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”
Resolution Soup
Well yep, I think that the bloggers block is gone! My recipe by no means is anything too spectacular, more practical, predictable, maybe even a lil’ boring, which I think is what most of humanity goes for in reality anyhow. Folks go for what is “normal”, in what “looks right”, not necessarily what really pumps their nads….or ovaries…..or feathers their nest. We go with convenience and ease over passion and adventure and then we take our socially accepted date du jour to a movie about people doing abnormal, passionate, adventurous things….isn’t that an oxymoron? Continue reading “Resolution Soup”
Korean Style Pan-seared tofu and the magic of gochujang.
Folks feel pretty conflicted about tofu, they either love or hate it….there is no “meh” with soy curd. I digs it, although perhaps eating it raw has been more of an acquired taste, I could eat it once a day and be perfectly happy. Continue reading “Korean Style Pan-seared tofu and the magic of gochujang.”
Sorta Succotash
In life we make a lot of assumptions, this I think can be a dangerous way to filter out people or ideas. My analogy for this in a food related sense would be on a shopping trip I made the other day. I grabbed what I assumed to be regular corn, so to my amazement when I got home and began shuckin’ what lied beneath the humble husk was the most beautiful jewel toned purple and white sweet corn. Continue reading “Sorta Succotash”
Labor day chicken enchiladas
I am very sad to report our chicken “Tupac” was attacked by a racoon on Saturday and sucummed to injuries. I take death so hard, she was a great chicken and I admit it,I got attached. I probably should’ve tried to cook her but I couldn’t do it, so she is buried with a monument in the back yard. I think I would be a terrible farmer….i’d like to think i’m self reliant, but if I had to kill my own meat, I wouldn’t eat meat. Now if someone else does that stuff and I just get de-feathered and ready to cook i’m all in. Continue reading “Labor day chicken enchiladas”
Rustic Lentils and Barley ala crock pot
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You know that feeling when you finally feel like you are home? Well I haven’t felt that way in quite a few years….and finally I feel that sentimental braingasm of belonging that isn’t really familiar to me. With all the anxiety that moving brings we quite possible made the best decision we as a team (my husband and I) have ever made. Abraham Maslow theorized that every human desires membership, order, and meaning. In the hierarchy of needs we need all these things to be “happy” I don’t know if its in a “Pharrell” kinda way or just having a sense of belonging. I actually find it quite hard to be my normal, cynical, self when everything seems to be coming up Zanny (my nickname). With this new optimism comes a rediscovery of things in the past I have been negative about….one I have realized I had unfairly judged would be the crock pot, slow cooker, whatever you like to call them. Continue reading “Rustic Lentils and Barley ala crock pot”
California Walnuts’ Virtual Salad Party and a Cook Book Giveaway!
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I was recently invited to participate in California Walnuts’ virtual salad party! I got to choose from several different entree salad recipes and I chose this one from Aida Mollenkamp. The recipe is Baby Beet Salad With Chevre And Savory Caraway-Walnut Granola and the reason I chose this one is because of the ingenious savory granola element added to a classic mix of stuff my family and I love. Continue reading “California Walnuts’ Virtual Salad Party and a Cook Book Giveaway!”
Grass fed, Cross rib roast
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So I have definitely waxed poetic about Chuck’s and although due to religious beliefs they aren’t open Saturday and they don’t have pork or beer available, I find myself finding excuses to go up to Vancouver just to shop there. Jarom works up there so that helps….my latest and greatest find is the meat department, they serve Painted Hills and it is the best beef i’ve ever had available to me in a grocery store that is still affordable enough to feed the whole family. Continue reading “Grass fed, Cross rib roast”
Tortellini and Turkey meatball soup
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I talked about making soup with the pan juice from my Mom’s Greek Roasted chicken recipe and today I actually did! I saved the pan drippings and placed them in the fridge, then I scooped the layer of fat that separates off the top and used the jellied consomme as my stock! It makes thee best soup stock ever, and I paired it up with some dried tortellini and some meatballs I made out of ground turkey breast…I know its possibly not soup season, but I love soup lately I can eat it in one form or another for every meal! This version is delicious, and you can use whatever stock you have, even beef or veggie, this is just an example of a recipe being a “Two for one” make the Greek chicken get the soup stock for free! What a bargain! Continue reading “Tortellini and Turkey meatball soup”
Portland Caprese
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Summer..Summer…Summertime….let’s just sit back and unwind (In the style of DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince (before Scientology). Ah the delights of Summer! All kinds of seasonal produce is hitting the farmer’s market right now, so why not make a 5 minute recipe? First thing’s first I AM IN NO WAY STATING that this is Portland’s “Only” caprese cuz I know one of the 10 people reading this is gonna be all “This is not “Portland’s Caprese” I had it at (insert local place here) and it totes magoats has kale and veggie shreds”….this is MY version of the famed overly put on restaurant menus all over the country salad ok? Kinda like when Depeche Mode talks about one having “Your own personal Jesus” purely perspective based, nothing to be made doctrine of…just a damn good salad. Now that that disclaimer is out of the way we should talk ingredients. Continue reading “Portland Caprese”