Cork your Planter

Standard

Like any other crafty and food loving girl, I have a propensity for collecting empty wine bottles and, by extension, corks. (I promise it’s generally due to entertaining. Generally.) I’ve looking through Pinterest postings, found inspiration, been uninspired and ultimately started putting the used corks in a recycled jar, hoping that one day a craft project would come of them. Spring has a lovely way to motivate me to do things, like potting my new herb garden, so I picked up some soil, started planting my basil, rosemary, cilantro and lavender and then it hit me! I could use those leftover corks to label my seedlings! I have seen a version of this in this project, and while the original may look better, I’m enjoying my (super easy) version. Continue reading

Happiness – One Memory at a Time

Image

2014-03-31 20.24.42

A dear friend of mine started an initiative last year where she documented memories on paper and stored then in a mason jar, aka the Happiness Jar. Whenever she had a challenging day or needed a pick-me-up, she would open the jar and read some memories. I decided to do the same and used a Costco-sized artichoke jar for the effort. Some said that seemed like a really large jar, and filling it in a year might be a “optimistic”, but I’m happy to announce I did it in three months.

New objective: refill the jar every three months with new memories. Challenge accepted.

Moroccan-Inspired Salad: Dates, Mint, Quinoa, Beets and Arugula

Standard

During a recent après ski evening, some friends compiled a series of side dishes, and the quinoa, date and arugula salad simply stole my heart! It’s the perfect spring salad: mint, dates, peppery arugula and quinoa for some extra texture and protein. I made my own version and decided to add beets: huge win! The original concoction did not include cheese, but at a friend’s recommendation, I added some chèvre and it was a double win. Picnic season anyone? Continue reading

Beauty in the rain

Image

20140330-120604.jpg
Sometimes it’s important to stop and look around when there’s inclement weather. I’ve found some of the most beautiful vignettes when water is dripping off branches or the sound of rain on the roof. This beauty was waiting for me Friday after work. Pure joy.

Marquam Trail to Council Crest

Standard

For the average carless girl (moi), there are limited easy access hiking options, but thankfully Portland is a city full of possibilities and alternative transportation. From bike friendly streets to car sharing services, I know that my lack of car ownership will not get in the way of a good hike. My friend and I decided to take a break from the Gorge and take advantage of the local urban trails. Our destination: the Marquam Trail.

Continue reading

Homemade beef meatballs

Standard

First of all, let me just give the disclaimer that there will be a LOT more beef posts coming in the near future. I went in on a cow share this year, and this is now what my freezer currently looks like. I am a fairly conscious meat eater, choosing leaner meats and locally raised when I can, but my perspective may be permanently altered after having some of these Eckler Mountain Meats. The beef was raised on grass pasture, supplemented in the winter with the farmers’ own barley hay, oats, and alfalfa, and are corn-, antibiotic- and hormone-free. What’s that they say? The best things in life are free?

Continue reading

Cannon Beach: A Whale Watching Attempt

Standard

As I mentioned in my “Hello, Spring” post, the last week of March means whale migration and a chance to see some of the ocean’s most magnificent creatures heading north for the summer. I’ll cut to the chase: no whale photos. My friends and I saw an occasional breath on the horizon, and one swears to have seen a whale’s back, but the real gold of the day was exploring Cannon Beach, Hug Point and Ecola State Park.

Continue reading

Hello, Spring!

Standard

It’s the first day of Spring, and I’m delighted to say it actually feels like it here in Portland. The plants are budding, the skies are (thinking) about parting, and the temperature is slowly, but surely rising. This time of year, I’m compelled to start migrating from my snowboard to my hiking poles and enjoy some of my favorite Spring things. Continue reading

Queso: Austin lives in Portland

Standard

Last week I had the privilege (and duty) to participate in my first SXSW Interactive Festival. It was a week filled with innovation, meet and greets, celebrity sightings (most notably Grumpy Cat, Mindy Kaling, Edward Snowden–by satellite, Snoop Dogg and George Takei) and tons of amazing food. I only visited Austin one other time, when I was introduced to the amazing signature dish of Texas: queso.

Continue reading

Scallops with Salsa d’Acciughe e Rosamarino

Standard

It’s no secret that one of my favorite places in the world is Hipcooks. I’ve written about them many a time, and am happy to say that I have recreated multiple dishes they taught me, but I think this one is my favorite. To ward off the initial scrunchy face syndrome, Hipcooks wisely calls the sauce for this dish “Salsa d’Acciughe e Rosamarino”, which has a lovely ring to it, rather than what it actually is: garlic, rosemary, lemon and anchovy sauce. No matter what, it’s delicious, so wipe that scrunch off your face, make this up and enjoy the hell out of it! Continue reading