All posts filed under: Food

Food: The Romance of Brioche

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I figured time spent in the kitchen creating these beauties is time well-spent – for my family, whether it be for Valentine’s Day/weekend or a simple birthday surprise. RECIPE Spiced Brown Sugar Diplomat Cream 100g egg yolks (about 8 yolks) 105g sugar 30g corn starch 412g whole milk 1 Tbsp vanilla paste, or the scrapings from one vanilla bean 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1/2 tsp ginger 20g unsalted butter, at room temperature Approximately 300g heavy cream Bread Dough 1 envelope (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, lukewarm 3 Tbsp brown sugar, divided 3 3/4 cups (565g) all-purpose flour 1 tsp salt 2 Tbsp ground ginger 1 tsp cinnamon 2 eggs, at room temperature 2 Tbsp unsulphered molasses 1 tsp vanilla bean paste 90g (6 tbsp) unsalted butter, at room temperature Neutral Oil, for frying (about 4-6 cups) Granulated sugar for tossing doughnuts  {more} {photo credit}

Food: Dinner Tonight – Ricotta Naan with Eggs

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Also known as pizza to me. Actually I love Naan bread as the staple to pizza toppings and this one takes the dough 🙂 INGREDIENTS 2 sweet potatoes, cut into matchsticks 4 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for cooking kosher salt and pepper 4-6 eggs 1 tablespoon raw sesame seeds 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes 4 pieces fresh naan 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese 1 pinch flaky sea salt zest from 1 lemon 1 tablespoon honey 1 cup arugula 1 avocado, sliced {more}

Food: Dinner Tonight – Cauliflower, Cheese, and Tahini

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Sometimes, I just don’t want to eat a full meal – so I tap into what my tastebuds are craving and go from there – in this case: spicy cauliflower cheese bites with tahini ranch INGREDIENTS 2 heads cauliflower, cut into florets 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons hot sauce (I like Franks) 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, more or less to your taste 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder kosher salt and pepper 1/2 cup grated parmesan 1/3 cup grated cheddar TAHINI RANCH 1/4 cup tahini 1/4 cup lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1 pinch cayenne pepper kosher salt and pepper {more}

Health & Beauty: Healthy Blood Pressure

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It used to be health concerns were only for those over a certain age, but not anymore – health issues are hot topics for anyone at any age. I found out recently a person who is in her 30’s has to worry about high blood pressure and just the other day, a co-worker was rushed to the emergency over high blood pressure. Which got me thinking of finding solutions to maintain a healthy blood pressure in the most natural way possible. I’m not a doctor, but I am optimistic that watching what you eat plays a major role in your health. So if certain foods can help keep the blood pressure down, than by all means, I will abide.  

Food: Let Them Eat Cake…

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Better yet, let me eat cake. Especially this one with hints of lemon-lime in the recipe based on the chef, is one baked good paired with a perfectly brewed cup of tea. I mean why not get a slow start this morning and simply indulge. l i m e , y o g h u r t & o l i v e o i l c a k e INGREDIENTS | wet 1 cup whole full fat greek yoghurt 1/3 cup of olive oil 1 cup caster sugar zest of one lime 1/4 cup lime juice 2 eggs INGREDIENTS | dry 1 3/4 cups of sifted plain flour 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt [more]

Health And Beauty: Super Healthy Smoothies

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I have a severe weakness for smoothies and do my best to veer from the pop-up smoothy places all about the city for fear of getting myself in a sugar-overload addiction. But, once in a while, I want to indulge – at home mostly – being super careful with the combination of fruits and veggies to swirl/pulse together to create a smoothy that suits my health quirks. Another but – if you have nothing to worry about and love smoothies as much as I do – then here’s a site that offers up 20 variations to try: And this is the one I can actually feel good about trying: 1 banana, sliced ¾ c (6 oz) vanilla yogurt (I will switch it up with almond milk – no yogurt for me) 1 Tbsp honey ½ tsp freshly grated ginger

Food: How To Buy Eggs

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When I visited a friend in England last March, she had her dozen eggs in a small cage-like container on the counter in the kitchen and when she offered to make me breakfast, I cringed at the idea of eggs being stored outside the refrigerator – like we do in the states.  There is a reason for that I learned when I got back home,  why we store eggs in refrigerators and Europeans don’t. So, for the longest while after I got back, I couldn’t figure out what carton are eggs are the best to buy in the states? And if you happen to be concerned like myself, then read on or scan the bullet points below. Because it is always good to learn something new everyday. 😉 Kosher As long as they’re not cracked, almost all chicken eggs are kosher. Only broken eggs or eggs with blood spots aren’t kosher, and you’d probably notice that anyway. Free-Range, Cage-Free, Pastured Conventional egg-laying hens live in battery cages: cramped mesh cells that prevent hens from ever stretching …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Cuban Chicken in Avocado Salsa

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After every successful meal, my family asks what we are having for dinner the following night. And my answer is always – I don’t know yet. And then I get to work and search online for ideas, or variations for the norm. Chicken is something we either hate or love in our household and adding a creative recipe to the meat has become challenging. So naturally I found this amazing recipe and guess what we are having for dinner? INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breasts or thighs 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated 1/4 cup fresh chopped oregano 1 teaspoon cumin 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 tablespoons orange zest + orange juice zest + juice of 1 lime kosher salt and pepper 1 sweet onion, sliced 2 russet potatoes, cut into wedges 1 bell pepper sliced 1 small orange, sliced CITRUS AVOCADO SALSA 1 avocado, diced 1 orange, diced 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped juice from 1 lime pinch of flaky sea salt {more}