Pinja Challenge: What Are You Cooking?

I made that...and those...and these...I was just perusing my In The Kitchen Pinterest board and realized... I've made quiet a bit of 'em. The tequila-soaked watermelon dipped in coarse salt? Yum. How about that cherry tomato pie in a sharp cheddar crust? Oh yeah. And the tortilla pizzas were my very own creation. Which I then introduced to Pinterest.Pinterest is a great way to collect recipes (no, they're not paying me). I like to open my recipe board just before I go grocery shopping and see what fun thing should be on the menu.Do you use Pinterest? What are some of your Pinning tactics? Do share,...

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Breaking: Husband Asks for More Quinoa

Roasted sweet potato rounds topped with goat cheese. Like a little sweet potato pie.I'd like to dedicate this post to my husband Ryan. Not only is he unbelievably handsome, muscular, smart, and charming; the man doesn't put up (much) of a fuss when I cook something a little... out of the ordinary.In the last few years, as I've been mostly vegetarian, people often ask, "What about your husband?" in a kind of old-fashioned, but-your-husband-must-NEED-meat kind of way. "Does he eat vegetarian at home? Isn't he hungry all the time? Doesn't he insist you cook steak for him?"Perhaps in some alternate...

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Quick Pickled Peppers

Peppers grow fast—and produce plenty. But I don't cook with them fresh very often. Instead, I've made jar after jar of super quick and easy pickled peppers this summer.Quick Pickled PeppersFor the Brine:4 cups water2 cups white vinegar1/2 cup non-iodized saltStir all ingredients together in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Once the salt has dissolved, remove the brine from the heat and set aside. To fill four pint-sized jars, slice approximately one pound of jalapeno or banana peppers. Fill the clean jars with the sliced peppers. If you'd like, throw in a clove of...

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In Praise of the Simple Meal

I get it.It's hot. You're tired. Cooking is the last thing you want to do. You're tired of takeout. Making a decision seems more difficult than cooking.That's why we all deserve the simple meal.Imagine it's a picnic, or a spread of hors d'oeuvres, and voila! Dinner. And it can be healthy, too.This particular night, we enjoyed simple kale chips (I've gotten to where I actually pop them in the oven before it's even finished preheating, further simplifying and speeding up the process) and store-bought hummus. Goat cheese with a dollop of balsamic onion reduction and slices of day-old baguette. Crudite....

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Always Eating: Healthy Snacks

My colleagues have grown accustomed to seeing me eat at my desk*. Not just lunch, mind you; no, I'm one of those folks who seemingly eats all day long. Not unlike Brad Pitt's character in all of the Ocean movies. Oh yeah, I went there.In the mornings, I pride my ability to stave off any hunger attacks with a glass of ice water or a cup of hot tea. And perhaps a rice cake smothered in peanut butter. I watch the clock, so that I can eat lunch promptly at noon, and follow it closely with a pseudo-snack that normally involves plain Greek yogurt dressed up with chia seeds and a teaspoon of lemon...

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Wordy Wednesday: Gratitude for Plentitude

This may sound completely contradictory to my detox notions, but tonight I spent a good five minutes explaining to my husband (over that bowl of steamed mussels) that I am so very grateful that we are able to enjoy food experiences such as these.Thanks to a friend who generously gave us a Groupon that expired tonight, we enjoyed a lovely dinner at Texas French Bread, where they put together a delicious, locally and sustainably sourced menu for dinner that changes day-to-day. And everything is fantastic. It is home-spun and laid-back, and Ryan and I agree that while it's a once-in-a-while splurge,...

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Detox

Strawberry Shortcake Donut from Gordoughs. I will dream about this one.Another birthday came and went, and without warning, this one knocked me to the ground in only the way birthdays can. Up until this one, it was easy: "Pancakes and cupcakes and wine, oh my!" But oh, no, not this birthday. A sudden realization of aging; the fear of missing out on experiences—good and bad—with loved ones; a glimpse of my own mortality... Things got a little out of hand and my sweet husband just let me cry it out yesterday. Twice.Part of my sadness likely stemmed from the lack of nutrients in my system,...

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Feeding Friends: Margherita Pizzas

This week, my best friend since approximately third grade and former college roomie (one and the same) came over for an impromptu dinner. It was just like old times, except we are both married now, and she's expecting. And unlike most of our dinners in college, this one did not involve frozen pre-cooked flash-frozen chicken breast. Or pasta. But it did involve fro-yo for dessert, which is the 2012 equivalent of ice cream. It also resembled college dinners because we were about to enjoy pizza and salad together. She and I have shared many memorable pizzas in our day. The thick-crusted, sauce-on-top...

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