One Green Table

Sunday Supper :: {Fake} Pho

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 03:39:00 +0000

What's the very first thing that pops into your mind for dinner when it's cold, windy and raining outside?

Soup. Am I right?

Well we had one of those days recently so I took the liberty of making the best soup ever.

Pho is a Vietnamese soup that is out of this world. If you haven't had it, imagine a flavorful broth filled with noodles, veggies and herbs, then topped with a few pieces of meat and garnished with a spicy/tangy sauce to tie it all together. It's truly one of my all-time favorite foods, and I dabbled in making it at home - on one of those nights, as mentioned previously.

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Traditionally, Pho is made with an herb-infused beef broth, topped with slices of beef or some kind of meatball, and filled with rice noodles. My version contains store bought vegetable stock, turkey meatballs and Ramen noodles. It's truly a semi-homemade and very much Americanized version of Vietnamese Pho, if you will.

Pho with Turkey Meatballs

Ingredients

Turkey Meatballs

Sauce

1/8 cup sliced green onions

1 tbsp minced garlic

1 tsp minced fresh ginger

2 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce

1 tbsp rice vinegar

1 tbsp sesame oil

1 tbsp honey

1-1/2 tsp hoisin sauce

1 tsp Sriracha or chili paste

Soup

2 cups of sliced cabbage

2 packages of Ramen Noodles (discard seasoning packet)

32 oz container of vegetable stock

1 tablespoon of oregano

Method

Start with Knead to Cook's Baked Turkey, Quinoa and Spinach Meatballs - I change the ingredients only slightly, eliminating the Italian seasoning and adding 1 tablespoon Sriracha.

While the meatballs are cooking, make the sauce. Combine all ingredients, adjusting as needed for your tastebuds. {Add extra Sriracha for more spice, extra vinegar to make it tangier, etc.} Set aside.

Combine entire container of vegetable stock with 3 cups of water and bring to a boil. Once the broth has come to a boil, add oregano, Ramen Noodles and cabbage. Boil for 3 minutes.

Assemble as follows: Ladle soup into a bowl, top with a few meatballs, then spoon sauce over the top. Eat with chop sticks and a spoon.

{Recipe adapted from The Perfect Pantry}

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For a more authentic recipe, use rice noodles and serve with a bevy of garnishes, from bean sprouts to jalapenos and basil.

Destin Eats

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 01:18:00 +0000

People travel to Destin, FL year after year for the sugar white beaches, fresh seafood and endless emerald green water. It's truly paradise, and I try to take a moment every day to appreciate where I live and not become jaded by all its beauty.

But I'll be honest, it has been a huge adjustment for Ross and me moving from a culture-rich city like Austin to a tiny beach town. I miss the {free} live music, plethora of ethnic restaurants and multitude of happy hour options; the things that I traded for sand between my toes, weekends spent on the boat, and raw oysters.

All that being said; I couldn't be happier. It takes a while to find the hidden gems in a town that most people know for the over-priced seafood at Gulf-front monstrosities of restaurants, such as Pompano Joe's and Whale's Tail.

I warn you: avoid these restaurants at all costs! Do not waste your money. Spend your days laying on the beach, then leave the beach when you get hungry. There are a handful of really great restaurants in Destin that the curious tourist may have discovered, but are often over-looked by the masses.

And so, with that, I give you my greatest hits list.

Sushi at Harbor Docks

Best of Destin: Restaurants

Seafood

The Boathouse Oyster Bar :: Stop by this Destin Harbor staple when you've had too much sun but want to keep the party going. We love dropping by Boathouse on a Saturday afternoon for raw oysters, boiled peanuts, cold beer and live music by a few resident musicians.

Recommended Eats: Raw Oysters and Crab Cake Sandwich

The Big Deck at Harbor Docks :: Sure there's always a nice, long wait to be seated for dinner inside this Destin staple, but The Big Deck boasts an eclectic mix of sushi, stout drinks and live music from local artists.

Recommended Eats: Seaweed Salad and Amazon Roll or Panhandle Roll

Ethnic

Jasmine Thai :: Destin is at a huge loss for ethnic food, but I've found that this tiny restaurant's red curry and a handful of vegetarian dishes can easily compete with my Austin favorite, Little Thai.

Recommended Eats: G3 {Panang}

Fat Clemenza's :: If there is one thing in this world I can't get enough of, it's Italian food. I guarantee you will swoon over every single item that comes out of their brick oven.

Recommended Eats: Any of the Wood Fired Pizzas

Fine Dining

{Take this with a grain of salt, as no place in Destin requires a jacket or tie}

The Wine Bar at Wine World :: This delightful restaurant is located within our favorite wine shop. Think rack of lamb paired with the perfect glass of wine.

Recommended Eats: Chicken Piccata (when available) or Pan Seared Ahi Tuna

Louisiana Lagniappe :: Yet another Harbor view restaurant, but nestled within the Sandpiper Cove neighborhood, this slightly touristy jaunt offers fish prepared every way you could possibly imagine - but they nail it every time.

Recommended Eats: Corn & Crab Bisque and Grouper Almondine

Lunch

Cabana Cafe :: Tucked inside Seascape Resort, this beachy restaurant boasts live music, awesome sandwiches and really friendly staff.

Recommended Eats: French Dip {to. die. for.}

Beach Bar :: Located below Camille's {sister restaurant to Harbor Docks} in Crystal Beach, this lunch spot is conveniently located just across the street from the beach but small enough to keep a low profile.

Recommended Eats: Garden Mushroom Sandwich

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Weeknight Meals :: Black Bean Tostadas

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:30:00 +0000

Black beans are truly one of my all time favorite foods. They are the perfect substitute in many hearty meat dishes.

I absolutely love black bean burgers, black bean tacos, black bean salsa, and particularly...

Black Bean Tostadas

corn tortillas

seasoned black beans {recipe below}

shredded sharp cheddar cheese

avocado

reduced fat sour cream or plain greek yogurt

your favorite salsa {or pineapple salsa}

{Seasoned Black Beans: Sauté 1/2 diced red onion, 1/2 diced red bell pepper and 1/2 diced green bell pepper in 1 tbsp of canola oil until peppers and onion begin to soften. Add two cans of drained and rinsed black beans with 1/4 cups of vegetable broth. Season with 1 tsp of cayenne pepper and 1 tsp of cumin. Simmer over low heat for up to 1 hour and season with salt to taste.}

Turn broiler on low and allow oven to preheat. Lay tortillas directly on the oven rack and broil for a few minutes on each side, until the tortillas are crispy. Top each tortilla with 1/4 cup of black beans, spreading the beans to the edge and top with shredded cheese. Once prepared, put each tortilla back under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Top with avocado, sour cream and salsa.

{Serve with spanish rice and sautéed vegetables}

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I feel like the most common misconception about Mexican cuisine, or Latin cuisine in general, is that it's fattening and unhealthy. But it really doesn't have to be. Mexican food is all about flavor, not fat.

Okay, so technically traditional tostadas are fried then topped with refried beans, cheese and the like. But baking and topping with vegetarian beans in lieu of frying then topping with refried beans is much healthier, and you don't lose the flavor. I promise.

Fresh Taste :: Pineapple Salsa

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0000

I love all kinds of salsa, from the unique and bizarre to the completely standard {i.e. Pace Picante}. So topping our fish tacos the other night with pineapple salsa sounded like a fantastic idea, and a fresh Floridian take on our favorite Mexican cuisine.

Homemade Pineapple Salsa

1 cup diced pineapple

2 seeded and diced vine-ripe tomatoes

1/4 cup small diced red onion

2 finely chopped cloves of garlic

1 seeded, deveined and finely chopped jalapeño

juice of one lime

chopped cilantro to taste

salt to tase

Combine all ingredients in a bowl adding as much cilantro as you like and salting it to taste. NOTE: If you aren't sure if you like cilantro, err on the side of caution. I've found that people either love or hate cilantro, so feel free to leave out the cilantro entirely, or add just a small amount, if you don't care for it.

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Don't like fish tacos? Add this salsa to a Mexican salad or fajitas, or simply replace any meal that calls for pico de gallo with this for a fresh take on an old favorite.

Sunday Supper :: Garlic Shrimp Pasta

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 01:04:00 +0000

I'm fresh out of words this Sunday, but not without recipe.

You'll love this whole wheat pasta topped with capers, shrimp, green onion and spicy red pepper flakes, served with roasted asparagus.

Emeril's Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Bountiful Breakfast :: Banana Pancakes

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 16:18:00 +0000

I spend my week days organizing healthy meals and snacks, avoiding alcohol like the plague, and getting in all of the key food groups. However, come Friday at 5:00pm, all bets are off.

Hey, you only live once, right? Friday night happy hours, Saturday afternoon beer and oysters, and {of course} brunch.

This weekend I went a different route than the usual eggs, biscuits and fruit. And it was a great decision, I might add, because these pancakes are really the gift that keeps on giving.

Whole Wheat Banana-Blueberry Pancakes

These pancakes are so fluffy and just slightly sweet, thanks to the honey, bananas and blueberries. Topped with just the tiniest bit of maple syrup, these pancakes are pure bliss.

{This recipe is adapted from 100 Days of Real Food}

Ingredients

2 cups whole-wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon honey
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 ¾ cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 ripe bananas, mashed
butter or light butter alternative for frying
100% pure maple syrup for serving

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Make a well (hole) in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the honey, eggs, almond milk, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Whisk together thoroughly, but do not overmix.
Gently fold the mashed bananas into the batter with a spatula.
Heat a griddle or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Swirl enough butter around the pan until it is well coated. Add pancake batter using a soup ladle, then drop in blueberries.
When the pancakes have begun brown on the bottom, flip them over to cook the other side.
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As noted in her blog post, these are perfect for freezing! I was excited to read this because Ross loves nothing more than high sugar breakfast items during the week {blueberry muffins from the bakery, apple turnovers, everything bagels}, so this is a nice alternative that's lower in sugar and includes whole grains.

Weekend Notes

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 01:16:00 +0000

{Forgive me for my tardiness. Weekend notes :: one week late}

I had an absolutely amazing weekend. One of those weekends where Monday through Friday were filled reminiscing, holding in giggles and smiles about how perfect and highly entertaining it really was.

Ross and I both had friends come in from Mississippi and we all stayed at Emerald Grande {approximately 2 miles away from our house} for a mini-vacation.

The weekend, simply stated, was gluttonous. We collectively consumed over 25 types of gumbo {at the Sandestin Gumbo Festival} and at least 7 dozen oysters throughout the weekend. We drank bloody marys {the best I've ever had at Acme Oyster House} and peeled and ate {most of it, anyway} 6 lbs of shrimp.

There was also a lot of cheetah print involved on Saturday night. Clearly I had to collage it.

It was fabulous.

Sunday Supper :: Super Bowl Snacks

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 16:29:00 +0000

I love Super Bowl Sunday.

Mostly because I can't get enough of tailgate food, and the commercials are always great, but this year we have at least two Rebels in the Super Bowl: Michael Oher and Patrick Willis. I absolutely do not care who wins, however I do care what we will be eating and I have quite a few ideas, courtesy of Pinterest.

{All photos and links back to the recipes can be found on my Football Fever Pinterest board.}

Right now I'm leaning toward the King Cake balls and Buffalo Chicken cups, but I'm tempted to make every recipe shown because they all look divine.

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!

Ingredient Swap :: Pizza Dough for Cauliflower

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 14:30:00 +0000

This is another Pinterest recipe that I had to try. I honestly thought I'd just make it once and move on, but here I am making cauliflower pizza yet again because I was actually craving it.

Cauliflower Pizza Dough
{makes 4 individual pizzas}
1 head cauliflower
1 cup shredded low moisture, part skim mozzarella cheese
1 tbsp fresh basil
2 eggs

First, you need to "rice" the raw cauliflower. You can either: chop the cauliflower head into smaller pieces, removing the hard part of the stem, and pulse in a food processor until rice-like; or run the cauliflower over a cheese grater until you've grated everything except the hard part of the stem.

Place the riced cauliflower into a cheese cloth or towel and squeeze out excess moisture. Then, combine cauliflower with all remaining ingredients and form into four equal sized balls.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place two balls of dough at opposite ends of the pan. {You will need an extra cookie sheet if you want to bake all four at once.} Press the dough out into two thin, round crusts making sure they do not touch. Bake at 450° for 12 to 15 minutes, then add toppings and bake an additional 5 to 7 minutes.

Nutritional info per serving
{does not include toppings, calculated via MyFitnessPal.com}
169 calories
13g carbohydrates
8g fat
16g protein
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That's it. So easy! The first time I made it I had the house to myself and was experimenting with this recipe. Ross came home and grabbed a pizza out of the refrigerator and heated it in the oven {we all know how unpleasant pizza heated in the microwave can be}. He knew it tasted different than your average pizza, but noted that it was "delicious" and to "please make more."

This time I topped each pizza with marinara, spinach, mushrooms, orange bell pepper, green olives and an italian cheese blend. One pizza with a side salad was the perfect size meal for me.

Just do it. You're going to like it. Promise.

Totally Intrigued :: Mantry

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:30:00 +0000

As I spend yet another night thumbing through Pinterest on my iPhone, I stop dead in my tracks at the sight of this:

Photo found here.

What is it???

man·try noun \ˈmantrēe\
1 : the modern man’s pantry

So I did what any sane person would do. Clicked over to the blog it was originally pinned from, scrolled through the post, ooohed and ahhhed over the contents, then googled the corporate website to place my first order.

mantry.com

Until I saw the hefty price tag. A whopping $75/month. Per month, y'all.

I'm going to make the "responsible adult"decision to wait until I can afford to spend $900 annually on a box of goodies, because God only knows once we start we definitely won't be able to stop.

I have to say though, Ross and I are both thoroughly intrigued by the September box's contents and by what the February box could possibly behold. The possibilities are endless, and I'm anxious to get my fingers on whatever comes next.

{Oh wait, this is for men? Phshhh. Femantry? I'm on it.}

Weekend Notes :: 1.27.13

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 04:42:00 +0000

For a weekend that started without plans, it turned it to be pretty spectacular. Words can't describe the joy I feel when I wake up each day to sunny skies and 70° weather, otherwise known as winter in Florida.

Weekend Highlights

Kicking off Saturday morning with a bloody mary at 9am, followed by lots of beer {hey, it's the weekend and it's the beach}
Eating raw oysters, boiled peanuts and beer for lunch
Taking Dexter for a long, aimless walk until we ran out of new paths to take
Bringing chairs and a sweater to the western most end of the beach to watch the sunset {popcorn and more beer in tow}

His + Hers Chef Salad

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 14:30:00 +0000

Ross and I were both raised in the way that if we didn't eat the food made for us then we just weren't going to eat. I choked down many florets of broccoli and seemingly endless mounds of english peas as a result, only to grow to love essentially ever food I've ever come in contact with {yes, including broccoli and english peas}.

...and so the tradition continues. If I'm in the kitchen and I'm making a salad, guess what? Ross is eating a salad too. The good news is that we both love salads. Ross loves nothing more than to start every meal with a salad, and I love nothing more than to make a meal out of a salad.

Over time we've come to a consensus on a few make-at-home salads that satisfy both of our salad requirements. My salads must always include avocado {always!} and his must include a substantial amount of protein if meant to keep him full until the next meal. So here's the answer {one of them anyway}, a not-so-classic Chef Salad. {Who doesn't love a Chef Salad?}

His + Hers Chef Salad

1 heart of romaine lettuce, chopped

1 1/2 cups baby spinach, chopped

1 carrot, shredded with a vegetable peeler

1/2 cup grape tomatoes, halved

2 tbsp feta cheese, crumbled

1/2 cup chopped roasted turkey

2 hard boiled eggs

1 avocado, sliced

1/2 cup mandarin oranges
salt and pepper

balsamic dressing to taste

Ingredient Swap :: Pasta for Spaghetti Squash

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:00:00 +0000

I am a pasta fiend. It's truly amazing to me that I have no Italian in my blood, considering how much pasta I'm willing and able to consume when left to my own devices.

I realized long ago that regular ol' pasta wasn't doing anything for my health or my figure, and switched to a whole wheat alternative whenever possible. This is obviously a great way to sneak whole grains into your favorite dishes, but I've recently dabbled in a nearly carb-free, all natural alternative to carbohydrate heavy pasta dishes: spaghetti squash.

If you've never cooked spaghetti squash, I'll give you the rundown. You slice it in half, scoop out the seeds and bake it in the oven until tender. When you're ready to eat you just run a fork through the squash and it pulls apart to look like spaghetti or angel hair pasta.

1 cup Spaghetti Squash "Pasta"

42 calories

10 grams of carbohydrates

2.2 grams of fiber

{bonus: gluten free}

1 cup Pasta

221 calories

42 grams of carbohydrates

2.5 grams of fiber

No, spaghetti squash doesn't actually taste like pasta, but the shape and texture it has beneath a scoop of bolognese sauce mimics that of your every day boxed angel hair. We all have our favorite spaghetti recipes, so I'll withhold mine and urge you to swap your pasta for spaghetti squash. If you need a basic recipe to follow though, you know Martha Stewart has a recipe for everything.

Sunday Supper :: Pan Seared Cobia

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 17:40:00 +0000

I am a huge proponent for Sunday Supper. Although most people don't consider this a tradition, because it really just happens organically when you have the entire day to make a meal, this has become an end-of-weekend ritual in our tiny household.

This week, I was inspired by this image I came across on Pinterest:

Learn more about this meal here.

I love the rustic feel of this meal, and of course I'm partial to seafood - the bread and butter {aside from tourism} of this once sleepy fishing town I call home.

So off to the seafood market I went to collect the ingredients for our Sunday Supper. But rather than purchasing Striped Sea Bass {as seen above}, I went with two filets of Cobia - a meaty fish that holds up to the spices and sauces Ross and I were currently craving.

Sunday Supper Menu: 1.20.13

Pan Seared Cobia with Thai Sweet Chili Reduction

Rosemary Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Crispy Shallots

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

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Pair this with Chateau St. Michelle Riesling and you've got yourself a healthy and flavorful meal to kick off the week.

P.S. I was pleasantly surprised to not end up in a food coma after cleaning my plate, just delightfully full with room for dessert.

Whole Journeys

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:50:00 +0000

As you all may know, I absolutely love Whole Foods Market. {I proclaim my love for said company here.} Well, they're spreading their wings into uncharted territory. {For a grocery store, at least.}

Thinking I should purchase this print

Picture this: traveling half way around the world to visit the farm from which your favorite brand of quinoa comes, or cooking an organic meal consisting of fruits and vegetables grown within the confines of the farm you’re camping on that night. Yes. Please and thank you.

Photo from wholejourneys.com

“Whole Journeys provides specialized, multi-day international and domestic trips for small groups. These active adventures will focus on truly engaging guests with local cultures in ‘through-the-back-door’ experiences. Regional cuisines and the culture of food will be key components, as will face-to-face interactions with producers and artisans.” - John Mackey, Co-CEO Whole Foods Market

I truly have a lust for travel. I think about my next vacation constantly, but what I’m really craving is an adventure. I can safely say that I haven’t been camping in a tent since I was 10 years old and that I haven’t traveled with less than a rolling bag and carry on since I back-packed through Europe for a month following my freshman year of college.

Photo found here.

I’m long overdue for adventure. {Although, I’d say my bank account disagrees. Spending $50 on sushi? That’s adventure enough for my checking account.}

A French Affair

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:21:00 +0000

Over the weekend my dear friend Kelly and I had a girls night.

She brought the wine and updated me on her love life while I cooked a simple French meal before heading off to see Les Misérables.

We started with Soupe à l'Oignon and a few glasses of chardonnay, then moved on to our main course, Salade Niçoise.

Emeril's Classic Tuna Niçoise Salad

{slightly modified for two portions}

Ingredients

1/4 pound red potatoes, scrubbed and cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch thick slices
1/4 green beans, ends trimmed
2, 1/4 pound pieces of yellowfin tuna loin
salt and pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 rosemary sprigs
1 large head romaine or Bibb lettuce, rinsed and patted dry
Anchovy Dressing, recipe follows
1/4 pound Roma plum tomatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/8 cup halved and seeded kalamata olives
1/8 cup halved and seeded green brine-cured olives
1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and sliced

Directions
Bring pot of salted water to a boil. Add the potatoes to pot and blanch until tender, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the green beans to the pot and blanch until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Then boil the eggs 10 to 12 minutes and blanch.

Season the tuna steaks liberally with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the rosemary sprigs and tuna steaks and sear, about 30 seconds per side for medium-rare. Remove from the pan and place in the refrigerator to cool.

Toss the potatoes and green beans in the Anchovy Dressing. Peel and slice the eggs then add to mixture along with olives, chopped tomato and sliced red onion. Arrange a bed of lettuce on each plates (or 1 serving platter) then spoon the vegetable mixture atop the lettuce. Garnish with additional herbs if desired and serve immediately.

Anchovy Dressing:

{Note: There will be extra dressing as I did not modify this portion of the recipe}

1 anchovy fillet, drained
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic
1 large egg*
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
6 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons minced shallots
2 teaspoons capers, drained and chopped
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

In a medium bowl, mash the anchovy, salt, pepper, and garlic into a paste with the back of a fork. Add the egg and whisk well to blend. Add the lemon juice and mustard, and whisk well. Add the oils in a steady stream, whisking constantly to form a thick emulsion. Add the shallots, capers and Worcestershire, whisk well, and adjust the seasoning, to taste. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

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We skipped dessert entirely, opting to open a second bottle of wine instead.

P.S. Have you seen Les Mis? Jean Valjean has my heart.

Currently Craving :: Avocado Toast

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 01:05:00 +0000

Sure, it's a bit indulgent. All that creamy, high fat goodness spread atop a piece of crunchy toast...

But it's also delicious, loaded with vitamins, minerals, good fats and protein. So why not? Just follow this basic recipe: 1/2 avocado (sliced), 1 piece of toasted sprouted-grain bread, a splash or two of hot sauce and a few shakes of salt and pepper.

Voila!

Do not put your avocado on white bread {less nutritional value than sprouted grain bread}. Do not drizzle it with olive oil {you really don't need any more fat, even if it's good fat, in this meal}. Do not top it with cheese {this isn't even good fat, save it for a turkey sandwich}. Absolutely do not top with bacon {are you crazy?}.

New Year, New Me?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:32:00 +0000

I rarely, make that never, stick to my New Year's resolutions. {Wait, does anyone? Because knowing someone who can follow through with annual resolutions is someone I need to get to know better.} So you can imagine my anxiety in writing this post for all to see. I'd love to actually have one, just one, New Year's resolution that comes to fruition.

Last year I made the mistake of making a resolution to do a certain number of things each day. Here's a glimpse: read 30 minutes each day, start every morning with "me time," etc. You can imagine that in anyone's life that's just not possible because life is always throwing us curve balls. So after a few weeks of rocking and rolling with my resolution, I was thrown a curve ball, broke my routine, and never returned to it.

Fail.

So this is the approach I'm taking this year. I'm choosing 3 things in my life that I'd love to improve upon. Things that make me happy but could make me happier, things I love to do but could do more, things that make me a better me and things that are absolutely within reach so I don't fail at this all over again. Who's with me?!

Photography

Photo found here.

I'm constantly borrowing photos from fellow bloggers and Pinterest posts because I don't have the time, correct lighting or proper camera to take blog worthy photos. I'm resolving to learn more about food photography and to make time to take photos of what I cook. I'm constantly in the kitchen, and I love it, it feeds my soul, but I've fallen behind in making it a priority to photograph my creations. At this point I have an iPhone 5 and a point and shoot camera to work with, so bear with me guys.

New Year, better photography.

Writing

Photo found here.

I've never claimed to be a great writer. In fact, there are so many words and sentence structures that I completely avoid at the risk of making myself look dumb. I'll admit this is entirely my fault. I must have been too busy socializing in high school english and reading spark notes in lieu of a full book to learn the difference between affect and effect, much less the proper use of a semicolon in a sentence.

New Year, better writing.

Health

Photo found here.

As you all know, I love my vegetables. But I also have my guilty pleasures {bacon, brie, pasta, ...} and absolutely no work out schedule, an ugly combination. I also happen to live just steps from the Gulf of Mexico, and no one has ever complained about "long walks on the beach," so I'm resolving to spend more time outside {just hoping that physical activity will follow}. I also want to do a one day mini-detox, then commit to a 3-day detox by the end of the year. I may need cheerleaders for this!

New Year, healthier me.

__________

I don't feel like I'm reaching for the stars here, am I? I'm a list maker. I love lists. But do you want to know the funny thing about lists? They help to engrain your written thoughts into your brain. So I rarely look back at said lists because I already know what they say. This is my list of self improvements for 2013. I can feel it guys, it's going to be a great one.

Superfood Season

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 01:47:00 +0000

There are so many things I love about winter.

Layering some of my favorite clothing items to keep warm {and look fabulous}. Making an extra pot of coffee each morning. Long walks with my pup. Sunday matinees, because you wouldn't dare waste a summer Sunday at the movies. Steamed or sautéed greens in lieu of cold, crunchy salads. Red wine. Sipping on green tea all day, every day.

But most of all? It's superfood season. You have to take advantage of it!

kale

brussels sprouts

leeks

cauliflower
pomegranate

chard

all citrus fruits

cabbage

Go - no run - to the grocery store to take advantage of the fact that all of these fruits and vegetables should be available to you in heaps. What's more? Most of these can be grown locally and with ease, so you may get a steal of a deal when you run to buy out the produce department.

I'm loving lists lately, so I'll continue with a list of
amazing superfood recipes:

1. green smoothies {don't love greens? stick 'em in a smoothie}

2. pomegranate-walnut oatmeal {coincidentally part of the food lover's cleanse}
3. white bean stew with swiss chard & tomatoes {sounds perfect with a scoop of brown rice}
4. cauliflower pizza {should definitely try this sooner rather than later}
5. leek and asparagus frittata {I have a thing for frittatas}
6. roasted brussels sprouts with lemon {my love for brussels is clear}
7. raw kale, cabbage and carrot salad {the trifecta of superfoods?}

Temporarily Uninspired

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 03:13:00 +0000

Pinned here.

The first week of 2013 has been somewhat uninspired. I've had a bevy of post ideas for the blog that jut haven't come to fruition. I've sat down many times only to type up the idea of the moment, click "save", then leave each to wait patiently in my "drafts" folder until I have a clear vision of the finished product. In which case, I haven't posted anything at the risk of boring each of you with my own boredom. See what I mean? You're welcome.

Pinned here.

But have no fear, my friends! I've spent many hours thumbing through blogs this week which endlessly inspire; so for now, I'll direct you to them until this spout of blogger's block passes me by:

1. Eat Sleep Cuddle {and her crunchy peanut butter + honey granola}

2. Canelle et Vanille {completely envious of her tasty travels in 2012}

3. Poor Man's Feast {James Beard Award winning blog}

4. Bon Appétit {technically not a blog, but you'll drool over this unique chocolate bark recipe}

Pinned here.

P.S. Who wants to join me on a trip to Colorado for a little inspiration at The Makerie?

A girl can dream...

Let's do this.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 15:50:00 +0000

Pinned here.

SALE!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 21:07:00 +0000

My name is Sarah, and I have a shopping problem.

Pinned here.

Let me tell you a story. When I was a child and my family was living in Chicago, my mother proposed two ideas for the upcoming weekend: Would you like to go with daddy to the Bulls game (he had box seat tickets and this was during the Michael Jordan era, mind you) or would you like to go shopping with me?

What the curse word do you think I chose? And off to the mall we went.

Well, not much has changed. I still like to buy things I don't need and read fashion blogs and magazines like they're going out of style. But one thing is slightly different {oh, how the tables have turned}: I'm a twenty-something young professional whose paycheck goes straight to her one-bedroom apartment and car payment, leaving pennies for expanding my wardrobe or buying fancy things.

{I like to consider myself young, fabulous and broke.}

What does all this have to do with my food blog? Everything. I'm a sale shopper now; it's my new favorite word: sale! {Music to my ears.} Why buy something full price when it will inevitably be discounted to move it off the shelves? {Thank you in part to this "recession", but mostly due to basic retail-onomics. New goods come in, older goods gotta go.}

So as I shop for new sunglasses, swimsuits and jewelry, I always keep in mind the laws of retail. I also keep it mind as I do my grocery shopping every Sunday.

Sale shopping at the grocery store in particular is two-fold.

1. You save money.

2. You get creative in the kitchen.

Pinned here.

The first time I bought tofu I was so incredibly broke. I saw that it was on sale for little more than $1 and I had to have it. I thought to myself, a lot of people eat tofu. It's kind of a "thing" right now, anyway. Buy the tofu. Be one with the tofu. First came tofu tacos, then thai tofu, and the rest was history.

What I really love to buy on sale is greens. What a bargain. I realize a large bunch of collard greens or kale looks like enough to feed a family of fifteen, but it's really just the perfect amount. When you get home with your $2 bunch {the size of a small tree} of greens, here's what you do: place it in a sink full of water and splash of vinegar, peel the leaves off the stems and discard the stems, allow the leaves to dry and chop them into smaller pieces, then divide it up into two gallon ziploc bags. Pop those bags in the freezer for a rainy day. You can use greens {collard, turnip, mustard...} in soups, sauteed as a side dish, steamed with a little seasoning or cooked in a crockpot all day.

Something else to consider: fruits and vegetables go on sale all the time. Notice that when it starts to warm up, the strawberries are dirt cheap. Or when the temperatures fall, the price of hearty greens drop as the crops become more abundant. Needless to say, if you're flexible with what you "need to buy" at the grocery store, you may be surprised to find that you just adore nearly every fruit and vegetable in the produce department.

See that? My shopping addiction is actually quite useful after all.

A toast

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Whether you're whipping up a Christmas meal for your family,

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or waiting patiently until Christmas dinner is served,

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here's hoping your holiday is every bit as fabulous as it should be.

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A word of advice

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 14:55:00 +0000

This really sums it all up for me.

Pinned here.

When I woke up this morning and hopped on my computer for a little Pinsperation, this token of truth was perched atop my Pinterest feed. Fitting, wouldn't you say? For the Friday before Christmas, anyway. Lots of shopping, eating and wandering around town to be done.

Pinned here.

I've spent the past few days enjoying not one, but two cups of coffee each morning, napping on the couch each afternoon and catching up on all of my favorite TV shows à la Netflix {Hello, GG - I'm so behind. I hadn't realized the show just ended or that was even coming to an end until my darling friend, who is currently gallivanting around France, texted me to let me know}.

If you're much like me and indulging in a relaxing week, weekend or day to yourself,

here are a few things that may come in handy:

1. The Best of the Book Lists 2012 courtesy of Random House

2. A Cream Cheese Coffee Cake recipe courtesy of Just Baked to impress your holiday visitors

3. A healthy sunday supper recipe, just in time for the holiday, courtesy of Barefoot Contessa

4. A DIY Christmas gift for your 10 best friends or 15 cousins courtesy of Hey Gorgeous

5. Paula Deen's fully loaded Mac and Cheese, a family favorite

Back to the Homeland

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 23:54:00 +0000

I'll tell you a little something about what exactly has kept me so darned giddy over the past few weeks: I am officially in Austin for the holidays.

{Yippee!}

I'll visit with my family, spend time with each of our long lost friends and indulge in Austin's finest food trucks, restaurants and dive bars.

I'll give you a sneak peek of what my first 24 hours back in Texas entailed:

Pappasito's Cantina in the Houston airport is a Sholtis family tradition. I started traveling via airplane at the ripe old age of 6 months old, so I've spent plenty of time in America's finest airports and in particular Houston Hobby. If you have a layover at this airport you can't miss out on the mexican food. It holds up to many of the "authentic" joints found throughout the southwest and it certainly doesn't disappoint those looking for a Tex-Mex fix before jumping on the next plane out of Texas.

After landing in Austin, I promptly laced up my tennis shoes and went for a walk through my all-time favorite neighborhood, Barton Hills. This neighborhood hold so many memories for me. My grandfather still lives in the house they moved into when my mother was just 5 years old. What's more? The neighbors and church goers recognize my brothers and me from our childhood. The houses are unique and the oak trees are older and taller than any you've ever seen. It's quite charming, don't you think?

I'd be remiss if I didn't take a moment to visit my old stomping grounds, Four Seasons Hotel Austin. The Hotel's lobby is decorated from top to bottom and features a month-long gingerbread village display created by the Hotel's Pastry Shop. This year's village exhibits confectionary creations such as the UT Tower, Broken Spoke and many other Austin staples.

Needless to say I've taken full advantage of my first 24 hours in Austin.

Happy Holidays!