16 flora recipes

Seared ahi tuna wrapped in nori, served over Asian greens, enoki mushrooms, and warabi sprouts arranged in a hollowed tomato floral. Restaurant-style Japanese plating.

Eat heartily, accompanied by much loud Italian conversation. In fact, I typed this accompanied by much loud Italian conversation. My parents were here, and both were shouting instructions over my shoulder. They disagreed about the arrangement of the lettuce - my mother said that the hole in the middle of the platter was necessary; my father insisted that it wasn't, saying you can just dump the tuna on top of the lettuce. I finally had to give up on this reply until they went home. So now, in the peace and quiet of the aftermath, I've finished it. Hope you had a wonderful holiday.

Ranch flavoured cream cheese cheese rolled with ham in a flour tortilla. A favourite party appetizer that's very easy to prepare in a short amount of time.

Try this crockpot rendition of hot cocoa that is perfect for a large group of people!

Spicy marinated shrimp for a crowd with 10 pounds of shrimp soaked overnight in olive oil, cider vinegar, capers, and hot sauce. A make-ahead party appetizer that serves 20.

Flaming Slow Cooker Chicken Jubilee. This recipe is perfect for a special occasion, a fancy dinner party, or a larger family dinner.

In Japan, miso soup is a traditional breakfast food–sipped hot, directly from the bowl. It is incredibly simple to prepare and can be put together in roughly the same amount of time it takes to brew a cup of tea. You can transfer the soup to a wide-neck thermos and take it to work for a nourishing mid-morning break as well. Miso has numerous health benefits, but is especially renowned for its probiotics properties, which help balance intestinal flora. It also contains good amounts of vitamin B12.

Cocoa bundt cake with chocolate glaze: a one-bowl buttermilk batter that turns out tall, tender, and deeply chocolatey thanks to a half cup of cocoa and a quick double-speed beat.

I use McIntosh or a combination of McIntosh & Cortlands as my family and I prefer a softer apple filling that holds together (I NEVER use Granny Smiths)...

The quintessential Indian-Singaporean meal accompaniment. Unfortunately, all too often it is made using highly processed white flour and margarine. Here, the parathas are made with whole-wheat flour (you could also try using spelt flour) and stuffed with peas and potatoes, for a lighter but more wholesome take on the original. Serve hot with yoghurt and herbs.

Old-fashioned raspberry pie with a double crust, thickened with instant tapioca and brightened by almond extract and lemon juice. A bakery-style summer pie that slices clean.

Rhubarb pie sweetened with light brown sugar instead of white, with thin lemon slices layered between the rhubarb for bright citrus contrast. A lattice-topped pie that's tart, caramelly, and old-fashioned.

A hearty, flavorful soup featuring creamy white beans, tender Swiss chard, and savory bacon or pancetta, simmered in a rich chicken broth with the holy trinity of vegetables and thyme. Perfect for a cozy meal.

While Schwartz describes the name for this Israeli dish as slightly pretentious, he notes that it won a cooking competition and found its way onto the menus of five star hotels. He recommends serving it over a bed or bulgur pilaf.

Char-grilled baby octopus simmered in red wine and olive oil.

Vegan garlic eggplant with mushrooms, onions, and basil, simmered until meltingly soft. Oil-free, sauteed in water or veggie stock, and loaded with nearly a full head of garlic.