Holuakoa Pizza: Poached Pair, Mac Nuts, Gorgonzola and Pesto

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Before...

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With pesto drizzled...

My friend Tara told me about the Holuakoa Gardens & Cafe on Hawaii's Big Island. We went last year for brunch and loved it so much that I convinced (begged) the hubby to go again this year for dinner. It was a hidden gem on an island full of tourist traps and heavy fried foods. Everyone loved their meal, and I have been obsessing about mine. I got a "Pizzetta" with poached pear, Gorgonzola, and macadamia nuts with a little side salad of arugula and pesto drizzled over everything. It was so good that I was determined to re-create it. Last night I did and it was as good as I remembered. This would even make a great appetizer to serve hot or room temp the next time you have friends over.

If you want to serve with the arugula as they did, toss with a light vinaigrette and serve on the side. Sprinkle with a little of the pesto as well. Delish!


Holuakoa Pizza
Inspired by the pizzetta at Holuakoa Gardens & Cafe
Dough
Olive oil
2 pears, poached and sliced (my poaching recipe below)
Macadamia nuts, chopped small
Gorgonzola
Pesto (I bought PCC's vegan pesto because it was all they had and it was fantastic)

Place pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 500. Sprinkle a work surface, rolling pin and pizza dough with flour and roll out dough to thin pizzas. (I never worry about the shape of the pizzas. I don't know that I've ever rolled out a circle. They're usually rectangle, triangle, or a big blob - but they all taste great!) Sprinkle the bottom side of a cookie sheet with cornmeal and a little flour (to prevent the dough from sticking) and transfer rolled-out dough onto it. Brush dough with olive oil. Top with slices of pear, then sprinkle with macadamia nuts and top with Gorgonzola crumbles. Carefully remove pizza stone from oven and reduce heat to 450. Sprinkle pizza stone with cornmeal and then slide pizza onto the stone CAREFULLY. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Remove and carefully transfer to a wood cutting board to slice. Mix pesto with a bit of olive oil and then sprinkle over the pizza. Serve hot or room temp.

Cider Poached Pears

2 pears, peeled, quartered, and cored
2 cups apple cider
juice of 1/2 orange
1 cinnamon stick

Bring cider, orange juice and cinnamon stick to a light boil. Add pairs, reduce heat and simmer for roughly 15 minutes until fork tender (check after 10 minutes and then adjust time as necessary). Remove and let cool.
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As long as you're poaching pears, maybe do an extra one or two and use for dessert. Just Google a bit and find something delicious to create.

Yummy White Pizza

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Build-Your-Own-Pizza-Bar was such a hit Friday night that I was excited to use the leftovers last night and have friends/family over to share in the fun. My daughter and niece loved rolling out the dough and applying all their toppings. There was flour everywhere but the mess was worth the fun for the girls and the look on their faces when they saw their baked pizza creations come out of the oven.

My sister-in-law is partial to white pizzas and made a great one. I didn't miss the sauce at all on this bad boy. It was deeeeelicious (especially the bites with the garlic). I might even make it again tonight because yes, I am going for round three! (You can call me crazy because I am crazy!)

Al's Yummy White Pizza

Dough (I buy the pre-made dough at Whole Foods)
Olive oil
Shredded mozzarella
Fresh mozzarella (she brought mini balls for her salad that were great on the pizza too)
Provolone cheese (I buy slices and break them up)
Ricotta cheese
Mushrooms, sliced
Canadian bacon, cut into small pieces
Garlic, sliced paper thin

Place pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 500. Sprinkle a work surface, rolling pin and pizza dough with flour and roll out dough to thin pizzas. (I never worry about the shape of the pizzas. I don't know that I've ever rolled out a circle. They're usually rectangle, triangle, or a big blob - but they all taste great!) Sprinkle the bottom side of a cookie sheet with cornmeal and a little flour (to prevent the dough from sticking) and transfer rolled-out dough onto it. Brush dough with olive oil. Top with four cheeses, Canadian bacon, mushrooms and garlic. Carefully remove pizza stone from oven and reduce heat to 450. Sprinkle pizza stone with cornmeal and then slide pizza onto the stone CAREFULLY. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Remove and carefully transfer to a wood cutting board to slice. Bon appetite!

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Love the Look

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I'm loving Kate Bosworth's style lately, especially in this photo. Love the hair, love the dress, love the shoes. And I'm getting excited about orange for spring. I'm jonesing for sunshine and bright colors in this land of grey we call Seattle.

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Must See Documentary: The Cove

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Last night my hubby and I watched the documentary The Cove thanks to my friend Courtney's recommendation. It was informative, depressing and eye-opening. It made us both sick to our stomachs and we both woke up still thinking about it. I'm so glad we watched it though. I think it's a must see documentary. Click here to watch the trailer.

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Green Juice Smoothie

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Photo credit: Honest Fare

I was in a chatty mood at Whole Foods the other day and got to talking with the cashier and bagger. We ended up trading our favorite smoothie recipes and one of theirs had ginger and lemon in it. Veeeeeeeeery interesting. I've never put those ingredients in a smoothie before. I had to try it so I gave it a whirl this morning to go with our Eltana bagels. I loved it, my husband liked it and the kids wouldn't touch it (it is green after all). I'll definitely make it again for myself.
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I changed it a teense. His recipe was just kale but I had spinach, chard, and parsley in the fridge so I figured what the heck.

Ginger-Apple-Greens Juice Smoothie

1 cup water
1 cup apple juice
1 whole apple, cored and chopped into big chunks
1" ginger, peeled
juice of one lemon
small handful parsley
big handful of chopped spinach
big handful chopped chard
2 large leaves Lacinato kale

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Color Change

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Transition from the dark nail shades of winter - dark dark dark browns, reds, and purples - to the bright nail colors of spring - oranges, pinks, and corals - with a few weeks of OPI's Barefoot in Barcelona. If it can look good on my man-hands, then it will look good on anyone. I love this shade right now. It's just enough color, but not too much.

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Swiss Chard & Sausage Pizza

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Before...

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I'm a victim to my cravings. I have something to eat, love it, and have to have it again... asap. Since eating out with kids is no longer a sane or enjoyable option for us with the two littles, I have to get creative re-creating. This week I've been craving the Beta pizza from The Independent Pizzeria and tonight I made my own version. It was delicious.

Swiss Chard & Sausage Pizza
Inspired by the Beta

Whole Foods pizza dough
Muir Glen organic pizza sauce
Shredded mozzarella
Provolone slices, broken into pieces
Swiss chard, rinsed well and chopped
Hot Italian sausage (Skagit River Ranch if you can get it)
Garlic, sliced paper thin

Place pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 500. Sprinkle a work surface, rolling pin and pizza dough with flour and roll out dough to thin pizzas. Sprinkle the bottom side of a cookie sheet with cornmeal and a little flour (to prevent the dough from sticking) and transfer rolled-out dough onto it. Brush dough with olive oil. Top with pizza sauce, equal parts of each cheese, then the chard and sausage. Sprinkle garlic slices on the top. Carefully remove pizza stone from oven and reduce heat to 450. Sprinkle pizza stone with cornmeal and then slide pizza onto the stone CAREFULLY. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Remove and carefully transfer to a wood cutting board to slice. Bon appetite!
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Healthy Breakfast? Think Again!

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You must read Mark Bittman's opinion piece, "How to Make Oatmeal . . . Wrong," about McDonald's oatmeal. It's so interesting, and he might even persuade you to take a few minutes to make your own. (Then you'll really have to try these healthier recipes for oatmeal that don't call for any butter or sugar: my healthy recipe for Apple Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal that I recently posted and Aloha Oatmeal from ages ago.)

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Meatless Night: Tagliatelle with Carmelized Brussel Sprouts & Walnuts

My husband and I really enjoyed the new Seattle hot spot, Madison Park Conservatory. We ate at the bar which is our favorite thing to do, and thought the food was great. The best part was the chicken with Israeli cous cous. It was the best chicken I've had at a restaurant in over a year. It was perfection. We also had a great pasta dish - gnocci with Brussels sprouts and walnuts. I couldn't resist myself and had to re-create it at home. Last night I took at stab at it and while it wasn't exactly like MPC's, I have to say it was pretty darn good. Great Meatless Night option too. (I like to say Meatless "Night" because it's less confining. If you don't do it Monday, you still have lots of other days to get it in.)

My recipe is very very rough because as I was trying it for the first time, I didn't measure things out exactly and was a little frazzled. I'm sure there's an easier way to caramelize Brussels sprouts, but this is what I did and I liked the end result a lot. I stole a few hints from GOOP's recipe for Caramelized Brussels Sprouts.

Enjoy!

Tagliatelle with Carmelized Brussels Sprouts & Walnuts

3 or 4 handfuls Brussels sprouts
2-4 T olive oil
sprinkle of sugar
splash of red wine vinegar
2 T butter
1 cup(ish) walnuts, large chop and lightly toasted
3 T shallot, minced
3 T garlic, minced
splash of white wine, maybe 2 T
1.5-2 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade*
splash of cream (I had to use whole milk because I didn't have any cream in the fridge)
freshly ground pepper
freshly grated parmesan

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

Prepare the Brussels sprouts by trimming the stem ends a little bit and quartering. You will lose 1-3 of the outer leaves. This is ok. Steam the quartered pieces for 4 or 5 minutes.

Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place the Brussels sprouts in a single layer, cut-side down (in batches if necessary). Leave them for 3-5 minutes, allowing them to brown thoroughly and evenly – don’t give into the temptation to stir and toss them! Keep an eye on them though – the key is to have the flame high enough to brown them but low enough not to burn them. When they’ve browned, flip each one and let the other side get color, an additional 2-3 minutes or so.

Remove from pan and add some butter and a sprinkle of sugar. Stir to combine, then once sugar starts to melt, add a splash of red wine vinegar and then add Brussels Sprouts back in. Stir to combine and let them caramelize a bit more.

Remove from pan and set aside. Add a splash of olive oil and 1 or 2 T butter to the hot pan. Add shallots and saute for a few minutes. Then add garlic and saute. Add white wine and let boil for a second, then add chicken stock and increase heat to high. Bring to a quick boil, then reduce temperature and reduce sauce.

Once the sauce has reduced by half, add Brussels sprouts and a reduce heat even more. Add a splash of cream, pepper, walnuts and parmesan. Let flavors meld while you cook fresh noodles. Drain noodles and add to pan. Top with lots of parmesan and serve.
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Practice Self-Compassion!

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After reading the book The Gifts of Imperfection, I'm trying to practice self-compassion on a daily basis. As the author explains, just a little bit every day goes a long way. I can speak from experience as of late, this is very true. I am practicing it every day and feeling lighter and more joyful. Along those lines, here's an article on the subject from The New York Times Health section, "Go Easy on Yourself, a New Wave of Research Urges" .
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Here's a quiz to see how compassionate you are with yourself. I did not score very well the first time around. I hope to do better in 3, 6, 12 months. Practice, practice, practice! And what better thing to practice on than self-compassion?!!!!
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Guest Blogger Post: One by One - Inspire People, Empower Solutions, End Fistula

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I couldn't be more excited about this post. My friend Jen is very involved with the non-profit organization One by One and is so passionate about their work that she has inspired a new awareness in myself and our other friends about Obstetric Fistula and what we can do to help. Here she reaches another audience of women (and maybe a man or two) who might also find a place in their heart for this issue. Thank you Jen for sharing with us!
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I asked Colleen ages ago if I could do a guest post on a cause that’s near and dear to my heart and she has very graciously obliged me. March 8 is “International Women’s Day,” and this year is its centennial celebration. This is special to me because I volunteer at an organization that works to help alleviate the suffering of women in developing countries.
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One by One, is a non-profit organization working to raise awareness and understanding of Obstetric Fistula, a condition which results from a prolonged obstructed labor, usually a couple of days, without medically necessary intervention to relieve the pressure. It is estimated that over two million women and girls are living with obstetric fistula and between 50,000 and 100,000 new cases occur each year. In as high as 90 percent of fistula cases, the baby will die and the woman or girl is left with chronic incontinence. Fistula sufferers are often abandoned or neglected by their husbands and families and ostracized by their communities. (Read more here and here.) What drew me to this cause was twofold: the human suffering and isolation that these women, and oftentimes young girls, with no voices must bear for the rest of their lives if left untreated; and the broader implication this issue reveals to us about maternal health and women’s rights in the world today.
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There were a few reasons I began volunteering with One by One. I liked that they were a small, local organization started by two young women in 2005. I also liked that because they were small every resource had to be utilized efficiently and transparently. That made me feel like the small amount of money I could afford to donate and the time I could give went towards something tangible and real. At the time, the cost to repair one woman with fistula was $300 (it’s now about $420). You and nine of your friends could donate $30 and you had raised enough money to change one woman’s life. That was so powerful to me... because that’s why we give, right? We give to help alleviate the suffering in others and thereby, the suffering in us. And something gives back when we feel like we’re making a difference.
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Now, as a board member at One by One I am so proud of the work we are doing. We are still very small – just 3 staff members, only one of whom is full time. But the work we are doing is incredible. We have been working with partners in Niger, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and now Kenya. We have provided FREE fistula repair for over 1000 women! A pilot project we funded created a model to prevent fistula in an area of 300 villages in Niger and has reported a 100% success rate of no new fistulas over a one year period! This model is now being developed in other areas and we are so excited about its potential. Besides supporting fistula clinics and a few other groundbreaking studies, we are also helping educate women in their own communities so they can become midwives or trained birth attendants, assisting their own people with their maternal health needs. I believe this cultivation of community and education has far reaching benefits beyond improving maternal health for women in these areas.
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There is an amazing book called Half the Sky that develops this idea further…

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I strongly believe every adult living in a developed country should read this book and, as a woman, it is imperative. It is a heart wrenching but clear, incredibly informative, and worthy account of the major issue of our time: women’s rights and gender equality. It is well documented by the UN and other global organizations that empowering and educating women is the best way to fight poverty and extremism (even global warming) in developing countries. Half the Sky clearly articulates why this is true and frankly, why you should care. What I love most here is that the authors are not asking for your sympathy, they are asking you to join a movement, to give. They believe the worst thing you can do after reading this book is feel like the cause is too big and overwhelming and that you as an individual can’t make a difference, because you can. It’s not about giving a large sum of money – it’s about giving something of yourself, getting involved. It may be a bit of your time, your connections, or your skills. Sometimes it’s easier to give money, and I can speak to the need for more money for organizations like One by One to do what they do; absolutely we need money. But if you don’t have the money, are you powerless to give? Absolutely not. Half the Sky offers a few ways to get involved – check out their website and here is another resource.
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And, if I may, here is another idea… At One by One, we have a program called “Giving Circles” where a volunteer hosts around 10 (or more if you have capacity) people at their home to learn about Obstetric Fistula and try to raise the cost of repairing one woman - $420. It’s just a casual get together – a little wine, some hors d'oeuvres – nothing fancy. Why not get your closest girlfriends, your book club, or your dinner club together in honor of “International Women’s Day?” In a group of 10 ladies, each giving $42, you can raise enough to restore one woman’s life. What a powerful way to spend an evening? Or, ask your book club to read Half the Sky and then do a giving circle or volunteer for an organization that resonates with you. As a woman, who is now pregnant with her first child, maternal health is an obvious issue I care about. But even if you don’t have children or you’re not female, this issue matters because you have a mother, and maybe a wife, a sister, a daughter… Many of the young girls and women who suffer from Obstetric Fistula and who die while in labor did not have the right to choose whether they got pregnant. However, every woman should have the right to basic maternal health care. They should not suffer or die simply because they have the ability to give birth. Birth should be a beginning, not an end. And you can join a movement to help.

Click here to learn more about the One by One organization via YouTube.

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Shout-out of the Day: Rachel's Ginger Beer

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A big shout of to my friend Rachel for her recent article in The Seattle Times, "Rachel's Ginger Beer: Small Batch, Big Jolt of Ginger". I am such a lover of ginger beer ever since my friend Clare first told me about it. Now I love getting cocktails or mocktails when out, or buying it to enjoy at home. Rachel's is fantastic so if you see it on a menu in Seattle, you've got to try it.

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Seattle Eaters: Check Out Nettletown & Eltana

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In the last 24 hours I've been back to Nettletown and Eltana. See previous post on the two here. I have to reiterate - these two restaurants ROCK!

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Once again lunch at Nettletown was fantastic. We ordered the Nettlowtown noodles with pork, rice with fried egg and pickled veggies, special salad of the day with beets, walnuts, celery, croutons and more, the ginger drink, and three haystack cookies made with Chinese noodles, chocolate, candied ginger and peanuts. I already have a call into the husband for a lunch date there asap. I can't wait any longer.

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I'm equally obsessed with my return visit to Eltana. The only problem with Eltana is deciding what type of bagel and what spread. I got 4 bagels and 4 spreads and came home to play the mad scientist, making different combinations. They were all so good... regular cream cheese, red pepper walnut spread, spicy garlic cream, and honey almond cream cheese. Yum, yum, yum and yum. I served them with my own ginger drinks (Nettletown knock-off) and had the best lunch ever.

Check 'em out if you haven't already!

Best Curry EVER

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Photo Credit: Eat Drink Think

Sunday night I made the recipe for Vij's Family Chicken Curry from the cookbook Vij's: Elegant and Inspired Indian Cuisine. It was easily the best curry I've ever made, and outside of Vij's, possibly the best curry I've ever had. I know it's a bold statement, but I really really loved it. For some reason I was intimidated to try it but once I got going it was totally easy to make, and no surprise - it was even better then next day. Can't wait to make it again.

Let this inspire you to get your butt up to Vij's in Vancouver to try their amazing food or to order the cookbook online for a taste of it at home.

You can get the recipe online here and here. Worth noting is that the book offers helpful info about the ingredients in their recipes. For example, they explain why they call for the amount of oil that they do. I was hesitant to use the full amount, as I thought 1/2 cup to saute some onions and garlic seemed a little excessive, but they explain the importance in the book. They also explain the importance of using a cinnamon stick instead of ground cinnamon, offer explanations of all the herbs and ingredients, and provide other helpful tips for those new to Indian cooking. .

Easy Breakfast: Apple Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal

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I was trying to figure out how to get my kids to eat oatmeal since it's a healthy breakfast option. I didn't want to add a bunch of sugar and butter to make it taste good so I got creative. For every cup of dry old fashioned rolled oats I use one full apple. I quarter it, core it, and then grate it on a microplane into the pan when the oatmeal is almost ready. It makes the oatmeal really sweet, naturally, without sugar. Then I add raisins and some cinnamon and top with a little milk (preferably steamed or warmed). Both kids gobble it up every time, as do my husband and I.

Another trick is to make extra. The next morning all you have to do it re-heat it in a sauce pan with some butter or milk and breakfast is ready in 2 minutes flat.

Any quick and/or healthy breakfast ideas for me? Please share!

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Easy Meatless Night

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Tonight I made the #8 Crepe quesadilla-style. I used all the same ingredients inside flour tortillas. I warmed them in a saute pan over medium heat (no butter necessary) until the tortillas were starting to turn golden brown and the cheese was melting. I also added spinach for some extra greens. They were really good, especially with the sweet Chili Lime Sauce. It was quick and easy for dinner plus I have extra ingredients already prepped for tomorrow's lunch. Great meatless option if you're looking for something new and different.

(Does it count for meatless night if I ended up making one kid a grilled ham & cheese sandwich? Oops.)
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My First Vegan Treat

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My friend Marly made these Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups from Alicia Silverstone's vegan cookbook The Kind Diet. They were surprisingly good (I wasn't sure what to expect with a vegan dessert), super rich, and something I'd love to eat whether it was vegan or not. Whether you're leaning into a vegan diet or a just craving that old classic combo of peanut butter and chocolate, here's a delicious treat to satisfy your craving. I can't wait to make them.
Read more about her cookbook from The Daily Green.


Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

1/2 cup earth balance butter
3/4 cup crunchy peanut butter (Marly used almond butter which I loved)
3/4 cup Graham cracker crumbs (10 squares)
1/4 cup maple sugar (buy at PCC - pricey!)
1 cup grain sweetened, non-dairy chocolate or carob chips
1/4 cup soy, rice or almond milk
1/4 cup chopped pecans, almonds, or peanuts (Marly used almonds and pecans)
Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. Set aside.

Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Stir in peanut butter, Graham cracker crumbs, and maple sugar and mix well. Remove from heat. Even divide mixture into muffin cups.

Combine the chocolate and milk in another pan. Stir over medium heat until chocolate melts. Spoon chocolate over peanut butter mixture. Top with chopped nuts. Place in fridge for at least 2 hours before serving.

Makes 12
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Loving...

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If I could buy one type of shoe for the rest of my life, I would buy wedges. They're so versatile. You can wear them with jeans, dresses, skirts, and shorts. I love them. And for spring, I'm really loving this YSL Tweed Platform Wedge. If I could walk in these (they're pretty darn steep), I might sell my first born for a pair (kidding of course, well, maybe). They have a beautiful silhouette and are wedge perfection.

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Oscars 2011: My Personal Fave

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Gwyneth Paltrow was my favorite look of the night. Flawless.

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Life Changing

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My friend Marly recommended the book The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are. She raved about it and had so many interesting things to share that I bought it immediately. I'm so glad I did. It's a life changer. I don't think the title does it justice though. It's not a book for perfectionists. It's a book for everyone. I can't stop talking about it (neither can Marly) and just bought six copies to give to friends and family. It is so inspiring and really opens your eyes to yourself and your relationships. It's allowed me to change the way I look at shame, vulnerability, joy, happiness, compassion, courage, and connection. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this book and how it has already affected my life in such a positive way. It's a great book to read on your own or introduce to your book club. I think anyone who reads this blog is a candidate for reading this book. It's a must!

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Fried Rice 101

. photo credit: The Chinese Cookbook

I'm always trying to think of ways to make tasty dinners out of leftovers or odds and ends in the fridge. Anytime I make white rice now, I make extra to use for fried rice because it's a quick meal and an easy way to clean out the fridge. All you really need for fried rice is white rice, eggs, and soy sauce. From there, anything goes. I thought I would share some of the many things you can use to make fried rice so next time you make rice, you'll make a little extra.

Essentials

White rice, preferably day old *

Eggs, scrambled

Soy sauce

Great flavor adds (pretty essential too in my opinion)

Shallot

Ginger

Garlic

Butter

Substance

Tofu

Chicken

Pork (bacon, ham, leftover pork chop, anything goes!)

Veggies

Carrot

Asparagus

Zucchini

Broccoli

Mushrooms

Onion

Green onion

Peas

Kale

Squash (just had this in fried rice at Nettletown and loved it)

Additional flavors

Sesame oil - a few drops mixed in at the end

Chili oil - never tried it but I'm sure it would also be good

Sriracha - my husband adds this to most Asian food because he likes the heat

Toppings

Green onion

Toasted sesame seeds

Egg - fried, cooked over-medium or poached

I make it different every time so I'm hesitant to write out a recipe, but I promised my friend Courtney I'd post it so here's a very rough version of what I do.

Tofu Fried Rice

4-6 T butter
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
2 T canola oil
3 T shallot, minced
3 T ginger, minced
3 T garlic, minced
3 T carrot, minced
1 cup cooked broccoli (leftover or boiled for 2 minutes)
1/4 cup soy sauce (hard to say an amount because I add a little at a time)
3 eggs, scrambled with a few splashes of soy sauce mixed in
1 package tofu, cut into 1/2" cubes
4-6 cups white rice, preferably day-old
2 T green onion, either cooked in with other veggies or sprinkled on at the end
few drops of sesame oil
Toasted sesame seeds
Eggs for the top

Heat 1 T butter in a saute pan over medium heat. Add mushrooms and let cook. Once sauted, remove from pan and set aside. Add 1 T oil and more butter to pan. Bring to heat and add shallots, carrot and ginger. Saute for a few minutes, then add garlic and saute for a few more minutes, until everything is cooked (be careful not to burn though). Stir in broccoli and green onion (if using now versus at the end), then increase heat to medium-high, maybe add a bit more butter and mix in scrambled eggs. Stir to combine and move eggs around until scrambled. Reduce heat to low and add tofu. Season with pepper and a few drops of sesame oil. In a large saute pan, combine 1-2 T canola oil over medium-high heat. Add rice and break up with a wooden spoon, continuing to stir until it's heated. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in 2-4 T butter and lots of soy sauce. (I add a little bit of each at a time until I get the right look and taste. Obviously the more butter and soy you use, the better it will taste.) Then add egg/tofu mixture and stir to combine. Lower heat and let flavors meld. When almost ready to serve, melt some butter in the small saute pan and cook one egg per person until cooked "over-medium". Spoon fried rice into a bowl, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds, top with the egg and then sprinkle with a little pepper and splash of soy sauce. Serve with chopsticks and Sriracha for those who like it.

Again, this is a really rough recipe because I never measure or do it the same way twice. It's hard to mess up though if you use good fresh ingredients, eggs, butter and soy sauce. Delish!

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Seattle: Best Take-Out in Town

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photo courtesy of Madison Park Blogger

My husband and I are crazy about pizza take-out from The Independent Pizzeria in Madison Park. We get it to go every week or two on the weekend when I need a break from cooking. There are lots of great pizzas to try. Our favorites right now are the Beta, the Stevedore, and last night I was really loving the Quattro Formaggi special (we added prosciutto - YUM!). They also make a good caesar salad. While it's not my favorite pizza in town - that award goes to Delancey - I would say it's a very close second. And considering we can no longer take the kiddos out to dinner, The Independent Pizzeria take-out has been a life saver when we're jonesing for some good pizza.

Calling All Cooks: Help A Sister Out with Recipe Ideas!

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In case you didn't see the Oprah with Michael Pollan and Vegan & Lifestyle author Kathy Freston, there are lots of links on Oprah.com with info from the episode. It was a really interesting special on food, meat manufacturing in America, the vegan diet and more. My friend Marly just read Kathy's book Veganist: Lose Weight, Get Healthy, Change the World and is really inspired to lean (heavily) into a vegan diet. While I'm not ready to read the book because I can't think of giving up all meat and dairy at this point in my life, I am inspired (by the show and what Marly has told me) to lean into it a little. For me this would mean maybe having a "Vegan Night" once a week, or at a minimum, being more mindful of how much meat and dairy we consume on a daily basis and cutting some out wherever I can.

So, leaning into this means I have to plan ahead with some more vegetarian and vegan recipes. I've shared recipes with you, now I'm begging you to share with me. What's your favorite vegetarian or vegan meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner)? Please post your favorites or email me directly. I'll keep you posted on what I make and love so you too can lighten up your meat and dairy consumption.

Quick video from Oprah's website: Backstage with Michael Pollan

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Once again Michael Pollan inspires me. I like the idea of meat flavoring a main course (like soups and stews) versus a big hunk of meat being the main course. I always tend to like soups and pastas with some meat better than a big chicken breast or pork chop anyway so I'm going to think more about this as I plan future meal plans.

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Pasta all'Amatriciana

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I pulled this recipe for Pasta all'Amatriciana from Food & Wine magazine and just made it last night. I was actually shocked at how good it was. I even said to my husband at one point "Honey, close your eyes, doesn't it taste like you're in Italy?!" It was really really good and I will definitely make it again.

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I used Applegate pancetta (which I diced), bucatini noodles (from PFI), and San Marzano brand whole tomatoes.

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Deeeeeeeeeeeelicious!

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Uneeda Burger

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My friend Ali tweeted this restaurant review for Uneeda Burger. Love the review. Can't wait to try the restaurant.
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From the Stranger:

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"Uneeda Eat This Immediately (If Not Sooner)"

I Have a New Crush... A House Crush

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My friend Jennie just launched her blog House Crush. I've had a crush on it since she gave me a sneak peak and now everyone's going to have a house crush because she just went live. Jennie has an amazing eye for design and the details - color, pattern, texture, finishing touches and more. You should see her home!!!! It's A-mazing!

If you love home decor like I do, check out her blog and add it to your daily stops. I already have a crush on every photo she's shown. I just love her style and can't wait to see what else she has in store to inspire us.
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Ah, Seattle

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I had to share this photo my uncle took at Seward Park after our big snowfall in November. I love it. I love this city!

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I Dig the Polish

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Courtesy of Who What Wear Blog

My Must Have: Madewell Tees

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I'm a jeans and t-shirt kind of gal. I try to spice up my uniform with shoes, cardigans and jewelry, but my starting point is pretty much always a pair of jeans and my latest t-shirt obsession. Lately I've been cycling through a few Madewell v-neck pocket tees in white and grey. There's usually one on my body and one in the wash at all times. They are perfect in every way... soft, not too thin, good neck-line, and they don't shrink up to a size 4T when washed. I just discovered Madewell's more textured tribute tee before my vacation and am now obsessed with them. They come in great colors (I especially love the red hibiscus and pale sea) and have a great fit - a little oversized and boxy which I like when wearing with short shorts or leggings. A perfect t-shirt for spring and summer.

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(P.S. I air dry the tribute tees just to be safe.)

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One More Reason to Love Amazon

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I'm an Amazon junkie. I love, love, looooooove it. I buy everything from diapers to books to art supplies, and pretty much every Christmas gift I bought my kids this year was an Amazon purchase. In theory, I'd probably rather support local mom & pop shops for books and toys, but with a 1.5 year old and a 3.5 year old, I'll cut myself some slack for choosing the cheaper and easier option for a few chaotic, expensive, never-ending-diapers kind of years.

My big complaint about Amazon, however, is the boxes. I love getting my deliveries but always feel badly about the boxes and all the waste. Between Christmas gifts and diapers, I'm never proud of how much recycling we have. Well kudos to Amazon for knowing their customers. They've invented Amazon Tote.

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AmazonTote is a free weekly delivery service from Amazon.com. There are no subscriptions, minimum delivery sizes, or fees. Items delivered using AmazonTote will be brought to your doorstep in a reusable tote bag, free of charge.

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My friend Erika told me about it and within minutes of her leaving my house I was online looking into it. What's not to love?! If you are an Amazonaholic like me, check it out! And if you buy your diapers through Amazon, sign up for Amazon Mom and get a free Amazon Prime account (free 2-day shipping on pretty much everything plus other benefits!). Amazon Prime is great for Amazon junkies.

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Erika was also raving about Amazon Fresh. She doesn't use it for all her groceries but loves it for recurring purchases like milk, cheese, canned goods and more. She was raving about how quick the orders can be delivered to your home. She even told me that when her family was on vacation, she put in an order that was on her doorstep just before arriving home from the airport. How great to come home to all your groceries! I just came home to slimy ham and stale bread. I'm definitely looking into Amazon Fresh. Right now in fact! Signing off....

Interesting Article: Marc Jacobs Fall Winter 2011/2012 Fashion Show

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Interesting article about the Marc Jacobs show at New York Fashion Week. I like this kind of article because I'm always so interested in the behind-the-scenes coordination of things. From The New York Times Fashion & Style section...

"At Marc Jacobs, the Show Before the Show"
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The French Fry Kid

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While on vacation my son was battling a cold and in the midst of getting two more chompers. And the kid has some serious chompers (look past the messy face and straight at those pearly whites, then imagine two more piercing through the gums on the outer edges... pure torture for the little buddy). So while nursing his ailments he decided to give up on food and only consume milk and french fries. I'm not proud of the 11 day french fry throw-down but I was on vacation and it's all he would eat. Not a battle I was willing to fight. So our first day home I couldn't take it anymore. I needed him to eat, and I wasn't willing to give him crap just for calories. So how to get good calories in a feisty little guy when he's on a food strike? I figured I could muster up enough ingredients between our empty fridge and packed freezer to make a relatively healthy smoothie that would also taste good. It ended up tasting SO good that both kids chugged it. I made them again this morning to similar results - empty glasses and smoothie-staches. Hubby and I enjoyed them too. Delicious!

The French Fry Kid Smoothie

Milk (I used whole milk)

Vanilla yogurt (I love Grace Harbor Farms)

Frozen blueberries

Frozen strawberries

Frozen spinach

Ground flaxseed

Agave nectar

Almonds (I used slivered almonds)

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I'm baaaaaaack! Did ya miss me?

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Sorry I left without a goodbye. I was quite sick and then headed off to Hawaii for our family vacation. I made myself unplug while on vacation and boy did it feel good. I'm back though and have lots of fun new things to write about. First off is my obsession with a few new Seattle eateries. My friend Tara introduced me to Seattle's new wood-fired bagel cafe Eltana. My husband and I loved it, so much so that I ordered up a bag of bagels and smear to go for our flight the next day. I hate flying but knowing I had a delicious toasted bagel with red pepper and walnut spread waiting for me got my mind off the possibility of the plane making a nose dive into the Pacific. Thank you little wood-fired bagel you! My husband loved it too. He got his bagel with spicy garlic cream spread and it was also delicious.
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I'm also loving Eastlake's Nettletown. I went for lunch and ate enough to feed a small village. The servings are quite large and I just couldn't stop. The spinach salad was good, the fried rice was great but the winner was the Nettletown noodle dish with pork topped with seasoned wild mushrooms, tea egg, scallions & toasted garlic oil. I also loved their refreshing ginger drink, so much that on my way out I asked what was in it. I woke up craving it so within hours I had one in my hand. Not sure what measurements they do, but I did equal parts of each and it was pretty darn good.

Refreshing Ginger Drink

Equal parts:

Reed's Ginger Beer
Rockridge Orchards Apple Cider (available at the Ballard farmers market)
Pellegrino

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Get Well Soup

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I've been sick for days. Like really sick for too many days. My friend Whitney brought me some Ed Fretwell Soup from Molly Wizenberg's A Homemade Life cookbook. It was deeeeeeeeeeeeee-licious. It's kind of your basic hearty veggie/bean soup but there was something a little different about it. I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it just tasted better than others because someone brought it to me when I was sick, and I was so touched. Maybe it was the glug of olive oil she instructed me to pour on top along with salt, pepper and parmesan. Whatever it was, it was delicious and a soup now added to my MAKE list.

The recipe, available here on her blog, is a little different than the one in her book. Whitney made the version from the book, so I recommend that one. But if you don't have the book, by all means, give the online version a go.

(Thanks again Whit! I loved it!)
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Dieting? Do You Eat Breakfast?

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Interesting article/theory on eating breakfast and calorie intake...

Bigger Breakfast, Bigger Daily Calorie Count
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