Happy New Year! This is my first post of 2024 and naturally, it is a vegetable-heavy soup with a plant-based protein. I’m aware of how predictable this recipe is. Just call me “basic” and be done with it. But despite all evidence to the contrary, this Creamy Kale Lentil Soup is not part of a larger scheme to eat healthier. While it’s true this vibrant green pick-me-up delivers an entire head of kale and an entire bulb of fennel in a velvety smooth slurp-able format, it is also true that I made it because I was craving it.
Growing up, I was a pickle purist. The only pickle I truly liked was a kosher dill with extra garlic. But fortunately for me, I have since branched out. Chow chow or pickled green tomato relish was my gateway pickle to a whole new world. At this point, it’s difficult to find a pickle I don’t like. Bread and butter pickles and I are still touch-and-go, but other than that I’m across-the-board pro-pickle. So if I like them all why not pile them all in one place? And that place happens to be this Triple Pickle Chopped Salad with Torn Mozzarella. A salad that doubles down on what I think is everybody’s favorite parts of a salad – the pickle-y bits and the cheese. So without further ado, let’s tackle this briny wonder.
I’m not the biggest dessert person. Sure, I like the odd slice of pie and summer just isn’t summer without a s’more or two. But my sweet tooth is fairly chill most of the time. And when it kicks up I tend to go for treats with a savoury edge. This may feel like a prelude to a dessert recipe but it’s not. Today’s Boursin No-Bake Cheesecake with Pickled Vegetables is very much a lunch option but it does appear in a dessert-like format. So what are we looking at here? This Boursin No-Bake Cheesecake features a crisp base of crushed wheat crackers accented with brown sugar and dried mustard topped with whipped cream cheese and Boursin filling decorated with ribbons of lightly pickled vegetables. It’s basically a giant cracker with cheese but you know, fancy.
If you’re not much of a tofu fan, there is a chance this Hoisin Tofu Salad could change your mind. I am a huge tofu fan, particularly when it comes to extra firm tofu. It has a satisfying texture, is capable of taking on just about any flavor, and is as cheap as chips. Personally, I find it as satisfying as meat. And while that may not be true for you and is potentially blasphemous to suggest, I still think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by this tofu. Why? Because it’s hands down the best tofu I’ve ever made and I’ve made a lot of tofu. So if you’re game, let’s make it.
