August 12th, 2013 | 
Author: 
Jerk Style Cornish Hens with Wasabi Sauce
Is it just me or does everyone else also have a tendency to plan to complete more than they can possibly accomplish in a certain period of time? In business we’re taught that one should always under-promise and over-deliver but what about when it comes to our own personal lives? Why don’t we do that with ourselves? I find I’m constantly over-promising and under-delivering to myself when it comes to my own personal to-do lists. For example, one day last week, I planned to do prep my vegetable beds, plant tomatoes, prepare a recipe and photograph it for a future blog post, do the laundry from our 3-week vacay, get in a little knitting and have dinner ready when M came home. What in the hell was I thinking? I was SO far off on my timing and I barely got the veggie bed cleared and prepped and a load of laundry done before it was time to start dinner!
Posted in Grilling, Meat Dishes, Sauces | 
Tags: chicken, cornish hen, wasabi | 
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No Comments »Friday Favorites: Crispy Herbed Salmon Cakes
There are some recipes in our home that get made over and over again. These are my go-to recipes for many different reasons. Some make the list because I always seem to have the stuff on hand to make them; some get promoted because they are definitive crowd pleasers and friends ask for them again and again; some are just darn easy and perfect for when I don’t feel like cooking. (Yes, it happens to me from time to time!) My arsenal of family favorites has grown to a complete library of recipes so I decided to start a new series called Friday Favorites. Every Friday I will provide one my tried and true recipes that my family enjoys over and over again. So make sure to check back often to see what recipes you can add to your family favorites list!
Lemon Cherry Sorbet
It’s the dog days of summer and in many places just darn hot out! These are the days that make us long for the cool breezes of autumn, boots and cozy sweaters… Well, maybe not quite yet. We can still squeeze a little more enjoyment out of the hot furnace air. We just need a way to cool off!
We rarely made ice cream in my family when I was a kid – we were more of a pie and cake family & usually bought ice cream to go along with those decadent desserts rather than making it the star. Making my own icy treats now, I realize what I was missing out on! There’s nothing more satisfying to take the sizzling hot edge off than a cold, sweet refreshing sorbet.
Garlic Kale with Pickled Red Onions
Everyone is all about kale lately. Kale chips, kale lasagna, kale salads; kale kale kale! You’d think someone had discovered a new miracle vegetable! Except kale is not new…
My father has been growing kale on and off over the years in his [crazy & maniacly huge] garden. We often ate it raw in a simple salad with fresh tomatoes, also from the garden. I was never a big fan of it this way as the fibrousness was difficult for my small mouth to chew and because the tomatoes were so earth-shatteringly delicious, they completely overshadowed the kale. Later I discovered that tossing the kale in a dressing about 15 minutes before serving helped softened it up just enough to be palatable.
Posted in Side Dishes, Vegetarian | Tags: garlic, kale, onions, vegan, vegetarian | Print Recipe | 2 Comments »California Grilled Fish Tacos
Being a food blogger has its perks! We get opportunities to try all sorts of products and then we get to share them with you! I tend to be picky about what items I’m willing to promote on this blog because they not only have to be tasty, they have to be healthy AND they have to be practical and useful. I don’t use many processed or packaged foods because I prefer to use fresh ingredients whenever possible. Sometimes, though, it’s not always practical to make the item yourself. Sometimes it makes more sense to grab the pre-made item. And, when I find items like this I get really excited because that makes the process quicker and easier!
Posted in Condiments, Grilling, Main Dishes, Seafood | Tags: california, fish taco, Mexican, salsa | Print Recipe | 7 Comments »Hawaii – A Farmers’ Market Perspective
I am writing this to you from the most beautiful state in the U.S. That’s right, I’m in Hawaii and listening to the ocean outside my window as I type this! I’ve been touring the islands the past couple of weeks on my honeymoon which explains the short absence you’ve no doubt noticed by now. I had all these lofty plans of posting things I had prepared in advance while here on vacay but you know how that goes. Sometimes you just can’t get it together. But hey, I have a great excuse. I mean seriously, folks, I’m on my honeymoon!
I cannot leave here, however, without first sharing with you some of the wonderful finds and experiences at the local farmers’ markets. Y’all know how I LOVE farmers’ markets (I do go every week in San Diego for my eggs and produce!) so how could I travel to such a lush and tropical location without seeing what their markets have to offer? I have been to two since we first touched down in the Pacific and I can tell you I am NOT disappointed! Below are some photos of the amazing fruits, veg & products I found and wanted to share with you.
