Last Tuesday, I picked up my first farm box since signing up with Savraw. Here’s what I got: I’d never cooked with most of these things before. Heck, I didn’t even know what some of them were. But the Internet is pretty great for this sort of thing, and so are my friends. I crowdsourced recipe ideas and ended up learning a ton about food. Chard: Sautéed with garlic and added...
Inspired by a desire to eat better and support local farms, I joined a CSA/Farm Box organization. The way it works: I signed up and told them what I wanted — a small box of mixed veggies and fruits. (There are large boxes, boxes for juicing, and fruit-only boxes, as other examples.) I added on a loaf of bread and a dozen farm-fresh eggs. Each week, I’ll walk over to the local Aikido...
I miss blogging, and in an effort to return to more regular posts, I’m starting a new thing: “Stuff I Love” posts. How does this differ from most of my other posts? Um… it doesn’t. But this is my excuse to talk about the many tiny things I discover, uncover, or enjoy in my everyday life. First up: Umami Burger Yes, that’s right. Despite the fact that I...
Cereal is one of my favorite food groups. (Yes, in my life, it’s an entire group.) It’s breakfast, it’s an afternoon snack, it’s a just-before-bed indulgence, and occasionally it’s even dinner. That’s not the part I’m confessing about, because my cereal eating habits are right and good. But here’s my dark secret: I am an unrepentant cereal mixer...
A new establishment just opened a mere block from my house: Diana Sproveri: designer bake shop. This spells my doom. (My tasty, tasty doom.) On Thursdays from 5-9pm, the bake shop has Cupcake Happy Hour. (I know, right?) As a reward for making a deadline last week, I walked over to check the place out. From Food and Drink It’s a small, bright studio designed to highlight its cupcake...
Yesterday marked four years since Chris and I met at WorldCon in Anaheim. Chris took yesterday and today off, and we’ve been enjoying a rare, four-day weekend filled with gaming, food, and each other. Last night we had dinner at Cafe Carolina, our favorite restaurant. It’s a lovely little family-run authentic Italian place with amazing food. (If you visit, we’ll take you!) We...
Sunday we headed down to the Nisei Week Japanese Festival in Little Tokyo. Although there were many cultural displays (bonsai, samurai armor, calligraphy), I was mostly there to hang with my friends, enjoy the Taiko gathering, and eat as much as possible. This dude sat in the middle of the street, guarding the closing ceremonies location. From 2010 Photobook Mmmm, mochi! I’d never had fresh...
The quinoa experiments continue! My latest revelation has been something I’m calling “Quinoa Chili.” It’s hearty, healthy, easy, and much lighter than actual chili. (Because hey, no meat!) I started with this Spanish-style Quinoa recipe and mixed things up. More garlic, of course. Red pepper instead of green. More canned tomatoes, plus a can of black beans. Red quinoa, for...
After my last quinoa post, my friend Erin described a quinoa-based version of Tabouleh that she makes. I happened to have tons of fresh veggies in the fridge, so I gave it a try. (With modifications, of course, because I am lazy.) It’s light, crunchy, refreshing, and way too good for you. Chris describes eating it as the equivalent of drinking a health potion in World of Warcraft.) From...
I freely admit it: I’m having a love affair with quinoa. That perfect little grain — so easy to make, so versatile, so useful for protein intake! I’ve started making a huge batch on the weekend and using it for meals throughout the week. All of these “recipes” take less than five minutes from start to finish. Mac & Cheese, Quinoa-style I take quinoa and melt a...
My quest for a go-to banana bread recipe continues. Several months ago, I put out the call for recipes and have been slowly working my way through them. Last week, I was amazed by a very simple recipe that I managed to ruin by overcooking. This week, I was blown away even more by this easy yet yummy muffin recipe. Thanks so much to Shelley for sending this one! From Food and Drink Banana Sour...
Two food experiments and one glorious food experience for you today. First up, a quick-n-easy lunch: can of diced tomato (spicy), can of corn, and can of black beans on a bed of quinoa. This was dull dull dull without the sour cream. Which is a shame, since it was cheap and easy and made a ton of food. And it’s pretty! I’m openly soliciting suggestions for making this tastier: From...
First, the cookies. I felt so good about the last batch of chocolate chip cookies, I decided to expand my repertoire to Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. (Modifications: Butter instead of shortening; 2 tsp vanilla; extra oats.) These went well (the batter was delicious!), but with two full cups of oats and two full cups of chocolate chips, the cookies lacked structural integrity when cooked. Which...
Faced with hiatus (more time, but no money), I thought, “Hey! Cooking! I should, like, try some of that!” Of course, when actually faced with the prospect of cooking, all of the recipes I’ve been drooling over for months (on tv, in friends’ blogs, in books) suddenly vanish from my brain, and I’m left staring around the kitchen dumbfounded, trying to make a shopping...
I thought I understood small towns. I went to college in Ithaca — a town listed as “rural” in my college guidebook. But the tiny college town of Fredonia makes Ithaca look like a bustling metropolis. At first I was shocked by the general lack of necessities. (By “necessities” I mean: book stores, coffee shops, and movie theaters. There was one of each, although for a...
I made chocolate chip cookies. Plain ol’ chocolate chippers. And I made them FROM SCRATCH. Now, to understand how amazing this is, please understand that I had to go out and buy flour, eggs, and chocolate chips to make this happen. I already had sugar (Hello, coffee!) and baking soda (Hello, drain unclogger!). But did you catch that? I didn’t already have flour, because I never use it...
As 2009 speeds toward the finish line, I’ll be posting some rather silly list-style year-in-review posts, possibly more for my benefit than for yours. (Sorry about that.) 2009: FOODIE CONTEST SHOWS Why do I love cooking contest shows when I myself do not cook? I have no idea. Perhaps, as is the case with so many of the other shows I watch, I enjoy getting a detailed look into an obsession...
My favorite food during Thanksgiving is the Leftover Sandwich. Traditionally, the sandwich is made by toasting bread, slathering on some mayo, and layering turkey, stuffing, and cranberry-orange relish until you’ve achieved a beautiful, moist, gooey masterpiece. This is sometimes known as The Best Sandwich in the World. For years now, I’ve been enjoying the turkey aspect less and...
It’s been so long since I’ve talked about food! Tonight I had one of my new favorite dishes, so simple and so very delicious: Peanut butter, banana, and honey. From Food and Drink I normally eat this on a wheat pita, but I only had bread tonight. Either way, toasting the vessel is critical so the peanut butter melts into every crevice and becomes mmm-mmm-creamy-good. My current...
The lifestyle reboot continues! On my way home from work today, I bought a blender at Target (no, I didn’t already have one) and then hit Trader Joe’s for some staples for my all-new way of life. I have never before filled my cart with such healthy “real” foods, and I have never before enjoyed grocery shopping so much. Unbelievable. Normally I get so frustrated studying...
Yesterday was not a great day for eating healthy. It started out just fine, with a bowl of Cinnamon Puffins smothered in blueberries. (Many blueberries are lurking just below the surface of the milk, I assure you.)
My research into healthier eating continues! Inspired by Off Her Cork and her wonderful blog (good eats *and* martial arts — the perfect gateway drug!), I’m determined to change more than just my vegetarian status. I want to reduce my intake of processed foods, eat more raw and home-concocted meals, improve my intake of vitamins and minerals, and generally eat better tasting meals. To...
While I was in England, I ate incredibly well, and I ate entirely vegetarian. I blame Patrick and Stephanie for both of those things. I grew up eating meat every day of the week. When I got to college, I stopped eating red meat and pig products… “no mammals.” But I still ate chicken, turkey, and all sorts of seafood, mostly because I’m lazy and it’s easy to find...
I have never been much of a tea drinker. Oh, I drank tons of it during my brief trip to London, but to be fair, it was freezing and I poured so much milk and sugar into each cup the actual tea flavor was lost in the process. When I’m sick, I drink tea with honey for my throat. When I go out for sushi, I always get a pot (or two or three) of green tea to accompany my meal. But I’ve...