My mission to get my kids to eat more veggies has taken a turn, for the better. My kids have decided, since literally the first few days of January, that they would eat more veggies. No bribes. No hiding the veggies in their meals or smoothies. Just me, simply stating that I had had enough (throwing in that if they wanted to grow up strong and healthy they needed to eat more veggies). Perhaps, there was a just little pressure put on them on my part. Regardless, whatever I said, whatever I did, they agreed – and just in time for the New Year. A New Year’s Resolution, perhaps?

Lately their veggie of choice has been zucchini; tempura zucchini, zucchini sautéed with tomato sauce, cheesy baked zucchini crisps, zucchini with pasta, zucchini and eggs, and their favourite; zucchini pesto – which happened to be my inspiration for this recipe. Zucchini and pesto are one of my favourite flavour combinations, and this cold weather has me cooking up a ton of soups and stews, so way not combine the two in a healthy, rich and creamy (but not cream-based) soup? Wait, a creamy vegan soup? My secret ingredient? Potatoes! They add a ton of richness to any soup, but when you puree them they another depth of richness and creaminess. To add even more flavour (if you are not vegan), you can add in a big piece of Parmesan rind to the pot. Either way, you are going to love this healthy, green soup! The pesto is the quintessential ingredient in this recipe so I suggest you do not skimp on quality. Homemade basil pesto is best to ensure optimal flavour and freshness, but if you purchase jarred pesto just be sure to get top quality. The pesto can really make or break this recipe!

The post Vegan Pesto Soup with Zucchini and Potato appeared first on Bites for Foodies.

Eggplant Parmesan is one of those quintessential Italian comfort foods and it often reminds me of nonna’s home-cooking, bringing me back to her basement kitchen where she spent the majority of her time whipping up homemade meals. Eggplant Parmesan is a labour of love, but it’s so worth the effort and time it takes to prepare it. Having said that, as much as one might want to, we don’t always have the time to prepare such labour and time-intensive meals. With this dish you’re essentially making that same comfort food, just a lighter and less time-consuming version of it. You can also feel good about making this recipe because you are reducing the amount of fat and calories by using less mozzarella and by baking the eggplant as opposed to deep-frying it. Although (in my opinion) the fresh tomato sauce is a key ingredient in this recipe, you can cut more corners by preparing this with jarred tomato sauce. This dish might seem less flavourful than the traditional recipe but I can assure that the flavour of the eggplant really shines through and is the perfect canvas for the tangy tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and refreshing basil leaves.

The post Baked Eggplant Melts appeared first on Bites for Foodies.

I’m an honest person. Honest enough to admit my failures in the kitchen – this being one of them. I have made numerous attempts at preparing homemade falafels, but they never came to fruition as well as I had anticipated. Years later, and many a chickpea wasted, I finally discovered my one and only error, which can literally make or break this recipe –  the chickpeas! When it comes to preparing falafel from scratch, it is important to use dry, uncooked chickpeas (rather than the canned variety) to ensure your falafels are light and fluffy, as opposed to dense and flattened. The entire process is really quite easy; soak the chickpeas overnight, grind them until fine and crumbly, add the remaining ingredients, form into patties, fry, and voilà!

Garnish this protein-packed vegetarian appetizer with tahini paste or a quick-fix yogurt dip made with cucumbers and fresh dill. Or, serve as a main on top of a fresh salad, like this Quinoa Tabbouleh, or paired with your favourite protein. Although the ingredients listed are ‘exact’ measurements, there’s always room for a bit of interpretation. For example, if you love falafels with a punch of flavour add more garlic, herbs, and spices. Also, depending on how much you’ve soaked the chickpeas and dried them, you might have to add a tablespoon or so of water at a time as you prepare the mixture until you get the perfect consistency. The falafels should be firm enough to hold together but not too wet. Once you get that perfect consistency you are good to go. Just quickly form patties with your hands then set then cook the falafels until golden perfection!

The post Homemade Chickpea Falafels appeared first on Bites for Foodies.

Potatoes in tomato sauce are made throughout the Mediterranean area, from Spain and Portugal to Italy and Greece. It’s amazing how such a simple dish can be so flavourful and have so many variations. Even better? This dish can be prepared in about 30 minutes and requires little effort to prepare. Case in point, last night’s dinner – which ended up being these potatoes, and only these potatoes. Tonight was a particularly busy night – picked up the kids from school, then off to dance class, ran a few errands, and then got home with only about 30 minutes to spare before dinner time.

I prepared this meal – which literally involved chopping some onions and potatoes then throwing them into a pot with the remaining ingredients, while the kids unpacked their backpacks and settled in. The fridge was borderline empty and the most I could have added as an accompaniment to these mediterranean potatoes in tomato sauce were a few random pieces of mozzarella however, there was no need. A warm bowl of this healthy comfort food was enough to fill mine and the kid’s bellies. A veggie dish that is hearty and filling enough to serve as a main in my kind of meal!

If you try this recipe (and love it!) be sure to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram with #bitesforfoodies so I can see your creation!

The post Mediterranean Potatoes in Tomato Sauce appeared first on Bites for Foodies.

There are few foods that you can eat any time of the day, frittata being one of them. They’re so easy to throw together – essentially all you need are eggs and some cheese, but healthy add-ins like vegetables take them to another level. There’s no doubt I am a fan of frittatas. I love experimenting with different ingredients and creating a variety of flavour combinations. Another reason to make frittatas? They can be served cold, warmed, or at  room temperature they taste even better the next day, meaning they make for ideal leftovers.

When it comes to consuming ready-to-expire veggies in the crisper, I have frittatas to thank for not being wasteful. Besides using up produce before it spoils, they require little to no prep, and minimal creativity. If you have eggs and some cheese, you can make a frittata. The additional ingredients are sometimes an afterthought, depending on what is lingering the fridge. And if you only have some eggs and cheese on hand, then you are good to go since even these three simple ingredients still result in a delicious dish. Once you learn the basics of the preparation – in this case stove-top preparation, adding on ingredients and experimenting with different flavours is a cinch. Have a go at creating interesting flavour combos, like zucchini and chorizo, kale and feta, or in this case potato and saffron.

If you try this recipe (and love it!) be sure to snap a pic and tag me onInstagram with #bitesforfoodies so I can see your creation!

The post Potato Saffron Frittata appeared first on Bites for Foodies.

If you’ve been following this Blog for a while the you’ll know about my love affair with quinoa. One taste of this wholesome gluten-free grain was all it took to fall head over heels in love with it. Besides the fact that it is super nutritious, it’s also packed with protein, which makes it an ideal grain to consume for vegetarians who are lacking protein in their diets. The quinoa recipes I’ve prepared are countless, and it never ceases to amaze me how this grain continues to inspire new recipes, for example this quinoa-based rendition of traditional Greek salad. It has all the fixings of an authentic Greek salad; tomatoes, olives, cucumbers, onions, feta cheese, and so on, but with a heartier texture. Quinoa is the perfect grain to use as a blank canvas is so many recipes as it easily absorbs all the flavours it’s combined with. This refreshing and healthy Greek quinoa salad tastes delicious served cooled or at room temperature, and the best part is it tastes even better the longer it sits. What does that mean? Healthy, ready-to-serve lunches or dinners for days, to be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home, packed up in school lunches or a healthy lunch option at work.

The post Healthy Greek Quinoa Salad appeared first on Bites for Foodies.

The summer heat is still going strong here in Sardinia. In fact, this week has been one of the hottest since we arrived in early July. At any given point of the day – that is, if we’re not frolicking in the Mediterranean sea, we are searching for refuge from the heat; ice water, which is a rare find in Italy, since according to an old wive’s tale, can cause ‘blocco di stomaco’, (which could apparently kill you), air conditioner set to max, and super fresh meals, mainly salads prepared with fresh veggies from our garden. Albeit I love a fresh summer salad, I’m a grain kind of gal, and often incorporate grains into my summer salads. I love a hearty grain like quinoa or rice since they’re very versatile and can be served hot or cold. As of late Ive been preparing mostly cold rice salad recipes, like Sweet Pea Prosciutto Rice Salad, Italian Rice Salad, and this new addition to my repertoire!

You’d think that the best part of this salad would be that it is so easy to prepare – albeit a bit time-consuming if you do choose to experiment with black rice. Even better, it tastes even more delicious the longer the flavours have to sit and mingle. That means you can double the recipe and enjoy leftovers for days! My one suggestion would be to add the cherry tomatoes right before you serve the leftovers so they don’t create too much excess liquid in the salad, and top off the salad with some more fresh arugula for a crunchy bite.

The post Smoked Salmon Rice Salad with Arugula and Cherry Tomatoes appeared first on Bites for Foodies.

For the past few years I am been delving more and more into vegetarian cuisine, and I have to say that it is so much more versatile than people give it credit for. Combining grains, legumes, and vegetables means endless possibilities in terms of flavour combinations. Grains like brown rice, millet, quinoa, and couscous are a blank canvas to any add-in, whether it be veggies, legumes, versatile sauces and condiments, seeds, nuts, sprouts, the list goes on. I’ve also discovered that the absolute easiest way to combine all that goodness in one plate, hence the rice bowl. The rice bowl has been my saving grace at so many dinner times, especially on busy weeknights. With a little bit of organization any rice bowl can come together in minutes.

Weekend prep time is a must for me – albeit I also find time during the week to prepare some staple ingredients while cooking up another meal. Most Sundays I cook up a batch of grains – usually quinoa or brown rice, chickpeas and lentils, and sauté or roast a few different types of veggies. Everything gets stored in it’s own individual container in the fridge for easy access. With everything already prepared all I have to do is combine them with a few add-ins; fresh greens like kale or spinach, pumpkin seeds, cashews, pesto sauce, tapenade, avocado, hummus, guac, fresh tomatoes, the options are limitless. It’s amazing how with only a few ingredients you can create a different culinary masterpiece every time you prepare a rice bowl.

If you try this recipe (and love it!) be sure to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram with #bitesforfoodies so I can see your creation!

Not a fan of cauliflower? Try one of these other delicious combinations;

Brown Rice Primavera Bowl
Roasted Cauliflower Quinoa Bowl
Chickpea Quinoa Salad with Lemon Tahini Vinaigrette
Caramelized Onion Quinoa Bowl
Salmon Quinoa Salad with Lemon Caper Vinaigrette
Warm Shrimp Quinoa Bowl
Ginger Sesame Broccoli Rabe Quinoa

The post Curried Cauliflower Rice Bowl appeared first on Bites for Foodies.

Summers in Sardinia are hot, and consequently the oven rarely gets turned on. Fresh salads are an integral part to summer fare, but since they are prepared so often they can get so predictable and boring. This salmon quinoa salad is definitely more interesting than your average salad. It was a no-brainer to prepare for lunch today since I had all of the ingredients on hand, including the green beans which were freshly picked from our garden this morning! The delicious combination of avocado, salmon, green beans, lemons, and capers actually surpassed my expectations. The lemon caper vinaigrette really makes this salad pop, while the quinoa makes it hearty enough to be considered a meal all on its own. On that note, I’m over lettuce-based salads at the moment. Eating lighter fare for the summer does come with the territory, but sometimes you just need a heartier, richer, and more flavourful salad to satisfy your hunger. And this salad is it! 

The post Salmon Quinoa Salad with Lemon Caper Vinaigrette appeared first on Bites for Foodies.

This popular pasta dish was created in a small village called Amatrice, located in the Abruzzo region of Italy. At its most authentic it is made with smoky guanciale, pecorino cheese, olive oil, dry white wine, San Marzano tomatoes, hot pepper flakes and salt. While most pasta sauces that include tomatoes also call for onions, garlic, and herbs, the most classic recipe includes none of the above as they were once upon a time too expensive for the shepherds who used to prepare this dish. Since then there have been countless interpretations of this recipe, one of which I am sharing with you today.

My recipe differs from the original recipe is a few ways. My reasoning? When you’re cooking for kids you have to be a little lenient with conventionality. I’ve substituted cubed pancetta for guanciale (simply because that’s what I had on hand), and also opted for small bowtie pasta as opposed to spaghetti or bucatini. Omitting the hot pepper flakes was a given, but you can easily add some as a garnish if you like the heat. Instead, I added some cracked black pepper for garnish.

On a side note, we’ve been living in Italy for almost a month now and the locals seem somewhat baffled that my 4 and 6 year old cannot yet elegantly twirl their spaghetti around their forks. Almost sacrilege for Italians, I’d say – or so it seems. It’s an art, and one I’m sure kids here learn at a very early age. My kids will succeed in due time. For now, I’d rather save myself the mess and headache and prepare a smaller, kid-friendly pasta – and I’m quite concern my kids appreciate a quicker and less stressful method of eating their pasta. Regardless of the substitutions and choice of pasta, this dish is rich and flavourful and is always a winner at the dinner table.

The post Pasta With Pancetta and Tomato Sauce appeared first on Bites for Foodies.