Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Orzo Mediterranean Salad


I just made this salad the other night and wanted to share the easy and tasty recipe with you, originally taken from an old issue of Sunset Magazine. There are no true measurements for this recipe as you really just throw everything into a bowl to suit your tastes and the number of people you are serving. This salad is perfect as the main dinner course – the orzo pasta makes it hearty, but the spinach, basil, and tomatoes keep it light and fresh, perfect for a warm summer evening! Add cooked chicken for some extra protein; I paired mine with a simple olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette.





Ingredients:
Cooked orzo pasta (just throw it in boiling water for about 10 minutes)
Spinach
Basil
Cherry tomatoes
Kalamata Olives
Feta cheese
Pine nuts
Chopped garlic (optional)


Monday, July 30, 2012

Farmers’ Market Fever


There’s something about farmers' markets that just scream summer. Nowhere else can you see the evidence of the summer season than the piles of berries, bushels of veggies, and fragrant flowers that cram the markets at this time of year. Even Seattle, which lags behind the rest of the West, is heaven right now with all of the fruits and vegetables that we see for only 2-3 scant months each year. My favorite Seattle market has to be the Ballard Farmers’ Market, which I visited this Sunday and documented for your viewing pleasure. I got all of the ingredients necessary to make this delicious-looking quiche. Hopefully these photos will inspire you to visit a market near you!


PS: My favorite California farmers’ markets, discovered during the time I lived there:



Friday, July 27, 2012

Olympic Eats


Tonight, I’m looking forward to watching the 2012 Olympic opening ceremonies! Speaking of those Olympic athletes, you might be amazed to hear how much some of these competitors can eat! It is said that American swimmer Michael Phelps’ typical breakfast (and this is JUST breakfast, people) consists of three fried egg sandwiches, a five egg omelet, a bowl of grits, three slices of French toast, and three chocolate chip pancakes. Damn I wish I could eat like that, but there is just. no. way.


For a cool visual, check out these photos that show what the Turkish Olympians are eating.


Thursday, July 26, 2012

Mighty-O Donut


Hello, my name is Kristina and I am a donut addict. Everyone, please meet my donut obsession: Mighty-O Donuts in Seattle Green Lake’s “Tangletown” neighborhood. First things first, I need to let you know that this is an “organic” donut shop. Some of you may hear that and rejoice, others may shake your heads and grimace. Now, I don’t exactly know what an “organic donut” entails, and frankly I do not care. All I know is that these are the grocery store donuts’ royal cousin, a step above and beyond any donut I have ever known. Perfectly spiced and with an amazing cake-like texture, I don’t know what’s in these things, but frankly I think it may be illegal. My pick? Go for the Nutty French Toast flavor.  






 So many awesome flavors, you'll never be able to pick!


Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Gone Bananas


As part of my budget-conscious lifestyle, I absolutely HATE to waste food. The feeling of having to throw something away because the expiration day passed or I just “forgot” to eat it in time simply pains my heart. That is why when a couple of bananas I bought last week starting looking black and disgusting, I was actually excited about it. Why? Because mushy, gross looking bananas are just what you need to make the perfect banana bread. I recently unearthed this recipe from a 2000 issue of Bon Appetit magazine, and I think you’ll agree it’s a keeper!


Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 bananas)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour one 9-inch metal loaf pan. Whisk first 4 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Combine chocolate chips and walnuts in small bowl; add 1 tablespoon flour mixture and toss to coat.

Beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually add sugar, beating until well blended. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Beat in mashed bananas, lemon juice and vanilla extract. Beat in flour mixture. Spoon 1/3 of batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle with half of nut mixture. Spoon 1/3 of batter over. Sprinkle with remaining nut mixture. Cover with remaining batter.

Bake bread until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Turn out onto rack and let cool. Stuff your face with delicious banana bread! 

(It's healthy because it contains fruit, right? ;)


Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Fresh Flours


Today I wanted to feature one of my favorite little Seattle bakery/cafes. Living in the often-dreary northwest, we learn very quickly that warm pick-me-ups, cozy study spaces, and flaky pastries can do wonders to make those rainy days a little more bearable. I love Fresh Flours for many reasons; one because of the name (how clever!), two because they bake their goodies on-site at the Ballard location, and finally because their second location in Phinney is within walking distance of my apartment, has free Wi-Fi, and lots of seating space. What more could a carbohydrate-loving Seattle graduate student ask for?? 

PS: If you live in the area, pastries tend to be sold for half-price one hour before closing (usually 4:00). Photos are of the Ballard location. 





 Another bonus in my book? The breakfast bagel sandwiches cost under $5! Score!



Monday, July 23, 2012

The French Life


Hello all! I’ve just returned from taking a horrendous French language exam that I needed to pass in order to receive my Master’s degree. After weeks of studying scholarly French vocabulary, I took the test and passed!! Now that I’m done, I feel like my friend the French language and I are at a crossroads. I could easily begin hating the sight of all things française from this moment on. OR I can take the high road, and instead choose to embrace all the wonderful things France has to offer. As you can see below, the French have come up with too many delicious discoveries for us to part ways just yet! 

3. Pain au chocolat (or try the Trader Joe’s frozen version!)







 Why do those French have to be so darn classy, attractive, and tasty?!

Friday, July 20, 2012

Picnic at the Zoo


In Seattle, we live just two blocks below the Woodland Park Zoo. It’s an awesome place to be – we can hear peacocks calling to one another, and when you walk around the perimeter of the zoo there’s one spot where you can usually see elephants from the trail. Currently, the zoo is featuring their annual Zoo Tunes concerts series. And since we live so close, we got free tickets to see two shows!! We decided to see Ziggy Marley, Bob Marley’s son, perform last night. It was a packed, fun, and family-friendly venue.

Since the show started at 6:00 p.m., it ran smack through the middle of dinnertime. And you don’t want to know how I get when I miss a meal. Grumpy and cranky, just like the dozens of toddlers who were at the concert with their parents! Anticipating disaster if we went on an empty stomach, I ran by Whole Foods to pick up some impromptu picnic goodies. I love picnics as a fun, budget-friendly meal option (especially when you are traveling in a foreign country, where the exchange rate can make restaurant meals pricey). Usually I bypass Whole Foods as too expensive, but actually the most expensive item I bought was an spinach/artichoke dip for $4.49, and we didn’t even end up bringing that to the zoo. 


Picnic Basket:
1. French Baguette
2. Pink Lady apples
3. Sliced watermelon
4. Spinach artichoke dip
5. Kerrygold Dubliner cheddar cheese
6. Gouda Red Wax cheese
7. Genoa uncured salami





 It definitely hit the spot, particularly the Kerrygold cheddar and the sliced watermelon!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Book Review: Food Lover’s Guide to Seattle



Usually I’m not one for guidebooks, but recently Stuart and I picked up the Food Lover’s Guide to Seattle, hot off the presses as of last year. Obviously this is no ordinary guidebook, as it bypasses the Seattle “sights” in favor of the local foodie haunts. (But aren’t those the real places to go anyway? I know that I always plan vacations around food first, sights second!)

How did I know this book was such a gem? Well, because half the eateries featured are already places I know and love. That means that the half I haven’t yet eaten at are no doubt worth paying a visit. The author, Keren Brown, just so happens to be a local foodie and writer with a popular blog of her own, Frantic Foodie. I can’t wait to try some of these places and share them with you!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Hiking Off Those Carbs

Today, I felt that I had to counter-act some of the pizza overload from last night. A breakfast of yogurt, fresh berries, and honey & a hike up Washington's Little Si with my friend Lauren was just the trick! I think I need to get out more though, as I was sweaty and tired just 20 minutes into our 2+ hour uphill climb! Do any of my fellow Seattle-ites have suggestions for good hikes in the area? If so I'd love to hear them!

 Mountain High Original Style All Natural Plain Yoghurt, with fresh blueberries and raspberries



Homemade Pizza


With my Italian heritage, I can’t help but love pizza. What can I say – carb overloading must be in my genes! However, I’ve been noticing that good pizza is getting harder and harder to find. Out of principle, I refuse to order out from chains like Domino’s. And since moving to Seattle last September, Stuart and I have yet to find a pizza joint that we love. I still have a weakness for Costco pizza, and the best pizza happy hour we’ve discovered here has been a downtown Seattle Tom Douglas gem called Serious Pie. (Maybe the reason I think back on Serious Pie so fondly is because our server hit me in the head with a large pizza platter, and gave us a free pizza in compensation. I love food freebies more than anything!!).

So what’s a pizza lover to do in such a situation? Homemade pizza, of course! For the past few years Stuart and I have been experimenting with this amazing and easy dinner staple. The secret? Trader Joe’s pre-made pizza dough (with a twist on the baking directions, read carefully below!) and a rotating assortment of seasonal toppings. Check out last night’s concoction for inspiration on making your own little slices of heaven.

The Art of the Pizza Crust:


I’m a fan of any of the Trader Joe’s pizza doughs: Plain, Wheat, or Herb.

TIP #1: Sprinkle cornmeal on the bottom of your pizza pan. This is what the pros do, and it gives your pizza that nice, crispy, non-stick bottom that you love. 

TIP #2: Pre-bake the pizza crust for 5 minutes. The directions don’t state this, but I’ve found that if you omit pre-baking, you’ll end up with a soggier, mushier, unappetizing end result. Get it nice and toasty first!  


 Let the dough rest for 20 minutes while you preheat the oven, according to the directions

 The essential cornmeal-dusted pan

 The pre-baked pizza crust, ready for toppings

The toppings we used:

Trader Joe’s plain pizza dough
Trader Joe’s pizza sauce
A few cloves minced garlic
Shredded mozzarella
Spinach
Salami
Marinated artichoke hearts
Kalamata olives
Pine nuts
Goat cheese


 I love me some garlic - the more the better!


 Let cool and enjoy!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Tableware Finds


You know that feeling when you walk into a Pottery Barn or other fancy home store, and you just want to live there? You literally think to yourself – I could make it work! I would sleep on that bed, and eat from the snack merchandise, and use the employee bathroom...But let’s face the truth: in real life, Pottery Barn items are way out of my league when it comes to price (I mean, $300 for a nightstand lamp, seriously?). Thankfully, as with all retail stores, at some point things have to go on S-A-L-E. You just need to be diligent about keeping track of any items you love. This week, Pottery Barn has some great items on sale, which you may find worth splurging for.

1. Square Recycled Glass Drink Dispenser - $59 (normally $79)
2. Gingham Check Table Runner - $39 (normally $49)
3. General Store Serving Set - $29 (normally $39)
4. Linen Hemstitch Napkin and Placemats - $39 (normally $54)
5. Emma Dinnerware - $40-148

Perfect for serving exotic looking summer beverages  

 The quintessential checkered picnic print, updated in a sophisticated fabric and hues

 Tasteful beech wood salad servers, reminiscent of vintage country life

The company's classic linen placemats, simple and beautiful in a myriad of colors

 Simple ceramic dinnerware, with the cutest beading detail!

Monday, July 16, 2012

Family Cookbook: Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

My family is definitely a pie family. We grew up eating wonderful fresh fruit pies every summer—and even in the winter, thanks to a technique I’ll share with you a bit later when the weather gets cold. Last night, my mother made the most delicious looking strawberry rhubarb pie, and was gracious enough to share the (extremely easy!!) recipe with me. While you may not be intimately familiar with rhubarb, I promise you will love it in pie form. This is the perfect summer pie that you can eat hot or cold, and it pairs perfectly with vanilla ice cream. The strawberries make it sweet, while the rhubarb offsets them with just the right amount of sour.    
 
 












 A note from the baker:

"Think about all the pies you’ve eaten that look cosmetically perfect, but taste doughy, too sweet or pre-fab. Not this one – messy and delicious. Oil crust is thinner, lighter and flakier than a butter crust, letting the pie filling dominate."

Flaky Pie Crust:
2 ¼ cups unbleached flour
¼ tsp. salt
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup milk

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Mix the above ingredients together until blended.
Divide dough into two parts; shape each half into a round ball using your hands.
Place the first ball between 2 sheets of waxed paper (hint: sprinkle a few drops of water under the bottom sheet of waxed paper to keep it from moving around as you roll).
Flatten with a rolling pin and (slowly!) remove the top sheet of paper.
Use the bottom sheet of wax paper to flip the flattened crust into your pie pan, then tidy up the shape of the crust however you like.
Prick crust several times with a fork to prevent air bubbles.
Pre-bake the bottom crust on lower third of oven for 10 minutes.  
Cool on wire rack while preparing the filling (below).

Strawberry Rhubarb Filling:
Approximately 5 cups fruit total: half strawberries and half fresh rhubarb
1 cup sugar
1 Tbs. cornstarch (to thicken the juices a little)
A dash of cinnamon

Cut strawberries in half or quarters (depending on size of your berries).
Cut rhubarb in ½ inch-1 inch pieces. When cutting rhubarb, remove any stringy sections of skin that show up; otherwise, leave skins on.
Mix in sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon.
Fill prepared bottom crust - I like to dome the fruit in the center; it usually flattens out with baking.
Roll out top crust, using same method to flip crust onto pie using the waxed paper.
Poke top crust with a fork several times to vent during baking; baste with milk and sprinkle sugar over the top.
Bake pie at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, then turn down the heat to 350 and bake for 45 minutes or until ready.
This is a messy pie in the oven. Like all juicy fruit pies it tends to leak, so it's best to make an
Aluminum foil boat underneath to catch the drippings.