Ellie Bleu Book Club

Mystery and Culture: Zoë Ferraris on Finding Nouf

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Finding Nouf Q and AAs I continue to pursue my passion for writing, I’ve been wondering: who are some of my favorite authors’ role models? What influenced their work? Do they have a go-to recipe that connects them back to the country they wrote about?

Hopefully, by featuring Inspirational Authors, you’ll have more books to add to your reading list. Perhaps they will also inspire you.

The first author that came to my mind was award-winning novelist Zoë Ferraris. I’m incredibly grateful that she would take the time to share a little bit of her story with us. Her bestselling mystery, Finding Nouf, dives into the complexity of searching for a missing sixteen-year-old girl in the veiled society of Saudi Arabia. Continue reading “Mystery and Culture: Zoë Ferraris on Finding Nouf” →

Recipes

Delicious Lumaconi with Almond Ricotta Recipe

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Lumaconi with Almond Ricotta and Spinach

Lumaconi pasta comes from a beautiful town overlooking the Amalfi Coast. Legend has it that a young pasta maker fell in love with a fisherman’s daughter. To impress her family, and win her hand in marriage, he invented a new pasta inspired by seashells called “Lumaca di mere.” Traditionally, the pasta is stuffed with ricotta and baked like lasagna. It’s one of my favorite recipes, and I hope it becomes yours too. Continue reading “Delicious Lumaconi with Almond Ricotta Recipe” →

Recipes

Spring-Inspired Greek Yogurt Parfait

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Greek Breakfast

I love parfaits in the springtime when it’s still a little too cold for smoothies. The breakfast parfaits I had in Greece were made with goat’s milk yogurt and honey. To make this parfait healthier and reduce the cholesterol, I blended plain non-dairy yogurt with a frozen banana and added a little vanilla powder to sweeten it up a bit. Top the yogurt mixture with antioxidant-rich berries, pomegranate seeds, unsweetened coconut flakes, and pistachios. It’s a fun recipe to make with children and a great alternative for dessert. Continue reading “Spring-Inspired Greek Yogurt Parfait” →

Recipes

Decadent Strawberry Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe

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strawberry-chocolate-cheesecake

The sun is out, flowers are here, and I couldn’t hope for a more beautiful start to Valentine’s Day. I’m excited to share one of my favorite cakes today. It combines my love for chocolate and strawberries in a delicious vanilla cheesecake made with cashew cream. Top it with coconut milk ganache, and you have a wonderful treat for special occasions. Continue reading “Decadent Strawberry Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe” →

Recipes

Healthy Greek Caesar Salad: Dairy-Free & Gluten-Free

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greek-caesar-saladA party pleasing salad

I love bringing this dish to family get-togethers. Trust me, the creamy dressing combined with roasted chickpeas, homemade parmesan “cheese,” and crispy romaine hearts is a crowd pleaser. It’s dairy free, gluten free, and packed with good-for-you ingredients. Sometimes I make two batches, so we can have it at home the next day. Continue reading “Healthy Greek Caesar Salad: Dairy-Free & Gluten-Free” →

Recipes

How to Make Authentic Spetsofai: A Spicy Greek Stew

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If you like spicy food, spetsofai (σπετζοφάϊ) is for you. The stew is a traditional dish from the eastern coast of Greece.

It is one of the simplest meals to put together. I made the stew with grain sausages infused with roasted peppers, garlic, sweet onions, and oregano. Be sure to serve spetsofai with crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce. The stew is also wonderful over couscous or rice. Continue reading “How to Make Authentic Spetsofai: A Spicy Greek Stew” →

Recipes

Gluten-Free Tzatziki and Pita Chips Recipe

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tzatziki

Tzatziki is a staple at my house and replaces ranch dip for veggies, bread sticks, baked potatoes…the list could go on forever. My family also loves eating the dip with homemade pita chips. You’ll never guess that the pita chips are gluten and dairy free. By blending raw cashews with nutritional yeast, garlic powder, and sea salt, you’ll never go back to that green can of parmesan again. Continue reading “Gluten-Free Tzatziki and Pita Chips Recipe” →

Recipes

Easy Greek Spanakorizo Casserole

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baked

Spanakorizo (σπανακόριζο) is a Greek side dish consisting of rice, spinach, and tomato. Though the rice is not stirred while it cooks, it has the same creamy consistency of risotto. I added cannellini beans, Kalamata olives, and a nut-based cheese to make it a meal. Bake the casserole until it’s bubbling hot, and you’re ready to go! Continue reading “Easy Greek Spanakorizo Casserole” →