Miso Sesame Shortbread Cookies

I can honestly say that these must be the best shortbread cookies I have ever tasted. And they're made with miso too! If that sounds surprising, the miso adds only a hint of saltiness that actually enhances the sweetness of the maple syrup-sweetened shortbread. Light, flaky and buttery, sesame seeds on the outside of the cookies add a nice contrast and a little delightful sesame flavor too.

An added bonus is that these shortbread cookies are easy to make too. They're made sheet-style, meaning that you press the dough down onto a prepared baking sheet and cut into square shapes, pushing them slightly apart, but the cookies will still be baked closely together.

Dark Chocolate Beetroot Fudge {Vegan}

Indulgent treats are popular during the winter months and most especially in December, but it's not just because of the holiday season but also because we often desire a treat to pick us up during the cold and gloomy months of winter. And, as far as I am concerned, sweets like fudge are simply delicious any time of year, especially when they are easy to make and keep well.

If you enjoy a few nuts in your fudge, then you'll definitely want to try this one. Finely chopped walnuts add a pleasant crunchy contrast to the rich and moist fudge that is sweetened with succulent medjool dates. The taste of beet is nearly imperceptible, but their addition does add a hint of sweetness and moistness. It's rather like a rich fudgy brownie, without the addition of flour.

Deiss Kitchenware Giveaway

It's been a while since I've offered my readers a thank you with a giveaway. This time, in collaboration with Deiss Kitchenware, I am doing a holiday giveaway. Deiss Kitchenware were kind enough to offer me a few samples to try for myself, and best of all for my readers, a chance for you to try a few of their fine offerings in your own kitchen.

A well seasoned cook is usually a well stocked cook, and if you are like me, in addition to plenty of staple foods and cookware, I happen to have an overstuffed drawer with all sorts of kitchen gadgets and utensils. Here is your chance to replace your used kitchenware with these shiny new ones. And if you don't already have these items, I've no doubt you will find them useful, dependable and of the highest quality.

This is what my readers will have a chance to win:

Deiss ART 5-Piece Nylon Utensil Set, a Deiss PRO Lemon Zester & Cheese Grater and Deiss ART Silicone Collapsible Funnel Set - Rounded & Squared Foldable Funnels

Three winners will win all three of these handsome offerings, so long as they reside in Canada or the US. Keep reading to see how to enter.

As an avid cook that values a quality product, I can personally attest that Deiss makes very reliable and durable kitchen helpers that are of professional quality but very reasonably priced. In particular, I already own the Deiss lemon zester and cheese grater, a firm grip vegetable peeler and also an apple corer and slicer set. Solidly made, they do the job like a charm. When I acquired these items a few years back, I tossed my not-so-great equivalents away, pretty much right away!

I think the one I was most satisfied with was the zester and grater, and as one of the offerings for this giveaway is this fantastic tool, I'm glad to say you'll be impressed by its efficiency in getting the job done. It is sharp, but it comes with a cover so that you don't cut yourself if you happen to be digging around the drawer to fetch it. It's also a breeze to clean. Before I had the Deiss zester and grater, I had pretty much given up on getting one that actually worked, but for a very reasonable price, this one changed my whole view of this tool. Of course, I have larger cheese graters, but those are basically useless for getting that fine zest, and the Deiss cheese grater is compact, so no need to pull out the more cumbersome graters or tools. Much the same can be said of the Deiss apple corer and cutter and their razor sharp vegetable peeler too. With firm grip handles, the cook is in control of the tools, the stainless steal blades ensure that the tools will remain sharp for years, and they are dishwasher safe too.

I'm looking forward to receiving the Deiss funnel set and the utensil set too. If they are anything like the other Deiss products I have had the pleasure to use, then I know I won't be disappointed and I welcome the opportunity to replace the ones I currently use. The funnel set is a space saver, and if you happen to have hooks or a utensil jar on your counter, then the utensil set would fit right in and would be conveniently accessible. The utensil set does not contain toxins and is safe for cooking. Otherwise, into the drawer they go, and any older plastic or battered ones can be tossed right into the bin.

Without further ado, to take part in the giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment here and tell me what your favorite kitchen gadget is. What is the gadget or utensil you find absolutely indispensable and could not imagine being without? It does not have to be one of the ones I am offering here. Please also visit and like Deiss Official and Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen on Facebook. Deiss also has an Instagram page. The contest is open to residents of Canada and the US. Along with your comment, I also need you to leave contact info, meaning your email address if you are not a blogger or if your blog doesn't happen to have contact information associated with it. This is important, otherwise I will have no way of contacting the winners.

The contest runs from today, December 18th, and will run until January 2nd, 2019. After the closing date, I will do a random draw and three lucky winners will each receive the three prizes that I am offering here. A special thanks to Deiss Kitchenware for giving me this opportunity.

Merry Christmas from Lisa's Kitchen and good luck.

Tahini Freezer Fudge {Vegan}

Fancy some rich dark chocolate fudge that happens to be good for you? And that's made with tahini for a sweet sesame flavor besides? And which also happens to be incredibly easy to make?

If you're like me, the answers are probably yes, yes and yes! Needing only four ingredients, a saucepan and a wooden spoon, this fudge comes together in hardly any time at all. With the tahini it tastes like a dark chocolate halva or, as my husband says, the best chocolate bar you'll ever eat. The only drawback to this fudge is that is highly addictive, but really one small piece or two will satisfy almost anyone's chocolate cravings.

Quick and Easy Lemon Urad Dal

Sometimes of all the legumes that I have stocked in my pantry, I crave split dals. I appreciate the substance they add to mixed dal dishes and soups. Those times when I feel like a brothy soup, I sometimes add just a few small handfuls to fill out a soup with more protein and substance. And then there are particular dishes that really highlight the distinct character of individual split dal, so that they shine in the dish rather than primarily serving as a backdrop.

This lemon urad dal is a perfect example.

Creamy Peanut Butter Cheesecake

It's a rare occasion indeed when I make something this rich and decadent, but I do enjoy cheesecake occasionally and I happen to adore peanut butter, and when you put the two ideas together, it's a heavenly combination. What I especially like about this cheesecake is how well it all comes together and also, while it is incredibly rich, it isn't actually sickeningly sweet as are many cakes that can be had from bakeries and grocery stores. Be warned, you really only need a small slice and you may want to wait awhile after you've had dinner in order to enjoy the full goodness of this dessert. I might add that it really happens to be good for you if you don't overindulge as it is full of protein and one wouldn't even need feel guilty if served up for breakfast.

Malaysian Curry Vegetable Soup (Laksa)

Since I started getting more experienced in the kitchen, I have relied more and more on my own homemade spice blends and always try to get the best quality herbs and spices when possible. So I tend towards being a little mistrustful when it comes pre-made spice blends purchased from grocery stores and even from smaller stores that specialize in particular cultural cuisines.

However, I was recently offered a chance to try a few blends from RawSpiceBar. This company offers high quality whole and ground toasted spices from around the world. Free of additives, many of the spices are organic and most of the blends are salt-free, gluten-free, paleo and vegan friendly. You can get a spice subscription, and they also offer gift subscriptions and starter sets. As a home cook who recognizes the importance of high quality spices to really enhance the flavor of dishes and also one who enjoys a culinary exploration of cuisines from various cultures and traditions, I was intrigued by the vast selection, and more than delighted to try a few samples.

Of the three blends I received, the most inspiring was a Malaysian curry powder as it contained some of my favorite aromatic spices. The aroma by itself was enough to try it out right way in a vegetable-based soup to showcase and taste the results for myself. After some research, I decided to make a vegetarian laksa and began to draft a recipe. The result of my efforts was a soup that very much reminded me of many of the vegetable Thai soups I have made in the past.

I'm now eager to try more of the many spices and blends offered up by this company. If the Malaysian curry powder is any indication of the quality of the offerings, I would highly recommend you take a look around.

But back to the laksa.