Last weekend we had some beautiful weather, and I thought it would be the perfect time to finally try out the recipe for pork barbecue sandwiches that it took me so long to procure from my dad. While I can’t give you that recipe (I’ve been sworn to secrecy), the sides are pretty darned awesome too. One of my favorites for barbecue is potato salad, but I do mine with a tangy twist. Instead of using mostly mayo as many recipes do, I use mostly mustard, and a good blend of them at that, and throw in a few savory seasonings that make this not your normal potato salad. The result will make your taste buds tingle and beg for more! (more…)

Filed under:
Dairy free, Gluten free, Lunch, Quick and Easy, Salad, Side Dish, Vegetarian by Courtney

One of the things I didn’t plant in my garden this year are string beans. Last year, while stocking up on seedlings from Cole Canyon Farm, the guy running the stand gave me free string beans. I’m not really a fan of green beans — I don’t hate them, but they’re not something I ever really want to eat. My husband, however, really likes green beans so I decided to plant them and give them a try. (more…)

Filed under:
Dairy free, Dinner, Gluten free, In the Garden, Indian, Vegan, Vegetarian by Courtney

Instead of writing about something I’ve made, I thought I’d give you a preview of what I will be (hopefully!!) writing about this summer when the bounty of the fruits and veggies I’ve planted come in.

Last year, I planted a large pot with four wild strawberry plants, and Raju and I looked forward to the strawberries ripening one or two at a time. These guys taste so much better than the supermarket variety, so this year I planted 5 planters of strawberries. So maybe we can look forward to 5 strawberries at a time, or dare to dream, 10! (more…)

Filed under:
In the Garden by Courtney

After a hard day’s work of cleaning the backyard up and readying it for summer, I decided what better way to celebrate than with a good meal cooked over charcoal, enjoyed at my outdoor dining table with a nice glass of red wine (because we still have chilly nights here). I consulted with the hubby on what we should have (because he’d been working hard all day too), and he came up with, “Beef – something like stir fry, where beef’s not the main attraction. Or shrimp.” Hmmm, stir fry on a grill?

Instead, I decided on kebabs, since what he mainly wanted was a big dose of vegetables. Surf and turf would be good, over rice. While perusing the store I saw a huge display of oranges which spurred the idea for a ancho chili and orange marinade. (more…)

Filed under:
Cooking outdoors, Dairy free, Dinner, Gluten free, Wine pairings by Courtney

Looking for a dinner that transports you to the Caribbean, warms you up like comfort food, and is still healthy? Yeah, I didn’t think so — that would be an odd request to make of dinner. But, even if you weren’t looking, it’s a great feeling to have, and it’s exactly what Post Punk Kitchen’s Curried Black Eyed Peas delivers.

I’ve read about her book, Appetite for Reduction: 125 Fast and Filling Low-Fat Vegan Recipes, a couple of places, and I was intrigued. I’m the furthest thing you can find from a vegan, but once in a blue moon on accident I’ll make something vegan, and I like it. So it’s been an area I’ve thought about dabbling in. I just get scared off by recipes that include nutritional yeast and tempeh.

One day a friend of mine mentioned she had been using this cookbook and loved it, but then she pointed me toward the site. I spent the better half of the day trying to decide what I would cook that night. Did I want to go crazy and throw “gluten free” in the mix? Well, that’s what I ended up doing. (more…)

Filed under:
Caribbean, Dairy free, Dinner, Gluten free, Lunch, Vegan, Vegetarian, World traveller by Courtney