I've mentioned it before, recipe ideas come to me from all sorts of places. Sometimes it's a meal, or a supermarket product or even a movie that sparks a new creation, but other times it's as simple as a 'have you tried...?' inquiry or an 'I wish I could figure out how to...' request. A month or so ago a reader named Elisa P emailed saying she loved my Chocolate Quinoa Pie Crust but was wondering if I had ever tried one without the cocoa. I had considered the same thing myself, but this was … [Read more...]
Vegan Pumpkin Pie and a Celebrated Life
A celebration. A celebration of life no matter how brief. A celebration of life because the alternative is a contemplation of loss and the extraordinary sadness that accompanies it. Five years ago on this day, a special soul left our family and this earth. She was 19. An artist, a musician, a budding chef, a daughter, a sister, a cousin, a friend. There wasn't a funeral, instead a Memorial Mass and Celebration of Life. We had only just moved back to Sydney weeks earlier but there was no … [Read more...]
Vegan Chocolate Smoothie & Green-Machine Banana Smoothie
Seasonally-induced-home-sickness. Northern-hemisphere-displaced-persons affliction. Whatever you want to call it, it happens to me every year about this time. You'd think that after seeing everyone during our recent trip it wouldn't be as bad, but somehow it's worse. It's not that Sydney isn't gorgeous but, as anyone who lives far away from home knows, the holidays can be pretty hard. It's the night before Thanksgiving in the US right now. Most of my family is back in Philly, mom is playing … [Read more...]
Bloody Meari, Japanese Mezze & a 2-year bloggiversary!
A toast! A toast to 731 days, to 258 posts, to 100+ recipes, to me, and without a doubt to you. To you who stop by to read my ramblings or look at my photos. To you who leave lovely comments. To you who I've met - in person and virtually - because of this little pocket of the interwebz. Today 84th & 3rd turns two and in celebration the drinks are on the house! Now in the interest of full disclosure, this festive beverage has been hanging out on a camera card for months. It … [Read more...]
Guacamole & Pico de Gallo – Afternoon Tea, Mexico-style
Having only just settled into our breathtaking room after roughly 8 hours of travelling we were surprised buy a knock at the door ... "Hola, buenos tardes - guacamole, salsa fresca, corn chips and cerveza for you. Welcome to Capella Pedregal." We stripped off our travelling clothes, grabbed the first swimsuits we could find, slipped into our balcony-plunge-infinity-pool and cracked open the beers. Bliss. Back home I eat avocado every day, however RJ has insisted for years he doesn't … [Read more...]
Vegan Creme Anglaise
wake up late, lie in bed listening to the chatter downstairs and smelling the fresh baked muffins put on fleece pants hang around, eat muffins, drink tea change from old sleeping t-shirt into old daytime t-shirt, begrudgingly change out of fleece pants for slightly more acceptable cargos do not put on makeup take pictures of farm, eat grapes off vines, wander around in barn, cook a bit, hang around fend off advances of grandmother bearing more muffins, drink tea chat … [Read more...]
Activated Almonds, Walnuts & Brazil Nuts
I had that look in my eye. The slightly crazy one that says I am getting hangry, keep all hands away from the cage lest you lose a finger... Soothing words uttered in dulcet tones do not help this hungry/angry low blood sugar situation - well unless those words are 'here is some food to eat'. Nor does distraction - unless distraction is delivered as food. Are you catching on? Needless to say, I have learned over the years to never be without snacks. Nuts, apples, carrots - they float … [Read more...]