Boy does it feel like summertime here in the Bay Area! Today was a toasty 90 degrees... and I'm a little afraid for how hot it might be the actual summer. I'm just not made for hot weather! One of the reasons why I was crazy about San Diego was the usual 75 degree weather - ideal in my opinion - but I'll stop being a baby and find a way to deal with whatever heat comes my way this upcoming season. ;-) Earlier today I went to the Coyote Valley Family Farm Feast, an event that showcased locally grown food prepared by top chefs in the area. There were some really tasty food options offered, and I enjoyed two of the plates: a fava bean & radish salad, along with beet + goat cheese crostini. Both were awesome! Having attended an event with such a wonderful theme of highlighting the ... [Read More]
vegetarian recipes
Healthy Recipes Ideas to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo: Easy Black Bean Quesadillas + Vegetarian Chili
Happy Friday! You may or may not have realized that Cinco de Mayo is coming up this weekend on Sunday. While Mexican food can drum up thoughts of greasy nachos doused in cheese & sour cream and sugary margaritas, you can still celebrate the holiday with healthier fare. Here are a few recipe ideas to try out if you feel like being festive this May 5th: Spicy Tomato Cilantro Salsa This simple recipe is a great way to put a homemade touch on the (typically jarred) salsa that you usually find at gatherings. Whip up in 5 minutes flat and serve with multigrain tortilla chips. Black Bean Quesadillas To healthify a simple cheese quesadilla recipe, I pack veggies into the mix. If you're looking to keep the calorie and fat content low for your Cinco de Mayo ... [Read More]
Perfecting Pasta Caprese
Last Christmas, my hubby gave me a book of classic Italian recipes as a stocking stuffer. In it there are some quintessential meat-free Italian recipes included. I started flipping through it yesterday after having dreams that he and I were on a vacation in Italy (I think that's a sign that we should really go there soon!), and a recipe for pasta caprese caught my eye. I've made caprese in many forms and fashions -- as the classic salad, a chopped heirloom salad, a panini, risotto dish, and yes, as a pasta meal. I love the simplicity of it: some good olive oil, tomatoes, mozzarella, fresh basil, salt, pepper, and sometimes balsamic vinegar. It never fails as a great combo, especially in warm weather. But this book had a tip noted in there that I've never done before: freezing the ... [Read More]
Gourmet Vegetable Sandwiches
Hi friends! Hope that your weekend is off to a great start. My hubby and I are planning on checking out the Saturday farmers market in our town today, and I'm looking forward to nabbing local produce directly from the source. There are tons of farms around us, and I get excited about straight-from-the-farm-to-the-table food. I'll keep you posted! Today's recipe is inspired by one I recently saw in Vegetarian Times magazine for roasted veggie sandwiches with a zesty white bean spread. I had planned on making their exact recipe, but when it came time to make dinner, I had a growling stomach and didn't want dinner prep to be time intensive (I feel like this has been a theme lately!). So, instead of roasting veggies, I quickly sauteed them, and instead of making a bean spread, I used homemade ... [Read More]
Strawberry Avocado Sunflower Seed Salad with Strawberry Balsamic Dressing
Hi there! My weekend has been filled with fun and gorgeous weather. Yesterday I researched some hiking spots in the area and we ventured out to explore one of them. Though we wound up not getting to the trail we had originally been aiming for, we still found a pretty area to get some exercise in. I think I'm almost getting used to having cows roaming around near me. We saw a couple of pretty deer frolicking in a field, and on our way back saw a man riding a BULL. I had no idea that riding a bull on the side of the road is a thing that people do nowadays. In response to this comment, Adam said, ''Well at least one guy does..." Yes I suppose! Today we had our first real beach day since moving to the Bay Area. We went to Santa Cruz, and there was not a cloud in the sky. When we got home from ... [Read More]
Spicing Up Your Veggies: Balsamic Grilled Asparagus with Shaved Parmesan
I love veggies, but sometimes they can get boring if I'm always eating them the same old ways. It's just like everything else in life -- Doing the same workout everyday? Walking the same route with my dog on a daily basis? Eating the same foods all the time? Ick, not for me, I need some variety! As far as veggies go, I'm constantly coming up with different combos to spice them up and keep my meals a bit interesting. For this evening's meal, I used asparagus to make a fun dish for dinner. Balsamic Grilled Asparagus with Shaved Parmesan 1 bunch of asparagus (about 20 spears, trimmed)1/4 red onion (thinly sliced)2 TBSP olive oil1 TBSP balsamic glaze2 TBSP shaved parmesanMixed up salt & pepper Preheat your grill to 375 degrees or medium heat. I used my little ... [Read More]