It’s spring!  Although we’re still deluged with cold rains here in Washington, the crazy cheap prices of fresh radishes is one evidence that spring has arrived.  Knowing we’ll get some in our CSA this year, I’ve been trying to come up with some new favorite radish recipes.  Inspired by the French breakfast of radishes and butter on bread (which I first had when the Herbfarm served it at IFBC), I decided to make a simple radish spread recipe perfect for breakfast, lunch and snacking! Read more

I was concerned that this year’s United Way Hunger Challenge was actually going to be a big challenge for me.  I’m not just cooking for Eric and I, we have two teenage boys that eat twice as much as Eric and I put together!  This has increased our budget from $12 a day to $22 a day.  The good news is, this actually gave me more money for buying basic staples for our  pantry (since with the Hunger Challenge you can’t use anything you already own).  Soy sauce, rice vinegar, sriracha, sugar, hoisin sauce, sesame oil and honey are going to be some of my secret weapons this week.  The first thing I made with the soy sauce, vinegar and sriracha?  Some tasty homemade beef and vegetable potstickers. Read more

Being sick is no fun.  Since moving to Washington I have gotten terribly sick every February, we’re talking bronchitis, pneumonia out of work for weeks sick.  After four years of this, I’ve said “ENOUGH!”.  This February I’ve worked hard to eat right, exercise, wash hands and stay away from sick people.  I’m now on the tail end of a cold but nothing like previous years.  The funny thing about when I get sick , is I start wanting foods that other people might consider strange.  My latest recipe is one of those creations that fits as a classy appetizer or a quick and easy snack to go alongside a ginger ale (or beer if you’re not sick!). Read more

If you’re looking for a fun and easy snack recipe for your Super Bowl party, you’ve got to try these bite size “tacos”.  Rather than going the American route of beef with taco seasoning, cheddar cheese and lettuce, I’m tapping into my memories of Mexico.  This easy pulled pork recipe uses picante sauce and chipotle chiles in adobo, then cooks overnight in the crockpot so that you don’t have to worry about it. Read more

I’m 30!!!  Yes it’s true, last week was my thirtieth birthday and Eric and I decided that was the perfect opportunity to invite everyone we know over to see our new home.  We felt we may have underestimated our friends’ availability when about 75 people RSVPd that they’d be coming!  We were totally excited though and I began planning a menu of appetizers to offer (Yes, food is almost always first on my mind).  I’ll list everything we served at the end, but first, I have to tell you about these amazing prosciutto wrapped asparagus spears. Read more