Smoked Salmon Chowder

It has begun. The Christmas season is upon us, I am starting the day off right with a peppermint mocha, maple sausage and writing my christmas cards. In the background White Christmas plays on the TV and a fire roars. I can't help but to feel so full of the spirit, soon the decorating will ensue! Everything about the season makes me feel cozy, even though its only a whopping 29 degrees outside. We have to ensure a warm belly, so here's a recipe to feed you and a whole dinner party! Enjoy each other's company and have a meal together.

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces baby red potatoes, scrubbed
• 4 ounces (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, divided
• 1/2 of a large yellow onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups water (more to thin if needed)
• 4 oz tomato paste
• 1 short container of half and half
• 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into 1" chunks and softened
• 1 canned whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 pound smoked salmon shredded
• salt to taste
• 2 tbsps your choice of hot sauce

Hey! Let's dance!

Directions:

1. In a large pot boil your potatoes until soft. Drain and set aside to cool. 
2. When cooled down, dice your potatoes and keep to the side.
3. In a large stock pot, add your butter and onion, cook until translucent. 
4. Add your flour and stir until thick. 
5. Next add your water and bring to a boil. Add your half and half. Then slowly add the rest of your ingredients. Keep stirring until cream cheese is is melted, and tomato paste is broken up. 
6. Add your diced potatoes and mix well. 
7. Serve hot!

Have a wonderful Holiday Season and happy eating everyone!

Venison Egg Bake

Everyone around the world is feeling the weight of the harsh attacks happening throughout the Middle East and Europe. I hope we can all agree that we hope for peace soon. We hope that the Syrian refugees find homes, Beirut can rebuild, Paris can overcome and most of that ISIS becomes a thing of the past very soon. It's hard to imagine the heartbreak these nations are feeling right now, we in America tend to forget just how removed from the rest of the world we are (this excludes our nation's armed forces), but me, as a citizen in the Pacific Northwest, can't even begin to grasp the pain of being displaced or of losing hordes of the people I love because of extremisms. 

So as we sit down to the table, let's take a moment to look at those around us, remember those who can't be with us and reflect on just how much we love them, but also to hope and pray that everyone being effected by these attacks soon finds a table for themselves to sit down at and bask in a good meal and those they love.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground venison, or venison sausage
• 2 cups plain bread croutons
• 12 eggs
• 8 oz shredded cheese
• 1/4 diced yellow onion
• salt and pepper to taste

I know a lot of you will yell at me that it's too early, but if you just take the time to really listen to this beloved holiday song you'll recognize just how much we need this type of message right now, and although we don't all recognize "Christmas" per say, I think we all can relate to the sentiment. Maybe it's a little naive of me, but the optimist in me refuses to believe the world can't find some kind of joy soon.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a fry pan, crumble and fry up your venison. When cooked well (no pink), drain the fatty liquids and place in a bowl.
3. Next add all your other ingredients and whisk until eggs are scrambled.
4. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until it starts to brown a little on top.
5. Cut into squares and serve!

Happy Eatings Everyone.

3 Ingredient Hot Wings

Progress! Nothing feels better than setting goals and really going for them. As the saying goes, goals without a plan are just wishes. Well no more wishing, that phase is over and through with. That phase is always fun and giddy but the butterflies go away after a while and you need to take action so it's not just an idea you once had a few blue moons ago. I am pleased to be taking some actual steps towards something tangible. I can almost TASTE it, like I could taste these wings. Get it!?

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs chicken wings
• 2/3 cup of Franks or Cayenne Pepper Sauce (whatever floats your boat)
• 1 tbsp of garlic, minced

DANGER, this song is EXPLICIT. I am not the type to watch the music videos for songs because I like my own interpretations or I like to envision things for myself. Some songs need that visual aspect though, I heard this song a couple times but the music video was what did it for me. Feels.

 Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425
2. In a large plastic bag or tupperware container, place all of your ingredients and shake well until well coated.
3. Grease a cookie sheet.
4. Bake for 30 minutes then flip and bake again for 20 minutes. 
5. Let cool then serve!

Happy Eatings Everyone!

Vegan Mediterranean Sweet Potatoes

It has been a tough week. I have been working long hours, coming home and studying for my educators test then immediately falling asleep everyday. Yesterday I took some time to breath and to actually enjoy my Halloween, but sometimes it just feels like no matter what I do to try and take my mind off of things, the stress of it all just hangs above me. I just can't seem to shake this cumulus nimbus. If you live with any type of anxiety you know exactly what that means and just how painful it can be on your muscles and our mind. There is not enough de-stress tea in the world to help, BUT there are enough recipes to help steer my mind, even if it is just for an hour, away from my stresses.

Ingredients:

• 4 medium sweet potatoes
• 15 oz chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp each cumin, coriander, cinnamon, paprika
• dash of salt

Sauce:

• 1/4 cup traditional hummus
• 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp dill
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Water (for thinning)

Toppings:

• 1/4 cup cherry tomatoes, cut into fourths
• 1/8 cup cilantro
• 2 tbsp lemon juice

When things are feeling a bit heavy I like to put on something that I can dance to, nothing heavy that will contribute to my moods, but something that tries to combat it. Who better to send to the font lines with his funky beats and sick dance moves, than Mr. James Brown himself? Get on up! He will berate your anxiety with so much soul, your stress won't know what hit it. So appropriately I will play Get up Offa That Thing.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with foil.
2. Wash your potatoes then cut in half, rub with a little olive oil, then place open half down on the baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes.
3. Mix together your chickpeas oil and spices until well coated, then bake with potatoes, for roughly the same amount of time.
4. To prepare your sauce, whisk together your sauce ingredients and add water if too thick.
5. While potatoes are cooking, you can also prepare your toppings. I just mixed together the cherry tomatoes, cilantro and lemon. Then just let it sit to marinade a bit.
6. When the potatoes and chickpeas are done, flip potatoes and smash down the insides to make a little crater. Then top with chickpeas, sauce and parsley-tomato.
7. Serve!

Happy Eatings Everyone!