Recently my brother-in-law and his girlfriend were in town for a short weekend trip to go explore Olympic National Park. Before their arrival we had just returned from vacation in Canada and had zero time to grocery shop before heading off to Washington’s west coast. The morning we left for our trip we had a…
Antipasti Pasta with Sun Dried Tomato Dressing
You know those fancy self serve olive bars in the grocery stores, I’ve always wondered if people actually used them since I rarely saw people lined up. It wasn’t until recently (when I finally got around to liking olives) that I understood the allure of an entire bar dedicated to salty, sour, spicy, preserved…
Fresh Corn Polenta
In our house, fresh corn is THE ingredient of the summer. It’s sweet, packed with flavor, can be eaten raw or cooked and is extremely versatile. Any other time of the year in our house, dried polenta is a staple in our bulk pantry. It’s simple and it provides a heart base for any…
Mom’s Fresh Salsa
Every time I am at the grocery store and I pass the tomato section, especially in the summer, and I see those bright red vibrant tomatoes on the vine, I think of my mom. I think of her picking through the bunches and bringing those bright red orbs to her nose to see if they…
Ginger Melon Slushie
It’s Hot. At least in Seattle when you become accustomed to 65 being a gorgeous day. It has been raging here in the mid 80’s and its time to make a remedy to compliment the sun. Whats better at taking the edge out of the blistering heat than a cold slushie? Now most of the…
Strawberry Balsamic Fruit Rolls
When you were a kid, what were your favorite snacks? I would like to say that mine were something healthy like apples with peanut butter, grapes, or organic raw sprouted seed crisps……ya right. I would have killed for a plate full of bagel bites, cool ranch Doritos, ham and cheese stack Lunchables, Capri sun, and…
Travel: Vegan in Japan
If you would have asked me five years ago the main reasons why Japan was on my top 5 places to visit list, it would have been very different than it was before our trip in April. Five years ago, my main goal for visiting Japan was to stuff myself silly with sushi, Kobe beef,…
Low-Fat Lemon Poppy seed Dressing
Even though my husband’s least favorite food is leafy green salads it does not stop me from trying to get them into his diet as much as I possibly can. Although his list is limited, the two “acceptable” types of salads that he will eat include classic Caesar with romaine, drenched in dressing or a spinach…
Jessica’s Crock Pot Black Beans
All right children, it’s time to gather around and get comfortable it’s time to hear a story. Being a chef, you can imagine that I have my fair share of kitchen appliances. Having lived in many different places, with different sizes and storage space I have always leaned towards the side of efficiency. That said,…
Mint-Matcha Banana Smoothies
I love tea. I love smoothies.Why not make a wonderful love child of the two? It’s perfect if you want a break from coffee, don’t want a hot drink in the morning, and a great way to get a little extra kick of caffeine, antioxidants, and delicate flavors to your smoothies.