Do you ever get those weeks where it seems like every step forward you take two steps back? It's been that week for me. I can't put my finger on it but I'm feeling just meh about my body, tasks, school and whatever else I can't name right now. It's a vague feeling and I don't necessarily know how to fix it. Whenever I get weeks like this I try to say one step at a time but then I will refer you back to the beginning of this paragraph. It's like I need something but don't know what, like going into a grocery store hungry and not knowing what to buy even though you know you're hungry and need something to consume. I will then turn to my recipes, my yummy, simple, relaxing recipes and hopefully while focusing on something, I can get out of this stupid rut.
Ingredients:
6 cups of Spinach
1 cup blueberries
1/4 red onion sliced thinly
1/2 cup feta
Lemon poppy seed dressing
These girls are as talented as they come. I've been listening to them for a few years and got to catch a concert of theirs in Seattle a few years back. What gracious, beautiful artists:
Directions:
In a bowl place your spinach.
Add your remaining ingredients, then pour the dressing on according to your preferences.
Growing up, I loved, had and cared for dogs. I always thought I was strictly a canine lover and cats were these odd creatures that were at friend's homes and I usually stayed away. One day I moved into my first apartment off on my own and a friend showed up on my doorstep said 'Here.' My move in present was a kitten she had shoved into my arms, he was the size of my palm, with huge blue eyes and extremely long whiskers. In a panic, I cleared a small walk in closet, put some blankets down, closed the door and bussed quickly to the nearest PetSmart.
Rushed, I grabbed a litter box, litter, two toys that cats apparently liked and a brush that turned out to be meant for a small dog and does not work on cats. When I got back to my apartment and opened the closet to set up his area, I couldn't find him, I had already failed and lost my cat. Frantically I looked around the 2 X 3 foot closet and found him curled up under the blankets, he awoke from a nap with a drunken sleepy haze in his eyes. I was sold.
Why am I talking about my cat? Because I am a crazy f'ing cat lady, that's why, but to also point out that we don't choose our fur babies, they choose us, even if the relationship was forced on to me, I love him and he loves me... I think... Nah, he does. His future was to end up at a pound if he wasn't given to a new home which is upsetting, pounds are already full of forgotten cats. Don't shop! Save a cat or dog from a local pound!
Anyway, this is a food blog, so here's a continuation of my blueberry week, Clark was super obnoxious with this one, he had his nose all up in my face the entire time I was trying to eat it.
Ingredients:
4 Naan Flatbreads
2 oz blueberry goat cheese (got it at Trader's!)
Handful of fresh blueberries
1.5 tbsps honey
1/2 red onion thinly sliced
1/2 cup spinach
1/4 cup feta
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 tbsp butter
I literally just stumbled upon this artist in my iTunes. Sometimes I add music and get lost in some albums then forget about others. It's like an easter egg hunt sometimes, and I found a good one the other day and I highly suggest you check out her album No Mythologies to Follow. So without further delay, here's MØ:
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Spray a cookie sheet with non stick spray and place your naan on top.
Spread some goat cheese on each piece of naan, I used a very thin amount for each.
Sprinkle your red pepper flakes on each naan evenly. Do the same with you feta.
Place spinach on top of the feta.
In a small skillet heat your butter up then place your onion in and fry until translucent. Add your honey and stir. Remove from heat.
Place your onion and blueberries on each naan piece.
Bake for 10-15 minutes or until browned around the edges.
Last year I decided to do themed weeks for my menus. I did a week full of apple recipes and another that was to the brim with peaches. It was hard to go to the farmers stand, buy a whole box of peaches and then try to use them all within a week (I hate wasting food!). So this year I am going with a much smaller ingredient, the blueberry! One of these days I will branch away from the fruit tree but I've noticed a lot of people don't realize that most fruits can be used in something other than a dessert dish. So I have a few recipes lined up for the next few days, here's the first one!
Ingredients (makes 1 drink):
2 oz vodka
2 small handful of blueberries
2 lemon slices
Sparkling lemonade
a sprig of rosemary
Recently took a trip along the Columbia river through Oregon and this was on the soundtrack along with Townes, Lara Lynn, Dolly Parton and Hillstomp. If you ever driven through Oregon or Washington you know that it's plenty entertaining just looking out on the variety of landscapes they have to offer but calls for a good soundtrack! Have a good ole, knee slappin' time:
Directions:
In a boston shaker, muddle your first handful of blueberries and add your vodka. Cover and shake.
Strain contents into a glass, add lemon and second handful of blueberries. Then pour the rest of the way with the lemonade.
The title to this recipe is pretty much self explanatory. It was a simple and light dinner the husband and I enjoyed over some wine and everything about it was satisfying. Sometimes something as simple as a meal can take you from all the chaos and lists you need to check off. I ate this and forgot all about my exam that was coming up, I just enjoyed the tastes of the bell pepper, the sweetness of the wine and the great company.
Food has become, for a lot of people, something we need to get done, check off the list, and then get back to our hectic lives. When, food should serve as a comfort, a pleasure, and a unifier of friends and family. I get that not all meals are going to lavish and decadent, but I just think that we have to stop every once and while and really taste what we consume.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup goat cheese
4 yellow bell peppers, cores removed and halved
4 sweet Italian sausage links, diced into 6ths
6-8 cups tuscan kale
2 tbsp olive oil
I haven't been record shopping in over four months. If you know me, this is extremely hard to do. But we decided to spoil ourselves a bit and went this weekend. I found this one, wasn't looking for it, but I'm happy I found her!
Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
In a baking dish place your bell peppers, inside facing up. Place in oven for 40 minutes, or until browned.
While bell peppers are baking, in a large skillet start frying your sausage in the olive oil. Once, brown on all sides, add your kale and fry until limp.
When bell peppers are done, remove from oven and evenly distribute your sausage and kale onto
I am so stoked to have a Trader Joe's near me again. Back on the west side that was the only place I shopped for groceries and if I wanted to go to one here it would take two hours to get there and back. I just don't have the time. But they finally opened a location that is half the distance. People always say they don't shop here because it's too expensive but my husband and I find we're getting better quality food for a cheaper ticket and if you stay away from all the glorious snack foods the bill is actually super cheap for all the nummy goodies you get. So I went all Trader's on this recipe and hope you have one near you!
Ingredients:
Chicken tenders (about 6)
4-5 tbsp of Sweet Chili Sauce
Trader Joe's mixed chopped veggie bowl
1/2 cup feta
In lieu of another horrible act of violence and another death toll to add to the list of why we should take a serious look at our gun laws, my heart goes out to the families and people who were wronged so deeply by someone so full of hate that it lead him to take the lives of innocent LGBTQ members. No one should live in fear just because they are who they are. Keep strong and this one's for you:
Directions:
In a large skillet cook your chicken until browned on both sides, turn down your heat and add your sauce. Cover, and let sit for a minute.
In bowls add a cup and a half of the veggie mix, place two tenders on top then sprinkle with feta.
Thunder and lightening, it's the most soothing of the weather conditions. I've been out and I've done all that I want to do today, like listening to Lemonade or Rihanna or making fun of friends as they play frisbee golf and I abstain from participation, now I loaf. I have a stack of romance movies, a glass of wine and something delicious on the menu for tonight. This is how weekends are meant to be spent. Let's get on with the food shall we?!
Ingredients for Waffles:
olive oil cooking spray
2 cans of garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 large egg whites
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup chopped parsley
3 minced garlic cloves
1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
For Sauce (not an exact science, I'm a taste until I like it type):
1/2 cup greek yogurt
1/2 cup tahini sauce
juice from one lemon
1 tbsp dill
I absolutely love Rihanna's newest album, Work is great, but this one has been my favorite the past couple of weeks. She has really been evolving away from the crap like Umbrella and I am on board with it. Get it girl.
Directions:
Preheat the waffle iron and spray with your cooking spray.
In a blender or food processor combine all ingredients except for cooking spray.
Form 3-4 inch sized patties with the falafel mixture. Then one at a time cook them in your iron until they are browned or crispy.
For the sauce: Combine your ingredients, and whisk with a fork.
It's been five months since I got a Monday to just work around the house, no errands, appointments or class to study for, I get to relish in a break from school for two weeks and I am not wasting a minute of this break that I get to myself. Like it's eleven and I already went on a half mile walk, vacuuming is done, the bathroom is clean, garbage is taken out, dishes are done and laundry is going, now it's lunch and I'm enjoying some Friends. I really do love days where I am productive, stuff get's done and then I get to just relax for a bit.
Ingredients:
4 Naan flatbreads
1/2 tbsp garlic
2 1/2 cup of fresh spinach
8 pieces of freshly sliced mozzarella
1/8 cup chopped green onions
6 oz sautéed pancetta
1 avocado diced
balsamic vinaigrette
Dear Chance the Rapper,
This song is too catchy. Stop it. I haven't been able to get it out of my head for days, anyone around me does not appreciate it...
Directions:
Spread spinach evenly over the flat breads, then do the same with the garlic and green onion.
Place 2 pieces of mozzarella on top of the veggies for each flatbread.
Evenly sprinkle the pancetta on top of the cheese.
Broil for 4-5 minutes, or until cheese in melted and naan is browned.
Top with your diced avocado, then drizzle 1 tbsp of vinaigrette onto each flatbread.
