Posts Tagged recipes

Friday Favorites: May 23, 2014

It’s been awhile, my pretties. I’ve got a few great recipes that I plan on sharing with you in the coming weeks, but for now I’ll just leave you with a list of favorites. Happy Friday, y’all. Have a great holiday weekend!

FRIDAY FAVORITES, MAY 23, 2014

*My dad. Yesterday, my dad turned 60. As I think about becoming a parent, I feel so grateful for my dad and the example he’s set for me. He is gentle and kind, smart and supportive. He cracks me up. He taught me to be honest and genuine, strong and independent.

*I’M MAKING A COOKBOOK! So, I’m collaborating on a mini-cookbook with my friend Jenni. She’s an incredible photographer and graphic designer, and approached me with the idea of making a mini cookbook together. So, if I’ve been a little quiet on the blog lately, it’s because all of my spare time has gone to writing and photographing recipes for this project. I’m really excited about this collaboration, and will let you know more details on the book soon! (The featured photo at the top of this post is a snapshot from our cookbook photo shoot last week.)

*New Music. The new Wye Oak album rules. As does the new Lykke Li album. And let’s not forget about The War on Drugs.

*Pok Pok Som Drinking Vinegars. I’m obsessed. We generally keep a bottle of the Pineapple and Tamarind drinking vinegars in our fridge at all times. I’ve been mixing the pineapple drinking vinegar with coconut La Croix sparkling water, and it tastes like the tropics.

*Angel Face. I’ve put off visiting Angel Face, because, frankly, I didn’t see the point. I’m pregnant and Angel Face is a bar, known for it’s inventive and artfully crafted cocktails. I thought it would be pure torture. But you know what? The food was absolutely delicious, as was my mocktail. The atmosphere is charming, and the service was stellar. And the hand-painted pink ‘wallpaper’? It’s just so good.

*S’mores. The nights are warm and bright, and as a result, I just want to build fires and roast marshmallows all the time. While I love a classic s’more (graham, marshmallow, Hershey’s chocolate bar), I’ve been researching ways to elevate the humble s’more. I want to make these homemade graham crackers, for starters. And skillet s’mores? Yes, please. And don’t ever get me started on S’mores ice cream sandwiches. It’s everything I’ve been craving, all in one. I NEED THEM.

*Pinning allllllll the baby things. So, I’m officially ‘nesting’. I can’t help it. Baby stuff is just too cute, and I’m having a grand time planning out our gender neutral nursery. If you’d like to take a look at some cute baby things, I invite you to take a peek at my Pinterest board.

*Peony season. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

*Stumptown’s Cold Coffee Brew with Milk. This stuff is dangerous, in the best way. I’ve been limiting my caffeine intake, but this stuff is making that very difficult. I just want to drink cold brew with milk all day, every day.

*Game of Thrones, re-imagined as Disney characters. Genius.

*Orphan Black. This is my new favorite TV show. Tatiana Maslany is fantastic and y’all should watch this show. Nuff said.

*Bread and Butter Pickles. This is probably the most stereotypical pregnant lady craving of all time. But, I got a jar of homemade bread & butter pickles at the last PDX Food Swap, and I cannot stop eating them. They’re like candy. I’ve almost eaten the entire jar in less than a week, and so I plan on making more this weekend. I think I’ll try this recipe.

Friday Favorites: Super Bowl Snacks Edition

In general, I’m not one to write holiday-themed blogs or recipes. Most holiday food comes across as cheesy and inauthentic: heart-shaped cookies and lots of red food coloring for Valentine’s day; eyeballs and severed fingers and candy corn for Halloween; red, white, and blue for the 4th of July. I’m sorry, it’s just not my thing.

And then there’s the Super Bowl. I’m a little astonished by my enthusiasm for the day, considering that I don’t particularly like football. But you know what I do like? The Puppy Bowl. And clever commercials. And lazy Sunday afternoons. And most importantly, I love SNACKS. Especially snacks that are bad for you, such as: pizza, nachos, wings, chips, dips, etc. I love it all. Granted, I don’t often indulge my junk food cravings. I usually eat whole and healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, rice, and organic and free range meat. But this is my one day a year that I throw out all of my food rules. I allow myself to eat junk food. I’m not gonna lie, I look forward to this day every year. I especially look forward to devouring handfuls of Salsa Verde Doritos (they are my most favorite of all the guilty pleasures).

In light of my love for Super Bowl snacks, I thought I’d share a couple of my favorite snack and appetizer recipes. (I’ve even included a few healthy – and vegan! – options, for those who would like to enjoy lighter fare during the big game.)

Enjoy! And go Blazers! (Get it? Because I don’t like football…)

Sriracha and White Bean Dip | Rosemarried

Sriracha and White Bean Dip from Rosemarried

FRIDAY FAVORITES: SUPERBOWL SNACKS (ON SNACKS ON SNACKS):

Sriracha and White Bean Dip – My own recipe (and one of my all-time favorite dips). Spicy, easy, delicious.

Lemon Basil Hummus – My own recipe. Vegan, vibrant, and full of flavor. Would go great with pita chips and/or veggies.

Avocado Tomatillo Salsa – Chef Kelly Myers from Xico’s recipe for a fresh, bright, and tangy salsa. No cooking required, just throw everything in a blender and you’ve got salsa!

Garlicky Party Bread – from The Smitten Kitchen. Looks so good (and yet, so bad for you).

Ike’s Fish Sauce Wings – Portland Monthly Magazine was kind enough to share the recipe for Pok Pok’s famous (and insanely delicious) chicken wings.

Creamy Brussels Sprout and Shallot Dip – by The Minimalist Baker. I’ve made this recipe several times, and it always delivers. I prefer this dip to spinach artichoke dip.

Vegan ‘Tuna’ Stuffed Piquillo Peppers – from Mary Eats. My friend Mary is an inspiration. She is very dedicated to a healthy and mostly plant-based diet — and she managed to create an amazing (and healthy) Super Bowl recipe. Mad props to her. (Granted, Vegan Tuna does sound a little scary at first, but as I read the recipe and saw the ingredients I changed my mind. This sounds awesome.)

Guacamole – by 101 Cookbooks. I’m obsessed with Heidi’s avocado dip with mustard seeds, serrano chilies, and curry powder — but I do not believe that recipe is online. (It can be found in her Super Natural Every Day cookbook and I highly recommend it). I’ve not tried this guacamole recipe yet, but if it’s anything like her avocado and mustard dip, it’ll be nothing short of amazing.

Stilton & Shallot Paté – recipe from Ramson’s & Bramble. I think this is just a fancy way of saying “Blue Cheese Dip”. Whatever it is, I want to eat it.

Friday Favorites: January 2014

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted a Friday Favorites list.

Frankly, I’ve missed it.

There’s something strangely therapeutic about compiling a list of inspiring and lovely things. It reminds me how much I have to learn, and how much there is to explore and enjoy. Even in the midst of winter, there’s so much to see and do.

Here, in no particular order, is a list of a few of my favorite things. Happy Friday!

1. Turmeric Tea. I first saw this tea on 101 Cookbooks, and thought the tea looked incredible. My friend Kirsten recently posted her own Turmeric tea recipe on her blog, and I finally decided to give it a try. Let me tell you, it’s amazing. It’s unlike any tea I’ve ever had. It’s full of all sorts of wonderful things (for the mind and the belly!) and it also happens to taste great.

2. The introduction of Sriracha Kettle Chips and Juanita’s Chilepeno Tortilla Chips. Game changers in the form of chips.

3. My new freelance website! I quit my job in August, to pursue the freelance life. So far, I’m absolutely loving it. I recently launched a new website, which explains a bit more about what I do. I’m really proud of the site, and if you’re so inclined, take a look!

4. Happy Yolks. I can’t say enough good things about this blog. Not only are the photos and recipes stunning, but Kelsey is a really wonderful and thoughtful person. I’m constantly inspired by her writing, her outlook, and her food. My goal is to cook more of her recipes this year.

5. Rabbit Cafes. YOU GUYS THERE ARE REAL CAFES IN JAPAN THAT LET YOU HANG OUT AND DRINK COFFEE AND SNUGGLE REAL LIVE BUNNIES. That’s it. I’m moving to Japan.

6. MACARONI SALAD. I’ve had the strangest craving for macaroni salad lately. You know, the store-bought stuff that is strangely sweet and drowning in mayo and comes in a giant plastic tub. I love it. But, I generally don’t allow myself to buy the giant tubs of macaroni salad, because I know it’s unhealthy/processed/fattening/gross food. So, I’ve been searching for a homemade version that might suffice and I think this recipe looks mighty tasty. It might not be anything like the macaroni salad from church potlucks in my youth, but I think it’s time I let that macaroni salad go.

7. Kimchi. I can’t get enough of it. I love making it. I love eating it. I’ve been putting kimchi on tacos, burritos, stir fry, breakfast bowls, rice, soba noodles, salads, and more. I’ve been known to eat it straight out of the jar. (My favorite brand of kimchi is Choi’s, which is made in Portland. Usually, though, I just make my own or pick up a jar at the PDX Food Swap.)

8. Kefir. This week, I made my very first batch of kefir. I just poured some milk into a jar with kefir grains and let it sit on the counter for 36 hours. I then strained out the grains and was left with a wonderful and fermented milk drink, which is full of healthy bacteria (which makes for a happy gut).

9. The new Volcano Choir record. I can’t stop listening to it.

10. This recipe for Shaved Brussels Sprout and Carrot Salad with Cara Cara, Avocado, and Orange Tahini Dressing. (Recipe by the lovely folks at Brooklyn Supper.) I could eat this salad all winter long. It’s dreamy.

11. Bollywood Theater. This is the best Indian food in Portland. Period. (Granted, we don’t have a lot of good Indian food in Portland but that is beside the point.) The beets braised in coconut milk are to die for. Currently, they have one location in Portland on Alberta Street but they are opening up a second location on Division. I can’t wait.

12. Punk Domestics. This site is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in canning, preserving, curing, fermenting, and more. There’s just so much good stuff on this site. (After a quick browse today, I now want to make hard cider mustard, blue cheese paté, homemade yogurt, duck ham, and gravlax.)

Friday Favorites | 2.15

The best thing about today is that it is the day after Valentine’s day! The fuss is over and the teddy bears and heart-shaped boxes of waxy chocolates are gone. We can all go back to our normal lives and celebrate our loved ones with non-Hallmark sponsored goods.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, I’d like to share a few of my favorite things. Here are some of my current faves, in no particular order:

1. Downton Abbey. I finally caught Downton fever, and there’s no going back. I just finished the second season (The Christmas special destroyed me!), and I’m eager to jump into the 3rd season and catch up with the rest of humanity. (No spoilers please!)

2. Cauliflower. I can’t get enough of this cruciferous vegetable these days. I’ve pickled it. I’ve roasted it with curry and garlic (Hint: roasted curry cauliflower is really good alongside my Lentil and Sweet Potato Soup.). I’m dying to try this mashed cauliflower with goat cheese and rosemary.

3. Lord Huron. I’ve been listening to the ‘Lonesome Dreams’ album nonstop. It’s lovely. (At the risk of sounding too cool, I’ve also been listening to Taylor Swift nonstop. I’m sorry, but the girl keeps churning out pop gold.)

4. Pok Pok Som Drinking Vinegars. Who knew that drinking vinegar could be so delightful? I’m obsessed. In my humble opinion, the Pineapple, Tamarind, and Honey vinegars are the best.

5. Girl Scout Cookies. Tis this season, and I’m a sucker for a Samoa.

6. My cat is now famous, thanks to my friends at Juliet Zulu and a gorgeous video they made for Puma. Check her out, she’s the fat orange and white cat that looks annoyed sleepy.

7. Sunshine. My favorite thing about today is the sunshine, and I’m going to go outside and enjoy it. Happy Friday, everyone!