The Odd Fork

Red, ripe, sweet strawberries... Strawberry is more than a fruit, is the symbol of spring! The Odd fork got the season's first strawberries, so it made these lovely strawberry - chocolate whole grain muffins. Oh, they are vegan and sugar-free as well!

To make them, just blend a ripe banana with some non dairy milk of choice together with 8 - 10 small, ripe strawberries. Add self rising whole grain flour and some coconut. Mix well and add into the cake dough some extra chopped fresh strawberries and some sugar-free black chocolate pieces. Divide the dough evenly among muffin tins filling them with batter up to 3/4.
Bake in a preheated oven, air setting, at 350 C, for 20 minutes or until the top is slightly brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out dry.

Enjoy them warm with coffee or tea for breakfast, or anytime!

Fasolakia in Greece is a common, very popular, vegan comfort food. It is actually green beans cooked in tomato sauce with chopped onion, parsley or dill and potatoes or carrots.

As usual, the Odd Fork had the idea of stepping out of the ordinary and ended up adding... strawberries! The result was the most spring green beans ever!

For 2 to 3 servings:

- a big onion, finely chopped

- 3 carrots chopped into thin rounds

- 400 g canned chopped tomatoes

- 450 g green beans, fresh or frozen

- 1 bay leaf

- 3 whole cloves

- 3 grains allspice

- salt, pepper 

- 1/2 bunch fresh dill chopped

- 10 strawberries cut in cubes

Place a pot over high heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add onion and sauté until it softens. Add carrots and 1 - 2 minutes later, add tomatoes, green beans (thawed, if using frozen), a glass of water and all the spices. Cover pot with lid, lower heat to medium-low and simmer for 30-40 minutes, until beans and carrots are tender. 

Then increase heat to medium-high, take the lid off and cook stirring often for another 15 - 20 minutes so that the excess water evaporates and sauce thickens. About ten minutes before the end of cooking add dill and strawberries.

The dish is better served lukewarm or even at room temperature and it is definitely a spring meal, full of aroma and colors!