Guys! Spring is finally here. Not only am I being woken up by the ungodly amount of chirping birds in the morning, a few days ago I had a rabbit on my back steps, AND I found daffodils in my lawn! The previous owners of this house must have planted them, or they are just…
Recipe
Spiced Carrot Congee
The first time I ever had congee was in San Francisco back in 2005. I went on a trip with my boyfriend’s (now husband) family to visit his grandmother. This side of the family grew up in Hong Kong before moving to the United States, and one of their main breakfast staples was good ole…
Sweet Potato & Millet Stew
Well, the forecast calls for what seems like a month of low 30’s to mid-40’s with lots of cute images of raindrops and snowflakes here in Washington. Although I am dreaming of seeing those first sprouts and pea shoots in a glimmering beam of early sunshine I am thankful for the present because it makes…
Crunchy Kale & Caper Deli Salad
When I was coming up with this recipe, it was originally just for a creamy sweet dressing, and has since evolved into one of my favorite creations yet. I have had a package of golden raisins in my pantry for longer than I care to admit and I wanted to utilize their sweetness in a…
Mediterranean Cannellini Bean Dip
A while back I stumbled across a recipe online that would turn into one of my party favorites and entertaining staple for years to come. Gena Hamshaw over at The Full Helping blog created a recipe that can stand the test of time. Every single time I make her Polenta Squares with Walnut Tapenade I would end…
Yellow Pepper Dal
I LOVE Indian food with a passion. There is something about it that is so unbelievably comforting and nourishing to me. I suppose that, the cuisine tends to focus on fresh and dried spices, while using simple and uncomplicated foods like pulses, rice, potatoes, and vegetables. With a large focus on mostly whole plant foods,…
Creamy Tortilla Soup
Last week I could not get over a strong craving for fresh corn tortillas. I would find myself throwing them over an open flame on my stove until they were barely charred and ripping them into bite size pieces to enjoy their savory, roast-y, corn-y goodness. Smelling and tasting that roasted corn got me thinking of…
How To : Stove-top Quinoa
I have been in more kitchens than I can count where people were convinced that “there is no food in the house” to make a proper meal. With little in their fridge, I would take a deep dive into their pantry and always find containers of grains and beans and show them that there is plenty…
Maple Mustard Brussels Sprouts with Chickpeas
A few months ago, we were about to leave for a 2 week vacation, so I forced myself to not go grocery shopping and tried to eat every last scrap that we had in our fridge. The last days before any trip always turn out some interesting combinations of fridge scraps and pantry staples. Earlier in…
Fennel Minestrone with Orzo
Recently, with family in town I needed a quick and simple dinner to fill up my guests. So I consolidated my pantry and fridge and came up with this delicious concoction. Soups and stews are a wonderful way to get in lots of vegetables, grains, and greens. They are easy to make in large batches, so…