Recipes

Oh She Glows Inspired Chickpea Curry

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Good Evening Blogging Family,

I just wanted to give my review of a really versatile curry I made from  Angela Liddon’s cookbook Oh She Glows Everyday. Sweet potatoes, chickpeas, spinach, spices and coconut milk make up the base of this dish. I used curry powder and ground cumin that I had on hand and have included my version below. I really liked how it turned out. A lot of Angela’s recipes are fun to try but take a lot of time to make. This one was pretty much a one-pot wonder that I’ll continue to make during these cold winter months. While it was cooking, my test tasters snacked on roasted pistachios and mandarin oranges. I served it with basmati rice, however quinoa would be yummy too. Bon appetite!

Continue reading “Oh She Glows Inspired Chickpea Curry”

Recipes

Vegan Zucchini Lasagna

IMG_20221221_141510589_2A perfect make-ahead dish for holiday gatherings

I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas! For my Jewish friends and family Hanukkah has already started full of festivities, cookie making, and thoughtful presents. Thank you everyone for allowing me to be a part of this special time during the Jewish calendar.

I’m so excited for this Christmas in my new apartment. It’s all decked out for the holidays. The tree looks so pretty at night along with all the twinkle lights in the living room. And a Christmas bonus for some here in the Pacific Northwest…snow is coming! I went ahead and stocked up on goodies and everything I needed to host Christmas this year. I always make Salvadorian pupusas Christmas Eve and lasagna for Christmas day. The best thing about lasagna is that you can make it ahead of time and focus on your guests the day of the get-together. I usually pair zucchini lasagna with my crowd-pleaser Greek Caesar Salad. PJs are required and I found lots of soft winter throws for us to cuddle with and watch movies throughout the evening.

Before I get to my lasagna recipe, you can comment on your favorite holiday meal down below. Be sure to include the link to your blog if you have a recipe you want to share. May all your days be merry and bright!

Continue reading “Vegan Zucchini Lasagna”

Recipes

Quick n’ Easy Tikka Masala

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Hi fellow bloggers, friends and family!

I don’t know about you but I’m all “cookied out” and it’s only mid December! I guess it didn’t help that I had a cookie and crafting party this weekend 🙂 To get back on track with my Mediterranean diet I decided to cook a meal that I often shared with my Indian and Pakistanian friends from college. Many spices used in Indian cuisine are rich in phytonutrients that neutralize free radicals and shield your cells from damage. One wonderful way to try these spices is through cooking Tikka Masala. It’s one of my favorite dishes and super easy to make with chickpeas from your pantry. Serve with a bowl of steaming basmati rice and piping hot garlic naan bread and you have one flavorful meal.
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Recipes

How to Make Greek Bean Soup – Fasolada

IMG_20221115_132712579_2 Whenever I miss Greece, I cook fasolada (φασολάδα) and my kitchen fills with the aroma of the Mediterranean. Search no further than your pantry and fridge for all you need to make this amazingly simple yet satisfying traditional dish. To cut time, you can use canned white beans instead of dried. The flavors still turn out perfect. It’s one of my favorite hearty vegetable soups for the fall and winter. Make sure you have lemons on hand and a sprinkle of fresh oregano or parsley. To make it a meal, serve with freshly baked bread and marinated olives. Kαλή όρεξη! Enjoy your meal!

Continue reading “How to Make Greek Bean Soup – Fasolada”

Recipes

Lemon Detox Drink

Happy Sunday blogging family,

For all of us in the US we got an extra hour of sleep. Wow, did I need it! I ended up watching classic scary movies that are filmed near the beach. Has anyone seen The Last Wave? It made me jump and I love scary mysteries. The Birds was almost comical but The Fog was perfect for a Halloween night at the Pacific Coast.

Well, after an evening of costume watching at the beach (everyone did a great job of social distancing), eating 2 large slices of pizza and devouring so many treats throughout movie night, I knew I’d have to redeem myself today with posting something healthy. The bright and cheery weather got me thinking.

Inspired by the sunny mornings in Capri, citrusy sent of lemons in Italy and a hint of pepper that gives it a kick, this lemon detox drink is just what you need to curb temptations during the holiday season.

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Recipes

Heart Healthy Waffles

20200327_152727Good evening blogging family or good morning depending where you are in the world. I hope you are keeping warm and healthy in your homes.

Not long ago (ok…maybe long ago…30 years to be exact) there were two little girls with braids in their hair, NKOTB night gowns on, rocking to “Hold On,” long before Bridesmaids was a hit movie. Often, our sleepovers ended with a yummy waffle breakfast.

Needing something uplifting after another week of sad news in the world, I whipped up my favorite cholesterol-free waffles recipe and blasted Willson Phillips while cooking. I don’t know if it was the sweet smell of waffles or listening to something nostalgic, I started my day off hopeful. So to my BFF out there, “hold on,” we’ll rock out to this song sooner than you think 🙂 Continue reading “Heart Healthy Waffles”

Recipes

Chocolate Chip Brownies

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Dear blogging family,

I hope this post finds you safe at home tonight. It was a hard day for America and New York especially. We surpassed China in the coronavirus outbreak.

Even on the saddest days, I have found that human kindness is all around us. As a social justice coordinator, I wondered how I could motivate others to help those most in need. After all, I’m relatively new to work and wasn’t exactly sure how people would react to the virus outbreak. Would they keep to themselves and focus on their families? Would they be afraid to reach out to the vulnerable? The answer is, absolutely not. I’m already seeing others identify the needs of our community, willing to donate their time and money to see that no one is left behind in assistance. What a special thing to be a part of.

It was raining when I took pictures of the brownies. Now, as I have one before dinner 😉 the sun is shining and I think I’ll go for a walk. I hope all of you get a little break from the rain in your life and see a glimpse of sunlight. As for brownies…well it can’t hurt to have one or two in order to get through the evening. Continue reading “Chocolate Chip Brownies”

Recipes

One-Pot Tomato Basil Linguine

One bowl pasta

A one-pot-wonder that will impress your significant other

Hi blogging family,

As always, I hope this post finds you and your family safe and healthy. Going back to blogging has been such a joy in uncertain times. The WHO just announced today that they are going to release a series of short films that focus on health and hope. I’ll keep you up to date when they are released. I’m sure the films will be translated or have subtitles in many languages.

This post is for the significant other who normally doesn’t do the cooking. Now is the perfect time to learn a easy meal that you can make for your loved ones. You can use up some of your produce and a lot of the ingredients you can find in your pantry. It also makes for a perfect date night in. And did I mention only one dish to clean? I have a lot of tips that make the meal more flavorful than most one-pot/pan pastas. Lets get started!  Continue reading “One-Pot Tomato Basil Linguine”

Recipes

Acai and PB Smoothie

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Hi blogging family!

I hope this post finds you safely tucked at home with plenty of food and space to exercise. I’m grateful that my family is currently healthy. Keep in mind though, we’re only at the initial stages of the coronavirus outbreak in the Pacific Northwest.

For those that don’t know me, I have a background in international law and spent years in developing countries helping others. My passion is to write and cook. I dream of publishing my first novel. And news to all my followers, I landed my dream job in social justice with kind people that are really supportive. Then the coronavirus epidemic hit.

I feel so helpless but also know I am lucky that I can work from home. For now, we can still go outside and go on trails as long as we keep our “social distance.” I decided to start up my blog to uplift others that are not as fortunate. It will still be the same format but the food will come mainly from the pantry and freezer. I’m trying to be mindful about the grocery store and providing space and time for those that need it.

So stay healthy out there – mind and body. We are all in this together and need to do our part. Now for a smoothie using an Acai packet I found in the freezer and some PB from the pantry.  Continue reading “Acai and PB Smoothie”