All posts filed under: Food

Hello There, Would You Like Some Cake?

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I am back, after a week off to celebrate, reflect and contemplate how the rest of the year should pan out – taking into consideration of course the minor glitches, and/or set backs, I am thinking it will hopefully stay on course and if not, I know exactly where to escape for a few days to detox-if-you-will. So, before anything, I decided to share this cake recipe with you – not sure why I am craving cake all of a sudden, but I am and this one is on point and a easy to make for that July 4th picnic you are due to bring a dish to. INGREDIENTS 1 cup granulated sugar, plus 2 tablespoons 3 large eggs, at room temperature 1 tablespoon lemon zest, plus 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup whole milk, at room temperature 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon kosher salt CHAMOMILE STRAWBERRIES 1/4 cup honey 2 chamomile tea bags (optional) 2 cups fresh strawberries, …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Feta and Honey and Cauliflower Salad

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I’ve had the weirdest cravings lately – not pregnant – just that I think my body is telling me what nutrients I am lacking. Which right now, or early this morning, I had a taste for feta, and cauliflower and sweet and sour – which I probably could consider combining into one big happy salad. But then I saw this recipe for pan fried feta, and my dinner plans got a whole lot better. Now the trouble is, I also LOVE pan-fried Halloumi cheese – maybe I’ll do both.  Anyway, here are the recipes: INGREDIENTS for Pan-Fried Feta PEPPERED HONEY 1/4 cup honey 1/2-1 teaspoon black pepper, plus more for serving 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, plus more for serving FRIED FETA 1 (10-12 ounce) block feta cheese 1 large egg, beaten 1/3 cup Panko bread crumbs 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 thinly sliced lemon zest (from about 1 lemon) 1 cup cherry tomatoes 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped pita chips or pita bread, for serving {more}   INGREDIENTS for Roasted Cauliflower Salad 1 large head of cauliflower, cut into florets 1 can (14 ounce) chickpeas, drained 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder 2 teaspoons smoked paprika …

Food: For the 4th of July Picnic Or Just Because

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San Francisco doesn’t have the best weather for July 4th – Independence Day, where the highlight of the holiday is the fireworks celebrating our independence. So you can imagine most city folk travel hours to get away from the foggy cost and set up camp or a picnic somewhere to watch the fireworks.  Food is a big part of July 4th – come to think of it – food is a big part of anything we do in the states 🙂 But that doesn’t mean you cannot organize a picnic between now and then – and most anywhere in the world. Grab your loved ones or dear friends, a blanket, your pets and head out to a sprawling greenery or lakeside view location and just enjoy a day of eating and solid interaction. For recipes go here {For more recipes go here} {featured image source} where are you spending July 4th? And what is your favorite dish?   

Food: Dinner Tonight – Vegetarian Burrito

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I am still trying to understand why it is I crave heavy meals when the weather is so hot? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? But then again, I  have trouble understanding my body makeup and the types of cravings I need to resolve. For example – it was 98 degrees in downtown yesterday, and I wanted a full on burrito – with pulled beef, and all sorts of trimmings with a tall order of fresh squeezed lemonade. So, tonight, I am aiming for burrito at home – but a vegetarian one – not with tofu as this recipe suggests but with grilled-in-the-oven diced cauliflower.   Recipe ½ cup onions, chopped 4 cloves garlic, chopped 1 package extra-firm tofu  ( using cauliflower in stead for my recipe) 1 can pinto beans, rinsed and drained 1 cup cooked quinoa 1 tablespoon chili powder 1 tablespoon ground cumin 2 teaspoons dried oregano 2 teaspoons tamari 2 tablespoons lime juice 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast  (omitting for my recipe) pinch of salt as needed to serve: burrito-style whole wheat …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Watermelon Feta Salad

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It’s hot in San Francisco! Can you believe it? And us locals, although we love it, we also can’t handle the heat. Spoiled from the natural air conditioning throughout the summer months with heavy fog at the coast which we complain about the cold and the gray horizon continuously for three months  – but when we do get a few days of unusually hot weather, we complain again, wishing for cooler days. So for all the weirdest hot weather – I have decided to make a salad for dinner tonight. INGREDIENTS 4 cups cubed watermelon 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved 2 Persian cucumbers, diced 1 cup kalamata olives, pitted 8 ounces feta cheese, cubed 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar juice from 1 lemon 2 teaspoons honey 1 cup fresh basil, chopped 2 tablespoons fresh chopped chives flaky salt and black pepper {more} on another note – check out this beautiful outdoor wedding venue     

Let’s Ease Into The Week, Shall We?

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I have visions of just gliding into this week. Especially after the crazy hectic few weeks that seems to have become the norm in most everyone’s life. I am not saying that I have nothing to do, or that deadlines and such are not around the corner. I am just thinking a slower start is in order. I love June – its my month and no matter how the world and those around me try to get me down, I won’t have it this month. I am going to do my best to rise above all things and just be excited, and thankful, and happy and content for the next 30 days. So, here we go – these are some of the things that are inspiring me this morning. {featured image source}

Food: Dinner Tonight – Beans In Variation

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I care for my mother and cooking is part of that package – which I don’t mind. So every afternoon after work, I visit with her and help prepare her dinner. She’s always excited at the recipes I come up with, and the ones I find online where I add my own spin to the whole thing. Yesterday, while my head was spinning out of control, she asked about dinner and the quickest option I could come up with was a simple Cannellini bean dish which goes something like this – open two cans of beans. I use this one.  Bring to a boil, add finally chopped parsley, and sliced green onions, olive oil and lemon juice to taste and serve with toasted pita bread. Simple and easy. So today, I decided to expand on bean dish recipes since that is what we are having for dinner tonight. And here’s another middle eastern product my family has used for decades – and I sort of giggle now when I see it popping up in restaurant …

Food: The Simplest of Pasta

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When travelling through Italy, I always order Spaghetti Carbonara no matter what other options are available at a restaurant. I enjoy tasting different recipes used throughout the country – ones that are made from scratch and those that come in a box (yes in some parts of Italy they do serve ready-made or frozen meals in restaurants to be able to meet the demand, I was once told by a waiter, when my dish arrived in 3 minutes flat and tasted equally flat.  I make the dish at home and it’s pretty good but this very simple recipe, although not Carbonara, but similar, seems to be something worth trying once I visit my favorite Italian deli in North Beach to get the finely grated Pecorino cheese suggested in the ingredients. INGREDIENTS Kosher salt 6 oz. pasta (such as egg tagliolini, bucatini, or spaghetti) 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cubed, divided 1 tsp. freshly cracked black pepper 3/4 cup finely grated Grana Padano or Parmesan 1/3 cup finely grated Pecorino  {more}   On another note – have …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Pineapple, BBQ Chicken, Quinoa

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I’ve switched gears, just like that, regarding eating less comfort food and more healthy meals. Yes, the weather has been unusually freezing in San Francisco, with the weirdest of storms passing over the city. But my body is in Spring-Summer mode I think and it is craving more veggies, and less starch – so the meal planning begins to satisfy my cravings. Yes folks, the family usually works around my clock – in terms of food. 😉 So, here we go – tonight’s dinner INGREDIENTS 2 pounds  boneless skinless chicken breasts 2  cups BBQ sauce, homemade or store-bought (if using store-bought, I like Primal Kitchens BBQ Sauce) 2 tablespoon pineapple juice juice from 2 limes 2 cups fresh pineapple chunks 2 jalapeños, chopped, and seeded if desired 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped kosher salt and pepper 3 cups cooked quinoa or rice  – OR in my case, I prefer cauliflower rice over quinoa 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 1/2 cup fresh basil, and or cilantro leaves, roughly chopped 5 cups shredded romaine lettuce 1 avocado, sliced 4 fresh chives, chopped fried garlic for serving (optional)  {more} On another note – what TV shows are you binge-watching right …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Grilled Salmon

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Salmon is the only fish I’ll eat, when it comes to seafood. My recipe is simple, salt, pepper, sliced lemon, a touch of grass-fed butter, and ginger, bake in oven for until its done to your liking and serve with grilled asparagus. But tonight I am tempted to try this recipe – and see how the family takes to it. Minus the cumin – which in my household is used only for middle eastern or Mediterranean cooking. INGREDIENTS 1 (2 pounds) wild caught salmon (skin on) 2 tablespoons + 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons smoked paprika 2 teaspoons cumin 4 cloves garlic, minced or grated zest and juice of 1 lemon 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes kosher salt and black pepper 1/4 cup dijon mustard 1/4 cup honey 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper AVOCADO BASIL SAUCE 1 avocado, halved 1/2 cup fresh basil, plus more for serving 1 jalapeño, halved and seeded juice from 1 lime BASIL TOMATOES 2 cups cherry tomatoes 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil  {more}  On another note – have you tried these? I’ve been addicted for a while now – and although try my damndest to walk past it at …