Watercress Soup with Cauliflower & Apple

Watercress is a superfood containing over 18 vitamins and minerals and should be eaten shortly after picking for nutritional benefit. While watercress is bitter in taste, it pairs beautifully in this recipe with puréed cauliflower and apple for a savoury-sweet, balanced flavour. 
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In many ways, springtime is like New Year. Spring can ignite excitement over the opportunity to start over fresh and to make healthy eating choices. This simple, easy to make watercress soup by Milk and Marigolds is spring inspired and full of freshness and flavour.  This recipe is also free of dairy and gluten.

To find more recipes, visit milkandmarigolds.com or @milkandmarigolds 

Watercress Soup with Cauliflower & Apple

Prep Time: 15 minutes                Cooking Time: 40 minutes 
Author: Milk & Marigolds.          Serves: 2 (easily scalable)             

Ingredients 
1 tbsp (15 mL) extra virgin olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, minced
1 cup (225 mL) cauliflower, roughly chopped
3 tsp of stock bullion powder or 1.5 to 2 cubes (preference)
3 cups (680 mL) water
2 1/2 (560 mL ) packed cups of watercress, stems removed
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and roughly chopped
1/4 tsp sea salt or pink Himalayan salt
ground pepper to taste

Garnish Suggestions
drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
drizzle of coconut milk
roasted, crispy cauliflower

Equipment
A blender

Instructions

1.  Begin by removing the stems of the watercress. While the stems are edible, they are quite bitter. Throughly wash and drain the watercress. Set aside and reserve a 1/2 cup worth of raw watercress for garnish (refrigerate until it is needed).

2.   Meanwhile, roughly chop the cauliflower and mince the onion. Then peel, core and roughly chop a Granny Smith apple.

3.   In a medium sized pot, set the heat to medium and then add 1 heaping tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Add in the onions and lightly sauté for a couple minutes before adding in the chopped cauliflower and apple. Continue to sauté for 10 to 15 minutes or until slightly browned.

4.   Then add the water, stock cubes/powder and salt to the pot. Cover and bring to a light boil for a couple minutes, then simmer on low (while still covered) for 20 minutes or until the cauliflower is tender.  

5.   Meanwhile, chop up the 1/2 cup of watercress for garnish and prepare any other desired garnishes. For more garnish suggestions visit milkandmarigolds.com

6.    Add in the 2 cups of watercress right at the end and blend immediately. Blend until smooth or until desired consistency is achieved. 

7.   Season to taste with salt and pepper. Top with chopped watercress. 

Milk & Marigolds © Copyright 2015

Linguine with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Crispy Bacon & Garlic

inguine with roasted cherry tomatos and bacon

This weeknight-friendly recipe requires few ingredients while being full of flavour. If you can find cherry tomatoes with its vine intact, choose these as they tend to have more flavour and stay fresh longer.

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Asparagus with Fragrant Parsley Pesto

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Whether you are celebrating Easter, Passover or just looking to shake up your meal  routine, look no further. Fragrant and savoury, this recipe is the perfect spring dish while not breaking the bank. The ingredients are also interchangeable depending on what you currently have in your fridge and pantry.

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Asparagus with Fragrant Parsley Pesto (nut & dairy-free)

Prep Time: 20 minutes         Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Author: Milk & Marigolds      Serves: 2 large servings (easily scaleable)

Ingredients: 
1 bunch of asparagus
2 eggs, soft boiled and halved
1/3 cup packed flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 lemon (zest and 1 tbsp of its juice)
1/2 garlic clove, minced
2 1/2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp sea salt
a few turns of ground pepper
a few pinches of red pepper flakes

Equipment:
food processor
fine grater or zester
serving platter

Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to broil. Begin by washing your produce. Roughly chop your parsley (stems included) until you have a 1/3 cup amount (packed). Then mince half a garlic clove and zest your lemon. Set aside the zest for garnish.

2. In a food processor, add the garlic and the parsley and lightly pulse (do not blend). Then add your salt, pepper, lemon juice and slowly add the olive oil with just a few pulses. Set aside. This will yield about 1/2 a cup parsley “pesto” sauce.

3. Next, boil the eggs to your liking and once cooled, peel and halve them. Meanwhile, cut the woody stems off the ends of the asparagus. Space out the asparagus in a roasting pan without oil. Broil for about 4-5 minutes.

4. While the asparagus is still warm, place it on a serving platter and top with as much pesto as you like. Garnish with red pepper flakes, lemon zest and anything else you desire. Enjoy!

Copyright 2015 © Milk & Marigolds

asparagus with pasley pesto

Coconut-Mango Chia Pudding with Ginger

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This delicious chia pudding is perfect for breakfast, as a snack or dessert. When thinking about meal prepping for the week, I like to keep this recipe in regular rotation because it is quick and easy to prepare and nutrient-rich. Chia is high in fibre, omega-3 fatty acids and is a plant protein.

As a child, the only chia I knew of, was the ceramic “cha-cha-cha-chia” pig who lived on top of our fridge who sprouted chia “hair”. If you grew up in the 80’s, the chia pet might ring a bell. But today chia is widely available throughout the world and apart of a healthy diet.

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***Below you will find two of my recipes. The first is lighter and the second is richer/ creamier. Both are delicious but the second recipe is my favourite***

Coconut-Mango Chia Pudding with Ginger

Prep Time: 15 minutes           Resting Time: overnight in the fridge for best results.
Author: Milk & Marigolds      Serves: 4 large servings (easily scaleable)

Ingredients(Lighter Version): 
2 1/2 cups of bite-size mango pieces (I used frozen)
1/3 cup, plus 1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 large can of full-fat coconut milk
1 cup almond milk (unsweetened)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 tbsp maple syrup or natural sweetener

Garnish Suggestions:
shredded coconut
fresh or frozen mango
1/4 cup shaved ginger

Ingredients(Creamier/Richer Version): 
2 1/2 cups of bite-size mango pieces (I used frozen)
1/3 cup, plus 1 tablespoon chia seeds
2 large cans of full-fat coconut milk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 tbsp maple syrup or natural sweetener

Equipment:
blender or masher
2 medium-sized bowls
whisk
funnel (optional)
jars or glasses for serving

COCONUT MANGO CHIA milkandmarigolds.com-4Instructions:
1. Begin by blending or mashing 2 cups of the mango until smooth. Add a couple tablespoons of water if needed to help it along. Reserve the remaining mango for topping/garnish. Pour the blended mango in one of the medium-sized bowls.

2. In the other medium-sized bowl, mix together all the ingredients but the mango. Whisk until well distributed and then pour half of the mixture into the bowl with the mango. Whisk contents.

3. Use a funnel or carefully spoon the coconut and the mango chias into jars or glasses. Create as many layers as you wish. Cover servings and refrigerate for several hours or for best results, overnight.

4. Top with garnishes and enjoy!

Copyright 2015 © Milk & Marigolds