Bay Area and I thought a little comfort food would warm us up. I couldn't decide between a shepherd's pie or mac and cheese, so I went for a combination of the two.

To keep the dish vegetarian, I prepared the bottom layer with a mixture of vegetarian protein crumble, tomatoes and onions; you could opt for regular ground beef if you prefer. Instead of topping the dish with mashed potatoes as you would in a standard shepherd's pie recipe, I added creamy mac and cheese. Needless to say, the richness of the dish was a huge hit even baby Aria asked for more!

Caterpillar Roll (Avocado Sushi Recipe)

Lulu and I recently went to a Japanese sushi bar and enjoyed platters of delicious rolls. When I came home, I was determined to serve the same gorgeous-looking sushi for the family. I reinterpreted the caterpillar sushi with a combination of hoisin sauce and kaffir lime sauce. The caterpillar outer layer is imitated with thinly sliced avocados. Unlike most of the "fancy" sushi rolls you'll find at restaurants, this one's vegetarian.

I have to admit I was very proud of how they turned out. And to my surprise, it wasn't that complicated. Sometimes, improvisation ends up with beautiful results!

Don't forget to enter your name and email address to be able to participate in my Haute Potato Cookbook contest. I will pick one winner next Monday. And if you already have a copy, I would greatly appreciate it if you could leave a review on Amazon. Thank you!

Mushroom Crepe Recipe (Crepe Forestiere)

In less than 3 weeks, La Chandeleur is going to be celebrated in France. It originially was a religious event (40 days after Christmas) but nowadays, it's become a more commercial celebration). Crêpes are traditionally served on the holiday, which gives me an excuse to flip some crêpes for my family. I know that making crepes is intimidating for a lot of people, but I have prepared crêpe batter countless times and I promise it's easy to master, and with a little bit of practice you'll have no problem with it. 

In general, for La Chandeleur you'll see them served as dessert, either with fruit and cream or simply sweetened with a sprinkle of sugar. Savory versions (ham and cheese is a staple), however, are not uncommon. This recipe is for a "forest"-style crepe, which means it's filled with mushrooms and it's also known as beggar's purse. I added a few roasted chestnuts and garbanzo beans for extra protein.

I hope you're inspired to make some crepes yourself. You'll be a pro in no time!

I'm giving away a copy this week and will announce the winner next Monday, January 14th, 2013. I am so grateful for all the blessings I have in my life. Thank you so much for your love and support. Here’s to making 2013 as unforgettable as 2012!

Pomegranate Acai Milkshake Recipe

This pomegranate acai drink is one of the many I make for breakfast after my morning workouts. I'm no nutritionist, but this drink works for me. It's filled with "superfoods". During the winter we almost always have freshly pressed pomegranate juice (here's why) in the refrigerator. To this fruit juice, I blended in some bananas, pure acai juice and mung beans for extra protein. 

It's delicious, plus it keeps me energetic and full until lunch time. Check out my other protein drinks; every day I blend a few ingredients, alternating between fresh fruits and vegetables, various kinds of milk and other sources of protein such as whey or soy protein. 

Avocado and Persimmon Salad Recipe

This colorful salad was inspired by my daughter Aria's godmother Nathalie. Not only is Nathalie a wonderful godmother to my baby girl, but she's also an amazing cook. While we were in Paris, Nathalie invited us several times for dinner and made a feast every single time for us. We were so spoiled! 

One of our favorite dishes that she made for us was an avocado and Hachiya persimmon salad. Persimmons, when ripe, have a vibrant orange color, making them perfect for Halloween. In case you were confused, the Hachiya variety is the soft one, with the pointed end. They are irresistible when extremely ripe, but basically inedible before that point. I always ripen the fruit in a paper bag with apples or bananas (or both).

The creamy avocado slices are the perfect contrast to the brightness of the persimmons. To finish the salad, I added spicy sprouts and slightly toasted pine nuts for texture. I think it's the perfect salad for a Halloween party, and I hope you do too!

A special note to all those affected by Hurricane Sandy: I hope everyone is staying safe. The American Red Cross is taking donations now to help the victims of the hurricane. They are also asking for blood donations, so if you're able to, please participate.