Wednesday, January 25, 2012

What do you want to do for supper?

That is one of my husband's standard questions when he calls me at work each day.

Sometimes I am one step ahead of him and I ask the question first, but usually he wins, and asks it first.

The question has lots of possible answers. The main answer is "EAT," but my usual reply is, "I don't know, I'll think of something."  Which also means, I have no idea what I am going to make, or what we are going to eat.

In the days of meat, I always had to have a plan for dinner. Once the meat was decided upon the rest of the meal just fell into place. If I forgot to defrost meat, well, that meant we had to eat out! Meat was the controlling factor in those days. Boy, I don't miss that!

When I got home I was really tired, so I was in the mood for easy. And easy it was.


Here it is in the salad bowl. 
I love the colors and textures and the way it reflects the light.


And here it is on the plate. Where's my fork?


I almost forgot to add this. 
I love this on salads. 
It is a great combination of flavors and adds that final touch to a salad.


There, now that is what we are doing for supper!
We are eating an amazing unplanned salad!

So what is it that is piled on that plate? 
It is whatever I found in the refrigerator that appealed to me!

fresh assorted greens
tomatoes
cucumber
red peppers
red onion
grated carrots and red cabbage
corn
black beans
avocado
and of course that sprinkle of gamosio

No recipe is necessary to create the perfect salad. 
I have lots of perfect salads that are all different!

Oh, and it was coated with an easy dressing.  
No real recipe for that either, but way better than bottled dressing.
This salad was dressed with olive oil, apple cider vinegar,
honey, salt, garlic powder and cumin.

Perfect.


There is another plate that looks just like this one!!

Can you tell we liked it. 

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

A memory making restaurant!

love this restaurant.


 I love the decor.

I love the people I have met there.

I love the people I have gone with to share a special meal and time together.

I love the memories I have from my visits to Matthew Kenney's.

And I love, I really love, the food!

On Sunday, January 22nd, I, along with six other good friends, headed down the turnpike to Oklahoma City to celebrate Monica and Tim's birthday. It was indeed great time spent together, from the great car conversations, to phenomenal food, to checking out the new Whole Foods Market, and ending with a fascinating shopping trip in the biggest Asian market I have ever gone to.

The food speaks for itself

beet carpaccio
heirloom beets ‘en sous vide’, cashew ‘goat’ cheese, pistachio, frozen lemon oil


avocado dragon roll
autumn root vegetables, ginger, jicama rice, nori



avocado dragon roll
autumn root vegetables, ginger, jicama rice, nori




Sunday Brunch Sampler




bixby chopped
‘roasted’ pecans, caramelized delicata, avocado, sundried tomato, seven herb ranch




local red beet gnocchi
hazelnut-parsley pesto,truffle, sage, ‘braised’ cauliflower




local red beet gnocchi
hazelnut-parsley pesto,truffle, sage, ‘braised’ cauliflower




tortillas
napa slaw, guacamole, queso fresco, cacao mole




classic heirloom tomato lasagna
sun-cured tomato marinara, macadamia ricotta, hand-cut pesto




curried kelp noodles
young coconut, peachcrest vegetables, basil, chili, almonds




autumn ice cream trio
macaroons
apple, pumpkin and maple




chai tasting
clove gelato, ginger layer cake, cinnamon cacao fudge, cardamom budino




chocolate ganache tart
caramel cream, pink himalayan salt
with a side of vanilla ice cream




Now, just for the record, I did not eat all that food! 
But admittedly, I ate a lot of it!!






Happy Birthday Monica!




Happy Birthday Tim!
(yes, those are kale chips!)




Here's the gang that contributes to my memory collection!


I am grateful for the times we spend together.


I can't believe I forgot my rock though!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Living the Dream

My good friend, Denise, of Raw Intentions is opening a restaurant. It is, and has been, so fun to not only witness all this excitement, but also be a part of it. I have so much admiration and respect for Denise. Her faith, determination, and passion are remarkable. With the opening of her restaurant, she is living her dream.

Saturday night she hosted her monthly Dinner and Movie, but this time it was in her own space, the Raw Intentions Kitchen, located in Broken Arrow. Every time I walk into "the kitchen," as we have come to fondly call the restaurant, I am always pleasantly surprised by new changes. I am looking forward to the Grand Opening and to her success.

The dinner was Italian. It was fabulous. And did I mention, raw? I don't have enough words to describe this nutrient packed meal, the flavors and textures, or the deliciousness, so I will show it to you in pictures.


Rosemary Bread and Garlic Bread



Best raw bread I have ever eaten


Three layer raw cheese "ball" with pesto


Great presentation 


Simple salad with balsamic dressing


Rawmesan "cheese"


Zucchini Pasta, Marinara Sauce, Meatballs, Marinated Mushrooms and Onion Bread


And here is Denise with dessert




From the bottom crust, to the cream filling, to the mint leaf, 
it was a perfect finish to a wonderful evening.



The Movie we watched was a documentary called Simply Raw. It is about reversing diabetes in thirty days. It follows the progress of ordinary people, who accomplish the extraordinary, by changing their diets, and curing their diabetes. I am always amazed at what the right food can do for our bodies, yet how poorly we are educated when it comes to these matters. Type II Diabetes has been referred to as a "food born illness." It is predicted that one in three born in the year 2000 will have diabetes.  If you, or someone you know has diabetes, this is a must see film. Do it for yourself, or for someone you love.

To watch Simply Raw, click here.

If you are local to the Tulsa area, or come to visit, make it a point to visit the Raw Intentions Kitchen. It is located on the south west corner of Aspen and 81st Street in Broken Arrow.  I think you will be both impressed and surprised at what raw food is all about. In Tulsa, Petty's Fine Foods in Utica Square, also carries raw food from Raw Intentions.

I wish you the desire to seek out the knowledge 
that will allow you to reach your optimum health.

It is that person in the mirror who is totally in charge of you.

What is your dream? And are you living it?


Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Monday on a Tuesday

Today was a tough day.

It was Monday on a Tuesday.

The first day back after the Christmas break.

The first day back after our trip to Massachusetts for my father-in-laws funeral.

I was so happy to get home. I was a bit tired.

Dinner was easy because I had my Carrot Apple Ginger soup all made and it only had to be heated up. To go with it I made an awesome salad complete with Greek olives (I love olives) and a maple balsamic dressing.


Add the Carrot Apple Ginger soup and it was a wonderful dinner.


Funny how I can come home really wiped out, fix a great dinner, and then I am energized!

So I made a triple batch of my husband's favorite macaroons.



These are my husband's favorite "snack" and made from Philip McClusky's Raw Food Carob Dessert book. 

I cleaned up the kitchen and then it happened. It was staring me in the face. It looked so needy, so what could I do?? So, yes, I decided to feed it and juice happened!

This went in


and this came out!

I think I have a new addiction! 

Monday, January 2, 2012

Soup's on!

Next to raw food, soups and stews are my favorite.

Today on Facebook, Oh She Glows, posted her her Top 10 Soup Recipes for 2011. I spent an hour just reading her blog on each of the ten recipes. I just love her website and her blog. She posts amazing recipes in the most amusing way.

I made a shopping list from the recipes and made my way to Whole Foods. When I got home I couldn't decide which soup to made, so I made two!


This is Carrot Apple Ginger Soup. The flavor and texture is so smooth. I love the touch of ginger in this recipe. I reserved about a third of the apples, carrots and onions and then added them in to the blended portion. We will have this for dinner tomorrow night with a great big salad. I can't wait!

Oh, and I almost forgot, it is wonderful with grated nutmeg sprinkled on it. Look at all the character in this nutmeg.


While the Carrot Apple Ginger Soup was cooking, I started another soup: Holiday Soup for the Soul. I just couldn't help myself. I was in the mood to make lots of soups, but I did stop at two!

We had this soup for dinner and, oh my gosh, we almost had thirds!! This one will be a definite repeat performer in our house!


Can you see all that flavor floating in the bowl? I wish you could taste it and feel the steam on your face! I love all those little quinoa tails floating around.

My husband had his soup on top of some left over quinoa spaghetti and topped it with a few chopped walnuts. He like it. Actually, he REALLY liked it!


I might have to consider a double batch next time!

Of course I must give my juice report! This is day four with my new juicer. I love having new toys. I want to play with it all the time! Tonight I went simple: pineapple, a cara cara orange and a green apple.


Poured over ice it made a most refreshing drink.

So here's to soup, to juice, to Oh She Glows, to health, to 2012, and to you!


Bottoms up!!!




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