Toast | Zest For Cooking

Summer Panzanella Salad

July 3, 2019 by pamflo

Panzanella is a popular Tuscan chopped salad traditionally made with really ripe tomatoes, toasted bread cubes and red onion. It sometimes includes cucumbers and is simply dressed with olive oil and vinegar. In my summer salad, cornbread croutons add a modern twist to a combination of avocado, tomatoes, cucumbers and freshly chopped basil. Slivered raw red onion adds some bite, but is optional. Dress this salad with extra-virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar, and season it with salt and […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Healthish, Holiday Ideas, Lunch Ideas, Salads, Side Dish, Vegetables • Tags: Toast, Toss

Roasted Asparagus with Cherry Tomatoes

May 9, 2019 by pamflo

Spring is finally here and the asparagus is in season, with its beautiful green stalks and familiar earthy fragrance. Roasting asparagus is a quick and easy dish for a weeknight meal or for a crowd. When purchasing these beauties look for firm stalks and closed tips. Asparagus should be used within 2 days of purchase and can be stored with the ends wrapped in a damp paper towel. You can peel the stalks for a sleek plated presentation, but it […]

Categories: Appetizer, Gluten Free, Healthish, Holiday Ideas, Lunch Ideas, Nuts, Side Dish, Vegetables • Tags: Roast, Toast

Creamy Cashew Latte

April 4, 2019 by pamflo

I was completely on-board when Bulletproof coffee was all the rage as a replacement for breakfast, and to boost energy and endurance by adding grass-fed unsalted butter and coconut (or MCT) oil. I also added cinnamon and vanilla extract before whizzing my energizing beverage in a high speed blender. This creamy cashew latte is lower in calories, dairy free, and a very satisfying alternative. I roasted unsalted cashews and used a couple of dates as a natural sweetener. I brewed […]

Categories: Beverage, Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Low Sugar, Nuts • Tags: Toast, Whiz

Maple Pecan Ice Cream

September 28, 2017 by pamflo

This is a creamy, luscious custard-style ice cream sweetened with maple syrup in place of white sugar. An easy stove-top custard is made first with heavy cream, milk, maple syrup and egg yolks, and then chilled before churning in your ice cream maker. The toasted maple pecans add an abundance of flavor so that you don’t even miss the sugar. With no stabilizers or preservatives to mask the flavors, there is really no substitute for homemade ice cream. Plan ahead […]

Categories: Dessert, Ice Cream, Low Sugar, Nuts • Tags: Boil, Churn, Toast

Cornbread Panzanella Salad

June 30, 2016 by pamflo

Inspiration for a blog post comes from many different places. Recently, I sat down with a box of folders filled with recipes from my past cooking classes and culinary events. While casually perusing my files, I quickly realized that this cornbread panzanella salad was one of the most popular dishes. With fresh avocado, toasty cornbread and summer tomatoes this salad will become a favorite. Enjoy the July 4th holiday! 4 cups cornbread- preferably a day old (store-bought or you can make your own if time permits), cut into 1/2-inch […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Dressing, Lunch Ideas, Salads, Side Dish • Tags: Toast, Toss

Chopped Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad

March 19, 2015 by pamflo

After two months of hibernating indoors with such a cold and snowy winter, I finally went for a walk outdoors and actually heard the birds chirping. With the thought of spring arriving soon, I made this fresh crunchy salad. Feel free to mixed it up, use almonds, pistachios or pepitas and tart dried cherries as a substitute for the cranberries. Yum! SALAD: 1 cup walnuts, chopped 1 pound brussels sprouts, trimmed, halved and thinly sliced 1 pound Tusan or curly kale […]

Categories: Appetizer, Gluten Free, Greens, Nuts, Salads, Side Dish, Vegetables, Vegetarian • Tags: Gluten Free, Toast, Whiz

Walnut Basil Pesto

September 4, 2014 by pamflo

Basil is in abundance this time of year. It’s so fragrant, you can smell it from far away! The beautiful, green leaves are great for making fresh pesto. Consider making a big batch of pesto and storing it in ice cube trays so you can use it in single servings or to enhance sauces. Pesto isn’t just for pasta, it’s great as a spread for sandwiches, as a dip or salad dressing, added to soups, and as a marinade for […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dips/Sauces, Gluten Free, Greens, Side Dish • Tags: Gluten Free, Toast, Whiz