Posts Tagged ‘food drink’

Cilantro Lime Slaw

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Cilantro Lime Slaw

Cilantro Lime Slaw

Slaws are often relegated to my sad side category; nothing terrible, yet nothing terribly exciting.  As a slaw skeptic, my common BBQ practice is to bypass the slaw in favor of more enticing sides.  Why waste coveted paper-plate space on a bowl of shredded cabbage  when faced with juicy slices of watermelon or bacon potato salads?!?  I recently, however, discovered this cilantro lime slaw and am reconsidering my classification of slaw as a sad side.

This cilantro lime slaw is not only a crunchy and refreshing condiment for pulled pork or fish tacos, it is an amazing side all on its own.  I recently served this slaw as the perfect accompaniment for green chili cheeseburgers and a warm Mexican street corn salad, and then piled the leftovers on grilled fish tacos the following night.

Confession of a *wannabe* foodie…. Although this slaw has initiated my conversion, I still don’t love all slaws, but I will now at least give them a try!
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Blackberry Lime Sorbet

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Blackberry Lime Sorbet

Blackberry Lime Sorbet

For the love of blackberry…. and lime.

It is a happy day, a true sign of summer, when berries dominate the fruit display at the grocery stores.  Hoards of strawberries, heaps of blueberries and mounds of raspberries, but blackberries?  Where are the blackberries and why are they always in those teeny-tiny containers?

This summer we are participating in the Fresh Gatherings Harvest, a community supported agriculture (CSA) program run through the nutrition and dietetics department at Saint Louis University.  We purchase our “share” (or half-share; $17.50 per week) at the beginning of the season and receive our “product” (produce) throughout the spring/summer/fall.  This is an incredibly easy and convenient way to purchase seasonal fruits and veggies from local farmers.   In a quick 5 minute stop, we have a crate full of produce for the week and the backbone of a seasonal weekly menu!  In addition, the crate often includes fruits and veggies that I might not normally find or buy at the grocery store… like blackberries!

Oh the blackberries!

While the blackberries rarely last a day in our house… I resisted all temptation for the love of blackberry and lime sorbet!

Tart, tangy, and tasty… this is a perfect summer treat!

Confession of a *wannabe* foodie… I consider it a miracle when the blackberries survive the ride home!
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Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins

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Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins

Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins

It feels as though this fall continues to remain unseasonably warm in good old Saint Louis.  I realize this heat may have more to do with the bun in my oven than extreme global warming in the Midwest, but needless to say, I have been unseasonably slow in my transition to fabulous fall food!

Here’s to hoping that a few of my fall favorites will coax in the cooler temperatures!

These pumpkin apple streusel muffins are a definite family favorite.  Although the origin of the recipe is lost in a pre-internet handwritten recipe card, there are now pumpkin apple streusel muffin recipes all over the wonderful World Wide Web.

This recipe, adapted from allrecipes.com, stays true to the original roots of the muffin and definitely delivers fall in one giant bite… regardless of the temperature outside.

Confession of a *wannabe* foodie… Sometimes… you can’t eat just one!
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Homemade Vanilla Wafers

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Homemade Vanilla Wafers

Homemade Vanilla Wafers

My loving, sweet, adorable husband does not like chocolate.  Under the circumstances, I believe it is even appropriate to say that he hates chocolate.  He dislikes chocolate so much that he does not eat anything with chocolate in it… except for Mexican Mole!

As a baker, this has been a difficult character flaw, I mean trait, to accept.  As our dating days progressed into engagement and marriage, the issue of the chocolate lingered… no one to appreciate gooey chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven, a lifetime of vanilla ice cream, cuddling on the couch with a steaming cup of hot cocoa and homemade marshmallows alone… the tragedy of missed opportunities, as you can imagine, abound…

After almost four years of marriage, however, I determined there are a few surprising benefits (okay, two) to a non-chocolate-eating husband!

1.  There are many circumstances in which I am *forced* to eat 2 desserts; it is only polite.  If dessert at a certain dinner or event, for example,  happens to be chocolate, I politely devour mine and then do a quick switch of the plate when no one is looking to politely finish Allen’s dessert as well.

2.  I explore and test a lot of amazing non-chocolate desserts, which I might normally overlook!

These homemade vanilla wafer cookies are a fantastic example of a cookie I might never have tried if it were not for my chocolate-fearing husband and my heightened awareness of non-chocolate eaters.

These delicate, crispy, vanilla bite sized cookies will definitely make you think… what chocolate chip cookie?!?

Confession of a *wannabe* foodie… Although I do love to harass Allen for his disdain of chocolate, I do love all the non-chocolate desserts we discover!

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Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies

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Oatmeal Cream Pies

Oatmeal Cream Pies

Ohhhh yes… homemade oatmeal cream pies!  You may be thinking…
When was the last time I actually ate an oatmeal cream pie?!?
or…
Why would I want to bake a homemade version of a pre-packed vending machine snack?!?
Just take one look at that ooey gooey oatmeal cream pie and trust me!

The past few years, I have helped with a retro bowling fundraiser for Guardian Angel Settlement Association (GASA), an amazing organization in Saint Louis that serves the poor by helping them improve the quality of their lives and achieve economic independence.  In addition to raising money, this event is a wonderful opportunity to get together and celebrate such an incredible organization in the Saint Louis community.  You know it’s a pretty fantastic fundraiser when it includes, all you can eat, drink, bowl, and shoot pool at an old school bowling alley that requires you to keep your own score!  The event is held at Saratoga Bowling Lanes, in operation since 1916, and supposedly the oldest bowling alley west of the Mississippi.

I thought it would be fun to contribute a retro dessert buffet, and where better to start than with the original Little Debbie Snack Cake… the Oatmeal Cream Pie.

Confession of a *wannabe* foodie… these taste amazingly similar to the original Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies, yet oh so delicious! (more…)

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Kale Salad with Avocado, Apricots & Almonds

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Kale Salad with Avocado, Apricots & Almonds

Kale Salad with Avocado, Apricots & Almonds

I claim that I am not a picky eater, which I still hold as true, but I often fall victim to the work-lunch-funk.  I seem to instantly transform into the world’s choosiest (that doesn’t sound quite as harsh as picky) eater the minute it is time to decide on lunch for the upcoming week work week.  I don’t really like frozen meals or just-add-water soup, I don’t love sandwiches, and it is too hot for my standard winter soups and beans!  Needless to say, I am always on the lookout for fun and easy lunch ideas!  I saw this recipe on The Kitchn a few days ago and was intrigued.  Although this is not the summer-iest of this season’s salads, it is delicious, filling, and holds up well as a work lunch!
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Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes

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Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes

Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes

Each summer I wait patiently… or not so patiently… for those large containers of blueberries to miraculously appear at the grocery stores and farmer’s markets at fairly reasonable prices.  As I begrudgingly headed to the grocery store, officially marking the end of vacation, I walked through those automatic sliding doors to behold a glorious slight… Blueberries!  Lots and lots of blueberries!!  I filled the cart with blueberries (not exactly an exaggeration) and began planning the upcoming week(s) of blueberry goodness.  First stop… Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes!
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Fettuccine with Asparagus, Peas & Bacon

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Fettuccine with Asparagus, Peas & Bacon

Fettuccine with Asparagus, Peas & Bacon

I love pasta.  I realize this is nothing extraordinary as most people, at least those worth befriending, also love pasta.  It is one of those few dishes that is both delicious and totally justified in every season: spring, summer, fall, and winter.   It is also one of those dishes that is often far better made at home as opposed to ordered over-sauced and over-cooked in an everyday restaurant.

Although not the lightest of spring pasta dishes, this recipe is definitely worth it!  I did increase the vegetable-to-pasta ratio, from the original recipe, which may not exactly negate the heavy whipping cream or crispy bacon, but it at least helps make the dish look healthy!
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Gleek Attack: Grilled Cheese & Tots!

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Grilled Cheese

Grilled Cheese

Although not blessed with a “grilled cheesus,” we still consider this Glee dinner a success: the ultimate grilled cheese, tater tots, and an ice cold slushy!

This grilled cheese may not be a sign from above, but it sure tastes heaven sent!  Slather 2 slices of Companion Peasant Wheat Bread with soft butter or  margarine, arrange 2 slices of Cheddar cheese and 2 slices of Monterey Jack cheese Tetris style between the unbuttered sides of bread, and place in a skillet over medium heat.  Toast until the bread is crispy and the cheese is completely melted.   The Companion Peasant Wheat bread really does make this sandwich incredible.  If you live in the Saint Louis area – definitely give this a try!!

Confession of a *wannabe* foodie… Everything on this plate is the same color, the tots are straight from the freezer section, the slushy is from the gas station, and there are no greens, but occasionally… totally worth it!

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Brown Butter Brownies

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Brown Butter Brownies

Brown Butter Brownies

I owe my discovery of these amazing, chewy, fudgy, nutty, crispy and delicious brownies to vegetable stew!   The February Issue of Bon Appetit included an intriguing recipe for Lentil and Vegetable Stew with Kale.  With only two of us in the house, however, I was hesitant to test the recipe for fear of endless leftovers.  As I perused the rest of the magazine, the recipe for these Brown Butter Brownies screamed MAKE ME TOO!!  What a perfect dinner, a healthy vegetable stew, followed by brown butter brownies and ice cream!  I knew my mother would be proud (she taught me the beauty of salad for dinner and ice cream for dessert), so I invited her over for the recipe taste testing.  Sure, the vegetable stew was tasty, but the brownies, oh… the brownies!!    (more…)

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