Tag: gluten free

  • Pan Seared Salmon

    Seared Salmon

    Have you guys seen the movie Her? If not, then allow me to give you a brief breakdown. In a not too distant future, a man falls in love with his phone’s female operating system. I’m not capturing what the movie is really about in that previous sentence, but please watch the film. It’s funny, heartwarming, uplifting, heartbreaking, and hopeful. Her stays with you long after the credits are done rolling; this movie hits hard for Leili and me.

    Salmon and Asparagus
    For those of you who have seen it, you may remember the beach scene with the armpit anatomy bit. Shortly after that funny break comes a beautiful piece of music that the girl (computer) writes for the boy (human) about their day at the beach. That piano piece is equally sweet and sentimental as it is sad.

    Salmon Filet (more…)

  • Chicken Congee with Bok Choy

    Congee

    Perhaps it’s my restless desire for change, or my anxiety from the undeniably longer nights that indicate even longer nights are coming to overshadow our daylight, but my appetite has been zapped lately. I don’t feel like myself when I can’t finish my food and I become disappointed in my tummy’s lack of desire for a real meal. Am I alone here?

    Ingredients

    Like an old woman aging gracefully, I crave softer foods that are totally neutral when digesting. Did I say too much? If you follow what I’m trying to say, then you understand how miserable this war with food can be. Running this blog can become difficult when you suddenly become underwhelmed by ingredients and cooking. (more…)

  • Pork Chops with Garlic Thyme Sauce

    Sliced Pork Chops

    Life’s been a little hectic lately, summer’s almost over and I definitely did not get the vacation I thought I deserved. But then again, what exactly is a summer vacation to a grownup anyway? I had a couple getaway weekends, but it didn’t satisfy my desperate need to lie down somewhere for a week and do absolutely nothing. So here I rant, but I am actually ready for some cooler temps and extra layers.

    Season and Brine
    Recently, I found up an old recipe from Food Wishes that combines pork chops and apple cider – brilliant and too tasty to pass up. Then I remembered that it wasn’t apple-picking season yet and so I gave up. Just kidding, I would never give up on something as sacred as pork chops.

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  • Soaked Oats with Grilled Peaches

    Peaches and Oats

    I’m not good about breakfast – I know it’s supposedly the most important meal of the day, but dinner stole my heart a long time ago. I appreciate a good, heavy breakfast on the weekends but I usually prefer something light and quick. Mornings are tough enough as it is without added pressure from a breakfast routine. My weekday routine is usually me yanking my bag and flying out the door to work.

    Almond Milk

    Naturally, I like to do everything at night – including breakfast preparations. For several weeks now, I have been soaking oats at night and eating them at work the next day. It’s the perfect chilled breakfast on a summer morning. This jar of soaked goodness is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. (more…)

  • Miso Roasted Vegetables

    Miso Roasted Veggies

    Do you hear that? August is here and the slow race to autumn has begun. Gradually, the shift in summer attitudes becomes increasingly obvious – light jackets, talk of Labor Day, and warmer beverages. For my sake, let’s hang on to the summer celebrations a little longer.

    Local Vegetables

    There are still plenty of fresh vegetables and barbecues to be consumed. It’s been a busy but wonderful summer – Leili went to Europe to fulfill her food dreams and we celebrated our blog’s first birthday this year. This recipe is one of the final salutes to summer of 2015. (more…)

  • Roasted Asparagus Salad with Dijon Dressing

    Asparagus Salad

    I think it’s been a while since I’ve posted a salad recipe since I worry that it might be too simple and no one would be interested. Then I thought, ‘Why not? It’s summer and that’s what everyone is eating!’ Tell me I’m right. Either way, this salad is delicious and should not be ignored. Roasted asparagus, golden potatoes, perfectly cooked eggs, and a delightful Dijon dressing. Do I have your attention yet?

    Dressed

    As with most fresh summer ingredients, I like to keep things simple and let the vegetables do all the work. My only job is to draw out the flavors and add a bit of heat. The less time I spend on prepping, the more time I have to eat and enjoy the outdoors. (more…)

  • Chocolate Ice Cream & Fudge Sauce {Vegan}

    vegan ice cream bowlAll I need in this life of sin is a few heaping scoops of creamy chocolate ice cream. It fits into any occasion; at any time of day – it’s perfect for elevensies, a summer afternoon snack, or some late-night stress eating after last week’s Game of Thrones finale. (I don’t want to talk about it. I just can’t even.)

    vegan fudge spoon

    But as I’ve mentioned before, I can’t eat ice cream without feeling icky afterward. Lactose intolerance is just a cruel joke. The good news, which took me way too long to discover, is that there’s a solution to this dilemma. And if you give it a chance, you’ll see what all the fuss is about. (more…)

  • Flourless Chocolate Chip Cookies

    pecan butter cookiesIt’s about time, guys.

    I’ve been itching to share this recipe with all of you since the birth of this blog last year, but posting a recipe that’s been years in the making is like watching your baby head off to school for the first day of kindergarten. It’s so hard to let go. After years of effort, I can only hope it does well out there. It’s close to my heart, so naturally I want it to succeed. But no matter what happens, I will always love it.

    pecan cookies and milk

    Too melodramatic considering I’m talking about cookies? Let me explain. It all started back in 2012 when I stopped eating gluten, dairy, soy, and all processed food for a couple months…right before I started working at a bakery.

    I never said I was sane. (more…)

  • Roasted Honey Spiced Chicken

    Chicken Plate

    I might be late to the game on ramps, but better late than never with these beautiful, delicate plants. This is my first spring using them, and I am delightfully in love, but more on that later.

    Chicken Leg

    Let’s also talk about my love with chicken. Chicken. Chicken. Chicken. You can never go wrong with my first poultry love. I grew up in the city and have no access to a grill – this recipe is the next best thing. I wanted an almost burnt chicken packed with lots of flavor. Here, I used the sear-and-roast technique. Not quite the same, but definitely delicious and full of umami. (more…)

  • Arugula Zucchini Pesto Quinoa Bowl

    a to z quinoa bowlHere’s a whole lot of green comin’ atcha! What better way to celebrate the weekend?

    I always make big plans for my free days or weekends, with the best of intentions. I say I’m going to clean out my closet, finally perfect my brown butter croissant recipe, or spend a whole day prepping meals for the following week. I never, ever do these things. Who do you think I am, superwoman? I usually end up sleeping in, lazily making breakfast, and then I sit around spending way too much time looking at trending recipes, or dream places I could one day live, or fantasy jobs I could one day have. Right now my ideal job is to be a recipe tester at Bon Appetit (but, I mean, whose isn’t. It’s like the unicorn of jobs).
    final close upBy the time I finally get around to doing anything productive on weekends, half the day is gone and I have to rush around just to get all my necessary errands done. On days like these, I’m always relieved to have a quick, healthy dinner recipe I can pull out of my back pocket. Enter the mighty quinoa bowl.

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