Food Blog Spotlight: Custom Cakes by Rainbow Nourishments (Raw Vegan Cake Maker)

Was watching a health infomercial and the gentleman was supplying a recipe for a cake.  He showed the cake and then said we wouldn't believe what the ingredients were.  Have to admit when I saw the recipe I thought that cake was the best disguise I've ever seen.  Indeed, until I had to change my eating habits, it never occurred to me that so many foods that I loved to eat could be prepared in a completely different way and still be enjoyed.  Who knew?  

Evidently, the vegans knew and were way ahead with this knowledge.  In one of my previous posts, I shared my love of cake ("Which Cultures Make the Best Cakes?").  Today while surfing the Internet, stumbled across these wonderful creations by a food blogger named Anthea, who published a blog is RainbowNourishments.com.  She makes custom cakes.  Sure!  There are a lot of custom cake makers out there.  But this lady specializes in raw vegan cakes that are indescribable!

Pink dragon fruit layer cake

  

Pink dragon fruit layer cake

This recipe captures pretty much everything that I love about cakes. I love taking a bite of a sponge cake and squashing the air out of it in my mouth (ok, that sounds weird and confronting, but it's the truth so I'll stick with it). I love the simplicity and smoothness of raw cakes.

Amazing Cake Stand Multifunctional Cake and Serving Stand For weddings,events, parties, 4-in-1 Crystal Cake Dome

Acai Bowl Cheesecakes

Smoothie bowls are a staple in my diet as they are quick to make, delicious and can be made out of pantry/freezer ingredients. Smoothie bowls are normally thick smoothies poured into bowls, made with some sort of frozen fruit, and topped with things like granola, fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts, coconut...

HABIBEE 6-in-1 Acrylic Cake Stand Multifunctional Serving Platter and Cake Plate With Dome (6-in-1 Cake Dome)

Rainbow nicecream cake

Whoever invented nicecream (aka icecr eam made of blended bananas) is a genius.I thought: what if I could combine my current favourite food (nicecream) with my favourite concept (rainbows) into something that could enjoy at ANY time of the day. This marbled nicecream cake reminds me that adults CAN have fun with their food.

Edible Butterflies © -Large Rainbow Variety Set of 12 - Cake and Cupcake Toppers, Decoration

Related articles

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One Famous Indonesian Food Item Is Not Historically Indonesian

A general review of the History of the Exotic Spice Trade will eventually lead to Indonesia.

"One Famous Indonesian Food Item Is Not Historically Indonesian

• During the years 1602 to 1942, what is now the Republic of Indonesia was a Dutch colony. ... The tradition of Indonesian food known today as Rijstafel, which means Rice Table, was started by the Dutch. ..."

Read more at: Indonesian Food History – Rijistafel

The concept of rijsttafel is a way to sample the many different spice-laced dishes from various regions of Indonesia.  The Dutch likely drew inspiration from a similar Indonesian multiple-dish meal known as nasi padang.

References:

Brennan, Georgeanne. “Rijsttafel: The Dutch-Indonesian Rice Table.” The Cook’s Cook, 29 Sept. 2017, https://thecookscook.com/features/rijsttafel-dutch-indonesian-rice-table/. 

“Rijsttafel | Indonesian, Spice, Variety | Britannica.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2023, www.britannica.com/topic/rijsttafel.

“Indonesian Food History - Rijistafel” Daily Two Cents, 10 May 2015, web.archive.org/web/20170803143846/http://dailytwocents.com/indonesian-food-history-rijistafel/.

"Rijsttafel" by Jan Willem van Wessel from Rotterdam, Netherlands - Rijsttafel 13. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Medallions of Marco Polo and Kublai Khan

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Related Links:

• A Brief History of Indonesia: Sultans, Spices, and Tsunamis: The Incredible Story of Southeast Asia's Largest Nation

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Favorite Delicatessen Food (Thanks to the Earl of Sandwich and the Jews)

We are all grateful to the Earl of Sandwich. Legend says he was in a hurry one day, slapped a piece of meat between two pieces of bread, and the sandwich was invented. Eh! That's the story I heard.  Some say he did not invent it, but he made it popular. Whoever! Thank you! :)

Anyway, here is a link to an archived post by a fellow freelance writer about favorite places to eat. The article writer recounts an experience at a restaurant in Palm Beach, Florida. It brought back nice memories. I am from Miami, Florida, and used to work in Miami Beach.  For me, the best place to eat a great sandwich is a Jewish kosher delicatessen. that was within 5-minute walking distance from my job. Maybe the Earl made the sandwich, but the Jews definitely took it up a notch!  The most difficult lunch decision for me to make was whether to order corned beef or pastrami. :)

Favorite Delicatessen Food

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Chinese Mooncake Festival (Mid Autumn Festival)

Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhongqiu Jie (中秋节) in Chinese, also known as the Mooncake Festival or Moon Festival, is one of China's biggest holidays. 

For 2023, it will be celebrated on Sep 29, 2023.

Similar to American holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Mooncake Festival these days is about family reunions and good eating, where mooncakes are a traditional food gift.  Would just like to point out a significant event that can be traced back to the 14th century when China was ruled by the Mongols.  The event really gives cause for celebration.

"Planning a rebellion against the Mongol emperor, Chinese rebels came up with the idea of hiding a secret message inside mooncakes, which the Mongols did not eat. These mooncakes told rebels to rise up on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The uprising was successful, and henceforth the Mid-Autumn Festival was celebrated with mooncakes everywhere in China."  

(Source: Mooncakes in Mid Autumn | Desserts First)

Recycling a post from my lifestyle blog, Joie de Vivre Magazine and embellishing it a little bit more.  There are lots of people participating in the festivities so finding related or similar articles was super easy.  Hope you like the content shared.

Holidays and Festivals :
Chinese Mooncake Festival

https://varugab.tumblr.com/post/96456695851/asian-art-history-finals-infographics

Mid Autumn Festival 2017 - 20 Mooncakes That Even Chang Er Will Love

It's almost Mid-Autumn Festival again, the 15th day of the eight month on the lunar calendar (which falls on October 4 this year) when the moon is full. The traditional way to celebrate this festival is by indulging in mooncakes. Every year, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to the mooncake flavours available.

Why Chinese People Eat Mooncake During This Time of the Year
The Mid-Autumn Festival (also the Mooncake Festival or Lantern Festival) is considered to be one of the most significant festivals for Chinese people. Celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese calendar, the 3,500-year old tradition is commonly observed all over the world to worship the moon, celebrate the harvest season, ...

Foodie Friday : Pesto Around the World

Going to take aim at pesto for my foodie Friday topic.  Another wonderful delight for enlivening salads, adorning sandwiches, dressing pasta … you name it! Always sing the praises of salsa. This time, doing a song and dance routine for pesto.

Hear the word pesto and one usually always thinks Italian. Right? But different cultures have their own version of pesto. Africa. Mexico. Australia. This link is an awesome foodie find! Not only does it tell you the main ingredients in everybody's version but it introduced me to a new word. “Permaculture”.

Preserving With Pesto – It’s Not Rocket Science

Preserving With Pesto - It's Not Rocket Science

Wheatgrass Pesto Recipe | inSpiral

Wheatgrass Pesto Recipe | inSpiral

Here is a quick recipe for Raw Wheatgrass Pesto, using our premium, organic, raw super food powder. This will m ake your taste buds go wild! Adds a good dose of vitality to any diet. Made in a blender there is virtually any preparation to do! Just the way we like it!

Mexican Pesto Recipe by emilie_ 1 - Key Ingredient

Thai Basil Pesto

Thai Basil Pesto

This one's for my Thai lovers. But before I even start talking Thai basil pesto, I feel moved to have a little rant about how much I love Thai food. It's like an instant exotic vacation right in my kitchen.

Raw Macadamia Pesto | Vegan Semi-Dried Tomato Pesto | The Blender Girl

Raw Macadamia Pesto | Vegan Semi-Dried Tomato Pesto | The Blender Girl

This raw vegan semi-dried tomato and macadamia pesto is super easy and seriously delicious. Just throw everything into your food processor.

African Blue Basil and Lavender Pesto

African Blue Basil and Lavender Pesto

Combine all ingredients, except cheese, in bowl of food processor. Process, adding additional oil or water, until desired consistency is reached. Stir in cheese. Use immediately or store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. (Tip: pesto can also be frozen in ice cube trays.)

Chimichurri Pesto Sauce - Culinary Envy

Chimichurri Pesto Sauce - Culinary Envy

Chimichurri Pesto Sauce combines Italian parsley, cilantro and basil with jalapeño and parmesan cheese. It is vibrant, nutty and tangy. Perfect for pasta. I will never forget the first time I tried Chimichurri Sauce. It was at my incredibly talented friend Bibi's home. She had me over for dinner and prepared the most mouth-watering steak.

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Content first appeared at Persona Paper on July 27, 2015.


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Pesto - Tips for Preparing the Best and Healthiest Pesto (Guest Post)

Pesto is not only one of the tastiest condiments you can make, but it is also versatile and healthy. Made with fresh and pure ingredients, it includes some of the best things nature has to offer. The ingredients are simple and basic; They include fresh basil leaves, fresh garlic, olive oil, fresh walnuts (not roasted) or pine nuts, salt and pepper.

You can buy pesto in the supermarket, condiment stores or alternatively make it in a food processor, it will probably taste good, but our goal is excellence.

To produce really great pesto, you need to chop it by hand; when you put it in a food processor it becomes too doughy and too juicy. This is often the problem with commercial products, but when chopped by hand, you get the perfect consistency. The other reason to make it at home is that you can make sure you are using the highest quality ingredients. When choosing your ingredients, it is best to go to a farmers market or somewhere that has a particularly good turnover. There are many different varieties of basil leaves, lemon basil, clove basil, and cinnamon basil, to name just a few, sweet basil is primarily used for pesto, but ask your local grower for other varieties and see which one you prefer. The basil leaves should be a deep green color (avoid dark spots and yellowing). They are available all year round, but there is usually a big difference in size and flavor between the summer months, when it grows freely and abundantly, and in winter.

Fragrant and sweet, basil also has many health benefits, it has anticancer and antiviral properties, it is an excellent source of vitamin A, and a good source of magnesium, which promotes cardiovascular health. To prepare the basil, wash the plant and dry the leaves, once the leaves no longer drip remove the stems. It is best to cut the stems where there are no longer many leaves and then separate the leaves from the main branch. It’s fine to leave some of the smaller stalks behind, but putting the larger main stalks in the pesto is not recommended. Chop the leaves finely, for this recipe; It should have about 2 full cups of chopped basil. The next step is to take a handful of walnuts and chop them small, but not until they have a powdery consistency. After chopping, you should take half a cup of walnuts. The pesto will be better if you can taste the small pieces of nuts, they should not be larger than a grain of rice. As you prepare your pesto, take note of the healthy qualities of its ingredients. Walnuts are rich in vitamin E and an excellent source of healthy monounsaturated fats that are good for the heart. Some people use pine nuts; we’ve found walnuts to add a thicker, richer texture.

Drizzle with just enough virgin olive oil so it sticks like a paste. Extra virgin olive oil is one of the most beneficial oils for health on the market and has been shown to be highly protective against heart and chronic degenerative diseases. About two tablespoons of fresh garlic and salt and pepper should be added to taste. People are always surprised when they see how much garlic we put in, it not only adds wonderful flavor, but also has abundant health benefits. To name just a few, garlic has antibacterial, antiviral, and anticancer properties and the ability to lower blood pressure. We found that a large amount of fresh garlic not only increases flavor, but also helps us introduce healthy foods into our bodies. Some people like to add Parmesan cheese to their pesto, we think this adds unnecessary fat content and therefore reduces the overall nutritional benefits. Pesto is delicious as a spread on bread or crackers, added to salads, or eaten with grains, pizza, or with any vegetable stew or dish. Pesto is truly versatile, capable of enhancing almost any meal.


Original Source: Content prepared by Anne Louis for Food Ways.

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Fun Pesto Recipes:

Korean Food: A Brief Introduction to Banchan

In Korean cuisine, banchan is a small side dish served along with rice as part of an everyday meal. No Korean meal is complete without at least 2 to 3 banchan.

If you are one of my followers or subscribers then you know that my guilty pleasure is watching Korean dramas. Not only are they entertaining but they are educational and the food they eat always looks so mouth-watering. Watching them makes me hungry. I always wish I could be right there with them enjoying the food! LOL.

Netflix is doing well these days helping me satisfy my appetite for K-dramas. This streaming platform has quite a selection of movies and TV series, historical period or modern, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and more! Crash Course in Romance is a Korean series that was released on Netflix in January 2023. This series introduced me to “banchan”. One of the main characters was Nam Haeng-seon (played by Jeon Do-yeon), a lady who owned and operated a shop called “Nation’s Best Banchan”. Customers could come into the store and pick whatever banchan dishes they wanted for lunch or dinner.

Not being very familiar with Korean cuisine, my first question was: What is banchan? My second question was: What is the best banchan? I did a little research and am sharing my notes below.

NOTE 1: “Banchan means side dish in Korean, but in reality, it’s a bunch of small dishes filled to the brim with pickles and the like that scatter the table at lunch or dinner.” (REF: Hills, S. W. (2022, January 13). The Funky, Flavorful Side Dishes to Complete Any Korean Meal. Food52. food52.com/blog/17598-the-funky-flavorful-sides-a-korean-meal-wouldn-t-be-complete-without)

NOTE 2: “There are generally three main types of banchan — fresh vegetable banchan like namul or muchim; braised or soy sauce-based banchan called jorim; and well-preserved mit banchan like kimchi or jeotgal, that’s usually on hand in large batches.” (REF: Yoo, Irene. “How to Cook a Bunch of Banchan.” Food Network, Food Network, 6 May 2021, www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/how-to-cook-banchan-side-dishes-crowd. Accessed 7 Mar. 2023.)

NOTE 3: What are some popular banchan dishes? (REF: TasteAtlas. “46 Types of Banchan Sorted by Popularity.” Tasteatlas.com, TasteAtlas, 20 Nov. 2020, www.tasteatlas.com/most-popular-types-of-banchan-in-the-world. Accessed 7 Mar. 2023.)

N‌OTE 4: “Banchan dates back to the mid-Three Kingdom period, around 300s AD at a time when Buddhism was a heavy influence and meat consumption was highly discouraged. As a restyle, seasonal vegetable-based dishes became the focal point of Korean cuisine.” (REF: Angela, and admin. “Banchan History: All about Korea’s Famous Side Dishes.” FOODICLES, 2 June 2021, foodicles.com/banchan-history/. Accessed 7 Mar. 2023.)

NOTE 5: Everything you need to know about the history, etiquette, and ingredients behind banchan. (REF: Spalding, Lavinia, and Mae Hamilton. “How to Eat Korean Banchan — and a Guide to the Most Iconic Dishes.” AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 30 Aug. 2021, www.afar.com/magazine/how-to-eat-korean-banchan-and-a-guide-to-the-most-iconic-dishes. Accessed 7 Mar. 2023.)‌

Original source

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I'd Like to Order Kung Pao Chicken Smothered with Melted Cheese! (Yuk!)

A few years back, I was having a spirited discussion with co-workers at one of my temp jobs and the discussion turned to food preferences. Mexican versus Chinese. 

I said: “I love Chinese food!”

My co-worker's response was:

“No way! Chinese food doesn't have near enough cheese for me!!”

I laughed and thought to myself: 'Yep! She's right about that!'

But why? ⍰
Why is there hardly any cheese in Chinese cuisine?

Did some research. Here is the quick answer, according to Corinne Trang, affectionately referred to by her many admirers as the “Asian Julia Child”. She says: “In Asian food culture, you have thousands, countless amounts of herbs and spices that we use at any given time. So few of these spices go well with cheese.” *

Nevertheless, there is a food trend going in the “fusion” direction and chefs are experimenting with incorporating cheese into Asian recipes.

I seriously doubt that you can order a plate of kung pao chicken smothered with melted cheese.  I didn't say the chefs had taken leave of their senses.  😋

But what do you think of this "adaptation"?

Do you like Chinese food with or without cheese?

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*Quote Source:

Kuo, Stephanie. "The Real Reason There's No Cheese In Asian Cuisine." CheeseRank : Your Go To Guide for All Things Cheese. N.p., 28 July 2014. Web. 15 June 2017. (NOTE: Links to an archived copy.)

It Turns Out, There is Such a Thing as Chinese Cheese

The Blog: Cookbook author and teacher Diana Kuan writes about traditional and modern takes on Asian home cooking on her blog, Appetite for China. She has also recently launched an online shop called Plate and Pencil, with cute gifts like a "Dumplings Around the World" tote bag.

Discovering Cheese in One of the Most Unsuspecting Places

It's nearly impossible for any Westerners to remember the first time they tried cheese. From pizza to pasta to hunks eaten on their own, cheese's ubiquity in our diets means that we've been enjoying it since before we could eat most other solid foods. For Liu Yang, a cheesemaker in Beijing, the ...

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