Cream of carrot ginger soup

"Soup is just a way of screwing you out of a meal!" -Jay Leno

Barley soup with dried mushrooms

It's not a diet! It's called eating healthy!

'Tis the season! Days are getting shorter and the air crispier. It is the beginning of November and I can't help but notice how commercial Christmas is becoming - lights and decorations are already out in some of the stores. I guess it is human nature to do the opposite from what you are pushed towards to. They wanna make me buy more stuff? Well I get in the mood of spending less on everything. How about that? My wallet tends to go on a "no spend" diet, while my body starts craving comfort food with the weather getting colder. Those dark long nights make you want to crawl under a blanket with something warm to eat and read a book, watch a movie or just cuddle with the loved one.

Curry crepes with mushrooms and veggies

“Love is like breakfast with Mildred. Who’s Mildred? How the heck should I know? I don’t eat breakfast.” Jarod Kintz

Spending a weekend over at friends' cabin with a huge and well equiped kitchen, it was beyond a pleasure to do all the cooking. Well, not all - my friend prepared the octopus (braised in Cava, with sun dried tomatoes, garlic and herbs - seriously, to die for and on my to do list for Raspberry-Flavor!) and eggplant lasagne with mushroom ragu (as good!). 

Roasted stuffed peppers

We are all dietetic sinners; only a small percent of what we eat nourishes us; the balance goes to waste and loss of energy. ~William Osler

I cleaned my fridge a few days ago. Decided it is time to use all of the frozen goodies since the new season is fast approaching. Kept up to my promise for 2 days... Stopped by a store to pick up one thing and saw some gorgeous tomatoes and red bell peppers. So... Having a bright yet very light red dinner tonight!

Barley risotto with porcini and fresh thyme

"Falling in love is like eating mushrooms. You never know if it's the real thing until it's too late!"

I'm back on track to empty my fridge! Last year was unbelievably generous with mushrooms. Facebook was loaded with everyone's photos of porcini. Those gorgeous mushrooms where growing even in places where usually you wouldn't find them. At some point it was even beyond a joke. One morning, when I was staying at my parent's cabin, we took dogs out for a walk with my Dad, while enjoying our morning coffee on the go. Found so many porcini on the side of the road, that we had to rush back for a huge basket! Needless to say, whatever we cooked included mushrooms!

Spinach, kiwi and banana breakfast smoothie with fresh mint

"Don't start a diet that has an expiration date. Focus on a lifestyle that will last forever!"

Good morning, Sunshine! And welcome Sunday! This morning was a long lazy morning before hitting a craftsmen (couldn't think of how else to call it) fair. A first super warm and sunny day of the year! 

No better way to start the morning with a super tasty and healthy smoothie!

Garlic sauce/ marinade/ relish. In other words - Česnakinė!

"Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian. Wine and tarragon make it French. Sour cream makes it Russian. Lemon and cinnamon make it Greek. Soy sauce makes it Chinese. Garlic makes it GOOD!" Alice May Brock 

And another one - "There is no such thing as a little garlic" .

Banana ice cream

“I just made ice cream. Accidentally. I made regular cream, and then winter kicked in.” ― Jarod Kintz, This Book is Not FOR SALE

That's almost how it happened to me - at least with the winter part.
It may sound very cliche, but seriously - where have I been until now that I haven't tried this yet?

I quit eating dairy products well over a year ago, because of some serious lactose intolerance. Needless to say - things like ice cream have been cut out of my menu for that whole time with some very rare guilty pleasure moments a few times a year.

After the Christmas and New Year's marathon, had a bunch of overripe bananas and had a huge craving for something sweet, yet something I wouldn't curse myself for. And this is how my banana ice cream "happened".

Pear poached in apple cider with raspberry sauce

"Once in a young lifetime one should be allowed to have as much sweetness as one can possibly want and hold." ~Judith Olney

Well not in this case! It had nothing too sweet, creamy and neither it was crammed with calories. But it sure was rich in flavor! 

I love desserts that are somewhat different from the usual and don't make you feel too heavy. After all, the dessert is something you finish your whole meal with and the taste stays with you long after the memories of starters and main courses are gone.

Another upside to making such a dessert is being able to pull it off even with surprise guests - improvise with some of the ingredients and poach them in almost anything, as long as you have some pears resting in your fruit basket!

Classic gazpacho

"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato." ~Lewis Grizzard

I've been in a serious loving relationship with tomatoes since I was little. My parents even used to bribe me with a homegrown tomato. Talking me into staying in daycare without screaming on top of my lungs for being left there required a promise I would earn a tomato at my "job". Nowadays finding a tasty tomato is not as easy - the store bought ones look alright, but that's about it. The farmer's market is a salvation in the summer time and beginning of fall.

Almond milk with fresh strawberries

"I make milk. What's your superpower?"


One of the most amazing childhood treats. Fresh berries with milk! Mmmm. A bit fancier version of what I remember from when I was little - berries with almond milk.
The season of fresh berries is about to start. Right now we can already find strawberries imported from other countries. Needless to say - they don't taste as real and as good as locally picked ones. But after a winter, the body craves for vitamins!
Almond milk is very easy to make. A bit of preparation - soaking almonds in water a day or two in advance prior to making milk. The longer you soak the almonds, the creamier milk will be.