Saag Tofu

My husband noticed something funny about me -- I like leaf sauces. All leaf sauces. My favorite sauce as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guinea was sweet potato leaf sauce. My favorite pasta sauce is always a pesto, and my order of choice at any Indian restaurant is saag paneer. Here's my quick and lazy home version of saag, which I make with tofu (sort of a substitute for paneer).

Officially a Tradition

Thank you, Pinch My Salt, for giving my family a wonderful Christmas tradition. Nothing is better for a Colorado Christmas dinner than her Manchego Sweet Potato/Butternut Squash Gratin. We served it with a cranberry-pecan salad with fig dressing and the white wine from our wedding, Joel Gott's 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, a fresh tropical citrus-y white that cut the richness of the manchego and balanced the sweet squash and potato.

Happy holidays, everyone!

Tom Yum Soup

Another cold day..... another warm soup!!

Chorizo White Bean Soup with Greens

Curried Banana Chicken

It's a cold, rainy winter day here in the DC area, and I need something to make the day a little brighter, a little warmer. So, curried banana chicken is on tonight's menu to add some Jamaican sunshine to our day.

I use a Jamaican curry powder, but I think this would be good with a standard curry powder as well.

Lemon Pea Risotto with Shrimp (with a secret ingredient!)

I have discovered a new love tonight! Along with my last order, Penzey's Spices threw in their Lemon Pepper seasoning. I have never been a lemon pepper fan until now, and at this point I am never going back. I actually described it to my husband as, "sunshine in your mouth," to which, he just shook his head and laughed (as is often the case at our house). So, go out and buy Penzey's Lemon Pepper seasoning--it'll blow your mouth away.

Tabbouleh Lunch-To-Go

I've been taking my lunch to work most days, and this is one of my favorites. You can whip it up on Sunday, and it will last throughout the week.

Ginger-Lime Tuna Steak Burgers with Sriracha Aioli

I re-made the previously-posted ginger-lime salmon burgers, but this time with tuna steaks. Even better!!!

Tofu, Indonesian Red Rice, and Sauteed Rainbow Chard

So, no CSA this year. We felt it was simply too much of a commitment, too many veggies gone bad... However, I recently switched jobs, and one of the major selling points of the new position is its location: Vermont Ave directly north of the White House. This exact spot turns into Michelle Obama's farmers market each Thursday. So, in order for me to simply cross the street and get to the metro, I must traverse stands of fresh veggies, fresh fruit, fresh cheese, the bakery stand, the bison meat people, and the empanadas corner. Needless to say, when the job was offered, I snatched up the opportunity to have this be my new Thursday commute!

This week, with my few single dollars in hand (I need to start carrying more cash!), I picked out a beautiful bunch of rainbow chard. I carried this bounty home on the train, and decided to go Asian tonight -- STIR-FRY! This also gave me the chance to try out the red rice that I brought back from the terraced rice paddies of Central Bali on our honeymoon in Indonesia.

Grilled Shrimp, Corn, and Jicama Salad

It sounded too simple of a meal, and I felt like celebrating. Not celebrating anything in particular.... only summer perhaps. So I spiced up the jicama with some lime, cayenne, and champagne vinegar, and I made a simple garlic-lime-cilantro butter for the corn. Throw in some of my favorite Bulgarian feta, and it was a celebration of all things fresh and vibrant -- all things that summer truly is.

The Wedding -- A Reason to Splurge on a Cheese Tower!

I recently married the love of my life, Mr. Reid MacHarg. This gave us a good enough excuse to splurge on a meal that was to be shared with each and every person we love -- people who came from across the country to celebrate with us. It had to be a meal to remember. And this is why we chose our wedding venue in the first place. Restaurant 2941 is perfect for celebrating events large and small. From a random date night to our wedding day, 2941 never disappoints. I sound like a walking advertisement for the restaurant, but really, I could not have imagined our wedding being any place else.

Seared Tuna with Lime-Scape Tapenade over Black Beans

It was a less fruitful week for our CSA share, as the heavy, heavy rains of April and May that washed away a number of seedlings are finally showing their effects. However, we got garlic scapes again! How did I live in a world without garlic scapes?! So, for the second week in a row, I again ask, "What do you do with a garlic scape?"

Well, this week, we whipped up a yummy Lime-Scape tapenade with queso fresco and cilantro to serve over seared tuna with a black bean/corn mix and sliced avocado on the side. It was a fun new idea, and it turned out to be one of the prettiest dishes I have posted up here.

Grilled Shrimp with Mango Salsa and Jerk Slaw

So, we were snowed in again today, but this weekend we refused to eat any more winter food! No chili, no pot roast, no butternut squash! Instead, we took a trip to the Caribbean for some grilled shrimp with mango salsa and some jerk slaw. Simple recipe, but it did the trick!

Sage, Prosciutto, and Gruyere Pizza with Wild Mushrooms

Sage and prosciutto are one of my favorite flavor combinations. A family tradition is quickly being established: Thanksgiving prosciutto-sage cornbread stuffing. Since it's not Thanksgiving, but a snow storm has induced a craving for something sage-prosciutto, it's pizza night!

Ginger and Lime Salmon Burger with Sriracha Aioli

Craving something on a bun, but not a hamburger, I made salmon burgers last night spiked with ginger and lime and topped with a sriracha aioli and a slice of sweet onion. Served with grilled baby bok choy, it was a satisfying and healthy alterantive to Ray's Hell Burger.

Tempeh Tacos with Roasted Tomatillo Salsa

Another week of tomatillos with the CSA leads to another evening of tomatillo salsa. This week, we splattered it on tacos stuffed with a tempeh mixture. For those unfamiliar with tempeh, it's a block of cultured soy beans (or rice grains or flax or a mixture). It's been used in Indonesia for hundreds of years, and it's a great alternative to meat. Full of protein and fiber, tempeh takes on any flavor you give it, so I always marinate it for an overnight or two.

Tomatillo Goodness

As part of our Community Supported Agriculture Share, I received beautiful tomatillos last week. At least I was told they were tomatillos (I had never seen one whole before). Little did I know how easy it was to make a fresh roasted tomatillo salsa! Last night, I served the salsa with shrimp tacos--colorful tortillas full of black beans, corn, shrimp, tomato, avocado, and salsa. So yummy!

Indian Inspired CSA Tuesday

Sara and Reid brought home a bounty from this week's CSA pick-up: potatoes, tomatoes, corn, garlic, herbs, and even a potted pepper plant. Add to that the over-abundance of peaches we have from a local farm-stand, and we were rolling in local freshness. We got creative and let the flavors of India inspire our dishes, making a peach-ginger chutney to flavor grilled tofu, served with a cumin-scented tomato and corn salad and tikka-spiced roasted potatoes. We plated it up with our favorite Indian green hot sauce, and it was a beauty.

A Trip to Penzeys Spice Shop

Yesterday, Sara and I took a trip to the Disneyland for cooks: Penzeys Spice Shop in Falls Church, VA.

CSA Tuesday: Garlic Scape Pesto

Another CSA Tuesday has come and gone triumphantly! We have answered the age-old question: What do you do when you have 12 garlic scapes in the house and not much else? You make garlic scape pesto! This was Sara's idea, and we took our inspiration from here, and it turned out marvelous!

Tempeh, Beet, and Valdeon Salad with Orange-Balsamic Reduction

During a weekend trip to NJ for my 10 year high school reunion, Reid and I stopped at one of my favorite places on Earth, Delicious Orchards of Colts Neck, NJ. Without much thought of what we would do with them, Reid picked up beautiful beets with their long greens still attached. Tonight, to thank my honey for taking the trip with me to my high school reunion, I decided to do something fun with the beets.

The First CSA Tuesday

Months and months ago, Sara and I signed up for a share in a local farm, otherwise known as a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share. We signed up, wrote a check, and waited patiently for winter to end and the growing season in Virginia to begin bearing its fruits.

Finally, after many months of anticipation, we got our first bushel of produce from our CSA yesterday. After work, I rushed through the downpour and thunder to the corner of 16th and P to meet Sara. We told them our name, and they handed us a bag and told us to start grabbing what we wanted. We grabbed our half dozen eggs for the week as part of the egg share. I opened the carton, and inside were six beautiful, dirty, off-colored brown eggs from local free-range chickens. Each egg was slightly different in size, shape, color. And I bet each one will taste deliciously fresh. I was already excited.

Chick Pea Bhaji

A friend of mine, Ali, came into work one day with a variety of Pakistani spice packs as a gift. He was explaining, "This is just like Ravi kebab's chick peas, and this one will make Ravi chicken." To which, I replied, "Can I use tofu?" He just stared at me, and I got the feeling I had ruined the moment.

An Amazing Find for the Holidays

Sweet Potato, Butternut Squash, and Manchego Gratin, courtesy of Pinch My Salt

I made this twice this holiday season, and both times it was gobbled up by my family and friends. So yummy! I lightened it up a tad by doing half cream, half skim milk, and it was still very very rich, so all you need is a fancy salad to go with it. We made one with arugula, goat cheese, cranberries, and praline pecans. Drizzled with a tiny bit of reduced balsamic/red wine. So good, and so rich for the holidays!

Enjoy!

Leftover Arugula in the Fridge

So, I bought a huge tub of baby arugula when I wanted only a few bites for a prosciutto/carmelized onion/arugula pizza this past weekend. And it turns out arugula is too peppery for me in a salad. So, here's I used a whole tub of arugula. But really, it was so good, I am going to definitely buy arugula again!

Thanksgiving Feast

It's holiday time, and you know what that means: BUTTER! Our turkey had prosciutto-butter under its skin, the stuffing had it's own stick of butter, and the mashed potatoes, well..... they're mashed potatoes. Our full spread included a roasted turkey breast, cornbread-prosciutto stuffing, mashed potatoes, sauteed green beans, cranberry relish, gravy, and for dessert, pumpkin pie a la Paula Dean (with cream cheese to make it kind of like cheesecake).

Another Brunch - Huevos Rancheros

Asparagus Soup

Tonight, a cold blustery evening, I was in the mood for something warm and fuzzy. At the same time though, I didn't want anything too rich or heavy, and of course, I wanted it to be vegetarian if possible and uber-healthy.

Asparagus soup with golden crostini fit the bill perfectly, so I stopped at Whole Foods on the way home and picked up two giant bunches of asparagus. I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to make this soup, but I figured I would give it a try.

A New Eggs Benedict

This morning, like a number of mornings on the weekend, I am making my southwestern eggs benedict. It's the perfect brunch recipe when you are having people over because it is fancy enough to impress, but it is easier to prepare than a traditional eggs benedict. For one thing, I use goat cheese to replace the hollandaise. It imparts a certain tang instead of the utter creaminess of a hollandaise, plus it doesn't threaten to break. I also use spicy black bean burgers in place of the Canadian bacon -- making the dish vegetarian and spicier.

Carrot Ginger Soup and Pear Taleggio Panini

This week, I had Tuesday off for Veteran's Day, so I took the day to make a festive dinner for three.

Breakfast
Huevos Rancheros
Black Bean Benedict

Soups
Asparagus Soup
Carrot Ginger Soup
Chorizo White Bean Soup with Greens
Tom Yum Shrimp Soup
Yummy Tomato

Sides
Calabacitas
Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
Tikka Roasted Potatoes
Cumin-Scented Tomato and Corn Salad

Fish

Lemon Pea Risotto with Sauteed Shrimp
Seared Tuna with Lime-Scape Tapenade
Grilled Shrimp, Corn, and Jicama Salad Served with Garlic-Lime-Cilantro Butter

Ginger and Lime Salmon Burgers served with a Sriracha Aioli
Grilled Shrimp with Mango Salsa and Jerk Slaw

Vegetarian
Tempeh Tacos
Grilled Tofu with Peach-Ginger Chutney
Tempeh, Beet, and Blue Cheese Salad
Chickpea Bhaji
Arugula Pesto
Pear Taleggio Panini
Carrot Ginger Soup
Garlic Scape Pesto
Proscuitto Sage and Gruyere Pizza

Poultry
Roasted Turkey Breast with Proscuitto Herb Butter

Curried Banana Chicken

About Me and My Blog

Enjoying Some Roasted Sucking Pig In Bali (above)

Selling Dates and Almonds in Morocco (below)

Some mornings, I wake up knowing I will need red chilis in my breakfast burrito.

I'm a chick who secretly yells BAM! when I throw spices into the mixture.

I get more excited about what I am going to eat when traveling than anything else, and I always bring home spices as my souvenir.

And the only man I would even consider leaving my husband for is Anthony Bourdain.

This blog is for those with adventurous taste buds like me. People who love to travel and taste the world. There will be recipes, restaurant reviews, and more.

Enjoy.