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…
Fall
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…
Spiced Hazelnut Cacao Clusters
Recently my husband and I, along with one of our best friends took a much-needed vacation to Portland, Oregon. We wanted to do it in the fall so our friend could experience real chilly weather (she lives in Los Angeles). We found a cabin in the middle of wine country and we enjoyed a full…
Holiday Gravy
A good gravy can make everything better; mashed potatoes, stuffing, bread, roasted vegetables, spoons…you name it Traditional gravy is made by using the drippings from a roast (whether it be a turkey, cow, sheep, or goose), adding a thickener and some stock. Along with some herbs and spices you are basically taking the flavor of the…
Best Herbed Mashed Potatoes
I still can’t believe it’s November, and that means Thanksgiving is upon us. For lots of people Thanksgiving is a relaxing holiday, you show up, play some football and you get fed all day while the hosts who have been up since 5 am frantically make sure that the food is timed perfectly and prays that…
Roasted Squash Salad with Sage & Cider Dressing
A few years back when I was visiting my parents my mom asked me to help make a light dinner for some friends of hers. It was early November and I remember she had beautiful butternut squash on the counter, so I decided to make a “Harvest Salad” with all the flavors of the season. …
Cinnamon Caramel Dip
With Halloween just around the corner I have felt the external pressure from all around to buy and consume ultra-indulgent, decadent, and highly processed junk food. It’s part of the holiday season, and I am all for a little indulgence, but if I can create a treat that is just as indulgent and delicious without…
Pumpkin & Pear Breakfasts – Two Ways
It’s official. Fall is here, at least it is in Washington. The air is cool, the rain is chilly, the leaves are bright and falling and it’s finally appropriate to have pumpkin spiced things. I know the rest of the world wanted to start the pumpkin craze two months ago, but I have certain standards about the…
Spicy Butternut Enchiladas with Swiss Chard
I have yet to meet a person who does not like enchiladas. There is something about them that are so satisfying; maybe it’s the gooey warm fillings or that the entire dish is smothered in sauce that makes you feel like you are being hugged from the inside. The enchiladas I have come across always…