Nov 6, 2014

Creamy Sauerkraut Stew (Slovak Segedinsky Gulash)

Sometimes it’s easy to get enthusiastic about fermenting, and then not know what to do with the work of your hands.

“Yes! Probiotics are healthy! Let’s make super easy sauerkraut! Oh, wait…how am I going to eat all this?”

Fortunately vegetable ferments stay good for a long time. In the fridge, sauerkraut can keep for years even, although it will continue to sour.

I’ll have a post with more recipes for eating sauerkraut soon, right now I have a Slovak stew that uses sauerkraut. Sauerkraut in soups or stews was totally new to me when I came to Slovakia, but they quickly became some of my favourites. Click to continue reading

Naomi Fermented Food, Food, Savoury Food, Slovak Food, Slovakia & Travel dairy free, egg free, fall, fermented & cultured, GAPS, gluten free, grain free, meat & fish, nut free, paleo, soups & stews, vegetables, winter 43 Comments

Jul 2, 2014

3 Ingredient AmazeBalls

Sometimes accidents are happy.

I went into a bio shop (health food store) the other day looking for carob, which I happen to actually like. The package I bought was opaque and when I opened it at home I realized that the powder was much lighter than normal. It was only then that I noticed that on the package was written “raw carob”.

Most carob powder, made from the pod of the carob tree, is dark brown. Roasting the pod creates a strong, very distinct flavour. I like it, some hate it. Raw carob, on the other hand, is a light brown and has a much more subtle flavour.

Click to continue reading

Naomi Food, Sweet Food AIP, dairy free, egg free, gluten free, grain free, nut free, paleo, raw, sweet treats, vegetarian, winter 38 Comments

May 27, 2014

Sweet Beef Heart Curry

If you’ve continued to read on after the title, congratulations – it means that you haven’t keeled over from the thought of eating a heart, as in, the organ. If you’ve only risen from keeling over, you might want to skip this post, although nutritionally speaking you’ll be sorry if you do.

If you’re actually interested in eating a beef heart, I heartily toast you as being an adventurous eater, at least if you are from North America. To most of the rest of the world, I think, eating organs is no big deal. Click to continue reading

Naomi Food, Offal Food, Savoury Food AIP, dairy free, egg free, fall, GAPS, gluten free, grain free, meat & fish, nut free, paleo, winter 29 Comments

May 19, 2014

Fermented Spiced Apple Chutney

I remember the very first time I ate an apple straight from the tree. It was as if I had been in Plato’s cave my whole life and what I thought were apples were only shadows.

Crisp. Juicy. Sweet. Refreshing.

I was in college by the time I experienced an amazing apple, as where I grew up was too cold to have fruit trees. Fruit trees, apparently, don’t like -40 temperatures. Actually, I can’t think of any living thing that does. Click to continue reading

Naomi Fermented Food, Food AIP, breakfasts, condiments, dairy free, egg free, fermented & cultured, GAPS, gluten free, grain free, nut free, raw, spring, vegetarian, winter 34 Comments

May 6, 2014

Fruit and Nut Cake Squares

I love discovering new food combinations with ingredients I already know. There are a few Slovak combinations I haven’t gotten used to, like French toast with ketchup or tartar sauce, or pasta with cocoa powder or jam.

These cakey squares, though, are perfect. It’s not the combination of apricot and walnut, or any fruit and nut mix, that is new, but the way of putting it together. My mother in law makes them, and I made a paleo adaptation, grain and gluten free.
Click to continue reading

Naomi Food, Sweet Food dairy free, fall, GAPS, gluten free, grain free, paleo, sweet treats, vegetarian, winter 3 Comments

May 4, 2014

Chocolate Sweet Potato Pie with Strawberry Gelée

I’m going to let you in on a little secret – I like chocolate, but I don’t DIE for chocolate. I would rather have fruit with cream. Having said that, I did eat a large number of homemade dark chocolate clusters this weekend.

Dark chocolate is much better; milk chocolate is too sweet and tastes like wax. (Them’s fightin’ words 🙂 ) Click to continue reading

Naomi Food, Sweet Food dairy free, egg free, fall, gluten free, grain free, paleo, sweet treats, vegetables, winter 3 Comments

Mar 28, 2014

Buckwheat Crepe Cake with Chocolate Avocado Filling and Hazelnut ‘Cream’

It’s a busy week this week here at Almost Bananas, I’ve got another post over at Whole New Mom. It was my birthday a few weeks ago and I wanted something special – this cake did not fail to deliver: buckwheat crepe cake with chocolate (or carob) avocado filling and hazelnut ‘cream’. Moist and rich, it’s also gluten free, dairy free, and adaptable to egg and nut free. Head on over and check out the recipe!

Naomi Food, Sweet Food dairy free, fall, GAPS, gluten free, sweet treats, vegetarian, winter 1 Comment

Mar 25, 2014

Ghee Rooibos Chai Tea

I’ve seen recipes and references to bulletproof coffee, basically coffee blended with butter, but mostly ignored it because I don’t drink coffee. Then a friend recommended Hot Buttered Cinnamon Tea.

I almost facepalmed. If in coffee, why not in tea?

Click to continue reading

Naomi Food, Liquid Food (Drinks) AIP, beverage, breakfasts, dairy free, egg free, fall, GAPS, gluten free, grain free, nut free, paleo, raw, sweet treats, vegetarian, winter 30 Comments

Mar 18, 2014

Our Family Favourite Ferment: Cauliflower

I realize that I have a proportionately high number of recipes with cauliflower, like Garlicky Cauliflower Medallions and Bibimbap. In those recipes cauliflower is a substitute (flour, rice); in this recipe, cauliflower shines as itself. Click to continue reading

Naomi Fermented Food, Food AIP, condiments, dairy free, egg free, fall, fermented & cultured, GAPS, gluten free, grain free, nut free, paleo, raw, vegetables, vegetarian, winter 53 Comments

Mar 10, 2014

Mixed Halva Treats

My most distinct memory of halva (or halvah) is from my college roommate. She was always excited when her family managed to buy some at the market and bring it to her, particularly the halva with chocolate swirls. And she was generous enough to share it with her roommates – actually, her family was very generous with their fridge stockings and it’s largely due to them that I didn’t waste away to nothing. I can still see her, framed by the cupboards between the kitchen and living room, opening the fridge door in great anticipation for that chocolate swirl halva. Click to continue reading

Naomi Food, Sweet Food dairy free, egg free, fall, GAPS, gluten free, grain free, nut free, paleo, raw, sweet treats, vegetarian, winter 10 Comments