August 2010
24 posts
5 tags
Dinner at Spread
Just returned from a lovely dinner at Spread Restaurant in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego!
Spread has an entirely vegetarian/vegan menu of very unique & inspired dishes. They use only organic ingredients purchased from local farmers, so the menu is seasonal, depending on what is fresh & available. Each dish is served one at a time & meant to be shared, which, I believe, is...
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Trio of Dips...
Tomato & Basil Bruschetta, White Bean & Olive Tapenade, & Artichoke & Roasted Red Pepper Dip
Every month or so we like to get the ladies together to enjoy an evening of wine, appetizers, & girl talk. This time we decided to get together at my friend Colleen’s lovely home. I spent an afternoon in the kitchen whipping up a “Trio of Dips” with flavors that...
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Eating Vegan: Egg Replacements
Freaked out over the recent egg recall? I don’t blame you. I would be too, if I consumed them. But I’ve given them up. Completely.
Over half a billion eggs have now been recalled since the recent salmonella outbreak that has made more than 1,300 people sick. It’s only a matter of time before that number of sick people increases. But you don’t have to be one of them!
...
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Fava Bean & Sweet Corn Risotto with Basil-Mint...
I received a bag of fava beans from the CSA, & having never cooked with them before, I searched my blog-roll for some inspiration!
I am a huge lover of risotto & when I came across a recipe for ”Fava Bean Risotto with Garlic Scrape-Mint Pesto,” I’d found my dish! Now, I know that risotto is a labor of love & knew what I was getting into there, but I had no idea...
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A Food-Filled Palm Springs Getaway!
Anna & I had a blast out in Palm Springs! We stayed at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club & loved it! Super cool & chill environment, great poolside music & cocktails, yummy restaurant, & fantastic hipster watching…
We embarked on our 2.5 hour drive mid-morning on Saturday. Once in the desert, our first stop: Native Foods!!!! I’ve been dying to try it, & after...
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Hello, Palm Springs!
So we’re here at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club in Palm Springs!!! So, I got a little off track when I packed yesterday & in my haste I forgot the camera cord….oops!
The cocktails here are amazing! Anna took some photos with the Hipstamatic….
”Desert Facial” - Muddled Cucumber & Mint, Vodka & Pineapple Juice
Poolside “Anemic Mary” -...
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Desert Dwelling....
I’m hitting the road this weekend with Anna! We are heading out to Palm Springs for some fun in the hot sun (we’re talking 110 degrees or so)!
We’ll mostly be relaxing & kickin’ it with cocktails, poolside…
…at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club….
I am also really excited do some thrifting with Anna (she’s a professional), & check out...
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Cooking with Okra....
…for the very first time!!!! I received a ton of okra in this week’s CSA share & hadn’t a clue what to do! Anna warned me that the first time she cooked with okra, it did not yield such successful results & turned into a dish of gelatinous goo! Ewwww. OMG! Got a little impromptu rhyme going there. Sorry, feeling silly & still blissed-out from an awesome Vinyasa Yoga...
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Baba Ganoush
I’ve been receiving so much eggplant from the CSA. I’m definitely not complaining, but I am running out of ideas. Then, while perusing through David Lebovitz’s website, I came across his simple recipe for Baba Ganoush….
Perfect as an appetizer on a warm summer evening! Serve with baked pita chips & veggies with a glass of crisp white wine!
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Inspired Wheat Berry Breakfast Bowl
Wheat Berry Breakfast Bowl with Fresh Nectarines, Bananas, Blackberries, Dried Pomegranate Seeds, Dried Cranberries & Maple Sweetened Soy Yogurt
Wheat Berries are another CSA surprise that I really love! They are so hearty & healthy! Since the wheat kernel is left intact, virtually none of the nutrients are stripped away. A cup of cooked wheat berries is packed with fiber, protein...
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Tonite's Dinner & Lizano!!!!
I finally received the box of goodies that I accidentally left behind in Costa Rica - coffee, tea, & a few bottles of Lizano Salsa!
Lizano is a Costa Rican condiment & freaking amazing. I discovered it in my Dad’s pantry & put it on everything! Seriously, I could’ve & should’ve bought gallons of this stuff!
I had a bunch of leftover vegetables from the veggie...
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This Week's CSA Share!
Yippee! Some fun new things this week from the CSA! I’ve never cooked with okra & already found a fantastic looking recipe here!
I’ve been super busy lately & kinda lazy in the kitchen. I’m not necessarily letting good things go to waste, but I just haven’t been very creative. Time to hit the cookbooks!
Eggplant (Applegreen 4-5, Italian 1-2, or Rosa Bianca...
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Tao Vietnamese & Japanese Cuisine
I love Tao! I live 2 blocks from this place & I rarely eat here. Can’t explain why not, other than I cook so much at home & I don’t have the opportunity to venture out much, even in my own neighborhood! So when Anna & Alex called tonight & said they were going, I jumped at the chance to join them!
A fusion of Japanese, Vietnamese & Chinese cuisine, Tao offers a...
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Padron Peppers....
Apparently, they’re all the rage right now & popping up in CSA boxes & at farmers’ markets everywhere. I had never even heard of them! Again, thank you Suzie’s Farm for introducing me to something new!
Padron Peppers are a small variety of slightly sweet green peppers originally from Galicia, Spain. They’re typically served as a tapas with beer in “Galician...
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Inspired Watermelon, Cucumber & Tomato Salad...
My friend Anne & I are going to a BBQ this evening & we were asked to bring a salad. We loved the “Watermelon, Tomato & Cucumber Salad” we had last night at Urban Solace, so we decided to recreate our own version!
Vegenista’s Watermelon, Cucumber & Tomato Salad
1/2 of a seedless watermelon, peeled & cut into-bit sized chunks
2 medium cucumbers, peeled...
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Dinner at Urban Solace
My friend Anne is visiting from Brooklyn & we had a really lovely dinner tonight with friends at Urban Solace, a restaurant in the “North Park” neighborhood of San Diego. I’ve been dying to try it for ages & so glad I finally did!
Urban Solace is known for their “New American Comfort Food,” sustainable & bio-dynamic wines, creative cocktails with...
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Cherry Almond Steel Cut Oats
I love a slow-moving Sunday morning & a really nourishing breakfast. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends lately & not eating as well as I should be! I’m in for a busy day again today & needed to start off in a healthy way. I saw this recipe in an email from Healthy Bitch Daily & it sounded wonderful! I modified a bit & used Trader Joe’s “Quick...
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Green Beans with Lemon & Garilc
I LOVE green beans & had some on hand from my last CSA share. I prefer them steamed & simply dressed. I thought they would be the perfect companion to the left over “Heirloom Tomato & Goat Cheese Tart” I cooked last night (post accidentally deleted due to me trying to post & edit after too many Basil Martinis!).
Green Beans with Lemon & Garlic
2 cups water
...
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Panini Time!
One of my favorite kitchen items is my panini press! I recieved some beautiful heirloom tomatoes, arugula & micro basil in my CSA share & had some soy mozzarella on hand, so a yummy panino was a no brainer!
Heirloom Tomato, Soy Mozzarella & Micro Basil Panino
2 slices multi grain bread
Soy mozzarella (I like Follow Your Heart)
Thick slices of heirloom tomato
Handful of fresh...
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This Week's CSA Share!
Sorry for the lack of posts over the past few days, been busy & preoccupied! Trying to get back into the swing of things.
Excited about this week’s CSA share, though! Been waiting all summer for heirloom tomatoes! Love!
Eggplant (Applegreen, Italian, or Rosa Bianca)
Sweet Peppers (could contain- Nardello, Corno di Toro, Beaver Dam, Antohi Romainian, or Magno)
Bean (green or...