I wouldn’t call myself a baker, mostly because when I was in culinary school I majored in Culinary Arts (Savory) rather than Baking & Patisserie. While I absolutely love all baked goods and I enjoy making really good well tested recipes, actually testing out my own recipes is a frustrating feat. In savory cooking when…
Batch Cooking
Ultimate “Egg” Salad (Mayo & Oil-Free)
I frequently get asked if there are any foods that were my favorite growing up that were not vegan. Or which animal foods I miss the most. Too be honest, it is not the actual food I miss ( because honestly my tastes have just changed), but the social ease of eating food with other people…
Walnut Pumpkin Muesli
Muesli. That weird mix of dried oatmeal you see on the continental breakfast buffet at hotels all over the world. What is it, and how do you eat it? Before I started traveling I had honestly never heard of muesli, and when I first saw it I was confused at why people were not “cooking”…
Spicy Pinto & Tempeh Chili
I typically try to avoid using products whose main goal is to “mimick” meat. While I think these products are great every once in a while as a treat, I don’t believe they should be a staple in a person’s diet. For some reason I’ve always put tempeh in this category of processed mock meat…
Fig & Berry Energy Bites
I can easily say that the NUMBER ONE thing that I get asked about making are EASY, WHOLESOME snacks that the entire family will enjoy. My knee jerk reaction tends to lean towards fresh fruits and veggies with wholesome dips like hummus or nut butters. But someone, somewhere wants something even easier that they can…
Oil-Free Takeout Chow Mein
I have never met anyone who does not like takeout noodles. There is something about them, the chewy noodle, the salty sauce, the semi soft veggies that just makes you feel like staying on the couch in your pajamas and watching your favorite shows. And while sometimes I crave killer takeout, I am always a…
Plant Pantry : Oatmeal
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…
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…
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,…