Brunch

November 7, 2012

I’m Back Broccoli Dip

So I had a heart-to-heart with a bushel of broccoli the other day. And here’s the deal — it’s tired of artichoke and onions getting all the attention. Understandable. And with all the football games and family gatherings coming up I figured this was a good time to switch things up a bit and show those tiny little green trees some love. By whipping them into a dip, of course. Now since this is my first post since bringing home my baby eggplant (pictures coming soon), I am a little rusty and I’ll have to keep this quick. But isn’t […]

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August 29, 2012

Salt-Free Bloody Mary Soup

Let’s talk about backpacks for a moment. Before there were backpacks there were bags. A newfangled way to tote your stuff around, whether in a nifty sack that one would tie on a stick or sling over their shoulder. There were purses and murses, brief cases and satchels. But no matter the name or design, the point was the same: bags were the coolest. Then someone decided to do something different. Some dude or dudette looked at that bag and thought to give it a twist. And by twist, I mean straps. Two straps. That fit over both shoulders. Hanging […]

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August 1, 2012

Good Taste and Good Dip

Good taste. In fashion, this means not wearing hammer pants with a bolo tie. In manners, this means not gawking at that guy wearing hammer pants with a bolo tie. And in food, well this is where it differs a bit. Good taste might just mean being daring enough to pair the culinary equivalent of hammer pants (zucchini) with a bolo tie (peaches) to discover newfangled, unimaginable ways to create flavor and excite the palate. This is where Karen Palmer enters. (Enter: Karen Palmer) As a past colleague at DailyCandy and a recipient of a culinary degree, she defines refinement, […]

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July 25, 2012

Baked Grapes, An Olive Alternative

I read books. As long as you count Fifty Shades of Grey. But my preference for literature lies strongly in culinary novels. Of every kind. Cookbooks, blogs, and most definitely magazines. And yesterday, I splurged. I bought four food glossies and spent an afternoon poring over every word. Every recipe. Every picture. And then I found this: Baked grapes. I thought my pickled cherries were a snazzy party trick. But man, Sunset magazine really raised the bar for olive substitutions. And when you pull these out at your next cocktail night or brunch with friends, you too will set a […]

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June 27, 2012

Kidneys, Cooking Classes, Scones

Pass it forward. Most of the time when I say this, I’m talking about shuffling that plate of spicy green beans in my direction. But today, I’m talking about experiences. And scones. But mostly experiences. Our lives are filled with them — good and bad; some worthy of pictures, some better left to a gossip session over tea; many part of our everyday routines and many others that are life changing. But all of them, moments in time. Our time. Many people keep their experiences to themselves. But over the years, I’ve learned that if you take these little time […]

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May 29, 2012

Mistakes and Low-Sodium Pickled Cherries

Last week I posted about Labor day and roasted garbanzo beans. Turns out, it was Memorial day. This is what some people refer to as a “mistake.” And like frittatas, it is something I make with healthy frequency. At least once a day. And that’s probably a generous underestimate. For the frittatas and the mistakes. As for this latest mishap? It is definitely more embarrassing than misreading the package of Gluten Flour while baking gluten free crumble (which I did last week). But way less disastrous than setting my kitchen oven on fire while making tortillas (which I did last […]

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May 25, 2012

Low-Sodium Labor (slash, Memorial) Day & Baked Garbanzos

(Before you read, be warned: this post mentions Labor Day many times which, as you may have noticed, should actually be Memorial Day. But because I believe in embracing mistakes, I’m leaving it. So please, enjoy. Even if it’s a few months early) Do you know why we celebrate Labor Day? Neither do I. But I do know that I love three day weekends, especially those filled with picnics, potlucks, and BBQs. So here’s a recipe for a crispy snacketizer — salt-free’d from Heidi Swanson’s Super Natural Everyday vegetarian food bible –which will keep you and your friends satisfied between […]

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May 10, 2012

Spring Polenta Tart For Mom

You know what mom loves more than hugs? Spending time with her children. And tasting the amazing low-sodium tarts they learned how to make. So when you spend time with mom this weekend, really impress her with this snappy spring onion polenta tart. It’s creamy. It’s savory. It’s crispy. It’s perfect for a mom-centric brunch. And it doesn’t involve making a flour crust from scratch — which to me, is the most awesome part of all. Caramelized onions serve as the salt-free flavor powerhouse in this dish. And when mixed with the creamy, quick cooking polenta, you create a tart […]

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May 8, 2012

Carrot Soup By Color

When introducing a carrot to your friends, what do you tell them? Do you begin by describing it as healthy? A betacarotene and fiber-filled vegetable? Peas’ better half? Or do you tell your best buds stories of how this wonder root likes to be the center of attention in salads and slaws; how, at times, yes, they can be loud and crunchy, but mild and gentle when the moment calls for it; and of course how they’re so flexible to your silly whims, ready for any culinary adventure you decide to throw at it. Broiling? Carrot says lets do it. […]

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April 10, 2012

SAVEUR This

Have you heard about all the crazy things you can do with salt? According to the book, Solve it With Salt, you can put that salt shaker to work to: remove water stains from your porcelain tub (if you have one); make grease, red wine, and ketchup disappear from your rug; shine  up your favorite brass candleholders; clean up oven spills (in place of smelly, toxic cleaners); razzle dazzle art projects with home-made salt glitter; keep ants out of your house; and soak up that smelly odor from your shoes. But are you also aware of the number of crave-worthy […]

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