Earl Grey and Cara Cara Orange Panna Cotta

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Earl Grey and Cara Cara Orange Panna Cotta

Let me start by saying that I am very critical of my own work; especially when it comes to meals I've prepared. That being said, I'm going to do an awful lot of boasting right about now. During our surprise three day weekend I wanted to use up some extra heavy cream and milk I had and there's really only one thing you can make: panna cotta. Now, I'd always wanted to try it but every time I went to the store I'd forget to pick up unflavored gelatin. Well, the stars aligned and I had all the ingredients necessary plus an extra special one to boot. 

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A Tale of Two Pancakes

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A Tale of Two Pancakes

When you go from having no winter to all the winter at once you have to make some pretty quick decisions. Can that trip to the bank wait? Did I get salt for the driveway? And, most importantly, what am I going to make? After shoveling as much as I did I knew I wanted to make a carb based dish but what exactly. I spied a open container of ricotta and like a snowball to the face, it hit me: ricotta pancakes.

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Blueberry Cornmeal and Almond Cake

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Blueberry Cornmeal and Almond Cake

A very happy 2016 to you all! Hopefully the year is off to a solid start but if not, this cake can get you there. You see, back when I visited San Diego I had a remarkable cornmeal and blueberry waffle for breakfast at Cafe 222. It was after a late night and I needed some serious sustenance. I think about that waffle often and, much to my chagrin, I do not have a waffle maker. Despite this minor yet atrocious set back, I decided to replicate it in a gluten-free cake form.

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Chipotle Sweet Potato and Quinoa Cakes

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The last post of the year is taking a bit of a different approach. You see, my feeds from various social media sites are clogged with sweets and indulgent foods galore. The problem is I'm full. Honest to goodness full. I don't want to see another cookie until next fall...or at least next Wednesday. I decided to end the year with a healthy post because I know y'all will come scrambling, looking for something healthy to start your year off with. My simple sweet potato and quinoa cakes are a great base for anything: eggs Benedict, a burger, eaten plain, etc. They also help you get all sorts of protein, fiber and vitamins, which, given how you partied on NYE, you will probably need to restore as soon as possible. 

All you need is a medium cooked sweet potato, a 1/2-2/3 cup of cooked quinoa (I like Trader Joe's tri color), a teaspoon of garlic powder and 1/2 a teaspoon of chipotle powder. Mash everything together in a bowl like so,

Shape them into patties and place them on a lightly oiled tray

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Dunzo.

Of course I made an eggs Benedict out of mine. If you back up a couple of steps and add in some cooked onions and peppers you could probably call this a burger. Well, a vegan burger.

The greens you see happen to be the Kale and Broccoli Slaw Salad from Trader Joe's. It's got sunflower seeds, dried blueberries and a light buttermilk type dressing that doesn't strip the salad of all its benefits. Told you this was a healthy post.

Wishing you all the best for a happy, healthy, and of course tasty New Year! Until the next dish, ciao!

Holiday Odds and Ends

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Holiday Odds and Ends

In a flurry of powdered sugar and a blink of the eye, this holiday season sure seems to have gone by. Fine, I'll stop rhyming. I've put my kitchen to the max these last few days and let me tell you, nothing puts me in the Christmas spirit quite like baking for hours on end in an apartment with continuous uncontrolled heat when it's sixty three degrees out. Yeah, global warming sucks.

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Harissa Chicken Salad

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Harissa Chicken Salad

It's said that residents of warmer climates eat spicy foods to keep cool. The heat and spice in the food cause the body to produce sweat, which helps lower the body temperature. Since I love spice and staying cool I figured I'd work this concept in to my no cook meals for the week, (me and the stove top are on a break until the temperature goes below 85) which included this harissa chicken salad recipe

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Corn and Leek Quiche with Proscuitto Sage Topping

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Corn and Leek Quiche with Proscuitto Sage Topping

If I could sum up this June in one word it would be 'rainy'. Sure, we had a few brilliant sunny days but this is not April, it is June and I have been done with school and I need to keep busy goshdarnit. So what is one to do on rainy June days? Binge watch shows on Netflix, of course. If you're anything like me you went through Season 3 of Orange is the New Black at warp speed (probably did the same with Grace and Frankie and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmitt). And what does any of this have to do with food? So glad you asked.

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