Elle Republic

Simple indulgences. These banana bread muffins are perfectly sweet, moist and are bursting with rich banana flavor. They were exactly the thing to satisfy my favorite Schwabe and his boys. Especially on one of those cold and chilly winter days where nobody wants to head outdoors but is ridiculously bored sitting indoors. Puzzles, board games, poker and a whole bunch of snacking. As one does when bored, right? So...

Bored with the same old winter vegetables? Well, let me introduce you to a very memorable winter risotto, which for me, is made with a new vegetable. A saffron-salsify risotto. Salsify what? Yeah, I too was also among those people who didn't know what salsify is, let alone what to do with it! I had never ever seen it in Canada. But due to it's "popularity" (okay, popular is...

I think you all are going to L O V E this roasted chickpea and sweet potato salad. It all starts with crisped cumin-spiced chickpeas and tender roasted sweet potatoes coated in spices and sesame seeds -- all baked to perfection, with a flavor and texture that makes your mouth sing... oh yeah. These two are then tossed in a chili-coriander-cumin dressing and paired up with fresh parsley and sweet...

It's pink. Girly I know. Yes, this is a rare occasion that I allow something P I N K into my life. Say hello to pink porridge. An orange-beet porridge. I've had an obsession with porridge most of my adult life. Childhood was another story. Back then it was simple basic porridge... porridge with a nondescript color and taste. And those childhood memories of being told by my mother to...

Spices are used extensively in Moroccan food, meaning most Moroccan dishes call for a whole cupboard full of spices, which is why the list is long for the salad dressing. Count 'em. There's 7 different spices. Though, just imagine, the celebrated Moroccan spice mixture ras el hanout is made up of 27 spices! So comparatively, this Moroccan-Style Quinoa Salad recipe would be be considered rather uncomplicated. And I think...

This Mediterranean grünkern and chickpea salad is an excellent example of why old world grains are making a come back. If you haven't tried grünkern yet, you are missing out on what I would call a spectacular grain. When I first starting putting barley in salads, I thought WOW. Then I tried Grünkern, a grain I had never heard of before... L O V E it. Why was it...