Black Bean Chili With Mushrooms and Toasted Spices

Spring is finally here, though in a rather cool manner, but warmer weather is coming soon and that means lighter meals for most of us. Usually more salads appear on the table, along with a greater selection of raw creations. Still, no matter the season, there is always a place on the table for a thick, steamy and spicy chili, unless of course it is blazing hot outside, but even then, you won't be slaving over a hot stove for this pot of comfort — besides, spicy foods do have a cooling effect for some relief from the heat as they raise your body temperature and induce sweating.

Gigantes Bean Tomato Casserole

I never used to like lima beans, which is rather odd I suppose as I have quite a supply of different dried beans on hand at all times as they occupy such a central place in my diet. My first experience was less than pleasant, as I used beans from a can that had a slimy texture that just didn't work with a mixed bean salad, and another time I made a huge pot of "lucky bean" soup that lacked any real flair and seemed as if it could have fed five thousand men.

Indian-Spiced Chayote (Chow Chow) Rice

An enormous array of fresh exotic vegetables and fruits is something I've become accustomed to seeing in the big city supermarkets and ethnic grocery stores, but it's something that would have astonished me as a girl growing up in a small northern Ontario town where dinner produce consisted mostly of potatoes, onions, carrots, corn and peas with Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower occasionally making their appearance on the supper plate.

Mini Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Molasses Icing

I'm a savory gal, but sometimes I like a wee treat and I do like to bake. Most cakes are loaded with way more sugar than I can handle and the culprit is often the icing, so I came up with a mini cupcake recipe with reduced sugar content and one of the most mellow but pleasing toppings that I have enjoyed on a baked good. Cream cheese with a few dashes of molasses and powdered sugar really take the cake to the next level without overpowering the taste buds or spiking blood sugar to near lethal levels.

My husband and best friend Basil were most pleased with the result and I indulged in a few of these cute bites myself.

Kashmiri Chickpeas with Mushrooms

This dish is an easy, nourishing and satisfying curry with bold and complex flavors that is an especially good choice for a midweek meal when you are pressed for time and energy and want some spice in your life. I will add that it is a good choice for mushrooms fiends like myself to get their weekly fix. Serve with a bed of hot steaming buttered rice and you have all the makings for happy tummies.

Black Bean and Quinoa Chili Casserole

Every year I sound like a broken record as I declare that each winter is the one that will never end, because it always feels like that, even in March and now April. Comfort food can often improve my mood. and although this dish is not the most photogenic, or at least I was in too much of a rush to spend much time with plating and lighting, it is a balanced, substantial and comforting meal.

Spicy Yellow Lentil Tomato Soup

This vibrant and elegant soup is not only easy to make, but full of lovely and subtle flavors. It makes for a perfect nourishing light lunch or side for dinner. Sometimes there is nothing better than a comforting warm soup, especially during this chilly time when spring just doesn't want to shine. Yes, spring seems to be poking around the corner, and a few robins have been sighted, but it’s still mainly soup weather if you ask this chilled girl.

Serve with lemon cashew rice, chickpea koftas and some Indian flat breads for a special meal.

Classic Blueberry Muffins

For many years I have been trying to come up with a classic blueberry muffin that focuses on the natural sweetness of fruit. Too often, blueberry muffins are loaded up with refined sugar and are more like mini cakes. The twist here is adding some chopped apple that adds extra moistness and more natural sweetness combined with the berries. I like to bake, usually simple quick breads, as they are ideal for breakfast, brunch or lunch and indeed a snack when the craving hits. Yes, there is still sugar in these delights, but much less than most blueberry muffins I have tried.

Mixed Lentil and Rice Indian Pancakes

Adored is an understatement for me when it comes to Indian savory pancakes. Breakfast, brunch, lunch, snack or dinner accompaniment pretty much covers the range of my favorite ways to serve up delights like these soft and fragrant Indian-spiced griddle-fried flat breads. Very easy to make too, though they do take a bit of time to cook up, one by one. It's more than worth it, though, and if you have breads leftover, they store well in the refrigerator for a few days and can be reheated in foil with most satisfying results. I served them up with a chickpea curry and a chunky cashew-tamarind chutney. Lots of legume goodness in that meal.

Chickpeas Smothered in a Tangy Tomato Gravy

Tender and plump chickpeas really need no introduction as far as I'm concerned. Even my comrades who profess not to like beans can be persuaded to enjoy them. And they present so many possibilities to the cook. Now, as should be clear from even a quick look at my blog, I adore spicy food so it's no wonder that I should be especially smitten with spicing them up. When I cook them, I always boil up more than I need for the dish as I can never resist snacking on them just as they are while I complete my dinner prep.

I tend to eat small meals throughout the day, but this longtime favorite dish is one that I am tempted to eat just a bit more than maybe I am accustomed to at one sitting. But so long as I am not too stuffed, I don't feel guilty in the least. Despite its relative simplicity, or perhaps because of, it's a signature dish that I have perfected over the years. If you like a thick and spicy chickpea curry with a tangy and tart flavor, consider this as a meatless alternative to your usual fare or another recipe to add to your vegetarian or vegan repertoire. Give this one a try. You won't be disappointed.

Chia Seed Pudding

I've been hearing a lot about the benefits of chia seeds lately, one of the latest "superfoods", but until recently I had yet to try them although they have long been a traditional food in some cultures, so they might best be considered an ancient superfood.

My best friend Basil had a bag of them that was passed on by a co-worker and he thought that I might be interested in coming up with a recipe. Surely I was but, well, with my distracted attention span combined with Basil's, those little gems nearly went to the grave with us. We didn't forget about them, but Basil forgot to bring them to me when he visited and I forgot to remind him to send them home with me when I visited. Finally they arrived back in my kitchen and I went with a simple custard-like pudding that turned out even better than I imagined. I suppose you may describe the dish as tapioca-like. The chia seeds puff up into little pearls as they soak, contributing a pleasing texture to this vegetarian and vegan-friendly delight. It might not be the prettiest pudding you'll eat, but one of the most delicious I've had in a long time.

It makes for a fine breakfast because it's not too sweet, but it's also a lovely dessert to end any meal. If you are going to enjoy the pudding for breakfast, I would suggest getting the soaking process started before you go to bed — it won't take long.