August 11, 2014

Thai Chopped Salad with Tofu

New post! Thai Chopped Salad with Tofu

Sometimes I forget about tofu. I don’t really mean t. It’s just that I’ve gone through periods of not liking it. One bad dish and I’m out. I forget that a good dish can put it back in my grocery staple column.

I am currently in a period of liking tofu and I owe it all to this recipe from Vibrant Food: Celebrating the Ingredients, Recipes, and Colors of Each Season. My friend Kimberley of The Year in Food has created a gorgeous cookbook that I’m super excited to have in my cookbook arsenal. The photography is stunning and I want to make almost every single recipe. (Excellent job, Kimberley!)

It was the crispy tofu and the lime dressing that seduced me into trying this recipe. Besides all of the wonderful ingredients within the salad (look at all that green & red!), the the tofu and the dressing are the real stars. I WANT TO DRINK THE DRESSING; it’s that good. If you’re looking for a hearty salad with a lot of different textures and flavors, THIS IS IT. Casey was a fan too (and wants beef on the next round). We’re filing this one in the weekly rotation.

my everyday life, Photography

August 10, 2014

My Everyday Life: Week 32

Here’s what this past week looked like:

My happy place on our deck.

August 8, 2014

I love lists, Friday!

Apparently someone taught this kid the word APPARENTLY
The map to my heart.
Her writing is so good it makes me want to punch something.
I would like to meet this lady.
This is incredible!!
Some Bill-Murrayisms
Campers are the worst.
As someone is almost always early (if I’m traveling alone) I can so relate.
Of course Oprah carries this in her purse!
I love looking at celebrity look-a-likes.
I’ve never thought to put corn in a panzanella salad. This looks supreme.
We’ve been contemplating a budget kitchen renovation. This post is helpful!
This post triggered memories of how obsessed I used to be with Marilyn Monroe.
I hope to have a vintage portrait in my house one day…. I’ve been on the lookout for one.
The guys from South Park share their #1 Writing Rule.
Read this and then look at this because PIE!!!!
Barack sings Iggy. Can’t stop/won’t stop.
These photos please me greatly.
Let’s upcycle some plates, yo!
You had me at PISTACHIO, Deb.

I took the Picky Eater Challenge this week and recorded a podcast with Melissa Lanz of The Fresh 20. You may already know that Cooper is a picky eater, so I share some of my strategies at meal time in this podcast. You can have a listen here. If you have a picky eater in your life, you’re not alone! 🙂

The Ugly Green Chair made my Mango Lassi Popsicles dairy free!

Lemon Jelly Cake made my Honey Lime Drumsticks

Green Eyes was inspired by my Indian Carrot Salad

Whatever Gets You Through the Day adapted my Lemon Cake with Raspberries & Pistachios

The Seasonal Veg Head adapted my Spicy Corn Tomato Salad

recipes

August 7, 2014

Bananas + Cinnamon + Honey

Why eat a plain banana when you can eat a banana with cinnamon & honey??! There’s something so satisfying about slicing up a banana, drizzling a small amount of honey on top and finishing with heavy dose of cinnamon. I find that when I make food bite sized and I serve it on a plate, my impulse to scarf it down all at once subsides. Bananas deserve a little more reverence, you know?

recipes

August 6, 2014

Brown Butter Kettle Corn

New post: Brown Butter Kettle Corn!

Thoughts while driving home from work:

Why don’t people use turn signals? Will they stop making them in cars one day because they’re deemed unnecessary? I have all that butter in the fridge. Thank heavens they sell Kerrygold at Costco. There isn’t enough browned butter in my life. Wait. When was the last time I had kettle corn? Does that mean I haven’t been to a Farmer’s Market in a while? Can I have popcorn for dinner? Why is that guy brushing his teeth while driving? How can you not text but you can brush your teeth while driving? Another person not using a turn signal. WHAT IS UP, PEOPLE?!! Is it time to listen to Marky Mark yet? I think it’s been an hour. Popcorn in my future. Please and thank you.

Popcorn kernels get popped. A nutty brown butter mixture gets a brown sugar treatment and coats the hot popcorn. Sea salt makes an appearance and we have the most lovely salty sweet crunchy combination.

Just when you think you think there hasn’t been enough sweetness in a handful or popcorn, a caramelized crunchy bit makes its way into your mouth. There it is. Just what you’ve been looking for. Then you get a bite of a salty buttery popcorn kernel and all is right with the world. Back and forth…forever…

Inspiration, Outfitting

August 4, 2014

OUTFITTING: SUMMER CASUAL

ONE/TWO/THREE/FOUR/FIVE/SIX/SEVEN/EIGHT/NINE

Hello hello! A few weeks ago I bought a pair of boyfriend jeans (the GAP ones are my favorite so far) and am slowly working them into my everyday wardrobe. I really love how you can see a hint of ankle (the smallest part of my legs!) with a boyfriend jean. I also love that they are a bit baggy because…really…who likes tight pants?

In this look, I channeled the “hippie” vibe that I’m currently loving. You can see that mostly in the accessories I picked. I wanted to keep the clothing part a little more neutral so there was a good base to play off of. If I was going for a more polished look, I’d pick that white tunic top and for something casual (hanging out with friends, kids, etc.) I’d pick that graphic tee (isn’t it cute??!). Since it’s summer, I also included my favorite blush- Dallas by Benefit. The only drawback to always slathering sunblock on my face is that the skin on my face is lighter than the rest of my body. That’s why I like this bronzer/blush. It gives you a good bronzed/I just hung out on a beach all day glow. Try it and watch the “Whoa! You got some color! You’re glowing!” comments flow.