Tofu Quinoa Fresh Rolls With Easy Peanut Sauce

I love the end of spring and beginning of summer. The beginning of summer is always filled with the anticipation of all the good things to come... Sunshine. Farmers market bounty. Picnics. Beach trips. The best action movies of the year. And all of the amazing summer food.

As the weather starts warming up, I naturally start craving lighter foods and wanting to spend less time in the kitchen and more time outside. Can you relate?

And that's where these fresh rolls come in. Fresh rolls are a popular Vietnamese dish and I love them in summertime when fresh basil and cucumber are are season. These fresh rolls involve thin strips of crispy tofu combined with quinoa for a hearty, protein-rich snack or side dish. I love enjoying these with a simple green salad while lounging in the sun. Hooray for (almost) summer.

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Pico De Gallo Juice

Can I share something strange with you? I am obsessed with cilantro. No, really. Obsessed. It's always interesting to me when I hear about people who don't like the taste of cilantro because I absolutely crave it. 

This strange phenomenon goes back awhile too. In fact, in my high school marketing class we were in charge of coming up with our own unique recipe and brand for salsa. Can you guess what mine was called? Cilantro Sensation. Hey, I still stand behind my product. :)

This week in the spirit of Cinco de Mayo, I got inspired and wanted to see if I could turn the fresh flavors of pico de gallo into a juice. Mission accomplished! And, it's pretty dang good if I say so myself...

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Peach Fried Rice

When you are looking for a new apartment, there are a lot of things to consider: the price, size, neighborhood, amenities, access to public transportation, etc.  But for me?  It's all about the kitchen. Obviously.

Is there a dishwasher?  What kind of storage are we talking about here?  Will I have space for fermenting kimchi?  Is the apartment close enough that I can walk to a farmers market or a food co-op?  And don't even get me started on access to natural light for photographing food.  That's a whole other post.

I'm pretty resourceful when it comes to space.  For the last two years I've been living in a 460 square-foot apartment with my partner and two cats.  That's a huge feat right there.  But we've definitely outgrown the space and now it's time to move on to something a bit bigger.  But I sure will miss my kitchen...

Peach fried rice is the perfect way to say goodbye.  Whether it's goodbye to a visiting relative, the end of peach season, or goodbye to your adorable little kitchen, I think this dish will leave a lasting impression.

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Pasta with Lentils and Zucchini

Have you heard the hype that bananas are soon-to-be no longer vegan?  There are reports of a new spray-on chemical derived from shrimp and crab shells to extend the life of the fruit.  It's pretty scary to me that companies are allowed to spray our food with whatever they choose and not label it - especially when you consider the millions of people with shellfish allergies.

The funny thing though is that bananas have been non-vegan in our household for quite some time. Remember my cat that likes to lick plastic bags?  Well I used to buy bananas from Costco (which come in plastic bags), and my cat, being the creep that he is, enjoyed licking the bags so much that after I removed the bananas from the bag, he became obsessed with licking bananas.  Now whenever bananas enter our house - bag or no bag - he has to lick them.  And since that kitty tongue has seen quite a bit of seafood is its time, if you have a seafood allergy, I wouldn't recommend eating bananas at my house either.

What does all this have to do with pasta, lentils, and zucchini?  Nothing.  Just be thankful none of these items were sprayed with chemicals or licked by a cat.

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Late Summer Farmers Market

There is never a time when I am more thankful for our farmers than late-summer.  I am deeply grateful for all of their hard work spent beneath the blazing sun in the fields, loading produce into trucks, and standing at the market.  Long-hours, tired bones, hard work, I appreciate you....

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Raw Zucchini and Tomato Lasagna

I have this weird habit when I eat where I pick through my food and eat the things I dislike first.  A couple of months ago I came up with a theory about this.  I think the way that I eat is similar to the way I live my life: I always put work before pleasure.

Although this has served me well and gotten me to where I am today, this way of life has more flaws than benefits.  When you eat the things you dislike first, you become full by the time you get to the stuff you enjoy.  Same with life.  If you spend all your time putting work before everything else, you have very little time and room in your life to do the things that bring you the most joy.  In a lot of ways I think that kids may have it right... maybe dessert before dinner makes total sense.

For the past couple of months I've been making it a priority to schedule in time for rest, breaks, and things I find pleasurable.  And then today I noticed something new.  I didn't dismantle this lasagna and eat the zucchini first (which I would have done in the past).  Instead, I ate it together.  I think this might be a sign of more-balanced living and good things to come.

If you are wondering what the heck to do with your abundance of summer zucchini, this lasagna is the answer.  This recipe is simple, doesn't require a stove (thank goodness!), and uses the best of summer's bounty: squash, tomatoes, and basil.  I also love this raw nut "cheese" and it adds the perfect bit of fat and flavor to complement these beautiful tomatoes.


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Glazed Donut Peaches with Vanilla Creme

When you're running your own business, fellow entrepreneurs are more than happy to give you advice and tell you stories about best marketing practices and the nightmare that is tax season.  Business owners will also comfort you with stories of how long it took for their website to go live and how they aren't even on speaking terms with their web designer anymore. (Since my web designer is my partner, I certainly hope my situation has a different ending.) 

Here is something that other people don't tell you about starting your own business... For the first few months, you will probably eat a lot of dessert while sitting in front of your computer stressing out. I'm not gonna lie. I did.  They also won't tell you that soon after your sweet craze you'll look in the mirror and will be horrified by where that dessert ended up. 

Don't worry though.  I got your back.  This week I created these glazed donut peaches with raw vanilla cashew creme so you can enjoy a sweet, delicious treat without all the oil and refined sugars. Finally a donut that you can feel good about eating. 

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Labor Day Round-Up

Labor Day weekend is known for simultaneously trying to take it easy, get outdoors, and clean out your closets. And for those of us living in the Pacific Northwest, this is possibly our last chance at sunshine. Meaning: we know that if we don't get items crossed off our summer bucket lists this weekend, it isn't going to happen. What are you doing this weekend?

This weekend I am committed to staying outdoors and off my computer as much as possible.  I'm sure by Monday I'll cave in and catch myself working, but maybe I can commit to at least staying off email for the day. I'm also committed to loading up on fresh produce from the Farmers Market and getting my fill of late-summer fruits before it's too late.

Whether you're looking for easy weekend meals, beautiful dinners to share with friends, or items that are perfect for snacking, check out these delicious Labor Day recipes!

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Cucumber Peach Salad

I am an ugly crier.  No really.  Remember in Bridesmaids when Rose Byrne is crying and Kristin Wiig says that she is an ugly crier?  She doesn't even know what ugly crying is.

I suppose this wouldn't be too much of a problem except that I tend to cry during movies... a lot.  The Vow?  Yep.  Hunger Games?  Check.  Brave?  Definitely.  And don't even ask me about the Finding Nemo incident of 2006.  That was a legendary ugly crying moment.

Here's the important thing that you need to know as an ugly crier:  how to hide the signs.  No one wants to go out in the world with red, puffy eyes.  No one. So you quickly learn tricks like using chamomile tea bags and (my personal favorite) cucumber slices to calm the eyes.

If you're an ugly crier, I advise you to keep cucumber on hand at all times.  And, if you happen to have a cucumber and a peach handy,  you might want to consider making yourself this salad.  After all, you probably need a snack after all that crying.

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Chia Agua Fresca

I am not one of those gals that enjoys clothes shopping.  In fact, it downright stresses me out.  What basics do you need in your closet?  How do you figure out your size?  What is the heck is the difference between flared and boot cut jeans?  Do shoes that look nice, don't hurt your feet, and are waterproof even exist?  

The nice thing about summer is that I tend to do well with bright colored tops, capris, and sandals.  This is a winning combination in my book.  And if I lived somewhere where these things could be worn year-round I would probably be a much more fashionable person.

My talent lies in the kitchen.  I can stock a kitchen pantry like nobody's business.  I can take random bits from your fridge and create a meal any day.  And I can always take some produce just-past-its-prime and turn it into something incredible.

The inspiration behind this week's chia agua fresca is that I just needed a way to use up half a watermelon.  Done and done. And delicious.

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Tempeh of the Sea

Things I love about summertime...

• The way my kitchen always smells like a juice bar
• Sleeping with the windows wide open
• Biting into cool, crisp watermelon slices
• Mock tuna salads

Things that drive me crazy about summer time...

• The way my kitchen is always swarming with fruit flies
• Waking to the sound of chirping birds at 5 am and my cat trying to rip out the screen in order to get to them
• Biting into mushy watermelon slices
• Running out of my favorite mock tuna salad

For someone that can't stand the thought of seafood or the smell of the ocean, I am oddly obsessed with mock tuna salads, especially in summer.  Every time I am at a new restaurant and see a mock tuna salad on the menu I have to try it.  My obsession finally got to the point where I knew it was time to make my own version so I could have it whenever I wanted.  And so I did.  

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DIY Beachy Hair Spray

Summer is not the time to fuss.  Summer is the time for daytrips, beaches, being out in the sun and, if you are anything like me, eating as much perfectly-ripe fresh produce as you possibly can.  Summer is not the time for spending hours in the kitchen, or hours on your hair for that matter.  We have bigger things to do than worry about our hair.  Am I right? 

Enter DIY beachy hair spray.  This is a simple mix of sea salt and water that gives hair a fabulous texture and is perfect for the loose, beachy waves that every gal wants in summer.  For a nice finish that adds a bit of shine and helps to tame flyaways, I simply used a little coconut oil.  Not only did it give my hair a nice bit of texture, but I loved the smell of coconut.  If your hair is in need of a little pick-me-up, it's time for you to get your beachy hair on too.

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Raw Beet Ravioli

Why is it that women in action films always run around with their hair down?  This isn't real life. Come on.

In real life, I can barely stand to have my hair down when I'm sitting at my desk... let alone running two miles after a car chase while carrying a giant gun.  You know if this were you that you'd have your hair tied up.

And if you had really been running around for a day and a half without sleep or a shower, your hair would not be looking so good.  You can't fool me, Kate Beckinsdale.  (Although your hair is gorgeous. Really.)

The point is, I'm not going to try to fool you here.  These aren't real ravioli.  There I said it.  These are slices of raw beets filled with a creamy nut "cheese" and topped with pesto oil.  It isn't pasta. But it sure is tasty.  For reals.

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Lavender Coconut Ice Cream

Since I live in the cooler Pacific Northwest, summertime is the only time of year that I find myself craving ice cream.  But, when I do have a craving, it hits hard.  Luckily Seattle has an abundance of local ice cream shops that feature non-dairy ice cream.  

Even though I am grateful for this, it has kinda turned into a problem.  I had to face the facts last night when I found myself walking to the ice cream shop for the third straight evening in a row.  I think this walk will now be called my "walk of shame."

Since my ice cream cravings don't seem to going anywhere soon,  I decided it was time to create my own lighter option that still tastes just as decadent and sweet as any other.  The result?  A relaxing and delicious blend of lavender, coconut, and banana.  And, you don't even need an ice cream maker to enjoy this one!

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Basil Cashew Mayo

I have this habit of leaving my gym bag pockets unzipped.  It's partly because I'm lazy, but it's also partly because I have never had anything fall out so I never had incentive to zip them up.  Well, that was until two weeks ago when I lost my eyeliner.  And since it was a bit pricey, I am sure you can imagine how excited I was when I found it in my yard a few days ago.  Even though it was a bit weathered and the brand name had been rubbed off, it still worked great.

However, this morning upon closer inspection of the weathered brand name, I discovered that this was not actually my eyeliner.  Lesson learned: zip your gym bag and don't use eyeliner you find in your yard. 

Another important lesson I learned this week is how to make amazingly creamy mayo -- without the eggs or added oils!  So let's get to work!

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Creamy Fennel & Broccoli Soup

I can usually tell when life starts to feel a bit hectic and unpredictable because I start craving soup.  Soup was the first thing I ever learned how to cook and it has been a longtime standby in my kitchen.  It doesn't matter if it is the middle of summer... soup can be an incredible comfort food any time of the year.  

This soup is decadently creamy, which comes from blending raw cashews.  With the healthy fats and protein from the nuts, it doesn't take much to make this a full meal.  Just add your favorite summer salad (of course, I highly recommend this one) and maybe a good loaf of bread.  And if you don't share my warm soup craving in the middle of July, just know this can be served cold instead of warm.  

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Spicy Carrots

Every year for the past five years I have promised myself that I would make a raw cashew cheesecake for my birthday.  And every year I have failed.  Apparently this year is no different. 

Somehow I really thought things would be different this time around.  But, apparently if given the choice between dessert and vegetables, I am the one person in a million that will choose vegetables every single time.  So today you get spicy carrots.  The cheesecake will just have to wait.

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Mizuna Salad with Roasted Cherries and Balsamic Glaze

Once in awhile a recipe comes along that changes my world.  This happened a few months ago when I discovered the beauty that is pineapple fried quinoa.  As a result of this discovery I think I ate enough pineapples over the winter to feed a small island.  And then there was this tahini broccoli salad with cashews.    After this my fridge has always been stocked with tahini, broccoli, and red onions.  Always.

But then I recently discovered that you can roast cherries.  And when cherries are roasted, their juices condense into the most intensely flavorful, sweet, cherry goodness that you can possibly imagine.  It is utterly indescribable.  If you are not a cherry person, I don't know what to tell you to convince you otherwise. But if you are?  This recipe is mandatory.

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Southwest Salad with Jalapeno Avocado Lime Dressing

It's time to kick off summer.  It's time to put your hair in a ponytail, pull out the beach towels, and get out in the sun.  It's time for watermelon slices, corn on the cob, and picnics.  I think this also means it's time for picnic foods... easy dishes that you can share with friends and family and quick go-to meals that you can pack for yourself regardless of where you are headed.  No matter what you are up to this summer, this salad fits the bill.  

We start with a hearty bed of fresh greens and top it with corn, ripe tomatoes, black beans, bell peppers, and a spicy-sweet jalapeno avocado lime dressing.  Flax seed crackers are completely optional, but they add a fun crunch and are perfect for easy and healthy snacks (goodbye tortilla chips!).  What are you waiting for?  Make this salad and get out there!

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Sauteed Dandelion Greens

One of the things that I love most about this time of year is the bounty of fresh greens.  Everywhere you look at the farmers market, booths are exploding with baby kale, collards, perky lettuce, spinach, and dandelion greens.  Dandelion greens are a bitter green that, you guessed it, come from the dandelion plant.  (Yes, that same "weed" that grows in your yard makes a wonderful side dish for dinner!)  You can find them in spring and early summer and most health food stores even carry them.

You could also pick your own dandelion greens, but if you do this make sure you are picking them from somewhere that has not been exposed to chemicals or pollution.  It is best to avoid areas near traffic (like freeways and roads) or near train tracks.  There are many great books available about foraging for wild plants and weeds so I highly recommend doing your research before getting too adventurous.



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