glutenfree

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

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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

Queso: Austin lives in Portland

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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.

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Scallops with Salsa d’Acciughe e Rosamarino

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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

Easy (as) Cherry Pie

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I have been waiting for Brandie of Spoon and Saucer to come out with this recipe ever since I tasted the pie at Heartspark. This gluten-free (yes, GLUTEN-FREE) crust is flaky and delicious, and the filling is the perfect blend of sweet and tangy. Her recipe does not include lemon zest, but I would recommend throwing some in there, just to get that back of the throat bite (you know what I’m talking about!).

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Thai Ginger Chicken and Coconut Rice

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Wow! I was not confident this experiment would pan out, but I am happy to report it was a great success. Last week I assisted with the Thai Two On class at Hipcooks and was inspired to try my own variation of Thai chicken. Our instructor, Tristan said the easiest way to create a Thai tasting dish is to marinate some meat in garlic, ginger, brown sugar and fish sauce. And away I went! Continue reading

Prosciutto wrapped manchego and persimmons

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This is a delightful appetizer that will surprise and please any party guests. Persimmons are wonderful during the winter, but can be replaced with Roma tomatoes as the spring and summer come around. I have to give a big THANK YOU to Hipcooks for introducing me to this deliciousness.

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Orange Balsamic Beet Salad

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Yes, even in winter there is the possibility of a bright, spring-like salad. During a recent discovery of Buyers’ Best Friend, I walked away with some basil infused olive oil and orange balsamic vinegar and have been eager to test them out.

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Rosemary Almond Encrusted Salmon

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Hold onto your hats, kids; this one is a doozy! It’s one of the easiest and most satisfying main dishes I’ve made in awhile, and I hope you enjoy it too! Continue reading

Pesto and Sausage-Stuffed Chicken

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What a wonderful way to start off cooking in 2014! I don’t like to make New Year’s resolutions, because they never seem to stick, but I do enjoy eating healthily and finding ways to reinvest in healthy cooking. The New Year just happened to coincide with my recommitment. Continue reading

Garlic Mashed Cauliflower and Potatoes

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Something you will likely hear a lot is that cauliflower, beets, brussel spouts and I have had a very sorted past. In fact, it is only until the last few years that I’ve opened my options to these peculiar vegetables, and I am SO glad I did! Continue reading