Tag Archives: food

{thirsty thursday} a comfy classic paired w/ a perfect homebrew

25 Oct

i’ve been craving slash eating a lot of this lately :

classic grilled cheese and tomato soup… only, as per usual, i mix it up a little.

i use the most healthy bread i can find.  usually something a little more dense like a multigrain – or in this case, a flax-seed bread.  i opt for organic when i can… bread is expensive!  and, instead of traditional tomato soup, i buy this from pacific foods.  OH EM GEE, it is so delicious!!  the red pepper makes it just a tad more flavourful and sweet and when you dip your grilled cheese in it, HOLY SMOKES!!  just – just, do me a favour and go buy some.  and then tell me how you’ll never want to buy any other tomato soup again… Continue reading →

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{thirsty thursday} — pasta primavera w/ a local oktoberfest lager

18 Oct

if you’ve been a reader for a bit, you probably know by now that i do not often cook pasta.  i am getting better, but for the longest time it just seemed like i couldn’t make a decent pasta dish to save my life.

mostly, i just throw together stuff in my fridge and call it a “primavera” — and i’ve been on this kick where i just make my own sauce fresh every time i make a pasta dish or spaghetti squash dish.  i’m all about things in one pan… make it easy! Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} – cheesy polenta w/ homemade tomato sauce

15 Oct

i made this dish weeks ago, and have had this blog in queue for a while now… i had quite a collection of blogs to  keep me updating regularly, but i haven’t been cooking much this week and so my recipe backups are all gone now yikes! — see, i had a rather busy week, and another one ahead.  i’m using up what’s in my kitchen to rid my fridge because i leave for a trip to NEW YORK CITY this week!

woo!

but today – today will be spent in front of my computer with WORDPRESS CLOSED so i can focus — i’ll be editing a wedding i had the privilege of fotographing this past weekend amidst the fall foliage and log-cabin backdrop.  it was gorgeous and i can’t wait to share some of the fotos!

in the meantime, here is a simple recipe for a simple side dish… Continue reading →

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{foto friday – seven different kinds of squash}

12 Oct

it’s that time of year.

my goodness do i love autumn!  the leaves, the brisk air, the campfire nights, the comfort foods… i mean, i guess most people don’t consider squash a “comfort food” – but isn’t it, though?!  i mean… in my opinion, if you put something in the oven, it’s comfort food.  haha!  mostly i just mean i think of the aroma that roasting squash in the oven creates in your home… it just screams AUTUMN and COMFORT!

anyway, squash was on sale and i bought all kinds of it.  i wanted to try some varieties i had never tried before.  a few of my favs were in the mix, but i also came out with some i never tasted and i am excited to! Continue reading →

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{thirsty thursday} — smashed fingerling potatoes

11 Oct

i have been craving mashed potatoes ever since long before our first frost on october 5th – {what the heck?!} — and i finally made some at home.  you wouldn’t think mashed potoatoes would be a “seasonal” food, but apparently according to some, they are. i tend to think of them as a seasonal-transcendant food, but i also tend to think against the grain – whatever.

typically i use creamer potatoes for my mashed taters, and i use a special kind of butter that leaves every guest asking, “what did you put in those mashed potatoes?!?!?!!!”  i take a lot of pride in making some mean mashed potatoes.  it’s one of my few specialties.  not a super difficult dish by any means, but i do think that i was a potato farmer in a previous life, no doubt… so i pour a lot of my soul into my mashed potatoes.  and as we all know, my soul tastes like butter… 🙂

this time i opted to try something new.  i decided to make “smashed fingerling potatoes” instead.  a slightly different potato, but still a creamier texture.  and i used a different butter.  no matter, it still turned out amazing. Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} — buttercorn squash soup

8 Oct

i am fully aware that “buttercorn” is not  a word… remember how i like to make up names for my dishes?!  well, this was no exception.

and i’m so fully in autumn mode it’s not even right.  and it’s not just because we got hit with some snow this week.  i’ve been ready now for weeks.  i thrive in the fall, i love this time of year!!  and yes, part of it is because i have a birthday approaching! 🙂  but i just love the food autumn brings.  i’m finally ready to put away the salad fork and bust out the soup spoon more often… i’m ready for root vegetables, squashes, potatoes, yams, and soups!!!!

squash was on sale a couple weeks ago – 10 pounds for 10 dollars.  so i snagged up 3 different kinds – spaghetti, acorn, and butternut.  i always use my spaghetti squash as pasta, so i knew what to do with that… and i was going to try to make the butternut squash as soup anyway – then i thought, well why can’t i just use BOTH kinds of squash in the soup?!

and so i did. Continue reading →

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{meatless monday – peewee potatoes}

24 Sep

look at these adorable little potatoes.  aren’t they cute?!  when i saw them i let out a little squeal and snagged them up.  they are in fact called, “pee wee potatoes” and rightfully so, they are itty bitty!  like, no bigger than a small pebble, i love it.

 

i just kept them whole, smothered them in EVOO and a S&P and roasted them in a 400 degree oven for about a half hour or so, until tender.

then take them out and let them cool a bit… {isn’t it interesting how the colour changes}

serve as is.  i ate this entire bowl, they are out of this world delicious!  sweet and creamy and they ‘pop’ when you bite into them… so much fun.

 

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{whatever wednesday} — a repost; about how cool nature is.

12 Sep

so, i decided to change “wordy wednesday” to “whatever wednesday” — i just can’t put that kind of pressure on myself anymore – haha 😉

so, in honor of my first “whatever” post, i am going to repost something i wrote a while ago that i find awesome and should be shared with as many people as possible. when i first posted this way back when i started my blog, i got more hits than any other day, and more facebook shares than any other day… so i figure, this is information people actually care about…

as you know, i’m a huge foodie.  i love anything with colour – so basically anything that has been in the ground, grown in soil, rich in nutrients from the earth, fibrous, healthy, and completely natural.  so basically, i am pro-veggie. i firmly believe the human body has the power to heal itself using diet. we truly are what we eat. and when i discovered that some foods actually look like the body parts they help heal, i was floored. talk about intelligent design!  we are truly incredible human machines.

oh and in case you’re wondering what my stance is after that whole organic vs. conventional stanford study, i don’t care… and i actually didn’t even read it, i don’t need to.  it’s just like when they supposedly found this brand new thirteenth astrological sign suddenly – what was his name? whatever, it doesn’t matter. i’m still a sagittarius/scorpio cusp with cancer rising and a capricorn moon, i’m a total product of my natal chart, to a T – some random astronomer isn’t going to come along and suddenly tell me i’m not who i feel i am. and some fancy rich group of college kids isn’t going to come along and change why i eat organic food, either.  {sorry, do i sound snarky?!} Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} – super easy and pretty rainbow tacos

20 Aug

these could not be simpler.  nor more delicious and healthy and light and good for you.

– whole wheat locally made tortillas, warm them up if you like

– organic black beans, drained and slightly heated via stovetop w/ a little S&P

– fresh avocado, chopped

– organic cherry tomatoes, chopped

– organic sharp cheddar cheese, shredded {normally i’d buy white, but the colour is only from annatto and i’m down with that, because it makes the rainbow in my rainbow tacos look really great…}

– sweet onion, diced Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} – sweet potato, carrot, & falafel open-faced pitas

6 Aug

good morning, happy monday, hope you all had a nice weekend.

i was delightfully lazy yesterday, glued to the couch and the olympics most of the day.  i completely heart sundays for that reason.  if i want to go somewhere, i can – but mostly it’s just my day to rest… and eat.  🙂

this dish was created because i always keep falafel in the house – it’s one of my protein staples, and i love love love it!  i also had another bunch of the purple carrots – and i know they compliment sweet potatoes well.  i had almond milk in the fridge, and i keep the spice on hand because i love curry spice!  i didn’t have any tomatoes around, so i used tomato paste for a little extra flavour : Continue reading →

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{palate pleasing padron peppers}

13 Jul

that was fun.

and as we all know, i love to try new things. so, i saw these little pretty peppers hanging out in the produce section one day and i immediately snagged them up, got on my phone and googled how to make them!

Continue reading →

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zucchini pizza strips

11 Jul

food can be fun.

i love it when i see a recipe or look at a vegetable a different way and say, “what if i tried it like this…”  because typically, i’m a creature of habit.  when i find something that works for me, i stick with it.  i often don’t sway.  in fact, i had been using the same ranch dressing for like, 7 years.  annies organic cowgirl ranch.  i love the stuff.  but then one day a co-worker suggested this other brand {with less fat, made from yogurt, and still so tasty} and now THAT is my new favourite – haha.  i guess my point is, sometimes i get tunnel vision. but this blog has helped me to rethink ways of preparing food.  i always chop my veggies into 1-2 inch pieces, and steam them or saute them.  sometimes i’ll roast them all together.  but never did it occur to me to cut zucchini into strips and serve it like a pizza slice!!  what! Continue reading →

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roomie’s salmon birthday dinner

10 Jul

my roommate celebrated a birthday last month, and i’m just getting around to blogging about the meal – d’oh!

naturally the best gift i can give anyone is food – so i cooked for him. 🙂

nothing says “summer” like corn on the cob, eh?!  ANNNNDD, it’s salmon season.  the first runs started coming in early june.  whenever i think of making a special meal, i always think of salmon.  i can’t cook a steak to save my life, and i’m a snob when it comes to eating out.  so, i splurged on the $24.99/lb. salmon and conserved with the sides 😉 {these two filets ran me about $17 — but in new york, i probably would’ve paid only about $11, boy do i miss living by the ocean!} Continue reading →

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cherryfest! {and a big thank you!}

9 Jul

it’s cherry season!!!!!

it’s the best time to buy cherries right now – they are at their in-season peak and the price is right!  if i may – another push to get you to buy organic. cherries are on the dirty dozen list {as is most things you eat the skin with}, so it’s best to buy them organic if you can.  don’t be scared, when you buy items in season at their peak, you pay less, the taste and quality are better, and you are voting with your dollars!  OG cherries are typically 9-10 dollars a pound when bought in march or april when they start trickling in.  but if you buy them now, you’re going to pay a lot less – somewhere between 3-5 dollars a pound — and yes, for organic!  and if you can grab some from a farmers market, even better!!! or if you have a CSA buy-in, you may notice them arriving with your monthly shipment. yum – and you can totally freeze them. or make jams or syrups for your sodastream maker… Continue reading →

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apparently, i can bake

5 Jul

this is not exactly up my typical healthy recipe alley – but if you’re going to go for it, GO FOR IT!

it’s a special occasion, splurge a little!  that whole mentality goes along with my “intuitive eating” lifestyle.  granted, i seldom even buy white flour-based anything, let alone white sugar cookies – but i made these to share.  i had one at home to make sure they didn’t suck, and one at the party… and that was all i needed… for now 🙂

Continue reading →

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{featured produce of the week : organic purple carrots}

1 Jul

locally grown here – they don’t call us colourful colorado for nothin’

although my favourite colour, tender, and still yummy when eaten raw, i prefer purple carrots steamed with a smidgen of maple syrup.  actually, what i do is –

chop them up into roughly 1/2 inch pieces. add enough water to cover the carrots to the pan and boil {covered} on medium high heat until the carrots begin to soak up the water. i don’t even add any butter or oil, because these things are so good without it.  add in more water {or veggie stock for extra flavour} if necessary, but basically you want the carrots to almost glaze, and then add in a tiny bit of good quality maple syrup toward the end.

they are so yummy cooked this way.  i would like to try to peel them thinly and use them almost like a pasta – or perhaps i’ll run them through the food processor, but i do think i need to buy an attachment for that…

and — purple carrots *kind of* resemble fireworks, eh?!  😉 Continue reading →

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batch cooking – roasted veggies

27 Jun

have you heard the term “batch-cooking”?  well, i hadn’t really heard of it, but i mean it makes sense – especially in today’s world.  i am a single gal with no kids or hubby, no one to really take care of but myself. though, i do have a lovely roommate with a big appetite and two sweet kitties with insatiable bellies. my point is, i am fully aware that i have more time than most to spend on preparing meals and fun dishes and blogs, etc.  many people do not have the time to really spend in the kitchen… for me, it’s like not only a kitchen – it’s my music hall, my therapist’s office, my sanctuary, and my dance club.  i love to cook so much that it does so much for me – on a personal and spiritual level, as cheesy as that may sound… 🙂

plus, my whole philosophy is “time is money.”  so i may have to spend a little time to cook all this stuff, which is “money,” as time is valuable.  but i also save time and money by having my meals prepared in advance.  i don’t spend money on my lunch break, and i save time on my lunch break.  plus, the meals i make are healthy and not loaded with junk – and eating the latter could actually cost me more money and time down the road…. make sense?!  – eating well is an investment in your health!

Continue reading →

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product endorsement #3 – whirley pop

26 Jun

whirley pop.

do you remember this?  i actually don’t.  but apparently it’s old school cool and marvelously classic.  i’ve loved having it and we now make more popcorn in the house than anything, i swear. low fat, low carb, whole grain, and if you buy it in bulk you save tons and it’s a snack with variety that everyone will love!

the whirley pop itself is so easy to use. you can make your popcorn with any good quality high heat oil and it doesn’t take more than 5 minutes to pop a large bowl to share.  fun for kids, too — just make sure they are always supervised!

my roomie and i love to drizzle a little coconut oil over ours and then smother it with tons of nutritional yeast.  it makes for an almost cheesy flavour.  it’s SO GOOD!  i know you’ll love it too – so try it! and go get a whirley pop!  20 bucks is a good investment for a 25-year warranty, right?!

one more thing i want to add — sort of a shameless plug here — please consider always and only buying organic NON-GMO corn.  if you aren’t sure why, please read one of my rants about GMOs… and do your own research, then decide for yourself.

thank you always, for reading 🙂

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featured produce of the week : seasonal organic english peas

23 Jun

if you haven’t had these delicious treats, i highly recommend you try them. perhaps it’s the fact that i’m about 2/3 english, but i just love sitting  and shelling english peas.  and of course, eating them 😉  i’ll have a few recipes featuring these tasty little morsels next week, so stay tuned! Continue reading →

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happy solstice!

20 Jun

nothing says summer to me quite like watermelon.  when in its seasonal prime – flavourful, juicy, fresh, delicious watermelon.

whole foods market had a one day sale – 2/$5 on these organic beauties. and i bought four. this is my last one, and i’m eating it today to celebrate summer! i bought a little melon baller, which i think is just so fun for precisely this reason 🙂 — and – way easier!! Continue reading →

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