One Pot Wonder: Chicken and Rice With Green Olives and Tomatoes

When you are your own dishwasher, every dirty plate, skillet and kitchen utensil can set you off (at least that's my experience).  There are times when I feel that I spend more energy and minutes rinsing, soaping, rinsing and drying than I do cooking.  For those times, there is a miracle solution - one pot meal wonders.  And this is exactly it!  One pot Chicken & Rice with Green Olives and Tomatoes.

Playing With Food: Happy Face Breakfast

Whether you are cooking for kids, adults, or adult kids, making your food fun is a fantastic challenge!  The other morning, making breakfast for myself and another kid-at-heart adult, I put together a happy face.  This couldn't be easier.  

On the plate, arranged in the smiley face shape are: two sunny side up eggs (eyes), black bean and chocolate chili, sliced avocados (lips/mouth), and toasted whole grain black bread (hair).  Later on, I added a dash of hot sauce to each of the yolks (but I was too hungry to take a picture).  This was a relatively healthy, definitely delicious, and a fun breakfast to eat.
#kids #cookingwithkids #funwithfood
Back to the blog

Vegetable Cabbage Soup with Jalapeno Chile and Lime

If bosrcht had a cousin, this cabbage soup would be it. The soup basically has all the elements of bosrcht minus the beets, so think of it as a paler, more innocent cousin.  Or perhaps it just doesn't blush as much.

The soup was a regular staple of my childhood.  The simplicity of potatoes, cabbage, and carrots combined together in a delicate melody.  The soup was garnished with a dollop of sour cream and freshly chopped parsley or dill.

This time, when making the soup, I decided to give it a bit of a punch with the addition of jalapeno pepper, fresh lime juice and chopped cilantro.  Last minute, I added broccoli florets for color and extra nutrients.

If you are not concerned with making this a vegetarian recipe, feel free to use homemade chicken broth.  This is a lovely bowl of goodness to keep you warm on a cold day.  Enjoy!

Sandwich of the Week: Burger with Swiss Cheese, Caramelized Onions and Horseradish Mayonnaise

Dinner time!  Tonight, I'm cooking for one.  Stocking up for the Seattle snowstorm earlier in the day, I picked up  ground beef to make a pot of chili.  When it came time to make dinner, the ground beef was still sitting wrapped up, in the refrigerator, untouched.  There was no time to make chili, yet I still had to eat.  Why not make a burger?  I call this creation a Sandwich Burger, because instead of a traditional burger bun, I used two slices of whole grain bread.  Sliced in half, I ate the burger just like I would a sandwich.  A bag of chips would've been a nice addition, but I settled for a glass of tomato juice.  Enjoy!  Make this for yourself, but the recipe multiplies simply enough to make for the whole family.

Craving more burger ideas?  Be sure to check out these posts.

Dining out in Portugal: Culinary Adventures in Lisbon

It's snowing today in Seattle and I'm reminiscing over sunny and slightly warmer days in Lisbon, Portugal.  One of the joys of travels is discovering new culture, and one of the most delicious ways of doing it is through food!  I wanted to share photos and thoughts of my culinary adventures in Portugal with you, dear snackers!

Portugal is famous for its seafood (proximity to the source) and Vinho Verde (fresh, slightly effervescent wine made from "green grapes").  Our first meal in Lisbon was at a local restaurant, Restaurante Rio Coura, bustling with jovial chatter of the locals, clinking of glasses,and swishy sounds of paper table cloths turned over to greet new guests.

Project "You Buy, You Cook" ~ Morning Breakfast Scrabmle

The tables are turned and I am changing the rules of the "You Buy, I Cook" project.  In this installment, we will be doing things a little bit differently.  I decided to put the artist to work in my kitchen this morning, encouraging him to make breakfast from the groceries he brought over last week.

I must admit, not putting in my 2 or 4 cents and staying out of the kitchen while he cooked was challenging, to say the least.  But, I am happy to report that the kitchen didn't burn down, the food turned out delicious and healthy, and there was not too much to clean up.

Not Your Average Market - Photo Adventures from Mercat de la Boqueria in Barcelona, Spain

In Seattle, we are spoiled by having Pike Place Market right in our backyard, so to speak.  Years ago, I worked within a 2-minute walk from the market and made it my daily lunch destination.  I love taking out-of-town friends to the market to share with them the bounty of the Northwest.  Regardless of the time of the year, you can always be sure to find the freshest and most delicious offerings there.

My love affair with markets must have started in my early childhood.  I remember my grandmother taking my sister and me to the main market in Moscow, Russia where we walked through the aisles and were greeted by old, wrinkly ladies selling sunflower seeds, fat juicy pickles, and my favorite - pickled garlic.

Project "You Buy, I Cook" ~ Tortilla Española: The Spanish Omelet

On the heels of our European adventures, the artist showed up at my door with two bags of groceries.  Among other goodies inside, I found a bag of potatoes, a carton of eggs, and an onion.

These three ingredients led themselves perfectly to the re-creation of a true standby at any of Spain's tapas bars - Tortilla Española.  At first glance, the name of the dish might be misleading, making you think of a staple in Mexican cuisine - the tortilla - made out of either corn or wheat flour, used for tacos, enchiladas, etc.

The Spanish version of the tortilla is a different animal, altogether.  It is an omelet, of sorts, made with thinly sliced or cubed potatoes.  Served either warm or at room temperature, it is accompanied by aioli, a mixture of olive-oil based mayonnaise and lots of garlic.

Happy New Year ~ Ringing in the 2012 in style, in Barcelona, Spain

This year, I found myself ringing in the New Year in Barcelona, Spain, with the artist and his family.  We joined the masses of Spaniards at one of the city's squares, by the water, with a bottle of champagne and a stack of plastic glasses. 

Food Photo Styling Workshop - Make Your Food Look as Good as it Tastes, or Better

Months ago, I was lucky to attend a photo styling workshop with the fabulous, talented, and funny Clare Barboza and Becky Selengut.  I offered my skills as a dishwasher (aka kitchen manager) and in turn was graciously offered a space in the workshop.  I definitely got the better end of the bargain!

I have to admit, I was the only one among the students with the point-and-shoot camera, and might have experienced a bit of camera envy and camera inadequacy.  But I carried through and had a fantastic time.

Here are my favorite and, in my opinion, most successful photos from the shoot.

Thanks ladies!

Good morning - all inclusive breakfast in Lisbon, Portugal

You probably don't want to be too hungry while looking at these photos.  I snapped a few shots from our breakfast at the Internacional Design hotel in Lisbon, Portugal.  Mimosas, cold cuts, quiche, pastries, and coffee!  Makes me one happy girl, and perhaps just a bit tired and hoping for a nap that is not going to happen.  Notice the orange accents at the bar.  I have to say, I haven't seen that much orange everywhere in a long time.  It makes me feel right at home.

Enjoy!

Happy Holidays with Cookie Decorating

I might not be Martha Stewart, as much as I might want to be, but I do know a thing or two about cookie decorating.  In time that it took a bunch of 5th graders decorate dozens of cookies, smearing icing everywhere in sight, and sneaking in an occasional chocolate chip or two, I decorated six cookies.

Which one is your favorite?

These cookies were decorated at Allrecipes for the Cookies Across America project.

Back to the blog

Project "You Buy, I Cook" ~ For the Love of Orange

A mother should not admit to having a favorite child.  I should not admit to having a favorite You Buy, I Cook  project. But if I did, this one would be it!  It all started with an article claiming that orange is the color of 2012. Orange, just happens to be my favorite color, ever, no doubt!  After an impromptu facebook chat with my friend Angie, I decided to host a special edition of You Buy, I Cook - For the Love of Orange.


The lovely ladies (in order of appearance) Alla, Angie, Anna, and Kellie came to my kitchen with orange, and other color goodies and we set to cook!

Scroll down to see what we had on the menu.  Interested in a particular "recipe"? Let me know!

Homemade Holiday Gifts Baked to Order: Biscotti

The holidays are just around the corner! If you want to gift your family and friends with delicious, freshly baked biscotti, but don't have the time, I am here to help!  


Select from several varieties, or pick your personal favorite combination of dried fruit and nuts

*Cranberry and Walnut
*Orange, Cranberry and Pistachios 
*Raisin and Pecan
*Apricot and Walnut
*Poppy Seed and Lemon
*Ginger and Almond
*Chocolate Chip and Walnut
*Clean Your Pantry: combination of dried fruit and nuts

You will get a dozen of biscotti cookies per order, baked to order. Each biscotti is approximately 4-5" in length, and 1/2" in width. $15/dozen plus shipping.


Order through the blog or place your order on etsy.


Back to the blog

Cookies Across America with Allrecipes and Nestlé Toll House

I am so excited to take part of Cookies Across America with Allrecipes and Nestlé Toll House tomorrow!   I will be joining Allrecipes staff and a group of Seattle food bloggers to decorate cookies that will be later donated to Pikes Place Senior Center.


For those of you who can't make it tomorrow but still want to participate, please pledge to bake cookies during this holiday season and share them with those in need.

Happy holidays!

Back to the blog