Tag: No Cooking

Honeydew and Cucumber Gazpacho

July 23, 2020 by pamflo

This soup is a throwback to a fantastic gazpacho I had while traveling a few years ago in Missouri. This fun, hip restaurant in St. Louis had a fruit based gazpacho on their menu. The light, flavorful cantaloup gazpacho was garnished with toasted, chopped pistachio nuts and an optional dollop of tangy greek yogurt. I re-created the soup with honeydew melon and cucumber, and a garnish of lightly salted, crunchy chickpeas. This dish involves no cooking and makes a scrumptious […]

Categories: Appetizer, Crowd Pleaser, Dairy Free, Fruit, Gluten Free, Healthish, Lunch Ideas, Side Dish, Soup, Vegetarian • Tags: No Cooking

Tomato Citrus Salad

July 2, 2020 by pamflo

I’m struck by how delightful this tomato citrus salad is, with its distinct flavors. With the farmers markets re-opening and stocked with big, juicy tomatoes and fresh basil, this is a simple salad to assemble. The addition of avocado and crushed pistachios is optional, but adds crunch. Customize your own salad with a variation on the type of nuts or by adding fresh burrata or mozzarella cheese. Add a drizzle of good olive oil, a squeeze of orange juice and […]

Categories: Appetizer, Crowd Pleaser, Dairy Free, Fruit, Gluten Free, Healthish, Holiday Ideas, Lunch Ideas, Nuts, Side Dish, Vegetables • Tags: No Cooking

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Red Sangria

June 18, 2020 by pamflo

The best part of making sangria whether it’s red or white is showcasing the beautiful seasonal fruit. This time of year, the fruit options are unlimited with peaches, plums, cherries, and melons ripe for the picking. For my wine choice, I selected a Spanish Rioja which is a blend of grapes varieties. You could use a Grenache, Tempranillo or Pinot Noir, pick something that is big, fruity and you would enjoy drinking on its own. I added thinly sliced citrus, […]

Categories: Alcohol, Beverage, Boozy, Cocktail, Crowd Pleaser, Dairy Free, Fruit, Gluten Free • Tags: No Cooking

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Strawberry Gazpacho

June 11, 2020 by pamflo

Red, sweet and juicy, strawberries are ripe for the picking! There are many ways to enjoy these beautiful fresh berries, but I like the idea of a simple, fresh soup that involves no cooking. Strawberries are a good source of vitamin C, folate, and potassium. Although the strawberries provide a light sweetness, this is a wonderful savory dish. I added lightly toasted slivered almonds for a little crunch.

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Healthish, Lunch Ideas, Soup, Vegetables • Tags: No Cooking, Whiz

Cabbage and Apple Slaw

October 17, 2019 by pamflo

This simple, classic fall slaw is filled with crisp cabbage, shredded carrots and perfectly tart apples. Skipping the mayonnaise, I dressed the slaw with olive oil, apple cider vinegar and mustard vinaigrette. I added a splash of lime juice for extra zip and it also keeps the apples from turning brown. Cabbage, a cruciferous vegetable, and a great source of fiber and antioxidants, is most nutrient dense when served in its raw form. This slaw pairs with many dishes like a […]

Categories: Appetizer, Crowd Pleaser, Dairy Free, Dressing, Gluten Free, Healthish, Holiday Ideas, Lunch Ideas, Salads, Side Dish, Vegetables • Tags: No Cooking

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Tuna Poke Bowl

August 15, 2019 by pamflo

This “do it yourself” poke bowl is fresh, customizable and there’s no cooking involved! Tuna is a good source of high quality protein containing many of our essential amino acids. Ahi tuna, also know as yellow-fin is the best tuna to use for this raw dish, although fresh salmon is a good alternative. Buy the freshest fish possible, sometimes referred to as “sushi-grade”. When shopping for fish, it should smell fresh and briny like the sea, the eyes should be […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Greens, Healthish, Lunch Ideas, Salads, Side Dish, Vegetables • Tags: No Cooking

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Watermelon and Tomato Gazpacho

July 11, 2019 by pamflo

The delightful flavors of watermelon, ripe tomatoes and cucumbers come together to create this sweet and savory chilled soup. With the added tang of a lime and the heat of a jalapeño, this is the perfect dish for a hot and steamy summer night! This soup can be served smooth or chunky. If you want a combination of both, puree the soup completely in a blender or food processor, and then add the extra finely diced watermelon and cucumbers. If […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Fruit, Gluten Free, Healthish, Low Sugar, Lunch Ideas, Side Dish, Vegetables, Vegetarian • Tags: No Cooking, Whiz

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Almond Chocolate Chip (No Cook) Oat Bars

March 7, 2019 by pamflo

There is a vast array of snack bars, protein bars and crunchy snack items on the market. I love making my own snack bars since I can choose my ingredients and know there are no stabilizers or added sugar. These bars couldn’t be easier to make as they don’t even require cooking, just a trip to the freezer. Almond butter is the base of the bar, and the oats keep the bars together along with maple syrup. I added lightly […]

Categories: Bars, Breakfast Ideas, Chocolate, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, Healthish, Low Sugar • Tags: No Cooking

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Smoked White Fish Rillettes

January 17, 2019 by pamflo

What are rillettes, you ask? Rillettes are a traditional French spread similar to pâté usually using pork, duck or goose that is cooked, cooled and shredded. I thought it might be fun to create rillettes with smoked white fish, although this recipe is more of a chunky spread than a smooth pâté. I purchased a white fish fillet that had already been smoked. I then blended the shredded fish with crème fraîche, lemon zest, lemon juice, a generous amount of […]

Categories: Appetizer, Breakfast Ideas, Dips/Sauces, Gluten Free, Healthish, Lunch Ideas, Seafood • Tags: No Cooking

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Summer Charcuterie Platter

August 30, 2018 by pamflo

Shopping at your local farmers market is the best way to connect to what is fresh and seasonal. It supports the local farmers and minimizes the impact on the earth, with less distance to travel to your plate. With the amazing array of produce and no cooking required, I assembled fresh fruits and vegetables paired with cheese and meat, accompanied by crispy crackers…and a glass of rosé wine! There is an unlimited choice of the freshest fruits and vegetables in […]

Categories: Appetizer, Fruit, Lunch Ideas, Nuts, Side Dish, Vegetables • Tags: No Cooking

Spiked Watermelon Mint Popsicles

August 16, 2018 by pamflo

What fun I had making boozy watermelon popsicles! I made two delicious batches of the pops, one spiked with citrus vodka and a non-alcoholic version with fresh squeezed orange juice. Both popsicles were a scrumptious and refreshing summer treat! With only 8 popsicle molds, I used the extra juice to make ice cubes. I recommend using wooden popsicle sticks for the ice cubes. Although the watermelon juice separates and settles at the bottom of the pop, it doesn’t affect the […]

Categories: Boozy, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Low Sugar, Popsicles • Tags: No Cooking, Whiz

Horchata

August 9, 2018 by pamflo

If you’ve spent anytime in Cape Cod you know that the village of Hyannis is a bustling spot in the summer months. There is a family owned, rustic cafe off the beaten path called Spoon and Seed that serves breakfast and lunch. At some point it was a hidden gem, but with a two hour wait on a weekend morning, the word is out. There is no shortage of delicious items on the menu, especially the horchata served over ice […]

Categories: Beverage, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Low Sugar, Rice/Grains • Tags: No Cooking, Whiz

Watermelon Slices with Whipped Vanilla Ricotta

August 2, 2018 by pamflo

I’ve been playing around with watermelon recipes these last few weeks. Grilling it, both indoors and out, and adding toppings like a spicy salsa and even coating it in dark chocolate. These recipes still need some tinkering 🙂 Now here’s a fun riff on a dessert “pizza” with the watermelon slices resembling slices of pizza. This is a refreshing and easy dish requiring just assembly, but no cooking. It’s a beautiful light dessert or a creative brunch dish.

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dessert, Fruit, Gluten Free, Healthish, Low Sugar • Tags: No Cooking

Almond Milk Granita

May 24, 2018 by pamflo

Almond granita served with an expresso shot and a brioche bun is a popular breakfast in Italy. Very sophisticated, right?! Why not make some of your own. A granita or these icy flakes are created when you scrape the mixture while it’s in the process of freezing. Usually a granita is made from a liquid, sugar and flavorings. I used blanched almonds which have their skins removed, filtered water, a little maple syrup, both almond and vanilla extract and cinnamon. […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, Ice Cream, Low Sugar • Tags: No Cooking, Whiz

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Provençal Tuna Salad

May 17, 2018 by pamflo

Pan Bagnant is a favorite French sandwich that literally means “bathed bread”. This popular sandwich is usually filled with many vibrant vegetables, hard boiled egg, canned tuna and then the bread is soaked in a zesty vinaigrette. With so many beautiful, nutrient dense ingredients, I thought it might be fun to deconstruct this sandwich and serve it as a salad. I roasted the peppers but you can use jarred roasted peppers instead. The dressing elevates an otherwise ordinary salad to […]

Categories: Appetizer, Cooking Tips, Dairy Free, Dressing, Eggs, Gluten Free, Greens, Lunch Ideas, Salads, Seafood, Vegetables • Tags: No Cooking

Paleo Peppermint Patties

February 8, 2018 by pamflo

Any interest in making your Valentine a healthy treat? Me too, that’s why I love this recipe and it involves no cooking! Food that doesn’t involve cooking relies on really fresh, high quality ingredients. These divine chocolate patties are super minty and pack an intense coconut punch. Instead of corn syrup or white sugar, I used pure maple syrup. Store the patties in an airtight container in the freezer for up to a month. This refreshing treat makes a beautiful […]

Categories: Chocolate/Candy, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, Low Sugar, Paleo • Tags: No Cooking

Citrus Tomato Salad with Pistachios

October 12, 2017 by pamflo

I’m frequently inspired by the places I go and the meals I eat. Recently on a trip to Washington, D.C. I was struck by a delightful and simple tomato citrus salad. It was beautifully composed and had very distinct flavors. With the farmers markets still stocked with big, juicy tomatoes and my garden still heavy with basil, I created my own version. With a drizzle of good olive oil, a squeeze of orange juice and some fresh basil, this is […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Side Dish • Tags: No Cooking

Honeydew and Cucumber Gazpacho

August 31, 2017 by pamflo

I was totally inspired by this fantastic vegan gazpacho while traveling recently in Missouri. This fun, hip restaurant in St. Louis had a fruit based gazpacho on their menu. The light, flavorful cantaloup gazpacho was garnished with toasted, chopped pistachio nuts and an optional dollop of tangy greek yogurt. Not home even 24 hours, I re-created the soup with honeydew melon and cucumber, and a garnish of lightly salted crunchy chickpeas. This dish involves no cooking and makes a scrumptious […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Side Dish, Vegetarian • Tags: No Cooking, Whiz

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White Wine Sangria

July 13, 2017 by pamflo

The best part of making sangria whether it’s red or white is showcasing the beautiful seasonal fruit. This time of year the fruit options are unlimited with peaches, plums and melon ripe for the picking. For my wine choice, I selected a fruity, floral, Moscato and added thinly sliced citrus and fresh berries. I also added a few tablespoons of a mint simple syrup. This sangria is a perfect summer happy hour drink for a backyard party with your friends. […]

Categories: Beverage, Cocktail • Tags: No Cooking

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Cured Salmon

July 6, 2017 by pamflo

“There has never been a sadness that can’t be cured by breakfast food!” – Ron Swanson Making your own cured salmon is fun and easy, but plan ahead because the curing process takes a few days. Curing is preserving fish, meat or vegetables by smoking, salting or drying. The curing mixture of salt, sugar, and spices dehydrates the food. A fresh center cut piece of Atlantic salmon or the bright pink wild salmon are good choices. If possible when purchasing […]

Categories: Appetizer, Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Seafood • Tags: No Cooking

Ricotta Chocolate Mousse

April 27, 2017 by pamflo

Craving something light and tasty, try this creamy ricotta chocolate mousse. Reminiscent of the filling from a cannoli, it’s chocolatey but not too sweet. This is a very simple and easy recipe. With so few ingredients, they need to be top quality. When purchasing chocolate for cooking and baking, look for bars with about 60 percent cocoa solids. It’s so good you’ll want to eat this mousse right out of the mixing bowl, but it can be chilled before serving. […]

Categories: Dessert, Gluten Free, Low Sugar • Tags: No Cooking

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Zest For Cooking

I love to cook and share my love of food!

Tag: No Cooking

Honeydew and Cucumber Gazpacho

Tomato Citrus Salad

Red Sangria

Strawberry Gazpacho

Cabbage and Apple Slaw

Tuna Poke Bowl

Watermelon and Tomato Gazpacho

Almond Chocolate Chip (No Cook) Oat Bars

Smoked White Fish Rillettes

Summer Charcuterie Platter

Spiked Watermelon Mint Popsicles

Horchata

Watermelon Slices with Whipped Vanilla Ricotta

Almond Milk Granita

Provençal Tuna Salad

Paleo Peppermint Patties

Citrus Tomato Salad with Pistachios

Honeydew and Cucumber Gazpacho

White Wine Sangria

Cured Salmon

Ricotta Chocolate Mousse