Recipes — The Renata Collective

In a Pinch ‘Turkey’ Gravy

I love how a rich gravy enhances the flavour of turkey, or roast chicken, perfectly and how it’s the gravy that keeps the meat hot on your plate as it cools so quickly when sliced and served. As much as I make gravy from the defatted pan drippings, depending on your bird you may not have a lot of drippings to make that rich gravy. And, honestly, it’s the butter (or ghee), the onion and garlic and the spices that make a flavourful gravy. This recipe is great to make and serve with roast turkey breast or turkey roll throughout the year, and it makes a fabulous topping for a hot turkey or chicken sandwich!

Dairy Free, Dinner, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Mix, Side Dishes, VegetarianRenata RichardsonOctober 8, 2021In a Pinch Turkey Gravy, Gravy, ThanksgivingComment

Hearty Spinach Salad with Grains, Roasted Red Peppers and White Beans

I enjoy salads year-round and especially ones that double as a whole meal – for lunch or a light dinner. This recipe fits the bill. If you have some leftover rice, as in this recipe, or quinoa, include them in your salad to make it hearty and delicious. I love that this salad has the balance of protein, carbs and fat, and is so fresh and full of wonderful nutrients to nourish your body and to satisfy your hunger and your taste buds!

Quinoa Veggie Pilaf

I love this recipe! It’s one that I have used at workshops for a couple of years now, and a recipe I make and share with friends, to demonstrate how you can pack a lot of plant-based nutrition into your meal, how balanced it is with protein, carbs and healthy fat, how quick and easy it is to make, and to turn those who don’t like quinoa into liking quinoa! Really, it truly is delicious and nutrition packed, gluten and dairy free, a one-pan recipe that is quick and easy to make. It is also super versatile – use whatever veggies you have in your fridge, and during our long Canadian winters, you can use frozen veggies.

Whipped Feta with Kalamata Olives and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

I have discovered Whipped Feta this summer, and what a lovely treat it is. Easy to whip up (pun intended!), so delicious and with so many uses, we have had this recipe on repeat! Simple ingredients, a few minutes and you have a wonderful appetizer and a topping for just about anything – sandwiches, salads, pasta, veggies… Topped with the kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes and herbs, this whipped feta is next level in deliciousness.

Lemon Honey Dijon Dressing

Lemon Honey Dijon Dressing recipe - a wonderful summer salad dressings – or for any time of year really. It’s very flavourful and all you really need are some spring greens, one or two salad veggies cup up and I LOVE this with fresh blueberries. I have a jar of this in the fridge ready to go so a salad can be a side dish for dinner or a quick lunch in a flash!

Refreshing Watermelon Strawberry Cooler

A delicious refreshing slushy drink that is wonderful on its own or, if you are so inclined, add a shot of gin or a splash of coconut rum to turn it into a cocktail. I like mine without, so it’s a mocktail! I keep a pitcher in the fridge and it’s such a welcome drink – tastes like a decadent treat when it’s really low calorie and the ingredients pack such powerful nutritional goodness so healthy for us! Make up a pitcher and enjoy!

N'ice Cream

My vegan, no-ice-cream-machine-required, no churn, no banana, N’ice Cream recipe! It’s super easy to make, only 5 ingredients, and is such a delicious treat for dessert! Plan this a day or two ahead to allow for the freezing time. Yum!!

Quick Spicy Thai Beef

Summer meals need to be quick, easy and delicious and the BBQ is a great way to not heat up your kitchen and cook quickly. As a change of food from the grill, may I suggest an alternate - Quick Spicy Thai Beef. You’ll have dinner on the table in a half hour and have a wonderful meal to serve your family. A wonderful blend of sweet and spicy sauces makes this quick-to-prepare savory dish delicious.

Pesto in a Jiffy

Fresh, flavourful, delicious and so quick and easy to make – this pesto recipe is made with a couple of secret ingredients that increases the nutritional goodness and ups the deliciousness – I know this recipe will be something you make often!

Iced Ginger Lemon Turmeric Tea

A delicious, guilt-free and super healthy, thirst quenching, hydrating, satisfying, caffeine-free beverage on a hot day? Yes please!

This iced tea is sweetened with a small amount of natural maple syrup, or honey if you prefer, and has turmeric to provide colour and wonderful healthy benefits. Best is that the ingredients are easily and readily available at every grocery store!

Birchermuesli

Being Swiss it doesn’t get more traditional for the first meal of the day than super healthy and delicious Birchermuesli The way I make Birchermuesli is traditional – other than I make mine dairy free with using almond milk instead of milk and cream as in the original recipes. Oats make this breakfast naturally gluten free and my version is dairy free as I use almond milk to soak the oats in. It is a great way to start the day, filled with healthy raw ingredients to keep you satisfied and fueled with energy until lunchtime. En Guete!

Breakfast, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Snacks, Dairy FreeRenata RichardsonAugust 1, 2021Birchermuesli, Raw, Healthy, breakfast, OatsComment

Roasted Mushroom Polenta

Polenta – I’m sure you are familiar with this wonderful dish made of cornmeal but perhaps have not tried to make it. I encourage you to make this recipe and it is so simple and so delicious. I love to make extra polenta, store in the fridge and then fry it up with an egg on top for breakfast or a light dinner with a side salad. Polenta is a wonderful base for so many toppings – a hearty stew, chili, sautéed or roasted veggies as in this recipe – mushrooms!

Hoisin Chili Glazed Chicken

This is an easy and versatile chicken recipe as you can make it to bake in the oven or to cook on the BBQ. I make my own Hoisin sauce but you can use a store-bought version as well. Making your own sauces is always preferable as you can use the best ingredients, no preservatives and control the amount of sweetness and salt. Using store-bought sauces are fine, just don’t add additional salt to the recipe!

Dairy Free, Dinner, Egg Free, LunchRenata RichardsonJune 23, 2021Hoisin Chili Glazed ChickenComment

Homemade Hoisin Sauce

Homemade sauces, like my hoisin sauce recipe, are quick and easy to make and add more nutrition to your meal. I prefer to make my own sauces so I can control the ingredients, making sure they are top quality, limit the amount of sugar and salt that goes into it and leaves out the commercial additives that our bodies don’t need, like preservatives, chemical colour and thickening agents and they taste so fresh and flavourful!

Dairy Free, Dinner, Egg Free, Tip, Vegetarian, VeganRenata RichardsonJune 21, 2021Homemade Hoisin SauceComment

Cocoa Fudge Bliss Bites

It’s time for another Bliss Bite recipe! This time with chocolate and filled with healthy ingredients!

I drizzled some of my Tahini Maple Syrup Caramel over these and it made them next level – that caramel sauce does that every time and to everything it is used in or used on! Make a batch of these Bites to share with someone special!

Baked Goods, Gluten Free, Egg Free, Dairy Free, Dessert, Snacks, Vegetarian, VeganRenata RichardsonJune 16, 2021Cocoa Fudge Bliss BitesComment