Carrot-Ginger Dressing

I recently purchased the Candle Cafe Cookbook.  If you live in New York City, you should definitely check out both of their restaurants, both on the Upper East Side.  It's a vegan restaurant but even if you are not on a vegan diet you can still enjoy great soups, salads, entrees, and even desserts!!  I particularly love their dressings, they have about 8 to choose from! Here's an adapted version of their Carrot-Ginger Dressing.

Carrot-Ginger Dressing
(makes 2 cups)
3 knobs of peeled ginger, about 1-inch each, minced
2 garlic gloves
2 shallots, peeled and roughly chopped
1 cup peeled and shredded carrots
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 cup vegetable or safflower oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons agave nectar
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar

Place all ingredients in the food processor or a blender and process until smooth.  Taste to adjust seasoning.  Keep in the fridge, tightly covered, for up to 10 days.  Pour over your favorite mixed greens and enjoy!

Carrot Ginger Soup

I love soups during these cold Winter days.  I've made Butternut Squash soup, Potato Leek Soup, Poblano Potato Soup, and French Onion Soup.  Now I'll share with you the recipe for a Carrot Ginger Soup.

Carrot Ginger Soup

(makes 10 cups)

2 medium onions, chopped

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 2-inch knobs of ginger, peeled and grated 

2 lbs baby carrots

2 tablespoons chicken consomme + 6 cups water OR 6 cups chicken/vegetable stock + 2 kosher teaspoons salt

pepper, to taste

Saute onions in olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat until translucent, about 10 minutes.  Add freshly grated ginger to the pot and stir.  Add baby carrots and cover with your preferred liquid and seasonings (either water+consomme or stock+salt).  Cover and let boil for 1 hour, or until the carrots are fork tender.  If you want to make the cooking time less, slice the carrots.  

Use an immersion blender, food processor, or blender to puree soup into a velvety delicious soup full of flavor!  

There's only one knob of ginger here because at first I was only using one, but after I tasted the soup during cooking, i decided it needed more ginger so I added another!  Feel free to add as much as you can handle!

Before being blended  

Silky smooth Carrot Ginger Soup!  Delish!

Quinoa

I saw this recipe on Food Network on Saturday morning. I thought about what I had in my pantry and remembered I had some quinoa that I bought not too long ago. The cooking process is similar to that of rice, so I figured it's probably a good substitute. I also had some broccoli in the fridge and thought it would be a good addition. I omitted the scallions, but I suppose you can use them if you have them on hand. Into the cooking water I added about 4 tablespoons soy sauce to give the quinoa an Asiany flavor. Here's a guide to cooking quinoa, if you've never done it before.

My version came out ok, but the broccoli was overcooked because I added it in the beginning, oh well, my bad! The guide says to cook the quinoa for 15 minutes, I would put in the edamame and broccoli after the quinoa has been cooking about 12 minutes. When the timer goes off after 15 minutes remove the pan from the heat and let sit for 5 more minutes with lid on. Flake with a fork and eat up!

To be honest, I think I'll never make quinoa again. I really rather eat rice, besides the protein factor of quinoa, rice, brown or white, is just a whole lot tastier!

What do you think??