I had some ground beef to use up the other day, but wanted a light lunch that wouldn’t make us feel stuffed.  I decided to make lettuce cups, a treat my friend’s mother used to make for us when I’d come over.  My friend’s mom is Thai, Filipino, and Chinese, so I wasn’t sure what culture the lettuce cup recipe comes from.  I tried doing some research but found similar recipes for both Thai lettuce cups and Chinese lettuce cups.  I decided that, like most foods in Hawaii, it’s the result of a myriad of cultures living and eating together.  So I’m calling them Asian Lettuce Cups. Read more

Hello, my name is Diana, and I am obsessed with cheese.  I’ve stood for a full 30 minutes in front of a cheese case, not speaking or touching anything, simply staring at the abundance and variety of amazing cheeses.  I’ve taken a plate full of cheese samples to a corner all by myself so I can savor the nuances of each bite completely without distraction.  My current favorite is a lovely orange cheese called Mimolette, which I got hooked on when my friends Todd and Diane brought it on our trip to Mexico.  But I have to tell you, Mimolette has a dirty little secret. Read more

I’ve been on a baking kick lately, which is rather surprising since I consider myself a cook, not a baker.  But I’ve had the flavors of vanilla and orange kicking around in the back of my mind for weeks, and decided that the best way to play with that was to start with the simple buttery goodness of shortbread cookies.  Eric said these were “kinda dainty” (which led to him making his own oatmeal cranberry cookies!), but I thought that made them perfect to pair with tea or coffee! Read more

Spring is here!  Okay maybe not really, but we’ve been getting some unseasonably nice weather in Washington, while so many of my friends in other states are getting the crazy weather we usually have.  So I thought I’d share a drink that’s sure to make anyone in any location feel like spring is on the way.  Fresh cucumber juice is so simple to make, and it’s a beautiful fancy drink that’s perfect for parties.  Plus it’s alcohol free!

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Although this isn’t an authentic Mexican recipe, this chilaquiles recipe makes me feel like I’m back in Ixtapa eating in a beach side restaurant and staring at the ocean.  It’s a very simple chicken casserole that’s ready in about 40 minutes.  But if you make several at once and freeze them, they’re ready after just 30 minutes in the oven with no prep time! Read more