Category: Recipes

Seafood: To Can or Not to Can

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Since I always struggle with stocking meat and using it before the expiration date, I decided to experiment with canned seafood. The smell is pungent and not for the fish-averse. But adding shrimp or crab to a meal is incredibly easy when it’s stored in the pantry for dinner emergencies.

Breakfast can benefit too. I made baked eggs with almond milk, spinach, and canned crab meat. For the recipe, see New Year’s Resolution-Worthy Baked Eggs.

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I also made a simple “fried rice” dish by sauteeing the canned shrimp in a pan and adding frozen peas towards the end, while cooking the rice separately. Mix it all together and serve. (Even better, try adding the shrimp to a Caesar salad.)

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Ladies who Lunch (at home)

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The fun thing about working in an office is going out to lunch, especially when you work in a thriving foodie corner like San Francisco’s Mission district (see evidence). But working from home presents some lazy lunch temptations. Thinking about my upcoming beach vacation, I decided to trade grilled cheese for veggies…

1. Take a tortilla, spread goat cheese on it, add your veggies of choice and roll it up. I used mushrooms, avocado, tomatoes, spinach and greens. Optional: Cut into 1-inch slices so you can enjoy the pinwheels of colorful veggies and textures.

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2. Good news: you can still be lazy about lunch, and eat healthy. This Butternut Squash Ravioli with Walnuts frozen meal from Safeway is low calorie and packed with colorful veggies. The sauce is really good too! If you’re like me and prefer not to microwave plastic, then you can remove the frozen block, put it on a plate and cover it with a bowl. Just decrease the microwave time slightly.

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Pulled Pork Pappardelle: Oscar Dinner Flashback

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Four years ago we lived in San Francisco and “Dinner with David” was born in our tiny little kitchen. On Oscar night that year, I tried a milk-braised pork recipe. The following year, we feasted on fiber-rich turkey meatballs and pasta. Things haven’t changed all that much. So tonight I decided to revisit the pork recipe, this time using almond milk and pappardelle noodles.

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  • Place two halves of pork tenderloin in baking pan; sprinkle with salt, pepper, fresh nutmeg and 2 diced garlic cloves
  • Pour almond milk over the mixture until the liquid reaches the midline of the pork
  • Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 2-3 hours, checking and rotating every 30-60 minutes
  • Once the meat falls apart at the slightest touch, then remove it from the oven
  • Cook pappardelle noodles separately; drain
  • If meat needs more moisture or sweetness, then stir with olive oil and maple syrup
  • Serve a spoonful of pork over a bed of noodles
  • Be thankful that you can eat carbs and meat without having to worry about squeezing into a red carpet gown

Gimme S’more

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I knew these heart-shaped marshmallow s’mores would be cute, but I was pleasantly surprised by what a crowd pleaser they were. Don’t let a lack of a campfire prevent you from indulging, either.

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The prep was super easy too. Simply stack chocolate bars on a graham cracker, top with one heart-shaped marshmallow (ordered on Amazon) and broil in the oven until melted and golden.

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A special thanks to TheCakeBlog.com for sharing the idea on Pinterest!

A Little Pizza My Heart

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I embraced cheesiness on Valentine’s Day with a homemade, heart-shaped pizza for two. Shape the pepperoni into hearts by cutting a small triangle at the edge (easier to do in a stack), and cut the two opposite sides on a diagonal. For the bell peppers, cut narrow slices and make sure to leave the curvy ends at the top of the pepper. Then cut the slices in half and shape into a heart.

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Lazy Lasagna

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I came home to chaos in the kitchen, and had to quickly make dinner while keeping an eye on my cone-headed puppy. It took me two minutes to throw get this into the oven, so I could get back to juggling all the other balls in the air.

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Throw a couple of lasagna noodles in a buttered square casserole dish, add a layer of diced tomatoes and some parmesan; repeat twice, and pour almond milk over the final noodle layer until it was soaking. Finish with parmesan, cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees until noodles are swollen and tender.

Ingredients:

  • Butter to grease casserole dish
  • No-bake lasagna noodles
  • Can of diced tomatoes
  • Shredded parmesan
  • Almond milk

New Year’s Resolution-Worthy Baked Eggs

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This morning I embraced resolutions to eat healthy, make more meals at home, and embrace imperfection. Inspired by a baked eggs recipe from Saveur, I made some tweaks; adding mushrooms and onions, swapping cream for almond milk, and leaving out the bacon. Despite some timing adjustments with the eggs, the result was a delicious brunch that’s deceptively healthy.

First, saute sliced mushrooms and chopped onions with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Add spinach at the end and remove from heat. Grease two oven-safe bowls or small gratin dishes with butter.

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Next, divide mushroom mixture between two bowls. Make 2 wells in each bowl, and carefully crack 1 egg into each well. Add 4 tomato wedges and 2 spoonfuls of almond milk to each bowl. Sprinkle with parmesan, nutmeg, salt and pepper.

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Bake uncovered at 425 degrees or higher if your stoneware can handle it. Remove once the egg whites are opaque, and topping is golden brown.

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Note: It took me much longer than the 5 minutes (under a broiler) that the recipe suggested, to cook the eggs through. In fact, I discovered there was still clear liquid on the bottom layer, so I put them back in until I felt safer about the finished result. In total, I probably cooked them for 20 minutes or so, but it will ultimately depend on your risk tolerance, oven and cookware.

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Delicious when served and scooped with sourdough toast!

Ingredient list:

  • Olive oil, salt and pepper
  • Sliced mushrooms (4-6 buttons)
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • Handful of fresh spinach
  • Butter or nonstick spray
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 tomato, cut into 8 wedges
  • 4 spoonfuls of almond milk
  • 2 handfuls of shredded parmesan
  • Nutmeg
  • Toast, optional

Goat Cheese Pizza

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Why should mozzarella have all the fun? After watching my Christmas hosts make pizza at home, David was determined to try it in our kitchen. I was equally determined to find a shreddable goat cheese.

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Trader Joe’s is where we got the goods. You can pick up the dough, bell peppers, olives, sausage, mushrooms, and marinara sauce for less than the price of delivery. And I found Goat’s Milk Cheddar Cheese, which turned out to be a perfect substitute for mozzarella.

The only tricky part is cooking the pizza long enough to make sure the dough is cooked through. Ours took twice as long as the package suggested, which meant crispier toppings than we would have liked. I’d recommend reducing the heat slightly to help cook evenly.

Desperately Seeking Lasagna

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My supply of vegetables was rather sad, and after setting my sights on lasagna, I realized the ground turkey had expired four days ago. In these situations, my instinct is to experiment and hope all goes well.

For this particular veggie lasagna, I simmered diced tomatoes seasoned with salt and pepper; and went to work on a sauce. I started by boiling frozen corn in chicken broth, to which I added some leftover goat cheese, a scoop of plain yogurt, and a generous amount of almond milk.

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For the architecture of the lasagna, layer 1/3 tomatoes, followed by 1/3 corn mixture; sprinkle a layer of Parmesan, followed by three no-bake lasagna noodles. Repeat three times. Finish with more almond milk and parmesan to cover the top layer of noodles. (My top layer of noodles dried out, so make sure they’re covered in liquid.) Bake covered for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Around the World in 11 Plates

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To say I’ve lived a nomadic lifestyle over the past 2 months would be an understatement. But the silver lining of traveling more than I’ve been at home is the plethora of amazing dishes that inspire future kitchen endeavors. Here’s my world tour, also captured on FoodSpotting for fellow foodie paparazzi.

Chapter 1 – I Left My Sandwich in San Francisco

Mortadella Sandwich @ Salumeria

Mortadella Sandwich at Salumeria in San Francisco’s Mission District. Love the seasonal menu and “urban rustic” salvaged wood tables and decor. They also have locally produced bread, cured meats and gourmet goodies for purchase.

Turkey Sandwich With Bacon, Cheddar, Sundried Tomatoes And Dijon @ Chevron

No joke, this Turkey Sandwich With Bacon, Cheddar, Sundried Tomatoes and Dijon comes from a gas station! Tower Car Wash on the corner of Mission and Van Ness in San Francisco.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich @ Local: Mission Eatery

My last San Francisco sandwich comes from Local Mission Eatery. While the grilled cheese was delightful, I can’t say enough about the intimate environment with a laser focus on local, curated by a very thoughtful executive chef and pastry chef 😉

Pub Reuben @ Squaters Pub
Last but not least, if you ever find yourself in the Salt Lake City airport craving a beer, have no fear. Squatter’s Pub will take care of you. Paired with a Chasing Tail Golden Ale, this Pub Reuben was delightful during my long layover.

Chapter 2 – J’aime Paris

Saute Seau De Marengo Tagliatelle @ Bouillon Racine

It’s no secret that I love shredded meat on pasta. But I was pleasantly surprised to find such a combination in an Art Nouveau original, Bouillon Racine. The Saute Seau de Marengo Tagliatelle… je meurs!

Chicken @ Atelier Maître Albert

I wasn’t expecting to taste Thanksgiving while abroad, but that was the collective sense when we feasted on this lovely chicken at Atelier Maitre Albert. And along with Bouillon Racine, it helped seal St. Germain as my new favorite neighborhood in Paris.

Couscous Monaco @ Exki Cafe Terminal 2E

Leave it to the Parisians to serve delightful food at the airport. This Couscous Monaco from the Exki Cafe featured smoked salmon, cucumbers, raisins and dill. Ideal for easing into a long transcontinental flight home.

Chapter 3 – Seafood in the Desert

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If you blink you might miss Adele’s while driving through downtown Carson City. But once inside, you’re greeted by a cozy fireplace and Victorian decor. The menu doesn’t disappoint, and everything’s made from scratch using local, sustainable, organic ingredients. I enjoyed the House Dry Smoked Salmon Crepe with Chèvre and Fresh Dill.

Whole Wheat Pomodoro @ The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

When you’re on the road and in meetings all day, there’s nothing better than room service while you rest your feet. Even better if it doesn’t taste like a plate of pure sodium. Such was the case at Scottsdale’s Westin Kierland Resort, where I dined on this hearty Whole Wheat Pomodoro with Shrimp.

Smoked Salmon Bruschetta @ The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

This generous serving of Smoked Salmon Bruschetta at the Westin’s Rim Lobby Lounge helped me prepare for a long night of networking over cocktails.

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It doesn’t get better than being served delicious Fish Tacos poolside at the Hotel Viceroy in Palm Springs. Unless you count the sliders and mini mac & cheese served at Karie & Joe’s wedding reception. Devoured too fast for a photo!

And now, lots of Sacramento foodie adventures await…