Carla Vavala | Apple Crumbles

FOFF Spring Mix Salad with Spiced Walnuts

Another delicious recommendation from Carla Vavala and found in her book Fusion of Food and Friends. This salad didn’t need any additional dressing and the walnuts were not so spicy since I changed the recipe but the entire salad mix sure was tasty. Serves 4 4 cups spring mix salad 1 cup walnut halves 1/2 cup sugar (*I used about 1/4 cup of Agave light syrup) 1/4 cup water 3/4 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp salt *clementine or mandarin oranges (*I used a southern corn and bean mixture, 10 oz can, heated then put on top of the salad) 2 TBS [...]

By Joanne|2012-06-06T17:25:29-04:00June 6, 2012|Fusion Food & Friends|6 Comments

FOFF Mashed Sweet Potatoes

I haven’t been doing much creative cooking or baking. There’s a gremlin in the house! This recipe by Carla Vavala was easy enough to make and keep a left eye on Zoey. Shane watches her as well but believes his main job is to make sure she doesn’t destroy his toys. Mashed Sweet Potatoes Sweet potatoes don’t need much help to taste good. I like mine microwaved until soft, split down the middle with a knife and eaten right out of the “jacket”. Nothing added, not even salt and pepper. But Carla Vavala offers a recipe on page 33 of [...]

By Joanne|2012-05-30T19:57:13-04:00May 30, 2012|Fusion Food & Friends|12 Comments

FOFF Taco Salad

On page 28 of the book Fusion of Food and Friends by chef Carla Vavala, there is a recipe for a terrific brunch salad or dinner salad. It’s a little spicy, “meaty”, cheesy and filled with crisp Romaine lettuce. A good source of vegetables plus protein (either vegetarian or carnivore). The best part, as always, is that it’s quick and easy. Serves 4 1 lb. ground turkey (or used LiteLife vegetarian crumbles) 1 envelope Reduced Sodium taco seasoning 1 head of Romaine lettuce, chopped (To add more variety, use a packaged mixed greens salad mix) 2 tomatoes sliced 1 cucumber [...]

By Joanne|2012-03-29T06:27:34-04:00March 29, 2012|Fusion Food & Friends|7 Comments

FOFF Lentil and Sausage Soup (Vegetarian Version Offered)

Carla Vavala sure knows how to cook. This was another big hit in our house. Even though I made two recipes, one for me using vegetarian sausage and one for Teddy and Ted using Italian sausage, the stew/soup was easy to make. Delicious. There was just one problem. Ted got the 24 hour bug about 3 hours after eating dinner. His first thought: FOOD POISONING! I was offended at the very thought! After all, I’m overly careful about “use by” dates. I don’t keep left overs longer than a day or two, depending on the dish. I smell raw [...]

By Joanne|2012-03-21T18:47:30-04:00March 22, 2012|Fusion Food & Friends|6 Comments

FOFF “Beet” The Heat Salad

The weather is unseasonably warm and it’s putting us in the mood for summer salads. When I saw the next recipe up in Carla’s book Fusion of Food and Friends was “Beet” the Summer Heat Salad, I thought it couldn’t come at a more perfect time. 3 medium red beets with the tops trimmed but skin on (*I couldn’t get the fresh beets and used canned, nothing added, whole beets) * 1 fennel bulb, sliced. This is my addition and not part of Carla’s recipe. 1/3 cup chili oil – make your own by adding 1 TBS red pepper flakes [...]

By Joanne|2012-03-13T18:28:30-04:00March 15, 2012|Fusion Food & Friends|1 Comment

FOFF Asian Salad

I’ve had Asian Salad’s before but not like this by Carla Vavala. On page 25 of her book, Fusion of Food and Friends is a delicious and nutritious salad. It’s easily made Vegan to accommodate a meatless diet. Serves 4 8 oz. package shelled edamame, steamed 8 oz. can whole water chestnuts, drained and rinsed 1 package Japanese noodles (Carla’s recipe suggests beef flavor) 1 small onion, minced 1 garlic clove, minced 1 small fresh zucchini, chopped small 1/2 cup cashews (I mixed cashews and peanuts) 1/2 package fresh broccoli slaw Dressing 1/4 TBS crushed red pepper (Carla suggests 1 [...]

By Joanne|2012-02-28T19:00:16-05:00February 29, 2012|Fusion Food & Friends|1 Comment