My Way, No. 32

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— I’ve told you how I love jackets. I really like this style (with the shirt & pants) I came across: My Style | Pinterest.

With the Holidays fast approaching, I’m sure some of you have youngins in recitals and whatnot. I found this super easy no-sew tutu tutorial I wanted to share: Adorable DIY No-Sew Tutu | simplyrealmoms.com.

You could probably use the same technique for an adult-sized petticoat for, say, a vintage circle skirt (or adult tutu).

— Adventures in Food: After making the citrus-mirin eggplant spread, I decided to prepare a simpler version of one of my all-time fave dishes: Eggplant Parmigiana Zoodles.

Instead of going through the whole bake-fry process, I just cubed it, then added it to my sauce. I think I’ve prepared this at least a dozen times now, and it’s still going strong. This pic, I prepared the zoodles separately. Many times, I just add them right into the sauce, though. I think I prefer them that way. I did my sauce on the stove, but I think I should make a big slow cooker batch soon (if my cravings continue). Extremely filling without being too heavy. Yums!

Moosewood Mixed Vegetable Curry from this post:

I became distracted and almost scorched the forbidden rice. I caught it just in time! This was fab & filling. I only altered it slightly by adding a few raisins while it was cooking (in addition to garnish), just a few mistos of oil, and I threw the carrots and tomatoes in just a couple of minutes before it finished. This can be a super versatile recipe, and you can surely experiment with the veggies you have on hand. Will be making this again soon!

Remember this fancy-dish post: Beetroot-Cured Salmon with Chrain and Herb Salad? While I would love to present this absolutely gorgeous recipe one day, I took the fanciness down a few notches (to my simple level, haha). For my everyday needs, just plain ole bay-goohlz & lahks:

I really liked this change-up from my usual gravad lax recipe. I used rum (as this recipe called for instead of my usual brandy), shredded beets, orange zest, black peppercorns, sea salt, coconut sugar, and basil. I like to weight mine down before placing it in the fridge. Also in this pic is the Rosemary Cranberry Spread from the Pates & Spreads post. I used homemade yogurt cheese for the base. So simple & tasty! I made mini sprouted rye bagels with charnushka (using the NY-Style Bagels recipe) for both. I didn’t have lovage, watercress, or borage flowers for the salad, so I improvised with celery leaves, mint, and toasted walnuts. Yummy! I think I will leave the chrain a bit chunkier next time.

2nd fishy use: Eggs Mornay with Beet-Cured Salmon, Mushrooms, Asparagus, and Chive Oil.

Lighter sauce with skim milk and a wee bit of parm. Sautéed mushrooms and asparagus in the bottom, topped with some sauce, eggs, more sauce, finished with lox, steamed asparagus, and chive oil. If I could have more cheese in my diet, I think I could eat this everyday. Even with a little toast, very satisfying, without being overly heavy.

Last adventure for today: Spicy Sweet Potato-Roasted Apple Soup in a “Pumpkin” Bread Bowl:

I really wasn’t sure how this would turn out, but it wasn’t that bad. The soup part I knew I could handle. Very simple, just baked sweet potatoes, roasted apples & mirepoix (carrots, scallion & leek whites, celery), fresh garlic, chile arbol, nutmeg, few pinches garlic & onion powder (lends a little different profile vs. fresh) few pinches of coconut sugar, a couple of orange segments (at the end, just before blending), water, s&p. I’m not very artistic (even with something as seemingly easy as a pumpkin), so that part made me a little nervy. I think I did OK, considering my lack of talent. I decided to use the bagel dough recipe (without the boiling, just a few spritzes of oil), as it’s a very quick, dense bread. I only made 2 bowls to test it out (1/3 of the recipe, 1 cup of flour w/ 1 TBSP vital wheat gluten). I checked on them after 20 minutes baking time, and they looked just about done. The top of the “stem” was very brown, so I covered it with a piece of foil. They were nicely browned after an additional 5 minutes.

I used sweet potatoes as I prefer them to pumpkin, but pumpkin soup in a “pumpkin” bread bowl is the obvious alternative. The addition of cream would up the luxury factor. I took the bagel dough shortcut, but I know there are all sorts of fab bread recipes out there that would fit the bill. This size bowl is nice for a small app, but you could double it for a main.

— Celebs Call For End To Mental Illness ‘Stigma’ | news.sky.com.

— 17 Genius Uses of Witch Hazel | mixer2mower.com.

— After seeing this, I’m indecisive about making a stone or pottery serving tray. Maybe I’ll do both. Mosaic Serving Tray or Plate | craftideas.info.

How awesome are these silver and gold leaf concrete bowls? Golden moon surfaces | architonic.com.

— Today’s Lovely Dishes:

Most of the time, I have to be in the mood to eat sausage (unlike bacon). But, what to do with all that leftover T-Day turkey? Here’s an idea: Turkey Breakfast Sausage | paleoaholic.com. 

I’m thinking we might just skip the turkey again this year and go for an all-carb meal of spaghetti, wine, and bread, though.

Homemade sausage would be a fabulous addition to this: Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole | Sally’s Baking Addiction.

Some evil person left Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies in the lunchroom (and baskets of candy in other places). I barely escaped with just one cookie consumed, and I never looked back, lol. Looking for mint recipes, I came across this: Homemade Thin Mint Cookies | flavorthemoments.com.

Make sure to support your local Girl Scouts’ cookie sales, though, too (if you have the opportunity)! I have to give mine away, or else I can easily eat the entire box, haha.

Simple Milk Kefir Yeast Bread | culturesforhealth.com. “Kefir contains various strains of yeast. These yeasts are similar in properties to those found in a sourdough starter, so kefir can be used make bread with no additional yeast or sourdough starter!” I wonder if this would work with water kefir as well???

THE MOTHER OF ALL BREAD DIP RECIPES: OLIVE OIL INFUSED WITH FLAVOR AND TEXTURE | glowkitchen.com.

I love a pb&j smoothie! Several smoothies to choose from here: Delicious Smoothies to Enjoy! – Essential Health.

Flavor up this classic recipe any way you like: Duchess Potatoes Recipe – Chowhound.

Vegan Butternut Squash Veggie Pizza | Minimalist Baker Recipes.

Tastes like waffles in a cup, the blog says: Irish Brunch Cocktail | theflairexchange.com.

See you next time!

My Way, No. 27

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— Hope you’ve had a lovely day! Several Adventures in Food to share with you. Last week, I had a day I wasn’t feeling so hot. All I could manage to eat was a thin slice of a toasted bagel. I was looking over the Healthy Snacks Under 200 Calories post and thought the mango-lime sorbet sounded like something I could handle. I added a wee bit o’ rum (to keep it from freezing too hard), some red chile, and key lime zest. I tried to make it look tropical to cheer myself up. That’s also the reason you may see plates/dishes beyond my plain white on this blog — oftentimes, different serving wares give me a boost in mood. Perhaps this is why I have a hard time not buying every other set of dishes, glasses, silverware, etc., that I see, haha. I do love just the ordinary white plates, though, too — très simple.

What are your go-to meals when you have a ton of veggies (besides just eating them raw and unadorned)? I think pasta or salads come to mind first for me, also stir-fries, soups, stews, sandwiches/toast, and curries. A few weeks ago, I had potatoes that needed to be used, so I made these Mustard Seed-Potato Curry Lettuce Tacos: potatoes, black beans, tomatoes, garlic, quartered shallots, fresh coconut milk, apple, raisins, cilantro, lemon, yellow mustard seeds, and a blend of curry spices. Homemade Greek-style yogurt to top them off. They were very satisfying.

2 more dishes with potatoes: Grilled Summer Salad w/ Queso Fresco & Potato Croutons. My initial craving when composing this salad was raw squash, potatoes and grilled corn. I added to it a bit with spring mix, grilled asparagus & peppers, and roasted tomatoes. I used the queso recipe from this post, but with skim milk. I made a quick cilantro dressing and squeezed the charred limes over the top. Really delicious. I decided to add about a 1/4 cup more corn after I snapped the pic.

Gazing at the Healthy Snacks post, I also decided to make the Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Bites (simple and tasty!) and Skinny Pizza Potato Skins:

The pizza skins in the post were pepperoni, but I usually prefer veggie pizza. I made these on the spur of the moment, so I had to whip up my short-cut pizza sauce. I took the pic pre-oven as I was starved & knew a post-oven pic would delay my eating (toaster or convection ovens are a great option here). Toppings were sautéed squash & kale, caramelized onion, marinated artichoke, and the queso. Instead of cutting the potato in half, I just cut small rounds. I think I’ll go with the halves (as indicated in the recipe) next time. The small rounds were difficult to get enough of the toppings on. But, I think they would be fab party apps. These really hit the spot, and I will be making them again for sure.

I’m finding so many ways to use the homemade yogurt! I slathered a bit on a piece of fish for a pistachio crust:

I enjoyed this particular meal so much, I made it 2 days in a row. I had a flashback to culinary school (way back in the day) the first preparation. During one class, the chef instructor decided that I should be the ‘chosen one’ to filet a sturgeon. I just recall that it was HUGE — almost as big as I am, haha! Plums (raw) are a fruit that I have to be in the mood to have. Grilled, though, I could eat them every day. I served the fish with a berry-shallot relish, and a baby chard, spin, kale salad w/ berries, sunflower seeds, and a berry vin. For the most part, when I mention I made a vin on this blog, it doesn’t have as much oil as many recipes call for. I usually find some other flavor-packed liquid to sub & punch it up with other herbs, spices, etc. Oil, of course, has a certain mouth-feel and balancing quality, so I try to find things comparable. Also pic’d is a petite rosemary baguette (used this technique w/ my food processor) and rosemary tea. Just hot water & fresh rosemary. One of my fave comforting teas. Yes, it’s hot outside! But, there’s A/C inside, and I always prefer hot tea to cold when I can have it.

Last item for today: I finally had a bit of chicken, so I was able to make the grilled chicken with the Turkish spices. I used the same honey & balsamic mixture as the chickpeas. Yums! The Turkish spices were also great on home fries. I was inspired by the Grilled Chicken Caesar Skewers with Kale Pesto, as well. I used the same lemony-buttermilk Caesar dressing as in this post, and a baby chard, spin, kale, sunflower seed pesto. As with vinaigrettes, I usually lighten up my pestos by using less cheese & nuts and replacing some of the oil with stock. I might also add in some other wacky ingredients. Other skewers pic’d here are pomegranate molasses-mint, and homemade Italian dressing.

— Went to my friend’s fashion conference last week and all was grand. There was an Arabian horse show, as well as jewelry, accessories, and clothing galore. There are 3 class “break-out” sessions, so I chose to attend the Latin dance class the first session. It was SO fun, but I really should have come prepared with a workout outfit (instead of my vintage frock). There were also hula dancers for entertainment:

If someone can turn Latin dance into a fitness trend, I think the next one should be hula. It looks like it would be a blast.

This year, there was an award given for ‘Best Dressed,’ and one dress that had many of us “oohing and ahhhing” was this:
Sakura | Henkaa.com.

It’s a convertible dress by Henkaa. This style is called Sakura, but they have several other styles available. You choose your length and color, and they also have additional accessories to coordinate. I think the young lady demo-ing the dress said there were as many as 60 style possibilities. Now, that’s what I call a SQUEAL DEAL! Make sure to check out the website! *Edit: Here is a direct link to the young lady’s personal page for the Henkaa dresses. FYI, you can also host a style shoppe and earn 1/2 OFF items, as well as rewards dollars to spend on items from Henkaa. Awesome!*

I barely snapped ANY conference pics this year, but here are a couple of things I found interesting:

Rolling bag & the black fringe bag next to it

Handmade jewelry

I like these flowy prints (will Hello Kitty ever stop being so popular? I think not, lol).

— 67 Homemade, All-Natural Cleaning Recipes.

— And, I thought a cutting board is a cutting board is a cutting board. After seeing some of these beauties, I might have developed a new culinary product love. Why do people have to tempt you? Fabulous cutting boards and other kitchen goodies here (several items on sale & have a peek at the accompanying food blog while you’re there):
Products – Bowl & Pitcher

— Upcycled Furniture / awesome ideas! | Decorating Ideas | Pinterest.

— Today’s good eats: 
Impressive Date Night Desserts: Raspberry Souffle With Framboise Liqueur | cravelocal.com. 

52 Herbal Tea Recipes | adelightfulhome.com. Enjoy them hot or cold!

Seafood Lasagna Recipe For The Seafood Lovers | Taste the Food and Fruit.

Fermented Food for Kids: A Guide with Kid-Friendly Recipes | fearlesseating.net.

 Baked Mediterranean Fish | texies.co.za Easy Peasy

Salted Chocolate + Caramel Ice Cream Cake | Coley Cooks.

Cherry Tomato Sauce | frogsinmykitchen.com.

Ginger Sweet Potato Juice | Natural Thrifty.

Blackberry Gin Fizz Float | browneyedbaker.com.

‘Til next time!

My Way, No. 16

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— A great story on a local (Tucson, Arizona) mental health hero: http://azjewishpost.com/2015/local-woman-is-champion-for-mental-health-recovery/. Read my post on one of the many facets of her amazing work here: https://lacashionista.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/mental-illness-awareness-week-mental-illness-facts-and-myths-cafe-54-tucson-az/. This past week, I was also touched by several stories featuring the Duchess of Cambridge’s Children’s Mental Health PSA: http://au.ibtimes.com/kate-middleton-releases-new-video-childrens-mental-health-issues-says-stigma-attached-mental-health.

— I made a fabulous whole wheat garlic-rosemary sourdough bread loaf this past weekend, adapted from this recipe: Whole Grain, No Knead Sourdough. In addition to the garlic and rosemary, I used my own starter (vs. the established called for) and added a bit of molasses. I really like the method of tipping your dough onto a floured plate and using flour and parchment in your dutch oven as is discussed in this previously posted recipe: 5-Minute Artisan Bread. So, I incorporated that method into this loaf. I replaced the flour in the dutch oven with cornmeal this time, though. The dutch oven I used is larger than the recipe’s instructions, so my loaf had a greater width. As soon as it was finished, I thought, this is perfect for soup! There are so many soups one can prepare, so I came up with a Chunky Ratatouille Soup. Basically, everything you would put in ratatouille (roasted squash, peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes, oregano, etc., with a little added vinegar and jalapeno) blended up. I was going to make it totally smooth, but after a few pulses, thought chunky would be more interesting. With the garlic-rosemary sourdough alongside, it was hearty and satisfying:

After the Tea & Honey Pancakes I prepared for ‘Pancake Day,’ I did go ahead and make crepes for dinner. I wanted something savory, and curry was calling to me. Whole Wheat-Black Sesame Crepes with Lentil and Vegetable Curry:

I used a combo of whole and heirloom wheat. I love crepes a little more brown with crispy edges when I prepare savory versions. Sometimes, I make them more delicate, as when I prepare them for my mom or for dessert crepes. These were scrumptious reheated in the oven (without any filling) until they crisped up even more. I love the toastiness of the sesame seeds!
More soup: I saw this Hot & Sour Broth with Prawns and immediately had an Asian restaurant craving. I’ve never made it before, but it was so simple and so, SO good. Just as fab as takeout! I didn’t have prawns, so I subbed a bit of seared tofu. If Hot & Sour is one of your fave soups, be sure to check out this easy recipe. I also decided to prepare the Eggplant with Garlic Sauce I raved about in my post on our local establishment, China Szechwan. I merged this recipe with this one (without the pork) and obtained delightful results:

Shrimp with Garlic Sauce was always my fave, so it’s no wonder I really enjoyed an eggplant version.

— Just an update from my previous post on using salt to kill off your weeds. I have now tried both regular/fine and coarse salt. Both work wonderfully, but the coarse takes longer to dissolve. So, you might have white patches for a bit. Either way, it’s so nice to be free from harsh-chemical commercial weed killers. The organic ones are fab, but they are usually a bit pricey. If you think straight salt is not for you, try the homemade solution I mentioned in that post.

— This article gave me the greatest chuckle of the week: Canadian MP Blames Tight Underpants for Exit from Parliament. Well, good for him for telling it like it is, haha! Awesome!

— If you can stay between the lines, you can make this: DIY Dress Design: Clever Color Your Own Clothing | dornob.com.

— I adore this colorful Moroccan-themed retreat: Moroccan-Style Retreat and Rooms | diycolorburst.com.

And, you can purchase these, but I think a grouping of eye-catching, colorful lights would make a great DIY project: Creative Silicone Lamps Chandelier | aliexpress.com.

— Today’s Recipe Theme: Caramel. Why? Just Because. Vietnamese-Style Caramel Pork (could sub another protein if you do not consume pork), Vegan Caramel Sauce, No Knead Caramelized Onion and Olive Focaccia, Chocolate-Covered Caramel Coconut Bars, Roasted Sea Bass with Parsnip Puree and Caramelised Garlic, Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars, and Caramel Apple Cocktail.

Have a great rest of the weekend, and I’ll see you next week!

My Way, No. 14

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— It’s been a homemade condiment week! I love to look at recipes for homemade condiments, but I usually end up making them with the ingredients I have on hand. I did go ahead and make mirin as I posted about last week. I’ve yet to use it on anything, but I am sure I will re-make the sesame seed tofu (and hopefully salmon, as the recipe originally called for). I didn’t boil the entire mixture, I just added my syrup to my sake:

The great thing about making mirin is that you can enjoy the leftover sake when you’re done! After having those awesome Sriracha Garlic Knux at Maker House, I set about making a whole wheat version. I merged ingredients and concepts from about 4 or 5 pizza dough recipes. Perhaps I will post my actual recipe at some point, but I would like to test it out a few more times. In the meantime, I thought I would link you to a Homemade Lacto-Fermented Sriracha recipe. I just found this and have never thought to do a lacto-ferm version. Anyway, I added parm & garlic to the dough, then basted it with a Siracha-Extra Virgin-Garlic Oil, and finished with a little parm, smoked sea salt, and red pepper flakes. I would have loved butter, but my body has been averse to it (and I was trying to keep it a bit healthier). I was pushing it with the cheese, but it was a small amount per roll. One recipe I gleaned from said a bit of smoked salt can give pizza dough a ‘brick-oven’ appeal, so I thought, ‘why not try it?’ I didn’t have smoked salt, though, so I had to smoke the sea salt I had in the pantry. Maker House had a nice thick ranch they served with them, but I just dipped them in a little extra of the Sriracha Oil. It was a great accompaniment to the Spinach, Red Lentil, and Sweet Potato Curry I made again this week:

I decided to make an individual portion this time, but the pan is almost like 2 servings (with bread) because it’s so filling. Again, I added a little kale and had to improv the curry ingredients. Really a quick and delish dish! More condiment making for Game Day: BBQ Sauce. Yay for my 2nd fave football team winning the Bowl (the first, of course, being the Giants)! After preparing the tofu Fajita Salad with Chipotle Ranch Dressing, I had a bit of the chipotle in adobo leftover. So, I thought BBQ was in order. I made a “kitchen sink” BBQ with just about anything I could get my hands on, adjusting and tasting as I went. I especially love fresh or dried fruits in BBQ sauce. I added a little orange zest to the Sicilian Roasted Potatoes (with a mix of Yukons, Reds, and Sweet Potatoes) this past week and loved it…so, I thought I would add a bit to the BBQ. I cooked the sauce stove top this time, but I love the slow cooker for a big batch. The BBQ went on roasted garbanzos and these BBQ Garbanzo and Brown Rice Tacos with Dried Figs, Pistachios, and Raisins:

Finished with more orange zest. I made the corn tortillas with a press and baked some for ‘hard shells.’ I Misto the baked ones and use a mold so they stay open. It was tricky getting the taco to stand up for the pic, lol. I also cut a few of the soft ones for chips. I made some plain (served with lacto-ferm salsa verde) and brushed BBQ on a few. I Misto’d them, then baked them off in cast iron pans. I cook the plain ones on only one side, but I prefer to cook the seasoned ones on both:

— If you are renting and want to create a bit of personalized style, check out this link on Decorating Ideas for Renters. And, love this link for 15 Shower Curtain Projects, including using a painter’s drop cloth and turning any curtain into a shower curtain.

— I love vintage-style full aprons. There’s no reason why you can’t look stylish while dicing potatoes! I think you could easily make one similar to this black and white damask apron with just iron-on fabric tape (if you do not machine sew, like myself). I have a friend who cleared out her closet and only has clothing that is black, white, or black and white. She said this was an attempt at simplifying her life. She doesn’t have to concern herself with the items matching or not, haha. Even though black is not my color (on top, anyway), I admit to using the black-and-white-clothing-simplification method all the time now. If you have procrastinated and haven’t planned your outfits for the week…just grab something black and white. It goes from cas to business to formal very easily.

— Baby Chicks Have Left-Right Number Bias Like Humans.

— A few mental health articles that touched me this past week: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/01/nj_assembly_acts_to_let_teens_seek_mental_health_t.html, http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/sloppy-word-selection-feeds-mental-health-stigma-expert-1.2206217, and http://globalnews.ca/news/1797926/watch-coffee-shop-in-north-vancouver-offers-employment-and-hope-to-people-with-mental-illness/.

— I adore this picture:

Click on the pic or this link to take you to: Dr. Kathleen Young: Treating Trauma in Tucson | Mindful Monday.

— As always, I like to include a few tantalizing recipes that have come my way: Root Veggie Crisps in a Crispy Pancake Bowl (looks fun!), Roasted Makhana, Cheesy Greek Swirls, Mussels, Bacon, and Brie Tartlets, Cold Busting Coconut Gummies (cute & healthy!), Beef and Blue Cheese Risotto. I had a nice 1/2 iced tea & 1/2 lemonade with Bourbon for Game Day, so I thought I would look for other tea cocktails: Chamomile Honey Whiskey Cocktail. 15 Easy and Low Calorie Healthy Fruit Desserts.

Have a wonderful day, and I’ll see you next time!

My Way, No. 13

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— Very interesting piece: Umami Taste Buds Are Important for Your Overall Health. It seems kelp tea helps if you have decreased umami taste sensitivity. I’ve never tried kelp tea, so maybe I’ll check it out.

— I told you that I tend to accumulate far too many kitchen gadgets, etc. So, of course I immediately thought, oooh, I need this banana guard, sandwich box with a bamboo lid/prep board, and stainless utilitarian soup canister.

— I’ve found that seemingly little things can make me feel so luxurious…a bit of rich cream added to a special dish, fresh picked flowers on the table, a candle lit bubble bath with symphony music playing in the background. This weekend, I felt a little luxury when I used my homemade coconut oil for a soothing hot oil & deep conditioning hair treatment, followed by using it as a body rub (with a little essential oil added). It’s nice when we have a bit of time to pamper ourselves. After my last coconut endeavor was so successful, I decided to purchase even more. As I said, it can be a labor of love, but it is so worth it. I had an idea that coconut milk/oil/flour/butter making would be a great “party” idea. You know, like when your so-called friends invite you to a painting or moving “party” (basically a way to get cheap labor, lol). Or, you could make it a family tradition like making pies, tamales, etc. You could end the party with pina coladas or something.

— My coconut milk, cream, and flakes went into several of my recent meals. I forgot to mention a quick tip in my last coconut post: I wrap the coconuts in a towel before giving them a few good whacks (to crack them open). This eliminates the sometimes flying shards from going all over your kitchen. I’m sure you can find all kinds of additional wisdom online, but my other suggestion is that you make sure you have a very sharp paring knife handy (and possibly a knife sharpener). This will make removing the brown “skin” from the meat much, much easier. A dull knife is nobody’s friend.
I started craving turkey as soon as I saw this recipe for Thai Turkey Meatballs with Lemongrass Coconut Sauce. But, I didn’t have any turkey 😦 and didn’t feel like going to get any. Then, I remembered the recipe I recently posted for Lentil “Meatballs” with Lemony Pesto. So, these recipes collided, and I was extremely pleased with the results:

I took the basic ideas for the lentil “meatballs” and gave them the flavorings from the Thai turkey dish. For the “meatballs”: lentils (1/2 whole, 1/2 mashed), egg, little olive oil, tofu (frozen, thawed, liquid squeezed out), s&p, whole wheat bread crumbs (taken from the innards of the Niçoise sandwich I made), shallots, lemongrass, ginger, soy sauce, fish sauce, cilantro, homemade chili-garlic paste (oven-dried chiles & garlic cloves), and finely ground walnuts. The pesto sauce called for walnuts, so I decided to use them in the actual “meatballs” instead. I popped them into the freezer for an hour or more, then browned them on the stove. After browning them on all sides, I had “meatsquares” vs. “meatballs,” haha. I reshaped them after they cooled a bit. I finished them in the oven. I made the recipe for the Lemongrass Coconut Sauce, using fresh turmeric and foregoing the star anise (as you know, anise is not a fave flavor of mine). The recipe called for full-fat coconut milk, but I used my coconut water to dilute the cream’s fat content a bit. I tried to make up for the lack of anise and coconut fat by punching up the flavor with: red pepper flakes, onion powder, a little sweetener, and a pinch or two of mustard. This flavor combo satisfied me, and the finish of cilantro and lime zest made this recipe sing. Served up with soba noodles, this meal was fab! It was made better by maple bourbon milk. I have to find ways to use my Holiday gift of bourbon, so this was my second go round (the first was the Sage-Peppercorn Old Fashioned I previously posted). I’m not a mixologist, so forgive me if the portions, ingredients, etc. are not scientifically correct. I just make what tastes good to me 🙂 3:2 fresh coconut milk to bourbon, maple syrup to taste, blended for froth, served over crushed ice, garnished with fresh grated nutmeg. I separate the coconut cream from the water so I can mix them together at my whim for different recipes. I think the cream to water ratio for this drink was 2:1.
I also made the Low-Fat Banana Pecan Cranberry Granola Bars, subbing coconut for some of the nuts. I actually used a combo of walnuts and pistachios. I had cranberries in the freezer, so I decided to dry them myself instead of purchasing them. I used a little less than was called for and added a bit of maple and wheat germ. They were just mildly sweet and do actually not call for any added sugar. The sweetness comes from the banana and applesauce (also acting as binders). After cutting them, I stuck them back in the oven for 15 min. They were soft and chewy, and I was craving a crunchier bar. It’s probably because I really enjoyed the last crunchy batch I made wherein I accidentally turned up the oven too high, haha. I used the Low Cal Almond-Raisin Granola Bar’s method of grinding part of the oats:

— Tofu 2 Ways: I had baby bok choy to use up, so that’s what attracted me to this recipe: Sesame Seed Salmon with Mirin. I didn’t have any salmon, though! So, tofu it was. I was so hungry by the time this hit the plate, so it doesn’t look as good as it could. I tried to make it appear more dignified by only putting a small portion on the plate, but I really gobbled up twice this much:

One of my new top ways to prepare tofu! So simple, yet SO good! Can’t wait to try it with salmon. After looking at the ingredients of my store-bought mirin, I thought I should start making it myself. Here’s a recipe if you dig making your own condiments, etc: Homemade Mirin. If you’re really serious about it, try brewing your own sake for the mirin: Home Brewed Sake. My second new top way to prepare tofu is as a steak alternative in this Fajita Salad with Chipotle Salad Dressing I recently posted:

I made the marinade in the morning and by dinner time, this tofu was fajita flavor-packed! I only changed the recipe by adding a little balsamic and a pinch more sweetener. The tofu I used in both of the recipes was frozen, then thawed. I really love the texture freezing gives, as I’ve said before.

— Super cute and easy for any craft-skill level DIY Geometric Canvases. Also, very cool Aluminum Foil Drawings.

— DIY Black Lace Manicure & DIY Draped Skirt.

— RECIPE TIME! I made this Spinach, Lentil, and Sweet Potato Curry, and it was delish! I didn’t have the exact curry ingredients, so I had to improvise. I served it with brown rice and added a little kale. I didn’t take a pic because I started in on it as soon as it was finished. Speaking of curry…I always like to keep a ready-made spice blend in the pantry as a back up to my own blend (as with many other items like stock, condiments, and such). I quickly grabbed what I thought was a SQUEAL DEAL for curry powder and found it contained MSG 😦  . Why does curry powder need MSG??? Anyway, this recipe was fab, and I think I will be making it again this week. I have yet to try pho, but this recipe looks quite yummy: Umami Crispy Pork Pho. Months ago, I was saying to an acquaintance, “I want to try this pho I keep reading so much about.” I pronounced it ‘foe,’ and she said it’s ‘faaaah’ with your voice raising like another octave at the end of the word. Just like I said ling-er-ee when I first read lingerie, haha. Afternoon Tea delights from those in the know. Banana Split Cake, Honey Beer Bread, Jam Roly Poly with a2 Milk Custard, Sweet Potatoes Stuffed with Cheese, Black Beans, and Corn with Avocado Crema, Chicken Cordon Bleu Pizza.

‘Til next time!

My Way, No. 12

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— I was extremely busy this past week and could not find the time to blog. So, I will try to let you know some of the things I’ve been up to. But, before we get into all of that, I wanted to express my deepest appreciation to the late Martin Luther King, Jr. and his family. I, like so many others, would have never had the opportunities that have come my way without them. I believe MLK’s legacy has been felt across all of the nations. So, today, we honor that legacy. It encourages one to stand up for what one believes in. Common men and women have sometimes had as great an impact on society as royalty and world leaders (if not greater, in some instances, perhaps).

— From the Arizona Jewish Post, I thought this was a very thoughtful MLK, Jr. Day article.

— You know I love food and often write up all sorts of food-related tidbits on this blog. On this MLK, Jr. Day, I thought it would be cool to showcase a few chefs and recipes from the US and Britain (as you know, I adore British culture & food). Speaking of Britain, have you ever seen the television show Chef? I do not recall when it ran because many times we (the US) receive British programming much later than the original air dates. Perhaps it was from the 90’s…it was such a fab and funny show. I’m sure it’s in some sort of digital format, so check it out if you get the chance.

Avocado Tacos & Brown Butter Roasted Tomato Pasta by Latrice Fowler, African-American Chefs Shine in Atlanta, Black America Cooks, The Top Black Chefs Around the World, 3 Black Vegan Chefs You Should Know. From Britain: Mustard, Bacon, and Caramelised Onion Scones & Pea, Courgette, and Parmesan Rosti w/ Tangy Tomato Dressing by Ainsley Harriot, Spicy Curry Carrot Chutney by Jo Wesley and Avril Rogers, Pancetta Wrapped Scallops w/ Quince and Pear by Patrick Williams, Chai-Spiced Ginger and Date Tea Loaf by Kimberley Wilson, Pumpkin and Sunflower Seeds Savoury Biscuits by Enwezor, Lamb, Yam, and Butternut Squash Soup by Lenny Henry, Nice and Spicy Thai Chicken Salad (Larb Gai) & Vegetarian Nut Roast Pie w/ Cranberries by Lorraine Pascale, Citrus and Pomegranate Salad w/ Chili Honey Dressing & Lime and Cranberry Bread and Butter Pudding by Levi Roots.

— Also from Britain: Is the Media Industry Sufficiently Diverse?

— Have you ever been under a time crunch and forced to go to places and do things you would rather not? That’s how last week was for me. Sometimes, my whereabouts/locations can make things difficult. I managed to make the Minimalist Entryway Organizer I wrote about. Instead of bungee cords and a wood frame, I went for a solid wood plaque and elastic. I attached the elastic with a staple gun and drilled a hole in the back for hanging. Such a practical idea for your keys, glasses, etc.:

Also, I’m making a shelf, so I stained a cedar board (after power sanding) with a mixture of coffee and black tea (as I wrote about in my post on The Many Uses of Food Powders). I used soybean oil for finishing, but I’m sure you could use any fixed drying oil (like linseed, hemp, walnut, or sunflower). Super easy and inexpensive. The lighting wasn’t great, so I do not think the pic (before and after) does it justice. It’s a rich caramel color — turned out beautifully:

— I had to pick up a few items for my mom and snapped a couple of cute DIY craft pics:

These DIY’s were made by the store staff. The ‘button letter’ would be totally fun in a child’s room. Or, if you have a more eclectic decor, you could probably make it work in any setting (possibly changing up the color scheme). First initials for couples would be a neat idea.

— What have I been eating this past week? Well, I made a few more of the Detox Drinks with a repeat of the Grapefruit-Cado. I forgot to mention that anytime the recipes call for juice, I use whole fruit. It was such a busy week that I didn’t get a chance to make granola bars. Luckily, I found some organic store-bought ones that were wickedly reduced in price. SQUEAL DEAL! They saved me! I always like to carry some sort of snack bar with me when I go out (so I don’t grab at the nearest candy protein bar in a vending machine, haha). And, I had a couple for snacks in place of my (of late) usual nuts, figs, oatmeal & honey, or za’atar roasted chickpeas. I’ve found the chickpeas curb my cravings for sweets (as you know, I have a sweet tooth). I did have time to whip up a quick cream of roasted garlic and white asparagus soup (with olive oil roux & skim milk, finished with a little extra-virgin and chiles):

And, the Sicilian Roasted Potatoes I made for Christmas have made an appearance 4 or 5 times now. Perhaps I will take a pic soon. I’ve started using a mix of baby Yukons and sweet potatoes. Really quite delicious. As I had a lot of running around to do, I made a batch of egg sandwich fillers. I reheat them in the oven or on the stove, but I suppose you could use the micro (not too long, they might get rubbery). I just used leftover veggies and cooked them in oval rings to fit my homemade bagels. I start them on the stove top and then give them a hit under the broiler:

1) Spinach, Red Bell, White Asparagus, Garlic 2) Kale, Black Olive, Red Onion 3) Broccoli, Feta, Chile (just a little bit of cheese, and my body seemed to handle it OK) 4) Marinated & Grilled Artichokes, Capers, Tomatoes.
Other than that, I began to have a few heavier meals starting with a yummy hamburger (on a bagel, of course 😉 ) and a side of healthy Brussels and smashed baby Yukons bubble and squeak.

— I love to collect tea tins, so I was excited when my fave step-uncle brought me back this Burapa Bird’s Nest Beverage from his trip to Malaysia:

— I was inspired by this Pitaya Breakfast Bowl to purchase dragon fruit for the first time. Wonderful! I consumed some raw and threw the rest in the freezer for smoothies:

— Remember the DIY Silk Scarf Kaftan I posted? Well, here’s a DIY Kimono Cape along the same lines. While running errands for my mom, I saw someone with a gorgeous kimono fabric. You can make this piece with just a couple of scarves, needle & thread, though. Also, make sure to check out the link from this blog post on how to dye shoes.

— From organization to DIY suds: 8 Laundry Room Hacks, Tips, and Ideas.

Take care! See you next time!

My Way, No. 5

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— Well, we’re into the 60’s here in Tucson, with some mid-70’s temps. I think I can justify wearing a lighter cape right now. Get the scoop on capes here: 21 Cute + Warm Ways to Wear a Cape.

— I caught up with Mrs. Green (not her real name, of course 😉 ) from Mrs. Green’s World at the Viva La Local Festival I recently posted about. I first learned of her organization from a local magazine, and then met her in person when she agreed to speak at one of my employer’s annual conferences. Her website is full of helpful hints and tips, and I thought I would share this blog post on having a greener and more sustainable Holiday season: Green Holidays are Easier Than You Think.

— DIY Teeth Whitener. Interesting info on how an orthodontist noticed teeth whitening as a side effect of oral wound care in the 60’s.

— Cooool…Kosherfest.

— And, awesome new Jewish museum in Poland. “It is the place that commemorates everything that is gone and will never return. And it reveals hope for a different future,” says Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.

— Today’s Recipe Stars: Lobster Omelette OMGoodness, lobster and eggs were made for each other. Homemade No-Corn Syrup Marshmallows I love, love, love marshmallows, and even more so around the Holidays. Red Lentil Kofte, Zucchini with Butternut-Rosemary Coconut Creme Sauce. Today’s Featured Libation: The Queen’s Cocktail Check the blog recipe index for a pic of this delightful drink. Today’s Featured Base Recipe (basically, one to keep handy): Thai Green Curry Paste. Today’s Featured Cooking Technique:  Sorry, couldn’t make the link work on my computer, but go to How to Tourne a Potato by Gill Boyd (www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2LMzr2VPRY)

— After being on a breakfast burrito kick and then making tamales, I started making breakfast tacos. I thought I might as well make a batch of corn tortillas after making tamales. So, most of them have been used for breakfast tacos and a few for fish tacos. I love fried fish tacos from several places in town, but I didn’t fry mine. I actually took the time to make the eggs for a couple breakfast tacos my fave way. I love to cook them over a double boiler with olive oil (or butter, if I’m feeling luxurious). I love the texture of the eggs when prepared this way, but many times I am too hurried & quickly cook them in a fry/sauté pan. I have also been making my fave oatmeal with extra-virgin olive oil. It may sound strange, but I really enjoy it. I think maybe my mom got me started with that. And, after having that scrumptious turkey sandwich at the Viva La Local Festival, I started craving waffles. I just kept thinking about the sandwich, but as I didn’t have all of the ingredients…I had to settle for these Sweet Blue Corn Flax HHW (hand-held waffles).

I love sweet corn muffins, so I sometimes compromise and make a waffle instead. If you throw a few hot dog slices in, you can have yourself a corny dog HHW. I made these with blue cornmeal, whole&heirloom wheat flour, and flax. I put the flax in so I could feel like I was eating something healthier (instead of the cake that it really is 😉 ). I usually make extra to freeze and pop them out when I want a quick snack. My mom refuses to eat sweet corn muffins. I don’t know how I could have been born to her, as she doesn’t really care for things super sweet as I do, haha.

— I’ve also still been making salads and was reminded of the worst dining out experience I’ve had in years and years (just the food, the service was nice). I took my mom’s friend to a salad bar chain restaurant (at her request) a few months ago, and it was absolutely awful. I wasn’t expecting much and figured as it was salad and a buffet, how bad could it be? I think tried at least 20 items (salads, other buffet items, desserts) hoping that something would eventually taste somewhat decent. I found maybe 3 or so items out of all I tried to be OK in taste, texture, etc. The ice cream wasn’t even good. They said that most of the food was made on the premises and fresh, but I have had many fast food and chain restaurant meals that were previously frozen, microwaved, canned, etc., that have been better (and some that were quite good, in fact). I’m not trying to compare it to some fancy, fine dining place, either. I was just really shocked that I enjoyed almost nothing. We do have a chain salad bar in town I really like, though. It’s actually a sandwich chain, but the salad bar is fab and great in a pinch if you are nearby (and the sandwiches are pretty yummy, too).

— Keep that local love for your community going! 6 Ways to ‘Go Local’ for Thanksgiving. For those of you not in the states celebrating Turkey Day, you can still apply most of these tips to other Holidays.

— I guess as I’m fasting from cheese, I am now obsessed with cheese-related items. Love this DIY Chalkboard Cheese Serving Tray idea and these DIY Wine & Champagne Cork Cheese Spreaders are so cute! They would be great for the upcoming Holidays or any day, really. Beyond cheese, also check out these creative and thrifty ways to Decorate Your Holiday Table with Items Found in Nature.

‘Til next time!

WhirlwinDISH 26

Still preparing for Turkey Day sans turkey. I think I am favoring this dish for Christmas instead, though: Delicata Squash and Fall Fruits in a Dessert Wine Sauce.

Delicata squash from my local food Co-op inspired this dessert. I have never used it in a sweet preparation before. What started me on the path was having purchased thick and regular rolled oats. I began thinking about a fruit crumble, afterwards thinking about a savory crumble with the squash. Then, I thought about a sweet crumble with the squash. Ultimately, I didn’t use the oatmeal at all and went for this easy stove-top dessert. Many times, dessert wins out in my life!

I must say, this was one of my favorite dessert experiments. I might change the presentation somewhat (a little more refined, perhaps?), but the flavors came together beautifully.

The Prep: I sprinkled a little salt and brown sugar (coconut palm sugar) on the squash and seared them on both sides. Diced apples were also caramelized with a little brown sugar. I made a sauce from water, brown sugar, raw sugar & stevia, homemade dessert wine (as it’s on the sweeter side), lemon zest, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. I generally just use whatever sweeteners I have at the time for my dishes (like agave, raw sugar, etc.). For some preps, though, I choose to either purposefully use or avoid sweeteners with flavors that are more pronounced (maple, honey, or molasses, etc.). I thought about maple for this prep, but I decided to go with the more subtle brown palm sugar. I used my homemade wine, as it was handy…but, I can think of several wine shop purchases that would be suitable. So, I will change the title to reflect the appropriate wine when I’ve tested it out.

The Stew: I added the squash, apples, dried figs, and raisins to the sauce and let them stew. The squash and fruit were plated, and I drizzled a little bit more of the reduced sauce over the top. As I’ve previously written, I am fasting from butter right now…otherwise, I would have finished with a little at the end. If I wanted to make it more fancy, I would have spiked it and flambéed. Remember I said I love food and drinks on fire!

The Finish: A sprinkling of roasted nuts and pom seeds and a whip of homemade non-fat yogurt with raw coconut butter, vanilla, and raw sugar & stevia.
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Also, just a quick update on veg tamales. Last ‘My Way’ post, I linked to a recipe for vegan tamales, so check it out. I made a couple of batches testing the steam and slow cooker methods from the link. I just switched up my fillings and added a little cumin to the dough (vs. faux beef broth). I probably used less than a quarter of the oil the recipe called for (just regular veg oil), and they turned out fab (in my opinion). Less calories means we can eat more, right 😉 . I was also inspired by another recipe using a black bean chili filling. I used a veggie curry filling for one batch:

and, I used a “breakfast burrito” filling for the other (I told you I was stuck on breakfast burritos 😉 ):

The Veggie Curry: Delicata Squash, Tomato, and Black Bean. Sauce was made from sautéed onion, garlic, and chile, my own curry blend, cinnamon, brown sugar (palm sugar), and apple cider vin. I used the same sauce to top it off with, but added a bit of tomato paste & made it a little sweeter than normal (because I love sweet, as you know).

The “Breakfast Burrito”: Scrambled Eggs, Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Black Beans, Green Bells, and Asparagus. I’m also fasting from cheese, otherwise cheese most assuredly would have been included. Eggs were initially cooked very soft, as to not overcook while the tamale was steaming. Topped with my lacto-fermented salsa.

So many different ingredients and dough combos you can use for tamales. I would like to try some Asian flavors next. I used corn husks to wrap most of the tamales, but decided to test out another method, too. I figured some people reading may not have easy access to corn husks. They are readily available here in the Southwest, but I’m not so sure about other places in the country (or world). I thought making tamales is similar to making sushi, so I used parchment paper and a sushi roll mat to roll a few. I just secured the parchment with a little tape (yes, tape! Like a wrapped package or present). You will not get the texture that the corn husks give the dough, but they cooked up fine. They are also very easy to remove from the paper. If you use the slow cooker method, though, you may want to find a way to put a little water into the pot. The corn husks are soaked in water, so that is enough to provide the steam. Perhaps some slow cookers come with steamer racks like larger electrical roasters? Anyway, I think this is a good makeshift method, and you can probably come up with even more ways. The sushi roll mat may not be absolutely necessary, but it made the rolling very easy. Tamales freeze very well, so it’s nice to make a big batch for when the mood strikes.