With Spring quickly turning into Summer I wanted to share another asparagus recipe while its still at its best. With trying to eat a healthier diet it helps to have some quick and light recipes in the rotation. Shrimp is a great lean protein source, its quick cooking and full of fat free protein, which is a great alternative to beef, pork, and chicken. Continue reading “Quick Shrimp + Asparagus”
Fruity Fluffer
This is one of those “You can take the girl outta Utah, but you can’t take the Utah outta the girl!” recipes. This is in essence a fruit salad, made slightly more “classy” than the original that I have had at many a BBQ over the years. This came about because my son wanted fruit salad (thanks Wiggles) everyday and I ran out of fun ways to make it, then it dawned on me that we hadn’t had this version of my youth! It’s simple and people love it, they may pretend they are too groovy but once you turn your back the bowl will be gone! Keep in mind I did update it a bit, but not much, and this is a fun throw back to a 60’s era recipe that every homemaker had in her arsonal. Continue reading “Fruity Fluffer”
Burrata and Broccoli raab crostini
If Heaven had a flavor it would be burrata….wow…when you think of the real down and dirty porn of food…think this sultry Italian cheese. Burrata is a type of mozzarella with a soft, delicate, center. Fragile to the touch it makes fresh or cooked vegetables or starch sheerly opulent. I was going to the store to buy a nice healthy selection of veggies to make a cold salad when I spotted it…oh yeah and the salami. Continue reading “Burrata and Broccoli raab crostini”
Not Spaghetti O’s.
I really do think canned pasta is a travesty! That and frozen pot pies are some childhood not-favs….I seriously dry heave just thinking about spaghetti o’s! So I thought it would be fun to make a version of many kids favorite, making it adult appropriate as well. The name of the pasta shape in spaghetti o’s is Anellini, there are different sizes mine were the small, you can also use tubetti or another pasta shape. Continue reading “Not Spaghetti O’s.”
Cannon Beach, Seaside, and Astoria.
Pork Souvlaki
One of my very first memories of cooking is when I was about three and I was sitting on the large butcher block in my parents Greek food lounge on 27th St. in downtown Ogden, Utah. My mother would let me grab toddler-sized handfuls of dried Greek oregano and let me “make it rain” all over the cubed pork over the massive tubs my mom would use to make souvlaki for the restaurant. Salt,granulated garlic, pepper, lemon juice, I would watch as she would eye the amount needed for each 20 or so pounds she would season at a time. Continue reading “Pork Souvlaki”
Sesame crusted Ahi
How much of life is experienced as “happy accidents”? I know from personal experience “The Plan” rarely turns out as per what my mind has imagined, and mostly causes disappointment. But sometimes on a rare occasion, in a magically, mediocre place, or situation, I have an experience that takes away the jaded, ambivalence that usually robs me of joy. Recently, I have had a few of these and it is always bittersweet, which isn’t a bad feeling, one of my favorites actually because it helps me put things into perspective. What does this have to do with tuna? Well everything and nothing really, but I was at the store the other shopping for something totally unrelated, I found some beautiful wild caught, ahi, the piece I chose was about 1.5# and about two inches thick, and when I saw it I knew what its destiny would be….sesame crusted ahi. Continue reading “Sesame crusted Ahi”
Soy Ginger Ramen with greens
I know whenever I go visit my family back in my hometown, there will usually be two events I can count on….first we will at some point eat my childhood comfort food of packaged ramen and we go to a Japanese Teppanyaki steakhouse with the whole gang and watch the cook/entertainer make volcanoes out of onions and throw shrimp in our mouths to catch like zoo animals. If you have ever been to one of these types of joints, you may have encountered the ginger dressing they serve on usually plain old iceberg. I love the stuff! Continue reading “Soy Ginger Ramen with greens”
Citrus shrimp and lentils
Blood oranges are the sexiest of the citrus family! When I see them in season I always get excited, and most stores up here pimp out the best that Cali has to offer, since our climate doesn’t suit growing them. Today’s dish is my interpretation of the shrimp and French lentils I had at Cabezon which is a dish I can’t stop thinking about, it’s a great restaurant in the Northeast Portland, reservations are available on OpenTable.com. Basically they took some lovely shrimp that they wrapped in phyllo and pan fried and served them with French lentils, my spin is blood orange supremes, bacon, and some microgreens. The orange compliments the sweetness of the shrimp and adds a bit acid to the final act. I found some great wild caught U15 prawns from Mexico, so it’s pretty hard to screw those up, unless you overcook em’. Continue reading “Citrus shrimp and lentils”
Soul food sides: Collard greens with smoked turkey leg
What is “Soul Food”? I guess to me it is food that was with made with love, putting your soul into it, it doesn’t have to be fancy, but it is always good (so if you driving through at 2am and any of the items end in “LUPA” you ain’t eatin soul food). Continue reading “Soul food sides: Collard greens with smoked turkey leg”