Nov 7, 2011 | Blog |
We are on a tight budget these days- for a variety of reasons, the main one being that I have taken the leap of faith to plug away at this blog and some other things related in hopes of creating something meaningful and something that one day might pay some bills. This takes faith, trust a whole lotta balls and a wonderful partner who is willing to foot the bills for a while (and he is pretty well fed in the process). Ahhh well carpe diem, life is short. Needless to say my culinary escapades are not cheap, especially in Miami (food is pricey here!) and especially when you want to buy whole foods, the real deal. This fact has pushed me to do things I have been wanting to do for years, which is make more things from scratch. Of course we make so much from scratch in the restaurants I have worked in but very rarely have I extended those efforts to my home. True it can be a bit more time consuming but so is making the money that it costs to buy things pre-made that are super easy and healthier to make yourself. Of course you have to pick your battles, I am not suggesting by any means that we all churn our own butter for goddsakes (though I would never stop you if you did).
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Nov 2, 2011 | Blog |
This recipe created itself while on a trip to Denver (the same birthplace of the “Salad of Virtue” and might perhaps have been the same meal…I was clearly inspired that day) and trying to pull together a meal without going shopping, something that many of us can relate to. I was perusing around my friend Corinna’s pantry while on the phone getting health insurance (yuck) and trying to get ready for a photo shoot that was starting in 20 minutes…the pressure was on. I found canned chick peas (aka garbanzo beans but chick peas is so much cuter), canned diced tomatoes, coconut milk, an onion and garlic from her husbands Will’s Utopian garden, a shriveled piece of ginger and some dried spices…now 15 minutes to go. I did not have the good sense nor the time to document the experience then but I recreated it last night so that I may share it with you all. Dare I say it’s pretty damn good and really damn easy. (more…)
Nov 1, 2011 | Blog |
Though I would love to post a recipe everyday complete with inspiring photos and the blow by blow experience, there just isn’t the time. How is this possible I ask myself when I am not even working full time? Well I suppose that part of it is because we have just moved and I do not need to tell you how much is involved in that, especially considering that I did it mostly on my own while Anthony devoted himself to the task of bringing home the bacon (grass fed and nitrate free of course). But the real truth of the matter is that I find this country- and Miami specifically- so gosh darn busy that I can barely keep up. (more…)
Oct 28, 2011 | Blog, Desserts & Baked Goods, Recipes, Vegetarian |
Something about Fall makes me want to bake, and the promise of whole wheat chocolate chip cookies makes me want to bake even faster. I am not sure why, but even when I was a pastry chef, this time of year was the most inspiring for me. Of course now visions of pumpkin breads and apple pies and hearty muffins are dancing in your head, mine too. I am in a bit of a pickle however because my fiancé Anthony dislikes all things above mentioned and would take Dulce de Leche ice cream and chocolate chip cookies over just about anything and everything baked (besides bread of course for which he would trade me). Admittedly addicted to sugar, I clearly cannot be trusted around copious amounts of baked goods, especially during times of stress (not sure if you heard but we have just moved and this qualifies as times of stress!). (more…)
Oct 12, 2011 | Blog |
I love kale. It is delicious, versatile and it just feels virtuous to eat. It is essentially a perfect food. I have been fortunate as of late to be traveling through the country just in the nick of time for it to be kale season wherever I have been. Phoenix, Eugene, Petaluma, Miami and most recently Denver. I was visiting my dear friends Corinna and Will last week who have an amazing and prolific garden that produces an unnerving amount of kale, the most beautiful heirloom tomatoes I have seen and some pretty incredible onions among other things. On a day when I was in charge of dinner and frankly just inspired by this bounty in general, I made what might be my favorite salad to date. I was so inspired at the time that I did not have the wherewithal to document this momentous occasion the first go round but here it is in living color in my starkly white but thankfully temporary kitchen in Miami (we move into a big beautiful place with a fantastic kitchen in 5 days and counting!). (more…)
Oct 9, 2011 | Blog |
I returned to this country after 18 month abroad with a different view of food and my body truth be told. I was afforded the luxurious break from the constant din of the media telling my conscious and subconscious what to eat, what not to eat and what I should look like. What happens when we are left to create our own reality and our own eating habits without having it shoved down our throats? What happens when we are actually afforded the time to contemplate such things and to let our psyche and our bodies decide organically what feels right? (more…)
